Former Warriors star, Madinda Ndlovu is said to have been hospitalised at the GPH hospital in Botswana after he collapsed during training.

The sad development was confirmed by an unnamed family source who said that details were still sketchy. The source told ZBC News that family members were on their way to the hospital.

Madinda who is a brother to King Peter, former Warriors captain, is currently Head Coach of Gaborone United after parting ways with his boyhood side Highlanders weeks back.

-More to follow…

By A Correspondent| The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Paul Mavima, said schools will open or the third term on Tuesday as scheduled.

This follows social media reports that schools will now be opened for the third term on 17 September to allow the nation to grieve the passing away of former president Robert Mugabe.

Mavima refuted those claims and insisted that the schools’ calendar has not changed.

He said:

The death of the former President has not affected the opening of school. The schools are still opening Tuesday this week as planned so social media posts should be ignored.

In a tweet on Saturday, Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting also said schools will open on 10 September 2019.

The tweet read:

Schools are due to open on Tuesday 10 September 2019. There has been no change to that plan. Please ignore any messages to the contrary. Borders are expected to travel to their respective schools on Monday 9 September 2019.

When Robert Mugabe was elected prime minister of Zimbabwe in 1980, his supporters took to the streets to celebrate. When he was deposed in a coup in November 2017, Zimbabweans from across the political divide marched in solidarity with the army that overthrew him.

Now, in death, Mugabe – a hero turned dictator – has once again split public opinion.

Mugabe, who died on Friday in a hospital in Singapore at the age of 95, died a bitter man. He had not come to terms with the political ascension of his once-trusted lieutenant Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded him as president.

A fortnight ago, close family sources told a weekly independent newspaper that the former president’s dying wish was to be buried in the Zvimba district, his ancestral home, instead of the National Heroes’ Acre where, as president, he buried his trusted comrades.

Those he loathed – including his maternal uncle and childhood friend James Chikerema – were not granted a similar status despite the contributions they had made to the struggle for liberation.

“He was the most selfish man I came to know. A tough disciplinarian too – he crushed everyone who crossed his path at his prime,” said a Zanu-PF member.

Between 1983 and 1987, Mugabe launched the so-called “Gukurahundi”, a violent campaign targeting civilians and alleged dissidents who supported the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) and its leader, Joshua Nkomo. The Korean-trained 5th Brigade, an army unit with political links that fell outside army command, killed an estimated 20,000 people in Matabeleland and the Midlands provinces.

The campaign forced Nkomo to the negotiation table to sign a unity accord in December 1987 bringing together Zapu and the Zimbabwe African National Union to form Zanu-PF. Mugabe was granted his wish for a one-party state for at least three decades.

For ordinary Zimbabweans, Mugabe had three faces – the good, the bad and the considerate.

“Before he died, some of us wished he was still president because things are now harder than they were when he was in power,” said Mavis Nyoni, a teacher, on Friday. “The economy was bad under him but somehow he made sure we had ‘keep going’ strategies – but under the new rulers it’s blank.”

For Thabani Zhou, a foreign exchange dealer, the mess in which Zimbabwe now finds itself can be traced back to Mugabe.

“Before 1995, the country was spoilt for choice. There were many able people who could have taken over from him. Already then, he looked tired and should have retired but his long stay created this mess. We have a coup to our name; before that, hyperinflation and bad service delivery. All those things started with him. Talk of the culture of political violence we see today, it’s all from Mugabe’s playbook,” he said.

Jabulani Tsheza had seen Mugabe “die” too many times on social media in previous hoax reports. He did not believe the news on Friday until he saw it confirmed on television. A retired teacher and former student of Mugabe’s at Empandeni Mission in Matabeleland South in the 1950s, Tsheza felt Zimbabwe had lost an icon.

“People knew us out there because of him. One good trait under him was a solid education system. Zimbabweans are some of the most educated Africans. Unfortunately, I don’t see any leader that can rival him emerging from the local political scene in the next decade or so,” he said.

Taruvinga Zinyengere, a carpenter, felt Mugabe had suffered enough.

“He spent four months in a hospital. Expecting him to improve was like wishing for a miracle because at his age, like Nelson Mandela who died at the same age, there was nothing much left to live for. However, he leaves a relatively young family, having only lived to see just one grandchild,” he said.

Mugabe’s youngest son, Chatunga, shared his grief on social media, saying on his private Instagram account @bellzgabe: “I just wanna die.”

Most residents in Zimbabwe’s major cities, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, went about their lives as usual on Friday. Had Mugabe died in power, it may have sparked a more emotional reaction.

“We came to terms with his departure. He had been living his life as a retired person. We respect his family’s privacy, although at times I personally feel his rule robbed us of a bright future. There’s nothing we can do about it,” said a police officer at a roadblock.

Mugabe’s death overshadowed that of Brig-Gen Trust Mugoba, who died in Harare on Friday. The former president had shipped Mugoba to the African Union in 2017 in a failed bid to neutralise the coup that ended his presidency.

Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader, Robert Mugabe, died at the age of 95 on September 6 2019 while in hospital in Singapore

Saturday’s By-elections produce no major surprises.

Zanu PF has retained the Mangwe National Assembly and Masvingo North Ward 1 council seats, but lost Harare’s Glenview South National Assembly seat to the opposition MDC.

In Mangwe, the ruling party’s candidate Hlalani Mguni polled 4553 votes while Vincent Sihlabo of MDC got 2210 votes in Saturday’s by-election.

According to the ZEC, voter turnout was 39,9 percent of the registered voters in the constituency.

In Glenview South, MDC’s Vincent Tsvangirayi polled 3 474 votes, while Zanu PF’s Offard Muchuwe received 1 534 votes.

A total of 5 250 votes were cast as compared to 17 446 in the 2018 election.

The Mangwe and Glen View South National Assembly seats fell vacant following the death of Obedingwa Mguni and Vimbayi Tsvangirai Java respectively.

