Below are key highlights into what Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo said concerning the suspected abduction of Hospital Doctors Association President, Peter Magombeyi:
– SB MOYO IDENTIFIES THE CRIMINALS WHO ABDUCTED MAGOMBEYI AS “THE THIRD FORCE”
– THE THIRD FORCE ACTS AGAINST PEACE, NOT SO MUCH “AGAINST THE LAW”
– SB MOYO IDENTIFIES THE CULPRIT AS A THIRD FORCE, NOT THE OWNER OF THE PHONE NUMBER: 0786645911 (phone which issued a threat to Dr Magombeyi via sms just before he went missing on Saturday night.)
– BUT JUST HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO IDENTIFY THE OWNER OF THE PHONE NUMBER?
WATCH THE BELOW SHORT INVESTIGATIVE:
Former president Robert Mugabe’s son in law Simbarashe Chikore yesterday left the court a free man after he was acquitted of unlawful detention charges following the granting of his review at the High Court.
Chikore, who was appearing with his alleged accomplice Simbarashe Mutimbe, was found not guilty by Justice Zhou after his lawyer Jonathan Samkange appealed against the dismissal of his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Chikore had been remanded to yesterday pending finalization of the High Court appeal and appeared before the trial magistrate Victoria Mashamba who then pronounced the High Court ruling releasing him for good.
Chikore’s accomplice, whose appeal is still to be heard was granted a postponement to allow finalisation of proceedings at the High court, was remanded to October 15 after his lawyer told the court that the State was consenting to their application hence is appearing on the unopposed roll.
The duo were accused of unlawfully detaining Bertha Tsitsi Zakeyo at the Zimbabwe Airways premises in Chishawasha last year.
Miriro Shumba appeared for the State.
Antony Taruvinga|Abducting a Doctor, not a politician but a life saver, is the worst form of desperation.
It’s a satanic act and must be condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans.
All claims of “abductions by third force” are lies. Zanu PF thrives on suppressing any voice which is not theirs.
What have they achieved since November coup? Nothing. They are amassing wealth through corruption and direct theft of public funds.
We have been saying all along that we have no president or government but a group of thieves and murderers who will not accept to lose power through an election.
They need to be driven out of power.
Farai Dziva | Villagers in Masvingo Central Constituency have accused Zanu PF MP Edmund Mhere of abandoning them.
This came to light at a COTRAD community engagement meeting in Ward 17, Masvingo Central Constituency.
The dialogue meeting was a platform for villagers to discuss community issues with local leaders.
“We are facing challenges in engaging the Member of Parliament Mr Edmund Mhere. He has deserted the constituency,” said one villager.
The villagers also expressed concern at the failure by Mhere to account for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Watch video below. ..
Watch video below. ..
Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi officially launched Nicholas Madzibaba Zachariah’s new album last night.
“This evening I was given the honour to launch Nicholas Zacharia’s new album titled “INZWA UNZWE”. Government is proud of musicians such as Nicholas Zacharia who continue to do well under the ever-changing business environment,” tweeted Mutodi.
Mutodi is a former Rhumba musician.
Farai Dziva|The MDC has described the High Court ruling on the payment of 2% tax as a huge relief to hard-pressed Zimbabweans.
See the party’s full statement :
In a landmark case argued by MDC Vice President Hon. Tendai Biti, the High Court today outlawed government’s two per cent tax on despondent Zimbabweans in a move that vindicated the MDC position that the Mnangagwa government was illegally milking the suffering citizens of this country.
On 1 October 2018 in his first act as Finance Minister newly appointed Mthuli Ncube, without any legal basis proceeded to impose the 2% transaction tax that has caused much pain and anguish across Zimbabweans of all walks. Twelve days later on 12 October 2018 Mthuli then sought to remedy his earlier position by enacting SI 205 of 2018 which amended a section of the Income Tax Act that had originally imposed a paltry 0.05% transaction tax in 2010.
The MDC, like every other Zimbabwean, was up in arms against the tax .We argued at the time that imposing a punitive tax on an already tax-burdened population was cruel and irrational. We also argued that Zimbabwe was in a recession characterized by low productivity, stagnation and weak or non-existent aggregate demand. In these circumstances, the logic of recession economics demanded that the government drastically reduces taxes in order to allow people to have disposable incomes.
We further argued that Zimbabwe s challenge was an overzealous expansionary fiscal policy. Rather the real challenge has always been that of a government that cannot live within its means.
Today’s judgement by Justice Happias Zhou vindicates our position that Mthuli Ncube’s actions were illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Mthuli Ncube has fallen in the Zanu PF mess of running the economy by a plethora of illegal regulations when no modern economy has ever been run by illegitimate regulations.
Today’s judgment setting aside SI 205 of 2018 vindicates our position that this is a fascist regime that operates outside the law, like Germany under the Third Reich.
We are aware that Zanu PF has sought to cover the illegal tax in a belated 2019 Finance Act but what the judgement does is to give Zimbabweans a further legal basis for our a future challenge on the tax.
Today’s landmark judgement vindicates the MDC position that the Mnangagwa administration is a piranha State that has gone all out to illegally fleece ordinary Zimbabweans by asking them to subsidize a profligate regime that hires expensive private jets and whose leaders seek expansive treatment outside the country when ordinary citizens can hardly buy a packet of painkillers.
Today’s ruling comes at a time when the illegal regime that brazenly stole last year’s election has just abducted the leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association for fronting the legitimate concerns of the doctors who are demanding an upward review of their salaries.
No amount of scarf around this regime’s neck will sanitize its propensity for illegality, impunity and brutality against the innocent citizens of this country. The illegal tax should be viewed as having been yet another vicious assault on the law and on the collective dignity of ordinary Zimbabweans.
MDC@20: Celebrating Courage, Growth and the People’s Victories.
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
In a landmark case argued by MDC Vice President Hon. Tendai Biti, the High Court today outlawed government’s two per cent tax on despondent Zimbabweans in a move that vindicated the MDC position that the Mnangagwa government was illegally milking the suffering citizens of this country.
On 1 October 2018 in his first act as Finance Minister newly appointed Mthuli Ncube, without any legal basis proceeded to impose the 2% transaction tax that has caused much pain and anguish across Zimbabweans of all walks. Twelve days later on 12 October 2018 Mthuli then sought to remedy his earlier position by enacting SI 205 of 2018 which amended a section of the Income Tax Act that had originally imposed a paltry 0.05% transaction tax in 2010.
The MDC, like every other Zimbabwean, was up in arms against the tax .We argued at the time that imposing a punitive tax on an already tax-burdened population was cruel and irrational. We also argued that Zimbabwe was in a recession characterized by low productivity, stagnation and weak or non-existent aggregate demand. In these circumstances, the logic of recession economics demanded that the government drastically reduces taxes in order to allow people to have disposable incomes.
We further argued that Zimbabwe s challenge was an overzealous expansionary fiscal policy. Rather the real challenge has always been that of a government that cannot live within its means.
Today’s judgement by Justice Happias Zhou vindicates our position that Mthuli Ncube’s actions were illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Mthuli Ncube has fallen in the Zanu PF mess of running the economy by a plethora of illegal regulations when no modern economy has ever been run by illegitimate regulations.
Today’s judgment setting aside SI 205 of 2018 vindicates our position that this is a fascist regime that operates outside the law, like Germany under the Third Reich.
We are aware that Zanu PF has sought to cover the illegal tax in a belated 2019 Finance Act but what the judgement does is to give Zimbabweans a further legal basis for our a future challenge on the tax.
Today’s landmark judgement vindicates the MDC position that the Mnangagwa administration is a piranha State that has gone all out to illegally fleece ordinary Zimbabweans by asking them to subsidize a profligate regime that hires expensive private jets and whose leaders seek expansive treatment outside the country when ordinary citizens can hardly buy a packet of painkillers.
Today’s ruling comes at a time when the illegal regime that brazenly stole last year’s election has just abducted the leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association for fronting the legitimate concerns of the doctors who are demanding an upward review of their salaries.
No amount of scarf around this regime’s neck will sanitize its propensity for illegality, impunity and brutality against the innocent citizens of this country. The illegal tax should be viewed as having been yet another vicious assault on the law and on the collective dignity of ordinary Zimbabweans.
MDC@20: Celebrating Courage, Growth and the People’s Victories.
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Marvelous Nakamba was Aston Villa’s most outstanding player in the goalless draw against West Ham on Monday.
The midfielder amassed 35% of the vote in a Twitter poll on Villa’s official account which saw 11 629 people taking part.
Nakamba, 25, who was making his league debut in the match, played for eighty minutes and delivered a decent performance.
Farai Dziva|The 2019-20 UEFA Champions League season roared into life last night with a number of encounters across Europe.
Liverpool’s title defence got off to the worst possible start after they lost to Napoli 2-0 in Naples. Goals from Dries Mertens and Fernalndo Llorente sunk Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Barcelona and Borrusia Dortmund played out a goaless draw. Lionel Messi made his first apperance for the Catalan giants after he came off the bench in the second stanza.
At Stamford Bridge, Valencia edged Frank Lampard’s Chelsea 1-0 courtesy of Rodrigo’s 74th minute solitary strike.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan and Salvia Praha drew 1-1.
MDC Vice President Hon. Tendai Biti has won a landmark case against Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
The High Court today outlawed government’s two per cent tax on despondent Zimbabweans in a move that vindicated the MDC position that the Mnangagwa government was illegally milking the suffering citizens of this country.
On 1 October 2018 in his first act as Finance Minister newly appointed Mthuli Ncube, without any legal basis proceeded to impose the 2% transaction tax that has caused much pain and anguish across Zimbabweans of all walks. Twelve days later on 12 October 2018 Mthuli Ncube then sought to remedy his earlier position by enacting SI 205 of 2018 which amended a section of the Income Tax Act that had originally imposed a paltry 0.05% transaction tax in 2010.
Commenting on the development, MDC Deputy Spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said, “the MDC, like every other Zimbabwean, was up in arms against the tax. We argued at the time that imposing a punitive tax on an already tax-burdened population was cruel and irrational. We also argued that Zimbabwe was in a recession characterized by low productivity, stagnation and weak or non-existent aggregate demand. In these circumstances, the logic of recession economics demanded that the government drastically reduces taxes in order to allow people to have disposable incomes.
“We further argued that Zimbabwe s challenge was an overzealous expansionary fiscal policy. Rather the real challenge has always been that of a government that cannot live within its means.
“Today’s judgement by Justice Happias Zhou vindicates our position that Mthuli Ncube’s actions were illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Mthuli Ncube has fallen in the Zanu PF mess of running the economy by a plethora of illegal regulations when no modern economy has ever been run by illegitimate regulations.
“Today’s judgment setting aside SI 205 of 2018 vindicates our position that this is a fascist regime that operates outside the law, like Germany under the Third Reich.
