Statement By Nelson Chamisa|Today is world teachers day…Teachers are a special source of enlightenment and a life foundation to us all.Good or bad leaders come through the hands of teachers.Teachers strive to drive all ignorance out of our minds.In some cases they struggle. We must all restore glitter and glamour of teaching as an honourable and rewarding profession. More money to our teachers. Greater dignity to these classroom practitioners. Happy teachers day to our life heroes!!!
Paul Nyathi|Zambian National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has said that she is disappointed by reports that some traditional leaders from a neighbouring Zimbabwe plan to carry out spiritual rituals at Kariba dam ahead of the rainy season.
Reverend Sumaili said that Zambia is a Christian nation and it is important that the country looks to God to provide the rains.
She said that people must not rely on the water spirit known as Nyami -Nyami which is believed to be found at Kariba dam.
Reverend Sumaili noted that the country should not embrace the Nyami -Nyami because it is an idol but should instead trust God for the rains.
Reverend Sumaili said this in an interview with ZNBC in Lusaka. She said she will engage the traditional leaders and the church in southern province over the matter.
Reverend Sumaili said the clergy should organize themselves to offer prayers.
Zimbabwean Traditionalists said that they believed that the receding of water at the Kariba DAM Hydro-electricity scheme is because the Nyaminyami Tonga god is still upset with the people for messing up his resting place. Should rituals be conducted to restore order and save the nation power deficiencies.
According to legend and local myths, the Tonga tribe in the Zambezi valley is protected by an ancestral spirit, locally known as Nyaminyami the river god.
Last year Chiefs from both sides of the Lake Kariba held special prayers, to plead with ‘Nyaminyami’ the river god not to harm construction workers during the Dam wall rehabilitation project.
Traditionalists feared that the Tonga god, believed to have been separated from his wife, during the initial construction of Lake Kariba in the 1950s could strike again, as the noise from blasting and lorries during the excavation works at the construction site may remind him of his spouse who is believed to be in the lower Zambezi river.
By Own Correspondent- MDC MP for Harare West Joanna Mamombe has been named as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influencial Young Africans for 2019 by the AU Youth Special Envoy.
Said Mamombe:
Ooh Mama look @ your Daughter! The Lord has been great to us mummy Kudzayi Chiwanza, I owe it to you Mama. I have been listed together with the AU Youth Special Envoy, Aya Chebbi
It’s no longer in doubt that even we ordinary people through hard work and grace can achieve greatness.
As noted by respected American Politician Rahm Emmanuael for every small success pose a little and celebrate hard work.
Today, I would like to thank #AfricaYouthAwards for recognizing the the work that I have done in support of democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and Africa.
It is an award dedicated to the people of #HarareWestConstituency who placed their confidence in me to be their representative.
Thank u President Nelson Chamisa for the guidance & mentorship to us the young people in MDC…
To all the young people: It is possible and a new Africa is possible in our lifetime!
I am grateful for the Recognition & award.
Malawi Nation|The Constitutional Court sitting in Lilongwe will on Monday rule on two applications in the ongoing elections petition case.
In his application, the second petitioner Lazarus Chakwera is asking the court to allow two of his witnesses to insert documents reportedly omitted and make some alterations to their sworn statements.
The other ruling of the court will be on an application by first respondent President Peter Mutharika, whose lawyers want to cross-examine one of Chakwera’s witnesses, Richard Chapweteka, on a document in possession of second respondent, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) which he referred to.
The five-judge panel heard the applications yesterday morning and chair, Justice Healey Potani, announced before the court adjourned at noon that the rulings would be delivered on Monday.
Both respondents—Mutharika and MEC—are objecting to the application by Chakwera to allow his two witnesses insert the documents and make some alterations in their sworn statements, arguing that, that would be equal to bringing new evidence in the case.
On the other hand, the first petitioner UTM presidential hopeful Saulos Chilima also opposed to the application by Mutharika’s lawyers to allow them cross-examine Chapweteka on the document in possession of MEC, being a checklist of electoral materials printed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
On the document in question, Chakwera’s legal team took a soft stance, with lawyer Modecai Msisha confirming what one of the lawyers representing the President, Frank Mbeta, said, to the effect that they had no problems to have them refer to the document and cross-examine their witness on that.
MEC also allowed Mutharika’s legal team to refer to the document, but vigorously argued, through lead lawyer Tamando Chokotho, against Chakwera’s application to have his two witnesses—Peter Lackson and Anthony Bendulo—insert some documents in their sworn statements and make some changes in the statements.
After presentations of arguments and counter arguments, the court adjourned for next week, to focus on the applications made and arguments provided in reference to the law, and come Monday, October 7, the court has to deliver its rulings.
But who will carry the day?
It is an undisputable fact that any ruling within trial/hearing, if it goes in one’s favour, helps to build confidence to the winning party and it becomes a setback to the losing party as it means certain wishes are rejected and may in one way or the other affect the game-plan.
Mbeta, lead lawyer for Mutharika, briefed the court earlier yesterday that Chakwera had no problems to have his team refer to the document in possession of MEC, to which Msisha confirmed.
However, lawyer Marshall Chilenga, representing Chilima, said the document that was being sought was subject for disclosure as goods received by MEC.
“We dealt with this matter on 27th June [2019], and that time, the document was not there. This request failed that time,” he said.
Chilenga said entertaining the issue now would mean going back to what was dealt with when the document in question was not there.
But Mbeta argued that the document would help to show the ballot papers that were received, their safety as they were being transported from Dubai to Malawi and if boxes were sealed.
Mbeta argued the document would not prejudice the first petitioner’s case as none of Chilima’s witnesses made reference to that document, except Chapweteka.
But Chilenga argued they indeed did not talk about this document up until the time they closed their case because it was not there, insisting bringing it now would prejudice their case.
On their application to allow insertion of some documents and alterations of sworn statements, Titus Mvalo, one of the lawyers for Chakwera, argued that the law allows a party to alter statements and insert documents if the request is intended to provide to court better facts.
“These documents being requested are not bringing new evidence…these are documents that are already in court, but just making some additions. And we just want to correct what was not there,” he said, making reference to some pieces of the law.
He said a party has a right to reconstruct statements in the manner they want to present their case in court.
Mvalo said it was up to the court to consider how evidence is presented, not to banish them.
Pempho Likongwe, another lawyer for Chakwera, said the application is meant to include what was omitted, but the narration remains the same.
But Mada Mmeta, another lawyer for Mutharika, argued that any change in the statements would mean changing evidence.
In reference to some pieces of the law, he said a sworn statement can be amended through another sworn statement, which did not happen in the current matter.
Mmeta said allowing insertion of some document would mean allowing the party to amplify its evidence, which the court disallowed in its September 18 2019 ruling.
Chokotho agreed with Mmeta that the accepted procedure for correcting errors is by filing fresh sworn statements, setting facts correctly. He urged the court not to allow the amendment.
Chakwera and Chilima claim that results for the May 21 2019 presidential election were marred with irregularities and fraud and want them nullified. The two are also seeking a court’s order for a re-run.
MEC declared Mutharika as winner. The electoral petition case started on August 8 2019.
Paul Nyathi|A Nigerian couple who served as page boy and little bride at a wedding has ended up becoming husband and wife.
The bride shared the photos on her Instagram page writing;
”My #flashbackfriday puts forth the story of my life…. who would have known that this would happen.
From being little bride and groom, from being just family friends, from being the only older person I knew to help me with the kids that would bully me in primary school, we’re now husband and wife.
My parents and hubby’s were friends long before I existed this had nothing to do with an arranged marriage, because we became an item officially 2 years ago because I and my family relocated and we lost contact till 2013, thanks to FB and BBM. Just look at my dad carrying my husband in his arms not knowing he’d become his son inlaw 27 years l8r. Jehovah was definitely involved and were indeed grateful”.
Starvation in Silobela has reportedly caused families to force young girls into prostitution as hunger continues to torment some parts of the country.
This was revealed by Silobela Ward 30 Councillor Idirashe Dongo while addressing the 50-50 Campaign.
Cllr Dongo said families had resorted to forcing underage girls into child marriages and prostitution.
“We have noted with concern that many girls in the area are being forced by their guardians to get into relationships with amakorokoza (gold panners) in exchange for money.
“We urge parents to desist from such behaviour as they are putting children at risk of contacting sexually transmitted diseases,” she said.
Cllr Dongo also bemoaned the upsurge in school dropout cases saying in most cases, girls were the victims.
“This new and bad culture that has been adopted by guardians has resulted in a sharp increase of school dropout cases. In most cases, it is the girl child that drops out of school as they have to either get married at a young age or venture into prostitution so that the family can survive,” she said.
Cllr Dongo castigated parents saying they should never prioritise food at the expense of their children’s health.
“It is heart breaking and devastating to think a parent or guardian can actually prioritise food and not the health of their children. Such parents have no shame and such doings should never be tolerated,” she said.
During the same campaign, Cllr Dongo also bemoaned the rise in domestic violence in her area saying some males were also victims of domestic violence.