In Masvingo North’s ward 1 council by-election also held on Saturday, Zanu PF candidate, Kudakwashe Murambiwa beat MDC’s Escort Chawatama.

Murambiwa received 1166 as compared to his rival’s 334.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Councillor Ephraim Chinamasa in July.

Reports just received indicate that ZANU PF has retained the Mangwe Constituency after narrowly edging the opposition MDC in the by election held on Saturday.

Results yet to be confirmed are that ZANU PF polled 4 540 votes against the MDC’s 3 115 votes.

Full results provided indicate the following outcome:

ZANU PF 4540 (Hlalani Mguni)

MDC-ALLIANCE 3115 (Vincent Sihlabo)

MDC-T 237 (George R Kosetsile)

ZAPU 94(Mathew Sibanda)

MRP 50 (Edmond Nleya)

NCA 13 (Lizwe Dlomo)

INDEPENDENT 71 (Zingabi T Ncube)

LEAD 18(Varaidzo P Phiri)

Robert Mugabe’s body is expected home on Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also the Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, said the former President was expected to be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre.

He said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, there was never any differences of opinion between Government and family on where the former President would be buried.

“It is the time line that we are working with, but subject to confirmation with the leadership. The major decisions will be taken tomorrow in the context of the proposed programme,” said Charamba.

The body of the founding President of Zimbabwe is expected to be received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Mugabe and Marufu family members and chiefs from Zvimba.

Upon its arrival, the body is expected to be taken to Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba.

While a proper funeral programme is yet to be announced, provisional plans are that the former President’s body would be placed in the giant National Sports Stadium, where mourners from all the country’s provinces would have the opportunity to pay their last respects.

Government’s Chief of Protocol, Mr Munyaradzi Kajese, is today expected to convene a meeting of Government officials that will work out a comprehensive draft programme for the funeral.

A team of Government officials, the Mugabe and Marufu family members and Zanu-PF party representatives is to travel to Singapore today or tomorrow to assist the wife of the former President, Mrs Grace Mugabe, in repatriating the body.

Emerging from a meeting with traditional leaders from the Gushungo clan in Zvimba yesterday, family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe told the media that it was befitting to include chiefs in preparations for Mugabe’s burial, since he was a chief in the Gushungo clan.

“Overall, the people who will make decisions will be the Zvimba chiefs who are gathered now (yesterday).”

He denied media reports that the former President had refused to be interred at the National Heroes Acre.

“I saw the WhatsApp message to that effect, but we don’t know where the information originated from. I know there are people who create these stories so that they make comments for themselves, but that is not the official position of the family,” said Mr Mugabe, who is a nephew to the former President.

Standard|Former president Robert Mugabe’s family says his health deteriorated after he was overthrown in a military coup in 2017 and he never forgave those behind his outster.

Mugabe, who died aged 95 at a Singapore hospital on Friday, was forced to resign after he was put under house arrest by the military, which also took over government institutions.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month said his predecessor had been detained at a Singapore medically facility since April.

The former ruler’s nephew who is the family spokesperson told The Standard in Zvimba, Mugabe’s rural home, yesterday that his uncle died a bitter man.

“He died a very bitter man,” he said. “Imagine the people that are guarding you that you trusted the most turn against you.

“They have dented his legacy; it was not an easy thing.”

The former Zanu PF MP said Mugabe never recovered from the effects of the coup and was very bitter until his last days.

“We tried to cheer him up after the November coup, but he was very angry and did not change,” he added.

“He wanted to hand over power two weeks before the coup but was not afforded the chance to do that and his health took a nose dive.”

He said no one ever sought forgiveness from Mugabe after the coup and there was no chance to reconcile the warring parties.

Army generals led by then commander Constantine Chiwenga moved to dislodge Mugabe after he fired Mnangagwa at the height of a bitter succession battle in Zanu PF.

One of the reasons the generals gave was that Mugabe was purging war veterans and Zanu PF was in danger of losing elections the following year.

Mnangagwa, who had a brief stint in exile in neighbouring South Africa returned to take over the reins in both Zanu PF and government.

During his 94 birthday celebrations in Harare last year, Mugabe described Mnangagwa’s government as his tormentors.

“At some point, you can forgive someone who came to you and say ‘I wronged you’, but how can you forgive someone who did not come to you and tell you that he wronged you,” Leo said.

In a subtle dig on Mnangagwa’s government, Mugabe’s nephew said the long-time ruler was not to blame for violence that had blighted his legacy. He said those behind the violence were still in charge.

“He was never violent,” Leo added. “The architects of violence are still there.

“There are people who do violence in the name of the president and that does not mean the president consented to it. It was never him.”

Mugabe’s family reportedly held a meeting in Zvimba on Friday where they are allegedly resolved that Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and her deputy Victor Matemadanda would

not be allowed at his funeral.

Muchinguri-Kashiri accused Mugabe of being a sell-out in the aftermath of the coup and the former president’s family members said he never forgave her.

Meanwhile, several Zanu PF officials and businesspeople among them Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zvimba South MP Philip Chiyangwa, Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa

and former Senate president Edna Madzongwe were in Zvimba yesterday to convey their condolences.

State Media|Robert Mugabe planned to return to the country at the end of this month and mutually agreed to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa upon his homecoming before his untimely death last Friday, Director-General in the President’s Office Mr Isaac Moyo said.

DG Moyo, who was the point man in liaisons between the State and the former First Family, said the former President died around 4am at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore despite having briefly shown signs of improvement earlier in the week. Mugabe spent five months receiving treatment in Singapore.

The State materially supported Mugabe and his family’s upkeep during the period. In an hour-long interview with our Harare Bureau yesterday, in which he described intricate details of his time with the Mugabes, Mr Moyo gave details of how he had learnt of the devastating news of Mugabe’s demise in the wee hours of Friday after having communicated daily with Mrs Mugabe last week.

“Last Saturday, I got a call from Amai Mugabe and she said that the former President had been admitted to hospital. We again spoke on Sunday and she said there was not much change. We spoke earlier in the week and she said that his condition had improved. However, on Wednesday night, she said there had been a significant deterioration in his condition.

