By A Correspondent- Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo has said government has launched a special investigations team to delve into the abduction of the acting head of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association Dr Peter Magombeyi.

In a statement, Moyo said:

“…..The police have assured us that they have launched a special investigations team to delve into this matter which particularly has occured of the reported abduction of Dr Magombeyi, the acting head of the doctors union.

This is not only to ensure that Dr Magombeyi is delivered safe and unhurt back to his family, but in actual fact to dig deeper into the culprits and the third force responsible for this heinous crime which seems to be creeping into our society.

Indeed, this kind of crime must be nipped in the bud once and for all and hence we have been assured by the security agencies that special investigations are underway.”

Watch the video loading below for this and more………

By A Correspondent- Former Zanu Pf politburo member, Jonathan Moyo, who is now living in self-imposed exile has revealed a picture of his, and fellow G40 counterpart Saviour Kasukuwere’s children who he said were rescued by the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

Moyo said that Mugabe intervened when soldiers fired indiscriminately at the former cabinet ministers’ houses.

Clearer details have emerged on how Prof Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere escaped open gun fire on the 15th November in 2017.

Speaking in his first video recorded interview since being removed from power, Robert Mugabe in March last year said his wife, Grace saved the two.

His report perfectly corroborates with that given by Jonathan Moyo and crucial pieces dished out by his colleague Kasukuwere to South Africa based businessman, Mutumwa Mawere via telephone back in December 2017.

Mugabe said the two sent an emergency call to his wife, Grace crying, ‘please mhamha, save us!’

The two were then miraculously saved after the snipers had briefly retreated according to a separate previous report. Grace’s CIOs who had been told to die if need be, managed to travel to Kasukuwere’s house and rescue the two families of Moyo and Kasukuwere.

The two’s families were taken to Mugabe’s Blue Roof residence and kept there after which time the men were led out and given a CIO assisted exit. Corroborating on this, Jonathan Moyo says he was saved by “angels” who he also calls Mugabe’s men.

Mugabe spoke of the thrilling drama saying:

Said Mugabe, “volleys of bullets were being fired at their houses and the cry came ‘please, please’ and it was my wife ‘please mhamha, save us’, I wasn’t there,” he said.

“She said go, go and save them. Whatever happens to you I don’t know, you may die on the way, but go,” he said.

“And she put together the cars and the persons that she had. I wasn’t here and so they were brought to our house, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Kasukuwere and their families.”

Mugabe said more than 50 soldiers besieged Kasukuwere’s house, where Moyo and his family had also sought refuge after the soldiers rolled out the tanks.

The riveting details have now connected the dots on the drama that ensued shortly after Moyo was raided by soldiers while at his colleague Saviour Kasukuwere’s house. Both Moyo and Kasukuwere say they ran away from Kasukuwere’s house when the gun firing soldiers had shortly retreated from the premises (and according to Kasukuwere this after a loud alarm had temporarily scared the soldiers off.)

Moyo during his Hard Talk interview says he was assisted by people he calls “angels.”  As ZimEye reveals, Moyo further describes these angels as, “Mugabe’s people,” pointing to that the two and their families were assisted by Robert Mugabe’s personal bodyguards and taken to Robert Mugabe’s residence.

The specific incident described by Moyo in January 2018 happened on the 20th November.

At this time the army had completely and successfully taken over all strategic places of government and media, police officers overpowered, and Mugabe was refusing to resign. The army then facilitated discussions so that Emmerson Mnangagwa could negotiate with Mugabe following his expulsion. Mnangagwa’s account of this incident which he made while in Namibia is that when the two spoke on the phone for the first time, Robert Mugabe did not remember that he had fired him.

But speaking on the SABC, Prof Moyo rubbished Mnangagwa, saying Mnangagwa is misleading African governments on many things.  Said Moyo on video as ZimEye reveals, “and Mnangagwa has been going to these countries as you say; Obviously Mnangagwa, there is something he knows which many other people don’t know about his illegitimacy…but in the process he is telling a lot of stories which are humiliating the President, the former president, which are false. When he left Namibia he alleged that the President when he had a phone call with him on the 20th November couldn’t remember that he had dismissed him, which is preposterous; what he doesn’t understand is that while he was holed up somewhere making that call, the President was not making that call alone, ” says prof Moyo.

“What really should happen? Well, the African Union and SADC need to base their decision not on what the coup makers say, but on what the people of Zimbabwe say, and on what the victims of the coup say; the only legitimate way is to have a fact finding mission. You cannot have all these conclusions that it was a bloodless coup, that it was lawful, without having a process that comes down to the ground and speaks to the people who have been affected,” added Moyo

He wrote on Twitter:

“When #ZDF bullets rained on @Hon_Kasukuwere’s house in the wee hours of 15 November 2017, Cde Kasukuwere’s and my kids who were in the house survived the attack as a result of President Mugabe’s intervention & protection for some 14 days after the coup. Asante Sana! #RIPGushungo2

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe will next week hold a national measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children under the age of five, following a “dangerous” measles comeback, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed.

Vitamin A supplementation will also be administered to children during the campaign.

In a report, WHO said the vaccinations and Vitamin A supplementation will be administered to children aged between six and 59 months on September 23 to September 27.

“Ensure all children aged between six and 59 months (below five years) are taken to the nearest vaccination point during the vaccination period. Take the child health card of vaccination along with you,” read the report.

WHO expressed concern over some of the irreversible effects of measles and rubella. According to WHO, measles is a preventable highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious health complications such as lung and brain infections in children.

“Deafness, cataracts, heart defects mental retardation, and spleen damage are some of the irreversible birth defects caused by congenital rubella,” read the report.

WHO warned of a dangerous measles come back last week set to affect many countries, including in Africa, as cases have been increasing since the beginning of the year.

“Every region in the world, except the Americas, is experiencing an increase in cases of measles, a vaccine-preventable disease that can kill or disable children,” said WHO in a statement last week.

“Nearly 365 000 cases have been reported globally this year, the highest figure since 2006, which represent only a fraction of the 6,7 million suspected cases. Measles caused an estimated 109 000 deaths in 2017 as shown by recent figures.”

WHO blamed weak health systems and misinformation about vaccines for the measles comeback. It urged social media outlets and communities to make sure information about preventing the highly contagious disease is accurate.

According to WHO the biggest outbreak of measles is raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine.

How I was abducted and thrown into disused mine full of dead bodies for over 4 days… today it is me, tomorrow it could be you, Gary Thwala speaks in the below video extracted from last night’s video program

By A Correspondent- The construction of a mausoleum for the late former President Robert Mugabe has started.

Preparatory work at the site is currently under way, while work on the design is yet to be completed.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga said:

“What the nation might want to know is that work has commenced. In as far as design is concerned, yes, work is being done. The costs will only be known once we have the design.”

Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Melusi Matshiya said they were coordinating efforts with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“Yes, work is going on, but the lead ministry is that of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing when it comes to construction work,” said Mr Matshiya.-StateMedia

Doctors striking at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in Bulawayo over salaries and the alleged abduction of acting Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) leader Dr Peter Magombeyi, have warned that they will continue their strike.

The work stoppage will continue until the abducted doctor is released and paid an adequate salary, said the doctors, adding that people were “dying anyway”.

Magombeyi was reportedly abducted from his Budiriro home on Saturday night by some unknown men suspected to be state security agents.

ZHDA secretary-general Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe, addressing protesters said that if there were no salary increases the strike would continue as the government had made it impossible for doctors to continue reporting to work as their work was not appreciated.

Responding to assertions by some citizens that the doctors’ actions were selfish and put people’s lives at risk, Anele said this was not the case as people were dying anyway whether the doctors showed up for work or not.

He also claimed there were as many as 23 citizens who were being held and charged for allegedly trying to subvert the Zimbabwe government. Anele asked if the public was aware of the arrests. He said it was not only doctors under attack, but also ordinary citizens.

NewsDay|Teachers’ unions that are saying their members are incapacitated and cannot continue reporting for duty are now pursuing a political agenda to destabilise the education sector, Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima has said.

Speaking to NewsDay yesterday, Mavima said government was sincere in its drive to improve the welfare of teachers, but their unions were throwing spanners in the way.

