1.The Marange Community head last night said over 10 people have been shot and he says he personally witnessed 4 being shot at close range, 3 rounds of bullets one after the other at the fields. Then there are the magwejas and also women who are used by soldiers for cheap labour.

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) October 4, 2019

By Own Correspondent| The Marange community were on the 3rd October outraged against the Zimbabwe government which has denied that there is ongoing forced labour which “has continued” at the diamond fields.

The government spokesman, Nick Mangwana rushed to pull a side comment from a US embassy employee hoping to discredit a library of video footage at the fields running for several years since 2008, showing brutalities that have continued even into the last 3 months.

Mangwana has denied that there are complaints from the Marange community in recent years and in a discussion with ZimEye yesterday, he said these abuses ended during the Robert Mugabe days.

The Zim government is fighting to get Marange stones reinstated as clean diamonds by US authorities following a ban earlier this week.

A top aide of Chief Marange’s who is also the Marange Diamond Community Trust leader, Moses Mukwada, saying the government spokesman is not being truthful, however narrated the opposite saying that forced labour as well as torture by soldiers, are on the rise in the last 3 months at the Marange Diamond Fields.

He also confirmed ZimEye video footage from a November 2018 visit which shows a man brutally bitten by guard dogs at the fields.

Speaking to ZimEye via phone Thursday evening, Moses Mukwada said
in comparison to the November 2018 days, the latest alleged military brutalities “have worsened and in the last 3 months alone, there have been several shootings.”

In deeply disturbing graphic detail, Mr Mukwada described one of the attacks saying an officer would consciously load 3 bullets one after the other into a victim’ body.

He also spoke concerning a group of local miners known as Mangwejas he said are being coerced into forced labour by the military and then poorly remuerated.

“Things haven’t changed, they have actually worsened,’ said Mukwadi.

He continued saying,

” at one time it was just the dogs being used on people, this time this year we have a lot of people numbering up to 10 who have been shot with guns by security guards. We with our own eyes witnessed about 4 of them who were shot and killed.

“Direct shooting to the extent that the gun will be firing 3 rounds of bullets, one after the other into one person.

“There is another one who came out on studio 7 who had a lot of bullets in his body,” he added.

He also described the issue of forced labour saying that soldiers usually target a group of young men from the local area who bear the title magwejas. He said this group after being found digging for diamonds are captured by soldiers and forced into working for the military officers and the paid in kind.

He said, ” when we look at the case of the magwejas, these magwejas go on their own into the fields to pick up what they can. At that point they are captured by the soldiers and then they take them away.

” I witnessed one such incident 2 months ago, the people were being dropped into a bowser of water (sic) [likely for cleaning the stones]. And then when the diamond is sold off, they are paid only an appreciation; everything else they (soldiers) take.

“We could never say that things have improved. Things have actually gone worse,” he said. [timeline 3:50 to 4:30].

Mukwada also said some of the forced labour involves local residents who originate from other parts of the country but are now part of community as a result of of consequences such as marriage. He alleged that even married women if found to have identity cards that show that they were not born in the local area, they are immediately seized by the soldiers and taken away for forced labour to do worn such as closing up open cast mines left open by the magwejas. (LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE 2 LIVE AUDIOS BELOW)

VIDEO:

2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwean businessman Justice Maphosa, who helped stranded veteran politician Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2917 when he fled the country and sought refuge in neighboring Mozambique after he was sacked by then president Robert Mugabe for allegedly undermining him, will not step his foot in the country claiming that Mugabe wants to eliminate him for rescuing Mnangagwa.

Maphosa runs Big Time Strategic Company which bank rolls the Gwanda Gospel Music Show which kicks off in Gwanda on Friday and ends on Sunday.

The South Africa-based businessman was hardly known until he emerged with his annual concert in Gwanda five years ago.

He built his name further with his act of brotherhood to ‘rescue’ Mnangagwa when death was knocking on his doors from Mugabe.

Mnangagwa illegally crossed the border at night and landed in Mozambique with a few bodyguards, who are said to have blocked attempts by Zimbabwean state security agents from arresting the fleeing vice president and his entourage.

The multi-millionaire, who describes himself as a non-corruptible God-fearing businessman, says when he sent his private jet to pick up Mnangagwa, it was an act of kindness.

Maphosa claims that Mnangagwa phoned him seeking help while he was still in Zimbabwe.

“Come that day I get a call from him … ‘Maphosa I am in a situation. I have been fired. My life is in danger. I need to get out of the country. My first call was, where are you? Where are you going? Where will you be in 2 hours, in 4 hours in 6 hours?’ … Which he told me and we went to pick him up and we brought him into the country.”

However, he said now there are people who want to eliminate him due to his close links to the president and his act of kindness and will this year like he did last year miss his high cost gospel music concert.

Maphosa, 44, was born in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, where he did part of his education before proceeding to South Africa. He did computer studies with a bias on Information Communication Technology.

In 1998, together with a friend, he launched his first company the Computer Inc. and Media Solutions, whose core business was to recycle computer ink cartridges. Today he is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Big Time Strategic Group, with 17 subsidiaries across Southern Africa.

Despite the threats on his life and his business, Maphosa says he is in the process of launching nine companies in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Organisers of the annual Gwanda International Gospel Festival have unveiled a star-studded line-up for the event.

Swaziland’s Ncwandeni Christ Ambassadors and Shongwe with his Khuphuka Saved group will headline the fest alongside Sipho Makhabene, Takesure Zamar, Vocal Ex, Mathias Mhere and Indosakusa: The Morning Star.

The festival, now in its fifth edition, will be held at its usual venue, Phelandaba Stadium from tomorrow until Sunday.

Denzel the Pianist from Cape Town, Mkhululi Bhebhe, Joyful Praise from Gweru, Hybrid Sounds from Gwanda and Harvest Music Super Choir from Bulawayo will make up the rest of entertainers.

NewsDay|THE Zimdollar has devalued by 135,7% to $15,25 against the greenback on the interbank market since it was declared the sole legal tender on June 24, owing to persistent foreign currency shortages and the deteriorating economic environment.

When the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe scrapped the use of a basket of other foreign currencies, the Zimdollar was trading at US$1:2,5, but as of yesterday, the interbank rate stood at US$1:$15,25.

The interbank foreign exchange market was introduced in February this year to allow companies to trade forex, but access to foreign currency has remained challenging for businesses.

On the parallel market, the local currency was trading at 1:$17 against the greenback, a testimony of serious hard currency scarcities battering the economy.

This comes after the International Monetary Fund team which was in the country for the Article IV Consultation that coincided with the first review of the Staff-Monitored Programme last month told authorities that there was need to contain fiscal spending consistent with non-inflationary financing, tighten monetary policy to stabilise the exchange rate and start rebuilding confidence in the national currency.

The Washington-based Bretton Wood institution noted that weakening confidence, policy uncertainty, a continuation of foreign exchange market distortions and a recent expansionary monetary stance has increased pressure on the exchange rate.

Economist John Robertson said the country should increase its exports to generate more foreign currency and have an increased ability to create its own money.

“We need to increase our exports by increasing production in order to earn more foreign currency and reduce our imports. We also need to increase the ability to create our own money so that we will not have to rely more on using foreign currency,” Robertson said.

He added that the prevailing economic environment is not conducive for investors because it kills market confidence.

“We are not getting any investors in the country because this environment is hostile to investors. We have created an economy that is harmful to ourselves. Some people are saying money is losing value, hence they are taking their money and banking it somewhere else which is not in this country, hence we still have cash shortages.

