Trading in any currency, which is not the Zimbabwe dollar, now attracts a fixed $6 000 fine and failure to pay the fine will result in the person involved being jailed.

The new rules, gazetted yesterday, empower the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to arrest and fine people and businesses that continue charging for their goods and services in any currency other than the Zimdollar.

Under the new regulations, the central bank can charge an extra fine of $100 per day for delays in payment of the $6 000 initial fine but when one defaults for more than 90 days, the person will be jailed.

This comes as Government amended the Exchange Control Act to include provisions of Exclusive Use of the Zimbabwe Dollar Regulations, associated civil penalty orders as well as the schedule for enforcement of the civil penalty orders.

Civil penalties for the use of the United States dollar (or any other foreign currency) for local transactions, which was banned earlier in June, was promulgated under Statutory Instrument 212 of 2019 last month.

The amendment, which was done through the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures), amends Section 2 of the principal Act by insertion of paragraph d and Section 5.

The amendment, which was done under SI-213 of 2019, also effects offences and penalties that come with flouting the regulations.
In terms of the amendment to the Exchange Control Act, the RBZ has been empowered to issue civil penalty orders and categories thereof.

The Act now also lists the variation of specific penalties, as well as matters relating to the enforcement of the civil penalties.

According to SI-213 of 2019 Government has stipulated a $6 000 fine for anyone found pricing goods and services in foreign currency, with a view to stopping the price madness on the market where some traders continue to wilfully violate national regulations to price their goods and services in local currency.State media

Below are comments after Voice Of America journalist Blessing Zulu ordered victims of Emmerson Mnangagwa’ violence to title him Head Of State.

Said Zulu, “even if we do not agree with each other on this one, vaMnangagwa is the Head Of State.

No one here is allowed to say “Mnangagwa” that’s disrespectful,” he added.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

VOA Journalist Blessing Zulu orders people to label Mnangagwa "Head Of State" and Chamisa just "Advicate" | WILL YOU LISTEN TO HIM? pic.twitter.com/LmpCo7ntFp

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 3, 2019

@Blessing Zulu ita mushe pic.twitter.com/ew00luMrf8

— Rufaro Rufaro?? (@NyashaGraced) October 3, 2019

Buhera Ward 25 councillor John Mangezi suffered swollen testicles after a village head pulled his manhood for allegedly discriminating against MDC Alliance supporters in food aid distribution.

Mangezi reported the matter and village head Liberty Masvingise has since appeared in court charged with assault.

Magistrate Gylmax Kuhudzai was told that on July 10, 2019 Masvingise approached Mangezi who was distributing social welfare food and told him that the allocation for his village was not enough. He accused the councillor of abusing his political power and sidelining people that he perceived to be opposition by either giving them little or no food at all.

The agitated Masvingise then got hold of the complainant’s trousers buckle, sneaked one of his hands beneath the underpants and pulled the contents in front of villagers who had gathered to get their food allocations at Matsetsa DDF Camp under Chief Nyashanu.

The complainant was saved by villagers who ran to his rescue. The court was told that Mangezi suffered a swollen right scrotal. The councillor is said to be in the habit of sidelining villagers who are not ZANU PF supporters.

Masvingise who is under Chief Nyashanu denied the allegations and said instead it was Mangezi who bit his hands. He said Mangezi bit him after he pestered him over food.

The village head told the court that the councillor accused him of being an MDC Alliance supporter before biting his hands.
The two briefly haggled over food distribution books before the situation turned nasty.

Witness Hamudi who represented the State said on July 10 at around 10am the complainant was doing his routine duty of allocating maize to villagers. While he was doing that the village head approached him and complained that his village’s allocation was not enough and the allocations were unfair.

The complainant tried to explain that the allocations had not beenincreased but the accused did not listen. The accused then got hold of the complainant’s trousers buckle and attacked him.

The matter was postponed to September 30, 2019 for continuation of trial.-Masvingo Mirror

Watch video below. ..

By A Correspondent- The Apex Council, the civil servants representative body on Friday requested the government to urgently convene a salaries negotiations meeting.

In a letter addressed to Dr Sekai Nzenza, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander said:

As the above matter refers, Apex Council hereby requests your August office to convene an urgent NJNC meeting on or before the 9th of October 2019 to map way forward on continuous escalating cost of living.

The council also wishes to bring to your attention that it maintains its demand of salaries payment be indexed to interbank rate basing on the salary scale of October 2018.

The call is made when workers including doctors have argued that the soaring inflation has over the months eroded their salaries to the extent that they are now incapacitated to perform their duties and responsibilities.

National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), which combines the workers and government, last met in July this year.

-NewZiana

By A Correspondent- MDC leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is praying for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to have his heart softened so that he may work towards the upliftment of the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe.

Said Chamisa, “I am praying for my Bro Pfee to have his eyes opened and heart softened, for him to appreciate that hardness of the heart profiteth no man. Heartlessness, at the end of it all, only adds more sorrow and deeper grief!”

By A Correspondent- A 33-year-old sex worker from Gweru’s Mkoba suburb has been slapped with a six-month imprisonment term after she stole money and cellphone from her client.

The self confessed thigh vendor, Constance Mhango pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared before Gweru magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipha.

Mhango stole $600 and a Samsung S6 cellphone from her client, Philemon Muzenda, who had hired her for an all-night sex service.

In her plea, Mhango told the court that she wanted to use the money to pay school fees for her two children.

“Your Worship, I admit that l stole from my client. I desperately needed the money to pay school fees for my children. I deeply regret what l did, and may this honourable court be lenient towards me as l still need to fend for my children since l am a single mother,” she said.

 Mrs Msipha dismissed Mhango’s plea saying she was only sorry because she had been caught.

She sentenced Mhango to six months in prison and two months were suspended on condition that Mhango restitutes Muzenda $600 and his cellphone.

It is the State’s case that on August 8, Muzenda asked to spend a night with Mhango and he was charged $20.

The two went to a lodge and Mhango was paid for her services upfront. The accused, however, took advantage of Muzenda who was drunk and stole from him, before fleeing from the scene.

Muzenda reported the matter to the police leading to Mhango’s arrest. 

Gracious Rongai prosecuted.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A woman from Entumbane in Bulawayo has claimed that her brother was forcing her out of the family house saying she had no right to stay there but should get married.

On the other hand, the brother also hit back saying he spent most of his time in the rural areas and the sister barred him from the house saying he did not pay rent.   

“My brother is chasing me from the house. He says I am supposed to be married,” said Happiness.

Happiness also complained that her brother’s conduct was robbing her of her happiness as he also did not respect her as he used to have sexual intercourse with his wife in her presence.

“He always insults me, disturbing my peace and also has sexual intercourse with his wife in my presence because we share the same room,” said Happiness Mpofu.

Happiness  accused  his brother, Nkosikhona, of abusing her and her daughter. At one point, she said, Nkosilathi bashed her and insulted her about her disability.

“He once bashed me and emotionally abused my four-year-old child. He further insulted me about my disability and threatened to bash me again,” said Happiness.

Nkosikhona, however, dismissed the allegations raised by his sister. He said his sister always barred him from the family home whenever he visited from the rural areas.

“She always bars me when I come from the rural area and says that I don’t pay rent. The house does not even belong to her because it is our late grandfather’s house,” said Nkosikhona.

This dispute between siblings came to light at the Western Commonage magistrates’ courts when Happiness sought a protection order against Nkosikhona. The magistrate granted Happiness a protection order and told Nkosikhona not to interfere with her. He also told them to both leave the house for the sake of peace. 

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Murewa’s Chief Mangwende has descended on his headmen after they invited witch-hunters who allegedly ripped off villagers, taking their cattle and other valuables on the pretext of cleansing their homesteads without his consent.

The headmen were summoned to Murewa Centre last week before the traditional leader, real name Taaziva Gatsi, went around villages to investigate further.

“You are being summoned to attend Chief Mangwende’s meeting to be held in the DA’s boardroom on the 16th of May 2019, at 10am regarding the illegal operations of the tsikamutandas in your area of jurisdiction,” the summons to the headmen seen by NewsDay read.