“That day, she spoke in an agonised voice and I did the best I could to comfort her. I spoke to her again on Thursday, in the morning and in the evening and she said the situation was really bad. When I woke up at around 4am on Friday morning, I saw a missed WhatsApp call from the former First Lady and I immediately sensed that something was wrong. Ever since we had communicated, she had not called around that time.

“Upon returning the call, she conveyed the sad news that the former President had passed on. She broke down and it was painful hearing her voice from the other side of the phone,” he said.

Amai Mugabe had told her that Mr Mugabe passed on “between two to three minutes” after the missed call.

Mr Moyo said soon after speaking to the former First Lady, he conveyed the message to President Mnangagwa, who informed him that he would call Amai Mugabe to convey his condolences.

“At that point, I needed to advise the President and I called him just after 4am. Fortunately, the President is the type of person who picks up his phone, unlike others whom when you call at night you are lucky to get answered. He picked up his phone from Cape Town and I broke the news to him. After that, the President then also called Mai Mugabe to say that he had heard the news and to convey his condolences.”

“The former President hoped he was going to come back home and that he wished to see the former President upon his return. We had told him that the President looked forward to seeing him upon his return and he had also expressed similar sentiments that he would be delighted to meet the President. And at that time, we were told that the last date of his medical engagements was the 17th of October and that soon after he would return home. A week after our return, I then got a call from Mrs Mugabe and she said that the treatment regime that the former President was having would no longer be extended to October, it would end in September instead and because of that, they were now scheduled to come back home at the end of September.”

DG Moyo said since last year, he had developed a cordial relationship with the Mugabes, characterised by frank engagements with the couple who freely opened up to him on their concerns.

“For the last year, in fact even before the elections, the President assigned me to be the linkman between former President Cde Robert Mugabe and his wife . . . Members of the Mugabe family like Walter Chidhakwa and Albert Mugabe (nephews to Cde Mugabe) visited me and told me of their desire to visit Singapore and from that time I had also informed the President, in turn he had tasked me to work with the family, and he tasked me to ensure that they were able to go.

“We had actually assisted the former First Lady’s sister — Mrs Gumbochuma — to go to Singapore. She did not have a passport and we used our good relations with the Registrar-General to consider treating her passport application as a humanitarian emergency.”

DG Moyo said he was surprised to see news that Cde Mugabe had refused to be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre.

“I saw it in the newspapers. When we went there to see the former President, there was absolutely none of that. I was actually surprised to see it in one of the newspapers. If they had such a feeling, they had managed to hide it from us. You can see from the description I gave there was no hint of that. We actually had a very good engagement. Even when I engaged with Walter and Albert, they knew what Government had been doing for the former President, they were full of praise for the President. They knew that Government had gone out of its way to support the former President to have stayed that long in Singapore.”

DG Moyo said last year, Cde Mugabe visited Singapore for routine medical check-ups before returning home, but this year, doctors had requested for an extension of his time under treatment.

“He was staying in a house that he was renting privately. It was not paid for by Government, but from his own resources. Government only paid for his medicals. But the accommodation he paid for himself. It was fairly small (single storey) Singaporean suburban house that was convenient for his condition.”

He added that the former President never voted for MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa in the past elections.

DG Moyo said: “Of course here and there, there were also moments we had our tensions. I remember when I first went to see him after his Press conference, where he announced he was going to vote for Chamisa. We really had an exchange that day, but what then emerged was that he said despite having threatened to vote for Chamisa, he actually did not vote for Chamisa and I was told on how on the eve of the elections, he had agonised, he could not sleep. According to the former First Lady, he had woken up around 2am somewhere and he said he could not sleep and the idea that he would go and vote for Chamisa was rebuffed, he could not do that.

“And the former First Lady said she then encouraged him to follow his real wishes and to vote for comrades he has always been with and not to worry about the small matters between them, and so the former First Lady, with the concurrence of Cde Mugabe himself, said he had not voted for MDC, but he had voted correctly, I found that funny and I enjoyed the story.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also the Presidential spokesperson, Cde George Charamba, said the former President was expected to be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes’ Acre. His body is expected in the country on Wednesday.

He said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, there was never any differences in opinion between Government and family on where the former President would be buried.

“It is the timeline that we are working with, but subject to confirmation with the leadership. The major decisions will be taken tomorrow in the context of the proposed programme,” said Cde Charamba.

The body of the founding President of Zimbabwe is expected to be received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Mugabe and Marufu family members and chiefs from Zvimba.

Upon its arrival, the body is expected to be taken to Cde Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba. While a proper funeral programme is yet to be pronounced, provisional plans are that the former President’s body would be placed in the giant National Sports Stadium, where mourners from all the country’s provinces would have the opportunity to pay their last respects.

A team of Government officials, the Mugabe and Marufu family members and Zanu-PF party representatives is to travel to Singapore today or tomorrow to assist the wife of the former President, Mrs Grace Mugabe, in repatriating the body.

Emerging from a meeting with traditional leaders from the Gushungo clan in Zvimba yesterday, family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe told the media that it was befitting to include chiefs in preparations for Cde Mugabe’s burial, since he was a chief in the Gushungo clan. He also denied media reports that the former President had refused to be interred at the National Heroes’ Acre.

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga yesterday described Robert Mugabe as an “iconic leader of African emancipation”, who empowered the nation through the land reform programme “at the risk of his own life and position”.

In a condolence message to President Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s family and the people of Zimbabwe, VP Chiwenga, who is presently receiving treatment in China, said the former founding President prosecuted the liberation struggle with distinction after taking over the reins of the party in 1977.

“It is with a deep sense of sorrow and shock that I learnt of the untimely passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President Cde RG Mugabe, on 6 September 2019.

“Cde Mugabe was the liberator of Zimbabwe, who upon taking the reins of leadership of Zanu in 1977, led the prosecution of the liberation struggle with distinction until the attainment of national independence in 1980,” he said.