Last week, the RBZ issued a directive to all banks to freeze the accounts of companies suspected of engaging in money-laundering activities and fuelling the foreign currency parallel market.

Before lifting the prohibition order, the central bank also banned all cash-in, cash-out and cash-back transactions, in a bid to eliminate the buying and selling of cash at a premium.

All these efforts have proven fruitless as the hard cash and foreign currency shortages persist.

HORDES of agitated pensioners and war veterans Thursday besieged the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB) Head Office in Harare demanding the release of their payments as the current cash crunch took a toll on the former workers.

The pensioners have been frequenting the banking hall to try and withdraw their pensions with no success.

They ran out of patience on Thursday and started demanding their dues from the financial institution.

“We fought for this country, but we are now being ill-treated,” said one pensioner, who identified herself as Sarudzai Mawokomatsva.

“I left my children at home without food. What do I do now without my money? I can’t even send my children to school anymore. The situation is just unbearable.

“Last month it was the same thing. If they continue treating us this way, we will invade the finance minister’s office because we want answers.”

Sixty-nine-year-old Vitalis Mhizha came from Murehwa and was among some of the desperate pensioners who travelled during the night hoping to withdraw his money.

Because of continued failure to access cash and continued price increases, 68-year-old Simon Mavaye said he has been forced to default on his medication.

“I take BP tablets but sometimes I don’t get them because I don’t have money.

“We are told that SSB (Salary Service Bureau) released our money to this bank but now they are denying us our money. I have to buy my tablets today (Thursday). So they have to give me my money.

“We have to rely on traditional healers now. We have no choice. I cannot go to a hospital when I have no capacity to pay for tablets from a pharmacy. It is very expensive for us.”

Two POSB officials who attempted to calm the situation at the Head Office’s foyer were met with insults by angry pensioners.

The pensioners also directed their anger towards Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and central bank governor, John Mangudya who they blamed for causing chaos in the economy.

Independent|VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga, currently recovering at a top hospital in China, where he underwent two operations to clear his blocked oesophagus, amid poisoning fears, last month dismissed security officials attached to him fearing they were spying on him and giving his political rivals information on his recovery bid.

Chiwenga, who swopped his military fatigues for political office after leading a military coup which toppled former president Robert Mugabe in 2017, leading to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rise to the seat of power, dismissed all security aides from the Central Intelligence Organisation attached to him.
“He remained with two security aides by the name Ncube and Kadengu, who are from the military,” a state security official revealed.

The Zimbabwe Independent’s security sources said Chiwenga did not feel secure under the watch of CIO operatives he was not close to.

“Besides, he also believed they were giving updates to his political rivals, including Mnangagwa about his progress,” an official said.

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 to clear part of his oesophagus in August, before undergoing another operation last month.

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. Because of the blockage, officials revealed, Chiwenga was unable to eat, resulting in him becoming emaciated due to illness and lack of food.
Family sources say Chiwenga is recovering and is now able to walk. He has also gained weight and is weighing around 80 kilograms having been flown to China when he was weighing 50kgs.

Chiwenga is expected to remain in China for several months. He is surrounded by several family members, including his son, although his wife Mary is in Zimbabwe.

Chiwenga’s close associates say he was poisoned by his political rivals, although the vice-president has not revealed the cause of his ailment.

Zanu PF insiders told the Independent in August that Chiwenga’s health woes have ignited frenzied jostling for his seat, with Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri emerging as the front-runner. At the time many Zanu PF officials were convinced the former military general would not survive.

Although Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were allies ahead of the coup, they fell out soon after Mnangagwa assumed the reins as they battled to control heart and soul of Zanu PF.

Before last year’s elections, Mnangagwa publicly spoke about an inside plot to impeach him.Mnangagwa also spoke about an attempted assassination after an explosion at a rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo which killed two security aides and injured many other people in June 2018.

Insiders say initially, the coup deal was that Mnangagwa would come in as a civilian face and serve one term and go, leaving power to Chiwenga.

However, Mnangagwa’s repeated talk of two terms soon after assuming power widened the rift between the two.
Soon after the coup, differences between the two also emerged around several issues including the transitional arrangement, critical appointments, and dismissals, especially in the security sector, business deals and the direction of the administration.

Mnangagwa preferred to appoint Oppah Muchinguri as vice-president but Chiwenga insisted that the job should be given to him. He also seized the responsibilities of defence and war veterans from co-vice-president Kembo Mohadi, while Mnangagwa took security amid fears his deputy would become too powerful.

Mnangagwa also preferred to appoint war veteran Victor Matemadanda as political commissar but the army insisted that the job be given to Major General Engelbert Rugeje – one of those that traded military fatigues for civilian suits.

Paul Nyathi|The ruling ZANU PF party has all but conceded that Economic Freedom Fighters of South Africa leader Julius “Juju” Malema played a critical role in the snubbing of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dream of burying late former President Robert Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre.

In an interview with state media Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu said EFF leader Julius Malema, who was recently in the country, should not meddle in the internal politics as he is turning out to be G40’s mouthpiece.

“If you look at what happened when Julius Malema came into the country, Julius came here because he was sent by Kasukuwere and Zhuwao, who are in South Africa, to come and convince the former First Lady that they cannot allow former President to be buried at the Heroes Acre, why?

“Because their political game will not work.

“The person that is making a mistake is Julius Malema because I don’t think that it is proper for him to interfere with internal politics of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe in general.

“He is a South African and in South Africa, no one will go there from any other country.

“So he has become the spokesperson and representative of G40 fugitives who are outside the country, but I don’t think it is good for him. I know for a fact that the president of G40 is Saviour Kasukuwere,” said Matutu.

Matutu said the decision to bury the former President in Zvimba was part of a money-making scheme.

Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, has actually credited EFF leader Julius Malema for pushing Zimbabwe’s government to honour his uncle’s burial wishes.

Mugabe died in a Singapore hospital on September 6 and was buried on Saturday.

On his website, Zhuwao thanked Malema for an interview he did in Zimbabwe in which he pushed the government to honour the former president’s wishes to be buried in his hometown in Zvimba instead of at Heroes Acre in Harare.

This despite Zanu-PF accusing Malema of demeaning the legacy of Mugabe and taking cheap shots at Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Thank you to the EFF and its Commander in Chief Honourable Julius Malema for consoling us and assisting the family of the late President Mugabe to have his wishes honoured on where he would like his mortal remains to be interred.

“After the family of the late President Mugabe expressed its desire to proceed with his burial in Zvimba, the government of Zimbabwe, in its press release dated 26 September 2019, indicated that it is co-operating with the family. The government of Zimbabwe will render all the necessary support to give the late President Mugabe a fitting burial led by the family,” said Zhuwao.

In a somewhat shocking move, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) through state media says it welcomes proposals by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Authority to further increase power tariffs

CZI national vice president Mr Walter Chigwada told state media on Thursday that as industry they welcome plans by Zesa Holdings through its subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), to increase electricity tariffs from 38,61 cents per kilowatt hour on a promise that electricity supply will improve.

“As long as the power tariff is within reason, something that is affordable and improves electricity supply, it’s welcome. Already industry has got a lot of stress from the challenges prevailing and the issue of power is one of the key enablers for us to be able to move forward,” said Mr Chigwada.

“We need to have affordable power. We need to move away from those days where power was just too cheap for anyone to be able to be supplied.”

ZETDC said the existing power tariff of 38,61 cents/kWh was no longer viable.

