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.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was the bravest leader in Africa in the call for the emancipation of black people.

Ramaphosa made the remarks when he addressed a memorial lecture to honour Mugabe in Kwazulu Natal on Friday.

Mugabe died in Singapore on 6 September at the age of 95.

“President Robert Mugabe was a product of his time, there will be no other President Robert Grabriel Mugabe. He was of a special type and he was the only Robert Gabriel Mugabe on the whole continent who was brave, who was articulate, who was forthright in everything that he said but who was an outstanding revolutionary and we dip our heads to him for that,” said Ramaphosa.

“Our task is to take the best lessons from the life of President Robert Mugabe and continue the struggle to create a better Africa and better world. We pay tribute to him as a great liberator who sought to unite his people and lead them in the fight for the return of the wealth of their land.

“We will always remember him as a forthright leader who made no apologies in warning his people against colonial an imperial powers bent on undermining the rights of Africans to self determination.”

Ramaphosa said Mugabe’s great desire was to see that his people were empowered.

He said Mugabe would be remembered as the most gallant liberation fighter.

Advocate Obert Gutu, the Vice President of opposition MDC-T led by Dr Thokozani Khuphe has said that former Education Minister, David Coltart has a case to answer over the disappearance of acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Peter Magombeyi.

Gutu claimed that the disappearance of Magombeyi who went missing on Saturday 14 September and resurfaced on the 19th was stage-managed.

Posting on Twitter, Gutu said:

The unrepentant racist & die-hard Rhodesian Selous Scout @DavidColtart has got a few questions to answer about the farcical, fanciful, fake & stage-managed 'abduction' of Dr. Peter Magombeyi.

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) September 20, 2019

His remarks come when there are people accusing the state of abducting and torturing citizens. On the other hand, the state has claimed that the alleged kidnappings were either being stage-managed or being conducted by a third force intending to tarnish the image of the government.

The deputy national spokesperson of the opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa, however, dismissed the existence of a “3rd hand” theory saying it was the state.

There have been a series of kidnappings lately with members of the opposition MDC, human rights defenders and government critics being nicodemusly taken from their homes.

A parliamentary portfolio committee wants to call the leader of doctors’ union Peter Magombeyi to explain what had happened to him during the days he went missing.

Magombeyi went missing last week sparking protests by doctors who alleged that he had been abducted. He was found on Thursday in Nyabira, 40km from Harare.

Health and Child Welfare parliamentary committee chairperson Ruth Labode said the committee was celebrating that Magombeyi was found alive and will be able to resume his professional duties as a medical doctor.

Magombeyi is the president of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association and one of the organiser of an ongoing strike to demand higher wages for state doctors.

“As parliamentarians, we are concerned  to what had happened to  Dr Magombeyi, and we want the  committees  Defence and  Home Affairs  and our  committee  to call him to explain what happened to him because we believe his case was politically motivated and not related to his profession,” Labode said.

“We are concerned with what had happened to him.”

She said government should address the grievances being raised by the doctors and improve the working conditions to avoid industrial action in the medical profession.

MP for Chinhoyi Peter Mataruse said he did not support what happened to Magombeyi and wants the case to be investigated.

“As a medical doctor I fully support  the actions taken by the doctors in demonstrating in support of colleague who was missing  and we  hope the issue  of the doctors  will be addressed  and  the victimisation should stop,” Mataruse said.

Government has denied being responsible for the abduction of Magombeyi accusing third forces of wanting to tarnish the image of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Voting is currently underway in Zaka East with a voter turn out of around 50%. All the 38 polling station opened on time.

We are however worried with the number of assisted voters where every polling station in the constituency has recorded more than thirty assisted voters.

This therefore creates a perception that people are being commandeered to vote.

One incident of violence has so far been recorded where one of our agents was brutally assaulted by a Zanu PF thug who happens to be a teacher in the area. A police report has since been made.

Zanu PF is using three village heads as agents and ZEC has since been notified. Despite all the vote buying tactics being used by the sunset party, people remain determined to vote Zanu PF out and take Dereck Charamba the MDC candidate to Parliament.

MDC Information Department

21 September 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the Zaka East National Assembly and Insiza Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 15 by-elections in line with its mandate to assess the extent to which standards of holding democratic elections as espoused by the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and other regional as well as international principles are adhered to. This midday statement is based on reports received from ZESN observers so far. Network challenges experienced in the by-election areas, especially Zaka East, are affecting communication with observers.

Pre-election Period and Campaigns

The pre-election period was largely peaceful. There was however intimidation by the ruling party supporters and traditional leaders, in particular village heads soliciting for support in favour of the ruling party.

Campaigns for Free Zim and NCA were low key. ZANU-PF and the MDC Alliance were visible holding meetings and rallies addressed by senior party leadership.

Observation Methodology

For Zaka East, ZESN has a total of 13 observers; static, mobile, Ward and Constituency Collation Centre observers, altogether. For Insiza, ZESN has deployed a total of four trained observers to cover three out of six polling stations and the Ward Collation Centre.

Set up and Opening of Polling Stations

ZESN observers have reported that ZEC posted the voters’ roll outside all polling stations in all the two by-elections. This is commendable as it enables the easy identification of polling stations by voters. More so, polling stations were set up in accordance with the requirements of the law to ensure that voters mark their ballots in secrecy. ZESN observers have reported that essential voting materials such as ballot boxes, ballot papers, ZEC stamp, indelible marking pens, biometric voters’ roll were present at all polling stations. Furthermore, observers reported that all the polling stations opened on time and had started processing voters by 7:15 am. All the polling stations were reported to be easily accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. On average, there are 7 polling officers per polling station in both by-elections.

