Former President, Robert Mugabe, has reportedly already been buried in secret at a mysterious location, in his rural home of Zvimba, Spotlight Zimbabwe, reports.

Mugabe died on 6 September at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore, from advanced prostate cancer, which he failed to recover from after a six-month stay in the Asian country, where he received treatment, state media reported yesterday.

However citing a U.S. diplomatic cable, whistleblower and news leaks website, WikiLeaks, as far back as 2011, was the first to reveal that Mugabe had prostate cancer that had spread to other organs and was urged by his physician to step down in 2008.

In the cable dated June 2008 and written by James D. McGee, the former U.S. ambassador in Harare, former Central Bank governor Gideon Gono was quoted as saying the cancer could lead to Mugabe’s death in three to five years.

“Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, told the ambassador … that President Robert Mugabe has prostate cancer that has metastasized and, according to doctors, will cause his death in three to five years,” the cable said.

According to a close relative of the Mugabe family, the late veteran politician was laid to rest last week, during a night burial ceremony at a hidden location in Zvimba only known to traditional chiefs, his wife Grace and immediate family.

“The whole thing about a mausoleum construction was a tactical diversion,” said the relative, who also served in Mugabe’s administration at one point.

“The president made it clear that he wanted to be buried in his rural home, and that his body be interred by chiefs in the area, at a location only known to them and his immediate family.

“Yes, there shall be a private event at Heroes Acre in Harare, when the mausoleum is complete, but it’s all going to be symbolic. That is not Mugabe’s final resting place, but as a founding father of our country, it made sense to have a mausoleum built for him on top of the hill at the national shrine.”

Government said construction of the mausoleum is envisaged to be complete in about 30 days. Local online reports say the contract to construct the mausoleum, at an estimated cost of over a US$1 million was awarded to a Chinese company, Shanghai Construction Group, which is currently building the new Parliament of Zimbabwe in Mt Hampden.

Before his death sometime in August, Mugabe is said to have told his family that he does not want President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his allies to take custody of his body as it might be used for ritualistic and occultic purposes, reports in local private media said.

Mugabe also indicated that he did not want to be associated with Mnangagwa, because he feared there was a huge risk the ruling Zanu PF leader, could use his body for rituals, to consolidate and maintain power.

To that effect, Mugabe’s family had refused to allow Mnangagwa’s government to take Mugabe’s body to One Commando Barracks or any other mortuary as they believed that his enemies wanted to take his organs and use them for occult rituals to enhance their powers.

The occult is a collection of beliefs and practices founded on the premise that humans can tap into a supernatural world. Once connected to this other realm, various rituals and special knowledge are used by those involved to allow a person to gain abilities and power they would otherwise not possess. These powers include controlling the nature world or other people.

“President Mugabe is now resting in peace. It is true that he was buried in Zvimba last week. What you have at his blue roof mansion, is a dummy coffin, for a dummy burial upon the completion of the mausoleum at the Heroes Acre, which will definitely take more than 30 days.

If they are fast enough, they’ll need at least two or three months to finish, because the site is new and an engineering feat of its own,” said a senior official with the Department of Museums and National Monuments last night.

Spotlight Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe on Monday raised fuel prices again, with petrol going up to ZWL11.55 and diesel going up to ZWL12.08 per litre in line with Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube’s suggestion that the price of fuel per litre be equivalent to US$1.00 as authorities continue to grapple with an unfavourable exchange rate.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority announced the new prices as set below:

Doctors gave up treatment on late former President Robert Mugabe as it turned out age and his advanced State of cancer ailment had gone beyond treatment.

This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa while addressing a hired group of ZANU PF supporters in New York on Saturday.

Said Mnangagwa, “In fact, when we discussed about the issue (Mugabe’s illness), it turned out that treatment had stopped, doctors had stopped treatment, chemotherapy, one, because of age and also because the cancer had spread and it was not helping anymore.

“He would have come back home, but the family said they wanted to remain. Of course, they would have wanted me to come to Singapore, but also we had our Vice President General (Constantino) Chiwenga, who is in a military hospital in Beijing, who was going into a major operation and those two demands.”

Zimbabwe’s long serving former leader died on 6 September after spending months on treatment in Singapore.

State Media|Government is committed to strengthening the operations of the security services sector to ensure it is technologically abreast with international standards, President Mnangagwa has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Acting President Kembo Mohadi yesterday at the 2019 Presidential Medal Shoot prize presentation ceremony, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said under the New Dispensation, it was vital for the security sector to keep abreast with technology in this era of a “hyper-connected global community”.

“The security services constitute the fortress of our national security architecture. Therefore, strengthening the skills asymmetry of our security services is at the core of my Government,” he said.

“We need to ensure that the entire gamut of the national security architecture from defence, law enforcement, intelligence and correctional services keep pace and are better equipped with modern tools and skilled personnel.

“In a hyper-connected global community, there are threats and risks which have the capacity to shape our national security landscape. In that regard, testing the preparedness of security services, especially their skills, proficiency and team work is paramount.”

President Mnangagwa urged the security agencies to continuously coordinate and prioritise efforts aimed at building resilience in protecting national interest.

He said Government was making efforts in rebuilding the economy and urged people to unite and work together for common cause, rather than waging violence.

“Certainly, violent demonstrations will never unite us or solve the transient challenges confronting our motherland, but will only serve to divide us and lead to unnecessary destruction of property, injury and loss of lives,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Once again, I reiterate that my arms are wide stretched for those that wish to pursue the path of dialogue and unity. Hence working together and in common purpose, we can certainly guarantee that our country leapfrogs many in all facets of socio-economic and political development.”

Speaking at the same occasion, police Commissioner-General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga said the security services was committed to the provision of world class safety and security services to all its citizenry and all those pursuing various economic activities.

He said the shooting competition was vital in sharpening their expertise in the protection of the VIPs and VVIPs, public order management, counter insurgency and reconnaissance operations.

Over 50 participants were awarded with cash prizes, medals and trophies in different categories.

The overall champion of this year’s competition was Lieutenant John Chindito, who is also a chaplain at 4 Brigade headquarters.

He walked away with $10 900 cash and five gold medals. The event, hosted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, saw participants drawn from Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Central Intelligence Organisation and civilian teams receiving medals for their outstanding performances.

The ceremony was also graced by Ministers Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (Defence and War Veterans Affairs), Cain Mathema (Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage) and Owen Ncube (State Security), service chiefs and senior Government officials.

One of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s most valued investors, South African billionaire Zunaid Moti, says he is under increasing international pressure to pull out of Zimbabwe.

He claims global negativity about Zimbabwe and the failing economy are affecting operations at African Chrome Fields in Kwekwe, where the Moti Group has invested more than $250m.

“There is a lot of pressure out there. People ask why we’re in business in Zimbabwe,” Moti said. “That has affected our ratings. Some people wouldn’t want to do business with us because we are in Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe is ranked 45th in Africa and 175th in the world on the economic freedom risk indicator, according to global think tank Trading Economics.

Moti’s legal adviser, Ashruf Kaka, said this was borne out by his employer’s experience. “If you invest in Zimbabwe you get stuck,” he said. “You can’t take out your money or rather realise profits because of the failing RTGS [realtime gross settlement] dollar that replaced the American dollar.”

When RTGS became the official currency three months ago, foreign currency was outlawed.

But the Zimbabwe dollar, which started trading at ZWL$6.50 against the US dollar on the interbank market in July is now trading at ZWL$14, and on the black market US$1 costs as much as ZWL$20.

Kaka said the ban on US dollars had brought African Chrome Fields to a standstill. “The situation got so bad that we couldn’t procure spare parts from China and other countries because we were trading in the volatile RTGS currency,” he said.

“Had it been a proper dollar economy, we would be fully operational. Unless and until economic and political reforms are adhered to, Zimbabwe will be a bad investment destination.”

At its peak, African Chrome Fields employed about 1 600 people and produced more than 30 000t of chrome a month, exporting all of it to SA for value addition and beneficiation. The company has since laid off 250 and about 600 more have left.

Moti’s fears for the future of Zimbabwe were echoed last month by his group’s former special adviser on Zimbabwe, Lord Peter Hain, who said Mnangagwa’s rule had been “disastrous”.

This was a sharp reversal from his position before he left the Moti group in February, when he said: “Zimbabwe could rise from the ashes.”

The Moti Group’s operations in Zimbabwe had “national project” status, meaning it could procure fuel and machinery duty-free.

It also enjoyed close relations with the country’s rulers, having entered the country when Mnangagwa was Vice President.

The company had cordial relations with the then commander of the Zimbabwe army, Gen Constantino Chiwenga, who became Vice President after Robert Mugabe was ousted.

With Moti’s friends Mnangagwa and Chiwenga forming the presidium after the November 2017 coup, the billionaire became one of the natural choices to spearhead an economic revival.

He set up a base at Chinyika Ranch in the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency, whose MP was First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.

Sources close to the Moti Group and Mnangagwa said the businessman’s about turn on Zimbabwe was partly political.

“Moti is closer to Vice President Chiwenga. There’s friction between No1 [Mnangagwa] and No2, but this has been played down.

“Moti is more aligned to Chiwenga, and as such to some extent he is seen as a potential funder of a faction in ZANU-PF,” said one source.

Asked about the allegations, Kaka said: “We respect both men in their respective offices. We are not politicians but investors. We want what’s good for our investment.”

Sources said the frosty relationship between the President and Moti had its roots in Mnangagwa’s escape from Zimbabwe after he was fired by Mugabe in November 2017, shortly before the coup.

“When Mnangagwa was planning his escape, he reached out to the Moti Group,” one source said.

“He wanted to be airlifted out of the country that’s documented in books and newspaper articles too. But the Moti Group allegedly did not avail their private jet, fearing Mugabe’s wrath.”

Mnangagwa was rescued by another South African businessman, Justice Maphosa, who later told journalists he was being targeted by shadowy businessmen for his role in Mnangagwa’s rescue.

Kaka said: “He [Mnangagwa] never asked us for help. I was in Zimbabwe when he was fired from government. He could have even used any flight out of the country if he needed to.”

Another thorny issue that affected their relationship was Moti’s arrest in Germany in August 2018.

He spent five months in jail after Russian billionaire Alibek Issaev told Interpol Moti had stolen a R500m pink diamond and defrauded him of R6.6m through a bogus mining deal.

With Moti behind bars, Kaka approached Mnangagwa for assistance but left emptyhanded. “I personally went to see President Mnangagwa to ask for help to get Zunaid released. Nothing came of it. We ended up using South African authorities. They were better placed to assist,” he said. –TimesLive

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has publicly disrespected a High Court ruling over the controversial two percent tax on mobile money transfers introduced by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube early this year.

