In Aug 2019, these citizens were abducted and tortured in Bulawayo: Kambarami, Tinashe; Ndlovu, Masiza; Phiri, Goodsen; Verenga, Charles; Marumbei, Tadiwanashe; Vengenga, Wilbert; Sibanda, Pashor; Hlatshwayo, Ben; Batsirai, (wife to Byo Councilor) and Chaputika, Trust. Staged?
You, @MinisterSBMoyo & your lot said a “third force” did the abduction.
Now you say it was a “stage managed” self or fake abduction. If it was stage managed, whose interest is served by having Dr Peter Magombeyi released on the eve of Mnangagwa’s departure for New York to the UN?-Jonathan Moyo
Revealed the Chairman of the Public Accounts parliamentary committee, Tendai Biti: “On the 27th December 2017 one month after the coup, USD2.7billion suddenly came direct from the ministry of finance; where it went is not known and there is neither a voucher for it, there is not a single statement for it.
” 3 months later, in March 2018, USD3.2 billion was siphoned from the ministry of finance, there is no voucher, there is no invoice, neither is there any paper trail, there is nothing you can put a finger to show where it went.
Farai Dziva|Police have indicated that they will interview Dr Peter Magombeyi as soon as he is cleared by his medical team.
Dr Magombeyi was abducted last weekend and he was found in Nyabira last night.
“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.
He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” police said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|Police have claimed Dr Peter Magombeyi has not been arrested.
Dr Magombeyi was abducted last weekend and he was found in Nyabira last night.
“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.
He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” police said in a statement.
Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Republic Police says Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi is safe at a local hospital where he is admitted following five days in abduction.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the police said investigations into the abduction of Dr Magombeyi are currently underway.
“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.
“He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” reads the police statement.
A deputy head at Nyamandlovu Primary School was found guilty of committing a “serious breach of trust” when she brutally assaulted a Grade Seven Pupil several times on the head with a mopane switch as punishment for making noise.
Victoria Vambe (52) was arrested after the 12-year-old pupil’s father learnt of the horrendous crime and notified the police.
This was after the boy, who sustained bruises on the scalp and swollen eyes, also developed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault.
Vambe, who pleaded not guilty was, however, convicted and sentenced after a full trial by Bulawayo magistrate Adelaide Mbeure.
She, however, heaved a huge sigh of relief when the magistrate sentenced her to pay a fine of $200 (or two weeks in prison).
In addition she was also sentenced to four months imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not within that period commit a similar offence for which upon conviction she is sentenced to a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In coming up with the sentence the court took into consideration the fact that she was a first offender and also a breadwinner.
“It is the duty of the court to rehabilitate such first time offenders because giving such persons custodial sentences turns them into hardened criminals. The accused is a deputy head and has been working for 29 years in the ministry (Primary and Secondary Education) and a conviction will ruin her career,” reads the ruling in part.
Meanwhile, justice was done following investigations by this publication that there was evidence of plans, by the parties who were involved in handling the matter, to sweep it under the carpet despite the fact there was a medical report showing that the pupil suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack.
This was also after Matabeleland North deputy director responsible for primary education, Mrs Beatrice Manjere said investigations by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) revealed that the incident never happened.
The court proved that on 25 February this year and at around 10.30 am the boy and other pupils were at assembly point when Vambe came and accused them of making noise. It was established that one of the pupils singled out the boy saying he was the one who was making noise before the deputy head started assaulting him on the head and towards the forehead with a mopane switch.
The court heard that in the process Vambe was saying
“hamba uyeceba lapho oceba khona” meaning go and report where you usually report.
It is reported that Vambe repeatedly assaulted the boy who vainly pleaded for mercy saying he was not the one who was making noise.
After the brutal attack, the boy suffered a severe headache and later informed his parents who reported the matter to the police leading to Vambe’s arrest.
His parents then took him to Mpilo Hospital for treatment where the injuries were described as “very serious”.
During trial the boy said the deputy head assaulted him after a fellow pupil misrepresented to her that he was the one who was making noise.
He said the accused assaulted her several times on the head using a mopane switch saying he should go and report where he usually reports.
His evidence was also corroborated by that of his father who said on the day in question he was also at the school attending a meeting when he saw the deputy head assaulting the boy, unbeknown to him that it was his child who was being beaten.
“I was about 30-35 metres from where the assault took place. I didn’t know that it was my son who was being whipped at the assembly point. I only discovered it when he came back home from school and narrated the incident to me.
“This was not the first time that my child has been subjected to physical abuse at the school. He was once assaulted in 2016 and I reported the matter to the district education offices. From that time his life at the school has been hell as the teachers would not teach him,” the father charged.
However, in defence, Vambe refuted the allegations saying the boy’s father had a vendetta against her as she didn’t take up his complaint in 2016 leaving him to approach her superiors.B-Metro
A man from Bulawayo was allegedly drugged and left lying in a bushy area and woke up half naked while his manhood had semen stains as if he had sex.
The 38-year-old man is said to have boarded a Honda Fit pirate taxi that had two women from the city centre to Hillside at 8pm last week on Friday.
A source said while they were on their way one of the women reportedly gave the unsuspecting man a drink suspected to be laced with a drug.
The source said after taking the drink the man allegedly felt dizzy and moments later he fell unconscious.
He does not know what happened next. He woke up to find himself lying in a bushy area half naked.
“He woke up at 1am to realise
that his trousers and underwear were lowered to knee level.
As if that was not enough his manhood had semen stains and he was feeling tired as if he had
sex,”said a source close to investigations.
He reported the matter at Hillside police station.
Bulawayo provincial public relations officer Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele
confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we are
investigating a case where a man who boarded a Honda Fit
pirate taxi from the city centre to eastern suburbs found
himself lying half naked in a bushy area. The suspects are still at large.”
Assistant Inspector Msebele spoke about an increase in cases of robberies committed by Honda Fit crews and urged members of the public to be cautious: “We are continuously recording crimes involving unregistered pirate taxis. We are also recording assault and rape cases.
We want to urge members of the public to desist from boarding unregistered cars as some of them are involved in serious crimes.”B-Metro
Farai Dziva|Bulawayo giants Highlanders are hoping the new Dutch coach will revive the olden days.
The incoming new Highlanders coach has been in charge of an incredible 22 football clubs, according to Chronicle.
Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, 48, from the Netherlands, started his coaching career in 1990 as a 20 year old rookie following a career ending injury.
He has also had stints in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland as well as CAF headquarters, according to his Curriculum Vitae.
Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe confirmed this week that they have identified a coach to take the team to the rest of the season as they sought to stem a disastrous season that has seen them failing to move away from the relegation zone.
Farai Dziva|Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer belives the decision made by the club to let go of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sachez was the correct and neccesary one.
The two forwards left for Serie A side Inter Milan, the Chilean on loan and the Belgian permanently and the coach justfied the decision after United’s 1-0 win over Astana in the Europa League Group L match at Old Trafford last night.
“For me, it was the right decision,” Solskjaer replied when asked about the duo’s departure.
He also elaborated on the position of match winner Mason Greenwood, the 17-year-old starlet who took took advantage of Lukaku and Sanchez’s exit to have a shot in the United team.
“He’s not played a lot so far but he’ll get his minutes and he’ll grow and develop.” Solskjaer said.
Farai Dziva|
The Warriors camp has been affected by injuries.
In addition some key players are likely to miss the CHAN Qualifier against Lesotho on Sunday after failing to secure passports.
Striker Evans Katema dislocated his elbow on Thursday during a morning training session.
He is still being assessed by the medical team but is likely to miss the encounter.
Yadah forward Leeroy Mavhunga also sat out during the session after picking up an ankle knock in his side’s match against Bulawayo Chiefs on Wednesday.
Joel Ngodzo and William Manondo could also miss the Sunday’s qualifier as they were by yesterday still battling to secure passports, according to NewsDay.
Ngodzo failed to feature in the previous round as his passport had expired.
The match will be played at National Sports Stadium in Harare.
Kuda Tagwirei of Sakunda Holdings with Emmerson Mnangagwa
By Business Reporter| The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has instructed every bank in the country to freeze all accounts belonging to Sakunda, Access Finance, Spartan security and Croco Motors and related entities.
The development comes after the Emmerson Mnangagwa linked companies were exposed by the parliament portfolio for Public Accounts for allegedly being involved in massive looting of billions of dollars in the aftermath of the November 2017 coup.
Sakunda is part of the military Command Element’s parallel banking system which has swindled billions since the Robert Mugabe days.
Within 5 months of the November coup, over USD 5,9 billion was looted from the central bank without a paper trail.
Spartan security’s Chief Secretary is one of Mnangagwa’s sons, David.
The timing of the freezing syncs well with the upcoming United Nations general conference in New York Emmerson Mnangagwa is flying to.
A comment from the finance ministry and the reserve bank of Zimbabwe was fruitless at the time of writing.
Former Finance Minister and current chairman of the portfolio on the Public Accounts Parliamentary Committee, Tendai Biti made further revelations at a rally in Glen View last month.
He was speaking while curtain-raising for his boss, Nelson Chamisa. Said Biti, “Cde President these people steal.
“I sit in the Parliamentary portfolio for public accounts. I have never seen this kind of theft. Mnangagwa and his people there is somewhere where they actually go and beer is brewed for them, and they are told to go and steal lions. I have never seen this kind of theft.
“On the 27th December 2017 one month after the coup, USD2.7billion suddenly came direct from the ministry of finance; where it went is not known and there is neither a voucher for it, there is not a single statement for it.
” 3 months later, in March 2018, 3.2 billion dollars was siphoned from the ministry of finance, there is no voucher, there is no invoice, neither is there any paper trail, there is nothing you can put a finger to show where it went.
“The money has disappeared.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW(story continues below)…
“Cde President, we grew up being taught there is a thief called Mobutu Seseseko. ZANU PF has redefined Mobutu Seseism; if Mobutu was a thief, he was just a pastor. The Bishop, the ArchAngel is this one you call Mnangagwa here. These people steal.
“So Cde President, we have a duty to lead,” concluded Biti.
Meanwhile, banks have been ordered not to process any withdrawals although deposits and other transactions are allowed. The central bank indicated that the companies in question were under investigation. See full print:
Farai Dziva|A social media analyst has described the communist tactics being employed by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to silence perceived political foes as redundant.
Read Blessing Simpson Madzima’s argument below:
The communist tactics of this government are far behind and not in alignment with modern technology.
That can easily explain why we will not get anywhere with this Junta. Its agenda has failed dismally.
The propaganda by Mutodi, Togarepi and SB Moyo has failed as well. Instead all those strategies exposed the government and its surrogates.
The demonstrations and the pick it was gathering disturbed the Junta and was left with no option but to release the doctor.
My issue to all of us Zimbabweans is that unity is powerful and demonstrations are an inevitable tool to bring change. It is how we all come together and action collectively.
Now let’s not miss this opportunity, we need to keep the pressure and use our right to demonstrate country wide. People’s Power is our great hope and it will work.
Farai Dziva| Battle lines have been drawn in Zaka East Constituency as perennial political foes Zanu PF and MDC fight for supremacy.
Zanu PF is represented by Clemence Chiduwa while Advocate Derrick Charamba is the MDC candidate in the by-election scheduled for tomorrow.
” The MDC Zaka East aspiring Member of Parliament, Derrick Charamba, senators, vice national chairlady, Masvingo Provincial Administrator Peter Chigaba, National youth organiser councillor Kurau one, Masvingo Provincial youth, main and women wing members, Zaka East branch and district members had door to door campaigns in all wards.
Zanu PF has been using its traditional ways of rigging namely: giving maize and other food hand-outs, clothes, tearing MDC campaign posters, and intimidation.
More so, Zanu PF has invested a lot in the Zaka East By-election, it gave its candidate a brand new car,” said an observer.
Kurauone Mutimii|
To try and persuade all Zimbabweans to fully appreciate or objectively acknowledge the legacy of Cde RG Mugabe at this moment, probably in the same way Zambians can now appreciate the legacy of Cde Kenneth Kaunda might be too much to ask from them.
Zimbabweans are quite disoriented by anger oozing out from many years of suffering and they are yet to see a better political environment in which each person shall sit under his olive or fig tree and narrates the story of their struggle for survival to his or her offsprings.
It was just recent that his heavy political shadow was hovering above us and the horrible political shrieking Voices that went along with that shadow are echoing audios of deep pain in their lives.
Those are the visions and voices of terror that are strongly challenging our mental objectivity and capacity to fully comprehend the impact of the political legacy of this great man.
Zimbabweans will be forever humbly grateful that the world of Africa is helping them to see with clarity the depth of his contribution to the Continent and the International Community who also offer another perspective about his contribution.
They have to be patient with the Zimbabweans because many boiling points have to assuage before they start putting together pieces of his legacy and according each piece its deserved appreciation.
The idea of not thinking about him after he was elbowed out into retirement was well settling amongst ourselves because there are no moments of him we can cherish without the thoughts of haunting blood shadows and poverty scotched terrains of life.
That Brave Hero who could dare slap the superpowers of this world with uncomfortable truth was more than equally a monstrous bully who would cow us his people into our crevices to such an extent that we learnt firsthand that education, rights, freedom, human life or dignity were nothing to him and international community could not do anything to rescue us.
RG Mugabe is gone but not only his legacy shall be staying around us but also the systems that were established under his supervision.
We are not celebrating his ouster or his eventual demise but we are waiting for that time yet to come, when we will actually celebrate his legacy together with the other champions of independent Africa.