The 50-50 campaign is a campaign to achieve gender equality between men and women in all spheres of society.
Jerry Matebesi |The legacy of former Zimbabwe President Robert Gabriel Mugabe remains a contested terrain and it ought to be understood within the context of colonialism and neo-colonialism. The deconstruction of the political space inhabited by the former president of Zimbabwe is also littered with empirical and non-empirical suppositions. There is also a pattern of structural racism invoked by those who attempt to give a subjective interpretation on the role played by President Robert Mugabe in the politics of Zimbabwe and the African continent in general.
Let’s start with the colonial perspective and how it seeks to give meaning to the role played by Mugabe in the liberation politics of former Rhodesia. Colonialism demonised Mugabe from the on-set by putting all measures in place to reject him as a political leader. Not only was he branded a terrorist by the colonial government of Ian Smith, but he was equally jailed for ten years and his basic human rights were denied.
Colonialism emasculated itself of any shred of humanity when it refused to release Mugabe for the burial of his only son with his first wife, Sally Hayfron. During the 1979 Lancaster House Conference, Britain as the coloniser agreed on everything else i.e. universal suffrage, recognition of majority rule and reconciliation, but could not commit on terms demanded by leaders of liberation movements on the question of land. The land debate lasted for over three weeks without any progress.
While the Lancaster House Conference was in session, the colonial administration of Smith and the racist government of South Africa attacked military bases of Zimbabwe’s African National Union (Zanu) and its rival Zimbabwe’s African People’s Union (Zapu) which were all operating from Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. In its own calculations, colonialism wanted to exert pressure on Samora Machel, Kenneth Kaunda and Julius Nyerere who supported both Zanu and Zapu.
The colonists’ strategy worked and the latter leaders, fearing the continuous destabilisation campaign in their country’s accompanied by loss of life and damage to infrastructure, gave both Joshua Nkomo of Zapu and Mugabe of Zanu an ultimatum to agree on the question of land.
In a telephonic call to Mugabe in Britain, Nyerere is said to have appealed to him to sign the Lancaster House Agreement and resolve to use the constitution after elections to deal with the question of land.
The Lancaster House Agreement was signed with few principles i.e. that radical land reform in Zimbabwe would be halted for the next ten years after multiparty elections, that Britain would foot the bill for the land redistribution programme and that the principle of willing buyer, willing seller will be implemented.
The agreement gave Africans in Zimbabwe political power and left economic power in the hands of white people. It simply meant that arable and productive land would remain in the hands of white people irrespective of the outcome of elections. Britain paid a pittance towards land reform in the early 1980s after Mugabe assumed power, but the Labour government under Tony Blair refused to continue to fund land reform in Zimbabwe.
Having beaten the Conservative Party (Tories) in the elections of 1997, the administration of Blair argued that it was not party to agreements which took place during the colonial period. On the other hand, the neo-colonial perspective equally rejected the persona of Mugabe as a liberator of his people in post-colonial Zimbabwe.
Like the colonial perspective, the neo-colonial school of thought also interpreted Mugabe’s political disposition out of the realm of hardcore politics which is dominated by the doctrine of realpolitik. The latter is characterised by sub-texts such as ‘power struggle’, ‘political calculation’, ‘elimination of enemies’ and ‘rewards for allies’.
It is the unfortunate mass slaughter of the Ndebele people in the early 80s (Gukurahundi) which is accentuated by forces of neo-colonialism to depict Mugabe as a savage and demean his standing as a political actor that made use of sub-texts mentioned above to achieve political ends.
Gukurahundi, which in Shona language means ‘the sweeping away of rubbish’, has become a useful device by forces sympathetic to the neo-colonial perspective. Empirical data on human development indicators obliterates the parochial anti-Mugabe narrative that seek to propagate the view that he never developed Zimbabwe.
For an example, records indicate that educational opportunities were extended to many Zimbabwean people in the early years of independence. Enrolments for high school improved from 2% at the time of independence to about 70% by 1990. In the same period, Zimbabwe’s literacy levels improved from 45% to 80%.
As a token of reconciliation, the Mugabe government extended an olive branch and persuaded close to 200,000 white people not to leave Zimbabwe at the time of independence. Over 4,500 commercial farmers were also allowed to continue to trade.
Structural racism as a third component used to complement the colonial and neo-colonial attacks on Mugabe is signaled by how authors such as Heidi Holland portray him as a weak leader with and ‘inferiority complex’. However, such analysis is spared on racists and colonists like Smith.
Mugabe is further caricatured in the book titled Dinner with Mugabe with epithets such as “The freedom fighter who became a tyrant.” Racist comments on the pigmentation of Mugabe’s ‘black’ skin are made in the same book to de-humanise him as a person.
Racist and subjective views that Mugabe was jealous of President Nelson Mandela are promoted with gusto. Holland’s book mentioned above has become a potent weapon of propaganda which continues to justify economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.
The seizure of land in Zimbabwe remains an important lesson to South Africa which is still debating modalities on how the land question can be resolved.
The two remaining forces of neo-colonialism and imperialism will definitely treat South Africa the same way Zimbabwe was treated when Mugabe attempted to implement the resolutions of the Lancaster House Agreement on the question of land.
Mugabe was a human being and my final conclusion on his legacy is that he was 90% correct and 10% wrong.
EFF North West spokesperson Jerry Matebesi is based in Mahikeng and writes in his personal capacity.
AN inmate who is serving jail time for armed robbery left a trail of destruction at the Kwekwe magistrates’ courts after he vandalised property demanding that he be set free as he was not the one behind the crimes that he was convicted of.
Business temporarily came to a halt at the courts as armed police details had to be called in to rein in Tichaona Chacha (34), a popular bouncer who was sentenced to four years in prison for a spate of armed robberies around the mining town, who threatened to reduce the court building to a heap of rubble.
ZPCS and ZRP officers who tried to apprehend him had a torrid time as they were thrown against the walls by the highly charged bouncer.
Chacha was in August slapped with a combined 54 months in jail for a spate of robberies he committed in cahoots with three other accomplices.
Twelve months were, however, set aside by the magistrate on condition that he restitutes a total of $61 020 to the said complainants before 30 September, which he failed to do.
He was therefore dragged to the court to answer to failure to restitute charges.
All hell broke loose when magistrate Storey Rushambwa effected the 12 months that were set aside.The bouncer tore the booth into pieces leaving court attendees scampering for cover.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers had a torrid time as they tried in vain to handcuff the charged Chacha who threw anything at anyone.
Court officials also left in a huff adjourning the court proceedings immediately as they ran for dear life.
When this news crew arrived at the scene, entry points to the court were locked and armed ZPCS officers and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) manned the gates while some were trying calm the situation while inside.
Chacha was still inside the court room where he was still destroying property and shouting at the top of his voice demanding that he be released.
“I did not commit any crime, I want to be released.
Why is it you never questioned the people we purportedly robbed where they got such amounts of money. They are part of the cabal that is destroying the economy, I want justice and I want to be released. I am not going to stop until I am released,” he yelled.
It was after about an hour of negotiating that composed ZRP and ZPCS officers managed to handcuff the bouncer who seemed to have run out of steam before he was whisked away to the police to face fresh charges.
B-Metro
Paul Nyathi|RISING afro-jazz musician Silver Diamond, real name Kudzai Savanhu, said he received a top-of -the-range car from a bona fide ruling party’s supporter following the release of his song “Baba Bona” dedicated to former President Robert Mugabe.
Silver Diamond, in his song, showered praises on the former President for his contribution during the liberation struggle.
Although Silver Diamond could not be drawn into revealing the name of the politician, who gave him the Range Rover Sport, he said he was grateful over the recognition.
“I was surprised to get a call from this very popular ZANU-PF bigwig asking for a meeting.
“Young as I am, both in age and musically, I was really shocked that at some point I thought it was a prank, but went for the meeting anyway,” he said.
“It was a great shock when I met the revered chef, who took me to lunch and narrated how he was touched by my song.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Communication and Technology Chairperson, Chalton Hwende, has made a successful application for the temporary release of his passport by the courts to enable him to travel to Kenya on government business.
A Harare magistrate on Friday granted the application by the Kuwadzana East MDC legislator, who is set to attend an ICT workshop in Kenya from October 6 to 10. The legislator is facing charges of inciting violence.
Allegations against the legislator are that, during the period extending from December 28 to 31, in 2018, Hwende posted on his Twitter handle messages that in their nature had the effect of inciting the people to revolt against the Government both in his personal capacity and as a Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance legislator for Kuwadzana East constituency.
Hwende’s Twitter posts allegedly incited the public to overthrow the constitutionally elected Government of Zimbabwe by engaging in mass protests characterised by violence.
Paul Nyathi|Patrick Zhuwao, the nephew of the late former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has written a letter to Julius Sello Malema, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters apologising on behalf of President Mnangagwa on the way in which Malema was treated when he came Zimbabwe to give his condolences to the Mugabe family on the death of former President Robert Mugabe.
See the letter below.