“We are aware that Zanu PF has sought to cover the illegal tax in a belated 2019 Finance Act but what the judgement does is to give Zimbabweans a further legal basis for our a future challenge on the tax.
“Today’s landmark judgement vindicates the MDC position that the Mnangagwa administration is a piranha State that has gone all out to illegally fleece ordinary Zimbabweans by asking them to subsidize a profligate regime that hires expensive private jets and whose leaders seek expansive treatment outside the country when ordinary citizens can hardly buy a packet of painkillers.
“Today’s ruling comes at a time when the illegal regime that brazenly stole last year’s election has just abducted the leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association for fronting the legitimate concerns of the doctors who are demanding an upward review of their salaries.
“No amount of scarf around this regime’s neck will sanitize its propensity for illegality, impunity and brutality against the innocent citizens of
this country. The illegal tax should be viewed as having been yet another vicious assault on the law and on the collective dignity of ordinary
Zimbabweans.”
Farai Dziva|National team player Marshall Munetsi has paid school fees for thirty disadvantaged pupils in his home area, Mabvuku.
The midfielder who recently joined Stade de Reims in the French Ligue 1 announced the news via Twitter on Tuesday.
He said this was done through his foundation, The Marshall Munetsi Foundation.
“Today, the Marshall Munetsi Foundation assisted 30 gifted but disadvantaged children with fees in my home area of Mabvuku,” reads the post on his Twitter account.
“I pray that every child receives education to enable them to decide their course in life from the point of strength.”
Farai Dziva|The European Union has urged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to locate Dr Peter Magombeyi.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, the EU urged the government to act swiftly to bring Dr Magombeyi home safely.
“Dr Magombeyi is still missing more than 3 days after he vanished. We can only imagine the agony this causes his family and friends.
The government needs to act swiftly as per court order and do all it can to find him, to bring him home safe and the perpetrators to justice.
Following Dr Magombeyi’s abduction, doctors and other health workers at the country’s public health institutions have downed tools, demanding his immediate release.”
Farai Dziva|A ZANU PF supporter has named his son after former President Robert Mugabe.
The man named his son, born on 18 April 2017, after the late former President Robert Mugabe, according to The Herald.
49-year-old Duke Chinyongo from St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, told The Herald that it was his love for the ruling party that prompted him to name his last-born child Tinotenda Robert Gabriel Deeds Chinyongo.
“Yes, I can confirm that I named my son Tinotenda Robert Gabriel Deeds Chinyongo soon after his birth on the 18th of April 2017 to clearly show the nation that I have passion for the ruling party Zanu-PF and the former great icon and Leader Robert Mugabe.
This I did not wait for him to die first but I decided to honour when he was still alive.”
Chinyongo revealed that initially he wanted to name his son Tinotenda Robert Gabriel Mugabe Deeds Chinyongo but was blocked by authorities at Chitungwiza Registrar General’s Offices when he wanted to get him a birth certificate.
Farai Dziva|The RTGS Dollar is the worst performing currency in the world in 2019.
Ever since its introduction on 20 February 2019, the RTGS Dollar has weakened by 82% according to Bloomberg.
When the RTGS $ was introduced it was trading at $2.5 against the USD but it has since dropped to about $ 13.85 (as of today) and around $17 on the parallel market according to sites that track black market rates.
These stats show that officially the RTGS weakened a whopping 82% since its birth exactly 7 months ago.
Apart from Argentina, whose Peso is also going through a serious depreciation due to hyperinflation, The RTGS Dollar is performing badly according to Bloomberg.
As Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe we would like to condemn the alleged abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi, the President of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), on the early hours of 15 September 2019.
Dr Peter Magombeyi is well known for his role in demanding labour & health justice in Zimbabwe. Section 29 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that the State must take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic, accessible and adequate health services throughout Zimbabwe, but the hospitals are having to function without basics such as needles, drips and bandages.
Since January 2019 there have been over 50 abductions and torture incidents but there have been no arrests of the perpetrators. These spate of abductions and tortures that have been targeted against civilians over the last year is unlawful and is also a gross violation of their human rights.
We demand that the Government of Zimbabwe investigate this alleged abduction and ensure the safe return of Dr Peter Magombeyi back to his family and loved ones.
Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean pressure group has urged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to probe the abduction of civilians.
“As Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe we would like to condemn the alleged abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi, the President of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), on the early hours of 15 September 2019. Dr Peter Magombeyi is well known for his role in demanding labour & health justice in Zimbabwe. Section 29 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that the State must take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic, accessible and adequate health services throughout Zimbabwe, but the hospitals are having to function without basics such as needles, drips and bandages.”
“Since January 2019 there have been over 50 abductions and torture incidents but there have been no arrests of the perpetrators. These spate of abductions and tortures that have been targeted against civilians over the last year is unlawful and is also a gross violation of their human rights. We demand that the Government of Zimbabwe investigate this alleged abduction and ensure the safe return of Dr Peter Magombeyi back to his family and loved ones.
Issued by the
Information and Publicity Office”
Jane Mlambo| It appears the High Court ruling that nullified the two percent intermediated tax introduced by government last could have been overtaken by events amid indications that the policy had already been integrated into the Amended Finance Act.
Civic activist Mfundo Mlilo approached the High Court seeking to stop government from deducting two percent on every electronic transaction and Justice Ndou delivered positive results nullifying the measure.
While legal gurus have not yet provided information on the effect of the High Court ruling, Zanu PF aligned social media trolls are already celebrating this discovery that the ruling could be nullity as the Finance Act still stands.
In an interview with an online news platform, Mlilo’s lawyer, Tendai Biti said;
“They (government) were clever because they had also inserted the new tax into the Finance Act. But they did not repeal Statutory Instrument (SI)205/2018 also known as the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Money Transfer Tax) Regulations,” Biti said in an interview with nEWS263zim.com.
“What this means us that the tax will remain in place until the Finance Act is repealed. We will study the judgment and as lawyers move on from there.”
Biti added: “The Act will be their defence to say this was included in the Finance Act.”
More to follow…
The body of Robert Mugabe will be flown to Harare enroute to Singapore.
Factoring in that electricity is periodically interrupted in Zimbabwe, the family wants the body in Singapore, for safe keeping .
The family members want the body in Singapore until the mausoleum is completed.
If this is true , then Mugabe’s dead body will be entered into the Guinness world records . It will scoop the award for being the most travelled, most expensive body , in the history of mankind!
Ironically, Mugabe’s longevity became a liability for the Republic.
Evidently, his body has become more expensive than when he was alive ! Mvenge Mvenge
WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Government has moved to avert the possible disruption of services at hospitals by deploying medical professionals from the uniformed forces.
Health professionals have been boycotting work since Monday claiming they wanted Government to furnish them with the whereabouts of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi, who was reported missing at the weekend.
Addressing journalists at Munhumutapa Building in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said in addition to medical professionals in the security sector, there were also some doctors who pledged to assist in public health institutions.
“The army are going to give us assistance and there are also some other doctors who have decided to continue providing services,” said Dr Moyo.
He said although the number of medical professionals in the security forces might not satisfy the burden of care in health institutions, patients with critical conditions would be able to get medical attention.
“There is quite a sizable number from each and every institution, not as much as we would have wanted them to be, but at the moment the information I have is that we have some coverage in our hospitals. So we will keep monitoring,” he said.
Dr Moyo further appealed to the striking doctors to return to work while giving security agencies a chance to investigate circumstances surrounding the missing doctor.
“As I mentioned yesterday (Monday), the matter was taken up by the securocrats and you heard from the securocrats, Minister (Cain) Mathema (Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage) and Minister (Owen) Ncube (Minister of State for National Security), they have given you the assurance on what the situation is and in the meantime we are concerned about service provision.
“I want to, as usual, encourage our workers to come back to work while investigations are taking place,” said Dr Moyo.
In a statement yesterday, the Health Apex announced that its members were also withdrawing their services in solidarity.
It also said it was suspending Health Services Bipartite Negotiating Panel meetings until their security was guaranteed.
However, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Sekai Nzenza told journalists yesterday that while employees had a right to demonstrate, there were set procedures that are supposed to be followed.
“They have the right to demonstrate, however, there are processes of negotiations that need to be followed because they represent the essential services meaning that we put the lives of patients first. So I would encourage them, very strongly, that this is a situation where we must consider the lives of the patients first,” said Minister Nzenza.
Government always makes use of medical professionals from the uniformed forces (army, police and prisons) in cases of crisis mostly posed by striking health workers.
-State Media
Police in Zvishavane have launched a manhunt for a local man who allegedly set alight a room that he was renting for his girlfriend after he found her with another man.
The fugitive Tafara Zhou (32), who was accusing his girlfriend, identified only as Dorothy, of entertaining a rival in a room he was renting for her, reportedly bought some petrol and sprinkled it in the room before setting it ablaze.
Police in Zvishavane confirmed the incident which occurred last Monday in Mandava high-density suburb.
“We take keen interest to interview Zhou in connection with the arson case. He is said to have gone into hiding after committing the offence,” said a police officer close to the investigations.
Zvishavane Town’s chief fire officer Mr Rerai Muchara confirmed the incident.
“What I know is that police are still conducting their investigations but the information we got when we arrived at the scene was that there was a misunderstanding which had occurred between some lovers to do with infidelity issues resulting in the man torching the room.
“We, however, reacted in time and managed to put out the fire before it had spread to other rooms,” said Mr Muchara.
He said the affected house belonged to a Zvishavane councillor, Mrs Fatuma Phiri.
Mr Muchara bemoaned the increase in suspected arson cases in the mining town due to family disputes.
“It is worrying because only two weeks ago, we responded to another emergency call in Isaiah Park where a man torched a house following a dispute with his wife. Unfortunately, property was lost in this case because the fire quickly spread through the ceiling when we arrived, but we also managed to put out the fire.
Cllr Phiri, who owns the house allegedly set alight by Zhou, confirmed the incident but declined to comment further.
-State Media
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
USD = ZWL$13.8555
ZWL$ = RAND1.0609
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
USD = ZWL$17.00 zimrates
USD = ZWL$17.00 zwl365
USD = ZWL$17.00 bluemari
USD = BOND11.00 zimrates
More: Marketwatch
Anti-riot police on Monday stopped a National University of Science and Technology students protest and picked up their representatives for questioning.
Nust’s Bulawayo campus students were protesting over lecturers who have not been reporting for duty after they downed tools two weeks ago citing incapacitation.
“Lecturers have been complaining about not getting their pay, so they have decided to shun evening classes. Conventional students are learning, but it’s just a formality. The lecturers are on go-slow,” students leader Dennis Mwashita said.
“We mobilised students so that they can listen to our grievances. We were actually surprised on how the information of our demo leaked. We were surprised to see police on the campus on Monday as soon as we started the demo.”