“Government is very sincere in terms of improving remuneration of teachers. However, the problem is that some unions are now pushing a political agenda. Every time we have come up with an offer to increase salaries, they have never appreciated. They continue to reject the offers,” the minister said.

Mavima also claimed that an assessment carried by the Education ministry revealed that 95% of teachers had reported for duty since beginning of third term despite claims by unions that the educators have stopped reporting for duty as a result of incapacitation.

“We have some unions with only 98 members who are speaking against the government. However, some unions like Zimta [Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association], who have 60 000 members, are co-operating with us. Right now as we speak, an arrangement with Zimsec [Zimbabwe School Examination Council] has already been made for examinations to be conducted and teachers will be paid,” Mavima said.

Last month, teachers told Zimsec that they would only invigilate the Grade 7, “O” and “A” Level final examinations after receiving invigilation allowances.

Contacted for comment, Zimta chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said his organisation took the decision to dialogue with government to avoid confrontations.

“We believe that dialogue is the one which will give us the results instead of protests and that is the direction we are taking. We have not asked our members to boycott supervising November examinations and if other unions have taken that position I cannot speak on their behalf,” he said.

The Zimta leader, however, said teachers were now incapacitated due to devalued salaries.

“Our members, yes, they have been incapacitated since January, but we have not called for protests and, in fact, those who are going to teach at schools are doing so out of sacrifice and dedication. Our expectation is that the employer should, therefore, take that into consideration and improve remuneration,” Ndlovu said.

However, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) leader Obert Masaraure and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou roundly slammed’s Mavima’s utterances.

“Artuz remains non-partisan but committed to fighting for a fair share of the national cake for the education sector. There is absolutely nothing partisan with condemning the stealing of

$6 million meant for teaching materials and, indeed, it is above board to demand a living wage for our teachers. The political agenda being pursued by Mavima and his elite cabal is inimical to the collective aspirations of the working class. Their agenda is to preserve the national cake for themselves and condemn everyone into extreme poverty,” Masaraure said.

Zhou weighed in, saying: “Any assertion to that PTUZ is pushing a political agenda is at best a fantasy , analytically vague and vacuous, an attempt to find politics behind every rubbish bin in Zimbabwe … teachers cannot accept 60% salary increment in a country where basic commodities and fuel prices have gone up by 2 000%.”

Zhou said the examination deal alleged by Mavima was fake.

“PTUZ is not privy to Zimsec and teachers’ agreement over the conduct and marking of November examinations … It is, therefore, clear that minister Mavima and Zimsec are deliberately snubbing PTUZ for reasons best known to them,” Zhou said.

A delivery truck hit two cars before ramming into and destroying the Zimbabwe State House pre cast wall in Harare on Monday.

The incident which occurred in the afternoon resulted in authorities closing the stretch between State House and Zimbabwe House on Chancellor Avenue for hours.

According to the police, who attended the scene, no serious injuries were recorded.

The road was opened later in the day.

Byo 24

POLICE have launched investigations into the alleged abduction of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi by three unidentified armed men in Harare’s Budiriro suburb on Saturday night.

In a statement yesterday, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they received a report from an informant yesterday morning. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a report received from an informant that the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi, was on last (Saturday) night abducted by three armed unidentified men in Budiriro Suburb, Harare. The report was made at 10.20AM this (yesterday) morning,” he said,

Asst Comm Nyathi said while they were seized with the matter, they have however, noted that there was a possibility that the alleged abductions could be for political expedience.

He said they could not rule out the possibility of a third force behind the alleged abductions aimed at tarnishing the image of the country.

“We have noted with concern that previously there were a number of alleged abductions ahead of the Sadc Summit recently held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The possibility of a third force being involved in the alleged abductions for political expedience and to sustain the human rights abuse narrative ahead of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi expressed concern over the constant abuse of social media and warned that those who peddle falsehoods through social media would face the wrath of the law.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police further notes the continued abuse of social media to propagate falsehoods including the unconfirmed reports of abductions with a view of tarnishing the image of the country and in the process compromise the security and safety of Zimbabweans. The above notwithstanding, the police assures members of the public that a team is investigating the report which has been made by a ZHDA representative,” said the police spokesperson.

Yesterday morning, social media was awash with messages on what could have happened to Dr Magombeyi on the night in question.

Asst Com Nyathi urged members of the public with relevant information to contact any nearest Police Station or the National Complaints Desk in Harare on (0242) 703 631 or on their WhatsApp platform number 0712 800 197 or alternatively the Harare Operations telephone number (0242) 748 836.

The Government is concerned about reports of alleged abductions and torture of citizens by unknown assailants and is looking into the cases to ensure all citizens are treated with dignity and respect.

In a statement last month, the Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said since the emergence of the Second Republic, there has been a force comprising discharged and disgruntled former members of the old establishment who have shown determination to impair President Mnangagwa’s image and attract international outrage.

He said there were some traits that indicated that there could be a third force in the abductions of citizens that were keen to tarnish the image of the President and Government.

The latest development comes barely a month after Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya, an artiste-cum-comedienne at Bus Stop TV reported a case of kidnapping and assault allegedly by unknown masked men.

The entertainer alleged that she was dragged from home half-naked before her abductors forced her to strip naked and roll in a sewerage pond before forcing her to drink the sewage.

Private doctors in the country have also downed tools joining the strike by government employed doctors in protest over the disappearance of doctors union leader Dr Peter Magombeyi who was abducted over the weekend.

The doctors notified President Emmerson Mnangagwa of their move through a public letter read out during a demonstration at Parirenyatwa yesterday.

Watch video downloading below:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) yesterday told the High Court that there was no connection between the two security institutions and the alleged abduction of acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) Dr Peter Magombeyi.

ZRP and CIO said they are “exhaustively” investigating the matter.

Dr Magombeyi’s sister, Elizabeth, through her lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, filed an urgent chamber application for an order of “habeas corpus ad subjuciendum”.

Habeas corpus is a recourse in law through which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court and request that the court order the State to bring the prisoner to court.

The respondents in the application are Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office Owen Ncube, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and CIO Director-General Isaac Moyo.

Their lawyers, Messrs Gift Chihuta and Takudzwa Mutomba, told the court the application pointed fingers at the law enforcement agents as primary suspects in the matter while the concession was that Dr Magombeyi was abducted by unknown assailants.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabwe to have a new start after the passing on of first leader since independence, Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa took time to reflect on the legacy Mugabe left behind. While hailing him a hero and “champion of our empowerment”, he also acknowledged what needs to be done to steer the country back after the Mugabe era.

“In his memory let us set the wrongs of the world right, opposing injustice, racism and oppression. In his honour let’s continue to reform across all areas.”

Mngangagwa also called on the world to usher Zimbabweans to a promising and brighter future.

“We are engaging the world in the spirit of friendship and co-operation. As we bury an icon of the past, we invite the world to give our country the new start its people deserve, and walk us into a brighter future for our people, our region and the continent.”

The family of late former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe say they want to be compensated by his party ZANU-PF.

Mugabe’s body was on Monday in his childhood village of Kutama for a wake and body viewing by residents of Mashonaland West

Authorities and family members are still discussing how to preserve the body until his burial in around a month’s time.

A site is also being prepared for Mugabe’s body at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

The funeral service for the Zimbabwean statesman took place on Saturday and attended by sitting and retired presidents from different African countries

The Mugabe family says their hearts still bleed for the betrayal of ZANU-PF towards Mugabe when he was removed from office in 2017.

His cousin, Chidakwa says: “They must compensate our family for what they did. It’s like killing someone, when you kill someone you must compensate.”

“An apology won’t be enough, they must pay Mombe. In shona, kuRipa ngozi, they must otherwise we are not happy about the apology,” says Chidakwa.

SABC

Spotlight Zimbabwe|Recuperating Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, is reportedly going to use the country’s dreaded Joint Operations Command (JOC), to forcefully kick out President Emmerson Mnangagwa from office this according to Spotlight Zimbabwe.

Chiwenga is said to be polishing the nitty-gritties of the plan from China together with a coterie of generals in government, who now want Mnangagwa gone without further delay.

JOC is a shadowy quasi military organ, bringing together the country’s military-security complex which includes the army, and its military intelligence wing and Presidential Guard, Air Force, Police, Prisons and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to manage homeland and foreign security affairs.