As of now Africa may chronicle his legacy while we nurse and balm our deep wounds so that with the little strength from our God, we can be able to keep walking towards that land where our dreams envision.
He took us into the woods where thorns are still pricking our feet, where the sun is blasting our heads, where sharp stones are slicing and slitting our feet and where the sudden torrents are sweeping the soil under our feet but we will walk, no matter how slow we will move, fully aware that we are still far from getting out of the woods and we may probably have to do it all alone.
Farai Dziva| The MDC Youth Assembly has said life is now hell on earth under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
See below the MDC Youth Assembly statement :
The MDC Youth Assembly is gravely concerned about the economic free fall that is threatening to wipe out the entire generation with hunger and starvation under the watch of a careless, corrupt and extravagant military regime.
The economy is on a free fall and downward spiral with the prices of basic commodities on a diurnal free rise and upward spiral.
Life for ordinary citizens has become hell on earth with nail biting and scourging poverty on display everywhere.
Images of urban dwellers queueing for dirty and unsafe drinking water at waterholes, dark streets and homes at night and black suit and smokes from firewood and plastics used for cooking best summarizes the new levels of the new lows facing our people.
These sorry and gory images of our suffering people clearly paints and depicts a deliberate ZANU PF agenda to ruralize all urban areas as a punishment for being strongholds for MDC and dissenting voices.
At the centre of all these problems is a cabal of heartless men and women who continue to force themselves on people through the bullet and the gun, abductions and illegal political arrests hiding under the guise of a ‘New Dispensation’.
Virtually there is an abundance of poverty of leadership from Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military administration and the deleterious effects of such is a nation in poverty and turmoil amidst plenty.
Yes as MDC we have spoken, teachers have spoken, lawyers too have spoken and more recent doctors have spoken too!
It is now clear that this is an uncompromising and deaf regime and the only language that underlines their thinking is force as evidenced by brutal crushing of demonstrations, forced disappearances and political arrests.
As an Assembly of young social democrats we do not subscribe to the notion of force and violence, but like any other revolutionaries before us we are not going to hide under the cocoons on ‘non-violence’ narrative while our rights are subverted.
We are also alive and conscious to the fact that the struggle for democracy has also morphed into a struggle for survival.
Such a struggle abhors purists as it does not respect ideological standing but the people’s call to survive first!
As an Assembly, we call for a convergence of all citizens to escalate the first against this military dictatorship which is clearly the author of our poverty and problems.
MDC Youth Assembly notes with concern and disgust at the current economic free fall that is threatening to wipe out the entire generation with hunger and starvation under the watch of a careless, corrupt and extravagant military regime.
The economy is on a free fall and downward spiral with the prices of basic commodities on a diurnal free rise and upward spiral.
Life for ordinary citizens has become hell on earth with nail biting and scourging poverty on display everywhere.
Images of urban dwellers queueing for dirty and unsafe drinking water at waterholes, dark streets and homes at night and black suit and smokes from firewood and plastics used for cooking best summarizes the new levels of the new lows facing our people.
These sorry and gory images of our suffering people clearly paints and depicts a deliberate ZANU PF agenda to ruralize all urban areas as a punishment for being strongholds for MDC and dissenting voices.
At the centre of all these problems is a cabal of heartless men and women who continue to force themselves on people through the bullet and the gun, abductions and illegal political arrests hiding under the guise of a ‘New Dispensation’.
Virtually there is an abundance of poverty of leadership from Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military administration and the deleterious effects of such is a nation in poverty and turmoil amidst plenty.
Yes as MDC we have spoken, teachers have spoken, lawyers too have spoken and more recent doctors have spoken too!
It is now clear that this is an uncompromising and deaf regime and the only language that underlines their thinking is force as evidenced by brutal crushing of demonstrations, forced disappearances and political arrests.
As an Assembly of young social democrats we do not subscribe to the notion of force and violence, but like any other revolutionaries before us we are not going to hide under the cocoons on ‘non-violence’ narrative while our rights are subverted.
We are also alive and conscious to the fact that the struggle for democracy has also morphed into a struggle for survival.
Such a struggle abhors purists as it does not respect ideological standing but the people’s call to survive first!
As an Assembly, we call for a convergence of all citizens to escalate the first against this military dictatorship which is clearly the author of our poverty and problems.
Farai Dziva|David Coltart has said the Zanu PF government was forced to release the Acting President of the Hospital Doctors Association, Dr Peter Magombeyi due to relentless pressure.
Said Coltart: “Dr Peter Magombeyi was finally released at Harare Central police station at 12.30am and reunited with his family, colleagues and legal team.
I am grateful to God that he is free and safe. Amhlophe to his fellow doctors, legal team, the general public and the international community for the massive pressure placed on the regime to release him.
I have no doubt that once he has received medical attention his legal team will find out what happened to him and advise us all.
Happy Friday everyone – this is a cause for celebration.”
As ZHDA we are pleased to announce that our Acting President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi has been found by the police along Chinhoyi Road. We will update on the issue when we have gathered accurate information.
Members are being urged to take this opportunity to recover and re-energise from what has been a very eventful week. Today let us celebrate the safe return of our brother and also focus on the graduation ceremony at UZ main pitch.
Let us also allow his family to reconnect with him first and also pave way for the responsible authorities to carry out their full investigations.
All those willing to celebrate can meet in solidarity at Parirenytwa Doctors Bar. And once again as ZHDA we would like to congratulate all those graduating today.
By A Correspondent- In a shocking move, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s has frozen all the accounts belonging Sakunda, Access Finance, Spartan Security, Croco Motors and other related companies.
RBZ freeze
This is particularly surprising as the owner of Sakunda, Kuda Tagwirei is a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Tagwirei who is informally called ‘Queen B’ is currently serving as one of the members of President Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC).
RBZ freeze
The RBZ’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) pounced on the accounts saying that it was analyzing the activities of the companies.
By A Correspondent- The picture of a Rusape dealer kissing and cuddling a maried woman broke an eight-year-old marriage.
Simbarashe Mupoperi has been sleeping with Tawanda Mutungwe’s wife, Ivene Dube. Mupoperi and Mutungwe are friends.
Mutungwe was scrolling through his wife’s phone picture gallery when he saw the pictures. Ivene confirmed that she dating the dealer and Mutungwe took her back to her parents.
“I got my wife’s phone and perused through her picture gallery, and was shocked to see her pictures kissing, cuddling and caressing Mupoperi. I confronted and dragged Mupoperi to Ivene’s father and then surrendered her back to her parents in his presence.
I told Ivene’s father that Mupoperi was his new son-in-law.
“Mupoperi rents a shop from my brother at Vengere market and that is where I suspect he got connected to my wife. Mupoperi would pounce on my wife when I am away in Tanzania to collect his cars. They would have se_x in lodges dotted around the town,” said Mutungwe.
“Yes it is me and her (Ivene) in those pictures. The pictures were not taken in a lodge but at a family function. She is my wife’s relative. Go ahead and write whatever you want, you are free. Pressure zero, zero pressure,” Mupoperi said.
Citizens here have questioned how and why the state media’s Herald and the VOA obtained immediate access to the missing Hospital Doctors Association president, Peter Magombeyi… interrogated him leading to him being arrested and questioned by the police.
The manner of questioning or interrogating appeared strongly to trap him while he was in this state of being unwell, after going missing for over 5 days.
None of these two media houses pursued or bothered to investigate evidence of clearly written threats to abduct Dr Magombeyi contained in an Aug 28 SMS message, something that could easily be done by a High School student within minutes.
It is without question that the doctor is a victim of torture beginning with the threat that he received 3 weeks ago via SMS on his cellphone.
No sane journalist repeatedly interrogates such a person for answers concerning his health (same question over and over) after going missing for over the 5 days.
For goodness’ sake, the man even narrates saying he was electrocuted. This means interviewing such a person is unethical and even illegal until after they have been clinically cleared.”
It is because of those two interviews that police have since arrested Dr Magombeyi. There is clear video recorded evidence that VOA Zimbabwe is working for Mnangagwa. We even have official VOA correspondence proving this. Another piece of evidence is Marvelous Nyahuye Mhlanga announcing she is now working for Mnangagwa to do Social Engineeering work for him. Thursday’s video programming work comes in perfect timing with the UN summit in what appears to assist ED so he is not challenged on Dr Magombeyi’s abduction once in the US at the weekend.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Exactly a year ago, VOA journo Marvelous Mhlanga signed up to work for @edmnangagwa to do social engineering work, and create PR packages:today she interrogates a distraught,disturbed, and terrified victim of torture,Dr @DMagombeyi leading to his arrest last night @MakomboreroHpic.twitter.com/YYLlWmmslz
By A Correspondent- Government, through the Department of Civil Protection, has ordered the Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator’s office to prepare a detailed report following revelations that food items donated to Cyclone Idai victims were rotting in warehouses in Chimanimani East.
The development follows a report highlighting how the food donations had passed their consumption date while locked up at Charter Hall and Nyahode District Union warehouses.
The Department of Civil Protection falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
“We are waiting for a fully detailed report from the district and the administrator (Mr Edgars Seenza) will also give us more information,” said Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo.
“We have decentralised structures up to the provincial and district level. The provincial administrator must give us the inside story and we are waiting for a detailed report from Manicaland.”
The Herald is reliably informed that some foodstuffs have either decayed or expired while locked up in the warehouses.
“Among the food items that have expired while in the warehouses awaiting distribution are the following: 30 tonnes of mealie meal, 1 850kg of corn soya blend, 1 150kg of plain flour, 500×6 packets sugar beans and 1 000kg of Maheu Instant,” a source told The Herald.
The 30 tonnes of mealie meal expired on September 7.
The 1 150kg of plain flour expired on March 27, while the Maheu Instant donations passed consumption date on August 18.
The Herald news crew visited the warehouses on Tuesday, but could not gain access as they were locked.
The keys to the warehouses are reportedly kept in the Chimanimani District Development Coordinator’s office.
On Wednesday, Mr Seenza confirmed receiving reports suggesting food donations were rotting in the warehouse, but referred questions the District Coordinator Mr John Misi, who was not reachable for a comment.
Chimanimani East legislator Cde Joshua Sacco also confirmed perishables had rotten while some foodstuffs had expired.
DR MAGOMBEYI UPDATE: Police efforts to debrief Dr Magombeyi and advance investigations are not making a headway so far as he prefers not to speak to the Authorities.
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) September 20, 2019
By A Correspondent- A deputy head at Nyamandlovu Primary School was found guilty of committing a “serious breach of trust” when she brutally assaulted a Grade Seven Pupil several times on the head with a mopane switch as punishment for making noise.
Victoria Vambe (52) was arrested after the 12-year-old pupil’s father learnt of the horrendous crime and notified the police.
This was after the boy, who sustained bruises on the scalp and swollen eyes, also developed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault.
Vambe, who pleaded not guilty was, however, convicted and sentenced after a full trial by Bulawayo magistrate Adelaide Mbeure. She, however, heaved a huge sigh of relief when the magistrate sentenced her to pay a fine of $200 (or two weeks in prison).
In addition she was also sentenced to four months imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not within that period commit a similar offence for which upon conviction she is sentenced to a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine. In coming up with the sentence the court took into consideration the fact that she was a first offender and also a breadwinner.
“It is the duty of the court to rehabilitate such first time offenders because giving such persons custodial sentences turns them into hardened criminals. The accused is a deputy head and has been working for 29 years in the ministry (Primary and Secondary Education) and a conviction will ruin her career,” reads the ruling in part.
Meanwhile, justice was done following investigations by this publication that there was evidence of plans, by the parties who were involved in handling the matter, to sweep it under the carpet despite the fact there was a medical report showing that the pupil suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack.
This was also after Matabeleland North deputy director responsible for primary education, Mrs Beatrice Manjere said investigations by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) revealed that the incident never happened.
The court proved that on 25 February this year and at around 10.30 am the boy and other pupils were at assembly point when Vambe came and accused them of making noise. It was established that one of the pupils singled out the boy saying he was the one who was making noise before the deputy head started assaulting him on the head and towards the forehead with a mopane switch.
The court heard that in the process Vambe was saying “hamba uyeceba lapho oceba khona” meaning go and report where you usually report.
It is reported that Vambe repeatedly assaulted the boy who vainly pleaded for mercy saying he was not the one who was making noise.
After the brutal attack, the boy suffered a severe headache and later informed his parents who reported the matter to the police leading to Vambe’s arrest.
His parents then took him to Mpilo Hospital for treatment where the injuries were described as “very serious”.
During trial the boy said the deputy head assaulted him after a fellow pupil misrepresented to her that he was the one who was making noise.
He said the accused assaulted her several times on the head using a mopane switch saying he should go and report where he usually reports.
His evidence was also corroborated by that of his father who said on the day in question he was also at the school attending a meeting when he saw the deputy head assaulting the boy, unbeknown to him that it was his child who was being beaten.
“I was about 30-35 metres from where the assault took place. I didn’t know that it was my son who was being whipped at the assembly point. I only discovered it when he came back home from school and narrated the incident to me.
“This was not the first time that my child has been subjected to physical abuse at the school. He was once assaulted in 2016 and I reported the matter to the district education offices. From that time his life at the school has been hell as the teachers would not teach him,” the father charged.
However, in defence, Vambe refuted the allegations saying the boy’s father had a vendetta against her as she didn’t take up his complaint in 2016 leaving him to approach her superiors.
By A Correspondent- A local bar waitress in Matsheumhlope, Siphathisiwe Moyo (30) cracked the court open last Friday when she told the court that it was her right to smash her boyfriend’s car bonnet after she found him in the company of another woman at the Cubana Club.