It further said local electricity production has been negatively impacted by low water levels in Lake Kariba. The power company said this has restricted electricity production to an average capacity of 190 megawatts at Kariba, which is Zimbabwe’s major power station with an installed capacity of 1 050MW.

As of yesterday, the Zimbabwe Power Company indicated on its website that the country was generating a total of 700MW from all its power stations.

Mr Chigwada said in light of the prevailing power challenges facing the economy, it was critical for the country to move with speed in addressing the issue adding that electricity imports were key going forward.

ZETDC has said the electricity tariff applied for would enable it to raise the required working capital for the improvement of among other things, local electricity generation, procurement of critical spares for maintenance as well as electricity imports to reduce load shedding.

Contacted for comment on the matter, Zera acting chief executive, Mr Edington Mazambani said: “You were too early because when they (ZETDC) put that advert, it kick-starts the whole process of reviewing and consulting on the tariffs.

“We are currently doing that, so the number can only be shared after the full consultation process has been done.”

Presently, the country’s demand for power hovers around 2 000MW. However, due to ageing equipment, existing power plants are generating far below the national requirement and this has prompted Government to embark on extension works at its major power stations.

Zimbabwe has been witnessing a wave of massive price increases, following the fiscal policy reviews by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

In the mid-term 2019 fiscal review announced on August 2, 2019, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube increased electricity tariffs threefold.

Electricity charges increased from 9,86 cents (US1 cent) per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 27 cents/kWh (3 US cents.)

Paul Nyathi|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 raising fears that the state may turn his house into a ZANU PF property.

Mphoko’s fears come after shocking details that ZANU-PF has title to late former President Robert Mugabe’s houses — the imposing Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale and a Mount Pleasant property occupied by his daughter, Bona.

Mugabe family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe confirmed after Mugabe’s death that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses.

President Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses to Mugabe’s family but after threats by ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu that the party will take over the properties and turn them into museums to raise funds for the party.

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.

Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared first Friday of every month a national clean up day where everyone in the country is expected to take two hours from 8am to 10am cleaning the area around them.

Since the launch of the exercise, the President and other senior ZANU PF officials have been taking the opportunity to gather people in the pretence of clean up but to hold mini ZANU PF campaign rallies where speeches not related to cleaning the country dominate the day.

The programme of the clean up day normally dedicates half an hour to picking up a few pieces of paper before people are grouped for over two hours listening to ZANU PF politics followed by some eating and drinking.

President Mnangagwa will today continue with his campaign trail headlining the 10th National Clean-Up Campaign at Mzimba Shopping Centre in Chinhoyi.

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

“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 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.

After the clean-up, the President will preside over the graduation ceremony at CUT where thousands are expected to graduate in the faculties.

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

The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa will take her extensive helicopter to, while Vice President Kembo Mohadi will lead the clean-up in Gwanda.

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

Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) 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 (CAAZ), Tobacco Research Board (TRB), Davies Granite and Dankwerts Farm,” he said.

The national clean-up, 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 but questions remain why the day can not be dedicated to mere clean up without the ZANU PF politics.

Zimbabwe has called out the United States of America for trying “to hide behind the finger” by describing its sanctions regime as merely restrictive measures.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday condemned the posturing after US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Tibor P Nagy, dismissed the outcry against the embargo as “a very false narrative”.

“This unacceptable statement is a public stunt by America and her cronies meant to demonstrate to other countries of the world that there was nothing wrong in what the United States was doing, but just a normal diplomatic way of handling a disagreement between two countries when in fact the sanctions are hurting even the innocent citizen in more ways than one,” said Minister Ziyambi.

The minister also lashed out at latest attempts by the US to stifle Zimbabwe’s diamond industry by alleging that they were being produced under exploitative conditions.

“I checked with the courts, police, ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). We don’t have any reports of child forced labour, particularly in Chiadzwa and also in other mining sectors,” he said.State media

FORMER 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 as 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 declarator 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.State media

Farai Dziva|National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku has dismissed Mnangagwa’s Sona saying it was uninspiring.

According to Newsday, Madhuku said the SONA was high on words, too ambitious and did not proffer any solutions for the people of Zimbabwe.

“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.

ZANU PF Youth League members are burning in jealousy of President Robert Mugabe’s favoured G49 group.

Gnashing its yellow-teeth, the Mnangagwa controlled state media reported saying self-exiled members of G40 want to gain cheap political mileage by taking advantage o President Robert Mugabe’s death, at the same time using his burial site in Zvimba as a money-making scheme.

Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao, who are now based in South Africa, were alleged to be the ringleaders of the plot and are working with an opposition party in that country, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu was quoted by the state owned Herald saying EFF leader Julius Malema, who was recently in the country, should not meddle in the internal politics as he is turning out to be G40’s mouthpiece.

“If you look at what happened when Julius Malema came into the country, Julius came here because he was sent by Kasukuwere and Zhuwao, who are in South Africa, to come and convince the former First Lady that they cannot allow former President to be buried at the Heroes Acre, why?

“Because their political game will not work.

“The person that is making a mistake is Julius Malema because I don’t think that it is proper for him to interfere with internal politics of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe in general.

“He is a South African and in South Africa, no one will go there from any other country.

“So he has become the spokesperson and representative of G40 fugitives who are outside the country, but I don’t think it is good for him. I know for a fact that the president of G40 is Saviour Kasukuwere,” said Matutu.

Matutu said the decision to bury the former President in Zvimba was part of a money-making scheme.

THE fear of poisoning has once again come to the fore within Zanu PF and government circles following allegations by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s close associates that the ailing former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, currently hospitalised in China, could have been poisoned by his political rivals.

Chiwenga, who has been hospitalised at a top Beijing hospital since July, underwent a delicate operation last month, amid frenzied manoeuvring within Zanu PF by party heavyweights angling for the vice-president’s position.
Specialists partially cleared, through an operation, the ailing vice-president’s clogged oesophagus.

Prior to his emergency trip to China for treatment, Chiwenga was admitted to a hospital in South Africa.

Chiwenga orchestrated the military coup that toppled late Mugabe in November 2017, catapulting Mnangagwa to the presidency. However, he is said to be harbouring presidential ambitions, much to the discomfort of Mnangagwa and his loyalists.

The vice-president last year revealed he fell ill during the military operation which toppled late former president Robert Mugabe from power.

Allegations of poisoning were also topical last month following last month’s protests by former vice-president and ex-spy Phelekezela Mphoko that he feared being arrested as he could be poisoned while in detention.

Mphoko fled from Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) officials at the Bulawayo Central Police Station, fearing detention over abuse of power allegations.

Mphoko, who served alongside President Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice-president to Mugabe, was arrested by Zacc for allegedly facilitating the illegal release from police custody of former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri. Juma and Norupiri were arrested in 2016 on allegations of defrauding the authority US$1,3 million.

The former vice-president has since surrendered to the police, before appearing in court where he was granted bail with stringent conditions.
He succeeded in avoiding police detention.

At the height of succession battles in Zanu PF in 2017, Mnangagwa, who was leading a faction fighting for the heart and soul of the party with a rival group that had coalesced around former first lady Grace Mugabe, was taken ill at a rally in Gwanda after allegedly being poisoned.
His supporters claimed at the time that he had eaten ice-cream laced with toxins.

He was flown to Gweru in a military helicopter, and later South Africa for treatment. His supporters accused the G40 camp of plotting to eliminate him through poisoning.