According to high ranking military sources, there is now concensus among Chiwenga’s backers in the army and generals previously involved in the ouster of the late President Robert Mugabe in the November 2017, to “decisively deal” with Mnangagwa over the collapsing economy.

According to revelations said to have been unearthed by military intelligence operatives Mnangagwa was all but deforming Zimbabwe’s land reform policy by parcelling out massive tracks of land to foreign governments under the radar, in particular Belarus.

The media claims that the report indicated that Mnangagwa is also putting the security of the country’s mineral wealth at risk, by taking policy directives from the finance ministry, to allow foreign investors to own controlling stakes of up to 100 percent equity in “strategic minerals” such as platinum and diamonds.

Mnangagwa shot himself in the foot in the face of his rivals in Cape Town, during an interview he had with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the recently ended World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa where he made a tacit admission that “our economy has totally collapsed”.

Hardline securocrats warned Mnangagwa, in October last year, to urgently put the country’s economic house in order, as they feared a possible popular uprising over his administration’s new extortionate taxes, uncontrollable price escalations, and growing shortages of fuel and food.

“JOC is the ultimate power behind the curtain in Zimbabwe, and it is headed by none other than Chiwenga himself,” said a defence attache stationed with the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa.

“Get ready for the shock Moab (Mother of all bombs) in our country’s politics. The military coup that was launched against Mugabe is nothing, compared to what is coming. The VP is scheming and planning from his current base in China, to kick out the present leader, with the full support of other generals working inside government. I want you to know that the military has a very tough doctrine and we stick together. Many people in Zimbabwe are not even aware that it was the vice president who picked cabinet portfolios for retired Air Chief Marshall, Perence Shiri, at lands and retired Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo at foreign affairs, to keep the president under the scope of the military insofar as his foreign policy is concerned. The military has it’s own foreign policy, whose approach is different from government.”

Another senior official close to Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda’s office, said the ZDF chief has been the acting head of JOC since Chiwenga started leaving the country for medical treatments in South Africa, India and now China, where he directly reports after JOC meetings, and that the latest developments in pushing Mnangagwa out earlier than his resignation, which was expected before the end of August 2020, could have something to do with Mugabe’s death and what Mugabe could have told Chiwenga prior to his death.

Furthermore, Mnangagwa’s likely successor if Chiwenga decides not to takeover, former minister Saviour Kasukuwere, is believed to have either paid the VP a private visit in China or spoke to him at length on telephone about the aftermath of Mnangagwa’s regime, when he visited Singapore this month, said the official.

“Mnangagwa asked for a grace period before he can step down as president, of no later than August 2020, but it appears the sudden change of heart by the securocrats to dethrone him early, might have something to do with what the late former president Mugabe told Chiwenga about Mnangagwa, which has proved to be true,” notes the senior official.

“There are unconfirmed reports that Chiwenga and General Sibanda spoke to Mugabe and cleared the air through an emissary of the military, although it’s not apparent if they discussed about the coup. However, Mnangagwa remained stubborn as he decided to speak to Mugabe through the Central Intelllignce Organisation boss, instead of going to see him in person considering that he was Mugabe’s protégé for years.”

Local private media reports last week suggested that Mugabe had offered Chiwenga to succeed him as president ahead of Mnangagwa, at the height of the coup, but Chiwenga refused, fearing for his security, as he thought accepting the offer would put him in the crosshairs of military commanders who would view the act as betrayal, according to a private weekly.

JOC is understood to be now treating Mnangagwa’s presidency, as a threat to national security amid more disclosures that his office and the finance ministry, are allegedly mooting to clandestinely cut deals with two unnamed conglomerates over lithium and uranium deposits in the country.

“Zimbabweans will soon realise the big picture and why it is necessary for Mnangagwa to be kicked out,” intelligence sources added.

“It is not a secret that he has close ties with a mobile communications entreprenuer front, who happens to be smuggling pejorative economic policies through the finance ministry. Military intelligence has discovered many covert and rogue deals, including the fact that Belarus will soon become the biggest foreign land owner in this country. Minsk is targeting massive tracks of land for agriculture and other purposes, which are far more than the official hectares confirmed by their leader, Alexander Lukashenko.”

Belarus has become the first foreign nation to be allocated virgin land by Mnangagwa’s administration, following his tour of Eurasia in January this year, where he established a new economic cooperation with Minsk, centered on agriculture and the supply of agricultural equipment by Belarus to Harare.

According to Belarus Segodnya, a daily newspaper, Belarus has received 10 000 hectares of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe. The agro-industrial holding run by the Office of Belarus President will begin large-scale production of meat and dairy products in Zimbabwe soon. Experts from Minsk are already now in Harare to select the plots of land, test the soil and identify the type of fertilizers needed. Belarus and its team of investors have indicated an interest to developing the 10 000 hectares of land in the Kanyemba Mbire District area, located on the south bank of the Zambezi river at the extreme northernmost point of Zimbabwe at the meeting point of the Zimbabwean, Mozambican and Zambian borders.

Ironically, Mugabe put Mnangagwa in charge of JOC as chairman, in 2008 to ensure that the late veteran leader won a second round presidential ballot, when he became aware he had lost that year’s March 29 presidential election to late opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party leader and former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mnangagwa came in to replace former state security minister, Didymus Mutasa, who was his predecessor as JOC chairman.
Chiwenga has been heading JOC since December 2017, when he was first appointed VP and minister of defence and war veterans.

The Country’s Central Bank, The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has declared that it has no control of a huge amount of the foreign currency that is being exchanged in the country.

This was said by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Deputy Governor, Dr Kupukile Mlambo, who was standing in for RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya, when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee in Harare yesterday.

Dr Mlambo all but declared that the black market for the foreign currency was out performing the central bank. He said the existence of the black market was a reflection that the central bank was putting wrong incentives into the foreign currency system.

“The existence of a parallel market is a reflection of a shortage in the system or wrong incentives in the system. Clearly we have to fix that and deal with that (black) market and the best way to deal with that is to make sure the interbank rate is sufficiently priced and there is always sufficient foreign currency,” he said.

Dr Mlambo said the only way they could control the parallel market was if the RBZ had control of all the foreign currency in the market.

“The only way we can control those kinds of markets where there is a parallel market is when the Central Bank has control of all the foreign currency in the system. As things stand we don’t have control of all the foreign currency in the system, a lot of it is outside our powers or purview and we have no way of knowing where it ends,” he said.

Dr Mlambo was also taken to task over the availability of new bank notes on the parallel market yet they were in short supply in the formal banking system.

“We interact with the public through commercial banks, we don’t sell money to the public. We give money to the commercial banks and we supervise them, and they give us returns.

“But if there is evidence anywhere please let us know so that we can act but at the moment we don’t have evidence,” he said.

State Media|FORMER Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Patrick Mavhura and ex-head finance, administration and human resources manager Benenia Shumba are likely to be charged with 18 more cases involving corruption, a court heard yesterday.

This was said by the investigating officer handling the pair’s criminal abuse of office case Detective Assistant Inspector John Bvundura while testifying during the duo’s bail application at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

The State was opposing the application.

Det Asst Insp Bvundura said police were already seized with the 18 new cases.

“There are more cases with more values than the one which is before the court today, there are about 18 more counts,” he said.

“The cases were reported at CID Anti-corruption and investigations are still going on that is why they have not yet been included.

“They might abscond because they know they have other cases coming.”

Asst Insp Bvundura further stated that the seriousness of the offence was another ground that may force the duo to abscond trial.

‘‘There is overwhelming evidence as there are Memorandum of Agreements signed by Mavhura as the ZBC representative,” he said.

“They also received bank statements from advertising agents.”

The prosecutor Mr George Manokore said because of the porous nature of the country’s borders, the duo was likely to abscond if the State conceded to granting of bail.

“Mavhura is also a person of influence and some of the witnesses were under his command, so if he is granted bail he will interfere with witnesses,” he said.

Through their lawyer, Brighton Mapadza, Mavhura and Shumba had indicated that they had no other pending cases as the investigating officer failed to provide evidence of such in court.

Mapadza cited that the two are of fixed abode and have families.

He said the duo was also willing to submit their passports and abide by any reporting conditions. Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro rolled the matter over to today for bail ruling.

Allegations are that the two siphoned more than US$340 000 in advertising revenue from the national broadcaster.