Pleading guilty before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Munjanja for smashing Nqabeni Ncube’s (44) car, Moyo had a few lines to justify her actions.
“It was my right to smash his car bonnet, as far as I am concerned I was his girlfriend and seeing him with another girl wasn’t right and it made me jealous,” said Moyo.
That was at least before she found out in court that her boyfriend had already dumped her before the night of the incident.
“I didn’t know I was now an ex. We had a misunderstanding on the previous Saturday after he came to visit and didn’t find me home. I didn’t know that meant the end of our relationship,” she explained.
According to documents filed in court, Moyo arrived at the Cubana Club at around 11pm where she spotted Ncube with another lady whom she chose to ignore and rather conversed with other club patrons.
Ncube then stood up and went to relieve himself in the loo. To his surprise, Moyo followed him to the gents where she swore at him “Uyangijwayela.”
However, Ncube ignored her and went back to his company in the bar.
His new girlfriend who also felt the urge to pee went to the loo accompanied by Ncube’s brother hoping to keep her safe from Moyo who was already causing a stir in the club.
However, that didn’t stop Moyo from assaulting the two who did not retaliate after she smashed them with ice that she had put inside a glass.
Perhaps feeling like justice was not served and her right violated, the infuriated Moyo made her way to the parking lot where she found an empty bottle and used it to smash Ncube’s Audi that was parked there.
Ncube who witnessed the incident happening as he had made his way to sleep in his car quickly took a taxi and went to report Moyo at the Bulawayo Central Police Station leading to Moyo’s arrest.
By A Correspondent- A self-proclaimed prophet based in Bulawayo’s Northend suburb that claims to be the late popular Chipinge n’anga Sekuru Ndunge’s son has been jailed for 24 months for selling two cellphones which belonged to his clients.
Isaac Makuyana Ndunge (37), reportedly sold two cellphones which belonged to his clients — Simbisai Zimbodza (35) and Slyvia Njanji (32).
At the court set down before his trial, Ndunge bragged to the prosecutors saying he possessed supernatural powers and as such he would never be thrown behind bars and threatened to unleash lightning on the prosecutor.
However, when he stepped into the dock for trial before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela facing theft charges somehow fear took its toll.
When he was asked on his plea to the charge he did not waste the court’s time. He pleaded guilty.
He took to the stand and said: “Your worship, these two ladies (Zimbodza and Njanji) came to my shrine seeking to have their marital and financial woes solved. I advised them to pay US$15. But they paid $3 and promised to pay the balance after two days.”
Ndunge advised the two ladies to leave their cellphones behind.
“I asked them to leave their cellphones as collateral and assured them that they will find the cellphones under their pillows in their respective bedrooms after paying the balance. Unfortunately the cellphones were stolen since a number of people visit my shrine,” he said.
Ndunge went on to say he gave them a concoction to drink so as to cast out evil spirits that were destroying their marriages.
Zimbodza took to the stand: “We were made to drink a concoction after paying US$3 and he told us to pay a balance of US$12 each after two days. We later fell unconscious and recovered later. He then asked us to leave our cellphones saying we would find them under our pillows after paying the balance. After two days we paid the balance and returned with the belief that we would find our cellphones under the pillows but we could not find them.
“We confronted him (Ndunge) but shockingly he told us that our cellphones were stolen since a number of people visit his shrine.”
Njanji told the court that they made a police report leading to the arrest of Ndunge.
Due to overwhelming evidence the magistrate found Ndunge guilty.
In mitigation he said he was the sole breadwinner and married to three wives who stay in Chipinge.
“Your worship, I beg for your leniency. I’m the sole breadwinner. I’m married to three wives and I have 12 children, seven of them are attending primary school,” he begged.
The magistrate sentenced him to 24 months behind bars. Six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years, another three months were suspended on condition that he restitutes Njanji $530 on or before 30 September.
By A Correspondent- There was drama in Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb on Saturday, last week when a man ran amok and mercilessly bashed his estranged wife and her alleged boyfriend after he caught them red-handed getting cosy in their house.
This was after the man, Never Sabumba (37), who is employed in Gwanda received a tip off from his neighbours that his estranged wife Florence Chivhima had invited her boyfriend Ronald Chiriga (38) into their house.
It is reported that when the enraged Sabumba busted the two alleged lovebirds — Chivhima and Chiriga, he assaulted them with fists all over their bodies before he struck them with stones.
As if that was not enough, he went on to cause a scene when he violently damaged a windscreen, view mirrors and deflated tyres of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter belonging to Chiriga.
In a desperate bid to “fix” Chivhima, the daring Sabumba also destroyed some of the household property including a gas pipe, dispenser clip, home theatre and Ecolux torch.
The melodramatic incident which left Emakhandeni residents shocked was heard at the Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court where Sabumba was being charged with assault, physical abuse and malicious damage to property before magistrate Urgent Vundla.
He pleaded not guilty to the three counts. In his defence he stated that he was angered after he found his “wife” with a boyfriend in their house.
“Florence is still my wife and we have four children together. I committed the offence after I received a tip-off from my neighbours that she had brought a boyfriend to our house. Upon arrival I became angry when I found her with Chiriga who I had always suspected of disturbing my marriage and that’s why I bashed them and destroyed property,” thundered Sabumba.
This was after Chivhima had indicated to the court that the “couple” was no longer together and that they separated two years ago.
“She indicated to the court that we separated two years ago but her parents who are here in court still regard me as their son-in-law and they can be asked if it’s not true that I am still married to their daughter. Her parents also once reprimanded her over her infidelity,” a livid Sabumba said.
Chivhima, who begged the court to punish Sabumba for severely assaulting her and her alleged lover, insisted that she separated with Sabumba two years ago.
“It is not true that we are still together. We separated two years ago and he should be punished for assaulting me,” she tersely said.
Chiriga also testified against Sabumba saying he sustained “serious” injuries as a result of his brutal assault.
“He punched me after he found me with Florence (Chivhima). We both bled profusely after the attack,” said Chiriga.
“He struck me once with a stone on the head and I fell down. He tried to hit me for the second time but I defended myself. He also tried to stab me with a knife and fortunately he missed his target,” he said.
Sabumba is yet to know his fate after the matter was postponed to 24 September for continuation of trial.
Power utility ZESA Holdings yesterday revealed that it had incurred exchange losses of up to $4 billion since February, when the central bank liberalised the exchange rate.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ditched the discredited 1:1 official peg with the United States dollar on February 20, and merged the bond notes and electronic dollars into a transitional RTGS dollar currency.
But the local currency has continued to weaken on the interbank market, and was yesterday trading at US$1: $14,42.
On the thriving black market, it was trading US$1:$20.
“In an environment where we have instability in terms of the exchange rate, you can imagine what is happening to Zesa. We have made a proposal for a review of tariffs and our tariffs should have an adjustment formula that will kick in whenever we have fiscal variables like the exchange rate,” acting managing director Milton Munodawafa told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.
“Each time there is movement, we experience exchange losses and right now, we have exchange losses amounting to $4 billion, so the figures that I expect to see at the end of this financial year are horrendous. We just have to manage the issue through the tariff adjustment formula that I have just discussed and we intend to review the tariffs after every quarter (three months).”
He said they were also encountering exchange loses in terms of the money they are owed by their customers which people are now paying back in the local currency.
“People who owed Zesa when the exchange rate was 1:1 are paying using the Zim dollar. We were owed US$1,2 billion by our customers when the exchange rate was introduced,” Munodawafa said.
“I did some calculations about two months ago and we had lost value amounting to US$900 million and I think in terms of loss it amounts to billions of dollars because where we had US$1,2 billion, we now have ZWL$1,2 billion. Even if we are to collect that ZWL$1,2 billion it will not assist us in a big way.”
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has urged political parties to invest in campaign processes to ensure a large voter turnout during polling elections.
Zesn said this in its latest report, noting a drop in voter turnout compared to the 2018 elections during the recently held by-elections in Glen View South and Mangwe constituencies won by the MDC and Zanu PF, respectively.
A Zesn analysis of the voter turnout shows that in Glen View South, the MDC votes decreased by 6 468 compared to 9 942 votes garnered by the opposition party during the 2018 harmonised polls.
In Mangwe, Zanu PF retained the national assembly seat, having garnered 4 553 votes, which is 3 191 less compared to the votes received in 2018.
“The drop in figures of the votes cast during the Glen View South and Mangwe National Assembly by-elections for both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance are a clear indication of voter apathy associated with by-elections,” the Zesn said in its analysis.
“Political parties should improve the quality of their campaign efforts to support improvement in the turnout of voters during the by-elections,” the independent election watchdog noted in its recommendations, adding a voter registration blitz by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is also necessary.
The organisation also deployed long-term observers (LTOs) prior to the elections to track electoral and political developments that occurred during the campaign season for the Glen View South and Mangwe constituencies.
“Zec should conduct periodic voter registration blitz and avail voter registration centres at the sub district level to facilitate registration by persons that were unable to register during previous blitz and those who have turned 18,” Zesn said.
Zec is currently registering voters in Bulawayo. However, the process has been marred by a poor turnout, the elections body has reported.
Among some of the recommendations by Zesn is for political parties to also invest in the training of polling agents and facilitate an inclusive process in the nomination of candidates.
“Zesn urges political parties to create structures, mechanisms and policies that facilitate the nomination of a more diverse range of candidates during the internal party primaries. This will make the process more inclusive,” the election watchdog body said.
“Political parties should invest in the recruitment, training and deployment of their party agents to allow parties to comment authoritatively on Election Day processes.”
By A Correspondent- A dossier revealing corruption allegations at George Stark High School in Mbare, Harare, has been availed to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
The allegations, dating back to 2016, under Zacc reference number 91/0819, allege that some staff members were getting more than double their fuel allocations on top of questionable travel and subsistence allowances.
One staff member allegedly claimed $3 000 for a trip to Swaziland to attend a sporting competition which the school was not involved in.
Zacc spokesperson John Makamure confirmed that the anti-graft body was investigating the matter.
“On record, I can confirm to you that we have received the case and at the moment, it is being investigated,” he said.
According to the report, the school was also prejudiced of cement and bond paper, with some students who sat for their examinations last year allegedly not issued with their results for failure to contribute cement and bond paper.
The school head, Tafara Zhou, hung up his phone when asked to comment on the allegations and by the time of going to print last night, had not yet responded to questions sent to him.-Newsday
State Media|THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will today and tomorrow shut down water supplies citywide before reintroducing a 48-hour water shedding schedule on Monday.
Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, yesterday said the drastic action was taken mainly due to Zesa power cuts and a burst on a major supply pipe. She, however, said industry, the central business district and mines will be exempted from shedding.
The local authority warned that residents in high lying areas could be affected beyond the scheduled 48-hour period.
In July, BCC cut supplies across the city to stabilise water levels at reservoirs while conducting major rehabilitation works under the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP).
In a statement yesterday, Mrs Zhou said council will shut down supplies across the city today before reopening taps on Sunday as it stabilises its water reservoirs.
“Residents are advised that water supply will be cut off on Friday, the 20th September 2019 and Saturday the 21st September 2019 citywide and reopened on Sunday, 22nd of September 2019. Thereafter, we would like to advise residents that the 48-hour water shedding will then resume as per the attached programme with effect from Monday, the 23rd of September 2019,” said Mrs Zhou.
She said the water shedding programme is subject to change if the raw water reservoir level improves or deteriorates beyond the critical level.
“All the areas that are on high ground and are likely to be affected for more than 48hrs will have water supply by bowsers. Residents are urged to conserve water until further notice,” she said.
Mrs Zhou said low water levels at reservoirs are a result of power cuts and a major pipe burst.
She said the situation was worsened by water consumption levels that have increased above council’s daily pumping average.
“The public is being advised that the City of Bulawayo is currently experiencing challenges with both raw and clear water pumping to the Criterion Raw Water, Tuli Clear Water and Magwegwe Reservoirs. Tuli and Criterion Reservoirs have been affected by reduced power load by Zesa which affected pumping for the past two weeks at Ncema Water Treatment works, Ncema Pump stations and Fernhill Booster Station.
“The supply of water was also affected by a major leak on the Nyamandlovu pipeline which also feeds into Magwegwe Reservoir,” she said.
“In light of the outlined challenges and also against the background of the growing average daily consumption of 150ML/ day to 154ML/day versus production of 140ML/day to 145ML/day, which the city has been experiencing since the lifting of water shedding in July, the city’s supply and distribution reservoirs have suffered rapid depletion leading to this emergency shedding so as to stabilise and raise them to satisfactory levels.”
Mrs Zhou said Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West, West Somerton, Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda, Maplanka, Barbourfields, Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja, Makokoba, Hillside South, South Riding, Fourwinds, Hillside, Northend, Tegela, Romney Park, Paddonhurst suburbs will affected by the water shedding on Monday to Wednesday.
Others suburbs under the same regime are Sunnyside, Morningside, Rowena, Montrose, Southwold, Greenhill, Barham Green, Kenilworth, Ilanda, Burnside and Mbalabala Barracks as well as Mzinyathini Irrigation Scheme.
She said from Tuesday to Thursday Esigodini, Imbizo Barracks, Fortunes Gate, Selborne Park, Matsheumhlophe, Parklands, Khumalo, Queenspark, Suburbs, Mahatshula, Woodville, Kingsdale suburbs will be affected by the water shedding exercise while supplies will be cut off for Harrisvale, Jungle, Trenance, Richmond, Sauerstown and Neqi between Wednesday and Friday.