A villager in Chizanga confirmed the presence of the witch-hunters popularly known as tsikamutandas and said some of the accused headmen were ordered to pay a $60 fine each.

“There are witch-hunters, who were in the area recently in most parts of Murewa West constituency. Currently, they are now in Murewa North around the Chemapango area. So they were asking for beasts after ‘exorcising’ some homesteads. The interesting thing is that the people were going through the headmen and other traditional leaders. So the Chief (Mangwende) indeed sent summons to the other traditional
leaders and ordered them to pay a fine of $60,” the villager said.

In an interview yesterday, Chief Mangwende confirmed the issue saying he was investigating the matter.

“It is true, some headmen invited witch-hunters and we summoned them to Murewa Centre. They paid $60 for what we call in Shona Dare. This money is used for logistical purposes like travelling to the affected areas. We have since travelled to the areas so that we get first-hand information. However, we are yet to conclude on the matter,” he said.

Witch-hunters have besieged most rural areas misrepresenting to villagers that they can cleanse their homesteads by removing goblins and other things tormenting families. They, however, charge a minimum of a beast for the exorcism exercise. According to section 97 of the Criminal Law Codification Reform Acts Chapter 9:23, it is an offence for one to “accuse a person of witchcraft”. In 2016, government, through a Cabinet resolution, banned all tsikamutandas from extorting villagers of their hard-earned wealth.

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In yet another armed robbery, 5 armed men broke into a house in Waterfalls, Harare and threatened to shoot complainant and his wife. They tied the victims with shoe laces and ransacked the house and stole US$5 170- 00, ZWL$705, 00, 8 cellphones and a 3mm Rossi pistol before

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 4, 2019

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they drove away in complaint’s navy blue Mercedes Benz ML 320 vehicle. It is not safe to keep large sums of money at home or business premises. We urge the public to improve their security systems to avoid intruders.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 4, 2019

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The fact that criminals are targeting people with large sums of money indicates that they have inside information on its availability. @HeraldZimbabwe @HMetro_ @ZBCNewsonline @NewsDayZimbabwe @DailyNewsZim @StarFMNews @capitalkfm @NewZiana @ChronicleZim

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 4, 2019

By A Correspondent- A 29 year old Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official accused of defrauding his employer of US$433 000 and $1,5 million while stationed at Plumtree Border Post was yesterday denied bail by a Bulawayo magistrate on the grounds that he was a flight risk.

Norest Ushe, who faces charges of facilitating passage of smuggled vehicles into the country, yesterday appeared before magistrate Shepherd Mjanja for ruling on his application for bail pending trial.

The State, represented by Rufaro Mageza, opposed bail on the grounds that Ushe was a flight risk since he was not married.

Ushe filed the application for bail on Monday during his initial appearance, indicating that he would abide by the bail conditions set by the court.

Ushe is charged with fraud as defined in Section 136 (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (50 counts) and Criminal Abuse of Duty as a public official as defined in Section 174 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9: 23.

He allegedly committed the offence while working at the private imports section at Plumtree Border Post where he was responsible for clearance of private goods before he was transferred to the scanning section where he was responsible for scanning goods.

“As from May 2019 to September 24, 2019, the accused person clandestinely captured into Zimra system information of 50 motor vehicles smuggled into the country…,” the State alleges.

“As from July 1, 2019, the accused was redeployed as a scanner where he was not supposed to continue to capture data into system, but he continued capturing data of the smuggled vehicles and facilitated their registration until September 26, 2019 when his SAP profile password was deactivated.”

As a result, Zimra was prejudiced of unpaid duty totalling US$432 767,54 for 39 vehicles and $1 469 791,58 for another 11 vehicles.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Government has come up with more pieces of anti-corruption legislation, in addition to the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill, which Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi last week said would be speeded up in order to “deal with corrupt people”.

This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday talked tough on corruption while officially opening the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill is currently in the Second Reading Stage in the National Assembly.

Mnangagwa announced that more laws will be crafted, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission Bill, which he said will strengthen the anti-money laundering legislation, as well as amendments to the Public Finance Management Act in order to align it with the Constitution.

In the National Assembly last Wednesday, Ziyambi urged MPs to speed up speed up passage of the laws to deal with corruption.

“I brought in the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill to deal with issues of unexplained wealth and we feel that it is the easiest way to target people who would have acquired wealth corruptly whereby unexplained orders are issued and you have to explain,” Ziyambi said.

“The Bill will be discussed in Parliament, and MPs must debate it very fast and improve it so that we can deal with corrupt people,” he said.

The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was first enacted in November 2018 through Statutory Instrument (SI) 246 of 2018 under the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act.

Legal think-tank Veritas yesterday said SI 246 of 2018 expired three months ago.

“It is, therefore, surprising that passage of the Bill has been so delayed because the objective is enhancement of the legal weapons to fight corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion.

Once it is law, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Zimra and the police will be enabled, under judicial supervision, to demand explanations from persons who exhibit great wealth without having any apparent lawful means of obtaining it – and, if no satisfactory explanations are given, ill-gotten gains will be forfeited,” Veritas said.

Auditor-General Mildred Chiri has every year exposed massive corruption at government institutions, but few arrests have been made to date.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has withdrawn its court case against Intratek Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd owned by businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.

ZPC was appealing a High Court order that stated that a contract they entered into with Chivhayo’s company in 2015 was still valid.

The ZESA subsidiary was arguing that Intratek had violated the agreement, therefore, should not continue with the Gwanda Solar Power Project which ZPC intended to give to another contractor.

Justice Chitapi, however, ruled in June this year that ZPC and Intratek had to find each other since the project was of much significance to the country. Chitapi said:

It has already been observed that the subject matter of the contract is of immense national importance.

It is of public interest. The public wants electricity for use at home and in industries. The public is not interest in bickering for self-interest and egos.

The development comes when the country is having a huge power deficit manifest in long power cuts schedules.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Woes mount for president Emmerson Mnangagwa as doctors at public hospitals yesterday downed tools as they declared incapacitation.

The doctors, join their junior counterparts who have been protesting for over a month, in another blow to an already stuttering public health sector.

The latest development is set to plunge the health delivery system further into chaos with patients bearing the brunt of the deadlock between the doctors and their employer.

A senior doctor at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals told NewsDay that they could no longer perform their duties due to incapacitation caused by erosion of their meagre salaries.

“Since there has been no communication from the Health ministry following our communication on Tuesday which warned of this, we are withdrawing our services,” the doctor, who requested anonymity for professional reasons, said.

The source, however, said they were more than ready to meet with their employer for further negotiations.

“We are awaiting the formal communication from the ministry, then as senior doctors, we will meet to discuss,” the doctor added.

Yesterday, the situation at public health institutions such as Parirenyatwa and Harare Central hospitals was dire as patients milled around with no one to attend to them.
Some who had come as early as 8am were still to be attended to by mid-day.

The casualty department was full to capacity with some patients having spent days coming to the facility.

At Chitungwiza Central Hospital, only emergency cases were being attended to. “The only cases being attended to are the emergency ones,” said a source.

Commenting on the situation, Parirenyatwa Hospital spokesperson Linos Dhire appealed to the negotiating parties to resolve the sticking issues without delay.

“The situation on the ground requires some urgent compromise. We believe that the common denominator in the negotiations should be the best interests of the patient,” he said.

Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Paulinas Sikhosana said efforts had been made to engage doctors together with the rest of the other health workers’ associations in collective bargaining for cost of living adjustment (Cola).

“Doctors are part of the bipartite negotiations which took place in September with regards to Cola and an agreement was made, which the doctors later disowned after the signing of the same agreement,” he said.

“One of the key issues of the Cola agreement was that engagements would continue on health specific allowances.”

Government, later in another meeting, offered a review of all the health specific allowances, but the workers immediately rejected it.

The same meeting then agreed to establish a technical committee mandated to further work on an alternative framework of reviewing all health specific allowances, a framework which is now under consideration by government.

Sikhosana said the HSB has an open door policy for dialogue outside the negotiation forum and that the senior doctors were welcome.