Paul Nyathi|MDC deputy national chair Job Sikhala has asked to be excluded from taking responsibility for the widespread celebrations that the country experienced at the removal of former President Robert Mugabe from power blaming all those who did for the current military run state the country is faced with.
Sikhala was responding to questions during Thursday’s Media Centre organised Town House public discussion on the State of the Nation address.
“Exclude me, I did not participate in that nonsense. Firstly, being a scholar of history not as a lawyer alone, knowing well that where the military has taken a leading role in the changing of government, nowhere in Africa have soldiers led a democratic change.
“We knew we were going through a military coup and a military coup would only be supported by those people who did not have the eyes to see that we are being taken into a trap of a worse dictatorship,” said Sikhala.
MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who passed away on Valentine’s Day last year, endorsed then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rise to power following the coup, with both Tsvangirai and his successor Nelson Chamisa attending the new Zanu PF leader’s first inauguration in Harare December 2017.
Tsvangirai and his party’s leadership attended the coup’s main rally at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfields while thousands also took part in the march demanding Mugabe “should go.”
Sikhala explained why he thought Zimbabweans marched.
“Zimbabweans were tired of lies, for example that poverty is because of sanctions. Secondly, they had a chance to get rid of a stubborn and murderous Mugabe who killed thousands in Matabeleland in what was (one of) Africa’s first genocides.”
Watch video downloading below:
State Media|TWENTY NINE households in Mazwi village on the outskirts of Bulawayo will be relocated to pave way for the erection of a 335km long overhead power line from a proposed Hwange Substation to Insukamini Electricity Substation by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).
The proposed overhead power line is part of the Hwange Power Station Expansion Project which will add an additional 600MW of power to the national grid upon completion in 2022.
To enable transmission of additional power from Hwange, there is need to construct new power lines from Hwange to Insukamini and Sherwood.
According to the latest council minutes, ZPC wrote to Bulawayo City Council (BCC) seeking authority to relocate the residents.
“The proposed generation expansion works at Hwange Thermal Power Station includes construction of additional transmission infrastructure which includes the construction of 335km long overhead power line from the proposed Hwange Substation to Insukamini Electricity Substation. The route of the power line runs through Mazwi Township. This will result in the need to relocate twenty-nine households,” said ZPC in a statement to BCC.
In the minutes, BCC did not raise any objections to the proposed relocation.
It however said ZPC must provide alternative accommodation before Mazwi homesteads are demolished to pave way for the project.
“A proposed residential layout has therefore been prepared to cater for the affected families,
However, it shall be noted the movement of displaced persons to the new properties is a process that ought to be done prior to destruction of the existing properties. There is a sequence of activities that are ought to be carried out to make the new homesteads available,” said BCC in response.
“The stands are to be departmentally surveyed for cadastral data, the developments on each existing property have to be taken note of and replacements have to done on the new property.
“The roads have to be constructed to the specification of the Director of Engineering Services. Communal water mains extensions have to be put in place and construction of houses to duplicate the existing structures to de done in accordance with the Council approved plans and the relevant by-laws.”
The city council said ZPC will pay for all the costs of the project which BCC will supervise.
“All costs related to the entire project are to be borne by the Zimbabwe Power Company. Thereafter permission is sought from council for processes that are to be carried out to effect the relocation to start in earnest. All works related to this project to be done under the supervision of council,” said the statement.
State Media|TWENTY Zimbabweans, who lived in South Africa without contact with their families for periods of up to 40 years, have been reunited with their kith and kin back home.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) tracked down the 20 — some of whom had changed names and started a new life and families in South Africa without notifying relatives — using its “Trace the Family” programme based on data and pictures provided by relatives.
Most families had given up searching for the migrants, assuming they had died on the other side of the Limpopo.
In an interview on the sidelines of a recent Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) media engagement workshop in Gweru, ICRC representative Mr Hilton Zvidzayi said they started a pilot project called the “Missing and Deceased Migrants Project” that helps migrants reconnect with their families.
The pilot project, he said, started in Gwanda and Zaka districts recently and has seen 20 Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa being successfully reunited with their families back home.
“We are running a pilot project to understand the needs and challenges in terms of reuniting missing and deceased people with their families. So we had 67 cases reported in Gwanda and 33 cases reported in Zaka.
Of these cases, we managed to solve 20 which have been closed successfully with our intervention after we managed to collect data in Zimbabwe and take it to South Africa and managed to reunite these 20 people with their families back home,” said Mr Zvidzayi.
He said eight cases were solved and the migrants returned to their homes in Gwanda and Zaka after having been away without communication for decades.
“So right now, we have 72 pending cases where we haven’t been able to identify the people because we are still to go to South Africa with the data we collected. But our tracing officer will go to South Africa soon with the hope of completing these cases as a matter of urgency,” he said.
“We are encouraging people to come to the Red Cross for this new programme and leave details to be put into the database for us to use in tracing their missing relatives. This is a fairly new programme in this country. Globally, however, there are 16 000 cases ICRC and its partners are working on and we are confident of reuniting families,” he said.
This comes at a time when South Africa recently started compensating ex-Wenela employees. These two seemingly unconnected events have opened a new chapter of an untold patch story of Zimbabwe’s history.
It is a story that needs to be told in its fullest as others had changed names and identities but somewhere in one corner of their minds, they were haunted by that sense of belonging to their original families.
Driven by the ancient vision of life to always identify with their ancestral lineage they found themselves coming back home after 40 years.
As to whether they will fit into their new lives only time will for tell, for 40 years is never a joke, it is a generation.
South African gold producers have asked Zimbabweans who used to work there as mine workers in the 1970s and contracted the fatal lung diseases silicosis and tuberculosis to come forward and benefit from a $400 million compensation fund.
This comes after the settlement of a far-reaching class action in South Africa that follows a long legal battle by miners to win compensation for illnesses, they say they contracted over decades because of negligence in health and safety.
The mine workers were not provided with adequate protection during and after apartheid rule ended in 1994, and include Zimbabweans who back home were said to have gone to “Wenera.”
Representatives of Southern African Miners Association (Sama) in Zimbabwe have said close to 4 000 ex-Wenela workers have registered for terminal benefits.
Wenela, acronym for Witwatersrand Native Labour Association in South Africa, closed in the early 1980s and thousands of locals who once worked there are poised to receive a windfall once pension talks are concluded.
Xulu Attorneys of South Africa have been engaged to represent the former workers, drawn from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
The ex-workers will at a later stage be expected to go for X-rays so that they get compensated if they contracted lung diseases such as silicosis during their period of employment, a process which will be funded by the World Bank, according to Sama Zimbabwe representative Mr Lungelwe Mkwananzi.
Wenera was the Shona version of the acronym, WNLA, which stands for the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association — the recruiting body of the South African Chamber of Mines.
The companies involved are Harmony Gold, Gold Fields, African Rainbow Minerals, Sibanye-Stillwater, AngloGold Ashanti and Anglo-American South Africa.
State Media|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.
According to the regulations, failure to pay the prescribed fine will attract an extra $100 daily, for each day in default.
The extra charge will run for 90 days before the accused is committed to civil imprisonment.
However, for crimes deemed more serious, defaulters will be fined a cumulative fee of $1 200 per day over 90 days. This is over and above the $6000 fixed fine in the event they fail to comply with the law giving a maximum possible fine of $114 000 before one gets imprisoned with the court having the prerogative to give both sentences.
Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday capped 2 243 graduates at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) where he was also conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree in Engineering, Sciences and Technology.
At the rate Mnangagwa is getting honorary degrees he appears to be in a quick race to try and attain the number of degrees that his predecessor late Robert Mugabe had. At his death last month, Mugabe was arguably the most capped former Head of State in Africa with 18 degrees: 7 academic, 11 honorary with 3 revoked.
In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa who had so far received honorary degrees at almost all of the country’s State Universities he has been to and another from Zambia, said science and technology fields had the potential to create jobs and improve people’s livelihoods.
“As I receive this prestigious award, allow me to acknowledge that engineering, sciences and technology are key in the developmental trajectory, modernisation and industrialisation of our great country.
“The transformation of these fields and associated milestones will undoubtedly have a profound effect on the achievement of sustainable economic development. Altering the types of jobs, the way people live, connect, communicate and transact,” President Mnangagwa said.
He urged institutions of higher learning to enhance capacities and competences in engineering, science, technology and innovation in line with the country’s development thrust.
“The CUT is one of those institutions in our country with the mandate to advance the development, design and utilisation of technologies.
“I recognise the strides that the institution continues to make in this regard. I am aware that some alumni of this university have gone on to develop ICT and engineering solutions which are now being used by various public entities,” he said.
The President said the Government will continue supporting the education model that emphasises innovation.
“My Government continues to support the new aggressive, Education 5.0 model, which seeks to expand the core business of universities to include innovation and industrialisation.
“To date I have commissioned innovation hubs at the Midlands State University (MSU) and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). I am also informed that the CUT innovation hub is also ready for commissioning. Hubs must not be an end in itself.
“It is our expectation that remarkable and paradigm shifting breakthroughs will be developed at these hubs. The development of prototypes, registration of patents and commercialisation of finished, usable and transformative products must be the ultimate objective.”