Mrs Zhou said Emganwini, Pumula, Nketa 9, Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Mpopoma, Lobengula, Mabutweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba, Matshobane will also have water shedding from Wednesday to Friday.
All Africa.com|After what seemed an eternity for villagers who gathered at his rural homestead in Zvimba since his demise on September 6, Robert Mugabe’s body was on Monday brought back to where his life’s journey began 95 years ago.
Of course, throughout those years, former president Mugabe – except for the time he spent fighting for Zimbabwe’s liberation, mainly from 1960 to 1980 — never lost touch with the Savanna grasslands where he was born and raised.
Each time he got the chance, he would return to his village, either to have some quiet time away from the rigours of high office, or to attend mass at the nearby Kutama Catholic Mission, where he was a parishioner.
Remarkably for a man who played a central role in the nation’s politics for such a long time, Mugabe’s real family roots have remained something of a mystery or murky.
The story of his formative years, at least as it is known publicly, is patchy and unreliable, barely enough to fill a single page.
It begins in his mother’s hut which, having been preserved, still stands to this day in rural Zvimba, some 95km north-west of Harare where the family led a dreadfully poor life.
It ended at Kutama Mission High School, a stone’s throw away from the trendy rural homestead he has left behind but, beyond that, Mugabe hardly said anything else about his family, choosing to focus on the liberation struggle instead.
The only significant time he ever spoke about his father was when he narrated how he abandoned the family in the 1930s to settle in Bulawayo. This was at the funeral of his younger sister, Bridget, in 2014.
Mugabe told mourners at the time that his father abandoned the family following the death of his elder brother Michael — the second within a short time — believing he would never have peace if he stayed at the “hounded” land of his forebears.
The father, Mugabe said then, married a MaTshuma and began a new life in Bulawayo, never returning home until only when he was on his death bed.
The lack of information about Mugabe’s roots has given rise to many diverse theories as people sought answers which he was never prepared to give.
One such theory is that his father was a Malawian immigrant who came to Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, in search of employment like many job seekers in that epoch.
The other theory was that he was using his mother Bona’s family name, given that she had her roots in Masvingo province where the name Mugabe is prominent.
But then again, his mother was from the Gumbo clan, although she had also been liked with Sudan.
And until his death in Singapore seven days ago, very few people knew who really Mugabe — known during his days as a teacher in Matabeleland as “Teacher Ngwenya” — was.
This week, the Zimbabwe Independent visited Zvimba to trace his roots. It emerged from conversations with the inner circle of his family and clan that Mugabe actually led a full-blooded young life — which he probably wanted forever concealed.
The fascinating story of Mugabe’s lineage was separately substantiated by six men closest to him in his family, interviewed by the Independent.
This is the first time anyone from the family has ever spoken publicly about the origins of a man who emerged from extreme poverty and rural obscurity to become a leading politician on the Zimbabwean, regional and global stage.
Conversations with Mugabe’s relatives revealed a fascinating story that has never been told before — particularly the childhood years characterised by dejection and disappointment.
From the interviews, it emerged that what connected Mugabe to the land he so loved was not just its panoramic beauty, but deep-seated family roots and a strong sense of belonging.
The Independent tracked down Mugabe’s half-brother, Augustine Chirenda, an 86-year-old man with several gaps in his teeth who walks with great difficulty yet exhibiting a sense of Mugabe-esque wit which might persuade a stranger that the easy charm runs in the blood.
“We have heard people claiming that he was of Malawian origin. That is shocking. He was my brother and he was a true Gushungo,” declared the younger brother, Chirenda, forcing a smile which revealed the extent of his tooth loss.
According to Chirenda, Mugabe is a direct descendent of the founder of the Zvimba chieftaincy.
His great, great grandfather settled in the then virgin lands in the mid-19th Century after fleeing ethnic strife in the Chishawasha area.
Oral tradition has it that Mugabe’s ancestor and his family intended to travel further, but they ended up settling in the area by default after the patriarch developed swollen feet and declared he was unable to proceed further.
“He was thus nicknamed Zvimba, owing to the swollen feet problem which brought the migration to a premature end,” Chirenda, who turned out to be a brilliant storyteller like his departed brother, explained.
Zvimba then established his chieftainship in the area, which he subdivided among his three sons according to seniority, namely Chambara, Beperere and Chidziva.
Mugabe, Chirenda said, was a descendent of the Chidziva lineage. It is said Chidziva begot Karigambombe, who begot Matibiri, who begot Chatunga, Mugabe’s father.
But still, the mystery remains: where did the name Mugabe come from?
Many have believed that the late nationalist, who bestrode the Zimbabwean political landscape like a colossus, used his mother’s surname. However, such claims were strongly disputed by Chirenda and his clansmen.
“That is a wrong narrative. The name Mugabe was his father’s nickname which was later preferred by the missionaries when he started school at Kutama Mission,” Chirenda said.
Another fascinating piece of the jigsaw in Mugabe’s life was provided by another close family member, Fredrick Mabiri, now serving as the resident Catholic priest at Kutama Mission.
According to Mabiri, Mugabe developed a close relationship with his mother after his father abandoned the family.
Having waited for his return for many years in vain, Mugabe’s mother deserted the area occupied by her husband’s family, the Matibiris, taking along with her the remaining children, Robert, Sabina, Bridget and Donato.
Bona relocated to her family land near Kutama Mission in the 1940s and they lost touch with the rest of the clan.
Her father, after whom the Kutama mission was named, was of the Gumbo totem and a latter-day migrant from Gutu in Masvingo province.
“After Kutama’s daughter (Bona) married Mugabe’s father (Chatunga), he was given a piece of the territory to govern as a sub-chief reporting to the bigger Zvimba kingdom,” Mabiri explained.
In the aftermath of his death, Zimbabweans were shell-shocked when they heard that Mugabe was a traditional chief or of royalty.
But according to the family narrative, Mugabe was offered the Chidziva chieftaincy when it became his family’s turn to inherit the throne in 2012 as per tradition.
However, he turned down the offer, saying he would not be able to preside over affairs of the clan on a regular basis since he had a country to run, effectively passing the baton to his half-brother, the current Chief Chidziva, whose first name was simply given as Dununu, who was next in line.
“So it is very true that he was supposed to be a chief in this area. He only did not take it up when his family was due because of national commitments, otherwise he was regarded as a chief here,” Chirenda said.
Curiously, despite Mugabe exhibiting exceptional academic brilliance in the latter years of his life, there were no records of how he fared at Kutama Mission High School when the Independent tried to locate them.
“I have been teaching here for many years, I have never seen any records of his academic performances. The only record which is there is that he was a pupil at the school and nothing beyond that,” said one of the senior teachers at the school who declined to be identified.
But while debate rages on elsewhere on the true identity of the late strongman, there were no clear answers at the Mugabe homestead where villagers have been literally camped since the news of his death came through.
While details of Mugabe’s lineage may shed light on his origins, debate on his genealogy is likely to continue raging.
As ZHDA we are pleased to announce that our Acting President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi has been found by the police along Chinhoyi Road. We will update on the issue when we have gathered accurate information.
Members are being urged to take this opportunity to recover and re-energise from what has been a very eventful week. Today let us celebrate the safe return of our brother and also focus on the graduation ceremony at UZ main pitch.
Let us also allow his family to reconnect with him first and also pave way for the responsible authorities to carry out their full investigations.
All those willing to celebrate can meet in solidarity at Parirenytwa Doctors Bar. And once again as ZHDA we would like to congratulate all those graduating today.
This is according to Zvimba traditional which dictates chief such as Mugabe be buried strictly according to the spiritual beliefs, superstitions and rituals of the tribe.
Mugabe grew up Catholic and was educated by Jesuits. But according to Burombo, he still followed “traditional norms and practices” despite “going to church”.
Since his death, Mugabe’s burial has attracted sharp dispute between his family and the government who are literally ‘fighting for the possession of his body’.
The late Robert Mugabe, who died on September 6th at a Singaporean hospital, may have his body ‘dried”, his teeth “extracted” and his finger and toenails “ripped off”.
This is according to Zvimba traditional which dictates chief such as Mugabe be buried strictly according to the spiritual beliefs, superstitions and rituals of the tribe.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa paying his last respects.
Once Mugabe’s remains were returned to his rural homestead Zvimba on Monday, traditional leaders demanded the burial remain in line with local rites.
A prominent Zimbabwean traditional healer, Benjamin Burombo Jnr, detailed the cultural beliefs and superstition surrounding the deaths and funerals of chiefs.
“When a chief such as Mugabe dies, he is not a person that can be buried at Heroes Acre, that is forbidden. He should be buried in a cave,” Burombo told AFP.
Military band getting ready for Mugabe’s funeral
“Mugabe was not just a president, but he was the embodiment of the spirit of Kaguvi,” he added, referring to one of Zimbabwe’s revered spirit mediums and pre-colonial nationalist leader.
When a chief died, often his body “would be dried”, his teeth “extracted” and his finger and toenails “ripped off”, Burombo said.
Grace Mugabe following proceeding of Mugabe’s funeral.
He said the body would then be wrapped in skin hides before burial, and could even be swapped with a token such as a goat’s head to be buried instead.
“You can build that monument, but it doesn’t mean that is where the remains of Mugabe will be buried… it’s just for people to continue remembering him.”
Clash of cultures and religion beliefs play out
Soldiers carrying the casket bearing the remains of Robert Mugabe.
Since his death, Mugabe’s burial has attracted sharp dispute between his family and the government who are literally ‘fighting for the possession of his body’.
His family wanted to bury him at his rural homestead Zvimba while the government wants his body to rest at a national monument at Heroes Acre Cemetery in Harare.
The two finally agreed Mugabe would be buried at the National Heroes Acre monument, in about 30 days, once a mausoleum was built for him.
National Heroes Acre Cemetery in Zimbabwe. (Trip advisory)
One of the Zvimba chiefs, Raphael Zvikaramba, said they had “so far” accepted the government’s proposal, but refused to comment on the details.
“(Zvimba) chiefs are buried in caves and the burial is secretly conducted at night,” Mugabe’s nephew Dominic Matibiri told AFP, standing outside his late uncle’s rural house.
So how should Mugabe remains be interred
Robert Mugabe Casket
Mugabe grew up Catholic and was educated by Jesuits. But according to Burombo, he still followed “traditional norms and practices” despite “going to church”.
During a mass held in his honour, priest Emmanuel Ribeiro, a former acquaintance said the former president “was secretive and private” about his beliefs.
Mugabe’s remains currently lie in his childhood village of Kutama, in Zvimba district, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of Harare.
ANALYSIS: Citizens last night questioned how and why Herald and the VOA obtained immediate access to the missing Hospital Doctors Association president, Peter Magombeyi… interrogated him leading to him being arrested and charged. The manner of questioning or interrogating appeared strongly to trap him while he is in this state of being unwell, after going missing for over 5 days.
None of these two media houses pursued or bothered to investigate evidence of clearly written threats to abduct Dr Magombeyi contained in an Aug 28 SMS message, something that could easily be done by a High School student within minutes.
It is without question that the doctor is a victim of torture beginning with the threat that he received 3 weeks ago via SMS on his cellphone. No sane journalist repeatedly interrogates such a person for answers concerning his health (same question over and over) after going missing for over the 5 days.
For goodness’ sake, the man even narrates saying he was electrocuted. This means interviewing such a person is unethical and even illegal until after they have been clinically cleared.
It is because of those two interviews that police have since arrested Dr Magombeyi. There is clear video recorded evidence that VOA Zimbabwe is working for Mnangagwa. We even have official VOA correspondence proving this. Another piece of evidence is Marvelous Nyahuye Mhlanga announcing she is now working for Mnangagwa to do Social Engineeering work for him. Thursday’s video programming work comes in perfect timing with the UN summit in what appears to assist ED so he is not challenged on Dr Magombeyi’s abduction once in the US at the weekend.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Exactly a year ago, VOA journo Marvelous Mhlanga signed up to work for @edmnangagwa to do social engineering work, and create PR packages:today she interrogates a distraught,disturbed, and terrified victim of torture,Dr @DMagombeyi leading to his arrest last night @MakomboreroHpic.twitter.com/YYLlWmmslz
Econet owner Strive Masiyiwa has given his thoughts to this whole fiasco as he responded to one of his followers on Facebook.
Here’s the full excerpt:
Liveit L Ndlovu writes, US$1:$12 bond cash,and US$1:$20 eco cash. Ecocash agents are charging 60%. I think it’s time to act on that issue Sir.
My reply, We cannot solve a problem, until we first understand it:
1, EcoCash is not a currency. It is simply a mechanism that money moves through.
You don’t dig up a road, simply because a thief came on a road! EcoCash is just a road for money, it is not the money!
EcoCash does not have any money. The Cash [bank notes] money belongs to the agent.
Ecocash does not print money, either physical or electronic.
That is done by the RBZ. They decide how much bank notes are in circulation. If there are not enough, then they must supply them, until there is enough supply.
2. Why is there such a shortage of bank notes in the first place, that it becomes possible to sell bank notes?!
Why?! Where in the world does that happen?!
Give me a break my friend, you are smarter than that!
Who created such an arbitrage situation?
3. Whose cash is the Agent selling, at that rate?!
4. How does Econet police 50,000 agents?
Who can do it? No one, because that is not the problem. Ask the RBZ to address the supply of these bank notes, if you believe that is the problem.
What if we stopped them all from dispensing any cash, would it solve the problem? Why do the banks not dispense cash like banks around the world? Why?