He said anti- riot police dispersed the protesters and picked some representatives for questioning.
“There is no going backwards, we want lectures to resume. Our authorities have to expect this going forward until our voices are heard,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Nust spokesperson Felix Moyo requested questions through text message, but had not responded at the time of going to print.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the demonstration, but denied allegations that students’ representatives were interrogated.
“Yes, there was a demonstration but I called the central police, there are no reports of interrogation or arrests made,” she said.
— NewsDay
High Court Judge Justice Zhou has set aside SI 205/2018 on the 2% transaction tax.
The case was argued by @BitiTendai.
The ruling follows an application by Mfundo Mlilo, who challenged the introduction of the 2% tax through Statutory Instrument 205 of 2018. Mlilo argued a Minister could not legally amend an Act via an SI. The tax has, however, since been enacted through the Finance Act of 2019.
More to follow…
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Durban – Coming out of a long self-imposed political exile, former South African President Thabo Mbeki has dropped another Zimbabwe political bombshell, saying not even “one” Zimbabwean said they wanted former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe deposed from power.
Mbeki said even the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), fierce opponents of Mugabe’s Zanu-PF wanted both parties to find one another, not to help them to get Mugabe out of power as widely reported.
Mbeki said this while giving a speech at a special Robert Mugabe memorial service in Durban on Tuesday.
Mbeki said there is one “white journalist” who recently wrote that Mugabe was wanted out by his people and Mbeki seemingly took offence so much, that he had to use the memorial service to correct that misconception.
He said instead of Zimbabweans wanting Mugabe out of power, it was the British who wanted to use military force to get him removed. The former South African president brokered the 2008 government of unity that brought in the late leader of the MDC Morgan Tsvangirai to become the Prime Minister under Mugabe.
-IOL
GOVERNMENT is putting citizens’ lives in great danger by failing to address the country’s deteriorating security situation, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has said.
Zimbabwe has, in the recent past, witnessed some abductions on government critics with the latest being that of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president Peter Magombeyi Saturday.
The government has vehemently denied any involvement in the abductions, insisting these were the works of a “third force” out to create a situation in which the State would be viewed as in violation of rights abuses.
Information secretary went further to claim this week that those carrying out the abductions could be the same forces that attempted to assassinate President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year through a Bulawayo bomb blast that killed two presidential security aides.
In a statement Tuesday, the church group blasted the Mnangagwa administration for not doing enough to demystify and also bring to book, elements behind the so-called “third force”.
“Church leaders are learning with deep concern the deteriorating human security situation especially as demonstrated by at least 20 reports of abductions,” said the churches.
“This situation is deeply worrying because none of the reported cases of abduction and torture have been successfully investigated and prosecuted.
“The situation is further disturbing because there is government communication suggesting that there is a possibility of a third force.
“Apart from it being too coincidental that this third hand is only targeting civil society activists and other dissenting voices, it is worrying that after so many reported cases, not a single person has been arrested.
“This has put the security of citizens at the highest level of vulnerability.”
ZHOCD went on to advise Mnangagwa to establish an independent investigation body to look into the abduction cases.
“The church leaders are also concerned to hear of the fragile relationships within the security sector alleged to have only worsened in the course of the November 2017 transition. If this is the case, the church leaders are worried that politicisation of the security sector in the context of deep inter and intra party fragmentation puts the whole nation at highest levels of security risk.
“The church leaders call upon President Mnangagwa to publicly condemn the abductions and torture of civilians as well as appointing an independent investigation into these abductions,” they said.
Several rights activists and government critics have been abducted, tortured and left for dead.
Among them are popular comedienne, Samantha ‘Gonyeti’ Kureya, activist Tatenda Mombeyarara and rural teachers union leader, Obert Masaraure who were tortured and left for dead.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has revisited his unfortunate Saturday experience in front of thousands of mourning Zimbabweans who booed him for continued xenophobic attacks on foreigners in his country.
Ramaphosa had his condolence speech during late former President Robert Mugabe’s memorial at the National Sports Stadium drowned in boos by Zimbabweans.
He was forced to apologise for that.
However, on his return home, Ramaphosa took time to reflect on the experience, telling his compatriots to behave humanely towards other nationals.
Addressing hundreds of Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) members during their 14th national congress held in Durban on Monday, Ramaphosa said he understood Zimbabweans’ heckles to be an expression of their anger, frustration and disappointment towards South Africa as a whole and not at him personally.
“They expressed their disappointment. They expressed their unhappiness. They expressed their anger against us as South Africans, and they saw me as representing all of us in South Africa. Their reaction was against us. The whole stadium, some 40,000 people, booed me.
“It was only when I said I regret what has happened in our country and apologised on behalf of all of us in South Africa, that is when they responded positively. I have apologised on your behalf, and I hope it does sink into our consciousness that the world expects us to act in a way in which we will respect the rights of people of other nations.”
Ramaphosa called on South Africans to desist from resorting to any sort of violence against foreign nationals, citing the importance other African countries play in the role of the economy.
He condemned violent attacks which in the past weeks have claimed the lives of foreign nationals.
The South African leader said his parliament will on Wednesday convene to discuss ongoing violence within the country.
Former President Thabo Mbeki has used the KwaZulu-Natal African National Congress (ANC)’s memorial service of the late former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe to recount how the British and American governments once sought his assistance to remove him from power.
Mbeki said that he refused even after mounting pressure on him.
The former president said that his refusal was based on the belief that it was only the Zimbabwean people who had the right to remove Mugabe from power.
Former President Thabo Mbeki delivered the keynote address in Durban where the provincial ANC held the first of four memorial services for the late former Zimbabwean leader.
Mbeki said that during the 2002 presidential elections in Zimbabwe, the British and American governments were very interested in removing Mugabe from power.
“The UK and the US were particularly interested that President Mugabe should not run as president of Zimbabwe and so they contacted us to make this proposal a way must be found to make sure he doesn’t run.”
Mbeki said that the British government under Tony Blair even planned to intervene militarily in Zimbabwe but had to abandon this plan as Mugabe enjoyed support from his southern African neighbours.
Mbeki said that Mugabe was his comrade and a leader who would never leave the struggle for liberation.
The European Union (EU) has joined the chorus of voices calling for the immediate release of Dr Peter Magombeyi, the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) who was abducted on Saturday night.
“Dr Magombeyi is still missing more than 3 days after he vanished. We can only imagine the agony this causes his family and friends.”
In a statement on Wednesday morning, the EU urged the government to act swiftly as per the court order and do all it can to bring Dr Magombeyi home safe. The statement reads:
The government needs to act swiftly as per court order and do all it can to find him, to bring him home safe and the perpetrators to justice.
Following Dr Magombeyi’s abduction, doctors and other health workers at the country’s public health institutions have downed tools, demanding his immediate release.
State Media Columnist|Zimbabwe’s politics is sick. It is sickening. It is self-defeating. It is toxic.
Of late there has been a worrying dangerous trend of Zimbabweans staging abductions and kidnappings, all aimed at falsely presenting Zimbabwe as a fascist state, while simultaneously placing the New Dispensation under the international spotlight.
The backdrop
The Second Republic has deliberately sought to distinguish itself from the First Republic by pursuing reformist policies.
It has pursued a two-pronged approach. It pursued a re-engagement programme under the auspices of the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business and Re-engagement” policy, which focuses on re-integrating Zimbabwe into the totality of community of nations, while instituting economic reforms to ensure business thrives and industries are revitalised.
Vision 2030, which was kick-started by the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) anchored on stringent austerity measures, has resulted in the stabilisation of the economy and key fundamentals put in place.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is impressed by the strides made by the New Order on the economic front.
Concurrently, the New Order has embarked on far-reaching political reforms aimed at re-aligning bad laws that are ultra-vires the Constitution. This process has been moving at great speed with laws such as Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) in the legislative process of being repealed and replaced by the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA), as well as the Freedom of Information Bill, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Data/Information Protection Bill.
The opposition campaigned peacefully in the run-up to the July 30, 2018 elections, while peaceful demonstrations have been allowed to proceed without hindrance.
Uncle Sam is not pleased by this progress and has been working overtime to besmirch the New Dispensation and soil all the progressive manoeuvres by President Mnangagwa. Big Brother has instituted a cocktail of black operations, from financing violent demonstrations, organising them, executing them through his CIA agents (not diplomats) housed at his expanded new embassy in Westgate, as well as through Trojan Horses in the form of the MDC and the motley host of civil society organisations.
Uncle Sam has sent them on training courses on regime change.
All these black operations have been ably thwarted and outed by the ever-alert security services much to the chagrin of Uncle Sam.
Upping the tempo
Uncle Sam, realising the futility of his evil designs on Zimbabwe, has upped the ante in his bid to effect illegal regime change. He is now staging well-choreographed alleged abductions which the regime change train lurches on to to push the false narrative that the New Dispensation is undemocratic and intolerant. Two cases stick out like a sore thumb.
SADC Summit
Ahead of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, the US masterminded the alleged abduction of Bustop TV comedienne Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya. The Americans led the way, through their Twitter handle, to call on Government to stop abductions. But Gonyeti’s case had many loopholes and could not sustain itself. It simply ran out of legs. It ran out of breath. It fizzled out.
The location of where she was allegedly dumped changed from Crowbrough North to Norton then to Mufakose. Gonyeti claimed to have been thoroughly beaten but did not have a single laceration or contusion to show for it. She even managed to call while being abducted, yet she was allegedly hounded naked with only a pant and T-shirt.
United Nations General Assembly
Now, having been miffed by the dogged protection of the New Order which snuffed out American-sponsored violent demonstrations, and smelling a good opportunity to have Zimbabwe put on the UN agenda, the US has done it again.
An unknown quantity by the name Dr Peter Magombeyi suddenly goes “missing”. No one knows this boy, except his handlers. But within 24 hours of his alleged abduction, he is a missing hero who ostensibly has been abducted by President Mnangagwa. A march to Munhumutapa Building is organised to confront the President to “release” this missing character. Interestingly, ARTUZ leader Obert Masarure, a teacher, partakes in the demonstration. You are left wondering how many other hired “doctors” did partake in the demonstration.
Before you know it, the US Embassy starts yapping about fictitious abductions numbering 50. As expected, there is chorus of disapproval from the usual culprits — Human Rights Watch of Southern Africa’s Dewa Mavhinga and Freeman Chari of Pachedu (read US Embassy) — who invites MDC supporters to ratchet up pressure on Government on the sidelines of the UNGA. Boom, Patson Dzamara, Evan Mawarire, Fadzai Mahere and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa start urging Zimbabweans to join the medical practitioners (read political practitioners) in their demonstrations.
While Zimbabweans are trying to digest all this, a well-organised night vigil is hosted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where there is a shocking imposing presence of white folks, who by the way do not get treated at these public hospitals. What the hell is going on?