Mnangagwa told a gathering of ZANU PF supporters in New York that the High Court ruling is as good as non existent and his government will contempt the court and continue collecting the tax.

Mnangagwa who is suddenly declaring himself and his Finance team led by Mthuli the cleverest gang in the country said that they were yet again cleverer than the High Court as they legislated the illegal tax way ahead of the court judgement.

“Academically, they won the case, but factually they lost the case because we were clever enough,” he said. “When they went to court they said it was introduced under a Statutory Instrument, but when the Minister of Finance put his Finance Act, we tucked in the provision and it went through Parliament and is now an Act of Parliament.

“It cannot be overruled by a judge sitting alone. So, it is now law and the minister will continue collecting the money.”

Prof Ncube introduced the two percent transaction tax in his Transition Stabilisation Programme, which is part of Government dream to turn around the economy.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hinted that he and his Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube are probably the cleverest duo in the country, even cleverer than economic factors hitting the country and also cleverer than the judiciary.

Very jovial Mnangagwa said this on Saturday evening while briefing Zanu-PF supporters from North America on political and economic developments back home during an interactive meeting in New York ahead of the 74th United Nations General Assembly.

Mnangagwa claimed that his government through Mthuli Ncube last Friday outsmarted some individuals and entities that were behind the sharp rise in foreign exchange rates, a development that saw the dollar exchange rate hit ZWL$25 for a single US Dollar.

He said the Zimbabwean dollar, which was introduced as a mono-currency in June this year, performed well in its initial stages only to face wanton assault by some elements in the economy which saw the exchange rates inexplicably rising, thereby causing a price spiral in goods and services.

Although President Mnangagwa did not go into detail on the actual measures, there were reports of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) freezing the accounts of four prominent companies run by persons very close to him.

There were also rumours that the RBZ Financial Intelligence Unit had cracked the whip on bureaux de change thought to be fuelling the runaway exchange rate.

“On the monetary side, yes, we have introduced one currency,” said President Mnangagwa. “For the first six weeks it remained stable, but then our people are intelligent. We have people who found ways to fight that (stability of the currency) and undermine it, but yesterday (Friday) we also became smarter than them and so we took some action.

“We have now arrested the galloping rate which was galloping from about eight, within few days it had gone up 10, and 20, by the time we left it had gone down and I think today it is about 14.”

The meeting was attended by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya and Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has come under fire for his statement that the Zimbabwean dollar is undervalued and should be trading at 6:1 against the United States dollar.

The exchange rate of the #Zimbabwe Dollar to United States Dollar is way undervalued. The exchange rate of Zim$ to US$ should be around 6 at the moment, on the basis of the real exchange rate (RER) relative to the South African Rand. pic.twitter.com/vUWBvA9aXN

— Prof. Mthuli Ncube (@MthuliNcube) September 22, 2019

The local currency plunged to 25:1 against the United States dollar on Thursday before the central bank froze the accounts of at least four companies owned by close associates or relatives of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The rate appreciated to 15:1 and Mnangagwa told supporters in New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting that it is likely to continue appreciating.

Critics were, however, sceptical about what they termed temporary solutions.

Movement for Democratic Change vice-president Tendai Biti, a former Finance Minister in the inclusive government, immediately shot back:  

Mahumbwe chaiyo. Zimbabwe has no productivity. 2019 GDP is likely to be around -8 % . There is massive corruption fueling massive increase in money supply.The current account is in massive deficit .So you have to be mad or drunk , or both to reason like this . Worst gvt in world

— TENDAI BITI (@BitiTendai) September 22, 2019

He was backed by Baba vaT: “You failed to make Barbican work and you think you can make Zimbabwe work? Just asking. If you failed on a small company which was “your brainchild” what more a whole country? Go back to your hole where you were hiding dude. Chinhu charema ichi hachisi chenyu.”

Renowned economist Professor Steve Hanke thinks Mthuli Ncube is delusional.

#Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Prof. @MthuliNcube is totally delusional. His calculation of the real exchange rate is utter rubbish. Clear evidence that Zimbabwe is in the grips of a death spiral. https://t.co/Ji1oGIE2EP

— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) September 22, 2019

Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe dollar was steady for six to eight weeks until some “smart” people found ways to manipulate the currency.

His administration, he said, had, however, become smarter but critics doubt this.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told Zimbabweans living outside the country that they may soon find themselves involved in the country’s elections as they may soon be having a parliamentary seat in the country.

Mnangagwa said this while addressing Zanu-PF supporters from Canada and the United States who had been brought to New York to give solidarity to their leader who is attending the 74th United Nations General Assembly.

Mnangagwa said the ZANU PF decision making body between congresses, the Politburo, was seriously considering to create a party province for the diaspora based Zimbabweans and ultimately a Parliamentary seat.

“Our people in the diaspora not only yourself in America and Canada, but also in other parts of the world have pleaded that they want to have an eleventh province, called the Diaspora province,” he said.

“This was debated in our Politburo, we now have a small committee which is working on how the eleventh province of the people in the diaspora can be structured, which may result in having diaspora representation in Parliament.

“We have a committee working on how that can be crafted, but at least we recognise the role of our people in the diaspora,” Mnangagwa said.

Meeting with the same group at the same time last year, Mnangagwa agreed with the principle of Zimbabweans living outside the country being allowed to vote and promises that his administration is looking into the logistical issues between now and the next elections in 2023.

President Mnangagwa indicated a vote for Diasporans may well have been implemented in the 2018 elections but his Government had not had enough time to thrash out all the logistical issues.

Zimbabweans living outside the country have for decades called for the right to vote, which is not captured in existing electoral laws.

“As I went around (different) countries I met . . . our Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who insisted on wanting to have an opportunity to vote.

“I agree with that request, but we were not able, in the time available, to have the logistics put into place to implement that objective. We now have five years where we can work on that objective where we can see whether we can implement it,” President Mnangagwa said to the group of ZANU PF supporters last year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that he had no time to visit his late former boss Robert Mugabe in hospital in Singapore as he had to give his attention to equally ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is hospitalised in China.

Mnangagwa said this in New York while addressing Zanu-PF supporters who had been hired and bussed in from Canada and the United States to come to New York and give him some solidarity at the 74th United Nations General Assembly. 

Mnangagwa briefed his supporters about the demise of Mugabe in Singapore early this month, who has since been declared a national hero and awaits a family private burial inside a mausoleum which is taking thirty days to build at the National Heroes Acre.

He said he heard about him being unwell while he was attending a conference in Japan and had intended to visit him but failed as Chiwenga was preparing to go for theatre hinting that he instead wanted to rush to Chiwenga ahead of Mugabe.

Mnangagwa said Mugabe’s fate was futile as doctors and family had given up on chemotherapy treatment and his was only a matter of time before the demise.

“In fact, when we discussed about the issue, it turned out that treatment had stopped, doctors had stopped treatment, chemotherapy, one, because of age and also because the cancer had spread and it was not helping anymore,” said President Mnangagwa.

“He would have come back home, but the family said they wanted to remain. Of course they would have wanted me to come to Singapore, but also we had our Vice President General (Constantino) Chiwenga who is in a military hospital in Beijing who was going into a major operation and those two demands.”

Mnangagwa apparently gave an update on the health of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga whilst addressing mourners at Mugabe’s residence on the day that Mugabe died.

Mnangagwa said the former general had undergone a successful operation on the same morning that Mugabe died and was in a stable condition.

“…VP Chiwenga calls every morning asking about the situation. This morning I spoke to him. He came out of the theatre around 9:30 this morning. His operation was a success. He was saying when I get here, I should say to you Soko (Grace Mugabe’s totem), I will live and I will come alive. That is what he (Chiwenga) said this morning when he came out of the theatre.”

National hero and Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe had advanced cancer, and had to be taken off chemotherapy treatment because it was no longer effective, before he died, President Mnangagwa has revealed.

Hinting on the possible cause of Mugabe’s death for the first time, President Mnangagwa said he intended to visit the former leader in Singapore, where he had been receiving treatment, after the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which was held in Yokohama, Japan, last month.

President Mnangagwa said this in New York on Saturday while addressing Zanu-PF supporters living in North America.

The President is in the United States for the 74th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
President Mnangagwa briefed the party supporters on the demise of the country’s founding leader in Singapore, saying he heard about him being unwell while he was attending the TICAD in Japan and had intended to visit both Mugabe and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is hospitalised in China.

“In fact, when we discussed about the issue, it turned out that treatment had stopped, doctors had stopped treatment, chemotherapy, one, because of age and also because the cancer had spread and it was not helping anymore,” he said on the illness of Mugabe.

“He would have come back home, but the family said they wanted to remain. Of course, they would have wanted me to come to Singapore, but also we had our Vice President General (Constantino) Chiwenga, who is in a military hospital in Beijing, who was going into a major operation and those two demands,” the President said.State media

Zanu-PF continues to prove its political dominance after the ruling party trounced the main opposition MDC-Alliance and two other political parties in the Zaka East parliamentary by-election, where its candidate, Clemence Chiduwa, garnered 7 119 votes to romp to a landslide victory on Saturday.

Chiduwa swept to victory after out-muscling Mr Derick Charamba of MDC-A, who came a distant second with 1 518 votes.

Mr Clemence Chavarika of the National Constitutional Assembly managed 83 votes, while Mr Lazarus Mubango of Free Zimbabwe Congress party settled for 63 votes.

There were 85 spoilt votes with a voter turnout of 55,7 percent.

This is the third seat to be won by Zanu-PF in by-elections held post 2018 harmonised elections after the ruling party also won in Lupane East and Mangwe National Assembly by-elections.

The ruling party has also won wards in Nyanga, Bikita, Bulawayo and Masvingo, with MDC-A managing to win only the recently held Glen View South National Assembly by-election.
An elated Chiduwa said his victory was well deserved.

“I will spearhead development in Zaka East constituency with my target being to fulfil the promises I made during the campaigns,” he said. “Zanu-PF is a party for development and the party always delivers on its promises.’’

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial secretary for finance Rabson Mavhenyengwa said the ruling party was thrilled by the victory in Zaka East, which he said was a thumbs up to President Mnangagwa and the party’s thrust to achieving an upper middle income economy by 2030.

MDC-A’s Mr Charamba said he did not accept the result, but was not in a position to give reasons.