“We had an informal meeting to discuss issues on Cola and its payment. The health workers demanded a review of the health specific allowances. The HSB is presently seized with this matter and has engaged Treasury,” he said.

Contacted for comment, Health ministry secretary Agnes Mahomva said she was in a meeting and had not responded to question sent to her by the time of going to print.

Government recently warned that it would withdraw salaries for the striking doctors, but the latter laughed off the threat.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A section of Zimbabweans has launched an online petition to the Canadian government to deport one of ZANU PF’s internet propaganda team (Varakashi)  Jones Musara over supporting a party that is alleged to  be abusing human rights in Zimbabwe.

The petition which is on Change.org says, “We believe Zanu PF has employed some supporters in the diaspora to terrorize and intimidate other Zimbabweans who oppose their views. These Zanu PF supporters falsified asylum applications to get documentation in Canada. They have been prominent on Whatsapp, Twitter and Facebook intimidating other Zimbabweans mainly MDC supporters who do not support their new dispensation. We therefore suggest that anyone supporting the regime by terrorizing other Zimbabweans must relocate to Zimbabwe to enjoy the purported new dispensation.”

Musara said he was not moved by the petition and he will be landing in Canada on Saturday.

“Like any other human being I have the right to freedom of movement. I go back and forth to Zimbabwe and Canada whenever I want and will continue to do so for as long I want. I have the right to freedom of movement just like any other human being.” Musara said. “From Zimbabwe, I will be in Canada by midday this Saturday. Toda kuwedzera kurakasha mhandu tirimo imomo muNorth America and West at large for now..belly of the beast.”

Activist Thandekile Moyo said she is supporting the petition against Musara.

“Now that’s a petition I would sign over and over again. Why should someone be praising a Government that’s oppressing us from the comforts of another country. He must come and experience what we’re experiencing. These backers of the regime must be held accountable for their roles.”

By A Correspondent- Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has approached the High Court seeking an order directing the Government, through the Public Service Commission (PSC), to award him more than US$300 000 in benefits and monthly pension payouts.

Mr Mphoko, through his lawyer Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, on Wednesday filed an application for declaratur at the High Court in Bulawayo, citing Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, PSC secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutaunashe, Salary Services Bureau paymaster Mr Brighton Chuzingo and PSC pensions master, one K Makiwa, as respondents.

He wants an order declaring the withholding of his pension by the Government illegal and unconstitutional. Mr Mphoko is also seeking an order directing the respondents to facilitate and pay him US$308 000 or the equivalent in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.

In his founding affidavit, Mr Mphoko said having joined the civil service in October 1981, he was entitled to his benefits and pension.

 “This is an application for a declaratur to declare unconstitutional the withholding of my pension by the respondents and for ancillary relief. I joined the civil service in October 1981 and served as an Ambassador of Zimbabwe to various countries. On December 10, 2014, I was appointed to the position of Vice President of the country, a position I held until I was removed from office in November 2017,” he said.

Mr Mphoko argued that in terms of section 102(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, he was entitled to a pension which is equivalent to the salary of a sitting Vice President.

“From the time I left office, I have not received a single dime in respect of my pension. The current Vice President receives a monthly salary of approximately US$14 000 or the equivalent at the previous interbank rate. This, therefore, means that to date, the arrears are in the sum of US$308 000 or the equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate. Neither have I received any of my benefits,” he said.

Mr Mphoko said despite approaching Dr Sibanda to assist him secure his benefits, there has been no joy prompting him to approach the courts for a declaratur.

“There is no lawful reason why the pension is being withheld. I engaged the office of the first respondent (Dr Sibanda) to assist in the matter but I have not found any relief. In fact, I was being tossed from pillar to post seemingly with no one prepared to deal with the issue,” he said.

Mr Mphoko said in the event that salaries are adjusted before the order sought is granted, the respondents should pay him at the prevailing interbank rate. 

“Let me hasten to mention that even if a declaratur is issued, it may not be an efficacious relief on its own. The respondents should be directed to pay me the sum of US$308 000 or the equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate in respect of my arrear pension, as the cost of living rises daily in Zimbabwe. The value of the money is eroded by inflation,” he said.

Mr Mphoko also wants the court to direct the respondents to pay the legal costs.

 Meanwhile, our Harare Bureau reports that Mphoko’s bid to have his passport returned hit a brick wall yesterday after he refused to submit title deeds to his Douglasdale home in Bulawayo as part of the conditions given for the return of the travel document.

Mphoko, through his lawyer Mr Zibusiso Ncube, had applied for the passport to be returned to enable him to travel to South Africa to meet his business associates over five working days.

Mr Ncube assured the Harare Magistrates’ court that Mphoko would not abscond since all his family is in Bulawayo and has business interests in the country. 

He also indicated that his client was ready to stand trial at any time.

“My client has never defaulted on his reporting conditions, interfered with State witnesses and has never violated the trust entrusted in him by the court, he strictly adhered to his bail conditions,” Mr Ncube said.

“The administration of justice will not be tempered with if he is given his passport even if we were to be given a trial date tomorrow, the trial will not kick off in five days.”

The State led by George Manokore opposed the application on the basis that the accused had not furnished the court with concrete details of his business trip and has also not complied with the condition set for the release of the passport.

“We told the defence that we wanted security in the form of title deeds to his property namely number 19 Douglasdale Road, Douglasdale in Bulawayo during the five days he will be in South Africa,” he said.

“We had agreed that we will hand over the passport when he gives us the title deeds and we will return them when he comes back from South Africa and surrenders the passport but that did not find favour with the accused person.

“It is our belief that the failure by the accused person to hand over the title deeds points to the fact that he does not want to attach himself to the risk that will arise if he hands over the title deeds.”

Mr Ncube however, argued that it was not proper to view his client as a flight risk without evidence.

He said his client was worried about entrusting the State with his title deeds and had instead offered to surrender share certificates worth US$300 000 that the Government owes him.

“The title deeds are there but we do not trust the State with them. My client is a former Vice President and we might wake up to find that the property belongs to the ruling party,” Mr Ncube said.

 He accused the State of having a tendency of expropriating people’s properties.

Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya threw out the application on grounds that there was no proof placed before the court that shows the Government owes Mphoko more than US$300 000.

He also indicated that the accused person has immovable property that is his house and other properties but there is lack of trust between the accused and the State.

“The fact that the State is promising to give a trial date does not mean an accused person cannot get his passport but no sufficient facts have been placed before me to support the application.”

Mr Mujaya however, granted another application by the defence to have their court appearance deferred to October 10.

-StateMedia

A leaked intelligence report mapping out strategies of how to deal with MDC Alliance demos in Chiredzi District has sent chills down the spines of activists.

The report which was confirmed by several sources as an authentic document from the Chiredzi District Joint Operations Command specifies which individuals to put under surveillance, how to deal with them and thwart any machinations.

Activists who talked to The Mirror said the report is disturbing particularly in view of the rising number of alleged abductions in the country.

In Chiredi there are a number of activists who have disappeared in the past including ZESA manager Dumisani Hapazari in 2008 and Kariborn Nyemba. Nyemba later escaped from his abductors but the whereabouts of Hapazari are still unknown. 

The report which was prepared on August 16 2019 accused MDC leaders in Chiredzi of planning to host a heavily armed insurgence team from South Africa to destabilize the district. 

The report placed six MDC members including Chiredzi Town Council Chairman Gibson Hwende, former MP for Zaka West Festus Dumbu and Chiredzi MDC District Chairperson James Kampota as potential threats.

Other people named as security threats are Menias Gangata who is an MDC activist and one named Sisokisi.

The homes of Gangata, Dumbu, Hwende, Gilbert Mutubuki, and Kampota were identified as potential threats.
When contacted for comment Dumbu said MDC did not seek to unsit the Zanu PF Government through unconstitutional means.

“I saw the report but it`s fortunate that it leaked to the public but we know that they always track us,” said Dumbu. 

Masvingo Mirror

Watch video below. ..

Paul Nyathi|Since the advent of legal tender in the form of paper or polymer notes and ditching the old trade by barter system, currencies have continued to remain a fundamental factor in analyzing the strength of the economies of nations across the globe.