The false narrative
Zimbabweans woke up to claims that Dr Magombeyi had sent a text message to his colleagues during the alleged abduction informing them that he had been abducted by three armed masked men. Conveniently, Dr Magombeyi had a few weeks ago claimed that he was being threatened by unknown people on his phone. No police report was made. It was just aimed at setting the stage for the impending “abduction”.
No one bothered to reveal that the same Dr Magombeyi attended a disciplinary hearing on September 10, 2019, emanating from his truancy at work. The outcome of those proceedings are yet to be known.
While still digesting these emerging details, it turns out that Dr Magombeyi was not “abducted” at his home in Budiriro as he left home telling his housemate that he was going for an all-night prayer. Dear reader, this is Friday, the same day he claims to have been abducted.
Dr Jena, the housemate, in an official memorandum dated September 15, 2019, said that Dr Magombeyi bade him good night and told him to lock up since he was going for an all-night prayer.
Curiously, Dr Jena reported the case of a missing person at Budiriro Police Station.
Uncanny resemblance with the Gonyeti case
Both the alleged abducted individuals were “taken” at night. Both alleged victims had the opportunity to use their cellphones while armed dangerous men looked on.
Both cases were initially reported by other parties other than them, Gonyeti’s brother and Dr Jena, respectively. In both cases, the US Embassy, Pachedu and the usual suspects ran with the cases, ascribing blame on Government.
Both “abductions” occurred ahead of key summits — the SADC Summit and the UNGA.
The US and the MDC stand to gain
The choreography of the alleged “abduction,” the threatening calls, the text message, the report to the police, the disciplinary hearing, the all-night prayer, the social media brouhaha, the demonstration, the night vigil — all smell to the high heavens.
The US Embassy went for the jugular, falsely claiming more than 50 people had been abducted. Pachedu followed suit. Chamisa latched onto it. Chalton Hwende, Prof Jonathan Moyo and Dzamara urged Zimbabweans to join the demonstrating political practitioners. The private media screamed with headlines such as “ED in tight spot over kidnappings . . . as latest abduction coincides with UN Mission on abuses,” and “Doctors confront ED, paralyse hospitals.”
The clincher
The headline in one of the local dailies above talks of the latest abduction, as if there are many more before, coinciding with the visit by UN Special Rappoteur, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, on a fact-finding mission over previous false allegations of abuses in Zimbabwe.
There is no coincidence in all these incidents. There is pre-planning. It is contrived. It is choreographed. It is stage-managed.
The US, the MDC and its minions stand to benefit from the negative placement of Zimbabwe on the international radar, and ultimately the UN agenda. A special rapporteur is in the country, and jetted in at the height of the “latest” abduction. What an operation by the US and the MDC.
It is my sincere hope that Nyaletsossi Voule sees through this contrived yarn. The tempo has been set. Already, Chari of Pachedu, in concert with the MDC, is preparing to escalate their anti-Zimbabwe campaign by demonstrating on the sidelines of the UNGA. It is high time the Zimbabwean authorities upped the tempo and stop the kid gloves with these unpatriotic charlatans sabotaging Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, patients are dying in hospitals, both public and private, while those who swore a Hippocratic Oath have abandoned their duty and are now into full-time acting, demonstrating and dabbling in politics! This is sick.
Ichoooo, we meet in New York!
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has blamed Saturday’s abduction on Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting president Peter Magombeyi on paid hooligans.
Mugombeyi was seized from his Harare home by some unidentified men after he has led a crippling strike by Zimbabwean doctors from public hospitals.
In a statement Monday, ZCTU acting secretary general Sylvester Mutindindi said the country’s umbrella workers group was shocked by the emerging pattern of abductions on government critics 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,” he said.
Mutindindi linked the abductions on what he described as a specialised and funded group of hooligans who are assigned to terrorise innocent citizens.
“It is clear to the ZCTU that there is a specialised and well sponsored group of hooligans that has been employed to carry out dirty work on behalf of those in authority to intimidate, kidnap and torture human rights defenders,” he said.
The country has, in the recent past, been witnessing a spate of abductions on government critics.
Among those who have been abducted and left for dead is Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure, human rights defender Tatenda Mombeyarara and popular comedienne Samantha Kureya, better known as Gonyeti.
Zimbabwe has a history of abductions on opposition activists and government critics.
Most of those abducted go through assault and torture in the hands of their captors.
Writting on Twitter on Monday, Information secretary Nick Mangwana appeared to be distancing government from the incidents, linking the abductions of so-called “third forces”.
Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo says that Zambia has welcomed the apology rendered and regret expressed by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa on the attacks on foreign nationals.
Kampyongo said Zambia has accepted the public apology rendered during the funeral of ex-President, Robert Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe, adding that Zambia would also welcome the special envoys that President Ramaphosa would send to meet President Edgar Lungu or government officials, to discuss the same matter.
Kampyongo said this in Addis Ababa when traveled to Egypt from Lusaka enroute Ethiopia.
Kampyongo is in Egypt to attend a Pan-African Forum on Migration being held in Cairo.
Kampyongo said the forum was important as it would address the myths that surrounded migration that in turn led to challenges such as xenophobic attacks.
The Minister further said Zambia had performed well in embracing migration through mechanisms such as integrating foreign Nations in communities.
UN human rights special rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi Voule arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday as the country’s poor human rights record returned to the spotlight.
Voule arrived in Harare two days after a doctor who led a strike for higher wages and better working conditions was allegedly abducted by state agents.
Rights groups say that since January more than 50 trade union leaders and opposition activists suspected of planning antigovernment protests have also been abducted and tortured.
Union leader and activist Peter Magombeyi, the president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, disappeared on Saturday night.
His colleagues allege Magombeyi was abducted by security forces in an attempt stop the strike, which has interrupted healthcare services in hospitals.
Voule’s visit to Harare also follows a government clampdown on antigovernment protests including a countrywide ban on demonstrations by the opposition MDC.
Voule said the visit to the country was to learn first-hand about Zimbabwe’s policies on rights to peaceful assembly.
“My mission will also serve to identify the opportunities and challenges the government faces in implementing articles 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly in relation to the management of assemblies in the context of the recent protests.”
On Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s government denied involvement in Magombeyi’s alleged kidnapping, saying they had instructed police to investigate the matter.
Speaking at a post cabinet briefing, acting information minister Kazembe Kazembe said: “Government is particularly concerned over the growing trend of incidents of this nature, which put the lives of the country’s citizens at risk, while at the same time appearing to be calculated to tarnish the image of the country.”
In 2015, Itai Dzamara, an outspoken critic of then president Robert Mugabe, was allegedly abducted by suspected state agents and has not been seen since.
Masvingo Mirror|Ropafadzo Makumire, a councilor who won Ward 3 elections in Chiredzi Urban on an independent ticket has joined the MDC Alliance.
Makumire is also the council vice chair.
He joined the MDC and was immediately elected Chiredzi District Youth Assembly Treasurer at a district congress held last Sunday.
The elective congress presided over by MDC director of the Organizing Department Farai Chinobva was successful at last after two previous attempts failed because of violence and factionalism.
Speaking to The Mirror just before the start of the congress Makumire said it is the duty of all youths to take leadership positions where their services are required.
MDC National Youth Assembly executive member Ngonidzashe Mupfumba confirmed the development and said Makumire is now a fulltime member of the MDC.
James Kampota retained the district chairmanship.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
THE body of former President Robert Mugabe is expected in Harare today in the afternoon, family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe said yesterday.
The body was initially set to be airlifted from Mugabe’s Kutama Village to Harare yesterday, but the programme changed at the last minute as the family keeps intense security on it.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Mugabe said the body will be airlifted to Harare today.
“Initially it was supposed to be airlifted to Harare on Tuesday, but the programme has been changed for today (Wednesday.)
“Church services were conducted yesterday at his rural home and another one will be conducted tomorrow (today) in the morning. Soon after lunch the body will be airlifted to Harare,” he said.
It is however not yet clear what will happen to the body once it gets to Harare. Details have however since come up that the family is considering flying the body back to Singapore for “safe keeping” until the place for its final burial at the Heroes Acre is constructed.
The family has been closely guarding the body far from the hands of the state machinery amid details that Mugabe in his last wishes ordered that his body be protected from President Emmerson Mnangagwa who he claimed could use it for ritual purposes.
The body is expected to remain in preservation at least for the next three weeks while a special mausoleum is being built for it at the National Heroes Acre.
The family has not been willing to disclose where the body will be kept until it’s burial.
The government has announced and gazetted minimum wages for domestic workers following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The minimum wage for a gardener has been pegged at $160 which is just under US$9 Per month while that of a housekeeper is pegged at $168.48 per month.
Watch the proclamation in the video downloading below:
Zanu-PF will convene a Politburo meeting today at the party headquarters in Harare, the party’s secretary for Information and Publicity, Simon Khaya Moyo confirmed in a statement yesterday.
“The Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all Politburo members that there shall be an ordinary session of the Politburo to be convened at the party headquarters today at 1000hrs,” he said.
“All members are advised to be seated by 0945 hours sharp.”
High on the Politburo agenda is Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu’s fate after the party received recommendations to expel him from Masvingo Province.
Masvingo Province wants Zivhu expelled from the party for taking to social media to push for a meeting between First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile.
Zivhu is also accused of initiating a process of collecting signatures from people to support his initiative for dialogue between President Mnangagwa and Chamisa.
Zivhu was suspended by the Provincial Coordinating Committee in August and recommended for dismissal to the Politburo.
Below is the letter to Zivhu highlighting charges against him.
The Zanu PF Masvingo disciplinary committee met on August 8, 2019, and resolved to issue you with a prohibition order, in terms of article 10, section 79, subsection 1 of the Zanu PF constitution, generally and more specifically those contained under article 10, section 75 of the same constitution.
Charge 1: Disloyalty and treachery by purporting that in your social media chats and your Twitter account that you are organising a meeting between the President … Mnangagwa whom you referred to as ED and …Chamisa the opposition leader, whom you affectionately call CCC (an acronym for Chamisa Chete Chete), which is the opposition slogan.
You are therefore denigrating the president and the party Zanu PF.
Charge 2: Gross misconduct by disregarding party principles of communication, which must be done through party structures and the long-standing principles of collective decision making.
The prohibition order suspends you from acting in any capacity on behalf of the party until the provincial disciplinary committee has made its determination. You are, therefore, directed to remain on prohibition until your case has been finalised.
BULAWAYO magistrate Tinashe Tashaya yesterday issued an administrative warrant against MDC chairperson Thabitha Khumalo for failing to show up in court yesterday.