Assisted, Turned Away, and Redirected Voters

There were 20 assisted voters at Chiromo Polling station in Zaka due to illiteracy and a few cases of redirected voters by noon. The low numbers of redirected voters of 7 people at Mthwakazi Hall (A) in Insiza by midday may be attributed to the displaying of the voters’ roll outside polling stations that has been observed in both by-elections. There were however a few isolated cases of voters who were turned away for turning up at the wrong polling station for example, 5 voters had been turned away as at midday with 3 turned away voters at Mthwakazi Hall (A) and 2 at Filabusi Primary School polling stations respectively.

Party Agents

Political Parties and candidates are allowed to have one election agent inside the polling station and an additional agent stationed within the vicinity of the polling station. At polling stations where ZESN has observers or observed ZANU-PF and the MDC Alliance have deployed election party agents comprehensively in Zaka East Constituency while other parties deployed to selected polling stations. For Insiza, ZANU-PF and MDC Alliance have deployed party agents at all polling stations where ZESN has observers.

Incidents

There were isolated incidences of electoral malpractices that were observed in both by-elections such as acts of victimization of an MDC Alliance polling agent by ZANU PF polling agents at Mthwakazi Hall (A) polling station in Insiza.  Observers could not get much of what the crying victimised candidate was saying to the presiding officer who attended to him.

Observers reported that political parties’ agents were still taking down their campaign posters and materials within 100 metres upon the Presiding Officer’s instruction between 6am and 7am an hour before polling stations opened at Mthwakazi (A). The displaying of campaign materials in the vicinity of a polling station is in defiance of the Electoral Code of Conduct for Political Parties Schedule 7 (1) (d) on the Conduct during polling period which states that, “No political party or candidate may, from midnight twenty-four hours before polling day in any election or referendum campaign or display campaign material within 300 metres of a polling station or counting centre until polling stations are closed on that day.”

In Zaka East, observers reported that a Village Head came to cast out their vote at Machiva polling station wearing a ZANU PF T-shirt and a cap, ZEC ordered him to remove the cap and wear a jacket to cover his T-shirt. ZESN commends the ZEC for the action they took in keeping with the provisions of the Code of Conduct as well as Section 146 of the Electoral Act which also prohibits the wearing of party symbols and regalia in the vicinity of a polling station.

Turnout

ZESN observed that as at midday, there was generally low voter turnout in Zaka East Constituency and Insiza RDC ward 15. Perhaps this can be attributed to voter apathy that ZESN has consistently observed in the previous by-elections.

By Own Correspondent| As he lands in the United States, indications yesterday were that ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hired another public relations company.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The development was leaked by a US journalist Jeffrey Smith who exposed how a new western PR public company is busy circulating poisionous propaganda and falsehoods seeking to cover up for the torture and abuse of Hospital Doctors Association President Peter Magombeyi.

The company, BTP Advisers, is made up of two whites who have experience in reputation stitch up jobs for dictators the likes of Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Paul Kagame of Rwanda and John Magufuli of Tanzania.

Mnangagwa is paying several millions of dollars for the botch jobs.

The development will serve to further expose Mnangagwa for duplicity on racial grounds after failing to pay renowned Zimbabwean black author, Pettina Gappa who was doing a similar job.

A quick scan through the company’s profile reveals that publishing falsehoods for its clients is all it exists for.

While a comment from Mnangagwa’s office was awaited at the time of writing, below is what Smith wrote:

“Appears as if the ruthless #Zimbabwe regime has hired yet another PR firm, @btpadvisers, which has worked w/ Kagame among other abusive leaders. Just saw an email in which they cast blame on the media & others for recent abductions of activists like Dr. Peter Magombeyi. Shameful.”

Watch Video below. ..

BEING in Harare in the past two weeks has been quite an experience. The Robert Mugabe era has finally closed after his death in Singapore on September 6, even through he is yet to be buried.

But from a people perspective the whole thing was just a curiosity— we have already moved on and this just seems like another diversion from the harsh realities of daily life.

But whatever you think about the man, he was at the very centre of this country’s history for longer than any other leader in our history. Just for once let’s consider the contribution of the men who have made this part of the world what it is today. First, the leaders who led the historical migration from north Africa who settled and built Great Zimbabwe and established a kingdom that dominated the region for over 500 years. Then the men who led another migration — this time from the south in the form of Mzilikazi who brought thousands of his people to settle in and around a place he called KoBulawayo or the “Place of Slaughter”.

By the time these migrants arrived, the Mutapa Kingdom was long gone and all that remained were signs of their activities in stone structures built across the country and evidence of a community that had traded across the world and was known as being rich in gold. The new migrants were very different in culture and language. A group with a military history who dominated the southern regions of Africa and were destined to be defeated in South Africa by the Boers and in Zimbabwe, by the settlers who came to the country in 1893.

Mzilikazi was followed by Lobengula who was finally responsible for negotiations with the settlers and was defeated in a series of battles with the settlers culminating in his suicide in the distant Zambezi valley and an uneasy peace treaty with Rhodes that prevailed until the early 60’s of the subsequent century.