5. If the State withdrew its electronic money that moves through EcoCash, and replaced it with physical notes, would it solve the problem?
6. When an Agent sells his money at 50% premium, does he share the upside with EcoCash?
Of course not!
If you show me that anyone at EcoCash is involved and benefitting, that is another issue. But that is not what is happening!
Let’s first understand the problem: This is simply symptomatic of hyper inflation. In case you have not realized Zimbabwe has the highest hyper inflation in the world right now!
If you address the causes of hyper inflation, this problem disappears.
FORMER South African President Thabo Mbeki said the late former President Robert Mugabe delayed embarking on the land reform programme to allow successful negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and the apartheid government for the independence of the neighbouring country.
Speaking at the Durban City Hall on Tuesday during an ANC memorial service for Cde Mugabe in KwaZulu-Natal, Cde Mbeki said the late former President was irrationally vilified by the Western countries over the land reform programme, which he undertook after the British government under Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to honour its commitments during negotiations preceding Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence, to help fund land reform.
“As we began the process of negotiations here in South Africa in 1990, the 10-year period of the constitution of Zimbabwe negotiated at the Lancaster House came to an end. Zimbabwe could now redo its constitution, including addressing this matter of the land question, particularly as it related to the principle of willing-buyer-willing seller. The then secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku from Nigeria then approached President Mugabe to plead with him not to change the Lancaster House provisions related to the land question. His (Chief Anyaoku) argument was that if Zimbabwe did something like that to address the land issue, correctly as they needed to address it, it would frighten the white population in South Africa and make it difficult for ANC to negotiate with them,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said Cde Mugabe then acceded to Chief Anyaoku’s plea.
“That is why the land reform process was delayed in Zimbabwe for at least a decade. It was done in order to give us a space here in order to succeed in our negotiations with the apartheid regime,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said he went to the UK and spoke to Prime Minister Tony Blair and urged the British government to honour its Lancaster House agreement.
Cde Mbeki said Mr Blair gave a false impression that he was willing to address the issue.
“As South African government we told Prime Minister Blair that we think you must honour your promise on the land question….that particular year UK, Canada and Australia and New Zealand, the so called white Commonwealth, all of them for some reasons had budget surpluses and so we said to him (Prime Minister Blair) that if he committed himself to raising the money, we will talk to other Commonwealth countries to support him and he agreed. A donor conference was held in Zimbabwe in 1998 to address this matter and it was agreed, but dishonoured in the first instance by the UK,” he said.
“The matter came up again a bit later when the war veterans started occupying some of the farms and at that particular time there were 115 farms that were available for sale and they would have cost nine million pounds. Zimbabwe sent a delegation to the UK to ask that they be given the money to buy those farms to take the war veterans onto these farms that would have owned away from these commercial ones and the British government said they had no money.”
Cde Mbeki said they then talked to three countries around the world over the issue and they all agreed and he then reported to the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan indicating to him that there was money to buy those 115 farms.
“He (Dr Annan) then said can you give that matter over to us at the UN to depoliticise it and that was the argument that was used and so we agreed. It didn’t work because the UN whereas we were saying there was an agreement in 1998 about how to handle the land question. Now that we have the donor use that agreement they said no, no, no that was not a UN agreement, the UN has its own rules and besides it will fail and we said it will fail and it failed,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said the late former President Mugabe will be remembered as an outstanding fighter for the liberation not only of the people of Zimbabwe, but also all other colonially and racially oppressed peoples, including shaping the negotiations that led to South Africa’s freedom from the apartheid regime in 1994.
“In 1989, we drafted a document for negotiations which we marketed among the frontline States, which included Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania and Angola and when we finished it, we took it to the OAU (now AU) to make it policy of the continental body. We took a decision to suggest to OAU that there was an ad hoc committee of the OAU on Southern African to avoid calling a summit of member states. It was decided that the ad hoc committee meeting should be held in Harare. We gave President Mugabe a major task to intervene with regard to that document and market it to the whole continent. It was accepted and that is where the Harare Declaration was adopted, which was fundamental in shaping our negotiations,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said between April and May 1980, they worked out a system of cooperation between President Mugabe’s government and ANC, which meant that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces moved a battalion of the army to the banks of the Limpopo River so they could help bring weapons from Zambia into Zimbabwe to fight the apartheid regime.
“The ZDF would pick the weapons at the border, take them through Zimbabwe to that battalion so that our people come into Zimbabwe carrying no weapons. Instead, the Zimbabwean government would issue them with false identity cards since there were a lot of roadblocks at that time so that they go through as Zimbabweans and collect their weapons on the banks of the Limpopo,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said when they attained their freedom, they decided to adopt former President Mugabe’ reconciliatory approach.
“The leadership under President Mugabe as Prime Minister Mugabe then took a very clear position, which was that we fought against colonialism and white minority domination not against white people and let’s handle ourselves in a manner which will result in that national reconciliation. You can see what happened with us here in 1994, we followed exactly in the footsteps that had been followed by the leadership of Zimbabwe under President Mugabe,” he said.
Cde Mbeki said the late Cde Mugabe’s contribution to the liberation of the African people will never be forgotten.
He said they will always value the late Cde Mugabe as one of the combatants for the liberation of South Africa.
“Obviously, we ourselves knew very well that this relationship is a relationship of solidarity, shared interest, comradeship and therefore there was absolutely no way in which if Zimbabwe was faced with challenges we would turn our backs. It couldn’t be done. For instance, In 1998, the heat was getting up around the land question and we spoke to President Mugabe and said look at Lancaster House as you would recall, the British and the Americans had promised to give Zimbabwe money to buy land and they never kept the promise. I said to President Mugabe let’s go back to the British to remind them of their commitment and we agreed that for three months we must not say anything about land question,” he said.
NewsDay|THE United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has urged government to bury the late former President Robert Mugabe’s legacy of brutality and bring to book those responsible for human rights violations.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has come under local and international pressure following reports of the alleged abduction of Peter Magombeyi, leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, on Saturday evening by suspected State security agents.
He was since found dumped in Nyambire some 35 km out of Harare City.
The US Foreign Relations committee, a standing committee of the Senate charged with leading foreign policy legislation, weighed in condemning the abduction and other rights violations.
“Reminiscent of tactics under Mugabe, assailants are terrorising critics of Zanu PF through abductions, beatings and torture. As Zimbabwe prepares to lay to rest former President (Robert) Mugabe, so should it bury its late leaders’ brutal legacy and prosecute those responsible for these crimes,” the US committee tweeted.
The call comes as anti-riot police yesterday cordoned off Bulawayo’s Large City Hall in the city in reaction to social media reports that local activists were planning to stage a protest over Magombeyi’s abduction.
However, the call posted on social media proved to be a false as it was business as usual in the central business district.
Vigils, however, continue at Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo hospitals as medical practitioners seek divine intervention over their leader’s abduction.
Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations official Reverend Sikhalo Cele said during the vigil: “This situation is deeply worrying because none of the reported cases of abduction and torture have been successfully investigated and prosecuted. The situation is further disturbing because there is government communication suggesting that there is a possibility of a third force.”
Bulawayo civic society activists and the opposition have also attended the vigils, with Zapu going further to call for rolling protests to register anger over Magombeyi’s abduction, which the Zanu PF-led government blames on a “third force”.
Zapu said people should take to the streets to register their discontent with the Zanu PF regime.
“We call upon Zimbabweans to come out in the streets and show this regime that we have had enough of their intolerance,” the Zapu southern region said in statement yesterday.
“Protests, demos, strikes and other mass actions are an integral part of a democracy. They give a voice to the masses. They alert the government that the masses are not happy. They are not West-sponsored regime change agendas.”
Several fire departments responded to the scene, where flames were seen shooting through the roof…
AND WHY IS MNANGAGWA QUIET ABOUT THIS? – On the same day Emmerson Mnangagwa tossed around President Robert Mugabe’s corpse like a football in stadiums (this is not to suggest a cause), the Zimbabwe embassy house in the US was gutted by a fire whose trigger could not be established. This was on the same day Mnangagwa forced the Mugabe family to change the burial arrangements and accept a heroes acre burial for the late ZANU PF legend.
In Shona religious mythology, there is a strong belief that a dead person will fight back if their body is disrespected and before his death, President Mugabe described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a disgrace the nation needs to undo itself of.
The incident happened over 4 days ago and yet the Zimbabwean state media has been zipped about it.
The upmarket New York property valued at over USD 2,7 mln and has housed all Zim government ambassadors for several years, was engulfed in flames that were described by the community as difficult to understand.
The incident happened in the same day the Hospital Doctors Association President Peter Magombeyi went missing.
No one was injured in the fire that ravaged the house in Rye early Saturday, police said.
The blaze broke out on Grandview Avenue shortly after midnight.
Several fire departments responded to the scene, where flames were seen shooting through the roof of the house. Rye police said no one was home when the fire started, and no firefighters were injured.
Lt. Robert Falk, Rye’s interim public safety commissioner, said today that the house was substantially damaged.
The city’s Building Department will assess the damage this week, he said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it does not appear to be suspicious, Falk said.
Firefighters from Harrison, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, and White Plains were among those who helped Rye firefighters.
A comment from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the embassy was still awaited at the time of writing.
A record search conducted by ZimEye shows that the building is owned by the Zimbabwean government.
Meanwhile, below are some of the ambassadors who have lived at the property:
State Media|GOVERNMENT, through the Department of Civil Protection, has ordered the Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator’s office to prepare a detailed report following revelations that food items donated to Cyclone Idai victims were rotting in warehouses in Chimanimani East.
The development follows a reports we highlighting how the food donations had passed their consumption date while locked up at Charter Hall and Nyahode District Union warehouses.
The Department of Civil Protection falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
“We are waiting for a fully detailed report from the district and the administrator (Mr Edgars Seenza) will also give us more information,” said Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo.
“We have decentralised structures up to the provincial and district level. The provincial administrator must give us the inside story and we are waiting for a detailed report from Manicaland.”
Some foodstuffs have either decayed or expired while locked up in the warehouses.
“Among the food items that have expired while in the warehouses awaiting distribution are the following: 30 tonnes of mealie meal, 1 850kg of corn soya blend, 1 150kg of plain flour, 500×6 packets sugar beans and 1 000kg of Maheu Instant,” a source told The Herald.
The 30 tonnes of mealie meal expired on September 7.
The 1 150kg of plain flour expired on March 27, while the Maheu Instant donations passed consumption date on August 18.
On Wednesday, Mr Seenza confirmed receiving reports suggesting food donations were rotting in the warehouse, but referred questions the District Coordinator Mr John Misi, who was not reachable for a comment.
Chimanimani East legislator Cde Joshua Sacco also confirmed perishables had rotten while some foodstuffs had expired.
State Media|GOVERNMENT has widened the tax-free threshold to $3 500 with effect from August 1, to improve disposable incomes in the face of price increases. This comes as the highest rate on taxable income has been reduced from 45 percent to 40 percent, to free some money which can be channelled towards consumption and savings.
The development is in line with Government’s efforts to cushion citizens in general, and workers in particular, from the surge in prices.
It also implies that civil servants — who were recently awarded a pay increase to $1 023 for the lowest-paid worker — will take huge chunks of their earnings, tax-free.
In a notice published today, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says the necessary legislation will be announced soon to support the review of tax-free thresholds.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) hereby notifies its valued clients that the highest tax rate of 45 percent on taxable income earned from employment which was gazetted in the Finance Act (7) No. 2 of 2019 is being corrected to 40 percent,” said Zimra.
“The necessary legislation amending the highest rate from 45 percent to 40 percent will be promulgated in due course and will be with effect from 1 August 2019.”
Zimra advised employers to effect the correct rate of 40 percent.
Employees earning $3 500 and below will not be taxed, while those earning $3 501 to $15 000 will be taxed at a rate of 20 percent. Those earning between $15 001 and $50 000 will be taxed at a rate of 25 percent; a salary of between $50 001 and $100 000 attracts 30 percent tax; salaries of between $100 001 and $150 000 attract 35 percent tax, while salaries of $150 001 and above will be taxed 40 percent.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube had previously indicated that the tax-free bracket was going to be increased for those paying income tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
He said the move was designed to give relief to those earning below the Poverty Datum Line because of the increase in inflation.
“We want them to have more money to spend in their pockets,” said Prof Ncube.
This becomes the second upward review of the tax-free threshold this year, after it was earlier adjusted from US$300 to US$350 ( before the removal of the 1:1 exchange rate between the RTGS dollar and the United States dollar).
But the gains made by employees were immediately eroded by inflationary pressures, which mounted after the removal of 1:1 peg.
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) had suggested that the initial RTGS tax-free threshold should be set by multiplying the US dollar amount by the existing exchange rate.
The review of the tax-free threshold is set to be welcomed by low-income earners as the country’s inflation rose to 175 percent for the month of June, torching concerns of value erosion.
Figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStats) show that Zimbabwe’s annual inflation for June 2019 rose to 175,66 percent from 97,85 percent in May 2019.
Welcome back. A colleague hugs Dr Peter Magombeyi on his reappearance last night.
HARARE medical doctor Peter Magombeyi, who was abducted last Friday, was yesterday found in Nyabira, about 40km from the city centre.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed that Dr Peter Magombeyi had been found and they were still to establish circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
His abduction and disappearance sparked demonstrations, with medical doctors downing tools demanding his release.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Dr Peter Magombeyi (26) who went missing on September 14, has been found by the police at Nyabira,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Dr Magombeyi had no physical injuries and was due to be examined by health authorities to ascertain any injuries he may have suffered during the ordeal
Speaking to State Media on his mobile phone last night, Dr Magombeyi said he was safe and sound.