He added that research and innovations must be a catalyst for economic growth. He bemoaned the country’s continued dependence on imports for its equipment and medical needs.
“Institutions of higher learning must also harness contemporary engineering practices to accelerate the creation of rural industry systems and the modernisation of infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.
“Similarly the negative impact of climate change and the opportunities in the energy sector must inspire the relevant schools of engineering, towards innovative research and product development in fuels and renewable energy,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President later on capped 2 243 students who graduated at the varsity.
The ceremony was the 15th since the establishment of the institution.
In his address, CUT Vice Chancellor Professor David Simbi said the institution was playing its part in helping the country achieve its development goals.
“CUT is continuing in its search for relevance to the nation in the current academic discourse as it seeks to better define a doctrine that so elegantly articulates our subscription to the nation’s vision for the establishment of innovation and industrialisation in the education system and a culture and heritage education architecture that should direct us towards the exploitation of our country’s natural resources,” Professor Simbi said.
He added that they were now focused on producing graduates that contributed to job creation.
The student enrolment has been growing steadily and now stands at 10 800, of whom 9 500 are undergraduates and 1 300 post-graduates.
Prof Simbi, however, bemoaned the low enrolment in science and technology programmes.
“The reason for the low Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enrolment is associated with insufficient number of high school leavers who successfully complete their Advanced Level in sciences,” he said.
“This has a negative impact in the enrolment for innovation, technology and engineering programmes that rely on science and technology subject sects required to progress the industrialisation and modernisation agenda.
Source: State Media
THE City of Harare could be losing thousands of dollars in potential revenue to illegal parking cartels involving rogue parking marshals and MDC-Alliance thugs who have grabbed parking space, investigations by this paper have revealed.
It was also established that the parking lots on the streets have now been turned into vehicle showrooms where unregistered ex-Japanese cars for sale are parked dangerously, obstructing other traffic and blocking roads.
Car dealers have moved from the peripheries of the city into the central business district where they have somehow found their way with the parking marshals and occupy the parking bays throughout the day.
These closely-knit groups have taken over parking spaces in the central business district, rendering City Parking officials irrelevant.
They at times bully the parking marshals, threatening them not to operate in “their areas”.
In terms of the Urban Councils Act and Municipal Traffic Laws Enforcement Act, local authorities are the only ones mandated with enforcement of Traffic By-laws which include parking management, clamping vehicles, towing and impounding vehicles that have violated the Traffic By-laws.State media
THE MTN8 final today is set to be a grand festival of celebration of the huge impact Zimbabwe has had on South African football, with seven Warriors having a direct interest in its outcome at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
It’s an historic occasion — the decider being held in South Africa’s biggest and historic township in the year the iconic Orlando Stadium celebrates the 60th anniversary since its gates were first opened.
It’s also the 45th final of this knock-out tournament reserved for the clubs which would have finished in Super Diski’s top eight the previous season since the first one was held in 1972.
Orlando Pirates, the giants who use the Orlando Stadium as their home, were the debut winners back when the tournament was still called the BP Top8.
Since then, the tournament — just like the stadium itself — has undergone a lot of transformation, with South African Airways once coming on board as sponsors before MTN took over in 2008.
It was also the same year the Orlando Stadium underwent a major R280 million facelift to convert it as a training ground for teams ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals held in South Africa.
It’s a place that holds a special place in South African history as it was central to the landmark events of June 16, 1976, when thousands of black students marched to the Orlando Stadium in protest over being ordered to learn Afrikaans language.
That march sparked the Soweto Uprising, a key phase in the Rainbow Nation’s battle against apartheid.
Today’s battle for silverware, and the R8 million prize that comes with winning the trophy will have a distinct Zimbabwean flavour in yet another advertisement of the influence local football has had on Super Diski.
Kaitano Tembo could become the first Zimbabwean coach to win the tournament should SuperSport United triumph, and in the process, cast away the demons of their failure at the same stage last year.
The 49-year-old gaffer picked a losers’ medal back then at the Moses Mabidha Stadium after his men froze in the penalty shootout and were beaten by Cape Town City in the lottery, with the match having ended in a 1-1 draw.
Kaitano’s SuperSport United team has a strong Zimbabwean influence, with goalkeeper Washington Arubi, defender Onismor Bhasera, midfielder Kuda Mahachi and striker Evans Rusike being part of the team’s squad.
Their opponents, Highlands Park, also have a Zimbabwean influence with veteran goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini and striker Tendai Ndoro being part of their squad.
Kapini has just returned from injury, while Ndoro is being praised by his coach Owen Da Gama.
A victory for SuperSport United could see Kaitano all but securing a contract extension as coach of Matsatsansa after club chief executive Stan Matthews said the Zimbabwean gaffer has to win a knockout tournament and at least finish in the top four to retain his job.State media
ZESA Holdings has embarked on a nationwide blitz on defaulters, including high-profile businesspeople, farmers and politicians, and has blacklisted them so that they cannot open new accounts using different addresses.
ZESA spokesman Mr Fullard Gwasira said the power utility had embarked on a cocktail of measures to recover its money, including disconnections, litigation and blocking defaulters from “taking their bad practice elsewhere”.
The power utility is owed over $1 billion by domestic, mining, industrial and other users.
“The power utility is taking various measures that include blacklisting, installation of prepayment meters for domestic consumers and small institutions, installation of smart meters for medium and large power users that consume 100 amps and above.
“We are also resorting to disconnections and litigation against such defaulters to recover the revenue that is locked with them,” he said.
On blacklisting, Mr Gwasira said: “Blacklisting is part of credit control options in use by all businesses in an attempt to flag out customers with a deviant behaviour from taking their bad practice of not honouring debts by opening accounts elsewhere. It is not a preserve of ZESA.”
Mr Gwasira said the blitz excludes critical service providers that offer basic service delivery, including local authorities.
“Disconnections are not affecting critical service providers like defaulting municipalities, but we are engaging them on the legal front to ensure that they pay for their consumption of electricity,” he said.State media
By Own Correspondent| Below are the estimated statistics from some hospitals following the ongoing doctors strike which began in September. ZimEye has queried why the figures are rounded off. The only plausible explanation given was that the hospitals do not have a systematic method of capturing the number of the deaths categorised under the (primary database key) factor of an incident such as a doctors strike. These numbers were collated from estimates using mortuary space calculations, hence their being presented in rounded off format. Readers are notified that by Sunday we should have more reliable numbers.
REPORTED DEATHS IN METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS.
——————————————
These deaths are only of those who died in hospital. Thousands have been discharged. Many are dying at home the statistics for those dying at home will never be known.
The tough ghetto life taught Zimbabwe international Marshall Munetsi some priceless lessons about love and giving back to the less privileged members of the society.
The France-based midfielder, whose fledgling Marshall Munetsi Foundation has taken on board over 60 children under its wings, has been hailed in Mabvuku for his decision to pay school fees for the kids.
Munetsi has been running the foundation with the assistance of his close friend Munya Wayne Tembo, who has been doing all the work on the ground.
“Growing up in Avondale and Mabvuku helped me realise a lot of things and how hard it is, especially living in the ghetto where there are less privileged people,’’ said Munetsi.
“It’s a challenge for kids to get a better education when they can’t go to school because of (lack of) finances.
“So, the idea has always been there, but I was waiting for the right time to start it.
“I’m glad it has been possible with the help of a friend and a brother Munya Tembo.”
The foundation paid school fees for 30 primary school children in Mabvuku.State media
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, Jason 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.
President Mnangagwa yesterday capped 2 243 graduates at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) where he was also conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree in Engineering, Sciences and Technology in recognition of his efforts to promote science and technology as key enablers of development.
In his acceptance speech, the President said science and technology fields had the potential to create jobs and improve people’s livelihoods.
“As I receive this prestigious award, allow me to acknowledge that engineering, sciences and technology are key in the developmental trajectory, modernisation and industrialisation of our great country.
“The transformation of these fields and associated milestones will undoubtedly have a profound effect on the achievement of sustainable economic development. Altering the types of jobs, the way people live, connect, communicate and transact,” President Mnangagwa said.
He urged institutions of higher learning to enhance capacities and competences in engineering, science, technology and innovation in line with the country’s development thrust.
“The CUT is one of those institutions in our country with the mandate to advance the development, design and utilisation of technologies.
“I recognise the strides that the institution continues to make in this regard. I am aware that some alumni of this university have gone on to develop ICT and engineering solutions which are now being used by various public entities,” he said.
The President said the Government will continue supporting the education model that emphasises innovation.State media
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
@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
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
CONFIDENTE newspaper senior journalist Patience Nyangove died this morning after suffering from kidney failure.
She was 38.
Patience Nyangove
The Zimbabwean-born journalist died at around 04h00 this morning after being hospitalised over three weeks at a Windhoek hospital.
Nyangove, who joined Confidente in 2011, was a senior reporter with over 16 years’ working experience in the print industry.
Confirming her death this morning, Confidente founding editor Max Hamata in a statement described Nyangove as a hard working and passionate investigative journalist who covered several reporting beats with particular interest in politics and health.