Then the long shadow of Rhodes, never really recognised as a national leader, was a global colossus in every way. He died at the age of 49, spent less than 25 years in Africa, but had an influence that continues even today. He founded 73 companies — two of which, even now, are in the top 500 firms internationally. He fixed the boundaries of Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Congo, Lesotho and Botswana. He was Prime Minister of the Cape and a confidant of kings. Whatever you think of the man – he was a towering figure in his day and has had global influence. In many ways his shadow continues to lie across the sub-continent.

Then Lord Malvern, Prime Minister of Rhodesia for 37 years — the longest serving Prime Minister in the Commonwealth. A medical doctor professionally, he led the country through the Second World War and into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. He dominated the country politically by a canny combination of co-option of his opponents and carefully protecting the interests of the small but dominant white population. At the same time, he used our position in the Commonwealth and the Sterling Zone to create a small but competitive economy based on its mines and farms.

Under his long leadership, the country’s white population thrived and in their own way made a global contribution becoming leaders in both agriculture and mining and establishing a monetary and fiscal system that made the Rhodesian currency one of the strongest in the world. In addition, albeit too slowly, Malvern created a small, but sophisticated system of schooling for black Rhodesians which eventually produced the leadership of the nationalist movement which ultimately prevailed and brought Zimbabwe to independence.

Then Ian Smith. He led Rhodesia for 17 years and was responsible for a spirited attempt to stop history. He failed but not for want of trying and the one thing he was skilled and adept at was how to secure and maintain the trust of the local white population. The black community had begun demanding a greater say in how the country was run in 1949 when the emerging leadership led a national strike. This was followed by the creation of Zanu and Zapu under a leadership that was to dominate the country after independence in 1980. This inevitably led to the liberation struggle which really started in 1962 when the armed struggle was launched by Zapu. This intensified in 1972 when the first Zanla guerrillas entered the country and launched the phase of the war that would eventually lead to Independence in 1980.

The Americans classified the Rhodesian war as a “low level guerrilla conflict” but that hardly describes the heroic, but futile attempt by the tiny white settler community that had dominated the country and even the region since 1893, to hold onto power. The story of the heroism of both sides in this conflict is impossible to tell without engendering feelings of hostility and anger, even today, but that does not deny its truth. But was it worth the sacrifice, many asked, when after thousands of casualties and hardship the Rhodesians won all the battles but lost the war.

My own personal view is that the Kissinger intervention in September 1976 saved the country from a savage transition that would have made the country a ruin. Smith called it the “Great Betrayal” and even Kissinger confessed in his biography that it was a task he took little pleasure in, but felt it was necessary to bring this senseless conflict to a halt.

And then Mugabe, who came to power in 1980 when in fact he had not played a significant role in the armed struggle and had even been a relatively junior member of the group of national leaders who had negotiated independence at Lancaster House in 1979. But that is history. The issue today is what did he do with that task that was handed to him by history and international intervention in 1980.

The record is mixed, at best. No doubt he gave black Zimbabweans dignity, pride and opportunity. In the early days of independence, we built a new school every day, every district got a hospital, all institutions were integrated and the task of creating a national army out of the tens of thousands of men who had carried arms in the war was successfully completed. Every significant town got a polytechnic and 14 universities were created. Life expectancy rose in 20 years to 63, literacy to 95% and hundreds of thousands of young people graduated with skills and knowledge that has made them a hot commodity the world over. Today 10 000 Zimbabweans teach mathematics in South Africa.

But always there was a dark side — the genocidal campaign against Zapu to create a one-party State, the crushing of all opposition until the labour unions formed the MDC in 1999. The harsh cruelty of Murambatsvina where half of the men who were evicted in mid-winter from their homes, died. The thousands killed in the campaign to try and crush the MDC and the steady stream of unexplained fatalities that all seemed to point to the assassin. Even his close associates were not protected.

In his determination to dominate, to control and to make sure his power was never challenged, Mugabe wrecked the economy and left us with a currency that was worthless, a lower standard of living than we had at independence, a whole raft of failed institutions — hospitals without drugs and even cleaning materials, schools without chalk and an infrastructure that barely functions. He left us with unsustainable debts and crushing international isolation. On balance, I think he will be judged as the leader who failed his country and his people.

So that is how we got here and where is that? This is a small country — its population is less than many mega cities and its total GDP less than the garbage collection budget of New York. But our potential in terms of human and natural resources is enormous and we need now to harness that potential to make sure that our leadership, which has the task of taking us into the future, does better than those who have made us who we are. That is not the task of one, it is our responsibility and I am excited to be able to play a small part.

Eddie Cross is an economist. He writes in his personal capacity.

By A Correspondent- Suspended Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer Engineer Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa and finance director Mr Simon Taranhike have been fired for alleged gross incompetence and abuse of office.

The two have pending cases of corruption before the courts. This comes amid reports that over 24 other ZINARA workers were arrested on corruption charges and their cases are at various stages of trial.

Zinara board chairman Engineer Michael Madanha, who is leading the anti-corruption crusade at the parastatal, confirmed the pair’s expulsion and revealed deep-seated corruption at the road utility.

He said lifestyle audits were being instituted to recover looted public funds by some Zinara senior managers.

