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

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

While we are happy that a staffer at a local hospital who had been reported missing has now been found unharmed, Government is disturbed by the growing trend of politically motivated false abductions in the country which are calculated to put Government in negative light. Such political trickery, which in fact amounts to terrorism, will not take our country forward. The State has a responsibility to ensure protection and safety of all citizens. New measures might have to be formulated to deal with this new threat, and to severely punish those responsible for such subterfuges.

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

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

Fellow Zimbabweans,

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

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

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

Government continues to be concerned and exercised about the escalation in prices of basic commodities. While we concede that the new monetary measures and the drought may have contributed to the current price movements, we do not believe such movements are justified in all cases. We have observed with increasing concern a tendency within the business sector to randomly increase prices without reason or cause, except that of greedy profiteering. The whole situation becomes completely unjustified and untenable when only prices of basic commodities continue to escalate against static or even declining wages. Surely a generalised price escalation should and must have a bearing on wage levels in the economy?

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

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

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

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

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

May God continue to bless our nation.

I thank you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ncube could not be reached for comment.

-Newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-ManicaPost

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By A Correspondent| Zaka East parliamentary by-election is on today and voting will begin at 7 AM ZEC officials notified people from Zaka East.

ZEC officials said everything was in place and anyone who is part of the 15+k registered voters from Zaka East should come and vote.

According to ZEC officials in Masvingo:

Everything is in place for the elections tomorrow (today), and we are happy that a very peaceful environment has been prevailing in the run up to the voting day. We have not received any reports of violence or any disturbances, so it is all systems go,’’ said Mr Pudurai.

There will be 38 polling stations across the constituency, and today (yesterday) we were busy doing rehearsals ahead of kicking off of voting.

Zanu PF will be represented by Clemence Chiduwa and MDC Alliance will be represented by Derick Charamba.

Zanu Pf has won almost all by-elections conducted after the 2018 harmonised elections except for Vimbayi Java’s Glenview Constituency.-StateMedia

A note purported to have been written by an official at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has exposed massive underhand dealings at the central bank.

The note suggested that the country was losing millions of United States dollars daily as some individuals were externalising proceeds from gold sales.

We present the note below.

All Africa.com|The recent corrective action taken by Zimbabwe’s largest plastic money payment platform, EcoCash, which saw 4 000 errant agents being suspended for illegally selling cash on high premium, is a welcome development.

However, more needs to be done to end the rot.

EcoCash’s decision shows the company’s seriousness in dealing with the rot associated with illegal cash sales on the streets.

The situation has gone out of hand with desperate commuters being forced to buy cash from the agents at extortionist rates.

Commuter operators, except for the conventional Zupco buses, are demanding fares in cash and the people are arm-twisted to buy cash from agents.

Most agents have resorted to illegally charging premiums of up to 55 percent to customers in need of cash.

So bad has become the situation that some kombi operators, retailers, wholesalers, ice cream vendors and other traders have set up illicit “cash wholesalers” where vendors get cash at lower rates ranging between 35 and 40 percent for resale on higher rates.

In simple terms, the illegal cash traders are just collecting 55 percent of everyone’s earnings.

If one wants cash for his RTGS salary of $1 000, he or she pays the agents $550 and remains with $450.

That is daylight robbery and the people of Zimbabwe should stand up and fight the illicit cash sales on the streets.

This has strained the masses who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Yes, EcoCash has played its part by firing warning shots, but it remains a fact that there is no law criminalising the conduct.

Although EcoCash agents are dominating the illicit cash sales on the streets, there are other smaller traders who just take a table and a chair and sit at an open space to sell money.

That is common practice with kombi or tuckshop owners who realise smaller amounts of cash daily and channel it to the market for a premium.

That group of cash vendors is not affected, in any way, by the corrective measures taken by EcoCash against its errant agents.

Despite the reported suspension of 4 000 EcoCash agents, there is no sign of reformation on the part of other agents who are still operating.