According to court papers, Mavhura bought a house in Borrowdale, vehicles and other properties.

“An advertising company Total Media was asked to make advance payments of US$75 000 and US$25 000 to an Ecobank account belonging to Mugiya and Macharaga Law chambers in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$112 500 and US$37 000 respectively,” the court papers read.

“The former ZBC boss and his accomplice again entered into another agreement with Adrenalin Advertising agent who also made an advance payment of US$100 000 in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$150 000.

“Under instruction from Shumba, Adrenalin Advertising deposited the money into Mugiya and Mucharaga law chambers’ Ecobank account.”

Mavhura and Shumba left the national broadcaster early this month following the appointment of a new board.

State Media|Former principal director of State Residences in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma’s bid for freedom hit a brick wall yesterday after Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya dismissed his application for bail on the basis that there had been no changes to circumstances relating to the case.

Tapfuma allegedly abused his office by facilitating the importation of several vehicles duty-free.

In his application for bail on the basis of changed circumstances Tapfuma through his lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange submitted that the case did not constitute a serious offence and should attract a level 13 fine.

Mr Samukange told the court that the fact that a trial date for his client was now in place also constitutes changed circumstances in the matter.

Mr Samukange proposed that his client be granted $500 bail.

He also proposed that Tapfuma be ordered to reside at his given address, surrender his passport with the clerk of court not to interfere with witnesses and to report once every Friday at Waterfalls Police Station.

“Two commuter omnibuses, which are part of exhibits have been released to Kwekwe Council where they are being used as ambulances and that is also another change in circumstances,” he said.

The State led by Mr Clemence Chimbare opposed the application saying Tapfuma was a flight risk given that he now knows that a trial date for the matter has been set and that they are witnesses to testify.

Mr Chimbare told the court that Tapfuma was also likely to interfere with State witnesses now that he had been served with State papers containing witness statements.

He called the investigating officer Mr Timothy Guta to strengthen its position in opposing bail.

Mr Guta told the court that he was opposed to granting of bail to Tapfuma since investigations were still ongoing.

Mr Mujaya dismissed Tapfuma’s application saying they are no changed circumstances in the matter. Allegations against Tapfuma arose when he purchased two personal minibuses from South Africa under the guise of the Government on April 10, 2018.

On April 17, 2018 he allegedly assigned Bonani Ganyane, an officer working in the transport section of the Department of State Residences to proceed to Beitbridge and facilitate clearance of the two vehicles on behalf of the department using report order forms as if they were Government vehicles.

It is the State case that clearance of goods by report order form is a clearance procedure that is normally used by Government departments to apply for deferred clearance of goods from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

Ganyane allegedly proceeded to Beitbridge and provisionally cleared the vehicles using report order forms.

After clearing the alleged vehicles, Ganyane advised Tapfuma, who instructed him to hand the vehicles over to Vongaishe Mupereri, who at that time was National Assembly Member for Mbizo constituency.

The court heard that on April 20, 2018, Tapfuma made an application to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet requesting for duty-free certificates in the name of the President’s Department which were issued.

Tapfuma allegedly applied for duty exemption for the vehicles at Zimra which was granted. He then registered the vehicles at Central Vehicles Registry under the name of the President’s Department and started using the vehicles in his personal capacity.

The alleged vehicles were liable to pay duty amounting to US$3 180.

The court heard that on the second and third counts, Tapfuma allegedly purchased an additional of five personal vehicles between June and August last year from South Africa.

Chief Zvimba has blasted some relatives of former President Robert Mugabe who are trying to politicise his burial while tainting President Mnangagwa’s name.

Speaking to The Herald on the sidelines of a farewell ceremony at Murombedzi Growth Point yesterday, Chief Zvimba said the former President was not a chief, but belonged to the Zvimba royal family.

“Mugabe belonged to the Zvimba clan and he was a member of the Zvimba royal family and former President of this country.
“He was not a chief and the chief’s burial that you are hearing is not the truth,” he said.

“It’s a strict burial initiated by the Zvimba clan and the Government. We are working together with the Government. Whatever they want to do, they consult, so there is nothing that is done outside the requirements of the family and outside Government requirements.

“We work together with Government to the logical conclusion of the burial and there is nothing private or fishy about it. We will make the rightful announcements at the right time and there is no speculation.”
He said all those who were in exile should not confuse Zimbabweans by commenting from foreign lands, but urged them to make their contributions in person.

“I believe that Patrick Zhuwao left Zimbabwe after committing an offence. There is nothing that President ED Mnangagwa has done to chase out all those who went into exile, including Patrick Zhuwao. I can say that the guilty are afraid, ED as President has not expelled anyone from Zimbabwe,” he said.State media

MDC-Alliance members have been advised to “repent” and join the ruling Zanu-PF which enjoys overwhelming support from the generality of Zimbabweans.

The call was made by the ruling party Women’s League national political commissar Mybe Mbowa, who said the revolutionary party was the only party of choice owing to its people-oriented policies.

Addressing thousands of supporters at a star rally to drum up support for the party candidate in the forthcoming Zaka East Parliamentary by-election last week, Clemence Chiduwa, Mbowa said MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa will never lead Zimbabwe.

Mbowa said the opposition leader was doomed after going to bed with the “enemy” and will never make it to State House.

She said Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabwe forever. “I want to tell Chamisa today that this country will never be run by an opposition,” she said.

“It is better for the MDC supporters to join the big tent. Zanu-PF will rule forever.”

Mbowa said all opposition supporters should wake up and realise that there is future in Zanu-PF rather than be misled by Mr Chamisa.State media

MDC-Alliance members have been advised to “repent” and join the ruling Zanu-PF which enjoys overwhelming support from the generality of Zimbabweans.

The call was made by the ruling party Women’s League national political commissar Mybe Mbowa, who said the revolutionary party was the only party of choice owing to its people-oriented policies.

Addressing thousands of supporters at a star rally to drum up support for the party candidate in the forthcoming Zaka East Parliamentary by-election last week, Clemence Chiduwa, Mbowa said MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa will never lead Zimbabwe.

Mbowa said the opposition leader was doomed after going to bed with the “enemy” and will never make it to State House.

She said Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabwe forever. “I want to tell Chamisa today that this country will never be run by an opposition,” she said.

“It is better for the MDC supporters to join the big tent. Zanu-PF will rule forever.”

Mbowa said all opposition supporters should wake up and realise that there is future in Zanu-PF rather than be misled by Mr Chamisa.State media

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is literally buying his late boss Robert Mugabe’s body using title deeds to the deceased’s houses, it has emerged.

The latest is a development from a protracted war between the Mugabe family and Mnangagwa’s administration for the corpse ever since Mugabe died last week but one.

Last week saw the scheduled heroes’ burial which was Sunday being cancelled after the family said they would give to the government something else not the actual body, to bury.

On Thursday, Leo unequivocaly told ZimEye reports of a deal with the government to hand over his uncle Mugabe’s body were false and misleading.

The family has from day one repeatedly stood their ground saying that they will bury their loved one privately during a chief’s ceremony even journalists are not allowed to attend. WATCH BELOW the family spokesman, Leo, announcing the cancellation.

Recorded audios of meetings held between the family and the government have revealed a can of worms with Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party officials announcing that there would be repercussions if they do not get the body.

In Zimbabwe once a person is declared a national hero, especially if they served in a government capacity, their body falls into state hands.

Leo has in the latest development announced saying Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses, Blue Roof land, and Bona’s Mt Pleasant house to the former President’s family, to ensure they have decent accommodation. At a news conference in Zvimba on Sunday, Mr Mugabe confirmed that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses. “I was told by President Mnangagwa that the party will help to transfer the title deeds of the properties to the former President’s family. I do not want to jeopardise the process.” “It’s so funny the party (Zanu-PF) is the one that bought the first house in Mt Pleasant and the land on Blue Roof property. “It leaves the former President Mugabe without a house in Harare,” he said. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu, confirmed the development saying they were doing the paper work to transfer the properties. “The process is currently underway to transfer them to the (Mugabe) family,” said Dr Mpofu.

WHY DOES MNANGAGWA WANT MUGABE’S CORPSE?

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

A ZRP officer who was masquerading as a doctor after joining a strike by doctors has been exposed.