“The CEO and the financial director who were on suspension were fired for great incompetence and abuse of office after it was realised that all the rot at Zinara was happening under their noses whilst they were engaged in bruising fights and failed to act on reports of corruption addressed to them as accounting officers,” said Eng Madanha in a document.

“Both are attending trials to answer to abuse of office at Zinara.”

Eng Madanha said the new board unearthed revenue leakages that were going on under the watch of the CEO and the finance director as the accounting officers.

Said Eng Madanha: “There are leakages at the tollgates, transit fees and bulk licensing where cashiers pocket public funds and according to a report by one of the employees caught red handed, the stolen money is shared right up to the echelons of power with rates of contribution by cashiers clearly stipulated.

“There is alarming variance at the tollgates between money captured by the system, money collected and money banked indicating fraudulent activities at the revenue collection points under the supervision of the finance director.

“Fraudulent activities are noted with petty cash managed by the finance department as no records are present on some disbursements and acquittals to provincial offices.

“Another area of abuse is recorded on fuel coupons which are disbursed without proper paper trail in some cases.

“The other major problem at the institution lies in the recruitment process and each director is in charge of the filling of posts in his respective department.

“Directors filled up positions with relatives, friends and church members, thereby creating an environment which defies corporate governance as workers pay their allegiance to their director and not to the institution.”

Eng Madanha said the corporate culture at Zinara was so bad that if an employee was caught stealing at a tollgate, instead of instituting disciplinary action against them, they would be transferred to another tollgate.

He said the management was indifferent to change and accountability insisted on by the new board to protect their corrupt activities.

Eng Madanha said the fired directors were desperately trying engineer a comeback by planting false stories in the media against the new board.

Acting Zinara chief executive officer Mr Suston Muzenda admitted that there had been financial leakages.

He also said Zinara was filling in critical posts such as those of director; administration and human resources, director (technical), corporate secretary, finance manager and audit manager.

-StateMedia

READ FULL TEXT BELOW…

PUBLIC hospital doctors have vowed to continue with their industrial action despite the return of their abducted colleague, Peter Magombeyi, who went missing last Saturday before being dumped in Nyabira, 40km north west of Harare on Thursday night.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting leader Dean Ndoro said Magombeyi was now receiving medical check-up at a private hospital in Harare.

“Dr Peter Mugombeyi is safe, but I’m not in a position to comment on these issues. There is so much speculation and it is not my duty to comment on the issue, but the Ministry of Health. We are still waiting to find answers and to hear from the Ministry of Health,” he said, confirming that doctors were still continuing with their strike for better working conditions.

“Today (yesterday), they were gathering and we are talking to bring more demonstrations to the government. They are not going back. It is a good thing Peter Mugombeyi and people are happy that he is back. I’m not sure if this return will stop the doctors from demonstrating but they want salaries to be increased,” he said.

Magombeyi’s disappearance triggered mayhem in the health sector as nurses and doctors downed tools demanding his safe return, accusing State security agents of leading the alleged abduction.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo accused non-governmental organisations of politicising the incident, singling out the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights for allegedly fomenting chaos in the medical field.

“All in the hope of receiving filthy lucre from the nation’s detractors is not only unpatriotic, but rather unbridled irresponsibility from a quarter in the nation expects to know better. All must be warned that the ruling party, Zanu PF, will not stand akimbo while such lawlessness is being perpetrated,” he said.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations into Magombeyi’s disappearance were in progress.

“Dr Magombeyi is still in hospital and he has been examined by (private) doctors and government doctors. He has been given access to his lawyers, family and friends. He is not under arrest contrary to reports in other sections of the media,” he said.

“There were many lawyers who were showing up. So we asked them to organise themselves so that we know who is dealing with the police.”

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Leo Mugabe, the spokesperson of the family of the late founding leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, has dismissed as fake reports suggesting that Mugabe’s body was flown to Singapore for safekeeping.

Leo said that the body lies in state at the Blue Roof, the mansion where Mugabe family resides.

“There have been messages circulating on social media about the remains of the former leader being flown back to Singapore; they are false.We all woke up to these messages on WhatsApp, but they are just rumours and nothing of that nature is happening.

“I am not sure about the One Commando thing. All we know is the body will be kept safely.

“Mugabe’s remains are yet to be buried as a mausoleum in which he is to be laid to rest is yet to be completed.”

The Chinese company that was contracted to construct the unique and special grave revealed earlier that the mausoleum, depending on availability of resources, would take about three months to be completed.

This comes when there are reports suggesting that the body of the former veteran leader was embalmed to last for five years. Since its arrival from Singapore where he died, it has never been to any funeral parlour.

State of the Nation
I address you this evening on three issues which have been exercising the mind of the Government. These are: (1) the ongoing industrial action by our medical staff; (2) the below-par water supply situation and sewer services in Harare and other towns and cities and; (3) prices of consumer goods which continue to rise against wage income erosion.

Government is aware of the economic pressures affecting our medical staff, alongside the generality of the country’s workforce and citizenry. To the extent possible, and consistent with our broader quest to stabilise the economy, Government continues to review and adjust the cost of living for all public servants, including our medical staff. This exercise, which is ongoing, is often constrained by a particularly meagre agricultural season we have experienced, and which has forced Government to redirect scarce resources towards drought mitigation through a massive grain importation programme. Our nation requires bridging grain of more than 800 000 tonnes to ensure food security in the country until the next harvest. All the same, Government continues to value and address the concerns of our care-givers, whose services are essential and life-saving.