“I am safe and sound. I don’t have much to say, but I am in Nyabira, waiting for my colleagues to come and pick me up.”
He said he had a hazy recollection of what transpired since his alleged abduction in Budiriro last weekend.
“I only remember that I was kidnapped by three men in town and I do not remember what happened afterwards,” he said.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) secretary-general Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe also confirmed that Dr Magombeyi had been found.
“I have called him and he indicated he is safe and sound. I personally spoke to him. He is in a bushy area somewhere, but he is well,” he said.
United Nations Special Rapporteur Mr Clément Voule is today expected to meet President Mnangagwa after being invited by Government to make an independent assessment of the country’s achievements and challenges in relation to the exercise of rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Mr Voule meets Mnangagwa at a time when the country is the focus of the world following the abduction, dumping and subsequent arrest of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leader Dr Peter Magombeyi in the hands of suspected state security agents.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa is set to leave the country for New York later today for the United Nations General Assembly where the country’s human rights record is set to be an issue on discussion.
Mr Voule yesterday met Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda to discuss a number of issues relating to the new dispensation’s commitment to political and economic reforms.
“I am not ready to comment up until I meet the President. I am here at the invitation of the Government,” Mr Voule told journalists after the meeting.
Briefing journalists, Adv Mudenda said the UN Special Rapporteur was here at the invitation of the Government.
“The meeting went on very well by acknowledging the fact that the UN rapporteur came into Zimbabwe at the invitation of Government of Zimbabwe.
“To that extent, the new dispensation is demonstrating that it is transparent. It does not want to hide anything and hence the invitation was extended to the rapporteur and we are happy that the rapporteur did come,” said Adv Mudenda
The areas covered, Adv Mudenda said, include an update on the political reforms that Parliament is undertaking, particularly electoral as well as economic reforms.
On issues related to human rights, Advocate Mudenda said they have encouraged members of the public to petition Parliament and Government.
“We have encouraged members of the public to petition Parliament and Government on issues related to human rights and any other developmental issues and so far we have received 69 petitions,” he added.
THE incoming new Highlanders coach has been in charge of an incredible 22 football clubs in a career spanning 29 years and is from the Netherlands, contrary to previous reports that he is a British national.
Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, 48, from the Netherlands, started his coaching career in 1990 as a 20 year old rookie following a career ending injury.
He has also had stints in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland as well as Caf headquarters, according to his Curriculum Vitae that Chronicle Sport is in possession of.
Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe confirmed this week that they have identified a coach to take the team to the rest of the season as they sought to stem a disastrous season that has seen them failing to move away from the relegation zone.State media
Cases of diarrhoea in Harare have risen to alarming levels, with Dzivaresekwa recording over 360 cases as of yesterday. The outbreak started two weeks ago when residents drank untreated water. Learners at Warren Park 1 Primary School last week suffered a severe diarrhoea outbreak.
Harare City Council Health Services Director Dr Prosper Chonzi yesterday dismissed reports of a cholera and typhoid outbreak.
“As of today, there are 362 cases of diarrhoea, but we conducted tests to check if there is a possibility of cholera, but the results show that it is just watery diarrhoea.
“The tests are negative for cholera and typhoid caused by contaminated water. We are trying to fix the issue of water. Our teams are conducting awareness campaigns about the outbreak, giving out chlorine for free,” he said. – State Media
Zanu-PF has set up sub-committees for preparations for the 18th National Annual Conference slated for Goromonzi High School in December.
This was said by Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo on Wednesday, while briefing journalists after a Politburo meeting.
Khaya Moyo said preparations for the annual conference were on course and sub-committees have been set up.
The sub-committees include the technical team comprising of directors from departments such as information and publicity, transport, administration, finance and economic development and commissariat.
The host province, Mashonaland East, has also put in place sub-committees to ensure a successful conference.
“The national chairperson Cde OCZ Muchinguri-Kashiri gave a detailed report on the preparations for the coming 18th National People’s Conference to be held at Goromonzi High School in Mashonaland East Province, that will be sometime in December of course,” Khaya Moyo.
“All sub-committees are already at work in preparation of the conference.”
The approval of the conference venue marks the beginning of preparations for the event.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Cde Joel Biggie Matiza has already called on all provincial party members to join hands and make the event a success.State media
Cases of diarrhoea in Harare have risen to alarming levels, with Dzivaresekwa recording over 360 cases as of yesterday.
The outbreak started two weeks ago when residents drank untreated water. Learners at Warren Park 1 Primary School last week suffered a severe diarrhoea outbreak.
Harare City Council Health Services Director Dr Prosper Chonzi yesterday dismissed reports of a cholera and typhoid outbreak.
“As of today, there are 362 cases of diarrhoea, but we conducted tests to check if there is a possibility of cholera, but the results show that it is just watery diarrhoea.
“The tests are negative for cholera and typhoid caused by contaminated water. We are trying to fix the issue of water. Our teams are conducting awareness campaigns about the outbreak, giving out chlorine for free,” he said. State media
The state owned Herald newspaper has announced that it knows well that the 5 day missing Dr Peter Magombeyi was interviewed by the Voice Of America last night. Only two media houses obtained instant exclusive access to Dr Magombeyi just as he was “released” by his alleged abductors.
The coincidence of the two media houses, comes as evidence is revealed that the Voice Of America was captured by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa. The following link reveals LIVE video footage showing the same VOA staff member who interrogated Dr Magombeyi last night, causing his arrest, announcing she is now doing social engineering work for Mnangagwa. (Click here to read more).
None of these 2 media houses pursued or bothered to investigate evidence of clearly written threats to abduct Dr Magombeyi contained in an SMS message, something that could easily be done by a High School student.
Meanwhile, below is the Herald article which evidently seeks to discredit evidence of torture against the doctor:
HERALD REPORTER:
HARARE medical doctor Peter Magombeyi who was reported missing on Sunday, was yesterday found at Nyabira, some 20km from the city centre.
Dr Magombeyi’s alleged abduction and disappearance sparked demonstrations with medical doctors downing tools demanding his release, but there were also questions on the truthfulness of the claim with indications that the act could have been staged.
Speaking to The Herald on his mobile phone last night, Dr Magombeyi said he was safe and sound.
“I’m safe and sound. I don’t have much to say but I’m in Nyabira, waiting for my colleagues to come and pick me up.”
He said he had a hazy recollection of what happened since he was allegedly kidnapped last weekend when alleged assailants took him.
“I only remember that I was kidnapped by three men in town and I do not remember what happened afterwards,” he said.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) secretary general Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe also confirmed that Dr Magombeyi had been found.
“I have called him and he indicated he is safe and sound. I personally spoke to him. He is in bushy area somewhere but he is well,” he said.
An hour after The Herald called him, Dr Magombeyi confirmed that he was now in the company of his colleagues.
He also granted an interview to Voice of America’s Studio 7. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night said they were still to establish circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Dr Peter Magombeyi (26) who went missing on September 14, has been found by the police at Nyabira,” he said.
He added that Dr Magombeyi had been debriefed by the police and had access to his lawyers.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Dr Magombeyi had no physical injuries and was due to be examined by health authorities to ascertain any injuries he may have suffered during the ordeal.
News of Dr Magombeyi’s alleged abduction and disappearance last weekend spread wildly, with opposition and civil society blaming it on State agents.
There has been a series of such abductions lately, which have strongly been suspected to be either staged for publicity purposes or directed by some agents to besmirch the image of Zimbabwean Government ahead of regional and international forums such as Sadc summit and the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting to be held in New York, United States.
However, a Harare Central Hospital internal memorandum dated September 16, 2019 and addressed to the chief executive officer by the human resources department, indicated that Dr Magombeyi bade farewell to his colleague and told him to lock up the door since he was going for an all-night prayer.
Anti-Government lobbyists and civil society are widely believed to be faking abductions and blaming the State to soil Zimbabwe’s image in the international community.
Further, the United States Embassy in Harare – a stone’s throw from where Dr Mugombeyi was found – is believed to be behind the so-called black ops and heightened anti-establishment agitation to maintain a hostile, hardline stance against Zimbabwe, inclusive of sanctions despite Harare’s best efforts under President Mnangagwa to reform and seek rapprochment with the global family of nations. – Herald
Farai Dziva|
The Zimbabwe Warriors slumped to their lowest FIFA Ranking this year.
The Warriors are now on number 118.
The national team was in action in the just ended international break where they featured in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
The Warriors lost 1-0 to Africa’s second lowest-ranked team, Somalia in the first leg of the preliminary round fixture but managed to overcome in the second leg, winning 3-1 to progress to the next round.
The victory made no effect, however, on the World Ranking as the team slumped by a big margin.The new position is also Zimbabwe’s worst ranking since the August 2018 release. In African, meanwhile, they have fallen two places to number 29.
On Somalia’s side, meanwhile, it’s all good news as they have moved three places up in the world to number 199.
Senegal remain the top team on the continent while Belgium maintained their top spot in the world.
Farai Dziva|Real Madrid coach Zinadine Zidane has admitted that PSG outclassed his side in all departments last night in the two teams’ Champions League meeting in Paris.
Los Blancos were hammered 3-0 by a PSG side without their attacking trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani, much to the frustration of Zidane.
“They were better than us in every department, in the play, in midfield, and the thing that annoys me most is the intensity”, Zidane told a Spanish publication.
“They’re good at creating chances, that’s not what worries me, it’s seeing my team without the necessary intensity at the high level of this competition. We knew they were going to press us, but we barely made any impact on the game and we created few chances.”
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF youth leader Pupurai Togarepi has sensationally claimed the Movement for Democratic Change and its “handlers” are behind the abduction of Doctor Peter Magombeyi in a bid to soil the country’s image.
Togarepi argued :
The quest for power should never ever replace our humanness and the inherent spirit of Ubuntu that is the hallmark of our people, either in their deeds or spirit.
Such virtues that are found in Zimbabwe should never be supplanted by self-seeking politicians or power-hungry individuals who pander to the whims and caprices of our erstwhile colonisers.
It is sad that today as the country seeks to come to terms with the disappearance of Peter Magombeyi, the opposition is celebrating, so are some embassies in Harare, the morbid celebrations are a result of a mission accomplished, at least in the eyes and hearts of the MDC-Alliance and it’s handlers.
The idea is to damage the reputation of our country, the people of Zimbabwe and also the ruling party Zanu-PF.
As the Zanu-PF Youth League, we hope that Peter is safe and whoever has him, which we dare say is the MDC-A or one of the ever scheming embassies in particular the US embassy, return him to his family, friends , workmates and indeed the nation at large safe and sound with no injuries, and indeed to tell the real story of who took him.
This sad development has no place in a progressive country let alone in the Second Republic, where commitments have been made, and are indeed guaranteed from the highest office that this is a New Dispensation that respects human rights and other liberties enshrined in our Constitution.
Having said that, we find it utterly disgusting that there are some elements who want to use the disappearance of Peter for political mileage, no, we should never sacrifice our conscience as a nation on the alter of expediency, we are better than that and the polarisation resident in our nation should not blind us from seeing the obvious.
The MDC-A, more than anyone else think they stand to benefit from Peter’s disappearance and should tell us where they hid him.
It begs answers, why would Zanu-PF abduct a doctor who serves the people and saves life?
Why would the Zanu-PF Government shoot itself in the foot by carrying out abductions when the message is engagement?
Why would the Zanu-PF Government seek to bring unnecessary negative publicity when the President is due to be at the United Nations in New York, marketing brand Zimbabwe?
And indeed why would we score an own goal by carrying such dastardly acts when a special UN envoy is on our soil assessing our human rights record?
The simple answer to the above is that Zanu-PF, as the governing party, would never under the sun, engage or allow such acts of banditry which tarnishes the image we are working around the clock to spruce and put in good stead after decades of isolation, to take place.
Indeed, common sense shows that there are elements in this country hell bent on derailing the progress that Zanu-PF is making, there is a third and sinister hand trying to rock the boat and cause maximum damage to our re-engagement efforts, these shenanigans, which I am afraid, have the fingerprints of the country’s clumsy opposition party masquerades and their puppeteers all over, are meant to deliver the killer punch and return the country to a pariah State that is unsafe, inhabitable, and perpetually ostracised from the rest of the world.
ANALYSIS: Citizens last night questioned how and why Herald and the VOA obtained immediate access to the missing Hospital Doctors Association president, Peter Magombeyi… interrogated him leading to him being arrested and charged. The manner of questioning or interrogating appeared strongly to trap him while he is in this state of being unwell, after being missing for over 5 days.
It is without question that the doctor is a victim of torture beginning with the threat that he received 3 weeks ago via SMS on his cellphone. No sane journalist repeatedly interrogates such a person for answers concerning his health after going missing for over the 5 days.
It is because of those two interviews that police have since arrested Dr Magombeyi.
There is clear video recorded evidence that VOA Zimbabwe is working for Mnangagwa. We even have official VOA correspondence proving this. Another piece of evidence is Marvelous Nyahuye Mhlanga anouncing she is now working for Mnangagwa to do Social Engineeering work for him. Thursday’s video programming work comes in perfect timing with the UN summit in what appears to assist ED so he is not challenged on Dr Magombeyi’s abduction once in the US at the weekend.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Exactly a year ago, VOA journo Marvelous Mhlanga signed up to work for @edmnangagwa to do social engineering work, and create PR packages:today she interrogates a distraught,disturbed, and terrified victim of torture,Dr @DMagombeyi leading to his arrest last night @MakomboreroHpic.twitter.com/YYLlWmmslz
Civil society, Tajamuka, Churches and other pressure groups are saying enough is enough.