“Her investigative work included several criminal enterprises, stemming from [the] GIPF multi-million dollar fraud saga, investigation into racketeering illegal abortions by several doctors and Chinese government scholarships.
“We have lost one of our own and we can only honour her legacy by building on the foundation that she left with us. Certainly journalism is poorer without her and we offer our deepest condolences to her family,” said Hamata. THE NAMIBIAN
Watch video below. ..
Watch video below. ..
Marvellous Nakamba’s market has risen sharply since joining Aston Villa in the pre-season.
The midfielder made a high-profile transfer from Belgian giants Club Brugge worth €12 million to become the most expensive Zimbabwean player in history.
His market value, however, had dropped to around €7 million at the time the deal was completed, according to TransferMarkt website. This was probably due to his limited game at Afcon after picking up an injury and failure to break into Brugge team towards the end of the 2018/19 season.
And that drop was the reason his arrival at Villa dragged slowly as the EPL side was reluctant to part away with anything far much above the value.
After making four appearances across all competitions, Nakamba’s current value has been put at €8 million and is poised to surpass that mark if he gets more game time.
Centre-back Teenage Hadebe and midfielder Marshall Munetsi have also maintained a steady rise in value since moving to Europe in the pre-season.
Munetsi who has a tag of €550 000 joined Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims from Orlando Pirates for an undisclosed fee.
Hadebe made a switch to the Turkish top-flight side Yeni Malatyaspor from Kaizer Chiefs and currently has a market value of €350 000.
However, it’s a different story for Warriors captain Knowledge Musona whose value has marginally dropped since joining Anderlecht last year.
The forward struggled to break into the team and is yet to feature a game this season. His dismal performance at Afcon also had an impact.
Musona currently values at €1 million, a slide from the €2,5 million price tag which he had during his time at KV Oostende in 2017.
South Africa-based winger Khama Billiat hit his highest market value – €2 million – early this year and has managed to maintain it, thanks to his outstanding contribution at Afcon.
He is currently the most valued Warriors player based in Africa and is tied with Tinotenda Kadewere who plays in the French Ligue 2 for AC Le Havre.
Nottingham Forest defender Tendayi Darikwa has also maintained his value – €1,5 million despite some injuries which had affected him this year while Alec Mudimu who plays in the modest Welsh Premier League is priced way below at €150 000.
Other Warriors stars based in South Africa have values not exceeding €600 000 with goalkeeper George Chigova, Talent Chawapiwa, Divine Lunga, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Danny Phiri the highest priced players.Soccer 24
A 69-YEAR-OLD man from Gwanda has been arrested for allegedly raping his 13-year-old granddaughter on two separate occasions while under his custody.
The man from Kafusi area, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda.
He was remanded in custody to October 14. Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said the old man raped his granddaughter last month.
Her grandmother left her and her two siblings aged eight and 10 years under the custody of their grandfather while she attended a funeral.
“On September 10, the complainant’s grandmother went to attend a funeral and left the complainant and her two brothers aged eight and 10 years under the custody of their grandfather.
“On a date unknown to the prosecutor but during the same month the complainant and her siblings were playing outside when the accused person called her. He tasked her to go and sweep in his bedroom hut while he ordered the two boys to remain outside playing,” she said.
“The accused person followed the complainant into the bedroom hut and instructed her to stop sweeping and sit on the bed and she complied. He started touching her and ordered her to remove her clothes. The complainant refused and attempted to exit the bedroom hut but the accused person closed the door. He grabbed her, placed her on the bed and raped her once. The complainant tried to scream for help but failed as her grandfather had covered her mouth with his hand.”
Miss Mahachi said the accused person warned the complainant against reporting the matter to anyone and she remained quiet. She said on a later date during the same month the complainant and her siblings were sitting in the kitchen hut when the accused person walked in.
She said the accused person instructed the boys to go and fetch firewood in the bush and told the complainant to remain behind and prepare supper.
Miss Mahachi said when the other children were gone, the accused person grabbed the complainant while in the kitchen hut and raped her and warned her against reporting the matter.
“Upon the return of her grandmother on September 18, the juvenile complained of pain in her private parts. Her grandmother inspected her and questioned her on what had happened after noticing some bruises. The complainant revealed what her grandfather had done to her,” she said.
The matter was reported to the police resulting in the accused person’s arrest.- state media
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa must address the legitimacy crisis in Zimbabwe instead of presenting cheap political rhetoric to the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
See below the opposition party’s full statement: The Zimbabwean economy is in a deep crisis as manifested by a proliferation of unresolved deepening monetary, fiscal, social and political headaches which the illegitimate regime has clearly failed to arrest.
The problem in Zimbabwe is a Confidence-cum-Legitimacy crisis.
The recent SONA and the preceding RBZ ban on cash-in, cash-back and cash-out platforms are desperate attempts to provide white wash and token solutions based on manifested symptoms of a sick economy.
The business as usual SONA must be roundly condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans for the SONA failed to provide answers to the suffering Zimbabweans.
Indeed, the SONA failed to provide answers or solutions to the following:
What is the alternative?
The country is at a cross roads.and one year after the stolen election the illegitimate regime has driven the economy on the cliff edge and plunged the country into a socio-economic Armageddon.
The regime remains unrelenting in its quest to inflict suffering on the people by clearly committing an economic genocide.
The MDC has the solutions to reverse the current economic catastrophe.
We propose the following:
Fellow Zimbabweans, the Zanu PF regime is a bunch of clueless politicians. The country is being milked and the future of our posterity is already being auctioned. Under Zanu PF rule the situation can only get worse.
Zimbabwe is going to see more and more policy inconsistencies such as banning and unbanning; freezing and unfreezing etc. The country is now being run by a mafia which does not care. Mthuli Ncube is doing his experiments with the economy with disastrous consequences. His neo-liberal agenda has brought pain and suffering to the poor. Yet this implosion can only be addressed by the return to legitimacy. Clearly there is no method in the madness.
lssued by the MDC Policy and Research Department
The Zimbabwean economy is in a deep crisis as manifested by a proliferation of unresolved deepening monetary, fiscal, social and political headaches which the illegitimate regime has clearly failed to arrest.
The problem in Zimbabwe is a Confidence-cum-Legitimacy crisis.
The recent SONA and the preceding RBZ ban on cash-in, cash-back and cash-out platforms are desperate attempts to provide white wash and token solutions based on manifested symptoms of a sick economy.
The business as usual SONA must be roundly condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans for the SONA failed to provide answers to the suffering Zimbabweans.
Indeed, the SONA failed to provide answers or solutions to the following:
What is the alternative?
The country is at a cross roads.and one year after the stolen election the illegitimate regime has driven the economy on the cliff edge and plunged the country into a socio-economic Armageddon.
The regime remains unrelenting in its quest to inflict suffering on the people by clearly committing an economic genocide.
The MDC has the solutions to reverse the current economic catastrophe.
We propose the following:
Fellow Zimbabweans, the Zanu PF regime is a bunch of clueless politicians. The country is being milked and the future of our posterity is already being auctioned. Under Zanu PF rule the situation can only get worse.
Zimbabwe is going to see more and more policy inconsistencies such as banning and unbanning; freezing and unfreezing etc. The country is now being run by a mafia which does not care. Mthuli Ncube is doing his experiments with the economy with disastrous consequences. His neo-liberal agenda has brought pain and suffering to the poor. Yet this implosion can only be addressed by the return to legitimacy. Clearly there is no method in the madness.
lssued by the MDC Policy and Research Department
Farai Dziva| Highlanders legend Madinda Ndlovu has been discharged from hospital.
“Awesome, Madinda Khathazile Ndlovu, Zimbabwe and Highlanders legend has been discharged from the hospital in Botswana.
He had a blood clot which led to a stroke and has been in hospital for a couple of weeks. We thank the almighty God, Doctors and good hearted people who prayed for his recovery. He is gone home for rehab and will be back up and running soon. We love you Shacky,” said Ezra Tshisa Sibanda.
Video loading 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 47-year-old teacher from Pumula South suburb allegedly raped a 12-year-old pupil that he was providing English extra lessons.
Shadreck Kantsholo is alleged to have gone to the minor’s place under the guise of providing extra lessons and reportedly fondled her.
“He taught her the English subject and during the lesson he went behind minor’s back, stretched his arms and fondled her breasts, and pressed them against the table,” said State prosecutor Kenneth Shava at the Western Commonage magistrates courts when Kantsholo appeared in court.
The court heard that after fondling the pupil he undressed and also ordered the minor to take off her clothes. He allegedly went on to remove his clothes and also ordered the minor to remove her clothes. The minor complied. He allegedly raped her but stopped midway after noticing that the door was open. The minor then bolted through the front door and alerted neighbours, leading to the arrest of Kantsholo, the court heard.
Kantsholo pleaded not guilty before magistrate Gladmore Mushove and was remanded in custody to 10 October for trial.
“I did not do that Your Worship,” said Kantsholo.