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. 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 of all citizens. New measures might have to be formulated to deal with this new threat, and to severely punish those responsible for such subterfuges.

Equally, Government was not impressed at all by the way medical staff, as organised labour, responded to this political act of propaganda trickery. Reports on hand indicate innocent lives were gambled with, affected and even lost, as our medical staff who must provide an essential service, abandoned post in solidarity with the so-called missing staffer. While the “missing” person has been found, precious lives already harmed or lost are either permanently incapacitated or lost forever. It is very sad, indeed a poor reflection, on a profession of such standing, and on its commitment to the unique oath that binds it.

As we reflect on this sad turn of events, the least our medical staff can do now is to return to their work stations without any further delay, and to restore and resume vital services to all those in desperate need of them. The appropriate, professional response to reports of any missing persons should never take the form that endangers more lives, all of them innocent. Now is the time for our medical staff to retrieve their collective conscience and to restate their commitment to the very oath that makes their profession sacred. As I said, Government is looking at improving their working conditions, including revamping our entire health delivery services, through significant investments which are already evident. But the yearly cycle of labour instability and indiscipline in the medical sector must come to an end.

Fellow Zimbabweans,

I am happy that Government has swiftly moved in to arrest the deteriorating water supply and level of sewer services in Harare. This intervention will extend to other towns and cities. In Harare alone, clean water production had declined from 450 million litres a day in March this year, to about 200 million litres a day since the beginning of this September. This precipitous fall in water supply, against soaring demand which is currently estimated at about 800 million litres a day, means many residents have been going without clean water at all, or making do with little and erratic supply of this precious liquid.

As if this is not bad enough, a number of new suburban settlements which have sprouted, are still to be connected to water and sewer reticulation systems. We thus run the risk of fresh outbreaks of water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid, more so against the raging drought situation we find ourselves in as a country.

The release yesterday of $37,3 million in local currency, and another US$2,2 million in foreign currency, as I directed, should stabilise the water and sewer reticulation systems in our capital. Central Government, through the relevant ministry, must immediately move in to support our municipal authorities, in order to bring the situation under control before the start of the rainy season. No effort should be spared in tackling this very dire and urgent matter.

Government continues to be concerned and exercised 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. The whole situation becomes completely unjustified and untenable when only prices of basic commodities continue to escalate against static or even declining wages. Surely a generalised price escalation should and must have a bearing on wage levels in the economy?

We urge our business community to show leadership by taking business decisions which are professional, ethical and even compassionate. They must act in a manner consistent with the broader goal of economic recovery, tripartism and sustainable long-term macroeconomic stability.

Soon, I shall be calling for a meeting with the business community so we agree on clear ground rules which ensure fair play in the market. It is not the intention of Government to interfere with the operation of business. However, where clear failures and/or imperfections become evident and rampant in the market, the hand of Government will inevitably show. To avoid this, I urge our business community to demonstrate leadership, empathy and patriotism while recovery takes root.

As I address you tonight, the preliminary weather forecast is now out. We are likely to enjoy normal to above normal rains in the first three months of October, November and December of the season. Thereafter, from January, February up to march, the forecast points to a normal-to-below normal rainfall pattern. Our farmers should be guided by this so they plan to grow their crops within this forecast. As before, Government will support our farmers with inputs and other services in time. The goal is for speedy recovery so our country regains its food-secure status. In the meantime, I urge all our farmers, big and small, to put shoulder to wheel so we take full advantage of the early rains.

Later today, I shall be leaving for the United States of America where Zimbabwe will join other nations of the world at this year’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. For us, we have a particular interest in discussion around climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. Our country, alongside three others in our region, was this last March hit by a deadly cyclone which claimed many lives; which displaced many of our people, and damaged a lot of our infrastructure. We are still grappling with the after-effects of Cyclone Idai, as indeed we continue to reel from effects of a climate change-induced severe drought. Even though Zimbabwe’s contribution to emission of gases that damage our ozone layer is negligible, its exposure to climate change-related crises is horrendous. We thus have a direct interest in discussions and decisions which nations of the world take on this very matter blights our prospects and retard the attainment of SDGs.

Alongside Africa and the progressive world, we will continue to use the United Nations platform to speak against illegal sanctions imposed against our country by the West. As I leave for New York, Zimbabwe is heartened by the recent decision of SADC declaring 25th October as the Day of Action Against Illegal Sanctions. We in Zimbabwe, who are on the receiving end of these illegal sanctions, should speak the loudest, and campaign the hardest, against them.

May God continue to bless our nation.

I thank you.

Kambuzuma legislator Willias Madzimure (MDC Alliance) on Thursday described Finance minister Mthuli Ncube as a complete failure, claiming Members of Parliament have managed to “put him where he belonged”, while they await the Executive decision on whether he remains in Cabinet.

The MDC legislator who is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said this during a panel discussion convened by the National Association of NGOs (Nango) under the theme Public Finance Management: Can it be a Gateway to Sustainable Economic Development.

Madzimure said Ncube had presided over a lot of chaos during his tenure as minister, including allowing over-borrowing by government in breach of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) which stipulates that any new borrowing must not exceed 20% of the previous year’s revenues. The debts are now being paid through Treasury Bills with government simply printing the money.