“I will only give an exact position after consulting with party seniors (national organising secretary Mr Amos Chibaya and national secretary for elections Mr Jacob Mafume), who are here (in Zaka), but the defeat is not accepted,’’ he said yesterday morning.
When contacted later in the day, Mr Charamba was evasive.

“Right now I am where I cannot discuss those (election) issues, I am in a meeting, call me back after about 30 minutes.’’ State media

HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema, has said Government will not hesitate to introduce new laws to regulate social media and warned individuals making false abduction claims to prove the allegations or face jail.

In an interview, Ambassador Mathema said there was a systematic plan to discredit the Government ahead of the United Nations General Assembly being attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in New York, United States.

The Minister’s comments come on the heels of several days of allegations of abduction of Dr Peter Mugombeyi, who has since been found unharmed and is admitted at a local hospital for observation.

Ambassador Mathema said there were foreign elements working with opposition political parties, like the MDC Alliance, to create false abduction cases in order to soil the name of the Government.

Dr Magombeyi was found in Nyabira amid claims that foreign embassy officials were deeply interested in the matter, raising suspicion that they could be behind an operation to discredit the State in a desperate bid to justify continued isolation of Zimbabwe.

“We need to craft laws to penalise anyone who makes false allegations against the Government.

“Anybody who lies against the State must go to jail. We can’t have a situation where anyone can say anything and walk scot-free. This nonsense must stop,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He dismissed Dr Magombeyi’s abductions claims as “outright lies” adding that those who made the claims, will be made to account for their words and actions.State media

Farai Dziva|Econet Wireless has announced that it will be reviewing the prices of t Data and SMS with effect from Monday 23 September.

The country’s largest mobile network operator has also said that the prices of all other services remain unchanged.

Econet cited the current economic crisis as the reason behind the move.

See the notice below :

Dear Customer. Please take note, bundle prices for Data & SMS will be reviewed effective 23 September 2019. Dial *143# or *151# to buy Data or *140# to buy SMS Bundles.

There is no single doubt both in my conscience and my heart that Dr. Peter Magomeyi was savagely tortured by societal outcasts in our country this 21st century.

Having listened to the telephone conversation between Dr Magombeyi and the Studio 7 reporter after reports that he has been dumped in Nyabira, the traits of a tormented soul as manifested to me after my torture on the 13th of January 2003 together with Advocate Gabriel Shumba, Taurai Magaya and Charles Mutama was clear.

It is important to share with everyone and the whole world what happened to me and others I mentioned above from the practical victim knowledge.

On midnight of the 12th of January 2003, myself, my lawyer Advocate Gabriel Shumba, Taurai Magaya, Charles Mutama and Bishop Shumba were raided by a joint operation team of the military, Central Intelligence Organization, the Criminal Investigation Department (Law and Order) at Nyamutamba Hotel.

They came with a battalion and convey of motor vehicles and stormed into our rooms at the hotel during midnight of the day in question. We were initially taken to St. Mary’s Police Station briefly I think it was for their administrative purposes.

We were then driven to Matapi Police Station were they dropped Taurai Magaya into the holding cells. We proceeded to Mbare Police Station were they detained Adv Gabriel Shumba. Myself and Charles Mutama were taken to Harare Central Police Station.

Then around 6pm of the 13th I and Charles Mutama were taken out of Harare Central Police Station holding cells. We were taken out by 6 members from the Law and Order section who were Garnet Sikhova, Chrispen Makedenge, Matsvimbo, Mhashu and 2 others who are now dead whose names can not be remembered in the immediacy because of the lapse of time.

We did not notice that the two of us were taken out at the same time. It was only after we were brought back to the holding cells that we shared what happened, that we noticed that we were taken out at the same time with Charles Mutama.

Unbeknown to us, was that, Advocate Gabriel Shumba who was my lawyer and Taurai Magaya had a torrid day of torture before they were returned back.

They were blind folded and taken to an unknown destination which we later understood to be Kabri Barracks after some torturers came to confess to us after having been haunted by unknown spirits.

After having been taken out of the holding cells I was led into a cream dark windowed Toyota kombi parked at the Harare Central Police Station parking area, near the internal fuel station in the police station.

The kombi had no seats inside save for one which the most cruel one sat. As we entered the kombi, they in a flash, blindfolded me with a hood and asked to sit down violently.

Initially, you are gripped with fear of the unknown but as you will ponder going forward you will tell yourself that if it is God’s way that he has apportioned that way as a route you will leave this earth, you end up coming to resignation and say, let your wish be done. I was driven around for almost 45 minutes.

These people were giving each other instructions to turn left or right. But what was surprising me was that we were not coming out of roads with robots. We only left the robots areas after the car had cruised for about 15 minutes.

Then one of them shouted for the gate to be opened. After the gate opened I felt that we crossed a grid through the sounds of the wheels on the road.

The kombi was parked and I was asked to disembark. They asked me to follow them for about 20 metres and was warned to step carefully. I felt I was walking steps downwards. We completed the first batch of steps. They ask me again to step carefully, taking another batch of steps further downwards.

After completing the second batch ,I was asked to sit down and they remove the handcuffs and undressed me naked to the underwear. They started tying my hands and legs using ropes. They then push my arms around my legs to effect what we popularly know as mbiradzakondo.

They started beating me under the feet interrogating where I come from. The name of my father and mother. Their contact details. Name of my wife and where she comes from. The number of children and their names. The name of schools and the university I attended and the degree I did and the name of the schools and university my wife attended. Where my wife works. And places drinking I patronize. They questioned everything concerning my private life.

Then the next phase was a threat that if I still need my life, I must tell them where I have hidden the guns which they said I intended to use to fight the government. They also alleged that I was training the Red Army on the St. Mary’s cemetery.

Replying them that what they were alleging was a story to me and that I was hearing it for the first time, led to the emergency of the demon of cruelty. Still blindfolded, they tied electric cables around my toes of both feet.

They switched on their electric gadget for a period between 10 to 30 seconds. While screaming in agony and pain they will be belowing laughter of threats and satisfaction. They repeated electrocuting my toes endless times asking the same questions all over again.

Unsatisfied by the pain inflicted they inflicted on me they went for my genitals. They tied electric cables around my penis and another one around my balls. Don’t think they had released those tied on the toes. They switch on the electric gadget, genitals being burnt and the toes being shocked. The electric shocks on the genitals made me to see a million stars.

Unfortunately, for me my penis got burnt and because of my thin skin my testicles were swollen. There is no way the evil perpetrators would run away from it. They did it in sessions allover and over again until I passed out.

My last recall before passing out was a voice saying “lets go and throw him into the dam because he is dead. After a while I felt something being dropped on my body which I was later told was a resuscitation chemical that was dropped on me.

During the torture sessions I was hearing Charles Mutama from the other end of the underground bunker screaming in agony calling for God to come to his rescue and help. I was hearing him shouting “ndofa wo kani Mwari huyai mundibetsere” repeatedly.

That’s why I understand him that soon after our acquittal by Magistrate Anne Chigumira of the charge of subverting a constitutional government, he ran away into exile in the USA. After resuscitation, they asked me where they should drop me.

I told them to drop me home because I wanted to go and see my wife, only for them to drop me at Harare Central Police Station where they took us from. I was strongly warned not to talk to Geoff Nyarota and his Daily News or to talk to anyone about what happened.

Before leaving the torture bunker, they said, “please phone Chamisa and tell him that politics has changed that he is going to lose Kuwadzana by-election”. They gave me something into my hand and said it was my cell phone after asking for my pin number. It truly rang loudly like a cell phone on loud.

The moment I put it on my ears, I was hit by an unprecedented wave of electric shock that went right straight into my brains. They said, it was a parting shot so that I will know what was coming my way if I tell anyone about what happened.

After gaining my consciousnews, I heavily urinated and they asked me to wipe all the urine by drinking it from the floor. It was to be realised later by the doctors who treated me in SA and Denmark that there was a poisonous substance in my blood.

After having been dropped back at the Harare Central Police Station, I found Charles Mutama already back in the cells, Advocate Gabriel Shumba and Taurai Magaya were also in and told me that they were shifted from Mbare and Matapi holding cells to Harare Central after their torture .

I found them groaning in pain squashed on a corner and quickly suspected that they were done what was done to me and Charles Mutama. When they saw me they started crying. This trauma has affected Magaya up to this present day.

He just cries without provocation despite medical treatment he obtained after the torture. Anongotanga kungovovora kana zvamubata meaning he just starts wailing without anything done to him.

It is not only stupid but idiotic, inhumane, animalistic, wild life disposition and fatally flawed for agencies of the State to claim that Dr. Mugomeyi is feigning abduction. What could have possible happened :

1) The Dr was abducted and kidnapped by the same people who abducted Itai Dzamara
2) Unlike on Dzamara were their recklessness could have led to a fatality, Dr. Mugomeyi was tortured admistering electric shocks which could just inflict pain but if the victim has a strong skin can not show visible outward marks.

3) Not that Dr. Mugomeyi was released because of citizen pressure both locally and internationally, these idiots presiding over Zimbabwe today dont care about it. The mission was to inflict maximum fear into him as the leader of the indignant constituency that is getting slave wages, wages not able to even rent a decent accommodation without looking into other responsibilities.

4) The state used his abduction as a case building mechanism against the opposition and embassies that are regarded as hostile to the regime. Hence the persistent incoherent allegations that he was hidden at the US embassy. This kind of information is intended for the gullible domestic political market to discredit both the opposition and perceived hostile nations at the same time.

5) To generate insecurity to the public so that they don’t challenge this evil regime. It incalcates into an average mind that if a Dr can be abducted what about an ordinary citizen.

The truth of the matter is that Dr Mugomeyi was severely tortured and needs a strong support for him to be able to get over it and start to open up. I still remember in the cells, Advocate Gabriel Shumba tried to persuade us not to say anything about our torture when we were being taken to Court.

He was of the view that we will only say it after escaping to SA as soon as we are given bail. I strongly held a contrary view told him that we can not keep quiet on such evil and savage torture that we went through.

I also told him that it was irresponsible to run to SA and pronounce the torture if we fail to mention it here. I reminded him that we were going to fall foul as what happened to Basildon Peta after he announced his abduction and torture in SA.

Basildon Peta pronounced his abduction and torture after boarder jumping into SA. The regime mauled him as a lier because he was threatened that if he discloses what happened to him he was going to be killed.

My experience of torture is that it needs someone with a strong character to come out in the open. Torture kills all the human feelings someone might have. It needs serious counseling and rehabilitation.

Job Wiwa Sikhala
MDC National Vice Chairman.