-BMetro
I write to you with a profound sense of shame proffering my most sincere apologies for the deplorable manner in which your kind gesture of honouring the legacy of the late revolutionary icon, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe has been maligned and abused by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime. As a Zimbabwean, I feel obligated to apologise and take responsibility for the bad behaviour of Mnangagwa and his band since they are my compatriots.
The objective of the abuse and disparagement is to deflect attention from how Mnangagwa’s regime and its associated entities hounded and tormented President Mugabe into his death in exile. Mnangagwa has tried to bully and threaten President Mugabe’s family into burying him at Heroes Acre. He failed. After failing, Mnangagwa continues on a programme of retribution against President Mugabe’s widow and family. They have set illegal panners onto the family farm.
It is appalling that the Mnangagwa government owned and controlled Sunday Mail newspaper has been consistently abusing you for honouring the memory of President Mugabe. Mnangagwa’s media is pushing a blatantly false narrative that President Mugabe anointed Honourable Saviour Kasukuwere for president in a bid to downplay President Mugabe’s respect for democratically electing leaders. These narratives are then taken on by state-run social media ghost accounts that seek to further undermine President Mugabe by stoking tribalism.
It is also unfortunate that some individuals have also given hostage to fortune by injudiciously seeking to publicise the so-called Zimbabwe Generation 40 political party as being associated with some of us who are labelled as G40 stalwarts. Whilst I acknowledge that individuals have a right to harbouring and furthering their own personal political ambitions, I also have a right to dissociate myself from such ambitions as I hereby do. Apart from which, I am still mourning and grieving for my uncle, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, to engage myself in such political shenanigans.
Asante Sana. Iwe Neni Tine Basa. Umsebenzi lo Umkhulu.
Yours comradely, Patrick Zhuwao.
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 Nomusa Garikai_ Professor Lovemore Madhuku, one of Zimbabwe’s opposition party leaders, said President Mnangagwa’s speech to mark the opening of parliament proffered no solutions to the country’s myriad of economic, social and political problem.
“They are worse than (the late former President Robert) Mugabe, especially the level of indecision. I read a useful article which said Mnangagwa, through his Sona last year, set an ambitious target that has not been achieved. It does not begin to even address the basic issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Madhuku said his party was only participating in the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) with the hope that it would bring positive change to Zimbabwe and also to ensure that the Zanu PF government does not collapse.
Madhuku is 100% correct Mnangagwa’s speech “did not proffer any solutions” to the myriad of problems the nation facing. But that comes as no a surprise; the man is corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless, taking over the leadership of Zanu PF was not going to change that reality.
As much as Mnangagwa has tried to distance himself from Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and political tyranny of the 37 years Mugabe as the Zanu PF top dog; he cannot. He was a senior member of Mugabe’s government throughout the 37 years. Why did he not resign if he disapproved with the regime’s policies.
Indeed, Mnangagwa was Mugabe’s Chief enforcer and henchman. If was none other than Mnangagwa himself who went so far as to orchestrate the blatant “cooking up” of the March 2008 election result to deny Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC party the victory.
He went on to direct Zanu PF operatives, war veterans and security services personal to harass, intimidate, beat, rape and even to murder of over 500 innocent civilians in cold blood for the purpose of punishing the people for rejecting Zanu PF and forcing them to vote for Mugabe in the run-off.
Of course, Mnangagwa must bear his share of the blame blame for all the economic mess, corruption and the innocent blood that was shed during the Mugabe days. He stifled debate and democratic competition and even killed to keep Mugabe and Zanu PF in power!
Even if we gave Mnangagwa the benefit of the doubt and absolved him from all responsibility for the failures, chaos, etc. during Mugabe’s days. He has failed to accomplish anything in the last two years he has been in power.
He promised to end mismanagement and corruption; there are still rampant. He promised to hold free, fair and credible elections; he blatantly rig the elections. The silence all dissent against the rigged elections he ordered the soldiers to shoot to kill. 17 civilians were killed.
Zanu PF under Mnangagwa, is still a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs; same as under Mugabe. Nothing has change!
Of course, the opposition parties including MDC and Professor Madhuku’s NCA all participated in last year’s elections knowing fully well that Zanu PF had not change and will rig the elections. The opposition knew Zanu PF would give away a few gravy train seats and a share of the Political Party Finance (Act) payout for all who get 5% or more of the vote. It was this bait that the opposition are after; they did not care how flawed and illegal the election process was.
By participating in last year’s elections the opposition gave the flawed and illegal process some modicum of respectability and, by the same token, gave the illegitimate Zanu PF regime some modicum of legitimacy.
So Professor Lovemore Madhuku admits Mnangagwa is corrupt and incompetent; after 39 years of Zanu PF blundering from pillar to post, that is obvious. And yet, surprise, surprise he also admits to keeping Zanu PF from collapsing! How stupid is that!
Since President Mnangagwa has no clue how to get Zimbabwe out of this economic mess; “he did not proffer any solutions,” as Madhuku rightly put it; Zimbabwe is going to sink deeper and into the economic mess.
What is frustrating is unless we have free, fair and credible elections, we are well and truly stuck with this Zanu PF regime. And it is none other than Madhuku, Chamisa and the rest of the opposition village idiots whose participation in rigged elections are helping to keep Zanu PF in power!
Zimbabwe is in a real mess because the country has been stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical de facto one-party Zanu PF dictatorship for 39 years and counting. The country has been desperate for change for decades and the very people, the opposition, who should be delivering the change are the ones stopping change!
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.
All’s well that ends well…
When MDC MP legislator Job ‘Wiwa’ Sikhala wore a tight fitting waist coat inside his suit he had no idea that his fashion mishap would be the brainchild of many memes, adverts and the punchline of many jokes apparently.
However Mambo’s Chicken, well known for their witty banter swooped in to save the day…. after joking on his behalf of course.
Sikhala did some promotional work for them this afternoon under the #Wiwa hashtag.
When the Mambo’s Experience hits you, everything fits well!
#WIWANTYouToBeFull
#MambosChicken
#EatLikeAKing
-iharare
By A Correspondent- A privately-owned Falcon College in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province, is suing a parent for failing to pay fees amounting to over $14 700.
The college filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court, citing the child’s parent as the defendant.
Southern Eye has withheld the name of the parent to protect the child in question, who is a minor.
“The plaintiff’s claim against you is for payment of $14 742,19 being monies overdue and outstanding for school fees and levies in respect of your child whom you enrolled at the plaintiff’s school. Interest on the sum of $14 742,19 at the prescribed rate of 5% per annum from August 23 to date of full payment,” the summons read in part.
“The period for the amount above is for the term beginning May 2018 and ending July 2018. The above amount is still owing and accruing interest at the prescribed rate. Despite demand the defendant has failed, neglected, denied or delayed to pay the said amount,” the college submitted.
The school said the parent abused court process by forcing it to approach the court and thereby putting the college out of pocket in a straight forward matter.
“The conduct warrants a punitive order of costs on the legal practitioner and client scale. Wherefore plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendant for payment of $14 742,19 together with interest thereon at the prescribed rate of 5% per annum from August 23 2018 to date of full payment,” the college submitted.
The parent is yet to respond to the summons.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube faces a daunting task of structuring the 2020 National Budget in the wake of spiralling inflation now reportedly the highest in the world.
Felix Mhona, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance told NewsDay yesterday that his committee will next Monday meet Ncube and his staff to hear how their 2020 Budget position paper would be structured.
Mhona said the committee will be keen to hear how the Finance minister will rein in inflation which continues to soar, and given that the budget will be announced in local currency.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently said Zimbabwe’s inflation was around 300%, which means that the economy is experiencing major contraction. The local statistical office, Zimstats was ordered not to release inflation figures by Ncube.
On Tuesday, Ncube moved for the establishment of a committee of supply, to begin considering and voting the ordinary expenditure for the year as the pre-budget preparations for 2020 begin.
“The Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee will be meeting Ncube and his team on Monday so that they give us their position paper on the 2020 Budget,” Mhona said.
“The Finance minister has promised that inflation will stabilise and we are waiting for those variables — and we want him to explain when it (inflation) is going to stabilise, and how he will administer the budget given that it will be a Zimbabwe dollar budget.”
Mhona said given the soaring inflation figures, and the ever-rising intermarket bank rates against the United States dollar, the committee was eager to know how the 2020 Zimbabwe dollar budget would look like.
“Given the interbank rates that keep going up, we are worried that Ncube’s 2020 Budget in Zimbabwe dollars might not be sufficient. It might only cover the first quarter of the year if he does not manage to deal with inflation and to manage the exchange rate issues,” he said.
Mhona expressed fear that if inflation continues to soar, Ncube might be forced to come back to Parliament with a supplementary budget earlier than anticipated.
During the recent public hearings on the 2020 Budget, Mhona said the topical issues in rural and urban areas were calls by people that Ncube must deal with massive profiteering by EcoCash agents and ensure that they get cash through proper banking channels.
“That issue kept recurring, but we are glad that the Finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe are already dealing with it,” Mhona said.