Khumalo (58), senator Helen Zivira Mpofu (44), Tendai Masotsha (45), Elliot Mujeri (34), Tinashe Matimbura (28), Meliqiniso Sithole (42) and Shelton Tembo (35) were supposed to appear before Tashaya yesterday, but the MDC chairperson was in no-show.
The seven are facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State and accusing President Emmerson Mnangangwa of stealing the July 2018 elections.
Tashaya ruled for an administrative warrant against Khumalo, advising her lawyers to make her come to court soon.
Her lawyer Godfrey Nyoni submitted that Khumalo had advised in the previous session that she would be travelling to South Africa and prayed for the setting aside of the warrant.
But Tashaya ruled that the warrant was effective.
The matter was remanded to October 4 and the seven are out of custody on $200 bail.
State representative, George Rufumoyo, said on August 17, the accused persons, acting in common purpose, went around Tshabalala and Nkulumane, Bulawayo distributing fliers titled Free Zimbabwe campaign.
He said the fliers, which were addressed to all Zimbabweans, falsely asserted that the 2018 harmonised elections were stolen.
The police charged them with contravening section 31 (b) (ii) (A) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which speaks to “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State that (ii) he or she does not have reasonable grounds for believing to be true”.
State Media|Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo has denied owing the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Private) Limited over US$400 000 in unpaid electricity bills.
The matter is set for pre-trial conference tomorrow before Justice Dube at the High Court in Harare.
In his defendant’s plea, Minister Moyo denies owing plaintiff US$414 775,79.
“Defendant specifically avers that the customer information printout does not correctly reflect the electricity consumed by defendant. Defendant denies utilising the electricity reflected in Annexure A. Plaintiff is accordingly put to the strict proof of the fact that they consumed the said electricity,” read the plea.
“Alternatively, defendant avers that plaintiff’s claim has prescribed. The alleged claim being for a debt or liquidated demand is now prescribed. More specifically, the claims from 11 February 2013 to 11 May 2017 are all prescribed.
“Defendant further avers that the figures inserted in Annexure A are fictitious, as evidenced by the claim of US$155 414,27 which appears on invoice number 356572323 dated July 23, 2014 and the claim for US$11 566,33 which appears on invoice number 536872434 dated November 14, 2017.”
In the plaintiff’s replication, ZETDC vows to prove that it is owed the amount it is claiming.
The utility insists that the debt was acknowledged and periodic payments were made.
“The contract of supply of power is current and ongoing, plaintiff continues to supply whilst defendant continues to receive power, on the other hand,” said the papers.
ZETDC is claiming payment of the sum of US$414775,79 owed by the defendant to the plaintiff as at 6th May, 2019 being charges in respect of power/electricity supplied by the plaintiff to the defendant at the latter’s special request and instance in terms of the running electricity supply contract between the two, and which amount the defendant fails, neglects or refuses to pay despite demand.
Government has deployed medical professionals from the uniformed forces to try and solve the crisis at health institutions following a strike by doctors and nurses.
Health professionals have been boycotting work since Monday demanding for Government to furnish them with the whereabouts of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi, who was abducted at the weekend.
Addressing journalists at Munhumutapa Building in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said in addition to medical professionals in the security sector, there were also some doctors who pledged to assist in public health institutions.
“The army are going to give us assistance and there are also some other doctors who have decided to continue providing services,” said Dr Moyo.
He said although the number of medical professionals in the security forces might not satisfy the burden of care in health institutions, patients with critical conditions would be able to get medical attention.
“There is quite a sizable number from each and every institution, not as much as we would have wanted them to be, but at the moment the information I have is that we have some coverage in our hospitals. So we will keep monitoring,” he said.
Dr Moyo further appealed to the striking doctors to return to work while giving security agencies a chance to investigate circumstances surrounding the missing doctor.
“As I mentioned yesterday (Monday), the matter was taken up by the securocrats and you heard from the securocrats, Minister (Cain) Mathema (Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage) and Minister (Owen) Ncube (Minister of State for National Security), they have given you the assurance on what the situation is and in the meantime we are concerned about service provision.
“I want to, as usual, encourage our workers to come back to work while investigations are taking place,” said Dr Moyo.
In a statement yesterday, the Health Apex announced that its members were also withdrawing their services in solidarity.
It also said it was suspending Health Services Bipartite Negotiating Panel meetings until their security was guaranteed.
However, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Sekai Nzenza told journalists yesterday that while employees had a right to demonstrate, there were set procedures that are supposed to be followed.
“They have the right to demonstrate, however, there are processes of negotiations that need to be followed because they represent the essential services meaning that we put the lives of patients first. So I would encourage them, very strongly, that this is a situation where we must consider the lives of the patients first,” said Minister Nzenza.
Government always makes use of medical professionals from the uniformed forces (army, police and prisons) in cases of crisis mostly posed by striking health workers.
In mid-1982, during the time Emmerson Mnangagwa was the State Security Minister seeking to reduce the Ndebele population like cockroaches “using DDT,” bandits abducted six foreign tourists in Matabeleland, triggering a massive manhunt by government forces.
By Stuart Doran, Historian | President Robert Mugabe accused his rival, former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, of sponsoring this and other “dissident” activities — part of a process in which Nkomo’s party, Zapu, had transitioned from an openly defiant military formation to a poorly disguised dissident movement. It was this alleged insurgency that prompted the deployment of Zanu’s anti-dissident force, the “Gukurahundi”, in early 1983. Yet evidence for Nkomo’s involvement in the tourist kidnapping and other dissident outrages was scant — and previously unpublished documents show that the government knew it. Instead, Mugabe and his ministers were using the dissident problem as a convenient stick with which to beat Nkomo and achieve their political objectives.
On 23 July 1982, a group of tourists — two Britons, two Americans and two Australians — were kidnapped by bandits on the Victoria Falls road, 70 kilometres north of Bulawayo. The abductors left a note demanding the release of two senior members of Nkomo’s former army, Zipra, who had been arrested earlier in the year during the so-called arms caches crisis.
Many ex-Zipras had deserted the new national army in the wake of that crisis and resultant persecution, and some had taken to a life of banditry in Matabeleland. By the time the tourists were taken, more than 5 000 soldiers had gone awol and there were around 130 bandit incidents occurring each month.
Over 1 500 troops were sent to track the tourists and their captors, but the search quickly went awry. In a situation report to parliament, the minister of defence, Sydney Sekeramayi, asserted that “a successful conclusion to the rescue operation has been and is being hampered by elements of the local population and other dissident people”.
“Highlights of their inhuman and despicable actions” included “withholding information and giving false information”, “attempting to obliterate the spoor”, “laying false trails” and giving “sanctuary, food and water to the dissidents and hostages secretly”.
Mugabe weighed in the next day, telling a packed chamber that the abduction was not the act of “an isolated gang of bandits”.
Dissidents were “operating on instructions from Zapu leaders . . . Their actions are centrally motivated and are being carried out in order to bring about destabilisation of our country, leading to a possible change of government”.
Zanu could not “allow the technicalities of the law to fetter its hands” and some of the measures it would adopt in response would be “extra-legal”. Those “who work against democracy do not deserve democratic treatment . . . ‘An eye for an eye, and an ear for an ear’ may not be satisfactory in our circumstances because we might very well demand two ears for one ear and two eyes for one eye”.
The tourist abduction proved a turning point. While claims that Zapu leaders had been co-ordinating dissident activities had been a mainstay of government rhetoric for some time, the notion that Matabeleland’s population at large was also part of the conspiracy was new.
There had been a few throwaway remarks along those lines before, but allegations that Zapu’s Ndebele-speaking supporters were a “dissident people” now became constant and increasingly hysterical.
Indeed, it was a dissident “massacre” of December 1982 — one preceded by a supposed “beer party” between the bandits and locals — that was used as a pretext to deploy the Gukurahundi, which immediately began its own retaliatory massacre.
The tourist kidnapping also marked the point at which Zanu militarised the conflict with Zapu and its supporters. Having dismembered Zipra in 1981, the government was no longer faced with a conventional military threat, but the abduction justified a vast expansion of military activity in Matabeleland.
The creation of mass detention centres in Matabeleland North and the growing incidence of human rights violations, including extra-judicial killings, were a direct outcome of the search for the tourists and formed the immediate backdrop to the Gukurahundi’s purported counterinsurgency operation in the same area during 1983.
Commenting on the army’s conduct during the search for the tourists, Mugabe said that his men were responsible for some “acts of indiscipline” and “even, on occasions, of brutality against the black population of the province” but “armed forces sometimes had to be forceful in situations where they were getting little co-operation”.
His rationalisation of the Gukurahundi’s mass killings six months later was the same. In a discussion with a group of NGOs, he declared that “the ordinary people are suffering – but the ordinary people are sustainers of dissidents”.
“We sent troops in [during 1982], warned of vigorous action if dissident activity continued — and it continued . . . These dissidents are not operating from the bush, but from people’s homes . . . They are sustained by the Zapu infrastructure and the majority of these people . . . are members of (the) Zapu infrastructure . . . If necessary, we have to be harsh.”
But much of the government’s propaganda was just that — a string of conscious lies that were used to further an existing political agenda. The aftermath of the abduction provides a clear demonstration of this reality.
A day after Mugabe addressed parliament, claiming a definitive link between the incident and the Zapu leadership, Sekeramayi blew his cover in a private discussion with a diplomat — not the last time he was to display what (for the government) was an unfortunate tendency to reveal the true intent behind Zanu’s bombast.
He “expressed doubt as to how much influence Nkomo really had in the area [of the kidnapping] now”, adding that “he could not believe that anyone with Zapu political connections would have initiated or sanctioned an abduction such as this”.
The Zanu-aligned police commissioner, in turn, blew Sekeramayi’s own cover, giving the same diplomat an overview of the relationship between dissidents and locals that contradicted the minister’s situation report and Zanu propaganda at every turn.
“Bandits were,” he remarked, “often part-timers operating by night with an AK47 that was hidden by day”.
Their “own parents were usually unaware of their activities” and, far from being keen to assist dissidents, “people were generally so afraid of the possibility of being shot if they recognised a bandit that they tended to ‘look away’ when being held up”. Nor did villagers usually withhold information about dissidents.
Although they were “scared to take the initiative to report incidents of banditry . . . they were, however, prepared to talk to regular patrols of police . . . and give information that was quite useful”.
The identity of the abductors remains a mystery, notwithstanding the belated discovery of the tourists’ remains (in 1985) and the government’s flaky claims that it had captured the leader of the gang and one of his accomplices (both of whom were executed).
Yet in broad historical terms the precise identity of the kidnappers is largely irrelevant. There was no gigantic and cunningly hidden conspiracy between the Zapu leadership, dissidents and the rural inhabitants of Matabeleland, as the government well knew.
In a moment of indiscreet clarity similar to Sekeramayi’s, the deputy minister of home affairs put it thus in a private conversation a month before the tourist incident: “It was nonsense to speak of dissidence being in any way centrally planned; those involved were hungry and rather desperate young men who were taking to banditry for a variety of reasons.”