In a predictable fashion typical of a scripted docudrama, Zimbabwe woke up to the news of medical practitioner, Dr Peter Magombeyi, having disappeared last Sunday morning. Dr Magombeyi is said to have texted his colleagues that he had been ‘abducted’ by unknown men.

It seemed the ‘abduction’ was timed to coincide with the arrival of the UN Special Rapporteur Clement Voule who is in Zimbabwe for a 10-day visit to assess the human rights situation in the country.

The abduction also came at a time when the nation’s grief over the passing on of founding leader President Mugabe has just subsided after the government held a special funeral service for international dignitaries.

The young doctor, who is also a political activist, is said to have emerged from captivity in Nyabira where he claimed to have been dumped by his abductors.

While the motives for the ‘abductions’ are unknown, there was a lot of furore from some non-governmental organisations, fellow health practitioners and the opposition MDC party ― all demanding the release of the doctor. They all accused the Government of being responsible for the disappearance of the doctor.

Yes, we understand that the State has a responsibility to protect its citizens and to establish the fate of those alleged to have disappeared but it is fallacious on the part of the MDC and its acolytes to weave a narrative of callous Government that goes after its citizens for no apparent reason.

The only reason we feel the MDC and its acolytes rushed to accuse the Government of a hand in the ‘disappearance’ of the doctor is to accentuate spotlight on the country ahead of the visit by the UN human rights rapporteur and the UN General Assembly currently underway in New York.

It surely would be self-defeating for the New Dispensation, whose cardinal pursuits is re-engagement and opening up of democratic space, to be going about abducting its citizens. It certainly is not helpful to the State and anyone suggesting that the Government is in the habit of abducting citizens is permanently stuck in a negative parochial mode of wanting to see Zimbabwe being treated as an outpost of undemocratic practices.

Bereft of any strategic big issue ideas, the MDC and its acolytes are the ones who stand to benefit more from a continued negative perception of Zimbabwe.

What makes it more distressing is that despite the obvious traits of the ‘abductions’ being stage-managed, the MDC and civil society benefactors continue to reward such antics through financial donations. For some in the civil society, faking abductions and clutching to any sectorial grievances has become a profitable past-time.

It is for this reason that the State needs to unravel the falsity behind the so-called abductions and expose the charlatans behind them. It is thus gratifying to note that Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a team to investigate the abductions. Perpetrators must surely be apprehended and face the full wrath of the law.

We tend to agree with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo who last Tuesday said: “The Government under the New Dispensation is totally averred to practices that put lives of citizens in danger. We, therefore, find it very curious that whenever there is an impending international gathering or high profile visit to Zimbabwe, these criminal acts are always perpetrated on our innocent citizens.”

We also concur with opposition leader, Linda Masarira who alleges a link between the abductions and the antics of the opposition MDC party, whose leader Nelson Chamisa, not so long ago feigned an abduction in Ruwa after a campaign rally.

We share the same sentiments with Masarira that as Zimbabweans, we need to move away from politics of setting a bad narrative about our country and start pushing for issues-based politics. Zimbabwe is our only home and our political differences must not lead us to perpetually besmirch our country for the love of a few pieces of silver. We have utmost confidence in our national security apparatus. We are aware that in the end, the culprits behind these ‘abductions’ will be exposed.

All Africa.com|While the strike by doctors, later joined by other health workers, continues, ordinary Zimbabweans desperate for treatment have borne the sharp end of the problems in the sector.

The strike against poor wages offered to the medical practitioners intensified when doctors placed “abducted” union leader Peter Magombeyi’s safe return as one of their conditions to returning to work.

Magombeyi was abducted by three unknown men last Saturday, held against his will at an unknown location for five days before he was dumped just outside Harare.

The incident triggered a chain reaction from his colleagues who accused government of being behind the abduction demanding his return.

A visit to Parirenyatwa Hospital revealed shocking signs with the normally bustling health institution almost deserted.

Passing through the corridors, it is not only the disturbing smell that may get one choked with just above the casuality area but it is wailing voices calling for assistance that explains how dire the situation has become.

During the visiting hour, relatives are seen holding hands surrounding their loved ones and locked down in highly emotional prayers while pleading with the Almighty to heal them.

There is no doctor or nurse in sight. A hospital turned into a prayer room with desperate patients dependent on divine intervention.

Most of the wards that normally have no space for incoming patients are actually empty.

As the afternoon visiting hour comes to an end, with tears trickling down his chicks, one man who looks in his early 50s, shakes his head as he emerges from one of the wards.

Just outside, he forms a company with one of his relatives who had left the ward earlier. The two chat on their way out of the hospital.

“My son was run over by a car 10 days ago around 3am in the morning. His leg fractured, his ribs have been also affected,” Lovemore Sambiri narrates the experience.

“He has only gone through the x-ray and up to today, nothing has been done on him because doctors are on strike.

“I was advised by nurses to seek assistance from private doctors but private doctors want US$75. This is against my earnings of about $300 per month. I cannot afford US$75 the private doctors want.

“It is almost two weeks in hospital but without any help. His leg is now getting bad and may have to be amputated. His head has stitches already.”

He added: “I was told to buy some medicines from pharmacies and I only managed to buy medicines worth of $144 last week Friday. However, there is no one to administer them and my son is in pain. I can’t bear it no more.”

Sambiri is a self-employed garden designer whose fortunes have been diminishing since the economy went into tailspin last year.

Zimbabwe’s top politicians have been castigated for turning a blind eye to the collapsing public health sector while taking medical treatment abroad.

Long serving leader Robert Mugabe died in a foreign hospital in Singapore on the 6th of September 2019 while the current vice president Constantino Chiwenga is receiving medical treatment in China.

It is however the ordinary folk who have been left exposed to the vagaries of local health provision that in most cases cannot provide basic things such as bandages or paracetamol.

Magombeyi has since resurfaced seemingly unhurt but the strike by doctors continues and the masses suffer, sacrificed in a fight they have no idea what it is about.

THE worst drought in almost four decades, cyclone-induced floods and an economic collapse have left Zimbabwe on the verge of its worst-ever famine.

The southern African nation will probably run out of maize — its staple food — by January and about three out of five Zimbabweans won’t have enough to eat, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.

While Zimbabwe has experienced intermittent food shortages for the last two decades, the problem has mostly been limited to rural areas. This time, three million of the 8,5 million people at risk of food insecurity are in cities, said Eddie Rowe, the WFP’s country director in Zimbabwe.

“You will have a lot more people hungry in Zimbabwe than ever before,” he said. In the past, “in urban areas the alarm bells were not ringing.”

The government has already declared a state of disaster because of the drought, which has decimated harvests. One of the strongest-ever cyclones in the southern hemisphere also destroyed crops in March and a deepening economic crisis has limited the government’s ability to address the looming shortfalls.
Since a parity peg to the US dollar was dropped in February, the local currency has slumped to 14,433 to the dollar, making it the world’s worst performer. That’s slashed spending power in a country where most goods are imported.

Zimbabwe is already struggling to find sufficient foreign exchange to fund imports of fuel and wheat.

“The drought has just exacerbated the situation,” said Jee-A van der Linde, an economist at NKC African Economics in Paarl, South Africa. It will “deteriorate to a point where they need foreign aid.”

The country’s maize crop is expected to plummet 54 percent this year and Agriculture permanent secretary Ringson Chitsiko warned in March it only had seven months of grain stockpiles, including the staple maize. Parts of north-western Zimbabwe had their lowest rainfall since 1981, according to the Southern African Development Community.

Zimbabwe has made attempts to replenish its maize stocks, but an international tender for at least 750 000 tonnes of maize failed because the government and bidders couldn’t agree on financial terms, two people familiar with the situation said.

The country has now agreed to buy 150 000 tonnes of maize from South Africa, the people said. 

On Friday Japhet Hasunga, Tanzania’s agriculture minister, said 1 200 tonnes of the grain had been railed to Zimbabwe and the country wanted to buy 100 000 tonnes. Hasunga said Zimbabwe had “challenges” with financing the deal and committees from the two countries will negotiate.

“There are many companies that have expressed an interest in supplying and we are at various stages of contract negotiations,” Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe’s Agriculture minister, said by phone. We are prepared to import maize “from all over the world. No one will starve in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Analysts estimate the nation could need as much as 1 million tonnes of maize imports.

Sibusiso Moyo, the country’s Foreign minister and head of its grain importation committee, didn’t respond to messages sent to his office seeking comment.

Zimbabwe’s crisis has been compounded by smaller harvests in neighbouring countries such as Zambia, which often have surpluses.

The white maize preferred by Zimbabweans also limits the pool of potential suppliers, as the yellow variety is more common in other parts of the world. 

In southern Africa, white maize is mainly reserved for human consumption and yellow is fed to animals.

That, combined with Zimbabwe’s discouragement of genetically modified imports, reduces its options for maize supply to South Africa and Mexico, said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.

Zimbabwe’s creaking infrastructure poses another challenge. The rail system has fallen apart and most imports will need to come by road. Shipments from overseas could take a month to get to ports in neighbouring countries.

“If they don’t begin importing now, logistics will remain a concern,” Sihlobo said. “There might be too much pressure.”
While other southern African countries ranging from Namibia to Malawi may need aid, Zimbabwe will be the hardest hit, the WFP’s Rowe said.

Their needs won’t be “of the magnitude of Zimbabwe,” he said. “The difference is the economy.” — Bloomberg

HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, has said Government will introduce new laws to regulate social media and warned individuals making abduction claims to prove the allegations or face jail.

The Minister’s comments come on the heels of abduction of Dr Peter Mugombeyi, who has since been found and is admitted at a local hospital under treatment for torture and beatings.

Revelations to date show Dr Magombeyi was burnt at his privates.

Asked if he has noticed that the alleged abductors burnt his son at his privates, Dr Magombeyi’s father told ZimEye via phone, “Ahh izvo chingotisiirai, izvo chingotisiirai. – Those things why don’t you leave them to us, leave them to us.”

ZimEye also contacted Dr Magombeyi’s brother, Kenneth who sounded withdrawn only saying, ” I cannot talk right now.” ZimEye is reliably told Dr Magombeyi sustained injuries at his privates consistent with torture by some kind of burning, whose kind could not be established.

Ambassador Mathema reiterate claims from his colleagues in ZANU PF that there are foreign elements working with opposition political parties, like the MDC, to create false abduction cases in order to soil the name of the Government.

Dr Magombeyi was found dumped in Nyabira outside Harare five days after his abduction.