This comes after a strike by doctors across the country, over the abduction of the president for the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi.

Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.

Unfortunately for him, he was unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.Vuka Zimbabwe/Mvenge Mvenge

Farai Dziva|An MDC official was nearly killed for wearing a party t-shirt.

Below is a statement released by the MDC Students Council on the matter:

Deputy Treasurer of the MDC Students Council Timothy Mushaya was heavily assaulted on Friday the 13th of September 2019.

He was assaulted in Gweru near Club Ecite after buying a beer at around 7 in the evening.

He was in the company of a friend Moses Soko. Timothy Mushaya was wearing an MDC t.shirt when one unidentified man charged at him and started assaulting him with clenched fists. His friend tried to intervene but was also assaulted.

Another group of seven men joined in the assault saying “Vapfanha veMDC vanoda kupihwa gwara”. The group of seven assaulted the pair with fists and iron bars.

During the assault, Timothy Mushaya was robbed of a US $20 note and house keys of where he rents as a student. He sustained injuries from the attack.
Timothy Mushaya and his friend then proceeded to Gweru Central Police Station where they reported the case.

The police officers initially refused to entertain the matter.

They instead chased the pair away saying “nyaya dzePolitics dzinonetsa, saka vapfanha ibvai pano!” Mushaya and colleague remained adamant and they reported the matter. However, since Friday the perpetrators have not been brought to book despite the fact that they are regularly seen drinking at Club Ecite.

Inserted by

Tamuka Gurure

MDC Students Council Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Mining giant Falcon Gold’s woes continue to mount after its total comprehensive loss for the six months to March 31, 2019 skyrocketed by 1 519% to $27 million.

According to its unaudited interim consolidated results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2019, Falgold’s losses amounted to $27 million against $1,7 million reported in the same period last year.

It recorded a net working capital deficit of $11 million, up 68% in the comparable period and negative equity of $44 million.

“The group continues to incur losses. The increase in total comprehensive loss is mainly due to foreign exchange losses amounting to $23 917 228,” the group’s chairperson, Ian Saunders said.

The group produced 1 849 ounces of gold in the period under review, with an average sale price of US$1 350 per ounce on the sale of 1 961 ounces of gold, compared to 1 920 ounces of gold recorded in the same period last year at an average sale price of US$1 321 per ounce.

Gold production decreased by 71 ounces or 3,7% in 2019, compared to 2018.

Mineral production expenses increased to $5 million.

“The board and management, with the assistance of the majority shareholder, are exploring options for additional US$2,5 million to US$3m of funding to enable repair of the mill and resuscitation of mining operations, but have not finalised the funding structure,” he said.

In its statement to shareholders accompanying the September 30, 2018 year-ended financial statements, the group reported that there was a catastrophic engineering failure of the main operating mill at Golden Quarry Mine, which had adversely affected production and cash flows.

Saunders said termination of power supplies by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company further compounded the problems.

“As a result of this and other cash flow challenges, the Golden Quarry Mine has not been operational. Management has undertaken a full impact assessment and is evaluating various options to deal with the situation including either repair, refurbish or outright replacement of the mill,” he said.

“Notwithstanding the mill failure, to date the funding required to execute the 2019 budget has not been provided and discussion with the company’s majority shareholder are ongoing.”

In the outlook, Saunders said there have been some positive developments in the operational macro environment for the mining industry compared to previous years, although the tax regime remains unfavourable.

He said the gold price has remained favourable and was predicted to continue the upward trend in the foreseeable future.

“The power supply situation remains unstable, although it is believed that there could be some improvements going forward with the mining industry set to be on dedicated power supply,” he said.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman claims her husband’s girlfriend has been tormenting her by sending her text messages telling her that her husband is good in bed.

Rosemary Kambiya opened up at the Harare Civil Court where she accused Petronella Shumba of insulting her after snatching her husband.

“It’s been two months now and my husband has not been coming back home staying at his girlfriend’s place.

“The girlfriend has been calling me and sending text messages informing me how good my husband is.

“We stay in the same neighborhood and she has been visiting my place of residence to see my kids when I’m not around.

“She insults me whenever she sees me in public saying I am not responsible,” said Kambiya.

She added: “She has been telling my husband that the pregnancy I am carrying doesn’t belong to him.”

Petronella denied ever insulting Rosemary though she has been dating her husband.

“I have been seeing her husband for a year now and he promised to marry me.

“We started dating when they had separated so she came back when she realised that she was pregnant.

“I suggest being the second wife because I have been dating him for a long period of time and my relatives know him since I was also introduced to his parents,” said Petronella.

She added:

“She is lying that I have been insulting her because she is the one who has been visiting my house threatening to kill me if I don’t leave her husband.”

Presiding magistrate Nyasha Marufu ordered Petronella not to insult or harass Rosemary.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- At least seven armed robbery suspects have been arrested as the net closes fast on rabid criminal gangs that have hit several houses and businesses in Manicaland, looting hundreds of thousands in foreign currency, vehicles and a litany of valuables.

The marauding thugs, who are usually armed with pistols, machetes and iron bars, have in some of the cases gang raped victims.

As the robbers struck with reckless abandon, residents quacked in their shoes with many quickly turning their dwellings into strongholds to protect themselves from the criminals.

One of the suspects who masterminded heists in Chipinge has since been slapped with a 36-year jail sentence after he was convicted of three counts.

Officer Commanding Manicaland Police, Commissioner Dr Wiklef Makamache said a specialised crack team has since been put in place to deal with the robberies.

He said detectives were hot on the heels of the remaining suspects who would be rounded up soon.

“This special crack team is made up of officers who have special skills regarding this type of crime. They have since posted good results as evidenced by the arrest of these suspects,” he said.

“If you look at the profile of these suspects you will see that most of them are foreigners to Manicaland, who come from Harare and Chitungwiza to rob people here with the aid of a few local criminals. As such, we have sat down with traditional leaders and advised them to be mindful of new faces that come to seek shelter in their villages.”

Dr Makamache said the courts were speedily dealing with armed robbery cases as well as placing in remand prison some of the suspects who usually run away from justice after being granted bail.

“With the good relationship we are enjoying with the courts, we are on the right course to decisively deal with these robberies and put an end to this vice,” he said.

Detectives in Mutare recently arrested two suspects who confessed to executing robberies in the city, Penhalonga and Odzi.

“We are not going to unmask their identities as this will jeopardise ongoing investigations.

“Some of the complainants have come up and positively identified these suspects as the criminals who robbed them. They have confessed to some of the crimes and named accomplices they teamed up with to commit the crimes.

“They are giving us useful information that will definitely help us bring all involved culprits to book,” said a member of the crack team who requested anonymity.

Two more suspects who are linked to robberies in Manicaland have been arrested in Gweru and four more suspects are in remand prison in Bulawayo.

Efforts are in progress to transport them here and make them stand trial for crimes committed in this province.

The 28-year-old Chipinge suspect, Prosper Mwafaune, was last week slapped with a 36-year jail term for conniving with Harare-based armed robbers to pounce on three complainants in the district and vanished with money and valuables.

Mwafaune of Musapingura Village under Chief Musikavanhu appeared before regional magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing robbery charges.

He pleaded guilty to all the three counts.

Public prosecutor Mr Themba Dhliwayo said Mwafaune committed the crimes with five other suspects who are still in remand prison.

The State proved that on May 28, the gang which was armed with two pistols, iron bars and knives pounced at Mapuranga homestead.

“They pretended to be police officers and demanded to see Jacob Mapuranga. During the commotion they pointed the firearms at the victims and demanded cash.

“They assaulted everyone at the homestead and ransacked the house in search of cash. The gang took a bag containing various clothing items worth $750,” he said

Mr Dhliwayo said in pursuant to their mission, the gang organised another robbery.

“On June 10, the gang went to Zivachako homestead at Kondo Business Centre. They jumped over the precast wall and manhandled two male adults who were sleeping in the veranda.

“The criminals then manhandled the businesswoman Pamela Penyakufa and force marched her into her bedroom. They took US$24 000, R44 200 and RTGS$2 859 and went away,” he said.

Mr Dhliwayo said the gang then committed another robbery the following week at Chibuwe Business Centre.

“On June 28, the suspects pounced on Samuel Maadza’s homestead and stole R186 000 and RTGS$17 000,” he said.