At the time, Mnangagwa’s doctors confirmed that he was indeed poisoned.

“I never said that I was poisoned in Gwanda, but that I fell ill in Gwanda,” Mnangagwa told a press conference in October 2017 at the height of factional fights engulfing Zanu PF over Mugabe’s succession.

“During the briefing with His Excellency, the President, comrade RG Mugabe, the medical doctors who attended to me ruled out food poisoning, but confirmed that indeed poisoning had occurred and that investigations were still in progress. They, however, established that poisoning had indeed occurred and investigations were in progress.”

Mphoko’s utterances, as well as Chiwenga’s deteriorating health, sources said, also added impetus to swirling speculation that a number of political figures, including the late former prime minister, and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai were poisoned.

Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer in South Africa on February 14 2018.

His condition deteriorated sharply after the collapse of the inclusive government which he had entered with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013 following talks brokered by the Southern African Development Community.

Tsvangirai’s supporters believe that although he was diagnosed with cancer, his condition could have been compounded by poisoning either during the inclusive government period or when he was in detention.
Zapu cadres also believe former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku was poisoned while in prison.

Masuku, who deputised the late army commander Solomon Mujuru after independence, was arrested in 1982 on allegations of plotting to overthrow Mugabe ahead of the Gukurahundi massacres from 1982 to 1987.

Masuku died in 1986 after being detained for four years, with his death described as suspicious.
— Zimbabwe Independent

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, has said that the anti-graft commission has recovered properties and goods worth over $100 million from looters.

Speaking to the Herald in an interview on the sidelines of a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Zacc and other stakeholders such as the National Prosecuting Authority, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Immigration Department, and the University of Zimbabwe, the ZACC chair said:

We are only forfeiting as Zacc then we take it to the NPA who will go to court for confirmation. As Zacc the goods we are holding on right now goes into hundreds of millions of dollars because right now we are in the process of preparing papers for the recovering of properties in our leafy suburbs.

In Borrowdale we are looking at over 10 properties with high value, and we have got so many vehicles now which we have targeted, others we already have in our possession.

ZACC was this year given arresting powers whilst efforts underway to establish legislation that allows the confiscation of wealth alleged to have been solicited corruptly or illegally.

-StateMedia

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The MDC national Secretary for Organising, Amos Chibaya, will be appearing at the Gweru Magistrates courts on Friday 4th October at 8.00am.

Leader Chibaya, who is already out on bail; is facing false charges of subversion.

It is the MDC’s strong view that the State’s case against leader Chibaya is very weak so much that it is so shocking that he is still facing trial up to now.

The false charges against leader Chibaya must be withdrawn immediately. Simple.

The MDC urges all our party leaders and members to turn out in their large numbers in solidarity with leader Chibaya at court tomorrow morning.

MDC @ 20: Celebrating Courage, Growth and the People’s Victories.

Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official stationed at Plumtree Border Post, has appeared before Bulawayo magistrate facing charges of fraud and criminal abuse of duty after he allegedly forged customs documents to facilitate the smuggling of 50 cars into the country.

The State alleges that the officer, Norest Ushe, who was working at the Zimra private imports section had the password into the ZIMRA system since he was responsible for the clearance of private goods. Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza said:

The SAP profile password which he had until September 26, 2019, was deactivated after investigations of misuse. Between May and September 24 this year, Ushe clandestinely captured into the Zimra system, information of 50 cars smuggled into the country thereby generating an equipment number which if punched would display the particulars of the vehicle and enable printing CCC on the serialised forms at any Zimra station or printing of protected format document on bond paper.

Mageza added that Ushe continued using the password even after being redeployed to a section that had nothing to do with data capture.

Ushe’s actions are said to have robbed the State of US$432 767, 54 and $1, 4 million in potential revenue.

-StateMedia

A number of significant people on social media have reacted to government’s announcement that Zimbabwe will get new currency in November.

The announcement frustrated people, saying that the government is now confusing them.

“Your report must not confuse people like this. The new Zim dollar currency was already introduced, what will be issued are new notes and coins. Is that too difficult to get,”Cde Never Maswerasei.

“You can change this useless, valueless currency as many times as you like- but it won’t work,your problem is you, biased, propagandist regime media and your incompetent owner Zanupf,”Cazawaty#freepoliticalprisoners.

“How is this going to address the economic situation we are in?  Already we have Zim dollar in so called bond dollars.Whats the difference that makes you think the new money will fix the economy @TichZindoga mr editor,” Ishe Mukati.

“So what we gonna call this one? 1 Austerity dollar or 1 mausoleum?? Feels we have exhausted all currency names,” Dziva.

“haa confusion yacho so ndopaunoona kuti zvikoro zvekuhondo hapana zvaidzidzwa shuwa economy yacho iri kuitwa trial and error tactics mapofu akutungamidzana mugwenga,”dukeayden.

“Changing currency won’t solve the current problems but escalate them.my suggestion is let’s stop price increases anything that stabilizes the prices is much needed at the moment than anything else,”Edwell Diza.

A member of the newly appointed Monetary Policy Committee Eddie Cross said the new currency will be introduced next month in a move to curb cash shortages in the country.

By A Correspondent- Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku has said Zimbabweans are stuck between a ruling Zanu-PF which has no clue how to change the fortunes of the economy, and an opposition MDC whose leaders are “arrogant and think they have a monopoly on opposition.”

“I don’t see Zimbabweans in 2023, still thinking that they are choosing between Zanu PF and MDC. By 2023, everyone would have seen that there is no leadership coming out of the MDC Alliance,” says Madhuku, who is leader of the National Constitutional Assembly as well as POLAD participant.

POLAD is a national dialogue platform initiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Madhuku told a national daily that Zanu-PF has people who have no clue how to turn around the fortunes of the economy. He also said the much-hyped “new Dispensation” has nothing new to offer at all.

“You find people in government who have no clue as how to change the economic situation, how to turn around the economy, that is what we have at the moment. So there is no new dispensation at all.

“We must invest heavily in conscientising the majority of our people. I believe the only way forward for this country is to make people alert because despite what these people in government are doing they still enjoy support.

“Go to a by-election, you find that the majority of those who turn out to vote, vote for them notwithstanding the economic hardships, notwithstanding political repression. When next time around we have an election people must vote out this government that’s the way to go,” Madhuku said.

The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa maintains that the problem facing Zimbabwe is political. The opposition party says it will not participate in the dialogue process initiated by the ‘illegitimate’ President, who Chamisa does not recognize.

Zanu-PF Chivi South MP and businessman Killer Zivhu has survived a push to expel him from the party by his Masvingo province.

The province had written to the party’s national disciplinary committee calling for Zivhu’s expulsion after he called on the spouses of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to facilitate dialogue between their husbands.

However, Zanu-PF sent its national commissar Victor Matemadanda to Masvingo where he called for unity.

Matemadanda said the province should concentrate on building structures and not expelling officials.

“We should be able to rehabilitate our comrades who go wayward, rehabilitation should come first before expulsion because if you want to expel people then we will be left with no one,” said Matemadanda.

He also spoke against factionalism in the party saying it was the cause for divisions.

“We want you to unite and shun divisions, we must learn from the past, factionalism causes these divisions but our wish is that you remain united so that we are stronger as a party,” said Matemadanda.

Masvingo province had accused Zivhu of treachery for calling for dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa and wanted him to be ejected from the party and recalled from Parliament.