“We need to craft laws to penalise anyone who makes false allegations against the Government.

“Anybody who lies against the State must go to jail. We can’t have a situation where anyone can say anything and walk scot-free. This nonsense must stop,” said Mathema.

He dismissed Dr Magombeyi’s abductions claims as “outright lies” adding that those who made the claims, will be made to account for their words and actions.

Mathema said the allegations caused panic and disturbed internal peace as well as relations with other countries.

He said it was prudent that new laws be gazetted to govern the use of social media.

“May I caution the media, human rights lawyers and civic organisations against interfering with police investigations through issuing unverified statements, some of which border on obstructing the course of justice,” he said.

“My ministry is committed in ensuring that the police conduct comprehensive investigations with a view of clearly unearthing what happened in Dr Magombeyi’s case.”

The decision by the Mugabe family  to cling on to the body of the late former President Robert Mugabe has revealed deep beliefs in and heavy  reliance on witchcraft within Zanu-PF and their political gamesmanship. 

Mugabe did in Singapore on 6 September and when his body was repatriated to Zimbabwe, his family has refused to let the former Zimbabwean leaders casket out of their sight. 

After a state funeral service two weeks ago, the Mugabe family remained with custody of the body believed to be kept at his Blue Roof Mansion. 

According to reports, the family has refused to allow the government to take Mugabe’s body to One Commando Barracks or any other mortuary as they believe that his enemies want to take his organs and use them for rituals to enhance their powers and stay on the throne. 

Mugabe was deposed in a military coup in 2017 and was replaced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. 

In tbe wake of the Mugabe body debacle, award winning Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has suggested that an investigation be done to uncover the link between witchcraft and state power. 

“We really need to interrogate the use of Juju in African politics. For Robert Mugabe to insist that his casket should never be in the custody of anyone else other than his family, there is something he knew about how things are done here.That mythical stuff should be talked about,” he said.

Mugabe himself in 2014 accused his then deputy Joice Mujuru of engaging Nigerian inyangas to bewitch him so that she could ascend to the presidency.

When we were kids, we used to enjoy a certain joke, in which a bus was stopped at a checkpoint, where police officers started searching all the bags in the luggage compartment, when they came across one that contained illicit drugs. They then asked the passengers whose bag it was, to which a certain man seated at the back suddenly stood up shouting that it was not his, and neither were the drugs. Needless to say, the police immediately arrested him, as his reaction had been very suspicious, and pointed to his possible guilt.

This joke has been on my mind recently, as it pertained to an isssue that is far from being a laughing matter – the government reaction to the alleged abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) acting president Peter Magombeyi over the past week.

As much as Magombeyi has since been ‘found’, apparently dumped by his abductors some 40 kilometers outside the capital Harare, he is still undergoing the relevant intense medical examinations by both his own private and government doctors, under the supervision of his lawyers and the police.

Law enforcement agents have, however, not yet had the opportunity to interview him regarding the alleged abduction, as they await the finalization of medical examinations – but, public opinion has expectedly been polarized as to exactly what happened to the doctor. On one hand, there are those who have already concluded that the state had a hand in this, but obviously the state and its sympathizers have been categorically dismissive of such claims.

However, there is absolutely no way of reaching a definitive conclusion without the alleged victim being interviewed by the police, and subsequent thorough investigations being carried out.

Herein lies the problem.

Without the alleged victim having been formally interviewed by the police, and no conclusive evidence having been availed, the government and its various mouthpieces have been issuing out rather troublesome and worrisome statements ever since the alleged abduction took place.

As much  as anyone who finds him or herself being unfairly and wrongly accused of a crime has every right to pronouce his or her innocence, but the outright panicky manner in which the government has gone about this matter raises some serious questions.

It is one thing denying one’s involvement in a crime, but it is completely something else going full throttle trying to discredit the entire crime – well before any thorough investigations have even commenced.

Why the panicky reaction?

If someone believed that they were being wrongly accused of, for instance, stealing from a bank, why then go all the way even questioning the authenticity of the theft itself without waiting for investigations to be completed?

Why not just proclaim one’s innocence, and stop there? As with every accused person’s right – he or she is presumed innocent until proven guilty – the burden of proof being entirely on the plaintiff.

Yet, what we have been witnessing from government circles has been nothing short of something akin to the joke I mentioned earlier – with claims ranging from there being an unseen and unproven ‘third force’ behind the surge of abductions witnessed this year, to accusations of self-abductions – both bent on tarnishing government image in the face of the United Nations General Assembly summit starting this week – and even questioning the initial statements made by Magombeyi soon after he ‘resurfaced’, especially his phone battery still being functional after five days of abduction, and his ability to recall being held in a basement being tortured using electricity, yet being forgetful of nearly everything else.

The government and its mouthpieces even questioned why it would shoot itself in the foot by abducting someone, whilst on a ‘re-engagement’ drive with the international community.

Well, let us start by poking holes in the latter assertion by government. When Zimbabwe attained independence from Britain in 1980, one of its first missions was to engage the international community in order to seek acceptance as a civilized member of the global family – by shedding off the ‘terrorist’ tag that had been hounding the former liberation movement during the struggle days.

Yet, what did this newly independent ‘civilized’ government do?

It launched a brutal genocidal massacre of over 20,000 innocent men, women and children in the Matebeleland and Midlands provinces from 1983 to 1987. That was surely not the behavior of a government on the path of ‘reconciliation’ and ‘re-engagement’.

Thus, if the government could engage in such brazenly brutal acts, in the midst of polishing up its image, what is to stop them from abducting supposed ‘enemies’, including labour rights activists who are merely exercising their constitutional right in clamouring for better wages and conditions of service?

This is on top of the alleged threats that these same labour activists had been receiving prior to the supposed abductions – threats that were seemingly never investigated satisfactorily.

Secondly, the fact that Magombeyi’s phone still had a usable battery after days of abduction should never surprise any right thinking person. To begin with, anyone who is abducted is abducted for a reason – and as such, if Magombeyi was abducted as a supposed ‘enemy of the state’, then his abductors would surely want to obtain as much information from him as possible in relation to his activities, contacts and communications – his phone being the best place to start.

Would that then not mean his alleged abductors keeping his battery well charged, during the cumbersome process of going through all the information in his phone – a process that can take a very long time, especially if it is encrypted.

Therefore, why would it be a huge mystery is his phone battery was still functional when he ‘re-emerged’?

Besides, his alleged abductors could have simply switched off his phone during the course of the abduction – as even his colleagues attested to the fact that he was unreachable. If my own phone’s battery longevity is to be taken into consideration, when switched off it can last for more than a week.

In the same vein, if the abductors intended to eventually release Magombeyi – and possibly make it appear as if the doctor had simply vanished on his own accord – they would certainly dump him together with his phone – as well as, all his other belongings.

On the issue of Magombeyi’s ability or inability to remember only certain aspects of his alleged abduction, this is a matter that only doctors who are examining him can conclusively say – however, if he had been drugged by his abductors, surely would he not experience such memory lapses?  I am certain that those who have experienced heavy drinking in their lives would confirm that there are periods of blackouts – characterized by rememberance and non-rememberance of certain things that occurred whilst drunk – the most traumatic or emotionally-charged likely to be more readily remembered than others.

Thus, if Magombeyi can recall being in a basement and being tortured using electricity, yet virtually remembers nothing much else, I would ssume that, as probably the most traumatic part of his alleged abduction, that would be ingrained firmly in his memory more than other aspects.

Moving on to the issue of blaming a ‘third force’ or even self-abduction in an effort to tarnish the human rights record of the government, especially with the impending UNGA summit this week, and the visit by the UN special Rappateure to the country last week – only thorough investigations by law enforcement agents, coupled by substantive evidence, can conclude for certain.

However, circumstances put a dent to such allegations. Firstly, as a fair number of both labour and opposition activists have alleged receiving threatening phone calls and messages, containing the senders’ numbers, to what extent have investigations into the subscribers registered under those numbers gone? Once those people have been identified, it can be ascertained who was, and is, truly behind these alleged abductions.

The theory that these supposed abductions are intended to tarnish the human rights record of the government, ahead of important visits and global events, can only be verified once those who sent the threatening phone calls and messages – and subsequently, the abductors – have been identified and convicted.

Nonetheless, as much as the timing of Magombeyi’s supposed abduction may be questioned, the timing of his ‘release’ can similarly be questioned.

If the intention of the alleged abduction was to tarnish the human rights image of the government ahead of the crucial visit by the UN special Rappateure, and UNGA summit, then why release Magombeyi at the climax of this plot – when the issue was gaining the ‘desired’ global momentum – well before the UNGA summit commenced and the special Rappateure compiled his report?

That simply does not add up. If supposition is to be thrown upon another supposition,  then the ‘early’ release of Magombeyi would, in fact, have served to tone down the pressure on the government.

Of course, as much as these are merely assumptions – to be expected in an educated and democratic society – that will never be a substitute for thorough investigations by law enforcement agents, which we understand will start with the questioning of Magombeyi after his medical examinations.

However, the different reactions to his supposed abduction have expectedly ignited fierce debate in the country, and other reactions have raised more questions than answers.

The Zimbabwean

By Own Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was last night cornered on stage by his own party members, and he ending up literally mumbling repeatedly like a mad man.

The 77 year old became restricted, failing to either move away from the stage, or shift topic.

Below is the full text of what an embarrassed Mnangagwa briefly told his party in the United States as they confronted him to address problems back home first before dreaming of getting foreign investments.

A totally subdued, and visibly arrrested Mnangagwa humiliated himself by repeating the same words over and over into the sixth time in under 1 minute. The forceful demand was passed to him in writing by his party members in ways reminiscent of the Raylton Club July 2017 press conference by war veterans which triggered Constantino Chiwenga’s Nov 2017 military coup.

IS MNANGAGWA ABOUT TO BE REMOVED? – CONTINUE READING – STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Mnangagwa said: (video)

Mnangagwa sees fire in US, following the MDC demo, ED is humiliated by his own party in New York. In the video below, he rolls his tongue 6 times in less than a minute in front of the whole crowd. He repeats the phrase: the " issues you have raised" 6 times in less than a minute. pic.twitter.com/iqrClBN4fD

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 22, 2019

Now I am glad that you have put up a paper which I can carry home and revisit, to attend the issues that you have raised. And most importantly looking at the things that you have raised, I have come to the conclusion that you have put a lot of thought to the issues that you have raised. Now there are 2 possibilities, and I brief you about home, and attend to the issues that you have raised, or firstly I deal with the issues and then tell you about at home(sic). But what I speak last is what is going to remain in your minds; which one do you want?,” asked Mnangagwa.