As a result of over-borrowing without Parliament approval, Ncube is now set to approach the House with three Bills for condonation, one of which will deal with the US$3 billion which cannot be traced, but is said to have been allocated for Command Agriculture between 2017 and 2018.

“As a country, we have been seriously affected by the behaviour of the fiscal authority which borrowed a lot of money which we did not have on the domestic market and it directly affected operations to the extent that we are now experiencing company closures,” Madzimure said.

“In Parliament, MPs have been able to put Ncube where he belongs, but it is the duty of the Executive to decide whether he remains as Finance minister or not because his performance is dismal – but I cannot say that former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa should come back because he is the one who actually killed all financial systems in Zimbabwe.”

Madzimure said Ncube was selling Zimbabweans a myth about a budget surplus, adding that ministry officials like accountant-general Daniel Muchemwa wantonly broke PFMA rules by allowing ministries to use money without the Accountant-General signing certificates of receipt of that money.

“This week the Accountant-General Muchemwa ended up leaving his position because of pressure by the Tendai Biti-led PAC. This time PAC means serious business and our reports will be harsh and recommend firing of public officials found to be corrupt and misusing public funds,” he said.

Kipson Gundani, who represented business at the discussions, said Ncube was taking the country back to the 2008 era due to his incoherent policies.

“I think this country is full of theatre performers where Ncube speaks of a budget surplus, but there is no electricity, water or medicines and you wonder whether Ncube is a theatre actor getting excited by mere figures. We have resources that are enough to turn around the economy, but there is no transparency and accountability.

“What is happening is direct printing of money and the same formula that brought us to the 2008 situation is being used again. Ours is a broken country, broken currency and a broken people who need healing,” Gundani said.

Zimcodd official Naomi Chakanya said wanton breach of the PFMA rules will hinder Zimbabwe from achieving the sustainable development goals to reduce poverty, support health education, clean water and clean energy.

“Last year, US$5 billion could not be accounted for by different ministries. About US$4 million was paid to Zesa for transformers in 2017, but this was not accounted for and yet we are struggling with electricity cuts,” Chakanya said.

Afrodad representative Tirivangani Mutazu said the country has not been servicing its debts since 2000, adding that although Ncube was paying the International Monetary Fund debt, they will still demand that the country finishes off paying its debts to the African Development Bank and the World Bank before accessing new lines of credit.

Ncube could not be reached for comment.

-Newsday

I shall be leaving for the United States of America where Zimbabwe will join other nations of the world at this year’s session of the UN General Assembly.

jFor us, we have a particular interest in discussions around climate change and Sustainable Development Goals.

Our country, alongside three others in the region, was this last March hit by a deadly cyclone which claimed many lives; which displaced many of our people and damaged a lot of our infrastructure.

We are still grappling with the after-effects of Cyclone Idai, as indeed we continue to reel from effects of a climate change-induced severe drought. Even though Zimbabwe’s contribution to emission of gases that damage our ozone layer is negligible, its exposure to climate change-related crises is horrendous.

We thus have a direct interest in discussions and decisions which the nations of the world take on this very matter which blight our prospects and retard the attainment of SDGs.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would continue to use the UN platform to speak against the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe that have caused untold suffering to ordinary people.

Alongside Africa and the progressive world, we will continue to use the UN platform to speak against illegal sanctions imposed against our country by the West.

As I leave for New York, Zimbabwe is heartened by the recent decision of Sadc, declaring 25th October as the Day of Action Against Illegal Sanctions.

We in Zimbabwe, who are on the receiving end of these illegal sanctions, should speak the loudest and campaign the hardest against them.

By A Correspondent- Burial of a 21-year-old Sakubva man was delayed for more than five hours as relatives quarrelled and exchanged blows over his wife’s undergarment that had been placed in his coffin last Thursday at Yoevil cemetery in Mutare.

Armed police officers had to intervene to facilitate the burial of Carlton Mutseketerwa (21) of Chisamba section of Sakubva in Mutare who died early last week after he was hit by a vehicle.

Apparently, Mutseketerwa, a popular figure in his home area where he was fondly referred to as ‘Chairman’, had been staying with Patricia Chirenje (17) as husband and wife for the past three months and Chirenje is said to be two months preg_nant now.

Relatives of both Chirenje and Mutseketerwa, drawn mainly from the Chisamba section of Sakubva that is popularly known as kumaJapan, disagreed on whether Chirenje must be allowed to place her undergarment in the coffin as a ritual meant to ensure she gets married in future and moves on with her life well after her husband’s death.

Mutseketerwa’s elder brother Hector Matondo told The Weekender that his family totally disagreed with the idea to place Patricia’s undergarment in his brothers’ coffin since, as a family, they never knew of their relationship.

“Carlton grew up here with our grandma and moved out about three months ago to stay in Chikanga. We understand that is when Patricia eloped and started staying with my brother.

“They stayed together for about two months. When my brother died, Patricia came and we only thought she came to mourn just like anyone else. When we asked for the keys to Carlton’s house when we wanted to dress him ahead of burial, Patricia initially refused to give us.

“She later accepted to give us the keys after we had told her that she could keep his clothes for good. When we were about to go to the cemetery for burial that is when Patricia’s relatives approached us saying they wanted to perform a certain ritual process that involved placing her undergarment in the coffin,” he said.

Matondo added that his family disagreed with the idea to have Patricia’s undergarment in the coffin since they not only were unaware of such rituals but also his family did not acknowledge Patricia as their daughter in law.