Former first lady Grace Mugabe risk losing all her properties in Mazowe – including her famed Gushungo dairy operations and top-notch school there – after the government indicated that it could re-allocate the farms under her control to miners which were displaced from the area during her late husband’s tenure in power.

This comes as there continues to be lingering about what lies ahead for the irascible and once untouchable widow of former president Robert Mugabe, following his recent death and his contested place of burial.

Former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, along with their family business, Gushungo Holdings  were evicted from a Mazowe farm following an application by three farmers who were claiming ownership of the land.

Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba issued summons at the High Court against Mugabe in June last year, seeking his eviction from Lot 1A Teviotdale Farm in Mazowe district of Mashonaland Central province.

The three argued that they were holders of offer letters for the land, which they grabbed at the height of the land reform programme in 2000.

But, Mugabe and his wife challenged the farmers’ assertion, arguing the letters were not an entitlement to the land and that they had no right to demand the eviction over land for which they themselves had no lawful authority to use, possess or occupy.

Mugabe argued that only the Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister could exercise that right, but High Court judge Justice Helena Charehwa ruled in favour of the farmers and ordered the former President off the land.

In their application, the three cited Mugabe, Grace, Gushungo Holdings, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and Home Affairs ministers Perrance Shiri and Cain Mathema and police chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene, as respondents.

“It is ordered that an order be and is hereby made against fourth to eighth defendants in terms of R182 (ii) for (1) the restoration of possession of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district to first, second and third respondents (Makombe, Hungwe and Chifamba) respectively.

The judge also ordered the “eviction of all persons claiming occupation through fifth defendant (Lands minister) of sub-division 1, 2 and 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe district Mashonaland Central Province” plus payment of costs on a higher scale.

However, soon after being evicted from the piece of land, Mugabe, Grace and Gushungo Holdings filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on February 15, 2019 challenging Justice Charehwa’s order and the matter is yet to be set down for hearing.

On February 18, the farmers also filed an urgent chamber application seeking an order for executing their judgment pending Mugabe’s appeal and the matter is also yet to be set down for hearing.

Meanwhile, Gushungo Holdings is reportedly on the verge of collapse after it emerged that the company was struggling to keep afloat and was failing to pay workers’ salaries since September last year.

According to one of the workers’ leaders, a Dr Elson Sweva, Gushungo Holdings owes workers substantial amounts of money in salaries and commission.

Sweva said the situation worsened when the company reduced salaries without the workers’ consent.

“Things have not been going on well since March last year, but the situation became worse after our salaries were reduced from $250 to $100 in September,” Sweva said.

He said the company stopped paying commission last year as it was experiencing high product returns.

He said most workers received a two months’ salary of $196 following a meeting held on February 1.

“Following a meeting on February 1, we were given two month’s salary totalling $196 and, surely, what would one do with that amount in this economy? Even housemaids are paid better salaries,” Sweva added.

But Gushungo Holdings managing director, Lameck Chinoera said the company does not owe workers outstanding dues, claiming that it was the other way round because some employees were still to repay advanced loans.

“We don’t have anyone who is owed a salary. Those who work for commission are paid for what they would have worked for. It’s not for the company to give people extra commission, it’s calculated. I have a payroll indicating that some people actually have loans,” said Chinoera.

On the viability of the company, Chinoera said they were being affected by foreign currency shortages like any other business in the country.

“We might have closed down one or two products on account of shortages of forex like most companies, but we are actually working on two shifts,” he said.

Sources said Gushungo Holdings reduced its workforce by half since March last year and has been hit by resignations of key personnel.

Last year, Grace told 106 workers at Gwina Farm in Banket that she was not going to pay them terminal benefits even if they went to court.

Gwina Farm was reportedly grabbed by Grace from Supreme Court judge Justice Ben Hlatshwayo, who was then allocated another land.

According to reports, the former First Family owns over 10 farms in the country.

CITE|The Matabeleland Collective (MC), a grouping of civil society organisations and clergy from the southern region, is reportedly on the verge of collapse with some former members revealing that the grouping failed to come up with a strategy and a narrative to drive its vision.

MC, whose membership included over 60 organisations, was caught in the political crosshairs when they met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Bulawayo State House in March, to discuss some of the pertinent issues affecting the region, including the emotive Gukurahundi atrocities.

The meeting attracted a lot of criticism from several quarters with some people accusing MC of attempting to spruce up the president`s image in the region.

The consortium became a subject of debate at a recent Critical Thinking Workshop, during a session on Civil Society and State Politics in Matabeleland where participants questioned the role of grouping.

Participants questioned whether the consortium was a practical solution to the region’s challenges and if its approach to the government was wise.

Former spokesperson of the collective, Dumisani Nkomo, who has since left the grouping, said the idea was well-intentioned but acknowledged that they lacked a strategy on how to control its narrative.

Nkomo admitted he was involved in the formation of the coalition, from the genesis, to the meeting at State House in Bulawayo and other preparatory meetings that took place.

“The idea and issues of the collective were clear and they were clearly identified historical issues that were affecting the region. There were four key issues: Gukurahundi and National healing, devolution of power, the issue of equalisation and economic recovery plus structural inclusion,” he said.

The collective, Nkomo said, involved about 60 organisations, which made the collective the largest coalition in Matabeleland.

“We reflected on those particular four issues over two days. What then lacked was strategy because we wanted to do consultations in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo but there were no resources for that. So eventually we found ourselves in a space where we said we are going to engage the National Peace Reconciliation Commission, which we did,” he said.

He also said they planned to engage the chiefs and started working with the traditional leaders two years ago.

“We met with Chief Ndiweni and others. The idea was the chiefs would come from another angle as traditional leaders and push the agenda of Gukurahundi and devolution and so forth,” the activist noted.

The presentations by the collective before President Mnangagwa were good and Nkomo said the presenters laid the issues straight to him.

“We spoke of devolution and its immediate implementation, that government must put money into the Zambezi water project, the prioritisation of locals’ employment, issue of languages and culture. Unfortunately, Gukurahundi then took precedence from a presentation under social inclusion,” he said.

But, Nkomo concedes failure to manage the success, if any, and the narrative was to be the collective’s downfall.

“We were not in charge and in the end, we didn’t own the narrative, which the state began to run with. The narrative also came from social media and it became so toxic that beyond that, the meeting was about massaging Mnangagwa’s ego,” he said.

He also conceded that the collective’s leadership became too excited and naïve as well.

“At times you have to distinguish advocacy work and what the rules of engagement are. Eventually, some within the collective became coopted. But the collective idea was something good yet it mutated into a monster. Its genesis and position of issues were well-intentioned but media management was terrible, the advocacy strategy – terrible, risk management strategy – terrible,” the activist said.

Nkomo said the collective’s failures were a lesson learned as they failed to do political analysis of their meeting with President Mnangagwa.

“We failed to do power mapping again in political analysis we didn’t factor in G40, how it would respond because they felt we are cleaning up Mnangagwa. We didn’t factor Mnangagwa had an agenda as well, obviously a tick in his box to say we met the collective and Gukurahundi is being dealt with. For him it was a public relations exercise so we didn’t do in-depth political analysis,” he noted.

“I think some were too excited to meet the president and some people lost it. If you spend so much time in the trenches and didn’t have much engagement then there is an opportunity to engage some people become confused. When they do that for the first time and don’t have the skill or craft competence to actually engage in that level of advocacy, so it was a lesson learned…”

Mbuso Fuzwayo, secretary-general of Ibhetshu Likazulu which is part of the collective said he believed organisations in Matabeleland must work together.