“He will remain our founding father and iconic leader of African emancipation.”

He applauded Mugabe for leading Zimbabwe to become the country with one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, as well as law-abiding people, who respect the Constitution and electoral processes.

Mugabe, he added, was a selfless leader, who put the national interest ahead of his own.

“He leaves behind a legacy of a country with respect for constitutionalism, whereupon elections are held as prescribed in the Constitution and the highest literacy rate in Africa.

“At the risk of his own life and position, Cde Mugabe courageously empowered the nation, through the land reform programme. . .

“As I extend my condolences from China, my heartfelt sympathises are with his beloved family, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D Mnangagwa and the nation at large. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace,” said VP Chiwenga.State media

The MDC Alliance’s candidate in the Glen View South parliamentary by-election, Vincent Tsvangirai, has won the seat.

According to Open Parly, Tsvangirai polled 3 474 votes, while the ZANU PF candidate garnered 1 534 votes.

MDC – 3 474
ZANU PF – 1 534
Independent – 64
LEAD – 58
UANC – 34
Freezim Nyamayedenga – 31
ZAPU Retiwa – 17
Independent B Kasema -14- Open Parly

The late former President Robert Mugabe’s body is expected in the country on Wednesday and burial is slated for Sunday at the National Heroes Acre.

This was revealed by Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba who claimed that there was never any differences in opinion between the Government and family on where Mugabe would be buried.

He said:
It is the timeline that we are working with, but subject to confirmation with the leadership.

The major decisions will be taken tomorrow in the context of the proposed programme.
According to the proposed programme, Mugabe’s body is expected to be received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Mugabe and Marufu family members and chiefs from Zvimba.

It will then be taken to his rural home in Zvimba. The body is expected to be placed in the National Sports Stadium where mourners from the country’s 10 provinces would have an opportunity to bid him farewell.

Meanwhile, a team of government officials alongside the Mugabe and Marufu family members and Zanu-PF party representatives is expected to leave for Singapore shortly to assist Mrs Grace Mugabe in repatriating the body . State media

Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda has said whatever happened during former President Robert Mugabe’s last days should not be used to tarnish all the good he did for the nation.

Gen Sibanda said this as he sent the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) condolence message to the Mugabe family, the Zimbabwean population and the whole African continent, following the death of Mugabe yesterday morning.

In an interview with the media at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Gen Sibanda said Mugabe played his part during the liberation struggle.
“It is a very sad day indeed for Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Zimbabwe in general. I received the news early this morning.
“He played his part in the liberation of this country and in moving this country from colonialism at Independence to where we are today.
“Whatever happened towards the end of his leadership should not be used to rubbish the good things that he did during his life,” said Gen Sibanda.State media

LEGENDARY former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu has revealed how he used to consult former President Robert Mugabe whenever he wanted to make a move in his illustrious footballing carrier.

Mugabe died yesterday at the age of 95 in a hospital in Singapore where he was receiving treatment.

And, as tributes continue to pour from across the world, Zimbabwe’s most successful captain Ndlovu said he always wanted to give his iconic Warriors jersey Number 12 to the late former President.

“Today (yesterday) is indeed a very sad day for us, Zimbabwe, Africa and the world,’’ King Peter said.
“We have lost our father, leader, friend, hero and an icon. In simpler terms, we have lost a legend. I would like to appreciate what he (Mugabe) did for me as an individual and the pivotal roles he played in advising me, and my former manager Winston Makamure, throughout my footballing career and life in general.

“I never moved to any club without consulting him as a father, to have an input.”

The Mamelodi Sundowns manager had in previous interviews pledged to hand over one of his Warriors shirt to the late former President.

“As per the promise that I made to the world in one of my interviews, which was to be carried in a BBC documentary in which I said my Number 12 special shirt that I wore with pride and joy, would only part with me going Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s way, I would have loved to present it to him.

“I would have wanted to do that while he was still alive to show more respect. As people, unfortunately, only appreciate and honour people when they are gone.

“However, I will make means to have access, through the family, to present this shirt. I would also appeal to fellow legends to help me out.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace and may his family, wife Grace and the kids, be consoled in Jesus’ name and may the Almighty God lay his healing Hands upon you all and the whole world to be able to deal with this sad loss.”State media

Spiritual adviser to the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe Father Fidelis Mukonori of the Roman Catholic Church has described the former president’s death as a great loss to the nation.

This comes as other churches also paid their condolences following the death of the liberation icon in Singapore yesterday at the age of 95.

Father Mukonori said Mugabe was a believer in God.

“He believed in God and may his soul rest in peace,” he said.
“He was 95 years old, and he has rested.

Mugabe was the founding father of Zimbabwe, the founder of nationalism in Zimbabwe and the foundation of the nation.

“We thank him for the role he played in the liberation of Zimbabwe. Our hearts are heavy, we are mourning,’’ he said.

THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) also described the former president as a liberation icon who played an important role in shaping the history of Zimbabwe.

In a statement yesterday, ZCC general secretary Rev Kenneth Mtata said Mugabe’s call for reconciliation in his inauguration speech in 1980 gave hope that Zimbabweans would work together and transcend the racial and ethnic divide.

“In mourning RGM, the nation stands at the ambivalence of the man who together with other liberation heroes oversaw the liberation struggle for the independence of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“He showed determination, tenacity and principle during the Lancaster House negotiations.

“The early years of his rule were marked by the exponential growth and development of primary and secondary education, which firmly set Zimbabwe’s education system among the best on the continent.

He also championed a robust primary health system across the country.

“He boldly addressed the outstanding land question through the contentious land reform programme, whose intention was to give land back to the landless black majority. These milestones must be celebrated.”State media

By A Correspondent- Presenting a Second Report of the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care on the State of Medicines and Drugs Supply in the Public Health Institutions of Zimbabwe before parliament, Mathias Tongofa lamented the acute drugs shortages affecting public health institutions.