If the 4 000 were surely suspended, then the impact is quite insignificant as the agents continue with their illicit activities without fear.

It is also a fact that Econet also makes money out of the transactions, legal or unlawful, hence the fight cannot easily be won.

Section 14(1) of the Bank Use Promotion Act makes it unlawful to trade in cash without a licence, but it is silent on the punishment for the conduct.

To that end, it becomes clear that the conduct is unlawful, but it is not criminal. Government now needs to act with speed to ensure the conduct is criminalised.

Introduction of a law that criminalises the illicit sale of cash on the streets is the best way to go.

The proposed law must ensure such economic saboteurs are jailed for deterrence.

Most importantly, that piece of legislation, if enacted, must be fully enforced to ensure all the offenders face the wrath of the law.

If the people have a law, but the law enforcement decide to turn a blind eye on illegal cash trading on the streets, we will never win the war.

So the mere enactment of a law without willpower to enforce it, is a futile exercise.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, should also inject more notes and coins into circulation to get rid of the cash shortages.

That can be another way of managing the crisis.

https://www.facebook.com/ZimEye/videos/961845270831296/

UNITED Nations (UN) special rapporteur on the Rights of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Clement Voule this week flew into a storm as his visit coincided with the abduction of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association Peter Magombeyi amid worsening human rights violations.

Civil society groups say more than 50 people have been abducted since the beginning of the year while there has been a spiralling of the security clampdown on civil liberties since last year’s election.

Voule’s visit coincided with a doctors’ strike over the abduction.

Dr Magombeyi who was found dumped outside Harare is currently hospitalised with injuries that show that he was tortured and beaten during his five day ordeal.

Dr Magombeyi was abducted by unknown assailants last Saturday at his home in Budiriro, Harare.

The government blamed a “third force” for the disappearance that happened after the young medical practitioner led a strike against poor salaries.

While blaming a “third force”, government also alleges that the abductions were stage managed to tarnish the image of the country ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York where the issue of human rights is likely to take centre stage.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to attend the summit where Zimbabwe is expected to present a report on human rights.

Voule’s visit has rattled the state amid growing demands for explanations over Magombeyi’s abduction. The abduction led to doctors downing their stethoscopes, leading to a barrage of criticism against the government.

“I’m here at the invitation of the government of Zimbabwe to conduct a special country visit regarding my mandate which is to assess the implementation and the protection of the right to freedom of association, peaceful assembly in the country. I will be conducting these visits from today until 27 September and I will also share with you my preliminary observation of the situation in the country,” Voule told reporters on Wednesday.

The UN rapporteur is expected to meet civil society leaders, human rights groups the opposition, government officials and Mnangagwa to discuss the human rights situation in the country.

The state has a long history of abductions with no arrests having ever been made. A case in point is that of Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum chairperson Jestina Mukoko who was abducted in December 2008, only to resurface three weeks later in police custody.

Mukoko said Voule’s visit would go a long way in cleaning Zimbabwe’s bad human rights record.

“The mandate of the special rapporteur as you might be aware is to understand the situation in the country as far as these rights are concerned and make recommendations that will help strengthen the position of the country depending on what his mission will reveal,” Mukoko said.

“Indeed, he has met some human rights defenders and we believe he comes in at a critical juncture when there have been many concerns about the violation of the rights to freedoms of peaceful assembly and association.”

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet in charge of Presidential Communications George Charamba said government had underestimated the “third force”, and was finding ways of tackling it.

“There’s now awareness of the latest subterfuge which is anti-Second Republic.

The security services have gone back to the drawing board to deal with this. The intentions of this third force are to create internal instability and to affect Zimbabwe’s international rating, we can’t allow that,” he said.

Charamba said the third force is suspected to be composed of ex-Rhodesians who are working independently or with the opposition, disgruntled former members of the security services as well as elements of the G40.