“Now the challenge is how to deal with the leadership of the collective,” he said, noting challenges that came with how those in leadership behaved.

“We have said funding is not the main thrust of the collective but rather the issues of Matabeleland that we must talk about.”

---

Concerned Zimbabwean started this petition toJustin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada/Premier ministre du Canada) and 4 others

Zimbabwean citizens residing in Zimbabwe have had their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms denied by the Zanu Pf led Emmerson Mnangagwa government. ABDUCTIONS, TORTURE, RAPE, MURDER by state agents ordered by Zanu PF are the order of the day for anyone trying to or exercising their right to petition, demonstrate against these gruesome Human Rights Violations.
From Gukurahundi to most recently Dr Magombeyi, Zanu PF has continued on a path of brutality on any opposing individual or group.
Since January 2019, more than 50 activists have been abducted tortured and left for dead by the state sponsored Zanu PF, and yet not even one person has been arrested.
The UN Special Rapporteur to Zimbabwe recently confirmed this in his report on the Zimbabwean crisis: http://zw.one.un.org/newsroom/news/end-mission-statement-united-nations-special-rapporteur-rights-freedom-peaceful

1) 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” 

We approach your respectable office seeking the removal of the following  individuals :

a) Perpetua Chizive Mutsikamahwe of Brampton, Ontario, Canada

b)Jones Musara of Edmonton, Alberta Canada

and many other Zanu PF supporters who falsified their asylum applications and are now acting as agents of Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu Pf. These Zanu PF supporters are terrorizing Zimbabweans in Canada and the diaspora and we believe they must be relocated back to Zimbabwe.

2. They have said statements that are equal to intimidation of the Zimbabwean citizens both abroad and within Zimbabwe on various social media platforms, so we kindly seek the intervention of your good office by relocating them back to Zimbabwe.
3. We believe that these two individuals, and some other Zanu PF supporters were granted their Canadian immigration status after providing Canadian Immigration authorities with fake supporting documents to the effect that they are asylum seekers running away from persecution from the same regime they are supporting now.

The High Court will on the 3rd of October (today) hear a petition by the Community Water Alliance Trust (CWAT) which intends to compel president Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government to ensure water availability.

Below is the case outline presented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights:

03 October 2019

HIGH COURT HEARS WATER RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS PETITION TO AVERT WATER CRISIS

HIGH Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu will on Thursday 3 October 2019 preside over the determination of 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.

Justice Tagu was initially scheduled to hear the urgent chamber application on Monday 30 September 2019 but he postponed the hearing to Thursday 3 October 2019 at 2:30 PM to enable lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office to seek further instructions from President Mnangagwa, who is cited as the third respondent but was not represented in court.

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, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Hon. July Moyo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu 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.

ENDS

All Africa|Barely a week after United Nations (UN) special rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi Vaule delivered a damning report on Zimbabwe’s state of human rights and eager to please the world, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set up a special team to look into the violence that has rocked the country since last year.

Mnangagwa, who is struggling to convince the West that he is leading a ‘new dispensation’ that respects people’s basic rights, told Parliament on Tuesday that he was going to set up an inter-ministerial task-force to investigate the matters. In his State of the Nation address to Parliament on Tuesday, the President said he was going to investigate accusations of rights abuses.

“The ongoing democratic reforms must entrench constitutional rights and freedoms for all Zimbabweans and therefore the culture of fear and violence must be uprooted from our societies,” said Mnangagwa.

“In line with this commitment to defend our democracy, I have set up an inter-ministerial task-force to look into the political, electoral, legislative and administrative issues raised by the 2018 electoral observer missions and indeed the (former South African President Kgalema) Motlanthe Commission.”

Some six civilians were gunned down by the military on August 1 last year after protests broke out against electoral body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s late announcement of presidential results.

Another 17 more civilians were killed by the army in January during a three-day national shutdown triggered by a 150% fuel hike announced by Mnangagwa.

Abductions of opposition political players and human rights defenders have further worsened his image.

As a result, Mnangagwa has had a torrid time courting the West for their much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) whose absence has further weakened the already poor economy.

America and European states have demanded tangible reforms before re-engagement with Harare.

The European Union (EU) has also been savage on its analysis of his human rights record since taking over from Mugabe in a coup November 2017.

A desperate Mnangagwa had to lie during last week’s UN General Assembly address, misrepresenting that two of Zimbabwe’s most notorious laws had been repealed when they have not.

Jane Mlambo| Speaking exclusively to an online media organisation, opposition MDC Deputy chairperson Job Sikhala has added fire to the debate on his trending picture in an under-sized waistcoat.

Sikhala had this say after being asked about his reaction to picture, “It’s good that people talk about one of their own. It really shows that Zimbabweans follow those whom they hold in high esteem. The surprise only came when I realized that I have shut the social media down.

“The picture has circulated more than any trending news for sometime. It exceeded even the time when I was arrested. Although the waistcoat is a photoshop I enjoyed the funny as well.

“It’s not about allegations of being corrupt or anything negative. It’s people who just found light moments under the difficult circumstances under an unmatched dictatorship we are under. So let the people trend the picture,” Sikhala.

MDC MPs walked out on President Emmerson Mnangagwa while delivering his SONA. Zanu Pf has said the MPs must be expelled from parliament over their conduct, & by elections must be held to replace them. Do you think MDC MPs should be expelled from parliament?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 3, 2019

HIGH COURT HEARS WATER RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS PETITION TO AVERT WATER CRISIS

HIGH Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu will on Thursday 3 October 2019 preside over the determination of 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.

Justice Tagu was initially scheduled to hear the urgent chamber application on Monday 30 September 2019 but he postponed the hearing to Thursday 3 October 2019 at 2:30 PM to enable lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office to seek further instructions from President Mnangagwa, who is cited as the third respondent but was not represented in court.

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, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Hon. July Moyo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu 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.
ENDS

THE fear of poisoning has once again come to the fore within Zanu PF and government circles following allegations by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s close associates that the ailing former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, currently hospitalised in China, could have been poisoned by his political rivals.

Chiwenga, who has been hospitalised at a top Beijing hospital since July, underwent a delicate operation last month, amid frenzied manoeuvring within Zanu PF by party heavyweights angling for the vice-president’s position.
Specialists partially cleared, through an operation, the ailing vice-president’s clogged oesophagus.

Prior to his emergency trip to China for treatment, Chiwenga was admitted to a hospital in South Africa.

Chiwenga orchestrated the military coup that toppled late Mugabe in November 2017, catapulting Mnangagwa to the presidency. However, he is said to be harbouring presidential ambitions, much to the discomfort of Mnangagwa and his loyalists.

The vice-president last year revealed he fell ill during the military operation which toppled late former president Robert Mugabe from power.

Allegations of poisoning were also topical last month following last month’s protests by former vice-president and ex-spy Phelekezela Mphoko that he feared being arrested as he could be poisoned while in detention.

Mphoko fled from Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) officials at the Bulawayo Central Police Station, fearing detention over abuse of power allegations.

Mphoko, who served alongside President Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice-president to Mugabe, was arrested by Zacc for allegedly facilitating the illegal release from police custody of former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri. Juma and Norupiri were arrested in 2016 on allegations of defrauding the authority US$1,3 million.

The former vice-president has since surrendered to the police, before appearing in court where he was granted bail with stringent conditions.
He succeeded in avoiding police detention.