At that moment, a party member then rushed to demand that Mnangagwa must address:”the issues at home first,”

To this, Mnangagwa said, “the home issues first? You wont forget about them? ”

Farai Dziva|Econet Wireless has announced that it will be reviewing the prices of t Data and SMS with effect from Monday 23 September.

The country’s largest mobile network operator has also said that the prices of all other services remain unchanged.

Econet cited the current economic crisis as the reason behind the move.

See the notice below :

Dear Customer. Please take note, bundle prices for Data & SMS will be reviewed effective 23 September 2019. Dial *143# or *151# to buy Data or *140# to buy SMS Bundles.

HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema, has said Government will not hesitate to introduce new laws to regulate social media and warned individuals making false abduction claims to prove the allegations or face jail.

In an interview, Ambassador Mathema said there was a systematic plan to discredit the Government ahead of the United Nations General Assembly being attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in New York, United States.

The Minister’s comments come on the heels of several days of allegations of abduction of Dr Peter Mugombeyi, who has since been found unharmed and is admitted at a local hospital for observation.

Ambassador Mathema said there were foreign elements working with opposition political parties, like the MDC Alliance, to create false abduction cases in order to soil the name of the Government.

Dr Magombeyi was found in Nyabira amid claims that foreign embassy officials were deeply interested in the matter, raising suspicion that they could be behind an operation to discredit the State in a desperate bid to justify continued isolation of Zimbabwe.

“We need to craft laws to penalise anyone who makes false allegations against the Government.

“Anybody who lies against the State must go to jail. We can’t have a situation where anyone can say anything and walk scot-free. This nonsense must stop,” said Ambassador Mathema.

He dismissed Dr Magombeyi’s abductions claims as “outright lies” adding that those who made the claims, will be made to account for their words and actions.State media

FORMER first lady, Mrs Grace Mugabe is receiving Government assistance to protect part of her business empire — Gushungo Farm and Diary — she founded with former President Robert Mugabe, which in recent months has been invaded by marauding illegal gold panners.

The venture came under target from illegal miners after the former first family travelled to Singapore, where Cde Mugabe received treatment for about six months, before his death a fortnight ago.
During the long absence, the illegal gold panners descended on the property destabilising operations and damaged part of a citrus project.

Highly placed sources told The Sunday Mail that: “The former First Lady raised concern on the menace of the Makorokoza and has since convened with senior Government officials.

“The officials were able to immediately assist her to remove some of these people and authorities will continue to assist her.

“The problem with the Makorokozas is that they have a tendency to keep coming back and we are working towards ensuring that we constantly remove them.”

The sources revealed that Director General (DG) in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ambassador Isaac Moyo, who was tasked by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to look into the case, had visited Gushungo Farm and Dairy to get first hand appreciation of the situation.

“The DG has been to the farm and got a first-hand appreciation of what was happening. He saw the damage that was being caused by the Makorokoza and he did his part to assist,” the source added.

The sources said ambassador Moyo also addressed issues at the Mugabe Family’s Dairy project, where some workers were threatening the smooth flow of operations.
Gushungo Dairies is one of the largest milk processing ventures in the country and also employs hundreds of people.State media

Zanu-PF has retained the Zaka East parliamentary seat after its candidate Clemence Chiduwa polled 7 119 votes to romp to a landslide victory in a by election held on Saturday.

He swept to victory with a wide margin as his nearest rival Mr Derick Charamba of MDC Alliance came second with
1518 votes.

Mr Clemence Chavarika of NCA managed 85 votes while Mr Lazarus Mubango of Free Zimbabwe Congress party settled for the wooden spoon with
63 votes.

Percentage voter turnout was 55.7%.

Zaka East Constituency Elections Officer Mr Taurasha Mavenga declared Chiduwu duly elected as the new Zaka East National Assembly member after announcing the final results at the constituency command centre at Rudhanda Primary School just after 2am on Sunday.

Zanu-PF supporters went into delirium after announcement of Chiduwa’s victory

Chiduwa said his victory in the peaceful poll was deserved.

By A Correspondent- Five knife-wielding robbers, who were wearing balaclavas, on Sunday pounced on a Nyanga house and escaped with $US81 000, 13 000 meticals and $265. Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the armed robbery in which the criminals vanished soon after the heist.

“We have since launched a manhunt to bring the culprits to book.

“The five are still at large and police are appealing to members of the public with information leading to their arrest to contact nearest police station,” he said.

Circumstances are that Raymond Chari (37), of 172 Ruwangwe Growth Point, Nyanga, went to bed with his wife Hazvinei Hapaori (30), at around 8pm.

The armed criminals are suspected to have arrived at the house around midnight. They allegedly jumped over a pre-cast wall to get into the yard and gained entrance into the house using duplicate keys.

They broke the door using iron bars and gained entry.

While inside, the two of the robbers rounded and tied Hazvinei and Raymond with a rope. They allegedly gagged their mouth.

They looted cash, seized car keys and vanished from the scene.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident detectives in Rusape have launched a manhunt for six armed robbers who allegedly forced their way into a house in Vengere and stole two laptops, two tablets, three cellphones, three Exide batteries, 100 liters of diesel, US$530 and $555.

The robbery was committed at House Number VE11 in Vengere.

Inspector Kakohwa confirmed the incident that occurred on Sunday at around 10.30pm.

He said the complainant Carlos Makono (28) was asleep when he was awakened by his security guard Philani Masarirambe (30) as he screamed for help.

Makono went out to investigate what was happening and was caught unawares by the criminals who were armed with two pistols and a hummer.

One of the unidentified robbers immediately pointed a pistol at Makono and ordered him to lie down, threatening to kill him if he resisted.

They tied Makono, Masarirambe and other family members with a rope before besieging the house.

“They took one black dell laptop, one Samsung laptop, one Samsung tablet, a Vodaphone tablet, three Samsung smart phones, Nissan UD keys, Mark Two car keys and 3 Exide batteries.

“The accused persons searched the house further and found US$530 and $555,” he said. They drained 100 liters of diesel from Nissan UD truck and fled from the scene with a twin cab.

A report was made to Rusape central police and investigations are still in progress.

Hypocrisy is when @ZANUPF_Official supporters demonstrate IN America against sanctions to be removed on a Zimbabwean government that is refusing its citizens to demonstrate in their own country against sanctions imposed by their OWN Zimbabwean government. It doesn’t work…zero!!

— Tendayi KAITANO (@LB0ngani) September 21, 2019

By A Correspondent- Galloping prices of basic commodities, which were experienced in the past week, were caused by big companies that injected cash on the parallel market causing volatility in the exchange rate, but corrective measures by Government have yielded instant results, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.

Minister Ndlovu said Government will not hesitate to descend on businesses found on the wrong side of the law.

Pressure continued to mount on retailers to downwardly review prices as the parallel market exchange rate tumbled to between $13,5 to $14 to the US dollar by end of day yesterday.They had previously risen to a peak of $22 by Thursday.

“There is nothing that has been driving prices save for the (parallel) exchange rate and because of certain activities that were taking place in the market. I think there was excess liquidity being injected into the black market, which pushed rates even higher than the official interbank exchange rates,” he said.

Government, he added, acted quickly to contain the situation by putting some measures through banks.

“However, prices take time to adjust, but it is really unfortunate because we cannot have rates being driven like that, to the extent that it affects the whole economy…I believe corrective measures by Government have given us almost instant results.”

Some businesses wantonly raised prices on account of the volatility of the exchange rate.

Addressing the nation shortly before flying to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday night, President Mnangagwa expressed concern over soaring prices of basic products.

“Government continues to be concerned  about the escalation in prices of basic commodities. While, we concede that the new monetary measures and the drought may have contributed to the current price movements, we do not believe such movements are justified in all cases.

“We have observed with increasing concern a tendency within the business sector to randomly increase prices without reason or cause, except that of greedy profiteering,” he said.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) swiftly intervened after it issued a directive to freeze transactions of all accounts involving Sakunda, Access Finance, Spartan Security, Croco Motors and related entities.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube argues that the actual rate should be around 1: 5,6 to the US dollar, but arbitrage and speculative activities have been distorting rates.

“There are several limitations both conceptual and concerning the availability of data, when trying to establish the appropriate exchange rate for Zimbabwe.

“It quantifies the Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate based on the real exchange rate with South Africa, deriving the normal exchange rate that would keep real purchasing power of the currencies at 2011 levels, a year of relative macroeconomic balance.

“For August 2019, the most recent period for which the necessary data is available, this suggests a nominal exchange rate of about $5:6 per US dollar,” he said.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema, has said Government will not hesitate to introduce new laws to regulate social media and warned individuals making false abduction claims to prove the allegations or face jail.

Mathema however did not comment on clear evidence of torture by gun wielding state security agents which saw the hospitalisation of those allegedly tortured by the state including Dr Peter Magombeyi, activist Tatenda Mombeyarara and Bus Stop TV Comedianne Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya.

Dr Magombeyi is currently hospitalised amid revelations that he was electrocuted and subjected to inhumane treatment on his privates.

Government officials are on record claiming that the abductions are being carried out by a third force and false but individuals who have been abducted and tortured are on the same media platforms showing scars of torture at the hands of alleged state security agents.

Said Mathema:

“We need to craft laws to penalise anyone who makes false allegations against the Government.

Anybody who lies against the State must go to jail. We can’t have a situation where anyone can say anything and walk scot-free. This nonsense must stop.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that freezing bank accounts belonging to a number of companies including Sakunda Holdings, was a way of dealing with people involved in money laundering.

Mnangagwa was speaking on Saturday Saturday night at a meeting with a group of supporters in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. He said:

On the monetary side, yes, we introduced the one currency. For six or eight weeks, it remained stable, but then our people are very intelligent. We have people who find ways to fight that and undermine (the currency), but yesterday we also became smarter than their being smart, so we took some action.

His remarks come after the central bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, ordered all banks to freeze accounts belonging to Sakunda, Access Finance, Spartan Security, Croco Motors and related companies.

The move triggered a decline in forex exchange rates which had, during the whole week, soared at an unparalleled rate.

Changes in the exchange rates usually have either adverse or positive impact on the prices of commodities in local shops.

The country’s industry is in a parlous state, therefore, businesses are in constant need of foreign currency to purchase goods from beyond our borders.

Moreover, businesses use the rate of the day to price their goods, something that has resulted in a constant increase of prices in the past few days. Some businesses halted operations as the local currency continued to shed value against the United States dollar.