In August alone, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum reported 19 cases of abduction, while the state continues to maintain a tight grip on freedom of assembly as witnessed by the banning of the MDC’s countrywide demonstrations last month.

Ahead of and during the protest ban, a spate of beatings and abductions occurred with police mounting roadblocks along major roads leading into Harare city centre, plunging the nation into an undeclared state of emergency.

Masked and heavily armed security agents have been abducting and severely assaulting opposition politicians, trade unionists and civil society leaders before dumping them at various locations.

Among the recent cases of abduction is the widely condemned kidnapping and assault of comedian Samantha Kureya who was last month seized at gunpoint, stripped naked and assaulted before she was made to drink raw sewerage.

Other abduction cases include Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure, who was kidnapped by assailants wearing black masks and armed with AK47 rifles and pistols. He was later dumped in a bushy area near Manyame Airbase in June.

Zimbabwe has a long history of abductions and torture that predate independence. In 1975 Edson Sithole and his secretary Miriam Mhlanga were abducted in Salisbury, now Harare.

Some of the people who were abducted and later found dead are Edwin Nleya, Cain Nkala, Tonderai Ndira, Abigail Chiroto and Patrick Nabanyama.

Others have however not been found to date and they include, Rashiwe Guzha, Itai Dzamara Marceline Dzumbira and Paul Chizuze, among others.

Zimbabwe is yet to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

While the UN secretariat is pushing for a universal ratification of Cat, Zimbabwe has remained out of step with the rest of the world.

Some of the 2019 class of graduating medical students at the University of Zimbabwe are reported to have proceeded to boycot their graduation ceremony at which they were due to be capped by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The move was in solidarity with hospitalised union activist Dr Peter Magombeyi, who was abducted and later dumped by suspected state security agents.

In a letter addressed to Mnangagwa on the eve of the graduation, in his capacity as the university’s chancellor, the former students who were meant to boycott the event enmass said they had resolved to boycott the graduation ceremony in solidarity with a “selfless individual who decided to put himself in the forefront in demanding a fair living wage for the health profession”.

The letter was copied to the dean of students at the medical school.

Their stance comes at a time when government through the state media and state security have been disputing that Dr Peter Magombeyi was indeed abducted.

Deputy minister of information Energy Mutodi earlier got the ire of the doctors when on his official Twitter account @energymutodi, accused doctors of being politicians and implied that the missing doctor would “sober up and find his way home”.

The withdrawal from the graduation ceremony is the first direct resistance Mnangagwa has encountered from the doctors over the abduction.

On Tuesday, doctors were barred from marching to his offices. However, on Thursday, with High Court clearance, they marched to parliament.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans in New York have vowed to protest against Mnangagwa when he arrives in the Big Apple for the UN General Assembly today.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa left for New York last night for the 74TH Ordinary Session of United Nations General Assembly, where the country is likely going to get a huge backslash over its deteriorating human rights abuses a subject which Mnangagwa deliberately did not include in his issues for presentation to the Assembly.

In his address to the nation last night, the Mnangagwa said the country would use the platform to call for the removal of the isanctions imposed on Zimbabwe forgetting that the sanctions are a result of the country’s history of gross human rights abuses.

Mnangagwa said his other key focus discussion areas will be climate change and the sustainable development goals.

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

“For us, we have a particular interest in discussions around climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. Our country, alongside three others in the region, was this last March hit by a deadly cyclone which claimed many lives; which displaced many of our people and damaged a lot of our infrastructure.

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

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

On his issue of sanctions Mnangagwa said;

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

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

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

By Own Correspondent|

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

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

Now out of sorts President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he will meet the business sector to discuss consumer price hikes.

After successfully rigging himself into power in the 2018 elections where the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has to date failed to state exactly how many votes Mnangagwa got, the President has seen the country’s economy collapse in his hands to highest inflationary levels in the last decade.