At the height of succession battles in Zanu PF in 2017, Mnangagwa, who was leading a faction fighting for the heart and soul of the party with a rival group that had coalesced around former first lady Grace Mugabe, was taken ill at a rally in Gwanda after allegedly being poisoned.
His supporters claimed at the time that he had eaten ice-cream laced with toxins.

He was flown to Gweru in a military helicopter, and later South Africa for treatment. His supporters accused the G40 camp of plotting to eliminate him through poisoning.

At the time, Mnangagwa’s doctors confirmed that he was indeed poisoned.

“I never said that I was poisoned in Gwanda, but that I fell ill in Gwanda,” Mnangagwa told a press conference in October 2017 at the height of factional fights engulfing Zanu PF over Mugabe’s succession.

“During the briefing with His Excellency, the President, comrade RG Mugabe, the medical doctors who attended to me ruled out food poisoning, but confirmed that indeed poisoning had occurred and that investigations were still in progress. They, however, established that poisoning had indeed occurred and investigations were in progress.”

Mphoko’s utterances, as well as Chiwenga’s deteriorating health, sources said, also added impetus to swirling speculation that a number of political figures, including the late former prime minister, and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai were poisoned.

Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer in South Africa on February 14 2018.

His condition deteriorated sharply after the collapse of the inclusive government which he had entered with Mugabe between 2009 and 2013 following talks brokered by the Southern African Development Community.

Tsvangirai’s supporters believe that although he was diagnosed with cancer, his condition could have been compounded by poisoning either during the inclusive government period or when he was in detention.
Zapu cadres also believe former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku was poisoned while in prison.

Masuku, who deputised the late army commander Solomon Mujuru after independence, was arrested in 1982 on allegations of plotting to overthrow Mugabe ahead of the Gukurahundi massacres from 1982 to 1987.

Masuku died in 1986 after being detained for four years, with his death described as suspicious.
— Zimbabwe Independent

State owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has mocked opposition MDC deputy chairperson Job Sikhala over a circulating picture in which he was photographed putting on an ‘undersized’ waist coast.

Sikhala’s picture in which he posed with party spokesperson Daniel Molokele has gone viral with people questioning the logic of putting on an undersized waist coat.

The state broadcaster joined in posing a question on whether Sikhala is being a fashionista or its a fashion disaster.

Farai Dziva| An MDC Official has has scoffed at the ruling made by National Assembly Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda on MDC MPs’ allowances.

Mudenda indicated that Parliament would withhold sitting allowances for MDC MPs after they walked out while President Emmerson Mnangagwa was delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

MDC secretary-general, Chalton Hwende, said :

The Speaker of Parliament thinks that the MDC Alliance MPs are deployed to Parliament to get allowances?

He is wrong, we are there to represent the 2.6 million voters who voted for Nelson Chamisa.

Our Parliamentary agenda is to ensure that those votes are made to count.”

By A Correspondent- The High Court will on the 3rd of October (today) hear a petition by the Community Water Alliance Trust (CWAT) which intends to compel President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government to ensure water availability.

Below is the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights case alert .

03 October 2019

HIGH COURT HEARS WATER RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS PETITION TO AVERT WATER CRISIS

HIGH Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu will on Thursday 3 October 2019 preside over the determination of 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.

Justice Tagu was initially scheduled to hear the urgent chamber application on Monday 30 September 2019 but he postponed the hearing to Thursday 3 October 2019 at 2:30 PM to enable lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office to seek further instructions from President Mnangagwa, who is cited as the third respondent but was not represented in court.

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, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Hon. July Moyo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu 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.

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.

Farai Dziva|National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku has dismissed Mnangagwa’s Sona saying it was uninspiring.

According to Newsday, Madhuku said the SONA was high on words, too ambitious and did not proffer any solutions for the people of Zimbabwe.

“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.

Farai Dziva|The ruling party Zanu PF has convened a Politburo meeting set for this afternoon.

According to Bulawayo24, the meeting is expected to discuss what should happen to the ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who has been holed up at a medical institution in China for the past few months and has been indisposed since the November 2017 coup in which he brought down the late Mugabe

According the publication, a Central Committee insider said there were some Politburo members who were pushing for the matter regarding the condition of the Vice President to be tabled on the agenda during the Extraordinary session being held on Thursday afternoon.

“As you know very well that the Vice President is not in a good condition and is now surviving on liquids only in China, there has been a gap both and in the Presidency of the country. The doctors also have indicated that he will be spending some months in China under medical examination.

“It is the feeling of some members that the Extraordinary session of the Politburo should take a decision to have the Vice President be redeployed to a much lesser role that allows the country to move forward and the party to be able to discharge its duties with a full functioning presidium. So among other issues, it is highly likely that the Politburo will discuss the matter regarding the sick leave of Chiwenga,” a party stalwart told the publication.

There has been reports that Minister Oppah Muchinguri, General Sibusiso Moyo are among those angling to replace the ailing General.

The ZANU PF Politburo is expected to start at 2PM on Thursday at ZANU PF headquarters.

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

• USD to ZWL$: 15.2566
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.9992

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 18.20
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 17.80
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 17
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com 11.80

More: marketwatch.co.zw

By A Correspondent- Two Zvishavane villagers, who gang-rap_ed a 51-year-old woman who had her nine-month-old grandchild strapped on her back and brutally murdered her before taking turns to have se_x with the corpse, have been sentenced to death by hanging.

The villagers, the court heard, threw the body down a disused mine shaft together with the child crying and still strapped to the body’s back.

Givemore Mutumba (25) and Tatenda Ngwenya (22) both of Chief Mazvihwa’s area, were convicted of murder with constructive intent by Bulawyo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva on Circuit in Gweru. Passing sentence, Justice Takuva said the duo’s level of cruelty was shocking.

He said the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances and therefore death sentence was the only appropriate punishment.

He said it was shocking that Ngwenya and Mutumba even raped the corpse and thereafter threw the body in a disused mine shaft with the baby still strapped to the back of the body.

“You committed a heinous crime in a horrific manner, your level of cruelty is shocking as you acted with untold brutality.

“The murder was brutal, callous and committed on an innocent elderly woman out of greed and not need. You decided to satisfy your sexual needs on an innocent woman. There was some premeditation and you threw her body down a seven-metre deep shaft while her grandchild was still strapped on her back,” said Justice Takuva.

“Your degree of cruelty in this murder is shocking and such people should not be allowed back in society. The courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of life because this kind of conduct cannot be tolerated. You are both hereby found guilty of murder with constructive intent and you are both sentenced to death by hanging.”

For the State, Mr Samuel Pedzisayi told the court that on December 21, 2017, Ngwenya and Mutumba hatched a plan to rob the deceased of her property. He said the duo proceeded to her homestead armed with a machete and found her preparing to retire to bed around 8:30PM.

At the homestead and in the kitchen, the court heard, were the deceased’s four other grandchildren.

“The accused persons threw stones into the hut. The deceased heard her grandchildren’s cries of help and ran to the kitchen where she blocked the door from opening with her body,” said Mr Pedzisayi.

He said Ngwenya inserted a machete through an opening and forced open the door.

Mr Pedzisayi said the woman and her grandchildren escaped to a neighbour’s homestead.

“The deceased decided to go back to her homestead the same night and she had her nine-month old grandchild strapped to her back. Ngwenya and Mutumba attacked her with a machete and dragged her to a nearby bush before ransacking her home,” he said.

Mr Pedzisayi said acting in common purpose the two accused persons took turns to rap_e her before and after she died while her grandchild was still strapped to her back.