State Media|The family of late former President Robert Mugabe, is now solely in charge of his interment, including the construction of a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre, where the remains will be buried.

The construction of the mausoleum is envisaged to be complete in about 30 days. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a family source said the body of Mugabe was yesterday lying in state at his Borrowdale Brooke mansion.

Efforts by state media to gain access at the mansion were futile with security citing that all visits to the place were now subject to appointments.

Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said in a terse response that: “I am out of the country.

Currently, we refer to the family as far as this issue (funeral proceedings) is concerned.” Contacted for comment Mugabe family spokesperson, Mr Leo Mugabe said, “I am not in town. I have rushed to my farm for some personal business. Please try to talk to (Walter) Chidhakwa.”

Chidhakwa said that the family was in a series of meetings. He added that, “the public will be notified of any developments in due course, when the need arises.”

Chief Zvimba, Stanley Mhondoro, said that further details of the funeral proceedings would be availed after the completion of the mausoleum.

“At the moment, I cannot comment on anything. We are waiting for the completion of the mausoleum and once it is complete, further details will be availed on the way forward,” he said.

Government conferred a special honour on the former President, which entails constructing a mausoleum on top of the National Heroes Acre, where Mugabe will be buried.

“A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was briefed that companies linked to one of his advisors and a relative were fuelling the parallel market trade in foreign currency before the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) froze their accounts on Friday.

The RBZ made a dramatic swoop on Sakunda Holdings, Access Finance, Croco Motors and Spartan Securities following allegations of money laundering.

Sakunda is linked to Mnangagwa’s ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Spartan is reportedly owned by Mnangagwa’s nephew Tarisai Mnangagwa.

Fresh information obtained from RBZ insiders has revealed that the decision to freeze the accounts was first taken on Wednesday when the local currency was still pegged at $15 to US$1 on the parallel market.

The central bank’s financial intelligence unit (FIU) had reportedly picked information that the identified companies were pouring in over $1 billion into the parallel market to mop up US dollars.

Some of the money was meant to buy inputs for the government’s controversial command agriculture programme and luxury cars for Cabinet ministers.

RBZ insiders said a decision was taken at the initial meeting that FIU head Mirirai Chiremba should not be involved in the action being taken by the central bank against the companies because he was close to Tagwirei.

“A memo was drafted and sent to the Presidents’ Office for approval,” the source who attended the meeting said.

“It detailed security risks that the country faced if the exchange rate was not dealt with.

Opposition to Nord Stream 2 all about American interests

Ammara opens up on childhood abuse
“It stated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration could be in trouble as the exchange rate movement was now causing havoc in the economy.”

On Thursday, the exchange rate increased drastically from USD$1: ZWL$16 to US$1: ZWL$23 for Ecocash and US$1: ZWL$25 for electronic transfers.

There was also a sharp increase in the prices of basic commodities.

“An emergency meeting was held by the FIU team to look into the situation amid fears that by Friday, runners for these firms were vowing to take the rate to US$1: Z$30,” said another source.

“A decision had to me made instantly and two options were available: either to use the Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu to name and shame those behind the ‘heinous act’ or to instruct a freeze of their accounts.”

Mnangagwa is said to have approved the decision to freeze the accounts.

“The president was made aware of the decision considering that two of his close allies were involved, Tagwirei and

Tarisai Mnangagwa (Spartan Securities), a nephew, as well as a member of his close security,” said the source.

“He did not object, especially after being told that if the matter was not dealt with urgently, it could cause an uproar.

“He said ‘as long as it was in the national interest, it must be done.”

Tarisai is close to Mnangagwa and was part of the people that helped the Zanu PF leader to escape to South Africa after he was fired by former president Robert Mugabe in 2017.

In 2017 he was investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for money laundering, but the case was abandoned after the coup.

RBZ sources said Tagwirei tried to engage Mnangagwa’s office after the directive to freeze the Sakunda accounts, but did not get immediate joy.

On Thursday, Matutu took to social media to warn the companies that were behind the parallel market to stop their activities as he was prepared to publicly name them.

Matutu also advised the government to review the funding model for command agriculture. Sakunda is “the financier” for the programme.

“There are two individuals who are feeding the black market with bonds, as a result the rate has gone up, please stop the nonsense now and know that you’re the enemy of the people,” Matutu tweeted.

“The government should consider a different model to fund command agriculture and acquisition of vehicles, companies responsible mustn’t abuse facilities.”

Croco Motors was reportedly given the tender to supply cars for ministers. Tagwirei did not respond to a text message sent to his phone seeking a comment while Tarisai was unavailable.

ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa last night saw red fire in US, following a successful MDC demo.

Mnangagwa was humiliated by his own party in New York when they told him to his face he has to change. As can be seen in the video below, he rolled his tongue 6 times in less than a minute in front of the whole crowd. He repeated the phrase: the ” issues you have raised” and “issues” 6 times in less than a minute. WATCH

Mnangagwa sees fire in US, following the MDC demo, ED is humiliated by his own party in New York. In the video below, he rolls his tongue 6 times in less than a minute in front of the whole crowd. He repeats the phrase: the " issues you have raised" 6 times in less than a minute. pic.twitter.com/iqrClBN4fD

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 22, 2019

On 21 September the Herald waded into Dr Peter Magombeyi’s disappearance by casting doubt on the doctor’s abduction. In an editorial, titled, ‘Sorry Dr Magombeyi, your story does not add up” the daily newspaper urges the doctor to ‘sober up soon and tell the world the true story behind his so-called abduction’.

Not satisfied with merely casting aspersions on Magombeyi’s integrity, the paper strongly suggests that while the Zanu-PF government might find interest in subduing perceived adversaries, ‘’In this case, we do not believe that Dr Magombeyi was of much interest to the State, except that he was leading the doctors’ association.

Given the government’s notorious history of carrying out abductions and enforced disappearances, the Herald somehow forgot to explain the circumstances under which the government previously found it feasible to forcibly disappear and torture alleged adversaries.

It didn’t refer to the supposedly justifiable ‘interest’ or constitutional right state security forces used to abduct, torture and humiliate ordinary citizens such as former Standard Editor Mark Chavhunduka and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko.

In fact, reading the government-controlled Herald newspaper is unendingly a massive tutorial in contrived escapism. In the Herald’s distinctly bright and sunny world, Zimbabwe is a land of enviable progression, astute leadership and an ever-understanding, delightedly content populace.

What’s more, the Herald’s unbelievably surreal headlines, typically wonderful, feel-good fare, constantly celebrate the government’s apparent largesse, duty-bound commitment and unsubstantiated successes. Take, for example, some of Friday’s leading stories: ‘The government releases US$37 million to rectify Harare’s water woes. Mugabe children thank government. Government averts disruption of services at hospitals.’

In the Herald’s perfectly constructed world, providing unembellished, critical context, or well-researched criticism for its factory-style, bubble-gum brand of reporting is a cumbersome, superfluous burden. The headlines, ever so often, are published side by side with glaring, aggressive lies and jingoistic rhetoric: ‘MDC-A behind abductions. Matuke urges nation to be vigilant. Uncle Sam ups black ops in Zim.’

The Herald, all at once, undoubtedly, manufactures dreams and nightmares, hope and disaster, untruths and ignorance. It’s shareholder, the government, represented by the Ministry of Information, has long believed in its fanciful right to generate an alternative reality to sell to its ‘people’: an often-faulty, duplicitous narrative informed by a most improbable Zimbabwean identity intimately tied to Zanu-PF membership.

The information ministry has abrogated all citizens’ constitutionally mandated media rights and pronounced itself as the people’s voice. However, the government doesn’t deserve full, impartial or unreserved entitlement to craft and disseminate partisan, party-affiliated sentiment, on our behalf, using publicly funded media platforms.

While it should be well-equipped to provide essential information, the government shouldn’t exercise control over widely-read papers such as the Herald or, indeed, any private, public or Zimpapers-owned media entity. And it’s about time that injustice is treated as an impending threat to civil expression and Zimbabwe’s democracy.

The progressive urgency with which civil society and the public at large reacted to Dr Magombeyi’s disappearance clearly provides ample guidance to how government’s daily misinformation capacity must be challenged and permanently cancelled. A credible democracy must be underpinned by widespread, liberal expressions of thought, reflection and analysis in freely accessible, publicly funded spaces.

Unfortunately, the Herald, like all ZBC radio stations and ZTV, is a shameful, unapologetic Zanu-PF mouthpiece. It’s overseen by an information ministry that is led by an uninspiring duo lacking in substance and brimming with discriminatory tendencies.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, a party cadre who constantly defaults to the war of liberation, as her first line of defence against government’s non-performance, believes the right to protest is inimical to national development.

And deputy minister Energy Mutodi is a tribalist, who believes the Ndebele people are foreigners and refugees. It’s an offensive, reckless belief that must be shunned and punished for questioning our cultural diversity and established statehood, but it certainly does tally with Zanu-PF’s Shona-based hegemony. Predictably, that statement, along with plenty of burning, divisive and problematic matters pronounced and committed by Zanu-PF officials, have obviously escaped the Herald’s investigative eye.

Where are the Herald’s in-depth features on struggling doctors, underpaid nurses and worried, sickly patients? Where are the Herald’s incisive editorials on the government’s pervasive failure to resuscitate a rapidly deteriorating healthcare sector?

If I had to choose between believing Dr Magombeyi’s people-centred struggles and subscribing to the Herald’s fantasy world, would I be at liberty to ask Itai Dzamara for advice?

Nehanda

By Own Correspondent| Contrary to attempts by the state media to claim that the previously missing doctors association president, Peter Magombeyi is in “good health,” the man is actually hospitalised.

Over 30 men in suits Friday night were crowding the 1st Floor, of the Avenues Clinic in Harare, blocking people from accessing Dr Peter Magombeyi. He is currently hospitalised there. Dr Magombeyi’s father spoke to ZimEye via phone saying he was on his way from there.

Revelations to date show Dr Magombeyi was burnt at his privates.

Asked if he has noticed that the alleged abductors burnt his son at his privates, Dr Magombeyi’s father told ZimEye via phone, “Ahh izvo chingotisiirai, izvo chingotisiirai. – Those things why don’t you leave them to us, leave them to us.”

ZimEye also contacted Dr Magombeyi’s brother, Kenneth who sounded withdrawn only saying, ” I cannot talk right now.” ZimEye is reliably told Dr Magombeyi sustained injuries at his privates consistent with torture by some kind of burning, whose kind could not be established.