With Zimbabwe’s economy crumbling, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, says the appropriate exchange rate between the Zimbabwean dollar and the United States dollar should hover around US$1:ZWL$5,6 based on “founded quantitative estimates”,

While acknowledging the prevailing speculation and attendant exchange rate distortions in the market, Prof Ncube, in a public notice on exchange rate determination, suggested that the devaluation of the local currency was being exaggerated by unscrupulous elements.

This saw the exchange rate level spike above US$1:ZWL$20 within a few days last week, compared to a stable ratio of between 1:8.5 to 1:10 on the interbank market, since the re-introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar in June this year.

Besides Mthuli’s assertion the Zimbabwean Dollar is not even listed in Africa’s top ten currencies.

Here is the current list of top 10 highest currencies in Africa,

1. Libyan Dinar (1 USD – 0.77 LYD)

Libyan dinar is known for its vast deposit of crude oil, which accounts for 95% of the nation’s total export earnings and 60% of its GDP. Libya sits at the top with the most stable currency in Africa. The country was made quite famous by its late leader Muammar Gaddafi. Although ravaged by war, its standard of living is not as bad as the oil sector. Compared to Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, One Libyan Dinar goes for about a staggering N225.

2. Tunisian Dinar (1USD – 2.3 TND)

The Tunisian comes second after the Libyan Dinar. This North African nation has a diversified economy based on phosphate, oil, car parts manufacturing, tourism, and agro-food products.  The country is an island with a 99% of inhabitants being Muslims. The average living standard here is relatively on the prime side with a high minimum wage. The economy is rock stable, thriving and with a small populace. More interestingly is its unemployment rate is stooping so low at 14%.

3. Ghanaian Cedes (1USD – 4.75 CEDI)

Ghana has a stable diversified economy rich in hydrocarbon, tourism, solid minerals, and automobiles among and many more. Its economy rose to prominence in the days of the gold boom and the cocoa era. The booming economy has steadied its currency and made it a promising nation in the globally. Ghana was ranked the fastest developing country in the world.

4. Sudanese Pound (1 USD – 6.41 SDG)

The Sudanese pound is one of the highest currency in Africa.  Sudan has gone through a series of wars and divisions but manages to maintain a stable currency exchange rate. Sudan’s economy is yet still afloat despite the split that saw South Sudan gaining their independence. Sudan is seen in at the top due to its consistency in the foreign exchange market over time. To a Nigerian a Sudanese pounds is equal to N47.63.

5. Moroccan Diharm (1 USD – 16.2 Mad)

The conservative Islamic caliphate still in North Africa has the 5th largest economy in the continent and also the 5th highest currency in Africa it. It runs a liberal and a capitalist economy gaining major control over the economy. Some of its industries include mining, tourism, automobiles, construction, and textiles. A flourishing economy that has made its GDP stand at an impressive $148.1 billion. 1 Mad equates to about N33.

6. Botswana Pula (1 USD – 10.7 Pula)

Botswana is a landlocked state in Southern Africa with a well-defined landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert. It holds a record for retaining one of the world’s longest economic boom streak. The economic growth rate of Botswana is fast-paced and fairly consistent. Its economy depends on agriculture, copper, diamonds, textiles, and livestock. This South African nation is a major key player in the economy of its sub-region and it houses the South African development community corporate headquarters.

7. Zambian Kwacha (1 USD – 10.0 ZMK)   

Zambia prides itself as the largest producer of copper in the continent before its neighbors, the Democratic Republic of Congo eyed the title with green eyes and used it. It is a landlocked of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife. Zambian’s economy has always been anchored on copper which is it’s a major source of export earnings. Although the country has been characterized by economic woes and fluctuations in it’s a price of commodities, it still finds itself on the top 10 list.

8. South African Rand (1 USD – 13.4 Rand)

It is the currency used in South Africa. It is the most developed democratic state in the African continent. South Africa has the second largest economy in Africa, trailing behind Nigeria. It has a very vibrant and competitive economy and is the only African member of the G-20 economic group. Its economy is diversified, comprising of mining (41% gold in the world and 90% platinum), automobiles assembly, textiles, agriculture, gold, fertilizer.

9. Eritrean Nafka (1 USD – 15.0 ERN)

Eritrean is an island nation in Africa, a remote country in the horn of Africa is quite small in economy, land area and population, its currency is Nafka. After parting ways with Ethiopia, it still shares the same currency with the old nation. Eritrea has a stable currency from a not too lively economy.

10. Egyptian Pounds (1 USD – 17.8 EGP)

Egypt is a famous Arab nation that as existence since the biblical times. Well known for its civilization and home to the ancient pyramids. The nation is Africa’s third largest economy and one of the most developed in the continent. Its capital Cairo is the second largest city in Africa. Cairo is an economic and industrial hub, bustling with various activities.

A group of expelled Zanu-PF members under the G40 faction have embarked on a campaign to market former Minister Saviour Kasukuwere as the next President of Zimbabwe.

In a Twitter thread, one of the late President Robert Mugabe’s nephews, Robert Zhuwawo said Kasukuwere has all the characteristics to lead the country and Zanu-PF.

“I make the above nomination prospectively in the circumstances of a political reorganization within the ZANU PF party for the continuity of its victory and rule.

Given the background of the legitimacy of its founding president RGM as a principled Pan African visionary, ZANU PF housed loyal stakeholders whom have been voting it into power.

“Therefore, Zanu-PF must bank on the legitimacy of its founding veteran nationalist to shape the trajectory of its stay in power. My brother Richard Mahomva pens that President Mugabe was the “charismatic face” of ZANU PF’s popularity and that indeed his fight against western sponsored arsenal, emerging as the victor consolidated it’s stay in power,” said Zhuwawo.

“There will never be another Mugabe. A phrase often used by many. His charismatic stature, eloquence and principles are not easily equated with anyone. His successor has not done level justice to his standing. Speeches not inspiring hope, intellectual humour, like (Barack) Obama and (Jacob) Zuma. Therefore if ZANU PF is to win a fair election against @nelsonchamisa who is fairly charismatic himself, it would need strategically position someone more presidential than he is. @Hon_Kasukuwere

“@Hon_Kasukuwere is not only charismatic, charming and built in a frame that commands authority. (Ideal charismatic face of the party’s popularity) He is a great statesman with the ability to strengthen the party and unite its divided structures.

“His background as a principled leader still holds weight, even after his explosion from the party, he never joined active opposition politics but rather called for self-reflecting conversations with the new political order for the unification of its elements. ZANU PF needs to bank on his popularity and legitimacy to consolidate its stay in power. I therefore call for #talksbetween principles, not only to unite our divided nation but overally shape the trajectory of its stay in power.”

National People First spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire also posted a picture of Kasukuwere on his Twitter account with the caption, “Zimbabwe is crying out loud for a Saviour! #TatambaZvakwana.

Source: Byo24

Doctors treating Vice President Constantino Chiwenga have advised the retired army general to call time on his political career as his health problems continue.

Chinese doctors watching Chiwenga the former Commander Defence Forces who masterminded the coup that toppled former President Robert Mugabe in 2017 and thrust President Emmerson Mnangagwa into the hot seat want him to focus mending.

Sources within government said the VP who is now able to walk, take light food as well as talk even though still critics has been advised to take less strain.

“The VP is coming back but the doctors have advised him to take a rest. The pressure that comes with his office might affect him badly.

“As already reported he has a problem with his esophagus replaced the whole way to the stomach with an artificial one because his natural one had been badly affected by cancer,” nEWS263zim.com heard.

Chiwenga is already reportedly “consulting” his inner circle.

 “The question that we have is who will take up his post. He has not agreed to the advice as yet but indications are that he might agree to take a rest,” said another source.

Chiwenga has been in China for months now and was set to stay for months there as the Asian doctors want to monitor his progress.

He has so far undergone two operations related to his oesophagus and trachea amid poisoning fears.

“It is highly unlikely that he will come back and work. If the opposition had numbers in Parliament, they would have impeached him on health grounds but Zanu PF which has the majority, can’t impeach him,” said the source.