That was at a time when the government was already hyping the allegedly clear-cut connection between Zapu politicians and dissidents.
It is inaccurate and ahistorical to reduce Zimbabwe’s early post-Independence years to a series of pre-determined events, planned and controlled from behind the scenes by Mugabe and Zanu-PF. Without doubt, there were many instances where chance, confusion and paranoia played their part. Yet the evidence — much of which has been unavailable until now —demonstrates that many of the key moments were orchestrated or skilfully manipulated by the ruling party.
The capacity of Mugabe and his lieutenants to conceive and implement the type of Machiavellian schemes of which they often accused their rivals in the 1980s has all too often been underestimated.
When it comes to the narratives dished up by those in power, ancient wisdom applies in Zimbabwe, as elsewhere: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”
l This is the third of a four-part series on the Gukurahundi, published by Daily Maverick, based on Stuart Doran’s newly published book Kingdom, Power, Glory: Mugabe, Zanu and The Quest for Supremacy, 1960-1987.
Doran is an Australian historian and the author of the book, Kingdom, Power, Glory: Mugabe, Zanu and the Quest for Supremacy, 1960–87. – Originally Published In Independent
EROL AKBAY’s nine-month romance with Premiership side Ngezi Platinum Stars has ended.
A report on ZTV’s main news bulletin last night also said Highlanders had also parted company with Mandla “Lulu’’ Mpofu, who is now set to be replaced by Mark Harrison.
Akbay is also a former coach of Bosso.
The Mhondoro-based side finally ran out of patience with the Dutch coach yesterday, and new coaches are expected to be named soon.
His assistant, Tendai Chikuni, has also been shown the exit door.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars FC wishes to announce the departure of head coach Erol Akbay and his assistant Tendai Chikuni from the club with immediate effect.
“The separation is by mutual consent,” the club said in a brief statement.
They added new coaches will be named soon.
Akbay bounced back into the domestic Premiership in January when the Dutchman inked a two-year deal to join last year’s league runners-up.State media
ASTON Villa manager Dean Smith says Marvelous Nakamba produced such a fine shift on Monday night it was difficult, at times, to believe he was only making his English Premiership debut.
An English journalist, who covers the club for its hometown newspaper, described the midfielder as a ‘‘smooth operator.’’
And Nakamba’s Scottish teammate, John McGinn, said the Zimbabwean midfielder was everywhere on the pitch.
Such was his impact the English Premiership club shortlisted him among the four players from whom the fans had to choose their man-of-the-match.
After finally making his Premiership bow on Monday night, in a high tempo battle against West Ham United, in which he played for 80 minutes before being pulled out, Nakamba was, expectedly, the dominant subject in Zimbabwean football yesterday.
His debut came before 42 010 fans at Villa Park, the biggest crowd, to watch a Zimbabwean player making his first appearance in the English Premiership.State media
THE body of the country’s founding father and national hero, former President Robert Mugabe is expected in Harare today in the afternoon, family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe said yesterday.
The body was initially set to be airlifted from Mugabe’s Kutama Village to Harare yesterday, but the programme changed.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Mugabe said the body will be airlifted to Harare today.
“Initially it was supposed to be airlifted to Harare today, but the programme has been changed for today.
“Church services were conducted yesterday at his rural home and another one will be conducted tomorrow (today) in the morning. Soon after lunch the body will be airlifted to Harare,” he said.State media
Zanu-PF is brimming with confidence ahead of the Zaka East by-election slated for Saturday, with officials saying victory is certain as they wrap-up the party’s campaign juggernaut.
Out of 26 constituencies here, Zanu-PF bagged 25 in the July 31, 2018 harmonised elections, including Zaka East, which fell vacant following the death of Caston Ringisai Gumbwanda in June.
According to senior ruling party officials here, Zanu-PF is primed for victory.
Zaka East was a no-go area for the opposition as the ruling party enjoyed entrenched support, making it difficult for briefcase parties to penetrate.
Since the July 2018 general elections, Zanu-PF prides itself for winning all by-elections held so far, except the recent one in Glen View South, Harare.
In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira was bullish about the revolutionary party’s prospects.
“We have reached the zenith of our campaign for the Zaka East by-election as we wrap up our campaign tomorrow (today),” said Chadzamira.
“We are going to retain that seat without any challenge. We are telling our people to vote for our party which is the party of our liberation and the party with the history of the nation.
‘‘ I can assure our people that we are going to deliver on all promises we made in our election campaign Manifesto.”State media
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Farai Dziva|Zimbabwean opposition leader, Pastor Timothy Chiguvare says he has been called to be the light of African politics.
Chiguvare is the president of the People’s Progressive Party.See his statement below :
I am called to be the LIGHT of African politics , l am now here to do what l am born for ; to live for and to die for , l am here to ensure that we introduce HYGIENE in African politics , that is our No.1 priority. l am here to ensure that we end “ONE PARTY STATE RULE” , it has no place in Africa , l am here to ensure that we end “IMPERIALIST PRESIDENCY” = to being a president for LIFE , like the late Robert Mugabe who had to be removed by a coup d’etat , we still have a few like him in Africa , it has no place in Africa.
“ONE PARTY STATE RULE” it gives birth to endless corruption ; human rights abuses ; election fraud & rigging ; tribalism ; crimes against humanity ; genocide(s) and coup d’etat(s)
I am called to be the LIGHT of African politics , l am here to ensure that we introduce HYGIENE in African politics.
Robert Mugabe was a fake revolutionary.
He pretended to love black people on international stage but at home he was a different animal.
The man loved power. He killed his opponents like dogs.His friend Mujuru was killed and burnt like he had leprosy.
I’m not going talk about Gukurahundi. My brothers from the east think it was a revenge for what Mzilikazi did to Shonas.
Mugabe was corrupt. His sons stayed in an expensive hotel in Johannesburg.
They were seen buying champagne valued at R40000.
Grace bought a house at Sandhurst which cost her R 250 million.
His relatives got position in state departments. His daughter and his son inlaw got good jobs.
His cabinet was full of bootlickers. Concerned true son of the soil
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official has said MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is misleading the entire nation by claiming to be a champion of democracy.
According to state media reports, the Zanu PF official urged MDC-Alliance members to “repent” and join the ruling Zanu-PF.
Addressing Zanu PF supporters in Zaka, Women’s League national political commissar Mybe Mbowa, claimed the revolutionary party was the only party of choice owing to its people-oriented policies.
Mbowa said the opposition leader was doomed after going to bed with the “enemy” and will never make it to State House.
“I want to tell Chamisa today that this country will never be run by an opposition party,” she said.
“It is better for the MDC supporters to join the big tent. Zanu-PF will rule forever.”
Farai Dziva|Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo has claimed government is determined to stop heinous abductions.
Said Moyo: “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.”
State Media- Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver the State of the Nation Address on October 1, the same day he will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda has confirmed.
In an interview at the weekend, Mr Chokuda said: “The State of the Nation Address will be made simultaneously with the official opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament.”
The SONA enables the President to give his reflection to the nation on the challenges and achievements that have been registered during the year.
The President’s speech will focus on political, economic and social issues and what Government is doing to address challenges.
President Mnangagwa is also expected to update the nation on political developments both in the country and the region, and in particular the support that Zimbabwe recently got from the Sadc Summit in Tanzania which set aside October 25 as Anti-Sanction Day.
He will also formally inform Parliament on his election as Sadc chair of the Troika on Defence, Politics and Security.
While officially opening the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, President Mnangagwa is expected to set the legislative agenda.
The opening of the Second Session marks the end of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, which saw at least 15 Bills out of 30 Bills presented.
At least 30 Bills were expected to be tabled in the First Session of the Ninth Parliament.
The legislative agenda that had been set out by President Mnangagwa mainly focused on improving the business climate in the country and entrenching democratic values.
Five Bills were passed by Parliament and two of them were signed into law while the other three are still waiting for Presidential assent.
Laws that were assented to are; the Shop Licence Amendment Act and the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act; while the Consumer Protection Bill, Microfinance Amendment Bill and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill are still awaiting assent.
Some of the Bills that are at various stages of debate in Parliament include the Education Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, Coroner’s Office Bill, Freedom of Information of Bill and the Marriages Bill. – State Media
Selmor Mtukudzi, who had been left out of her late father’s birthday bash line-up, has now been included, likely due to public demand.
Ever since her father, Oliver, died, music lovers have developed an inclination for Selmor who has been trying hard to keep her father’s legacy alive. As such, fans have been demanding that she be included in all concerts held in honour of Tuku judging by the uproar each time she is left out.
Chipaz Promotions, organisers of the Tuku Memorial Concert which will also serve as a birthday bash for the artiste who would have turned 67 on September 22, said they had initially left Selmor out because she had another booking on the same day — September 27. But now that booking has been cancelled and she has been drafted in.
Patson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions said: “Selmor is now part of the show to celebrate the life of her father, the late Dr Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi.
“Previously when we approached her, she said she was booked on the day. However, as fate would have it, she’s now part of the line-up as the show she had been set to perform in South Africa has been cancelled”.
Selmor was supposed to perform in Cape Town next Friday and Johannesburg next Saturday as part of her legacy concerts. According to her, the shows in South Africa have been cancelled because of the xenophobic violence in that country.
Chipaz said the addition of Selmor was a welcome development as it is a boost for the show.
“Selmor being on the line-up adds more weight to the show. Firstly, we’d like to commend her for agreeing to perform for free as this is a family (Tuku family) show. Secondly, her being on the line-up means that her fans will add numbers to those who’ll attend,” said Chipaz.
Headlining the celebrations at Glamis Arena will be South Africa’s Mi Casa, Zambia’s Amayenge and locals Alick Macheso, Winky D and Jah Prayzah. More performances will be from Zambia’s James Sakala, Souljah Love, Enzo Ishall, Tocky Vibes, Black Spirits, Kinnah, Blot and Diana Samkange.
Tuku, a national hero, died on January 23 this year after succumbing to diabetes.- Herald
Dear Editor -Villagers in Zaka District under Chief Ndanga have threatened to stop paying development levy due to lack of receipts for previous payments.
Speaking during a COTRAD facilitated community development meeting held in Zaka Central ward 8 at Gwangwava shopping Centre local villagers raised concerns over the failure by traditional leaders to provide receipts to some households who have subscribed their development levy of 3 RTGS dollars per family for the year 2019.
The villagers criticized the traditional leaders for collecting public funds and failing comply with the Rural District Council laws regarding the payment of levies.
The villagers demanded the supporting documents of all payments.
“As villagers we expect public officials to be transparent when dealing with public funds. The public officials must lead by example in fighting corruption, mismanagement of public funds, fraudulent activities, negligence and ineptitude”, said one villager.