Tajamuka leader Promise Mkhwananzi has said if government fails to bring back Doctor Magombeyi by Monday the pressure group will organize a Zimbabwe shutdown demo, starting from next week.
At Africa unity square Pastor Evan Mawarire, the leader of #This flag pressure group also joined the Doctors who were demonstrating in Harare.
He (Mawarire ) encouraged everyone including opposition parties to join unite in fighting against impunity-Mvenge Mvenge/ Vhuka Zimbabwe
By Farai D Hove | “I remember being in some basement of some sort, being electrocuted at some point,” the missing President of the Hospital Doctors Association, Dr Peter Magombeyi last night was heard telling the VOA news channel last night.
Dr Magombeyi’s voice was heard for the first time since Saturday last week when he went missing 2 weeks after receiving threats via sms.
He was eventually discovered near the Inkomo Barracks in Nyabire last night.
Farai Dziva|In a bizarre and shocking incident, a Zaka man strangled his one-year-old son to death following an argument with his wife over the child’s paternity.
According to Chronicle, Edson Jere (24) of Machele Village under Chief Nhema choked the child, Anesu Mudombi when his wife, Martha Mudombi (24) had gone to fetch water around 11 AM last week on Thursday.
Police in Masvingo also confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we have received a report of murder involving a one-year-old boy. The boy was allegedly strangled by his father.
The suspect allegedly claimed that their son had an epileptic attack.
The mother touched Anesu to check if he was still breathing and discovered that he was unconscious.
Reports suggest that a police report was made and the body was then taken to Musiso Mission Hospital mortuary for postmortem and results showed that the child had died as a result of strangulation,” Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Charity Mazhula told Chronicle.
There is no doubt that the abductions and violence currently taking place are State-sanctioned. Below are some of the violent incidents and murders that have been committed, even while high profile meetings were taking place. The facts below put paid to statements by officials in Mnangagwa’s administration that the Zanu PF government’s hands are clean.
In light of the disappearance of the acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Dr. Peter Magombeyi, the State has sought to cast aspersions and blame other organizations, including the MDC. Yet 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.
1.August 1 violence
The Mnangagwa regime murdered six people while 35 were injured. The duplicitous Mothlante Commission, appointed by none other than Emmerson Mnangagwa himself, found the State to be culpable. The report specifically states that Sylvia Maphosa, Ishmael Kumire, Gavin Dean Charles, Jelous Chikandira, Challenge Tauro and Brian Zhuwawo died of gunshot wounds as a result of the actions of the military and the police.
The August 1 violence and murders were the handiwork of the State and not some purported Third Force.
January 2019 disturbances
In the aftermath of the January 2019 disturbances, some 9 people died at the hands of the State. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, a chapter 14 independent Constitutional Commission, held the State to be liable for the deaths.
The ZHRC reports reads in part: “The findings reveal that in the aftermath of the 14th of January 2019 disturbances, armed and uniformed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police instigated systematic torture…….In some instances it was also noted that those aligned to the Movement for Democratic Change were also specifically targeted for example Members of Parliament, Councillors and other active members. Torture was perpetrated through beating the men with baton sticks on their backs while they lay on the ground, including falanga.”
The January 2019 murders and violence therefore were perpetrated not by a Third Force but by the State.
Cephas Magura’s murder while a SADC summit was taking place
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.
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 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.
We flew into the country from a SADC summit for Magura’s funeral and president Tsvangirai delivered a touching eulogy at Magura’s graveside at Botso village in Mudzi North.
Magura was brutally murdered by Zanu PF thugs during a high profile regional summit and this was no Third Force.
The abduction and assault of Hon. Nelson Chamisa at the Harare International airport
Venue and timing of violence have never mattered to Zanu PF. On 18 May, 2007, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, then the MDC spokesperson, was seized and beaten at the Harare International airport in front of frightened travelers 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.
Can someone tell us this was Third Force?
5.The brutal assault of President Morgan Tsvangirai and other leaders inside a police station
In May 2007, President Tsvangirai and other senior political and civic leaders were brutally asaulted 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.
Can he tell us that it was a Third Force that was wearing police uniforms inside Machipisa police station in Highfield on that day?
The murder of Gift Tandare and the seizure of his body
In March 2007 during the Save Zimbabwe Campaign rally, I happened to be fleeing armed police who were indiscriminately shooting people and dispersing them from the prayer meeting on that ominous day in Highfield . Gift Tandare, an MDC activist was just ahead of me as we tried to escape the train of bullets. Suddenly he fell to the ground, dead. A few days later, on 17 March 2007, armed government agents seized Tandare’s body and coffin from Doves funeral parlour for a secret burial to prevent a public funeral. They took the body to Tandare’s rural village in Mount Darwin district, Mashonaland Central, and forced his parents to quietly bury him. Morticians were still working on Tandare’s body when it was seized.
Could this have been a Third Force?
The abduction and murder of Tonderai Ndira
In May 2008, State security agents pulled up at the Mabvuku home of MDC activist Tonderai Ndira and violently took him away, leaving his wife and children petrified. They identified themselves as State security agents. When Ndira’s body was discovered in Goromonzi, his face had been crushed, his left eye had been popped out, his tongue was missing and he had two holes, one just below his rib cage. His body was black with bruises.
The men who abducted him from his house and identified themselves as State security agents were driving a white Toyota single cab registration number 772-224.
Was this a Third Force? How come this purported Third Force is so powerful that none of its members is ever arrested?
The abduction of Jestina Mukoko
Jestina Mukoko is a renowned former broadcaster and now a human rights defender who runs the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a civic organization. Some 11 years ago, in December 2008, she was abducted from her home, tortured and held incommunicado for several weeks.
This was no Third Force. It was the Zanu PF government that had abducted her, in line with its unstinting behaviour to harass any dissenting voice in the country. Jestina later won her case in court and the government was ordered to compensate her.
It was government which compensated her for abduction and torture, not some amorphous Third Force.
The abduction and murder of Joshua Bakacheza
Bakacheza was a driver at the MDC. He was instructed on 25 June 2008 to assist Tonderai’s widow to shift to another residential area as she could not stomach remaining in the house from where her husband had been abducted.
Bakacheza was abducted on the same day in Msasa, Harare, together with another MDC activist, Tendai Chidziwo while assisting Ndira’s widow to shift from Mabvuku. They were stopped by armed gunmen and ordered to get into two unmarked vehicles. Chidziwo was later discovered alive in hospital. The decomposing body of Bakacheza was discovered late on Saturday, 5 July 2008 in a secluded bushy area on a farm in Beatrice, some 30 km out of Harare.
Was this the work of a Third Force?
Conclusion
During the time of the Gukurahundi atrocities in the 1980s, the State abducted and killed many people in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces. Some government sanctioned reports into these atrocities have never been made public. The Entumbane report is one such example.
Could the government be protecting a Third Force by failing to release such reports of heinous atrocities against innocent and defenceless citizens? If the Mnangagwa administration is really a New Dispensation, why is it still keeping the lid on these reports?
In 2000, Patrick Nabanyama, the election agent of the now MDC Treasurer-General, Hon. David Coltart, was abducted and his whereabouts remain unknown. Itai Dzamara remains missing. The so-called New Dispensation has not given the nation an update on how far investigations have gone.
It is trite to state that the State’s hand is conspicuous in all these murders and abductions that have taken place since 1980.The MDC is a legitimate political player in the country and throughout its 20 year-existence, the party has always been a victim and never a perpetrator of violence.
Zanu PF must explain the current murders and enforced disappearances.
Every day, Mr. Mnangagwa’s administration is working hard to prove that this is no Second republic but an even more brutal continuation of the First. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens and the Mnangagwa administration must own up to its responsibilities.
The State is culpable for the heinous acts against Zimbabweans. The illegitimate, scarfed regime of Mr Mnangagwa must explain the whereabouts of Dr. Peter Magombeyi.
MDC@20: Celebrating 20 years of Courage, Growth and the people’s Victories
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
UPDATE: Dr Magombeyi has been arrested 2 hrs after being denied access to his lawyers.He's now in police custody.Police say they'll get a statement from him tomorrow. Details of charges against him were not clear at time of writing.FULL STORY ON ZIMEYE @MakomboreroH
Watch Video- "Please have mercy. I am in pain. Resolve doctors' crisis urgently before we die" cancer patient pleads with government pic.twitter.com/2MXr15Z6Zm
Someone called to say they have just spoken to Peter who says that he is disoriented and trying to get lifts to Harare. Please motorists be on the lookout. I tried his number which rang but was not answered then now switched off @daddyhope @citezw
By Own Correspondent| Chegutu cotton ginning and oil ginning plant Agri Value Chain (AVC) Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd, which started operations last year, was on Monday gutted by fire which destroyed at least 2 635 tonnes of cotton seed.
In an interview, AVC engineer and factory responsible person Mr Phanuel Moyo said the fire had been caused by combustion.
“The cotton seed has a tendency of building up heat inside the stacks and there is smouldering that goes unnoticed,” he said.
“We believe the fire was caused by a spontaneous combustion.
“We managed to contain the fire within 24 hours and, it is now 100 percent contained. We managed to contain it through the process of isolation, where we took the seed to places that had been burnt already.
We are still working on the quantities that have been lost and those that we managed to save, so we will calculate and have the rightful figures soon.”
Chegutu district administrator Mr Tariro Tomu said the 2 635 tonnes of cotton seed had been lost by the time he enquired from the company.
“I had to visit AVC after receiving the news from social media and according to the information I got from the Human Resources Department. About six stacks had been burnt and that is about 2 635 tonnes, but they were still checking and calculating,” he said.
“They got hold of Kadoma, Norton and Chegutu town councils and Zimplats for fire tenders and they got positive response which assisted in the containment of the fire.”
Agri Value Chain (AVC) Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd has employed 400 people in Chegutu and took on board at least 40 former workers of the agro-focused firm, Cargill.-StateMedia
ZWNews|In a bizarre incident involving notorious machete wielding hooligans at a local Rimuka shopping centre left many people dumbfounded an armed gang reportedly seized a bar and ordered everyone to kiss each other.
According to ZwNews this occurred at a bar in Kadoma adjacent to Njiri Street in the ‘Game Park” vicinity wherein “Makorokozas armed with knives and machetes commonly referred to as “mabhemba” pounced on unsuspecting revelers and boozers having a good time in a certain bar crammed with party lovers.
A source who declined to be named for fear of victimisation said the rascals commanded everybody to sit on the floor as they vigilantly manned the exit. The source said everybody heeded to the command without any defiance, fearing for their lives.
One of them ordered those that had money to pay up on their way out.A few people inside complied and walked away safe and unscathed.
The source said dangling a sharp machete one of them insanely ordered everyone to stand up and hug each other and kis_s each other passionately.
“Varume vakatsvodana mubhawa vakabatirwa mabhemba.” When the hooligans felt they had seen enough of the rau_nchy male kis_sing and cuddling they sneaked out and fled. The source said on a more serious note, this has gone too far and the police is letting them down, harmless citizens are terrorised daily and the terrorists walk away without retribution.
Civil society, Tajamuka, Churches and other pressure groups are saying enough is enough.
Tajamuka leader Promise Mkhwananzi has said if government fails to bring back Doctor Magombeyi by Monday the pressure group will organize a Zimbabwe shutdown demo, starting from next week.
At Africa unity square Pastor Evan Mawarire, the leader of #This flag pressure group also joined the Doctors who were demonstrating in Harare.
He (Mawarire ) encouraged everyone including opposition parties to join unite in fighting against impunity-Mvenge Mvenge/ Vhuka Zimbabwe
It’s not often that we get a glimpse into famous footballer’s family lives. So, it was a special moment when Khama Billiat posted an adorable video of him and his daughter.
The Kaizer Chiefs footballer only captioned the video with emojis, but the way he interacted with his little girl spoke a thousand words.
Limpopo police spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said a case of common assault was opened and no arrests had been made.
A Limpopo traditional leader has ordered foreign tuckshop owners to leave his village “for selling fake products”.
Chairperson of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in Limpopo, Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla, told Sowetan last week he served notices to at least six foreign shopkeepers in his village, giving them seven days to leave, which they have ignored.
Phaahla of GaPhaahla village near Jane Furse said he was approached by concerned residents who raised complaints regarding fake and expired products.
Resident Wolf Machika, 62, who was renting his building to a foreign national, alleged that he was assaulted while fighting off the group which wanted to loot a tuckshop.
He said the group told him they were sent by Phaahla following a written notice.
“The group, most of whom appeared drunk, came and forced their way into my yard on Thursday afternoon.
“At that time I had just arrived from fetching firewood from my farm and I had a panga in my hand. I wielded my panga towards them and they ran away,” he said.
Machika said the group later returned in numbers and overpowered him.
“Some of them held my hands from the back, while others were slapping me. Fortunately, they didn’t break into the shop because it was locked. I’m renting my building out because I want to be able to feed my family. There is nothing wrong with foreign nationals doing businesses,” he said.
He accused Phaahla of using a mob to attack business people in the area.
“Some of them had confessed that they had been sent by Phaahla, hence I went to police to lay criminal charges against them. I want the police to get to the bottom of this.”
Police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said a case of common assault was opened and no arrests had been made.
Machika said he now lives in fear because the mob could return at any time.
Phaahla denied Machika’s allegations and said he was approached by the community about fake products sold by foreign nationals in his village.