The source said senior government officials who have been briefed of the advice from doctors, are supporting his resignation.

According to the labour laws, the VP is entitled to a full salary within the first three months of his sick leave and thereafter his pay is cut gradually.

Chiwenga was airlifted to Beijing from South Africa in July at a time he was wasted, bed-ridden and in critical condition. He was rushed to hospital on landing, where he was admitted in the intensive care unit of a state-of-the-art hospital in a high security area, before being moved to a private ward.

The former army general underwent a major operation initially to try to clear the oesophagus in August but they realised it was better to remove it fearing the cancer cells would spread.

The oesophagus is a muscular tube which connects the mouth to the stomach. When swallowing food, the walls of the oesophagus contract, enabling food to move to the stomach.

Given the blockage, officials revealed, Chiwenga has struggled to eat resulting in him becoming emaciated due to illness and lack of food.

News263

Teachers’ unions have warned the government that their members will go on strike soon if their remuneration is not reviewed as a matter of urgency.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) all agreed that teachers’ salaries should be urgently reviewed.

ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said:

There is no need for us to continuously negotiate for salaries because with the rate of inflation the only solution will be to revert back to US dollar salaries.

With the current situation, the moment you leave the meetings with an agreement on salaries, the money will be long gone and will no longer be enough to buy anything.

The government awarded civil servants a 76 per cent cost of living adjustment in August this year. The wage adjustment has, however, been eroded by galloping inflation which, according to global expert, Steve Hanke, is now at 765% per year.

-DailyNews

The MDC Chairperson Thabitha Khumalo, Helen Mpofu, Luba Masotsha, Elliot Mujeri, Tinashe Matimbura, Meliqiniso Sithole and Shelton Tembo; appeared at the Bulawayo’s Tredgold Magistrates Courts this morning.

They were recently unjustly arrested and unfairly charged for “publishing false statements prejudicial to the state”.

They are all currently out on bail.

The court ruled that the Case would no longer be placed on remand anymore. Instead, the State was asked to proceed by way of Summons whenever it thinks it is ready to take the matter for actual trial.

This is a very disappointing ruling by the court since it is clear that the accused persons all have no case to answer at all.

The MDC would have preferred for all the charges to be withdrawn immediately since this case has no legal basis but is totally motivated by the political interests of the illegitimate regime.

The MDC would like to thank all its leaders and members who turned out in active solidarity at the courts earlier today.

Paul Nyathi|ZESA through its subsidiary the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has increased power tariffs by over 200% with effect from today.

There’ll be a fixed monthly charge of $6.08 and then the following charges depending on the KWh’s used:

• 1st 50 KWh – $0.41
• 51KWh – 200KWh – $0.91
• Balance – $3.87

Consumers were currently paying around US2-3c/KWh but the new increment will see them pay around US12c.

Institutions along with commercial and industrial players will be charged for energy depending on whether they are using power during Peak, standard or off-peak times

ZESA’s statement regarding the new tariffs noted that the pricing of tariffs will be subject to review on a monthly basis.

The increase got many people unaware and they have not been too kind to ZESA.

Zim Morning Post|The Death of former President Robert Mugabe has opened a can of worms on his personal life after it emerged that he has a secret love child sired out of wedlock during the time he was studying in Ghana.

Mugabe fathered the late Nhamodzenyika with his late first wife Sally and went on to father three other children with former first lady, Grace, namely Bona, Robert Jnr and Bellarmine Chatunga.

A close relative, however, opened up to Zim Morning Post, saying Mugabe had sired a daughter with a Zimbabwean woman, who he promised to marry, only to later marry Sally.

“Robert was in a relationship with a woman we only came to know as Gogo maNcube. This was before he met Sally,” the impeccable source told Zim Morning Post.

“When Gogo maNcube fell pregnant, he promised to marry her. During that time, he traveled to Ghana where he met Sally and married her. Frankly speaking, she was literally dumped.”

“Gogo maNcube relocated to Canada with her daughter, Siphiwe, They have been living there ever since. Siphiwe now has a family of her own. On Siphiwe’s wedding, Mugabe sent a gift through his late sister Sabina, but that gift was rejected by Gogo maNcube.”

Zim Morning Post reports that Mugabe’s Canada-based family paid their last respects to the man who ruled Zimbabwe for over three decades by sending a letter of condolence to the Mugabe family.

Mugabe family spokesperson Leo said he was unaware of Gogo maNcube, but admitted to receiving an avalanche of “unsubstantiated claims”.

“We would not know what happened decades ago,”

.“We getting a lot of people coming and saying ‘I am Mugabe’s child, my mother passed away’ and so forth. But as family, we are not buying into all that. All these admissions should have been made when he was still alive .”

Paul Nyathi|Centre for Natural Resource Governance Trust, Farai Maguwu who is known for his no compromise stance on human rights violations at the Marange Diamonds Fields this week took the world by surprise when he declared that there are no incidents of forced labour at the mines.

Maguwu made the unexpected utterance in response to the American decision to block diamonds from Marange being imported into the USA on grounds that they are a product of forced labour and human rights violations.

Speaking in a widely condemned Facebook post early in the week, Maguwu disputed the US Customs and Border Protection prohibition order on the diamonds.

“I wish to make it clear that as leader of one of the organizations doing human rights work in Marange, we are NOT aware of cases of forced labour in Marange. This is mainly because artisanal miners go to Marange voluntarily. We have raised serious concerns with human rights of artisanal miners and the wider Marange community but in our analysis these do NOT amount to forced labour. Our work is guided by high ethical standards and as such we would never issue unverified information,” said Maguwu.

The US Customs and Border Protection made the prohibition based on a report prepared by the Human Rights Watch in 2009. Maguwu was a major informant to the report and was actually given an award by the international human rights watch organisation.

Maguwu was awarded the Human Rights Watch’s Alison Des Forges Award in 2011 for his touching revelation of issues from Marange.

The award celebrates the valor of individuals who put their lives on the line to protect the dignity and rights of others.

Human Rights Watch collaborates with these courageous activists to create a world in which people live free of violence, discrimination, and oppression.

Giving Maguwu the award the organisation said that he conducted extensive research documenting horrific abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.

“After the Marange fields were discovered in 2006, they were open to anyone, and illegal mining and smuggling flourished. Maguwu partnered with Human Rights Watch researchers to document beatings, torture, forced labour, and killings of local villagers in Marange at the hands of soldiers controlled by the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the one-time ruling party that still controls security in the coalition government.”

On May 27, 2010, two days after Maguwu met with a monitor from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (the world’s diamond control body) to discuss the abuses he uncovered in Marange, Zimbabwean authorities raided his home and offices, and arrested him on charges of providing false information about killings, torture and forced labour by military officials at the mine.

He was imprisoned for more than a month and denied medical care to punish him.

The authorities transferred him to various police cells with deplorable conditions even though he suffered from a serious health condition.

Maguwu was released in early July and only finally cleared of all charges in October. His case helped generate international attention to the serious human rights violations taking place in Marange’s diamond fields and led to calls for the Zimbabwean government to remove its troops from Marange.

“Human Rights Watch honors Farai Maguwu for his tremendous courage in exposing abuses in Zimbabwe’s diamond fields and working to end rampant violations of human rights throughout the region,” said the organisation.

By A Correspondent- A High Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu on Thursday 3 October 2019 reserved judgment on an urgent chamber application filed by Community Water Alliance Trust (CWAT) seeking an order to compel President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government to urgently act and ensure the provision of water to Harare residents and avert a crisis and potential loss of lives including the outbreak of diseases.

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights:

“Justice Tagu reserved judgment after hearing submissions from lawyers
representing CWAT and those representing City of Harare, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Hon. July Moyo, President Mnangagwa and Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Senator Perrance Shiri, who were cited as
respondents.

In the application, which was filed at the High Court on Wednesday 25 September 2019, CWAT represented by Denford Halimani of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, wants President Mnangagwa to declare a state of disaster in the capital to enable resources to be chanelled towards the water crisis in Harare.

CWAT argued that despite the calamity of the water crisis, President Mnangagwa had inexplicably not exercised his powers to declare a state of disaster, which would allow for the intervention of central government and donor support to avert a foreseeable imminent disaster.