COTRAD calls upon public officials to be transparent and accountable to citizen needs and demands.COTRAD
COTRAD also encourages the residents to peacefully engage public officials on social, economic and political concerns in their communities.
Farai Dziva|Italian football commentator Luciano Passirani has been sacked after his comments on Belgian and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku, which were perceived as racist.
While on Italian channel Top Calcio24, the pundit made some shocking remarks of the former Manchester United striker, much to the dismay of his superiors, who fired him instantly.
“Lukaku is one of the strongest, I like him a lot because he has strength: he is the alter ego of [Duvan] Zapata at Atalanta,” Luciano Passirani said according to CNN.
“They have something more than the others, there’s nothing else to do. They score the goals and drag your team forward. If you go one-on-one with him, he will kill you. Either you give him 10 bananas to eat, or …” he continued.
Food security is a critical component of national security and national development.
With the rainy season fast approaching, Zimbabwe should be ready to capitize on rain-fed agricultural activities. Investment in irrigation is paramount in view of recurring drought in our region.
We have got abundant natural resources in Zimbabwe. We have got plenty human capital. There’s more that unites us than divides us. Our political and socio-economic challenges aren’t insurmountable. We’re the people to make our beloved country great again. ZimbabweanPatriot-Obert Gutu
Farai Dziva|Former Caps United defender Ronald Pfumbidzai has signed a new contract with ABSA Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic.
The left full-back who joined the side in 2017 extended his stay with four years until 2023.
Celtic announced the news on social media on Tuesday saying: “Ronald Pfumbidzai has extended his stay with Siwelele till 2023.
Farai Dziva|It is a pensive moment for Lloyd Chitembwe as he faces Caps United in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie.
“It is an emotional game for me,” Chitembwe said.
“Personally, it’s a happy emotion in the sense that Caps is one club where I managed to achieve so much. It has given me the opportunity and platform to show what I’m capable of, from both facets of the game which is playing as well as coaching.” Chitembwe told NewsDay Sport.
“It (Caps) has given me so much and so I’m very grateful to the club and I had some special moments with those players, especially those who are there now. I also had some special moments with the fans; I respect them so much and they are probably the reason why I have come this far in my career,” he added, though inisiting that he will do the very best for his new paymasters to win the game.
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A source writing to a former serviceman Tuesday alleged that the missing (Hospital Doctors Association President) Dr Peter Magombeyi has been killed.
The claim was read out during a program with “successful” whistleblower Shepherd Yuda. Yuda is the man who exposed the vote rigging in the 2008 elections and he spoke to ZimEye in the below LIVE program, which was a LIVE search for the doctor.
During the program, military sources said the doctor was taken to the Kabrit Baracks when he was abducted on Saturday night.
Commenting on the development earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo identified the abductors as a Third Force. An indepth police memo corroborated with the police in May this year, reveals a new group of servicemen known as the Ferret team. ZimEye last month was able to track down a house where 10 of the team members live in Marondera. It comprises a combination of CIO and military intelligence officers.
SEARCH FOR DR MAGOMBEYI LEADS TO THIS SPOT …. TUESDAY EVENING – WATCH FULL VIDEO ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/bOpfm59HN0
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 17, 2019
WATCH THE BELOW LIVE VIDEO:
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By A Correspondent| Zimbabwean doctors in Nambia have joined hundreds of their counterparts in the country calling for the immediate return of abducted doctor Peter Magombeyi.
The doctors marched in solidarity with Dr Magombeyi who was reportedly abducted on the night of Saturday 14 September 2019 by unidentified assailants and is still missing.
He is the current acting president of the Zimbabwean Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) and he was leading the doctors ongoing strike demanding better living conditions.
Several calls for his return have been made since Sunday.
A march and prayer vigil was held in Harare on Monday, 16 September.
Today, doctors at Harare Hospital gathered outside the health facility to protest and demand the release of Magombeyi.
There have been several abductions of activists and politicians this year.
The government has however distanced itself from the abductions blaming the development on a third force that it claims is trying to soil government’s image.
Namibia is home to many doctors who fled Zimbabwe to seek better professional conditions in the diaspora.
We are pan Africanists and defenders of human rights that are in the context of Afrika and our constitution.
We exist and advance, defend and promote the fundamental rights of the Afrikan people. As a party we prioritise focusing on Social and Economic Development.
We believe a lot of politics has been done and we need to accept the call for delivering on the specific necessities of this dispensation.
As Labor, Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) we have SEED as our Manifesto which is Sustainable Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED).
Our focus is mainly the economy. An economy that transforms the lives of workers from mere receiving of wages and salaries into shareholders in all cooperations that employ them.
Workers must not have just pensions on retirement but posterity which can be passed on to the 10th generation.
Our Philosophy: The Afrikan Way
Because Africa we are being told to import America’s democracy… its not easy…its working in America because that is how America was founded..they have been perfecting if for over 200 years. Africa we have our own characteristics and founding values, if we build a system based on our own values, culture, characteristics we will do well jus like China, China has always emphasised on implementing “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” they are doin well, Putin did that in Russia after Yelstin tried to import American democracy afta the fall of the Soviet Union and it was chaos all over until Vladimir Putin… Africa we only need to identify our characteristics and our founding values and culture then design our own democratic system based on those fundamental principles and we are good to GO…but unfortunately anyone who tries to push foward that idea is then considered a terrorist by those western imperialist. Muamma Gaddafi
We lack IDENTITY as a people. A conglomeration of all things and do not know why things are not working for us as Africans. Without defining who we are means we going nowhere very fast.
Thats why its not easy for our people to feel a sense of belonging in Africa. We are a fragmented society lacking a rallying point. For example being Zimbabwean means lots of different things to different people in Zimbabwe.
Yet in USA their freedom carter recognises: all men were created equal, is guaranteed the right to freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is a rallying point for everything American. What do we have as a nation or as Africans?
LEAD is a pan Africanist party pro economic development that seeks to make reparations for past wrongs and unite the country and build a nation with a common shared vision and identity. We resist racism white supremacy and capitalism which is an intricate part to it.
We do not believe in being dominated by the West or begging policies and receipt of conditional AID and FDI that threaten our sovereignty. If ever foreign investment is to come it has to be welcomed from our position of strength and not of weakness or begging.
LEAD has the courage to be different. It might seem to be a mammoth task to bring forth a new political culture in Zimbabwe.
We are committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe moves out of the culture of politics of patronage, personalities and populism and moves in to issue based politics that will transform Zimbabwe in our quest to ensure sustainable human development and sustainable economic growth.
Linda Masarira-Kaingidza
LEAD President
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will allow Grace Mugabe, the widow of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, keep the wealth her late husband amassed during his 37-year reign as the country’s president.
Obert Mpofu, the secretary of Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, this disclosed this on Tuesday.
The fortune amassed by late Mugabe’s family during the period include a dairy farm, a private school, and a game reserve, amongst others.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured the family that they will keep their wealth,” said Mpofu.
The properties to be kept by the former president’s family include those in ZANU-PF’s name.
They are Mugabe’s villa, otherwise known as “Blue Roof” which is located in Borrowdale Brooke, a choice area in Harare, and another mansion where Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, lives.
“The title deeds will soon be transferred into the family’s name,” Mpofu said.
When asked, Mugabe’s family spokesman, Leo Mugabe, said that it was too early to discuss how issues such as wealth and property of the late Zimbabwe leader who died on September 6, at the age of 95.
“We are still mourning; we haven’t buried our departed; we cannot discuss that,” he told dpa.
Mugabe was forcefully removed from office in 2017 by country’s military.
The former Zimbabwean leader was said to have secretly amassed enormous wealth during his rule.
His widow reportedly earned the name “Gucci Grace” due to her lavish tastes for luxury fashion.
By Edinah Masanga| First look at ex First Lady Grace Mugabe without the veil she has kept on during the mourning of her late husband former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.
She is seen being consoled by former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. I jus wanted to add that…
• This is how we cry when our relatives perish from lack of treatment because healthcare is no longer affordable for the majority in Zimbabwe.
• This is how we cried when our relatives were killed in 2008
•This is how we cry daily because of the Gukurahundi atrocities
• This is how we cry when our 10-year-old children turn to prostitution because of hunger in a failed economy and state
• This is how we cry when journalists and activists were abducted, tortured and made to disappear under the auspices of her husband RGM.
• This is how we cry and cry and cry in a #Zimbabwe that Robert Mugabe left for us.
• This. This is also how we cry when we hear that Grace and her kids are going to inherit an estate of 2 billion US dollars.
IOL|Coming out of a long self-imposed political exile, former South African President Thabo Mbeki has dropped another Zimbabwe political bombshell, saying not even “one” Zimbabwean said they wanted former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe deposed from power.
Mbeki said even the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), fierce opponents of Mugabe’s Zanu-PF wanted both parties to find one another, not to help them to get Mugabe out of power as widely reported.
Mbeki said this while giving a speech at a special Robert Mugabe memorial service in Durban on Tuesday.
Mbeki said there is one “white journalist” who recently wrote that Mugabe was wanted out by his people and Mbeki seemingly took offence so much, that he had to use the memorial service to correct that misconception.
He said instead of Zimbabweans wanting Mugabe out of power, it was the British who wanted to use military force to get him removed. The former South African president brokered the 2008 government of unity that brought in the late leader of the MDC Morgan Tsvangirai to become the Prime Minister under Mugabe.Former SA president Thabo Mbeki says he never met even “one” Zimbabwean who said Robert Mugabe to be deposed from power. Video: Sihle Mavuso
He started his speech by giving a long history of Mugabe and the ANC, saying they learnt a lot from him like keeping army and police generals of the old order and allowing them to quietly disappear from the scene rather than forcing them out.
He said that would have caused instability.
As expected, Mbeki gave a lecture on the land question that threw Zimbabwe into an economic and social crisis. He blamed Britain under Tony Blair for reneging on the deal.
He said attempts were made to buy some farms for war veterans who had started occupying the farms around 1998.
He said some unnamed donors gave them money to buy some farms that were on the market but the programme failed when it was taken over by the United Nations under Kofi Annan.
Police in Bulawayo on Tuesday blocked Bulawayo Doctors from protesting against the abduction of their fellow workmate and President.
Pictures Below shows Police blocking Doctors from Proceeding with their Demo:
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16 September 2019
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) writes this pastoral message to the President as head of Government and to all the Citizens of Zimbabwe seeking a lasting solution to the deteriorating human security situation in the context of a deepening economic crisis.
1. Church leaders are learning with deep concern the deteriorating human security situation especially as demonstrated by at least 20 reports of abductions. This situation is deeply worrying because none of the reported cases of abduction and torture have been successfully investigated and prosecuted.