“We refused to have her undergarment in the coffin since we did not know Patricia as our daughter in law. Apart from that we have never heard of such a ritual so we had no business accepting a stranger’s undergarment in our brother’s coffin,” he said.

While at the graveyard, Patricia’s relatives opened the coffin and placed her undergarment inside resulting in the deceased’s relatives refusing to go ahead with the burial rites.

A fight ensued between the two parties, with the coffin being lowered into the grave and retrieved four times as the two families bitterly disagreed.

On a number of occasions, the coffin was opened as the deceased’s relatives took out the undergarment but Patricia’s relatives would place them back against the will of the Mutseketerwa’s relatives.

It was only after armed police was invited to facilitate the burial around 5pm that the undergarment was finally removed and the burial process went ahead.

Patricia’s mother Linda Marere complained that her child’s in-laws refused to listen to the elderly who were present at the funeral.

“It is unfortunate that my child’s in-laws chose to play to the gallery on serious traditional issues that could have been resolved if they had listened to the elders that were present.

“They were cruel to my daughter to the extent that they failed to understand basic traditional processes that demand that a woman’s undergarment is placed in her husband’s coffin to make sure that the deceased husband’s spirit does not follow the woman.

‘I took the two (Patricia and Carlton) as my own children. I actually paid RTGS$500 fine when Carlton was arrested and sentenced to jail with an option for a fine not so long ago. I did that because these were my children. I really wonder why they acted in such a cruel manner. Anyway we took my child’s daughter’s and we are going to take care of the child that she will deliver because she is only two months pregnant,” she said.

When contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) president George Kandiero said bereaved families must sit down and agree on traditional rituals without outside interference.

“I think this is an issue that needs bereaved families to sit down and agree on traditional rituals without outside interference. We are Africans, we are not white and we cannot run away from that but at the end of the day what we believe in differs from one area to the other.

“Therefore there is need to sit down, especially elders of both families, and agree on way forward,” he said.

When asked on whether the undergarment ritual actually works or not, Kandiero said: “I cannot really say placing an undergarment in the coffin works or does not work. It depends with the beliefs in a given area and that is why I said there is need to sit down and agree.”

-ManicaPost

Public hospital doctors have vowed to continue with their industrial action despite the return of their abducted colleague, Peter Magombeyi, who went missing last Saturday before being dumped in Nyabira, 40km north west of Harare on Thursday night.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting leader Dean Ndoro said Magombeyi was now receiving medical check-up at a private hospital in Harare.

“Dr Peter Mugombeyi is safe, but I’m not in a position to comment on these issues. There is so much speculation and it is not my duty to comment on the issue, but the Ministry of Health. We are still waiting to find answers and to hear from the Ministry of Health,” he said, confirming that doctors were still continuing with their strike for better working conditions.

“Today (yesterday), they were gathering and we are talking to bring more demonstrations to the government. They are not going back. It is a good thing Peter Mugombeyi and people are happy that he is back. I’m not sure if this return will stop the doctors from demonstrating but they want salaries to be increased,” he said.

Magombeyi’s disappearance triggered mayhem in the health sector as nurses and doctors downed tools demanding his safe return, accusing State security agents of leading the alleged abduction.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo accused non-governmental organisations of politicising the incident, singling out the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights for allegedly fomenting chaos in the medical field.

“All in the hope of receiving filthy lucre from the nation’s detractors is not only unpatriotic, but rather unbridled irresponsibility from a quarter in the nation expects to know better. All must be warned that the ruling party, Zanu PF, will not stand akimbo while such lawlessness is being perpetrated,” he said.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations into Magombeyi’s disappearance were in progress.

“Dr Magombeyi is still in hospital and he has been examined by (private) doctors and government doctors. He has been given access to his lawyers, family and friends. He is not under arrest contrary to reports in other sections of the media,” he said.

“There were many lawyers who were showing up. So we asked them to organize themselves so that we know who is dealing with the police.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent| President Mnangagwa yesterday conferred 3 927 with various undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at the University of Zimbabwe and installed Professor Paul Mapfumo as the fifth Vice Chancellor of the institution.

The graduates were drawn from nine faculties of the university with 3 132 graduating with Bachelor of Science Degrees, 760 with Master’s Degrees, 23 with Doctor of Philosophy and 12 with Masters of Philosophy.

Officiating at the function, Prof Mapfumo said the university had come up with several initiatives to ensure it plays a role in the national development and attainment of the national vision 2030.

“The university has since last year intensified its focus and energies on a transformative reconfiguration of our programming, our internal governance system, strategic partnerships, delivery methods and skilled human capital development all in in the contest of becoming a true leader in delivering on Government education 5.0 framework in pursuit of a clear national vision 2030. 

“We are much awake to the responsibilities that Government and society at large expects from the university,” he said.

Prof Mapfumo said the university remained indebted to the President for launching its strategic plan 2019-2025 that enables the institution to pursue its vision of being recognised as the centre of excellence in research and innovation in higher education and training by 2025.

“Our strategic plan provides scope for deepening technical skills and technological capabilities enabling creation of a new generation of innovative specialists and practitioners,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor said the university had for the first time established different key posts to improve service delivery and made strides in different areas including the farm which realised a meaningful production despite last year’s drought. 