Residents in most of Harare’s suburbs have gone for long periods without access to running water after City of Harare announced on Monday 23 September 2019 that it was shutting down Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant citing foreign currency shortages to purchase water treatment chemicals.

CWAT argued that local and central government’s failure to supply safe, clean and potable water constitutes a breach of residents’ rights enshrined in section 77 of the Constitution and indicated that the right to water is necessary for the enjoyment of other human rights such as the right to life, human dignity, health and food.

The water rights campaigners said President Mnangagwa, Hon. Moyo,
Senator Shiri and City of Harare should find alternative means to
supply safe, clean and potable water to the affected residents of
Harare so as to avert a crisis and potential loss of lives and
outbreak of diseases.

In response to the CWAT’s application, both City of Harare and the
Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing argued
that they have taken all necessary action to address the water crisis
including examining alternative water purification methods so as to
reduce the number of chemicals and costs involved.

By A Correspondent- The Apex Council, the civil servants representative body on Friday requested the government to urgently convene a salaries negotiations meeting.

In a letter addressed to Dr Sekai Nzenza, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander said:

As the above matter refers, Apex Council hereby requests your August office to convene an urgent NJNC meeting on or before the 9th of October 2019 to map way forward on continuous escalating cost of living.

The council also wishes to bring to your attention that it maintains its demand of salaries payment be indexed to interbank rate basing on the salary scale of October 2018.

The call is made when workers including doctors have argued that the soaring inflation has over the months eroded their salaries to the extent that they are now incapacitated to perform their duties and responsibilities.

National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), which combines the workers and government, last met in July this year.

By A Correspondent- MDC leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is praying for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to have his heart softened so that he may work towards the upliftment of the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe.

Said Chamisa,

“I am praying for my Bro Pfee to have his eyes opened and heart softened, for him to appreciate that hardness of the heart profiteth no man. Heartlessness, at the end of it all, only adds more sorrow and deeper grief!”

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today lead the 10th National Clean-Up Campaign at Mzimba Shopping Centre in Chinhoyi before presiding over Chinhoyi University of Technology’s 15th Graduation ceremony.

Preparations for the monthly event, which was initiated by President Mnangagwa and given effect through a declaration launched on December 5, 2018 to inculcate a sense of cleanliness in the country, are complete.

Mashonaland West provincial development co-ordinator Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo said everything was now in place for the clean-up in Chinhoyi.

“It is all systems go for the National Clean-Up where the President (Mnangagwa) will lead a brief ceremony as he has another commitment at the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

“The centre of activity will be Mzimba Shops in Cold Stream suburb. Preparations have been going on and we are ready to host the President as a province,” said Mrs Chitiyo.

Immediately after the clean-up exercise, President Mnangagwa will preside over the graduation ceremony at CUT where thousands are expected to graduate in various faculties.

EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata said while the main event will be in Chinhoyi, other dignitaries will also lead clean-ups in other parts of the country.

“The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa will be in Lupane while Vice President Kembo Mohadi will lead the clean-up in Gwanda,” he said.

Mr Kangata said some ministers will be at Letombo Spar in Msasa while Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu and officials from his ministry will be at Sunway City PPC gate also in Msasa.

Airforce of Zimbabwe public relations officer Dr Simon Matingwina said they will be involved in the clean-up at Queensway Shops.

“The AFZ will join the nation in commemorating the national clean-up campaign in partnership with the corporate world at Queensway shops corner Airport road and St Patrick’s road. We will team up with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Tobacco Research Board, Davies Granite and Dankwerts farm,” he said.

The national clean-up exercise, which is conducted between 8am and 10 am on the first Friday of every month, has seen people becoming increasingly aware of the need to keep their environment clean.

-StateMedia

Farai Dziva|Controversial businessman, Wickell Chivayo has sensationally claimed poor people do not want to get rich.

Chivayo believes the greatest challenge of any rich man is a poor man since poor people do not want to get rich but desire the rich to get poor.

Chivayo expressed the sentiments in a tweet.

A “BRIBE” where there’s technical backing of a behemoth with a reputation worldwide… ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.!!! I’ve grown to realise that the greatest challenge of any rich man is a poor man… Poor people actually don’t wish to be rich but they wish all the rich to be poor like them,” claimed Chivayo.

Watch video below. ..

By A Correspondent- Prosecutor General, Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has reportedly appealed against High Court order that reversed the confiscation of the mansion belonging to former Cabinet minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.

Kasukuwere skipped the country’s borders after a temporary release of his passport was granted on grounds that he wanted to seek medical attention.

He never returned, prompting the state to move for his Nyanga mansion which he had registered as surety.

High Court judge, Justice David Mangota, however, ruled against the confiscation of the mansion after Kasukuwere’s legal team applied against the State decision.

Hodzi now wants Mangota’s judgment reversed saying that Kasukuwere “cannot seek justice from the court which he is running away from”.

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s bid to have his passport back hit a brick wall yesterday after he refused to submit title deeds to his Douglasdale home in Bulawayo as part of the conditions.

Mphoko, through his lawyer, Zibusiso Ncube, had applied for the passport to be returned to enable him to travel to South Africa to meet his business associates over five working days.

Mr Ncube assured the court that Mphoko would not abscond since all his family is in Bulawayo and has business interests in the country.

He also indicated that his client was ready to stand trial at any time.

“My client has never defaulted on his reporting conditions, interfered with the State witness and has never violated the trust entrusted in him by the court, he strictly adhered to his bail conditions,” he said.

“The administration of justice will not be tampered with if he is given his passport even if we were to be given a trial date tomorrow, the trial will not kick off in five days.”

The State, led by Mr George Manokore, opposed the application on the basis that the accused had not furnished the court with concrete details of his business trip and had also not complied with the condition set for the release of the passport.

“We told the defence that we wanted security in the form of title deeds to his property namely number 19 Douglasdale Road, Douglasdale in Bulawayo during the five days he will be in South Africa,” he said.

“We had agreed that we will hand over the passport when he gives us the title deeds and we will return them when he comes back from South Africa and surrenders the passport, but that did not find favour with the accused person.

“It is our belief that the failure by the accused person to hand over the title deeds points to the fact that he does not want to attach himself to the risk that will arise if he hands over the title deeds.”

Mr Ncube, however, argued that it was not proper to view his client as a flight risk without evidence. He said his client was worried about entrusting the State with his title deeds and had instead offered to surrender share certificates worth US$300 000 that the Government owes him.

“The title deeds are there, but we do not trust the State with them. My client is a former Vice President and we might wake up to find that the property belongs to the ruling party,” he said.

He accused the State of having a tendency of expropriating people’s properties.

Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya threw out the application on grounds that there was no proof place the court that shows the Government owes Mphoko more than US$300 000.

He also indicated that the accused person has immovable property that is his house and other properties, but there is lack of trust between the accused and the State.

“The fact that the State is promising to give a trial date does not mean an accused person cannot get his passport, but no sufficient facts have been placed before me to support the application.”

Mr Mujaya, however, granted another application by the defence to have their court appearance yesterday deferred to October 10.

-StateMedia

Watch video below. ..

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo says the commission has  recovered property worth over $100 million from looters as efforts intensify to combat graft.

She said ZACC had registered an increase in criminal convictions of late and was working with academics to come up with legal structures to enhance the fight against corruption.

Justice Matanda-Moyo said this in an interview on the sidelines of a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZACC and other stakeholders such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Immigration Department and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), among others.

She said ZACC was only dealing with the forfeiture of properties and money, while the NPA was going to court for confirmation.

“The goods we are holding on to run into hundreds of millions of dollars and right now we are in the process of preparing papers for the recovering of properties in the leafy suburbs. In Borrowdale we are looking at over 10 properties of high value, and we have got so many vehicles now which we have targeted, others are already in our possession,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

She said there had been a surge in the number of convictions, but more needed to be done to reform legal instruments.

“In the past, the investigations have not been thorough but if you have followed events recently there are now convictions. Investigations have actually improved. Our laws are not user friendly, so we want these academics to help in the formulation of new laws. We want to bring in academics, we want those universities to help us in formulation of laws,” she said.