“They dragged the lifeless body which still had the child strapped to its back and threw it in a seven-metre deep disused mine shaft. The following day around 2AM — a villager heard the cries of the baby from the shaft and retrieved the body of the deceased,” he said.

Mr Pedzisayi said the deceased’s body had multiple bruises on the face and neck, a deep cut on the left side of the forehead and semen on the private parts.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of Ngwenya and Mutumba.

-StateMedia

Jane Mlambo| Losing candidate in the Zanu PF Hatfield constituency primary elections and entrepreneur who brought Nigerian billionare Aliko Dangote into the country, Josey Mahachie has come guns blazing against the ruling party for labelling her a G40.

Mahachie who posted on Twitter criticizing President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his plea for patience to sort the economy, was blasted by the Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena who questioned her loyalty to Zanu PF while accusing her of being a G40 planted to cause chaos in the ruling party.

Following Wadyajena’s criticism, Mahachie took to Twitter to vent her anger at being labelled each time she gives an opinion.

She said all the attacks and labelling from both the opposition and ruling party are all because of her running under a Zanu PF ticket in an election she claims was rigged.

“I give my opinion on MDC, I am labelled a Murakashi. I give my honest opinion about ZANU PF I am labelled G40. All because I ran as MP under ZANU PF and lost in rigged primaries in 2018. I am Josey; A Proud Zimbabwean Before anything else After everything I will still be Josey,” said Mahachie.

She further challenged those who criticise Zanu PF in private when it was clear there are no results from the ruling party.

“Nothing can change the fact that I contested under Zanu Pf. Nothing can change the fact that we all knew that primaries were rigged. Why criticise in private when we are not seeing results. I say it the way it is. Whether we speak out or not we are accountable!,” added Mahachie.

Zimbabwe’s power supply has augmented, following the completion of repairs of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station, enabling the unit to add 160MW to the grid.

Energy Minister Fortune Chasi confirmed the development on Saturday morning through his twitter account, also signalling that Unit 6 will be opened up for inspection during the first week of September for fault diagnostics.

ENERGY UPDATE: Good morning MAZIMBA.
Following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange adding 160 MW to the grid last night, we expect to see improvement in power supply. Unit 6 to be opened up 4 inspection 1st wk of Sept for fault diagnostics.

Chasi told local media, ZBC News, that on completion, Unit 6 will add 170MW to the national gird.

He said: “Let me also appeal to the public to please pay their bills and to avoid power threats. Theft of power transformers is a prevalent issue at the moment. It doesn’t matter how much power we have if we don’t have transformers we will not be able to deploy the power.”

Media also highlighted that insufficient power supply has put a strain on the economy, particularly affecting the agricultural and mining sectors, as well as the manufacturing industry.

Domestic power users have been advised that they might continue to experience loadshedding as the power supplier will prioritise the productive sectors first.

It was noted that since May, Zimbabwe has been facing challenges with power generation from the Kariba dam due to falling water levels.

By A Correspondent- Prospects for dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa hit serious turbulence after the MDC snubbed and rubbished the Zanu PF leader’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Tuesday.

Highly-placed sources told NewsDay yesterday that Mnangagwa’s team was willing to bend backwards and accommodate talks with Chamisa if his party showed goodwill and respected government by attending Sona in Parliament.

“You must be aware that there are efforts both internationally and locally, being led by Speaker of House of Assembly (Jacob) Mudenda, to get the two on a negotiating table, especially in the face of an imploding economy,” a source said.

“The MDC was supposed to play ball, show respect and goodwill to President Mnangagwa so that there can be some give-and-take going into the dialogue, but yesterday (Tuesday)’s actions put strain on the efforts.”

Chamisa also rubbished the Sona delivery, saying it was a waste of resources and failed to address the issues that affected the ordinary people in Zimbabwe.

“A Sona that does not address key issues facing the nation such as lack of electricity, water, fuel, non-availability of cash, poor wages, human rights abuses, terror, abductions, legitimacy and reforms is a waste of resources and an unprovoked insult. This invites us all to act,” Chamisa tweeted.

MDC chairperson Tabitha Khumalo addressed the Press while Mnangagwa was delivering his address to the Zanu PF legislators.

“They are busy wasting people’s time talking about nothing for nothing. The time has come for them to understand that as a country, we can fight as much as we can, but we need dialogue,” she said.

“But when we talk of dialogue, we are not talking about a dialogue where it’s a church choir. We want independent convenors to map a way forward.”

Another source said Mnangagwa’s camp is now adamant and will not be giving in to any genuine reforms because of the behaviour exhibited by Chamisa and his MPs.

The MDC says it was galvanising its forces for confrontation that can bring change before December.

Early in the week, Information ministry permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana hinted that the conduct of the MDC during Sona was going to be critical on how the nation would move forward.

National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku, also dismissed Mnangagwa’s Sona, saying it was high on words, too ambitious and did not proffer any solutions for the people of Zimbabwe.

“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.

“We don’t want them to collapse because it will not help the country, but we also want to push for reforms that allow the change to happen. If Polad has to collapse because people have resisted change, so let it be, but we will give it a try,” he said.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Wednesday next week attend Uganda’s 57th Independence Day celebrations as a special guest to the country following an invitation by his counterpart President Yoweri Museveni.

The celebrations held under the theme, “Consolidation of National Unity, Security, Freedom and Prosperity,” will be held at Sinkoro District 211 kilometres from the capital Kampala.

Uganda gained its independence from Britain on October 9, 1962.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Mr George Charamba, who is also the Presidential spokesperson, yesterday confirmed the invitation.

“The President was invited to Uganda as a special guest to the country on their National Day,” said Mr Charamba.

On Tuesday, the Ugandan Minister of Presidency Esther Mbayo said Presidents Museveni and Mnangagwa will also use the time to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries.

“President of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be the chief guest and he has invited another special guest, His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President of Zimbabwe to grace the occasion,” she said.

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf bigwigs are set to meet this afternoon at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

According to a notice posted by the party’s secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu, all politburo members are expected to be seated by 13;30hours.

Read the notice of the extra ordinary politburo meeting:

“The Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Dr Obert M Mpofu wishes to advise all Politburo members that there shall be an extraordinary session of the Politburo to be convened at the party headquarters on October 3, 2019, commencing at 2 PM. All members are to be seated by 1330hrs. “

By A Correspondent- Controversial businessman, Wickell Chivayo, says 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 his thoughts through his Twitter handle where he attached photos of giant Chinese electrical products manufacturer, Chint Electric. 

He wrote:

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.

Chivayo is famously known, not only for flaunting his “wealth” but also for the incomplete Gwanda Solar project.

He won the tender to construct a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Gwanda and his company, Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Ltd was paid a total of US$5,6m for designs and feasibility study but the project is still a long way off from completion.

Sad pictures received from Teachers in Mat South. They are queueing for water. We demand an education equalisation fund to bridge the infrastructure gap in our schools.@robohchere @EduInvestor @RaymondMajongwe @OMasaraure @edmnangagwa @CitManifesto pic.twitter.com/yWns5eQGAp

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) October 3, 2019

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko, has approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order to compel the government to pay him his pension.

Mphoko filed the application through his lawyer, Zibusiso Ncube on Wednesday and he is claiming US$308 000 or the equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate. In his submissions, Mphoko said:

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.

Mphoko lost his job in November 2017 following the military coup that deposed the then President, the late Robert Mugabe.

He is currently out on bail on abuse of office charges going back to the time when he was Vice President.

-DailyNews