Mr Dhliwayo said detectives managed to find a call history on one of the culprit’s cell phone and established that Mwafaune was the one who came up with the targets.

Of the sentence three years were suspended on condition of restitution and more three years were set aside on condition of good behaviour.-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- Four Grade Three pupils at Mafakela Primary School in Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb were on Friday rushed to hospital after they were injured when the roof of two classroom blocks was blown away by a whirlwind.

The incident occurred at about 2PM and the pupils were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital.

Acting Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Mrs Olicah Kaira, who attended the scene, revealed that the four pupils suffered minor tissue injuries.

“We are at Mafakela Primary School where a whirlwind has just blown off roof tops from two classrooms. About five asbestos sheets were blown off from two classrooms. As a result four of our Grade Three learners who were still in school sustained minor soft tissue injuries but no one else was injured in the process. The pupils were attended by paramedics before being rushed to Mpilo (Central Hospital) for treatment,” said Mrs Kaira on Friday.

“Some of the parents came to the school panicking as they suspected that their children had died following the whirlwind incident. However, they found that it’s not as serious as they thought. I guess the response from the three ambulance teams could have triggered them to panic because the incident created a hive of activity at the school as concerned parents rushed to the institution. But we want to assure them that their children are safe despite the natural accident.”

She expressed gratitude to emergency teams for their quick response in attending to the scene.

Mrs Kaira said the old school structure could have led to the roof succumbing to the whirlwind.

Last year in November, seven pupils at Maranatha High School were injured after a whirlwind blew off the roof of a newly constructed double storey building.

Shoddy workmanship was cited as the reason for the roof’s collapse.

— Chronicle

By A Correspondent- Some Ecocash Agents are reportedly charging about 60% for every transaction conducted by their customers. These charges are outside the system hence unofficial.

The new charges mean that if one had $100 in his or her Ecocash wallet, they would get less than $50 in cash.

It is also worth noting that the charges vary for coins and notes. The coins which are now being rejected in some shops are cheaper than notes.

The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has however revealed that it is instituting investigation into the operations of Econet’s Ecocash platform which it said was fleecing citizens.

Said the ZACC:

“We are concerned about the volumes of isolated of reports we have received in connection @EcoCashZW agents manulating the cash ecosystem to their unfair advantage by selling cash & at prohibiting rates. We are aware that this practice is enabled & supported at a systematic level.

An investigation has been opened which must determine and charge the real perpetrators behind this rot. We hope that @econetzimbabwe and @ReserveBankZIM will also look into this seriously to bring an urgent and lasting solution.

We believe that in order to effectively fight corruption, all avenues that promote corruption regardless of size must be shut with urgency and we look forward to work with all stakeholders in such scenarios to actively close these pilferage opportunities.”

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer who joined the doctors’ protest as a medical health practitioner has been exposed.

The official, joined the protesting doctors who were marching to hand over a petition seeking to push government for the release of the ZHDA acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi who was reportedly abducted on Saturday.

Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.

He was however unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.

HIGH Court Judge Justice Edith Mushore on Monday ordered who ever is holding Dr Peter Magombeyi, the leader of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) to immediately release him or bring him to the High Court within 48 hours and for Home Affairs and State Security Ministers to determine his whereabouts and set up a team of investigators to search for him at all places in Zimbabwe.

Justice Mushore granted the order after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Dr

Magombeyi’s family and from representatives of the respondents who include Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema and Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office Owen Ncube, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation Isaac Moyo.

The hearing came after Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday.

Justice Mushore ordered the team of investigators to furnish human rights lawyers Alec Muchadehama, Tinomuda Shoko and Paidamoyo Saurombe from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, representing the Magombeyi family, with a report of the progress of their probe.

Hon. Mathema and Hon. Ncube were also ordered to advertise details about Dr Magombeyi, the missing President of ZHDA, on all State-run print and broadcast media including ZTV, The Herald and The Chronicle, to determine his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, medical doctors and nurses on Monday 16 staged a protest in Harare and served a petition of President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressing concern about the abduction of Dr Magombeyi and advised him that they had withdrawn their services in protest against the ill-treatment of the ZHDA leader.

At High Court, human rights lawyers expressed solidarity with the protesting medical practitioners and condemned the pervasive practice of abductions and enforced disappearances.

IOL|Zimbabwe is serious about pursuing political and economic reforms and deserves international support, its foreign minister told Reuters on Friday.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a different approach when he replaced longtime ruler Robert Mugabe after November 2017 coup, but he has found it hard to revive economic growth and faced criticism over a heavy-handed response to protests.

Mugabe’s death last week aged 95 has made some people question what Mnangagwa has achieved in his two years in power.

“The international community needs to understand and nurse this country. This country has suffered for the past two decades,” Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo said in an interview.

“This is the time when it must be supported in its reforms.”

Mnangagwa’s government has taken steps to relaunch the Zimbabwean dollar, cut the budget deficit, remove subsidies on fuel and power and repeal laws curbing public and media freedoms.

But the currency reforms and austerity measures have compounded ordinary people’s hardships in an economy where unemployment is estimated to be as high as 80 percent. The opposition says it is being denied the right to protest peacefully.

On Friday, Zimbabwe’s central bank raised its overnight borrowing rate to 70 percent from 50 percent after a surge in inflation and a steep fall in the domestic currency.

Moyo, a former army general and Mnangagwa loyalist, said the government would strengthen social safety nets to cushion the impact of austerity measures and seek to recover public funds “where there was clear-cut evidence of pilfering”.

He said the authorities would not use excessive force to control protests and that there was no blanket ban on demonstrations staged by the main opposition group MDC.

“This country is undertaking all these reforms, with all the painful processes which are taking place, without any form of support from outside. No lines of credit, no balance of payments support, nothing,” Moyo said.

“We are a sincere government in delivering the necessary reforms and freedoms.”Reuters

Zimbabwean industrialists and economists say the current shortage of maize meal and the subsequent astronomical price increases of basic goods are being caused by the Competitions and Tariffs Commission’s (CTC) interference in the manufacturing sector’s self-regulatory initiatives.

CTC recently banned millers from monitoring prices of their products saying that they (millers) were creating cartels.

Millers, through their apex body, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) in May signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers whereupon the two parties agreed on a model pricing system of basic commodities.

Products whose prices millers were monitoring included maize meal, self-raising flour, rice and salt.

The association said the price monitoring programme was meant to protect consumers from being short-changed by unscrupulous retailers.

However in July this year, CTC suspended the exercise saying that it intended to investigate the possibility of cartels that could emerge from initiatives where producers of goods and services set recommended price ranges of goods and services.

As a result of this, the country is now having an acute shortage of maize meal which millers attribute to holding of the commodity on prices for speculative purposes by retailers.

Where maize meal is found, the commodity is being sold at exorbitant prices which are beyond the reach of the ordinary person.

Speaking at the state of the economy breakfast meeting organised by a local daily in Harare on Thursday, Dr Gift Mugano, the Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) executive director said CTC was being anti-people.

“The CTC must be flexible and must move in tandem with events happening in Zimbabwe. Yes they have an Act but in as much as they have the role of implementing the Act, they must also consider the international experience in dealing with prices in this kind of the environment which is volatile, said Mugano.

He said there was no competition to talk about in a free market economy.

“How do you allow competition to take place when there is a shortage? The market will fail definitely! So we have seen that it is a basic practice globally even in South Africa. Even here (in Zimbabwe), we used to see Coca Cola putting the price on the trucks that the drink of Coca Cola costs $0.40 and that was self-regulation and the CTC was quiet about it. But right now the millers have come up with a mechanism of a value chain approach to bring in moral suasion in pricing of commodities and CTC is saying we have a mandate of avoiding connivance and cartels.

“It’s really a question of value chain approach, a negotiation to say that we should allow a situation where people go into a rent seeking behaviour and what is now happening is that some retailers are charging prices which are astronomical and you can see this.

“If you can just do window shopping, that one is five times more than the other on the same product and the same CTC is sleeping.

“They are not going there and investigate unfair pricing, but when the industry wants to self-regulate.

“In any way, the Consumer Council Act which is coming into play will allow industrial self-regulation. So if they continue with that they are going against the current legislative process which is being put by the government”.