Prices Of basic commodities have gone up twenty fold since the beginning of the year when Mnangagwa through his Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, introduced the ongoing austerity measures.

Addressing the nation shortly before flying to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last night, Mnangagwa said he will be meeting with the business community about the increase in prices of basic products.

“Soon, I shall be calling for a meeting with the business community so we agree on clear ground rules which ensure fair play in the market,” he said.

“It is not the intention of Government to interfere with the operation of business.

“However, where clear failures become evident and rampant in the market, the hand of Government will inevitably show.

“To avoid this, I urge our business community to demonstrate leadership, empathy and patriotism while recovery takes root.”

President Mnangagwa said while Government acknowledges that the new monetary measures may have added to present price actions, he did not accept such actions were justified in all cases.

All along, he said, Government observed with increasing concern a tendency within the business sector to randomly increase prices without cause, except that of greedy profiteering.

“The whole situation becomes completely unjustified and untenable when only prices of basic commodities continue to escalate against static or even declining wages,” the President said.

“Surely a generalised price escalation should and must have a bearing on wage levels in the economy.”

The President appealed to the business sector to put on show leadership that takes business decisions which are professional, ethical and even compassionate.

“They must act in a manner consistent with the broader goal of economic recovery, tripartism and sustainable long-term macro-economic stability,” he said.

‘
The prevailing run-away price increases are hurting the majority of people as all basic commodities are now beyond their reach.

Since October last year when Government introduced austerity measures to turnaround the fortunes of the economy, the country has experienced a sharp increase of consumer prices.

The trend continues to date, unabated. The increases in prices and pricing models in the economy paint a nerve-wrecking picture on competitiveness.

While wages are paid in local currency, whose purchase power has been debilitated, businesses and individuals are now pegging prices of most goods and services in United State dollars or the prevailing interbank rate.

This has worsened the plight of the ordinary people who are now earning peanuts.

A volatile foreign exchange crisis hit the country this week with the rate peaking at $25 to the US dollar in the formal market by Thursday and closing the day on Friday at $18.00.

The sharp rise in the exchange rate and an inexplicable rout of the local unit caused a spike in prices of goods and services as most traders claim they peg prices against the US dollar.

Both Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and his permanent secretary Mr George Guvamatanga could not be reached for comment last night on what triggered the volatility in exchange rates, as they were not picking their mobile phones, amid wide speculation on social media and on street corners.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Deputy Governor Dr Kupukile Mlambo was also not answering his phone.

However, the market was awash with rumours that the RBZ had cracked the whip on bureaux de change and firms, thought to be fuelling the runaway exchange rate.

A statement purportedly from the RBZ circulated widely on social media yesterday suggesting the apex bank had moved to freeze the accounts of some companies.

The authenticity of the correspondence directed to banks could not immediately be verify.

Stories have been told about how people from various parts of the region used to frequent popular late traditional healer Sekuru Ndunge’s homestead in Chipinge for various consultations. It is said that people would come from as far as South Africa, Botswana and Zambia to visit the traditional healer.

The scenario at Sekuru Ndunge’s homestead reflected how people travel long distances to seek spiritual help from traditional healers.

It is a common trend among people who follow African traditional beliefs. For many years on African soil, traditional healers’ homesteads have been known to be busy meeting places.

However, the trends are shifting and evolving technology is bringing in a new phenomenon. The process of consulting traditional leaders has gone online.

The traditional leaders are supplementing their face-to-face consultations with online interactions. Personal sessions are also increasingly being augmented by telephonic and video consultations.

Many traditional healers are online and they say a spiritual connection has no boundaries.
In those early days knowing about a certain traditional healer was through recommendations from someone else and this has been replaced by online consultations where people can interact with traditional healers.

Sekuru Simba is one of the local traditional healers who operate using online platforms. He said using technology is possible in his trade because ancestral spirits are not confined to a place.