“Definitely there is need for legal reforms, even the rules of the courts must change, as you can see right now, we have got anti-corruption courts but only at magistrate level, once you go to the superior courts, corruption matters are not given priority. We also need that to change, we need corruption matters to be handled faster.

“They must be dealt with efficiently and effectively so that we can also be able to recover the loot. If we take too long dealing with corruption matters, then we will not be able to recover anything.

By the time we are through with a criminal matter the person would have moved all the funds and we will not be able to recover anything. So we really need those laws to be changed so that it is easier to deal with corruption.”

-StateMedia

AFRO-POP singer Ammara Brown is over the moon after she was nominated for two continental awards to be held in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire next month in recognition of her growing music brand.

Ammara is in line for the Best Southern Africa Female Artiste award under the All Africa Music Awards (Afrima) in Nigeria and Best African Female Artiste under the African Talent Awards in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Mukoko hitmaker told NewsDay Life & Style that she was delighted by the double nomination, which confirmed her growing brand as a musician of note.

“This being my second year in a row nominated by Afrima, it shows me that my consistency is appreciated on a continental scale. I’m so grateful and so blessed,” she said.

“These are two completely different award ceremonies! I’m in, amid two amazing lists of female powerhouses, so I’m grateful to every single one of you who has been voting for my Afrima and the African Talent Awards nominations.”

Ammara said the African Talent Awards nomination left her speechless because she was competing with the best not only in southern Africa, but the whole continent.

“African Talent Awards! This is truly incredible because my nomination isn’t based on the region. It’s Best African Female, which means the continent. It’s breathtaking. I’m genuinely honoured,” she said.

The singing sensation will be battling against Africa’s finest in the category which has been dubbed the most competitive considering that it also features the most powerful women voices in the industry across the African continent.

The songbird scooped the same award at the fifth edition of the Afrimma held in Texas last year after strong competition from some household names in the region including Shekinah, Babes Wodumo, Mampi, Cleo Ice Queen and Busiswa.

Ammara said although the nominations came as a surprise, she was confident that she would clinch the Afrima crown.

-Newsday

The state broadcaster ZBC has finally apologized over its tweet in which it joined the social media hype around the image of opposition legislator Job Sikhala.

Posting on Twitter, ZBC said their action was beneath the dignity of a public broadcaster to demean Sikhala over his choice of dressing.

By A Correspondent- Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), Jestina Mukoko, says she is still haunted by her abduction and torture by State security agents 11 years ago.

Mukoko revealed that she has an eerie feeling whenever she recognises some action that it strange, and the abductions of Itai Dzamara and recently, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) acting President, Dr Peter Magombeyi, have caused a regression in her healing.

She said:

“I get afraid if I see people who I feel uncomfortable around and when I recognise some action that is strange. I have become very observant.”

Mukoko was abducted by six unidentified men who stormed into her Norton home at 5 am on December 3, 2008. She was dragged in her nightdress, tortured for 22 days and dumped at a police station.

-Independent

By A Correspondent- In a last-ditch attempt to punish her thieving husband who is also teaching their minor child to steal from neighbours, a furious wife resorted to an extreme measure when she applied for an order to have him chucked out of the house.

Behlulekile Banda from Makokoba suburb decided to punish her thieving husband Mpumelelo Mahlangu apparently for bringing shame to their family by allegedly teaching their son to steal from their neighbours.

Banda said she was sick of her irresponsible husband’s light fingers, and evicting him from the house was the only measure to curb his criminal ways.

She said Mahlangu, whom she was no longer sharing a bed with for the past two years, was also verbally and physically abusing her, adding that he turned violent whenever she reprimanded him over his uncouth behaviour of selling their household property and food in order to raise money to buy beer.

“My husband has been verbally, physically and emotionally abusing me in front of our kids. He steals food and other household property which he sells to raise money to buy beer.

“He is also teaching our son to steal from our neighbours. Whenever I try to reprimand him, he turns violent and insults me using vulgar language.

“We are staying together but for the past two years we have been sleeping in separate rooms. He doesn’t pay rent or buy food for the family. For the 15 years we have been staying together at my parents’ house, I am the one who has been buying food and paying school fees for our children.

“I am, therefore, asking the court to help me by evicting him from the house and subsequently granting me a protection order that stops him from verbally and physically abusing me,” begged Banda.

Turning to her safety and that of her children, Banda suggested that her husband should be immediately evicted from the house. She further said her husband had also threatened to kill her on three separate occasions and commit suicide afterwards. 

“He threatened to take away my life and that of our children on three separate occasions and commit suicide thereafter. He also harasses me in front of children calling me a prostitute, especially when he is drunk,” complained Banda.

Mahlangu who apparently feared humiliation, didn’t come to court to defend himself leading presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga to grant an order which bars him from verbally, physically and emotionally abusing his wife or threaten her in any way.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A bishop with Word Apostolic Church in Mahatshula North, Bulawayo has been accused of wrecking church members’ marriages by ordering married congregants to divorce their partners who would have stopped coming to church.

It is alleged Bishop Philip Chipato, who also doubles up as a prophet, encouraged married male congregants to divorce their wives who no longer attend church services. 

A pastor who requested anonymity said Chipato ran a series of sermons and lessons castigating married female congregants who had somehow stopped coming to church.   

It is further said as a result Bishop Chipato reportedly ordered one of his pastors, Cleopas Midzi, to divorce his wife Vimbai Denhere who had stopped attending  church services.

“Vimbai stopped coming to church and after about two weeks Bishop Chipato  started to teach a series of lessons demonising married partners who would have stopped coming to church. He also  ran a series of sermons preaching against such truant members while encouraging their partners to divorce them,”said a  source.

An elder of the church who requested anonymity said as a result Midzi divorced his wife.

“(Cleopas) Midzi had to divorce his wife Vimbai and is cohabiting with Felistas Manase. As a result the issue caused a lot of uproar in the church. Some members  had to pull out of the church and so far up to 100  members have deserted the church over time as they felt the issue had a potential of wrecking their marriages or creating rifts  in their marriages,” said the  source.

Contacted for a comment Vimbai said: “I stopped going to that church (Word Apostolic Church) because I did not like  the things that were done at that church. His teachings were not in conformity with the word of God. After a month Chipato influenced my husband (Midzi) to divorce me and left me with two children and he is not taking care of them.”

An elder who only identified himself as Moyo said Bishop Chipato would prophesy  matching an elder whose wife would not be coming to church with one of the female congregants.

“He would say to a married elder whose wife is no longer attending church services  that he (Chipato) saw a partner in the spirit  and the elder has to divorce his wife and  marry that partner,” said Moyo.

After spirited efforts to get a comment  from Bishop Chipato, he only said: “There  is nothing like that.”

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Teachers’ unions have warned the government that their members will go on strike soon if their remuneration is not reviewed as a matter of urgency.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) all agreed that teachers’ salaries should be urgently reviewed.

ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said:

There is no need for us to continuously negotiate for salaries because with the rate of inflation the only solution will be to revert back to US dollar salaries.

With the current situation, the moment you leave the meetings with an agreement on salaries, the money will be long gone and will no longer be enough to buy anything.

The government awarded civil servants a 76 per cent cost of living adjustment in August this year. The wage adjustment has, however, been eroded by galloping inflation which, according to global expert, Steve Hanke, is now at 765% per year.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of Gweru residents scrambled for gold in Adelaide suburb, a residential area located to close to the Midlands State University (MSU).

There was a rush for the precious stone on Thursday morning in the suburb before police and military officers cordoned off the area.

A Gweru resident who spoke to a local publication said:

The people who might have made a killing are those who managed to pan for the gold throughout the night.

Most of us who came in the morning didn’t get a chance to enter the area because soldiers and the police had cordoned it off.

The Daily News says it was not able to verify if there was indeed gold deposits in the area. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Gweru spokesperson, Joel Goko, could not comment on the development.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is currently recovering in China after being operated on, has reportedly fired security officials attached.