“The university has registered seven new companies including Vakanyika Private Limited, Incuhub Pvt Ltd and Njere Pvt Ltd that will serve as holding companies for subsidiary entities that will come from discoveries and products developed under research and industrial framework,” he said.

Prof Mapfumo said the university was going to introduce several other new academic programmes and retire some so that it remains relevant.

“The university has strengthened its partnerships and collaborations with the private sector which has seen it receiving several donations and financial support in different sectors.

“Demand for student accommodation continues to be a challenge and the university is in serious discussions with external investors to construct hostels.

There are companies that have offered models that we are considering and our objective is to have at least 50 percent of the student population housed at the campus,” he said.-StateMedia

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has spread its tentacles to include a probe into vote-buying allegations raised by the opposition MDC in the just-ended parliamentary by-elections.

MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende, whose party has accused the ruling Zanu PF of engaging in vote-buying activities, particularly in Lupane East and Glen View South by-elections, said his party had been invited to provide evidence to Zacc.

“We are happy that Zacc has shown interest in investigating the allegations of vote-buying that have been the order of the day in the recent by-elections. In Lupane East, ministers connived to release medicines for campaign purposes and we raised these issues, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) did not act,” Hwende said.

He said he had handed over letters written by Zanu PF political commissar and Defence deputy minister Victor Matemadanda to Health minister Obadiah Moyo and the response showing a paper trail of abuse of power.

“Corruption also involves abuse of power. Using government resources to buy votes and attain power is corruption and this becomes a litmus test for Zacc on whether they are serious or not and we are prepared to give them a chance,” he said.

In its final report on the Glen View South and Mangwe by-elections, Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) also raised concern over vote-buying, accusing Zanu PF of electoral malpractices.

“However, other forms of malpractices were observed. In Glen View South, Zesn was concerned with the timing of the drilling of 15 boreholes by the District Development Fund (DDF), which Zanu PF seemingly took advantage of during its campaigns ahead of a by-election as the party was observed officiating at some of the boreholes in the constituency,” the electoral watchdog report read.

“DDF trucks carrying borehole rigs were observed moving in convoys with vehicles carrying Zanu PF supporters in their full party regalia heading for the borehole drilling sites. Zanu PF also distributed rice in the constituency until a day before the election. This amounts to vote-buying or an attempt to influence voting preferences with an effect to make the electoral playing field uneven.”

Zesn called on the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to investigate the allegations.

“Zesn implores the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to investigate reports of vote-buying that were reported in the Glen View South by-election, as well as in previous by-elections that were held post 2018 harmonised elections,” the Zesn report read in part.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure had, by the time of going to print, not yet responded to questions sent to him early this week.

-Newsday

The family of the late national hero, former President Robert Mugabe, on Thursday dismissed as speculation claims circulating on social media that his remains will be flown to Singapore for safe keeping.

This also comes amid reports that the family is resisting moves to have Mugabe’s body kept at the One Commando mortuary until the day of burial.

The family has, however, refused to divulge the mortuary where the body will be kept besides the Blue Roof.

During an exclusive interview with Zim Morning Post, Leo Mugabe said the rumours which have taken social media by storm were false.

“There have been messages circulating on social media about the remains of the former leader being flown back to Singapore; they are false,” Leo said.

“We all woke up to these messages on WhatsApp, but they are just rumours and nothing of that nature is happening.”

“I am not sure about the One Commando thing. All we know is the body will be kept safely,” Leo said.

Leo, however, struggled to give a comprehensive explanation concerning where the body of the late leader would be kept while preparations of his burial were being finalised.

Since the body arrived in Zimbabwe, it has never been taken to a local funeral palour on the backdrop of reports that Mugabes body was embalmed to last for five years.

The 95 year old leader, who died on September 6, is yet to be buried as government has engaged a Chinese company, Shanghai Construction Group, to build a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre as his final resting place.

The burial is set for mid-October when construction of the mausoleum is expected to have been completed.

Mugabe ascended to power as Prime Minister when the country attained its independence from Britain in 1980, later becoming executive President of Zimbabwe in 1987.

In November 2017, he was ousted from power through a military intervention after internal squabbles in Zanu PF reached fever pitch. -Zim Morning Post

All is set for Zaka East by election today. Who do you think will emerge the winner?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 21, 2019

I shall be leaving for the United States of America where Zimbabwe will join other nations of the world at this year’s session of the UN General Assembly. For us, we have a particular interest in discussions around climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. Our country, alongside three others in the region, was this last March hit by a deadly cyclone which claimed many lives; which displaced many of our people and damaged a lot of our infrastructure.

We are still grappling with the after-effects of Cyclone Idai, as indeed we continue to reel from effects of a climate change-induced severe drought. Even though Zimbabwe’s contribution to emission of gases that damage our ozone layer is negligible, its exposure to climate change-related crises is horrendous. We thus have a direct interest in discussions and decisions which the nations of the world take on this very matter which blight our prospects and retard the attainment of SDGs.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would continue to use the UN platform to speak against the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe that have caused untold suffering to ordinary people.Alongside Africa and the progressive world, we will continue to use the UN platform to speak against illegal sanctions imposed against our country by the West.

As I leave for New York, Zimbabwe is heartened by the recent decision of Sadc, declaring 25th October as the Day of Action Against Illegal Sanctions. We in Zimbabwe, who are on the receiving end of these illegal sanctions, should speak the loudest and campaign the hardest against them.