“It is a remote connection, it’s a spirit connection. The messages that come through are things that I would not have sat down and guessed. It is literally not me channelling those messages, I just pass the message that l would have received concerning that particular person,” said Sekuru Simba.

“I manifest people’s illnesses whether it is online or face to face. I connect with people’s ancestors. We are in an era where people are reconnecting with their cultural and religious beliefs.”

In an interview, founding president of Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association, an affiliate of Traditional Medical Practitioners Council, Friday Chisanyu said online sessions are helpful the most to the people more than to the Sangoma.

“Online consultations help those looking for help to easily locate the appropriate traditional healer for their particular problem. Traditional healers are now creating profiles online and they stipulate what they are good in solving, be it removing bad luck, marriage problems or witchcraft issues.

Chisanyu said digital world has helped the traditional healers to become more efficient.State media

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

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

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

His comments follow the reported abduction of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi last weekend.
The alleged disappearance resulted in health personnel striking, demanding his release, while questions were raised in many quarters on the authenticity of the said abduction, amid indications it could have been staged to tarnish the Government’s image.

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

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

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

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

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.

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 Saturday.

” 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.

By A Correspondent| Sweden has pledged to support Zimbabwe’s re-engagement agenda only if President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, had engaged for a dialogue.

In a report written by former MDC Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora, the Swedish government and Speaker of Parliament told the five-member delegation led by Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, that Zimbabwe also needed to implement intended reforms.

Mwonzora further reported that the delegation comprised of Kindness Paradza, Joshua Sacco of Zanu PF and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga of the MDC-T, himself and Mudenda had a torrid time convincing Sweden to support Zimbabwe’s re-engagement agenda.

Part of the report, that was also handed to Chamisa, read:

The ministry officials then made the following promises: That Sweden would advocate for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement only if there was dialogue between Nelson Chamisa and Emmerson Mnangagwa. It called on Zimbabwe to sort out its currency problems.

It called for specific programmes to advance gender issues, including gender budgeting, it called for programmes to make sure the people were effectively involved in the political affairs of Zimbabwe and that key reforms had to be expedited.

Mwonzora added that the Swedish parliament expressed concern over human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Mudenda confirmed that he had met with Swedish authorities but could not divulge on what had transpired. Mudenda reportedly said that a report which was still being compiled would be made available in due season.-Newsday

The ZRP wishes to advise 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.

We are waiting to talk to him once he has been discharged. As of now he said he is physically fit but we are also waiting for the results from the examination that was conducted by the doctors.

By A Correspondent-A Harare policeman who was nabbed and dragged to court for stabbing his stepdaughter was yesterday issued with a warrant of arrest after it was established that he is on the run.

Harare provincial magistrate Learnmore Mapiye granted the State’s application to have Mose Nigel Jalasi on a warrant after he failed to report at the police as stipulated in his bail conditions.

Jalasi, who was denied bail on his initial appearance, was granted bail at the High Court and was ordered to report once every Friday at ZRP Marimba.

In applying for the warrant of arrest, the State led evidence from the investigating officer Anele Mkandla who told that court that Jalasi never reported from the time he was granted bail and produced an affidavit from the Officer in Charge ZRP Marimba as well as the ‘Persons Reporting to Police’ document which Jalasi was supposed to sign whenever he reported.

Jalasi is accused of raping and later murdering his teenage stepdaughter.

Jalasi is also facing indecent assault charges where it is alleged that he, together with an alleged accomplice, drugged and sodomized a young man.

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.

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.

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.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

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- 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.

-ManicaPost

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….

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.

-StateMedia

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.

-BMetro

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.

-BMetro

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. 

-BMetro

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

USD = ZWL$14.4330
ZWL$ = RAND1.0224

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$20.50 zimrates
USD = ZWL$20.30 zwl365
USD = ZWL$20.40 bluemari
USD = BOND13.30 zimrates

More: Marketwatch

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.”

-Newsday

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.”

-Newsday

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. 

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.