He said:

“As already alluded to in the introduction, since the last quarter of 2018, the country has been faced with severe shortage of medicines across the board.

However, the crisis has been more severe in the public than in private health institutions as most essential medicines and drugs for chronic ailments such as hypertension and diabetes were out of stock.

Consequently, senior doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have been on record protesting over shortages of medicines and supplies as the situation became dire, putting lives of the patients at risk of preventable complications and deaths.

During the oral evidence meeting on the 10^th of April 2019, the Minister of Health and Child Care confirmed that the public health institutions in the country were in a dire state.

He further stated that shortages of medicines and drugs, among other medical supplies, were being experienced right from the primary healthcare level to the tertiary institutions.”

Glenview South by-election Chirangano Car Park tent A Polling Results

• TOTAL Vote cast 140
• MDC Vincent Tsvangirai 87
• Zanu pf Muchuwe 44
• Other 3
• Other 1
• Million Lead 1
• Kasema Independent 1
• vote Spoiled 1

Glenview 1 primary school B A

• MDC Alliance 99
• zpf 49
• unac 3
• Lead 2
• independent 1

FINAL RESULT GLEN VIEW PRIMARY 9 A

• V TSVANGIRAI 69
• MUCHUWE 54

FINAL RESULT GLEN VIEW PRIMARY 9 B

• V TSVANGIRAI 82
• MUCHUWE 65

Glenview 4AA

• Vincent Tsvangirai 106
• Muchuwe offard 38
• Million Edwin 01
• Phillip Ndengu 01
• ZIsani Ellen 01
• Rateiw Crispen 00
• Pikelele Parington 00
• Kasema Maxwell 00

Glenview 6 Pr School Polling Station B

• Muchuwe Zanu pf 26
• Tsvangirai MDC A 131

Glen View South. Glen View 3 Primary school AB

• ZANU PF 61
• MDC A 128
• LEAD 4
• Independent 3

FINAL RESULT GLEN VIEW PRIMARY 9 A

• V TSVANGIRAI 69
• MUCHUWE 54

Chemhanza Tent A

• MDC Alliance – 100
• Zanu Pf – 24
• Lead – 2

Glenview 3 shops tent B

• Vincent Tsvangirai 169,
• Zanu pf Muchuwa 71
• Free Zim Nyamayedenga 1,
• Ind Mbengu 9,
• Lead Million 7
• Ind Kasema 1,
• UANC Zisani 1,
• Zapu Rateiwa1

Glenview 3 AA

• MDC 140
• Zanu PF 55.
• spoiled 1
• independent 1
• lead 1

By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF has said that it will remember the late former president Robert Mugabe for his selfless service to the people of Zimbabwe and the Pan-Africanism cause.

The announcement was made by Zanu PF National Spokesperson, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo following the passing on of Mugabe in the early hours of Friday in a hospital in Singapore.

It is without irony, however, that the party, following Mugabe’s ouster and his open declaration that he would vote for Chamisa in 2018, stripped him of several of his honours including “cde” which is a sign of inclusion.

The party also accused him of being greedy after the ongoing land audit unearthed that the late veteran leader and his widow, Grace Mugabe own about 16 farms.

Zimbabwe’s founding father was also accused of being greedy for power, something that made him prolong his stay in power by using all means necessary and unnecessary.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent= Leo Mugabe, nephew to the late former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has said that his uncle was bitter since 2017 when he was removed from power until the time of his death this week.

Leo added that his uncle was hurt by the fact that those who toppled him were his most trusted lieutenants.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday outside Mugabe’s homestead in Kutama village, 85 km (52.8 miles) from the capital Harare along the Robert Mugabe Highway, Leo said:

“He was bitter. You can imagine, the people that you trusted, the people who were guarding you, the people that were looking after your security are the same people that turn against you.

He was very bitter and it dented his legacy, … it was not an easy thing for him. His health deteriorated quickly after his ousting and he was hurt that those who removed him never apologised.”

Reports suggest that Mugabe snubbed the National Heroes Acre burial before he died because he did not want his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his colleagues to preside over his funeral.

Mnangagwa is said to have sent delegations to Singapore to try and persuade Mugabe to change his mind over the matter.

Mnangagwa has since declared Mugabe a national hero and said that the nation will be mourning him until he has been buried.-NehandaRadio

By A Correspondent- Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has described former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe as a fatherly figure for Zimbabwe who was pivotal in shaping Zimbabwe’s history through his dedication to the independence and development of the country.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the nation was “deeply saddened” by the passing on of Mugabe, adding that no history could be written in the country without mentioning his name.

Said Mutsvangwa:

“Clearly, he dedicated his life to making sure that Zimbabwe becomes independent.

He was committed to the revolution right from the start and we gained our Independence in 1980.”-StateMedia

Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has passed away at a Singapore hospital where he was receiving treatment in Singapore.

His death comes weeks after his son Chatunga Mugabe posted a photo of himself and his dad captioned,

Gushungo (Crocodile) will be fine!

Human Rights Watch Southern African director Dewa Mavhinga then revealed that credible family sources say the former leaders is ‘no more’.

His daughter Bona said that “God has done his willing” in a tribute message mourning her dad.

Below are condolence messages from Chatunga’s fans after the death of his dad.

Tendai Chinganga: My deepest Condolences Sister. We shall forever miss this Great Son of the Soil, Our Iconic Leader and the Great Pan Africanist.

Maodza Brian: May His Soul Rest in Peace. We need to celebrate his life for the legacy and sacrifice. We shall remember him for generations and generations.

Maodza Brian: May His Soul Rest in Peace. We need to celebrate his life for the legacy and sacrifice. We shall remember him for generations and generations.

Violet Tafuma : A true Leader has fallen my condolences to my Nation Zimbabwe as a whole. You taught us to be hardworking people_ to be independent.

Brenda Batai: Rest In Peace Sekuru I will cherish all the great advice you used to give me you be forever missed by our family Matibiri.