In rural areas, Mhona said people were crying foul over the distorted pricing systems in the country, and they demanded that they should also be cushioned from escalating prices.
He also noted that urbanites wanted provision of adequate electricity and fuel, and promotion of industrialisation and infrastructural growth in terms of good road networks.
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 Wilbert Mukori| There is one thing we can say with absolute certainty; President Mnangagwa and his fellow Joint Operation Command (JOC) junta members, comprising the top brass in the country’s security services and a select Zanu PF party leaders, have no intention of giving up absolute power. They risked their looted wealth, life and limb, everything in the all-or-nothing November 2017 military coup to wrestle power from their erstwhile JOC colleagues and leader Robert Mugabe. They clearly have no intention of losing all that now.
Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation is putting Mnangagwa and his regime under ever increasing pressure; their continued hold on power is now dependent on the regime reviving the “dead economy”, as Mnangagwa himself admitted the other day.
It is no surprise then that President Mnangagwa has taken concrete steps to try replicate what President Paul Kagame has done in Rwanda; revive the economic fortune and still keep an iron grip on power!
“PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is trying to emulate his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame’s economic development model, which blends authoritarian practices and homegrown solutions with international best practices, as he hired yet another public relations (PR) firm in a desperate bid to spruce up the country’s battered international image,” reported the Independent.
This model is, at best, a short term solution in that it will deliver economic success but for a short period. We can be 100% certain that authoritarian monster will awaken and reassert itself with disastrous consequence. The awakening may happen during Paul Kagame’s time, no one can be certain when exactly; the point is the monster is there already.
If anyone still doubts that Rwanda’s economic success is doomed to fail, they need only look at China. The country descended into new depths of depravity, poverty and despair under Chair Mao. His successors had the wisdom to open up China and, for the last four decades, China has enjoyed unparalleled economic and social transformation. But other than introduce the fixed ten year term for the presidency, they have retained the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) authoritarian system.
China’s authoritarian dragon was reared it ugly head once again. President Xi Jinping, China’s current president, has since scrapped the fixed ten year presidential term; has carolled millions of China’s Muslim minority into detention camps, euphemistically calling them “education camp”; he is clawing back the democratic rights of the people in Hong Kong, they are putting up a fight to stop him; etc.
If China’s economic boom was to falter, for whatever reasons, the CCP will revert back to its default setting of using brute force to retain its iron grip on power.
A country’s economic success under an authoritarian system will not last; it is a house built on clay, it will stand as long as the ground remains dry. The foundation will sink in the wet and soft clay causing in innumerable and irreparable structural problems.
As much as Mnangagwa would wish to emulate Paul Kagame’s success, he will never do so. First and foremost, Mnangagwa is a seasoned corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous tyrant forsaking these dirty habits has already proven mission impossible. After the November 2017 military coup, he promised to end corruption, hold free elections, etc. but has failed to deliver or blatantly broke his promises.
“BTP, the PR company hired by Mnangagwa successfully led a campaign to exonerate Kagame from the 1994 genocide. A 2009 report from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative acknowledged that the BTP’s “excellent public relations machinery” had succeeded in hiding “the exclusionary and repressive nature of the regime” in Kigali,” said the Independent.
BTP had its work cut-out trying to hide Mnangagwa’s role in the corruption, vote-rigging and murderous tyranny during Mugabe’s days given he was the dictator’s chief enforcer throughout the 37 years. Even if the company did succeed; how is it going to hide the reality of the continuing corruption, vote rigging, killings, economic collapse, etc. of the last two years and going on as we speak!
How can BTP sell Mnangagwa as a changed man when everything confirms that Zimbabwe is still a pariah state and he has not change one bit!
As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state, there will be no meaningful economic recovery. It is impossible to do business is a pariah state given all the economic chaos and lawlessness.
BTP will never make a Paul Kagame out of Emmerson, it will be making a silk purse out of a sower’s ear. Mnangagwa is just wasting the nation’s money and time.
Mnangagwa and his illegitimate Zanu PF regime; they rigged the elections, they have never had the legal mandate to govern; must step down. Zimbabwe needs the political space to implement the democratic reforms and lay the foundation, on sold rock, for a democratic system of government. – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
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.
State Media|Gwanda town comes alive this Friday when the crème de le crème of gospel music in Zimbabwe and South Africa descend on the Matabeleland South provincial capital for the fifth edition of the Gwanda gospel extravaganza.
South African gospel artist Sipho Makhabane is set to headline the 5th edition of the Gwanda gospel show at Phelandaba Stadium.
When the ZBC News team visited the venue of the concert Phelandaba stadium this Wednesday, event organisers were busy putting final touches to the stage and setting up a giant marquee for the VIPs.
Brethren in Christ church Gwanda Pastor Sipho Mizha said gospel lovers are in for a treat as Sipho Makhabane, Shongwe, Ncandweni Christ ambassadors, Denzel among others are billed to perform this year.
“The show is definitely growing bigger and better every year. we have an exciting line up of local and South African artists, so gospel lovers should turn up in their thousands for the event which is free of charge,” said Pastor Mizha.
Some of the best local artists who will grace the occasion include Takesure Zama Ncube, Hybrid sounds and Jahunda in praise while sermons will also be delivered during the three day event.
Sponsored by Bigtime Strategic Group founder Justice Maphosa, the show is the South African based business man’s way of giving back to God.
The Gwanda Gospel Show is expected to run for another four years.
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:
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.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Energy Mutodi has denied that the Harare Administration needs the body parts belonging to the late former President Robert Mugabe to run government.
Mutodi was responding to reports by the Mugabe family that some politicians wanted to use his body parts for rituals.
Said Mutodi, “A question has been raised by some sections of the media if government would need the bones and flesh of a dead person to run its affairs. The answer is an absolute NO. Government relies on experience and technical skills to run its affairs.”
Before the burial, Mugabe family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said the former Zimbabwe’s strongman was worried that some powerful politicians wanted to use his body parts for rituals.
“We are afraid that some people are after his body parts or even his whole body and they want to use that for rituals.” Leo told the media. “You know some people have an inclination for rituals. We are afraid that some people are after his body parts or even his whole body and they want to use that for rituals.”
Fearful about this, the Mugabe family then buried the late Zimbabwean leader in a specially designed casket.
“The casket is tamper-proof and there is nothing unusual about that because we are trying to follow his last wishes which he confided to his wife before he passed on; he intimated that there were people who wanted to use his body for rituals,” Leo said then.
– Byo24
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.
Farai Dziva|The assistant referee who ruled out two Amazulu goals against Kaizer Chiefs in an ABSA Premiership game has been suspended for four weeks by the South African Football Association (SAFA)
Mervyn Van Wyk, the linesman in question, made the two questionable decisions to deny Usuthu two goals in a game they subsequently lost 2-0 through goals from Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro.
He was however, according to Kick Off Magazine, found guilty on the second incident in the 73rd minute alone and aquited on the first one.
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.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed that the will be rooting for SuperSport United to win the MTN8 Cup because he does not want Kaitano Tembo to lose his job.
Matsansansa face Highlands Park in the final at the Orlando Stadium and the Zimbabwean coach risks losing his job if he fails to win the knockout competition, something which Mosimame does not want to happen for various reasons.
“I would like Kaitano [to win] because he is my former player and also to be his first trophy. It’s always good because I don’t like this thing of coaches being sacked,” said Mosimane according to Kick Off.
“I don’t want him to lose his job because South African coaches are being sacked and losing jobs to coaches from outside. I am not saying we must not get coaches from outside, but I am being patriotic. I am looking after my people because I was born and bred here. I was raised in the in the township,”
“So they deserve a chance. I don’t want Kaitano to lose his job. I think for him to hang around a bit, it will give him a caution if he wins it. Owen [Da Gama] will not lose his job if he loses [on Saturday] because he has done a lot for that club.” he added.Soccer 24
Marvellous Nakamba’s market has risen sharply since joining Aston Villa in the pre-season.
The midfielder made a high-profile transfer from Belgian giants Club Brugge worth €12 million to become the most expensive Zimbabwean player in history.
His market value, however, had dropped to around €7 million at the time the deal was completed, according to TransferMarkt website. This was probably due to his limited game at Afcon after picking up an injury and failure to break into Brugge team towards the end of the 2018/19 season.
And that drop was the reason his arrival at Villa dragged slowly as the EPL side was reluctant to part away with anything far much above the value.
After making four appearances across all competitions, Nakamba’s current value has been put at €8 million and is poised to surpass that mark if he gets more game time.
Centre-back Teenage Hadebe and midfielder Marshall Munetsi have also maintained a steady rise in value since moving to Europe in the pre-season.
Munetsi who has a tag of €550 000 joined Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims from Orlando Pirates for an undisclosed fee.
Hadebe made a switch to the Turkish top-flight side Yeni Malatyaspor from Kaizer Chiefs and currently has a market value of €350 000.
However, it’s a different story for Warriors captain Knowledge Musona whose value has marginally dropped since joining Anderlecht last year.
The forward struggled to break into the team and is yet to feature a game this season. His dismal performance at Afcon also had an impact.