“So they need to go in tandem with the reality on the ground so that we can be able to deal with this inflation. What is very fundamental is that we need a social contract. So if you think of a national tripartite forum where you think of a social contract, what is it? Its moral suasion to dealing with things which are affecting the country. So self-regulation is part of a mantra of a social contract. So in all areas they (CTC) are off-side and they are actually going against the social contract that is being pushed by the government,” he said.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZI) president Henry Ruzvidzo said by self-regulating itself, the industry was avoiding wanton price increases.

“In my view, with the challenges that we are facing which are unusual for any country we probably need to introspect,. We need to go back to the basics and do what works and not just apply the rules that are perhaps sometimes applicable to a better functioning economy.

“So the initiative by the milling industry to try and self-regulate and control the events that are happening in the economy, perhaps what should be happening is there should be more discussions held with the authorities on how that can also work without infringing on the issues of competition,” he said.

Commenting on the same issue, Eve Gadzikwa, the Director-General and Secretary to the Standards Association of Zimbabwe said old management practices were suffocating the economy.

“We now need a mind-set change and management change programme starting from the top and the tone must be set right from the top and it must be cascaded right down through to the last person in this country so that this vision we can realise it for all the sectors across the board,” she said.

GMAZ deputy chairman Masimba Dzomba said it it were not because CTC suspended their price monitoring programme, retailers would not be holding maize meal for price speculative purposes.

“Although the allocations we are getting are lower than normal, they cannot, however, explain the shortages of maize meal being experienced. We strongly believe that maize meal is being transferred to further parts of the Southern region where there the product is being sold in Rands.

“We were able to trace this unethical practice through our Price and Commodity monitoring programme until recently when the exercise was banned by the Competitions and Tariffs Commission, and it’s unfortunate that the consumer is now exposed,” he said.

However, repeated attempts to seek comment from CTC director Ellen Ruparaganga were not successful.

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is literally buying his late boss Robert Mugabe’s body using title deeds to the deceased’s houses, it has emerged.

The latest is a development from a protracted war between the Mugabe family and Mnangagwa’s administration for the corpse ever since Mugabe died last week but one.

Last week saw the scheduled heroes’ burial which meant for Sunday being cancelled after the family said they would give to the government something else not the actual body, to bury.

On Thursday, Leo unequivocaly told ZimEye reports of a deal with the government to hand over his uncle Mugabe’s body were false and misleading.

The family has from day one repeatedly stood their ground saying that they will bury their loved one privately during a chief’s ceremony even journalists are not allowed to attend. WATCH BELOW the family spokesman, Leo, announcing the cancellation.

Recorded audios of meetings held between the family and the government have revealed a can of worms with Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party officials announcing that there would be repercussions if they do not get the body.

In Zimbabwe once a person is declared a national hero, especially if they served in a government capacity, their body falls into state hands.

Leo has in the latest development announced saying Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses, Blue Roof land, and Bona’s Mt Pleasant house to the former President’s family, to ensure they have decent accommodation. At a news conference in Zvimba on Sunday, Mr Mugabe confirmed that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses. “I was told by President Mnangagwa that the party will help to transfer the title deeds of the properties to the former President’s family. I do not want to jeopardise the process.” “It’s so funny the party (Zanu-PF) is the one that bought the first house in Mt Pleasant and the land on Blue Roof property. “It leaves the former President Mugabe without a house in Harare,” he said. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu, confirmed the development saying they were doing the paper work to transfer the properties. “The process is currently underway to transfer them to the (Mugabe) family,” said Dr Mpofu.

WHY DOES MNANGAGWA WANT MUGABE’S CORPSE?

Being in Harare in the past two weeks has been quite an experience. The Mugabe era has finally closed and he has been sent off to wherever he is destined by the country in a dignified and even spectacular manner.

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

But whatever you think about the man, he was at the very centre of this country’s history for longer than any other leader in our history. Just for once let’s consider the contribution of the men who have made this part of the world what it is today.

First the leaders who led the historical migration from north Africa of the people who settled and built Great Zimbabwe and established a kingdom that dominated the region for over 500 years.

Then the man who led another migration – this time from the south in the form of Mzilikazi who brought thousands of his people to settle in and around a place he called Gubulawayo or the ‘Place of Slaughter’.

By the time these migrants arrived, the Monomutapa Kingdom was long gone and all that remained were signs of their activities in stone structures built across the country and evidence of a community that had traded across the world and was known as being rich in gold.

The new migrants were very different in culture and language. A tribal group with a military history who dominated the southern regions of Africa and were destined to be defeated in South Africa by the Boers and in Zimbabwe, by the Settlers who came to the country in 1893.

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

Then the long shadow of Rhodes, never really recognised as a national leader, Rhodes was a global colossus in every way. He died at the age of 49, spent less than 25 years in Africa but has had an influence that continues even today.

He founded 73 companies – two of which, even now, are in the top 500 firms internationally. He fixed the boundaries of Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Congo, Lesotho and Botswana.

He was Prime Minister of the Cape and a confidant of Kings. Whatever you think of the man – he was a towering figure in his day and has had global influence. In many ways his shadow continues to lie across the sub-continent.

Then Lord Malvern, Prime Minister of Rhodesia for 37 years – the longest serving Prime Minister in the Commonwealth. A medical doctor professionally, he led the country through the Second World War and into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

He dominated the country politically by a canny combination of co-option of his opponents and carefully protecting the interests of the small but dominant white population. At the same time, he used our position in the Commonwealth and the Sterling Zone to create a small but competitive economy based on its mines and farms.

Under his long leadership, the countries white population thrived and in their own way made a global contribution becoming leaders in both agriculture and mining and establishing a monetary and fiscal system that made the Rhodesian currency one of the strongest in the world.

In addition, albeit too slowly, Malvern created a small but sophisticated system of schooling for black Rhodesians which eventually produced the leadership of the Nationalist movement which ultimately prevailed and brought Zimbabwe to Independence.

Then Ian Smith. He led Rhodesia for 17 years and was responsible for a spirited attempt to stop history. He failed but not for want of trying and the one thing he was skilled and adept at was how to secure and maintain the trust of the local white population.

The black Community had begun demanding a greater say in how the country was run in 1949 when the emerging leadership led a national strike. This was followed by the creation of Zanu and Zapu under leadership that was to dominate the country after Independence in 1980.

This led inevitably to the liberation struggle which really started in 1962 when the armed struggle was launched by Zapu. This intensified in 1972 when the first Zanla guerrillas entered the country and launched the phase of the war that would eventually lead to Independence in 1980.

The Americans classified the Rhodesian war as a ‘low level guerrilla conflict’ but that hardly describes the heroic but futile attempt by the tiny white settler community that had dominated the country and even the region since 1893, to hold onto power.

The story of the heroism of both sides in this conflict is impossible to tell without engendering feelings of hostility and anger, even today, but that does not deny its truth. But was it worth the sacrifice many asked, when after thousands of casualties and hardship the Rhodesians won all the battles but lost the war.

My own personal view is that the Kissinger intervention in September 1976 saved the country from a savage transition that would have made the country a ruin.

Smith called it the ‘Great Betrayal’ and even Kissinger confessed in his biography that it was a task he took little pleasure in but felt it was necessary to bring this senseless conflict to a halt.

And then Mugabe. The real story of how he came to power in 1980 when in fact he had not played a significant role in the armed struggle and had even been a relatively junior member of the group of National leaders who had negotiated Independence at Lancaster House in 1979.

But that is history. The issue today is what did he do with that task that was handed to him by history and international intervention in 1980.

The record is mixed, at best. No doubt he gave black Zimbabweans dignity and pride and opportunity. In the early days of Independence, we built a new school every day, every District got a Hospital, all institutions were integrated and the task of creating a national army out of the tens of thousands of men who had carried arms in the war was successfully completed.

Every significant town got a Polytechnic and 14 Universities were created. Life expectancy rose in 20 years to 63, literacy to 95 per cent and hundreds of thousands of young people graduated with skills and knowledge that has made them a hot commodity the world over. Today 10 000 Zimbabweans teach mathematics in South Africa.

But always there was a dark side – the Genocidal campaign against Zapu to create a one Party State, the crushing of all opposition until the Labour Unions formed the MDC in 1999.