The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, has removed a tweet praising the country’s late leader Robert Mugabe, with the State Department issuing a new statement acknowledging the human rights abuses attributed to former leader.

The embassy had issued a tweet early Friday marking the death of Mugabe, a Zimbabwean revolutionary who later spent years ruling the country as a strongman leader. Mugabe died this week in Singapore at the age of 95.

“The United States extends its condolences to the Mugabe family and the people of Zimbabwe as they mourn the passing of former President Robert Mugabe,” the embassy said in the now-deleted tweet. “We join the world in reflecting on his legacy in securing Zimbabwe’s independence.”

The tweet quickly sparked backlash online, with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) questioning whether the embassy was running “a parody account.”

Mugabe was instrumental in gaining independence for Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom and overthrowing the majority-white ruling party in 1980. However, he was regarded as a serial violator of human rights during his 37-year tenure.

Mugabe was repeatedly accused of unleashing death squads on supporters of the opposition, rigging presidential elections and overseeing a falling economy that sparked poverty and hyperinflation.

He was sanctioned by the United Nations in 2003 over the human rights abuses and was ultimately removed from power in 2017 by a military coup after he appeared set to appoint his second wife as the next president.

The State Department released a more measured statement Friday recognizing the dual nature of Mugabe’s legacy.

“We extend our condolences to those mourning the loss of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Robert Mugabe helped liberate Zimbabwe, but his human rights abuses and gross economic mismanagement impoverished millions and betrayed his people’s hopes for their nation,” the agency said. “We continue to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a better, more prosperous future.”

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding the Harare Embassy’s tweet.

Today we note the death of Robert Mugabe. While he led Zimbabwe to independence, his legacy was tarnished by human rights abuses & poor governance. We stand w/ the people of Zimbabwe in the hope of a free, more prosperous Zimbabwe led by a government accountable to its citizens.

Source: The Hill

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu accused deputy information minister Energy Mutodi of stoking tribal hatred in Zimbabwe after appearing to suggest Ndebeles are South Africans.

Mutodi was earlier this week forced to delete a video in which critics said he made comments questioning the nationhood of the minority Ndebele people from western Zimbabwe.

“You will find that here in Zimbabwe, if you didn’t know, just about 1836 we accommodated thousands of South Africans who came into Zimbabwe fleeing from (King) Shaka, and they were being led by Mzilikazi,” Mutodi said in the video, which he later withdrew saying he had been “misunderstood”.

Mpofu, speaking at a Zanu-PF event in Bulawayo to review the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy, said Mutodi’s utterances were “unacceptable”.

Said Mpofu: “There are certain statements by certain leaders which are unacceptable to the party. There was a recent statement where somebody was saying there are three million South Africans in Zimbabwe.

“That’s a totally unacceptable, misdirected statement which is not from Zanu-PF. You see what’s happening in South Africa (xenophobia), it’s because of such reckless statements.”

Mutodi deleted his video, insisting that he had been misunderstood. The comments had been made in the ongoing anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa.

“My tweet saying about three million Zimbabweans were of South African descent has riled some Zimbabweans. The tweet has been misunderstood, giving political capital to the opposition. I wish to withdraw the tweet and unreservedly issue my apologies to whoever was affected,” Mutodi tweeted on Wednesday.

State Media |POLICE Staff College has launched a Bachelor of Adult Education (Honours) degree in Police Studies, a programme that is aimed at fully capacitating officers in the fight against crime. The four-year degree programme will be run in conjunction with the University of Zimbabwe.

Addressing the gathering at the launch of the programme in Harare yesterday, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said education was key in the police service’s transformation drive.

“As ZRP we have seen it prudent to exploit education as one of the avenues to attain the anticipated transformation,” he said.

“The importance and relevance of this programme can never be over-emphasised in the realm of policing. As the custodians of law and order in the country, we remain committed to strengthening our collaboration with local and international institutions of higher education, with the aim of strengthening and safeguarding the security of our country, as well as effectively responding to emerging criminal trends.”

Com-General Matanga said the police service’s dream was to establish a police university which offers more degree programmes.

“Our broader aim is not only to have a police university in the near future, but to also expand programmes being offered, including increasing enrolment,” he said.

Comm-Gen Matanga called on senior officers to continuously partake in research that seeks to transform and tackle challenges confronting policing.

The degree programme, which has already commenced with 40 students, is covering subjects such as customer services, human rights and policing, criminology, peace and conflict studies, understanding society and ethics in policing and principles in training in policing, among others.

UZ Dean of Faculty of Education Dr Oswell Hapanyengwi said the four-year degree programme will mould students to become reputable public models for the betterment of the ZRP and society.

“It is my strong conviction that the programme will produce graduates who are able to offer solutions to the teething challenges of the 21st century policing landscape,” he said.

ZRP Staff College acting principal Assistant Commissioner Charles Musavengana said the students were going to be equipped with relevant knowledge of interpreting, as well as providing a conducive environment for the fulfilment of the government’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.

Senior police officers and several stakeholders attended the launch.

A day after ex-strongman and founding leader Robert Mugabe died, the only clear sign that Zimbabwe was in mourning were flags flying at half mast.

The streets and shops were packed, weddings and parties went ahead as planned. Most people were going about their usual business, trying to eke out living.

For while Mugabe is hailed for having led Zimbabwe to independence, for many Zimbabweans he is also the man who wrecked their economy, leaving them to live with the consequences.

Commuter mini bus driver More Kondo, 30, was busy decanting petrol from a large jerrycan into a smaller container to share with a fellow driver.

“If it were another leader, right now this country should have shut down to mourn,” he said. “But he was an autocrat.

“Had he left power early and the country in a better shape, we would be celebrating his life and would have seriously shut down the country in honour of him.”

Mugabe died on Friday aged 95 at a Singapore hospital.

Lauded by some as liberator and for his uncompromising stance against the West, Mugabe led a controversial land-grab programme nearly two decades ago — seizing commercial farmland from whites.

This policy is widely blamed for having contributed to the collapse of the once-thriving economy.