Sources who make the revelations of burning include the man himself. Magombeyi told VOA via phone Thursday night that he was electrocuted during the five days in detention.  Some of the evidence of torture ZimEye has had to redact (this is a developing story).

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Magombeyi is also a victim of threats to abduct. On the 28th August he received an sms telling him he would be taken away by a whirlwind if he continues to complain about poor salaries for doctors. Doctors are currently earning salary values of USD70 per month. ZimEye has been able to trace phone network trail of evidence which the police avoided. – MORE FOLLOWS…

An average Zimbabwean family now spends at least $1 617 on food and non-food items a month, a 15,18% increase from the July, the national statistics agency has revealed.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), the total consumption poverty line (TCPL) has risen significantly from the $1 404.26 recorded in June.

“The TCPL for an average household (of five) in July 2019 ranged from $1 369 in Mashonaland Central province to $1 862 in Matabeleland North province,” Zimstat said on Friday.

“The differences are explained by differences in average prices in the provinces.”

The huge increase in the cost of living means civil servants, who were recently awarded a 76% salary increase that saw the lowest paid worker in government earning about $1 023 will be now categorised as poor.

The TCPL for one person stood at $324 in July 2019, an increase of 15,18% from the June figure of $280,85.

The July food poverty datum line (FPL) for an average family of five people stood at $639.63, a 14,1% increase from June.

FPL represents the minimum consumption expenditure necessary to ensure that each household member can (if all expenditures were devoted to food) consume a minimum food basket representing 2 100 calories.

An individual whose total consumption expenditure does not exceed the food poverty line is deemed to be very poor.

The FPL for one person in July 2019 was $128, an increase of 14,1% from the previous month.

Harare-based economist Prosper Chitambara said earnings had been eroded by runaway inflation.

“Most households are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty as their incomes fail to keep pace with inflation,” he said. “This is compounded by the fact that the Zimbabwean economy is now highly informalised.”

Inflation has been skyrocketing since the beginning of the year and in June, Zimstat pegged it at 176%.

Last month, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube suspended the publication of year-on-year inflation figures.

Steve Hanke, an American applied economist at the Johns Hopkins University, has been tracking Zimbabwean inflation and last Thursday he put the figure at 851%.

Zimbabwe’s local currency has also been losing value rapidly and on Friday the exchange rate between the Zimbabwe dollar and the United States dollar was pegged at 1:25 on the parallel market.

The exchange rate instability has eroded salaries, company balance sheets, stocks, pensions and savings.

Clemence Machadu, an economist, said the majority of Zimbabwean workers were now facing abject poverty.

“In a high unemployment, high underemployment and serious drought environment such as aptly typified by the status quo, the majority of the populace are not earning any income at all,” he said.

“As a result, millions of households in the country are going without basic necessities and access to critical services; which affects their health, nutrition, education and perpetuate other social ills.

“Incidences of crime are already soaring and all this is a recipe for disaster as these issues have long-term socio-economic effects.

“Authorities should, therefore, as a short-term measure, cast safety nets wider to cushion the majority of citizenry who are now sinking deeper under the poverty line; while coming up with a robust policy mix that creates decent jobs for the population.”

State Media|FORMER first lady, Mrs Grace Mugabe is receiving Government assistance to protect part of her business empire — Gushungo Farm and Diary — she founded with late former President Robert Mugabe, which in recent months has been invaded by marauding illegal gold panners.

The venture came under target from illegal miners after the former first family travelled to Singapore, where Mugabe received treatment for about six months, before his death a fortnight ago.

During the long absence, the illegal gold panners descended on the property destabilising operations and damaged part of a citrus project.

Highly placed sources told The Sunday Mail that: “The former First Lady raised concern on the menace of the Makorokoza and has since convened with senior Government officials.

“The officials were able to immediately assist her to remove some of these people and authorities will continue to assist her.

“The problem with the Makorokozas is that they have a tendency to keep coming back and we are working towards ensuring that we constantly remove them.”

The sources revealed that Director General (DG) in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ambassador Isaac Moyo, who was tasked by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to look into the case, had visited Gushungo Farm and Dairy to get first hand appreciation of the situation. “The DG has been to the farm and got a first-hand appreciation of what was happening. He saw the damage that was being caused by the Makorokoza and he did his part to assist,” the source added. The sources said ambassador Moyo also addressed issues at the Mugabe Family’s Dairy project, where some workers were threatening the smooth flow of operations.

Gushungo Dairies is one of the largest milk processing ventures in the country and also employs hundreds of people.

Mashonaland Central police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati said he needed time to check on the effects of the illegal miners at the former first family’s properties. He, however, said the illegal gold miners had become a hazard in the Mazowe area, owing to the closure of Jumbo Gold Mine.

“We have a huge problem with the illegal gold miners. They are mainly concentrated at Jumbo Mine because the mine closed and there is no adequate security,” he said.

In his speech last week, at the State funeral for Cde Mugabe, who was declared national hero, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he was going to ensure that the former first family is well taken care of.

The Head of State is also working on modalities to transfer title deeds of Cde Mugabe’s houses, the Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale, constructed on land owned by Zanu-PF and another ruling party house in Mount Pleasant, occupied by his daughter, Bona Mugabe-Chikore. Cde Mugabe died on September 6 in Singapore and will be buried at the National Heroes Acre after construction of a mausoleum.

Government has warned against the rising cases of” false” abductions in the country and is contemplating measures to deal with the threat and punish those responsible.

This was said by President Mnangagwa in his address to the nation.

His comments follow the reported abduction of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi last weekend.

The alleged disappearance resulted in health personnel striking, demanding his release.

“While we are happy that a staffer at a local hospital who had been reported missing has now been found unharmed, Government is disturbed by the growing trend of politically motivated false abductions in the country which are calculated to put Government in negative light,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Such political trickery, which in fact amounts to terrorism, will not take our country forward. The State has a responsibility to ensure protection and safety for all citizens. New measures might have to be formulated to deal with this new threat and to severely punish those responsible for such subterfuges.”

President Mnangagwa said Government was disappointed by the health workers’ actions to strike following the alleged abduction, saying this resulted in unnecessary loss of lives.

“Equally, Government was not impressed at all by the way medical staff, as organised labour, responded to this political act of propaganda trickery,” he said.State media

We moved from polling station to station .Only 5 Percent of the constituency has network connection.We are amazed at how ZANU underdeveloped the rural areas .Too many assisted voters at every polling station at 30 minimum .@mdczimbabwe @daddyhope @nelsonchamisa @BitiTendai pic.twitter.com/T9Fr9CTJpU

— Mayor of Harare, Jacob Mafume (@JMafume) September 21, 2019

By A Correspondent| An MDC Alliance polling agent sustained injuries after he was bashed by a well know Zanu Pf stalwart during the Zaka East by election.

Rabson Zvarira was thoroughly bashed by Mafios Mutembwa in Ward 25, Rudhanda Zaka over a yet to be disclosed reason.

He was taken to hospital for immediate attention.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema said Dr Magombeyi had been examined by his own personal and Government doctors and would be interviewed by the police, in consultation with his lawyers, once discharged.

Minister Mathema warned some sections of the media and human rights lawyers against interfering with police investigations.

“The Government of Zimbabwe reiterates that Dr Magombeyi has not been arrested by the police as portrayed in some media circles, neither has he been denied access to his lawyers,” he said.

“In fact it is on record through the police that Dr Magombeyi has freely accessed his lawyers, medical doctors and reunited with his family.

“May I caution the media, human rights lawyers and some civil organisations against interfering with police investigations through the issuance of unverified statements, some of which border on defeating or obstructing the course of justice.”

NewsDay|political rift between Zanu PF and the main opposition MDC continues to widen amid counter allegations centred on the series of abductions, torture and assaults on human rights activists and trade unionists.

In the aftermath of the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association acting president Peter Magombeyi, the State and Zanu PF have alleged that these could be stage-managed or perpetrated by a third force bent on soiling President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

Government, through the Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo, State Security minister Owen Ncube and Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema have pointed to a third force that has been abducting people ahead of international or regional summits.

This has provoked a response from the MDC who said Zanu PF, which appears inseparable from the State, were the authors of the abductions, torture and assaults.

“Zimbabweans have suffered massive violence, abductions and murders at the hands of the State and Zanu PF. The ED regime cannot claim that the following events

were choreographed and that a third force was responsible,” MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said in a statement.

The MDC invoked past cases of abductions the party suffered at the hands of the State.

“The Mnangagwa regime says it cannot be held liable for the violence currently taking place as the government cannot commit such dastardly acts during or ahead

of crucial summits. Yet the facts confirm that Zanu PF has done it before,” the MDC said.

Tamborinyoka said history is replete with abductions and murders perpetrated by the State ahead of crucial summits.

“In May 2012, while a Sadc summit was in session in Luanda, Angola, Cephas Magura, the MDC chairperson for ward 1 in Mudzi North was murdered by Zanu PF thugs

at Chimukoko Business Centre. President (Morgan) Tsvangirai, then the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, had to alert Sadc leaders during the summit that one of the

party’s supporters had been callously murdered by Zanu PF while the summit was in session,” he said.

The MDC said venue and time has never mattered much for Zanu PF and the government when it came to torture and abductions, saying they beat up party leader

Nelson Chamisa at an airport in broad daylight.

“Venue and timing of violence have never mattered to Zanu PF. On May 18, 2007, Chamisa, then the MDC spokesperson, was seized and beaten at the Harare

International Airport in front of frightened travellers as he headed for a European Union parliamentary conference in Brussels, Belgium. Eight men with iron bars beat him to pulp, took his passport, bags and laptop before speeding off in two cars, one without a licence plate. Seven of his assailants wore suits and

one was in an army vest,” Tamborinyoka said.

“In May 2007, president Tsvangirai and other senior political and civic leaders were brutally assaulted inside Machipisa Police Station when they attended a

Save Zimbabwe prayer meeting in Highfield. Mr Mnangagwa was one of the leaders of this government that perpetrated such heinous crimes inside a police station”

he said.

In the face of the examples which the MDC drew to include the August 1, 2018 killings of demonstrators, January 2019 shooting and beating of protesters by

members of the police and army, Tamborinyoka said the third force can only be government and its arms.

“Can Mnangagwa tell us that it was a third force that was wearing police uniforms inside Machipisa Police Station in Highfield on that day? The State is

culpable for the heinous acts against Zimbabweans. The illegitimate, scarfed regime of Mr Mnangagwa must explain the whereabouts of Magombeyi,” he said.