Chiwenga dismissed the security details fearing that they were spying on him and giving his political rivals information on his recovery bid.

The Independent quotes its sources as saying:

He remained with two security aides by the name Ncube and Kadengu, who are from the military.

… Besides, he also believed they were giving updates to his political rivals, including Mnangagwa about his progress.

Chiwenga has been in and out of the hospital several times, as he visited India, South Africa and now China for medical treatment.

The former army general is expected to remain in China for several months, surrounded by family members, including his son, though his wife, Marry, is in Zimbabwe.

-Independent

By A Correspondent- MDC-T legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has welcomed plans by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to impose stiffer penalties on rapists as part of efforts to deal with the crime.

In his speech during the official opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on Tuesday, Mnangagwa announced that laws will be brought before Parliament to protect children and women from different injustices.

“The Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, the Child Justice Bill and Mandatory Sentencing for Rape and Sexual Offences Bill, must incorporate acceptable customary norms, human rights standards and international best practice,” Mnangagwa said.

In previous Parliament sessions, female MPs have been advocating for stiff sentences for rapists, of up to 30 years or more.

Misihairabwi Mushonga described this as one of the positive moves that Mnangagwa has taken.

“For me what struck me most during the President’s speech was the issue of sexual offences around mandatory sentences for rape. If that Bill is brought before Parliament it will solve one of the fundamental issues around violence against women,” Misihairabwi Mushonga said.

“Some of us (legislators) are about to leave Parliament and if the issue of mandatory sentences for rape is imposed that will be part of our legacy if this is our last term because we have been advocating for that for a long time.

“We have been waiting for this for years and nothing was happening. We proposed the issue of mandatory sentences for rapists during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s time and the law never saw the light of the day given the male dominated systems of Parliament.”

Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira also commented efforts to address the cash crisis in the country.

Mnangagwa announced that his government was pursuing removal of arbitrage in order to address the cash situation.

“We are impressed with the delivery made by the President because he touched on core issues and measures that the Executive is taking to ensure that issues of the exchange rate that have been causing problems in the country are addressed,” Chief Charumbira said.

He then castigated the stance taken by the main opposition MDC to walk out of Mnangagwa’s speech saying that problems in the country cannot be solved by demonstrations.

“Problems cannot be solved by fighting. We attain peace by putting guns down and they must not play to the public gallery. Political parties should respect the President,” chief Charumbira said.

-Newsday

The late former President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Leo Mugabe has opened up on how the extended family was left out of the decision to proceed with the former ruler’s burial in Zvimba.

In an interview with Zimbabwe Independent, Leo said they had a fallout with Grace who accused him and Zvimba chiefs of taking bribes from the government.

He added that the extended family was left out of the final decision which he felt should have bee effectively communicated.

“The extended family was then left out, but it’s normal in every family. It should have been properly communicated to others so that people don’t feel they are being pushed out,” Leo said.

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council’s health services director, Prosper Chonzi has allayed fears of a cholera outbreak in Dzivarasekwa saying the watery diarrhoea experienced by many residents in the area was caused by drawing water from unprotected sources.

The cholera scare arose after a non-governmental organisation, Community Water Alliance sent enumerators to ward 39 in Dzivarasekwa to undertake parallel typhoid, diarrhoeal and cholera tabulations which results pointed that the majority of those affected had dysentery (diarrhoeal with blood).

The health committee then asked Chonzi whether there was a cholera outbreak in Dzivarasekwa as alleged by the residents.

“There was no cholera outbreak in Dzivarasekwa, but due to erratic water supplies residents resorted to drawing water from unprotected sources resulting in some residents suffering from watery diarrhoeal diseases,” he submitted.

Chonzi warned that as long as water supplies were not consistent, such cases would spread to other areas.

Community Water Alliance programmes manager Hardlife Mudzingwa said most of the affected residents in Dzivaresekwa were women and youth.

“We sent enumerators to ward 39 in Dzivarasekwa to undertake parallel diarrhoeal and cholera tabulations and the results we got from the assessment is that 71,81% of victims of typhoid are youths, 65,60% of the victims are women. Our findings demonstrate beyond doubt that in Dzivarasekwa young women comprise the majority of victims. A majority of those affected had dysentery,” Mudzingwa said.

He told NewsDay that a borehole along 11th Street Gunhill seems to be the main source of contamination of water in Dzivarasekwa.

However, Chonzi said the situation was under control and they had set up a rapid response team which is on standby in case of any outbreak.

He added that there was a team on the ground providing treatment as well as distributing some water treatment tablets and carrying out educational awareness campaigns.

-Newsday

FORMER President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Leo, and some close relatives snubbed the former president’s burial in Zvimba last Saturday after being accused by ex-first lady Grace Mugabe of taking bribes from government to ensure the late leader is buried at the National Heroes Acre against his wishes.

Before his death in Singapore on September 6, Mugabe had told his family he did not want to be buried at the National Heroes Acre, a North Korea-styled hilltop shrine in Harare.

He informed the family he did not want President Emmerson Mnangagwa to preside over his burial and pontificate over his dead body.

Grace also accused long-time family friends such as former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono of being sent by the state and acting to curry favour with Mnangagwa.

Despite negotiating on Mugabe’s behalf at the height of the 2017 military coup that catapulted Mnangagwa to power, Gono did not attend the burial as well.

Family sources told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that Grace unleashed her wrath on Leo during a family meeting held on Saturday morning hours before the burial.

Family members revealed Grace launched a verbal tirade on Mugabe’s nephew and other relatives, accusing them of betraying the family and taking bribes from government agents, along with Zvimba chiefs, to influence the family’s decision. The former first lady labelled Leo and other relatives “sell-outs”.

Leo, according to family members, stormed out of the meeting, trailed by a number of family members, who included some chiefs from the clan.

Leo, Mugabe’s late sister Sabina’s son and family spokesperson during negotiations between the government and family, confirmed the fallout in an interview with the Independent this week.

He, however, denied ever taking bribes from government agents.“We had a fall-out on Saturday around 11am before the burial. We fell out because she said I took a bribe from Mnangagwa to influence the decision to bury my uncle at the Heroes Acre. It is not true to accuse chiefs of taking bribes. Those are some of the accusations,” Leo said.

“It’s normal to fall out. It’s not new really because I don’t tolerate nonsense. My uncle knew that I would argue and put across my point. I am a principled person. Can you imagine I did not eventually attend my uncle’s funeral.”

Leo also said some family members expressed disappointment during the meeting, accusing Grace and a small cast of family members, who included her children and former mines minister Walter Chidhakwa, of making a unilateral decision to take Mugabe’s body to Zvimba.

“The extended family was then left out, but it’s normal in every family. It should have been properly communicated to others so that people don’t feel they are being pushed out,” Leo said.

“This is why the chiefs never showed up. There was one chief there. I think the situation could have been handled better. Certainly it could have been handled better.

“The bigger council should have been informed because it is the one that had gone to President Mnangagwa. It would have gone back to the president to say stop constructing the mausoleum because of the new plans.

“So that communication was not there, it was very poor. We regret that and personally I would apologies to the chiefs to say, we are sorry for the miscommunication, it was uncalled for.

“I don’t think an apology has gone to the chiefs. It’s even seen in the accusations that are now coming to me, to the effect that we sold out and we were bought by Mnangagwa. It is nonsense, total nonsense.

“Nobody was bought. Nobody was given money. Nobody was coerced into taking my uncle to the shrine.”

A close family friend told the Independent that Grace was consulted throughout the process before government announced that Mugabe would be buried at the National Heroes Acre.

“There were so many turns and twists. The Heroes Acre place was chosen and rituals were performed by Chief Zvimba (who also did not attend the burial), Robert Jr, Chatunga, Leo, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, representing government and Mnangagwa, and Ministry of Home Affairs officials.

“The designs of the Mausoleum were approved by Grace and relatives. Permission to construct the mausoleum came from Grace, only to change her mind later and leave everyone in the dark,” he said.

After agreeing that he should be buried at the National Heroes Acre, Mugabe’s family made an about turn last Thursday when it took a decision to honour his last wish by burying him in Zvimba.

-Zimbabwe Independent