The harsh cruelty of Murambatsvina where half of the men who were evicted in mid-winter from their homes, died. The thousands killed in the campaign to try and crush the MDC and the steady stream of unexplained fatalities that all seemed to point to the assassin. Even his close associates were not protected.

In his determination to dominate, to control and to make sure his power was never challenged, Mugabe wrecked the economy and left us with a currency that was worthless, a lower standard of living than we had at Independence, a whole raft of failed institutions – hospitals without drugs and even cleaning materials, schools without chalk and an infrastructure that barely functions.

He left us with unsustainable debts and crushing international isolation. On balance I think he will be judged as the leader who failed his country and his people.

So that is how we got here and where is that? This is a small country – its population is less than many mega cities and its total GDP less than the garbage collection budget of New York.

But our potential in terms of human and natural resources is enormous and we need now to harness that potential to make sure that our leadership that has the task of taking us into the future does better than those who have made us who we are. That is not the task of one, it is our responsibility and I am excited to be able to play a small part.

The United States of America Embassy in Harare says the government must take proactive stance in protecting citizens against the wave of abductions that is sweeping across the country.

The Embassy was reacting to reports that one Dr Peter Magombeyi was abducted by unknown assailants on Saturday.

The Embassy said, “Since January more than 50 civil society, labor, and opposition leaders have been abducted in Zimbabwe. No arrests have been made. We urge the government to take action & hold perpetrators of these human rights violations accountable.”

The doctors have since gone on an indefinite strike until Magombeyi is returned to his family.

ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu questioned if the Embassy knows anything regarding the abductions.

You might have a very good plan but the plan might not work in Zimbabwe Sir. All of a sudden there is a chain of ‘abductions’ in our country and you’re the one to make the loudest noise, what’s going on Sir?

Flamboyant Mpumalanga businessman Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala, who faces charges of corruption, has been granted R200,000 bail on Monday.

Judgment on his bail application was handed down in the Witbank magistrate’s court where he is facing charges of corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry, departing and remaining in the borders of South Africa, and providing false information to be granted entry into the country.

During judgment on his bail application, magistrate Mdumiseni Mavuso said the state allegations that Chabalala was a dangerous individual could not be proven.

“The state did not give details on why it claimed that the applicant is dangerous,” Mavuso said. “Based on the evidence his [Chabalala] lawyers presented, it seems as if he has strong family and business ties in South Africa. There is no evidence he has family outside the borders of the Republic and it is unknown if he has business and family ties outside of South Africa.”

Mavuso said due to the strong ties that Chabalala has in SA, he does not consider him a flight risk.

“The state further alleges that he planned the assassination of a witness. This too could not be proved. The court does not have proof that he will assassinate a witness,” Mavuso said.

His matter was postponed to November 22 for further investigation.

Dressed in a Gucci jacket and a black pair of jeans, the 27-year-old appeared relieved and celebrated with his supporters before making his way down into the holding cells.

Mshengu, as he is popularly known, shot to national prominence in July when he took a 72-car convoy to the Durban July event. Pictures of his convoy of expensive cars went viral on social media. Most of them had personalised number plates with the name “Sam” on them.

He was arrested by the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation team at an eatery in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, after he allegedly paid home affairs officials a bribe to stop a probe into how he obtained his SA citizenship.

The High Court will on Monday hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a missing medical doctor seeking an order compelling Zimbabwean authorities to account for the whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi, after he was abducted by some unknown assailants on Saturday.

Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi on Sunday filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary including advertising on all State-run print and broadcast media to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who is the President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, after he was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday.

Elizabeth, who is represented by Roselyn Hanzi, Alec Muchadehama, Tinotenda Shoko and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation as respondents to the application.

Elizabeth wants the High Court to order the setting up of a team of investigators, to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for Dr Magombeyi at all places within Zimbabwe as may be reasonably practical, and report on such search to the Registrar of the High Court, on every alternate Friday.

She also wants the respondents to be ordered to inquire from, and where necessary obtain any such information as may be necessary for the investigations from mobile service operators of Econet to try and locate Dr Magombeyi through tracing the mobile numbers that were on his person at the time of his abduction and mobile phone number +263 782 645 911 used to send him messages on 28 August.

Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

The government has reportedly told the family of the late former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe to pay for $2.5 million for catering services provided by Nyaradzo Group for Mugabe’s funeral.

Zim Morning Post reports that the government asserts that the family of the former ZANU PF boss contracted Nyaradzo without government approval.

The publication also notes that the government usually hires Doves Funeral for Heroes’ burials. An unnamed who spoke to Zim Morning Post said:

The family wanted Nyaradzo because of the quality of services yet government says it only has a contract with Doves to provide services for the Heroes.

Government, through Home affairs, also provides catering services so it has since said the Mugabe family should settle the Nyaradzo bill which is likely to run into millions.

Since Wednesday, Nyaradzo has been providing meals at the Blue Roof and for the past five days the bill is at ZW$2,5 million.

This is likely to go even higher because Mugabe family says the veteran leader will only be buried after 30 days as they have requested the construction of a mausoleum at the Heroes Acre.

What is disturbing is that the bill has been handed to Home affairs who in turn say they never contracted Nyaradzo Group

An anonymous top Home Affairs ministry official told Zim Morning Post that government was not going to pay for the services since they did not contract Nyaradzo.

Nyaradzo Group also said that they were dealing with the Mugabe family, not the government.

Farai Dziva|The MDC says it is ready for the coming Zaka East by-election scheduled for September 21.

Said the party in a statement :” Upcoming elections -MDC Alliance candidate Dereck Charamba is contesting in the Zaka East, Masvingo by-election on 21 Sept, if you are a registered voter please go and support your incoming MP.

Victory is certain!

MDC@20 ‘celebrating 20 years of courage, growth and people’s victories.”

16 September 2019 (For immediate release)

SUBJECT: ABDUCTION ZIMBABWE HOSPITAL DOCTORS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is shocked by reports of the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President, Dr. Peter Magombeyi on Saturday, 14 September 2019.

It is reported that Dr. Magombeyi was abducted by three unidentified men and he has not been seen since. Before his kidnapping, he had received a life threatening message from an unknown source. Dr Magombeyi has been at the forefront in fighting for better working conditions for all doctors in the country.

The ZCTU is appalled by what appears to be a clear and systematic pattern and upsurge of threats and abductions of civic organisation and trade union leaders who voice their concerns against the poor working conditions.

We have witnessed recently the abduction of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, (ARTUZ) President, Obert Masaraure in the same fashion.

Death threats and letters with bullets were also recently sent to the ZCTU President Peter Mutasa and Secretary General, Japhet Moyo after they had indicated that the ZCTU was planning a demonstration.

It is clear to the ZCTU that there is a specialized and well sponsored group of hooligans that has been employed to carry out dirty work on behalf of those in authorities to intimidate, kidnap and torture human rights defenders.

Once again, the ZCTU demands an environment that is conducive for freedom of association and assembly where every Zimbabwean can discharge his or her duties without fear of being arrested, tortured or abducted.

Sylvester Mutindindi
ACTING SECRETARY-GENERAL

A ZRP officer who was masquerading as a doctor after joining a strike by doctors has been exposed.

This comes after a strike by doctors across the country, over the abduction of the president for the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi.

Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.

Unfortunately for him, he was unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.Vuka Zimbabwe/Mvenge Mvenge

Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa believes Zimbabwe is now a banana republic.

Chamisa made the remarks after the abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi.

Said Chamisa: I pray for the return of Dr Peter Magombeyi,the President of the Doctors Association who was abducted on Saturday night.

We can’t build a united nation when our doctors are underpaid and abducted when they raise legitimate concerns.

It shows a lack of consent to govern!

The State can’t claim not to know where Dr Magombeyi is,it has a duty to protect citizens.Failure to do so points towards an incapable or incompetent State or both.Citizens can’t live in fear of being abducted, moreso for expressing their rights.This defines a banana republic!”

Dr Magombeyi was abducted by suspected state security agents.

LIVE scenes at Zvimba on Monday: In the video below, a military pastor asks Zimbabwe’s leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for… “how can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?”

FULL LIVE VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

LIVE scenes at Zvimba on Monday: In the video below, a military pastor asks Zimbabwe’s leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for… “how can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?”

FULL LIVE VIDEO LOADING BELOW…