2. The situation is further disturbing because there is government communication suggesting that there is a possibility of a third force. Apart from it being too coincidental that this third hand is only targeting civil society activists and other dissenting voices, it is worrying that after so many reported cases, not a single person has been arrested. This has put the security of citizens at the highest level of vulnerability.
3. The church leaders are also concerned to hear of the fragile relationships within the security sector alleged to have only worsened in the course of the November 2017 transition. If this is the case, the church leaders are worried that politicization of the security sector in the context of deep inter and intra party fragmentation puts the whole nation at highest levels of security risk.
4. The church leaders are aware that the population is getting restive due to the pain of worsening economic conditions demonstrated by loss in buying power and the rapid increase of prices.
5. The church leaders would like to highlight the lack of confidence in the current national economic reform trajectory and the absence of a meaningful consultative process to ameliorate it. Unfortunately, the growing pessimism is not only shared by international economists but also by respected local economists.
6. The church leaders are concerned that low public confidence in the context of fragile security sector is a recipe for national crisis.
7. It is foundational Christian belief that all human beings are created in the image of God and should have their dignity respected at all times. The same God who created them in His own image is the same God who also commanded that, “You shall not kill”. This is the same God who calls on all to repent of their evil ways out and be reconciled to God and to one another.
8. The church also believes that order in society is maintained through the respect of laws of the land. In this light, the church leaders would like to reiterate that all forms of torture, abductions and unlawful confinement are against the spirit and letter of Section 53 of the Constitution which states that: ‘Every citizen is entitled to freedom from torture or cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and further explained that no person may be subjected to physical or psychological torture or to cruel inhuman degrading treatment or punishment.’
9. The church leaders call upon President Mnangagwa to publicly condemn the abductions and torture of civilians as well as appointing an independent investigation into these abductions
10. The church leaders call upon business, labour, civil society groups, political parties and all key stakeholders to commit to a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue towards:
i. A social contract and consensus among all Zimbabweans,
ii. A shared agenda of the necessary national reforms, and
iii. A shared national economic vision based on shared burdens and commitments.
11. The church believes it is in the interest of President Mnangagwa’s legacy to provide leadership towards building national consensus towards national unity, peace, justice and prosperity for all Zimbabweans.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow
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The Health Apex Council has met and made several resolutions presented to Health and Child Care Minister over the disappearance of the president of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, Dr Peter Magombeyi.
We present the resolutions in full below.
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Professor Jonathan Moyo says a group called Ferret is involved in the abduction of citizens and some operations done by the security forces in Zimbabwe.
Moyo’s statement comes at a time when a Dr Peter Magombeyi was abducted on Saturday at his home by unknown assailants.
Senior and Junior dctors have since gone on strike demanding the safe return of Magombeyi.
Said Moyo, “The Third Force in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe since the extended Rhodesian State of Emergency during gukurahundi and in apartheid South Africa has always been a rogue unit of state security agents doing pseudo operations, such as abductions. In South Africa it was DCC, in Zim it’s FERRET!”
Ferret is reported to be a joint team of security forces in Zimabbwe.
“They have become a law unto themselves. They are a combined JOC team!”Moyo added. “It’s rogue by design, to deal with enemies of the State, the Party and the President!”
Source – Byo24
Dear Editor
Singapore’s GDP is US$330 Billion, yet its Prime Minister travels with 6 support staff. Zimbabwe has a GDP of US$17 Billion (Mugabe’s 2017 Economy), yet President Mnangagwa will be travelling to the UN General Assembly with 90 people in a private jet, and will be there for close to 2 weeks with allowances.
Below is South Africa’s Tito Mboweni revealing that he met Singapore’s Prime Minister traveling on “bhombera,” Singapore Airlines. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
I traveled in the same Singapore Airlines flight with him from Singapore to Osaka, Japan. June 27, 2019. He is the prime minister of Singapore. His delegation was about six support staff. I like that. I was with no support staff. pic.twitter.com/vwYjJKxmh2
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) June 27, 2019
SIX suspects who were allegedly caught red-handed stealing an assortment of military training equipment valued at $600 000 last Wednesday appeared before a Nyanga magistrate facing theft charges.
The six are Maxwell Mutsvairo (27), Stan Mutsvairo (40), Beloved Kureya (21), Tinashe Mashingaidze (29), Happymore Kobwe (32) and Wellington Million (34).
They pleaded not guilty when they appeared before magistrate Mrs Constance Marutya.
Mr Tafara Chawatama prosecuted.
It is alleged that on July 25, at around 11am, Happymore, Wellington, Beloved and Tinashe went to the border camp principal training area with a DAF truck registration number AEX 4100 and met Maxwell and Stan.
They allegedly stole 2×100 milimetre military gun, three military tank haul sides, one military tank terreck, two military tank track and one military track benz.
Tedious Chakuosi, the commanding officer of Zimbabwe National Army border camp, received a tip off that the accused persons were stealing training equipment and rushed to the camp with Yotamu Winstone Mwale.
They arrested Happymore and Wellington as the other four fled the scene.
The military gun, three military tank haulside, two military tank track and one military track benz were recovered.
The DAF truck was impounded.
Total value of goods stolen was $600 000 and all was recovered.
— Manica Post
LEAD is a pan Africanist party pro economic development that seeks to make reparations for past wrongs and unite the country and build a nation with a common shared vision and identity. We resist racism white supremacy and capitalism which is an intricate part to it.
We do not believe in being dominated by the West or begging policies and receipt of conditional AID and FDI that threaten our sovereignty. If ever foreign investment is to come it has to be welcomed from our position of strength and not of weakness or begging #TogetherWeCan-Linda Masarira
Watch video below. ..
By Latwell Nyangu
Musician-cum-comedian Freddy “Kapfupi” Manjalima says he has no hatred against fellow artists amongst them Charles “Marabha’’ Merisi who accused the actor of bewitching him.
Responding to the allegations made on social media by Marabha, Kapfupi said Marabha was a reckless and irresponsible person who blamed his failures on other people.
“Marabha mwana wandakatora, if you want look at this, we started this with Aphiri, Chimutashu, he was not even close.
The Street Theatre product said he grew up at a farm.
“I grew up at a farm called Mara in Ruwa and singing has always been in me since I was at school before I thought of encompassing it with dramas.
“People started noticing drama since I was acting in First Street before ZBC took us.
“During that time I had music inside me which I wished I could sing and had always wanted to be like Safiriyo Madzikatire, who inspired me.
“Music demands more money that’s why it took us long since taiva tisina mari tiri munaFirst Street.”
Born on October 31 in 1978, Kapfupi said his journey has always been of entertaining.
“When it all started, I enjoyed art since it was something in me, zvekungonakidza vanhu.
“As I was growing up, I discovered that I could earn a living from that, before I went on tv and family were happy.
“My art comes from within haisi yekuedzesera and when I will be acting, I would be like munhu abatwa nemudzimu zvekuti ukatondigumha ndogona kukanganwa zvandinenge ndichiita so it’s in me.
“The spirit comes each time I will be acting sechinhu chakatanga kudhara sekutamba so.
“The time when we were acting in Epworth we would also act in schools in line with the education curriculums.
“Whilst in the streets, we were taken by some companies, and ZBC thereafter we went to Grammar records which then shoot our videos during the time of Ngaavongwe Musakwa and now we are now working with different companies.”
To date, Kapfupi has eight albums to his credit.
“We have also produced a video on Mai Nga song and there are many songs which were not marketed well.
“We are also working on the new project Bvisa Chigunwe Mukanwa which was produced last year.
“On music I have not worked with any band, I just started but I featured on the video of the late Oliver Mtukudzi, Kupotsera Dope.
“I have also featured the late Mkoma Tuku on my song Dzimba Dzinonetsa.
“Jah Prayzah featured on my song Madamburo and I also worked with Simon Mutambi, Mostaff, DJ Shugeta.”
He vowed to remain in the industry.
“I am in the industry forever and I wish to reach the levels of all these established artist, like Oliver Mtukudzi, Mapfumo among others.
“I am also expecting to see promoters inviting me.
“Ndisu mapiritsi enyika and people should enjoy our acts.
“Street Theatre haife zvekumhanya, hamheno imi vanhu, zvese acting, music ava mai Nga ndinavo.
“I do everything, zvekuti Kapfupi or Aphiri akapenga handizive, zvinoonekwa nevanoona, the fans see our art,” he said. H-Metro
Food security is a critical component of national security and national development.
With the rainy season fast approaching, Zimbabwe should be ready to capitize on rain-fed agricultural activities. Investment in irrigation is paramount in view of recurring drought in our region.
We have got abundant natural resources in Zimbabwe. We have got plenty human capital. There’s more that unites us than divides us. Our political and socio-economic challenges aren’t insurmountable. We’re the people to make our beloved country great again. ZimbabweanPatriot-Obert Gutu
Dear Editor -Villagers in Zaka District under Chief Ndanga have threatened to stop paying development levy due to lack of receipts for previous payments.
Speaking during a COTRAD facilitated community development meeting held in Zaka Central ward 8 at Gwangwava shopping Centre local villagers raised concerns over the failure by traditional leaders to provide receipts to some households who have subscribed their development levy of 3 RTGS dollars per family for the year 2019.
The villagers criticized the traditional leaders for collecting public funds and failing comply with the Rural District Council laws regarding the payment of levies.
The villagers demanded the supporting documents of all payments.
“As villagers we expect public officials to be transparent when dealing with public funds. The public officials must lead by example in fighting corruption, mismanagement of public funds, fraudulent activities, negligence and ineptitude”, said one villager.
COTRAD calls upon public officials to be transparent and accountable to citizen needs and demands.COTRAD
COTRAD also encourages the residents to peacefully engage public officials on social, economic and political concerns in their communities.
Dear Editor-Join the MDC UK and Ireland Manchester Branch demonstration against continued arrests and abductions of innocent people: Saturday, 21st Sept outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, London from 12pm onwards.
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Farai Dziva|Italian football commentator Luciano Passirani has been sacked after his comments on Belgian and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku, which were perceived as racist.
While on Italian channel Top Calcio24, the pundit made some shocking remarks of the former Manchester United striker, much to the dismay of his superiors, who fired him instantly.
“Lukaku is one of the strongest, I like him a lot because he has strength: he is the alter ego of [Duvan] Zapata at Atalanta,” Luciano Passirani said according to CNN.
“They have something more than the others, there’s nothing else to do. They score the goals and drag your team forward. If you go one-on-one with him, he will kill you. Either you give him 10 bananas to eat, or …” he continued.
Farai Dziva|Former Caps United defender Ronald Pfumbidzai has signed a new contract with ABSA Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic.
The left full-back who joined the side in 2017 extended his stay with four years until 2023.
Celtic announced the news on social media on Tuesday saying: “Ronald Pfumbidzai has extended his stay with Siwelele till 2023.