Zimbabweans struggle daily to access basic services, while inflation hovers in triple digits. Many people on Saturday said they had more pressing needs to attend to than mourning.

“We not going to the funeral,” said Kondo shaking out remaining drops of petrol in the container that previously had engine oil. “We will be busy trying to make money, we are hungry.”

Fuel in Zimbabwe is in short supply and its price has been increased more than six times since the start of the year — as have prices for several other goods.

Another man, a 35-year-old engineering graduate who would only give his first name, Tonde, was equally unimpressed.

“I have a degree, I’m unemployed and hungry and you expect me to waste my time to go to his funeral? What, after 37 wasted years?

“He stole money and today he is gone,” he said.

‘He destroyed this country’

Along Kaguvi street, police officers set up their usual Saturday morning public interaction desks conducting surveys on the public’s views on policing.

People drew comparisons between Mugabe’s death and that of South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013.

“When Mandela died, people went onto the streets, but look at him (Mugabe) — nothing.

“It doesn’t even look like there’s a death (of a former leader),” said 25-year-old auto-spares store keeper Munya Nhamo.

Mugabe, he said, had stolen the 2008 election from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. “If he had accepted defeat, the country would not be in such a bad shape”.

Ozias Mupeti, 55, stood over his small stall selling fresh ginger and a few packets of paprika and curry.

“He destroyed this country. Now he’s gone and we have nothing left … because of him,” he said angrily. “It’s painful.”

A few metres down the road, ice cream vendor and mother-of-three Tendai Marange, 42, expressed mixed feelings as she waited for customers.

“We are not respecting him (Mugabe) by continuing to work, but when the body arrives we will stop,” she said. “For now we have to work because life is tough these days.

“When Mugabe was there things were better…. if he wanted prices to drop, they would”.

State television carried extensive coverage of the death between the normal weekend programming, such as sports.

Patson Muparadzi was preparing to go to Mugabe’s village for the wake.

Sporting a white Zanu-PF t-shirt emblazoned with Mugabe’s portrait, he said: “We are maybe here at work, but we are grieving.

“We are working so we can raise money for fuel to go to Zvimba (Mugabe’s rural home),” said added.

Willy Salim, 39, a street forex dealer, also mourned Mugabe’s death.

“Darkness has engulfed our country. Zimbabwe will never be the same without Mugabe,” he said.

MDC Secretary-General Charlton Hwende says the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has indicated that it wants to investigate an allegation of vote-buying involving the Minister of Health Obadiah Moyo in the lupane by-election held this year.

Said Hwende, “Today when I was travelling to the Airport I received a phone call from the Anti Corruption Commission they are interested in pursuing my complaint about the abuse of hospital drugs by ZANU PF and the minister of health during the lupane by-election.”

Commenting on the election ZESN an election monitoring body said, “The highest-profile case of vote-buying was the letter, which circulated on social media platforms where the minister of Health and Child Care was responding to a request by the ZANU PF national secretary for commissariat for assistance in the party’s campaign efforts by ensuring that medicines were supplied to clinics within the constituency.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

https://youtu.be/IuINrORwWaE

MUGABE'S LAST WORDS – COUNTDOWN TO HIS DEATH DAY: 29 JULY 2018 https://t.co/Cu9FRsZy2J

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 7, 2019

Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has urged exiled former cabinet Minister Patrick Zhuwao to come back to Zimbabwe and bury his uncle the former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe who passed away in Singapore on Friday morning.

Mliswa said, “My brother Patrick, nematambudziko, you know I’ve always been in touch with you and have always said you’ve no case to answer. Where they tried to implicate you in the NSSA forensic audit, they failed. You’re like your uncle when it comes to theft, it’s just not in your DNA.”

Mliswa pledged to collect Zhuwao from the airport.

“I appeal that you, therefore, come home to bury your uncle. Be there to support Mkoma Leo and Family. I’ll even pick you up from the airport. Even in the unlikely event you’re arrested just go through it as you’ll come out clean; please come home your family needs you.”

1/ My brother Patrick, nematambudziko, you know I’ve always been in touch with you&have always said you’ve no case to answer. Where they tried to implicate you in the @nssazw forensic audit, they failed. You’re like your uncle when it comes to theft, it’s just not in your DNA https://t.co/M6qMI1XaxW

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) September 7, 2019

Zhuwao fled the country during the height of the November 2017 coup that was waged by the army to end 37 years of President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

CTV|Robert Mugabe will be buried at the National Heroes Acre an official said Saturday, as the nation began several days of official mourning.

No date for the funeral has been set, and it’s not clear when Mugabe’s body will arrive from Singapore, where he died Friday.

Mugabe, who was 95, will be buried at the National Heroes Acre, which has been set aside for Zimbabweans who have made huge sacrifices during the war against white-minority rule and who dedicated themselves to the nation, which emerged from the ashes of colonial Rhodesia.

“We don’t have the date yet,” deputy information minister Energy Mutodi said. “That is still in the hands of the family and the president, but comrade Mugabe will be buried at the Heroes Acre. That is where he deserves to rest.”

Located on a hilltop, and built with the help of North Korean architects, the plot has a commanding view of Harare, features a huge bronze statue of three guerrilla fighters and boasts black marble and granite flourishes.

Mugabe is viewed by many as a national hero despite decades of rule that left the country struggling. He was an ex-guerrilla chief who took power in 1980 when Zimbabwe shook off white minority rule and presided for decades while economic turmoil and human rights violations eroded its early promise.

Mugabe had been forced to relinquish power by a previously loyal military in November 2017.

Flags flew at half-staff Saturday, but there were no public activities to mark the death of a man who singularly shaped the once-prosperous country in his own image and created a repressive system that some say remains even today.

Reaction to his death was mixed, although praise ironically came mostly from ruling party officials and military leaders.

The state-run Herald newspaper, which vilified Mugabe when he was forced to resign and when he subsequently voiced support for the opposition, carried glowing tributes.