Musona currently values at €1 million, a slide from the €2,5 million price tag which he had during his time at KV Oostende in 2017.
South Africa-based winger Khama Billiat hit his highest market value – €2 million – early this year and has managed to maintain it, thanks to his outstanding contribution at Afcon.
He is currently the most valued Warriors player based in Africa and is tied with Tinotenda Kadewere who plays in the French Ligue 2 for AC Le Havre.
Nottingham Forest defender Tendayi Darikwa has also maintained his value – €1,5 million despite some injuries which had affected him this year while Alec Mudimu who plays in the modest Welsh Premier League is priced way below at €150 000.
Other Warriors stars based in South Africa have values not exceeding €600 000 with goalkeeper George Chigova, Talent Chawapiwa, Divine Lunga, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Danny Phiri the highest priced players.Soccer 24
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!”
AN inmate who is serving jail time for armed robbery left a trail of destruction at the Kwekwe magistrates’ courts after he vandalised property demanding that he be set free as he was not the one behind the crimes that he was convicted of.
Business temporarily came to a halt at the courts as armed police details had to be called in to rein in Tichaona Chacha (34), a popular bouncer who was sentenced to four years in prison for a spate of armed robberies around the mining town, who threatened to reduce the court building to a heap of rubble.
ZPCS and ZRP officers who tried to apprehend him had a torrid time as they were thrown against the walls by the highly charged bouncer.
Chacha was in August slapped with a combined 54 months in jail for a spate of robberies he committed in cahoots with three other accomplices.
Twelve months were, however, set aside by the magistrate on condition that he restitutes a total of $61 020 to the said complainants before 30 September, which he failed to do.
He was therefore dragged to the court to answer to failure to restitute charges.
All hell broke loose when magistrate Storey Rushambwa effected the 12 months that were set aside.The bouncer tore the booth into pieces leaving court attendees scampering for cover.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers had a torrid time as they tried in vain to handcuff the charged Chacha who threw anything at anyone.
Court officials also left in a huff adjourning the court proceedings immediately as they ran for dear life.
When this news crew arrived at the scene, entry points to the court were locked and armed ZPCS officers and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) manned the gates while some were trying calm the situation while inside.
Chacha was still inside the court room where he was still destroying property and shouting at the top of his voice demanding that he be released.
“I did not commit any crime, I want to be released.
Why is it you never questioned the people we purportedly robbed where they got such amounts of money. They are part of the cabal that is destroying the economy, I want justice and I want to be released. I am not going to stop until I am released,” he yelled.
It was after about an hour of negotiating that composed ZRP and ZPCS officers managed to handcuff the bouncer who seemed to have run out of steam before he was whisked away to the police to face fresh charges.B-Metro
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa must address the legitimacy crisis in Zimbabwe instead of presenting cheap political rhetoric to the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
See below the opposition party’s full statement: The Zimbabwean economy is in a deep crisis as manifested by a proliferation of unresolved deepening monetary, fiscal, social and political headaches which the illegitimate regime has clearly failed to arrest.
The problem in Zimbabwe is a Confidence-cum-Legitimacy crisis.
The recent SONA and the preceding RBZ ban on cash-in, cash-back and cash-out platforms are desperate attempts to provide white wash and token solutions based on manifested symptoms of a sick economy.
The business as usual SONA must be roundly condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans for the SONA failed to provide answers to the suffering Zimbabweans.
Indeed, the SONA failed to provide answers or solutions to the following:
What is the alternative?
The country is at a cross roads.and one year after the stolen election the illegitimate regime has driven the economy on the cliff edge and plunged the country into a socio-economic Armageddon.
The regime remains unrelenting in its quest to inflict suffering on the people by clearly committing an economic genocide.
The MDC has the solutions to reverse the current economic catastrophe.
We propose the following:
Fellow Zimbabweans, the Zanu PF regime is a bunch of clueless politicians. The country is being milked and the future of our posterity is already being auctioned. Under Zanu PF rule the situation can only get worse.
Zimbabwe is going to see more and more policy inconsistencies such as banning and unbanning; freezing and unfreezing etc. The country is now being run by a mafia which does not care. Mthuli Ncube is doing his experiments with the economy with disastrous consequences. His neo-liberal agenda has brought pain and suffering to the poor. Yet this implosion can only be addressed by the return to legitimacy. Clearly there is no method in the madness.
lssued by the MDC Policy and Research Department
The Zimbabwean economy is in a deep crisis as manifested by a proliferation of unresolved deepening monetary, fiscal, social and political headaches which the illegitimate regime has clearly failed to arrest.
The problem in Zimbabwe is a Confidence-cum-Legitimacy crisis.
The recent SONA and the preceding RBZ ban on cash-in, cash-back and cash-out platforms are desperate attempts to provide white wash and token solutions based on manifested symptoms of a sick economy.
The business as usual SONA must be roundly condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans for the SONA failed to provide answers to the suffering Zimbabweans.
Indeed, the SONA failed to provide answers or solutions to the following:
What is the alternative?
The country is at a cross roads.and one year after the stolen election the illegitimate regime has driven the economy on the cliff edge and plunged the country into a socio-economic Armageddon.
The regime remains unrelenting in its quest to inflict suffering on the people by clearly committing an economic genocide.
The MDC has the solutions to reverse the current economic catastrophe.
We propose the following:
Fellow Zimbabweans, the Zanu PF regime is a bunch of clueless politicians. The country is being milked and the future of our posterity is already being auctioned. Under Zanu PF rule the situation can only get worse.
Zimbabwe is going to see more and more policy inconsistencies such as banning and unbanning; freezing and unfreezing etc. The country is now being run by a mafia which does not care. Mthuli Ncube is doing his experiments with the economy with disastrous consequences. His neo-liberal agenda has brought pain and suffering to the poor. Yet this implosion can only be addressed by the return to legitimacy. Clearly there is no method in the madness.
lssued by the MDC Policy and Research Department
Farai Dziva|Former Warriors forward Tendai Ndoro is getting better with age like wine.
Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama says Ndoro is an integral part of his side in the upcoming MT8 final.
Da Gama’s charges battle SuperSport United for the crown on Saturday at the Orlando Stadium and he explained how vital the former Pirates striker is to their chances of winning.
“These are players with Big Match Temprement – the Ndoros, Letsholonyanes – they really assist big time, when we do our analysis and planning,” said Da Gama according to Kick Off Magazine.
“They are an integral part of this, and they add so much value, which rubs off onto the younger or less-experienced players in the team.
“They motivate them, and they put them on a level that they’ve never been before, so they are very, very important and integral to what we’ve achieved so far.” he added.
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
CONFIDENTE newspaper senior journalist Patience Nyangove died this morning after suffering from kidney failure.
She was 38.
Patience Nyangove
The Zimbabwean-born journalist died at around 04h00 this morning after being hospitalised over three weeks at a Windhoek hospital.
Nyangove, who joined Confidente in 2011, was a senior reporter with over 16 years’ working experience in the print industry.
Confirming her death this morning, Confidente founding editor Max Hamata in a statement described Nyangove as a hard working and passionate investigative journalist who covered several reporting beats with particular interest in politics and health.
“Her investigative work included several criminal enterprises, stemming from [the] GIPF multi-million dollar fraud saga, investigation into racketeering illegal abortions by several doctors and Chinese government scholarships.
“We have lost one of our own and we can only honour her legacy by building on the foundation that she left with us. Certainly journalism is poorer without her and we offer our deepest condolences to her family,” said Hamata. -The Namibian
A 47-year-old teacher from Pumula South Suburb allegedly raped a 12-year-old pupil that he was providing English extra lessons.
Shadreck Kantsholo is alleged to have gone to the minor’s place under the guise of providing extra lessons and reportedly fondled her.
“He taught her the English subject and during the lesson he went behind minor’s back, stretched his arms and fondled her breasts, and pressed them against the table,” said State prosecutor Kenneth Shava at the Western Commonage magistrates courts when Kantsholo appeared in court.
The court heard that after fondling the pupil he undressed and also ordered the minor to take off her clothes. He allegedly went on to remove his clothes and also ordered the minor to remove her clothes. The minor complied.
He allegedly raped her but stopped midway after noticing that the door was open.
The minor then bolted through the front door and alerted neighbours, leading to the arrest of Kantsholo, the court heard.
Kantsholo pleaded not guilty before magistrate Gladmore Mushove and was remanded in custody to 10 October for trial.
“I did not do that Your Worship,” said Kantsholo.B-Metro
Farai Dziva| Highlanders legend Madinda Ndlovu has been discharged from hospital.
“Awesome, Madinda Khathazile Ndlovu, Zimbabwe and Highlanders legend has been discharged from the hospital in Botswana.
He had a blood clot which led to a stroke and has been in hospital for a couple of weeks. We thank the almighty God, Doctors and good hearted people who prayed for his recovery. He is gone home for rehab and will be back up and running soon. We love you Shacky,” said Ezra Tshisa Sibanda.
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. ..
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”.
Watch video below. ..
Watch video. ..
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