“We held a meeting two weeks ago in which community women who are doing a food stokvel raised complaints that some of their members are refusing to accept products bought in the tuckshops operating in my village. The community said they sell expired food. I then wrote a letter to these foreign nationals notifying them that they have seven days to leave the place,” he said.
“On Monday, I issued a verbal notice through my council, giving them [foreign nationals] a day to pack and leave but they still refused. I told them that their safety was no longer guaranteed because community members came to me this week showing frustrations.”
Kenny Mathivha, spokesperson for Limpopo premier, condemned Phaahla’s action, saying no one was allowed to chase away people. “We call upon the security cluster to act against people who instigate Afrophobia. As a chief, Phaahla should be playing a unifying role and not divide the community.”
Deputy Minister of Information, Dr Energy Mutodi has shocked the world when he claimed that the missing president of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Peter Magombeyi is not really missing but playing up his abduction.
Posting on microblogging site, Twitter, the former Rhumba musician said:
Doctors are meant to save lives & never to be active politicians. Participating in stage-managed abductions meant to tarnish the government image is a serious abomination by our doctors. We hope Dr Peter Magombeyi will sober up & find his way home.
Dr Peter Magombeyi’s disappearance is a desperate attempt by opposition parties working with other forces to tarnish the government ahead of the UN General Assembly. Like I have said before, I still maintain only fools can be fooled by these fake abductions.
Farmers’ perennial conflict with miners over the latter superseding the former, headline a cocktail of reforms in a proposed mining bill to repeal provisions which give mining supremacy over other activities.
The conflicts have been a major drawback on artisanal and small-scale mining, despite its lion’s share contribution to mineral production, perpetuating irresponsible business practices.
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) deputy director Shamiso Mutisi told delegates at the ongoing Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) that provisions to solve farmer, miner land use conflict will be key in the amendment of the mines legislation.
Mutisi said laws should respond to needs of local communities to reduce conflict and promote responsible investment, in the largely lucrative but opaque extractive sector.
“We are working very closely with the parliament and the Ministry of Mines to make sure that the laws that we have respond to the needs of local communities.
“Even for investors, who are coming should understand the issue of farmer, miner conflicts, these are the risk related questions which can enhance responsible mining.
“Farmer, miner conflicts are prevalent that’s definitely one of the key issues that will be addressed by the Mines and Minerals amendment bill so it is quite important for us to pay particular attention to those provisions,” said Mutisi.
Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development permanent secretary Onisimo Moyo confirmed that government was at an advanced stage of drafting the new law as well as incorporating stakeholder submissions.
He said government will advance amendments in two months, with a draft of bill scheduled for submission to the Mines and Minerals Development parliamentary portfolio committee for debate by the end of September.
“Our expectation is that the first draft will be finalized by the end of this month, and we have committed to parliament that by the end of next month we will have the final draft for consideration by the committee and other due processes that follow thereafter.
“We are putting our ears on the ground so that whatever we put in the amendment is practical and guided by these submissions,” he said.
Moyo also said the proposed law will compel the Mining Affairs board, the highest administrative board of mining affairs, to incorporate a gender quota.
For the first time, artisanal and small-scale miners will be clearly defined, with a view of setting up a dual fees structure to ensure licenses are responsive, said Moyo.
“The issue of formalization of artisanal miners is also incorporated in the bill before there was no mention in the current Act, but in these amendments, we have incorporated the term artisanal and small-scale miner.
“It is our hope that once this is incorporated, we are also going to trim it down even when it comes to the fees structure in the mining license we should have a section where small scale miners are mentioned so that we can come up with a dual structure,” said Moyo.
Philemon Mukwili a small-scale miner in Gwanda acknowledged existing conflict between miners and farmers and called for the amendment to balance the needs of the two sectors.
He said while farmers have the preserve of tilling the land, miners are now causing rampant deforestation and environmental damage without requisite rehabilitation compromising farming activities.
“There is a serious problem between miners and farmers because farmers are now demanding a share from the miners but the current law clearly states that the mining policy supersedes everything.
“Miners have a right to mine the minerals which are underground and the farmers will be dealing with the top part but now the miners are now deforestrating the farms and they are not even rehabilitating areas which is causing a serious challenge especially for farmers who are into cattle ranching.
“There is a need for a balanced policy which covers both farmers and miners to reduce conflicts which are prevalent,” said Mukwili.
Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) leader Linda Masarira is unapologetic for making the tough decision to have her 18 year OLD son arrested.
Masarira who has stolen piles of Donna money, sparked controversy when she had her teenage son Kuzivakwashe Mhlanga sent to prison for stealing her cellphone. Masarira said she had to give her son tough love in order for him to see the error of his ways.
Mhlanga was sentenced to six months in jail.
Said Masarira upon her visit:
Brutal love works, my son Kuzivwashe was in very high spirits when I visited him during the family week. He acknowledges his faults & has pledged to focus on his education when he comes out of Bindura prison on 21/09/19. Special thanks to ZPCS for the counselling & rehabilitation pic.twitter.com/sXbUGr8IHr
Zim Morning Post|This comes barely a couple of days after the Nyaradzo Group clashed with the Home affairs ministry over the costs of catering services that clicked ZW$2,5 million for the first five days since Mugabe’s body arrived in the country.
The Home Affairs ministry is mandated to arrange all funerals for declared national heroes.
Sources say the Home affairs ministry has maintained having put in place its own registered funeral service providers capable of supplying it with all funeral requirements such as water and food items without it bleeding financially.
This has, however, seen the lavish Mugabe family locking horns with the State as it all along has been snubbing government service providers and subcontracting their own.
Reports are that most of the service providers subcontracted by the family are closely linked to them, implying an attempt by the family to probably milk the State for one last time.
Sources revealed that traditional government service providers like Rooney’s supplied the tents but the family outsourced other providers for the same service.
One immediate example of this clash made headlines in the media as there was evident tension between Doves Holdings and Nyaradzo Group over who would have the onus of presiding over Mugabe’s funeral.
Doves has the contract with government to bury national heroes while Nyaradzo was subcontracted by the Mugabe family to provide catering services and other equipment like mobile toilets, chairs, and mobile sleepers.
Doves came in for undertaking services.
Since government announced that the State will fund Mugabe’s funeral the bill from Nyaradzo which is running into millions already is expected to be submitted to government for payment.
Sources who spoke to Zim Morning Post revealed that government was not happy with the way the funeral was being handled and that a clash with the family is imminent.
“A meeting was held on Monday, and I can confirm that government is not happy at all,” said the source.
“Obviously, nothing is being said at the moment because the family is still grieving but this will not end well. We are speaking of austerity yet the Mugabe family’s way of handling things is pulling in the opposite direction.
“There is not enough money to finance all this. And also, the funeral is running for too long and it is milking the State which is run on the taxpayers’ money.”
The death of Mugabe on September 6 has become an expensive affair, with Nyaradzo providing five star meals to mourners.
Since the announcement of Mugabe’s demise, the taxpayer has been bearing the costs.
The funeral, by its nature, has attracted a lot of attention from citizens nationwide and internationally as a result of Mugabe’s status and as such, the State has not been spared where expenses are concerned.
After the announcement of Mugabe’s death, the State deployed a team of delegates comprising of government officials and family members led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi to bring his remains home.
Mohadi and other government officials were accompanied by their aides (security detail), with an average government official reportedly pocketing US$1 500 per day while the leader (pocketed presidential allowances) for the three days they were away.
Mugabe’s body was embalmed before it was flown into the country and at world best practice, mummification costs are usually pegged at US$67 000.
The Mohadi-led team, together with members of the Mugabe family, chartered in a Royal Jet back into the country with the remains of Mugabe from Singapore.
The Zim Morning Post understands that the Royal Jet costs at least US$15 000 per hour, with an estimated 15-hour flying distance between Harare and Singapore putting the estimated cost for the jet at US$225 000, excluding other expenses like airport taxes, fuels.
Doves Holdings provided a copper casket for the national hero.
Copper caskets are believed to offer permanent non-rusting materials which have been used for centuries for sculptures and monuments and are considered to be the highest quality available in metal caskets and present a most prestigious statement.
Since the remains of Mugabe jetted into the country, there have been two separate funerals underway where masses were being fed on a daily basis, one at his Blue Roof, Harare, residence funded by government and another at his Kutama rural home, which is being funded by his family.
Nyaradzo Group has so far revealed that as of Monday, it was owed over ZWL$2,5 million for food services provided at the Blue Roof mansion in the past five days.
There are many other expenses that have not yet been accounted for, which leaves the bill continuously growing as it may take long before Mugabe’s body is finally laid to rest.
Food services alone are gobbling a huge ZWL$500 000 a day and the bill is expected to run into tens of millions, all which will be paid for by the government.
Two State functions were also held at Rufaro Stadium, where people from all provinces came to pay their last respects to the man who had been Zimbabwe’s ruler for 37 years before he was ousted from office in November 2017.
After all provinces paid their respects, the last State funeral was held at the National Sports Stadium. Foreign Heads of States from at least 11 countries and other foreign delegates were hosted by the country for a day while attending the function.
All delegates, obviously high-ranking, were given five-star treatment, all on the taxpayers’ card.
Even as Mugabe lies dead in his casket and constantly being transported around, he still remains very expensive.
A mausoleum is being built at the National Heroes Acre and is estimated to cost US$1 million, making this funeral the most expensive affair for Zimbabwe at the moment.
Emergency services in Ruwa made warnings of an out of control fire that was ravaging under construction Ruwa Sports Club as at the time of writing this article on Thursday afternoon.
The extent of damage at the club and possibly on other properties around the club could not be ascertained at the time of writing.
It is suspected that the fire might have been caused by an electrical fault. The fire is reportes to have started in the thatched roof of the Sports Club, claimed sources.
Civil society, Tajamuka, Churches and other pressure groups are saying enough is enough.
Tajamuka leader Promise Mkhwananzi has said if government fails to bring back Doctor Magombeyi by Monday the pressure group will organize a Zimbabwe shutdown demo, starting from next week.
At Africa unity square Pastor Evan Mawarire, the leader of #This flag pressure group also joined the Doctors who were demonstrating in Harare.
He (Mawarire ) encouraged everyone including opposition parties to join unite in fighting against impunity-Mvenge Mvenge/ Vhuka Zimbabwe
Farai Dziva|In a bizarre and shocking incident, a Zaka man strangled his one-year-old son to death following an argument with his wife over the child’s paternity.
According to Chronicle, Edson Jere (24) of Machele Village under Chief Nhema choked the child, Anesu Mudombi when his wife, Martha Mudombi (24) had gone to fetch water around 11 AM last week on Thursday.
Police in Masvingo also confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we have received a report of murder involving a one-year-old boy. The boy was allegedly strangled by his father.
The suspect allegedly claimed that their son had an epileptic attack.
The mother touched Anesu to check if he was still breathing and discovered that he was unconscious.
Reports suggest that a police report was made and the body was then taken to Musiso Mission Hospital mortuary for postmortem and results showed that the child had died as a result of strangulation,” Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Charity Mazhula told Chronicle.
By Own Correspondent| Local power utility, ZESA Holdings have indicated intentions to increase power tariffs as the local currency continues to shed value, particularly against the USD.
Zimbabwe Energy Regulating Authority (ZERA) acting CEO, Mr Eddington Mazambani revealed on Thursday 19th of September 2019 during the Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development that maintaining the current tariffs was not sustainable.
Electricity tariffs were reviewed up following the 2019 mid-term budget presentation from an average of ZWL9.86c/kWh to an average of ZWL45c/kWh for non-exporting businesses and an increase from an average of ZWL9.86c/kWh to an average of ZWL27c/kWh for domestic consumers.
Electricity tariff for ferrochrome smelters and other miners remained unchanged at US$0.067/kWh and US$0.0986/kWh respectively.
Meanwhile, the country is still marred by electricity shortages. It has since engaged South Africa and Mozambique power utilities, in that order, ESKOM and Hydro Cahorra Bassa for the importation of electricity.
Farai Dziva|
The Zimbabwe Warriors slumped to their lowest FIFA Ranking this year.
The Warriors are now on number 118.
The national team was in action in the just ended international break where they featured in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
The Warriors lost 1-0 to Africa’s second lowest-ranked team, Somalia in the first leg of the preliminary round fixture but managed to overcome in the second leg, winning 3-1 to progress to the next round.
The victory made no effect, however, on the World Ranking as the team slumped by a big margin.The new position is also Zimbabwe’s worst ranking since the August 2018 release. In African, meanwhile, they have fallen two places to number 29.
On Somalia’s side, meanwhile, it’s all good news as they have moved three places up in the world to number 199.
Senegal remain the top team on the continent while Belgium maintained their top spot in the world.
Farai Dziva| Match day 1 of Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, continued across the continent last night.
Argentine winger Angel DiMaria came back to haunt his former paymastaters as his first half brace for PSG as the French champions thrashed a hapless Real Madrid 3-0.
Madrid looked vulnerable in defence without their influential skipper Sergio Ramos and barely threatened their former goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who is now with PSG.
Altletico Madrid scored a dramatic late equalizer in the Spanish capital to deny Juventus, who had raced to a 2-0 lead, a win as Hector Herror’s goal forced a draw for Diego Simeone’s men. Blaise Matuidi and Juan Cuadrado scored for Juve.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City thumped Shaktar Donetsk 3-0 courtesy of goals from Ikay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus and Riyah Mahrez.
Tottenham Hotspur and Olympiakos played out a 2-2 stalemate, with Harry Kane and Lukas Moura on target for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