In a “commemorative edition,” the newspaper, which often acts as a mouthpiece of the government, carried a montage of his pictures with the headline: “Robert Mugabe-1924-2019” on its front page and glowing reports throughout.

In an editorial page, the newspaper praised Mugabe for “his uncompromising stance when it came to the rights of Africans.”

“Whatever happened towards the end of his leadership should not be used to rubbish the good things that he did during his life,” the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and one of the commanders who led the military campaign to oust Mugabe after years of propping his rule, was quoted as saying in a separate story in the newspaper.

Others were less charitable. “95 and out,” read the privately-owned Newsday newspaper.

“Despite his intellectual prowess, Mugabe’s failure to let go of power when it was time was his major undoing . In short, he was a liberator who turned villain. Leaders need to know when to draw the line,” said the newspaper in an editorial.

“End of an era as Mugabe dies, leaves Zim poor, divided,” read the front page headline of another privately-owned newspaper, the Daily News.

“Notwithstanding the many mistakes that he made, many Zimbabweans will probably agree that had he not held on to power beyond the 1990s, he would today be largely remembered as one of Africa’s best leaders in history,” the paper said in an editorial.

Both newspapers were major targets of Mugabe’s vitriol, with editors and reporters routinely arrested during Mugabe’s rule.

On the streets of the capital, Harare, few seemed bothered as people struggled to cope with biting economic problems largely blamed by critics on Mugabe’s rule and perpetuated by his successor and an ally who later turned foe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa took power in 2017 with the help of the military.

“Who cares?” said Percy Maute, a street vendor pushing a cart full of tomatoes along a busy street named after the former president. “I don’t care. I am too busy looking for money to mourn a man who put me in this position.”

A small group of people drank beer and sang pro-Mugabe songs outside a liquor outlet and wore T-shirts with Mugabe’s face. Although only a few people cared to join or commiserate with them, they danced vigorously and spoke glowingly of a man they said fought for the liberation of not just Zimbabwe, but “the rest of Africa.”

“Bob was our hero, he taught us that the white man is not a master,” they sang. Mugabe was popularly known by the nickname Bob.

The government has declared the late Major General Mugoba a national hero. The announcement was made by Vice President Kembo Mohadi made at the family home in Harare on Saturday morning.

The late Mugoba was described by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri as a professional and hardworking man who defended the country during and after the liberation struggle.

Mugoba died around 8.30 am on Friday at the Avenues Clinic in Harare after a short illness.

Commander Defence Forces General Phillip Valerio Sibanda told state media on Friday that Major General Mugoba had just arrived from Ethiopia where he was deployed to the African Union (AU) standby force in 2017.

“He left Ethiopia two weeks ago and when he came back home he was actually on leave but his condition deteriorated a few days ago leading to his death,” said Sibanda.

The news that Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe has died has undoubtedly evoked opposing emotions from many.

Mugabe, who passed away aged 95, was known for being outspoken about controversial topics. He famously vowed to rule the nation until he died, claiming he had been appointed by God, and was infamous in the western world for his views on homosexuality, Jesus Christ and Hitler.

Here, we look back on some of his most telling quotes.

On dying

‘I have died many times. That’s where I have beaten Christ. ‘Christ died once and resurrected once. ‘I have died and resurrected, and I don’t know how many times I will die and resurrect.’ – On his 88th birthday, 2012.

On Adolf Hitler

‘I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective, justice for his own people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people.

‘If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold.’ – State funeral of a cabinet minister, 2003.

On homosexuality

‘They are worse than pigs and dogs… Those who do it, we will say, they are wayward. It is just madness, insanity.’ – ZDC radio interview, 2015.

‘We equally reject attempts to prescribe ‘new rights’ that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions, and beliefs. We are not gays!’ – UN General Assembly, 2015.

On Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler

 ‘The British were brought up as a violent people, liars, scoundrels and crooks… I am told that [Tony] Blair was a troublesome little boy at school.’ – 2001.

‘We have fought for our land, we have fought for our sovereignty, small as we are we have won our independence and we are prepared to shed our blood…

‘So, Blair keep your England, and let me keep my Zimbabwe.’ – Earth Summit, South Africa, 2002.

On leaders

‘Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good to the non-black communities, really in some cases at the expense of (blacks)… That’s being too saintly, too good.’ – 2013.

‘We have this American president, Obama, born of an African father, who is saying we will not give you aid if you don’t embrace homosexuality. We ask, was he born out of homosexuality? We need continuity in our race, and that comes from the woman, and no to homosexuality.’

‘Since President Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people, and enjoys an attractive countenance – thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington D.C, get down on my knee, and ask his hand.’ – During a speech, 2003

On Imperialism

‘Africa must revert to what it was before the imperialists divided it. These are artificial divisions which we, in our pan-African concept, will seek to remove.’ – A speech at Salisbury, 1962.

‘It could never be a correct justification that because the whites oppressed us yesterday when they had power, the blacks must oppress them today.’ – 1980.

‘You are now our enemies because you really have behaved as enemies of Zimbabwe. We are full of anger. Our entire community is angry and that is why we now have the war veterans seizing land.’ – 2000.

‘Our party must continue to strike fear in the heart of the white man, our real enemy.’ – A ZANU-PF rally, 2002.

On his leadership

‘Our economy is a hundred times better, than the average African economy. Outside South Africa, what country is [as good as] Zimbabwe? … What is lacking now are goods on the shelves – that is all.– Interview, 2007.

‘Only God who appointed me will remove me – not the MDC [opposition], not the British.’ – Election rally, 2008.

‘Some are saying “Mr Mugabe is old, so he should step down”… No! When my time comes, I will tell you.’ – 2014.

‘My decision to resign is voluntary on my part. ‘It arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability.’ – Resignation letter, 2017.

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Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa had a meeting with with Graca Machel and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

“Just had a great meeting with the Elders Mama Graca Machel and Former Ireland President Mary Robinson.

Fixing politics through genuine and credible political dialogue for comprehensive political and economic reforms is the only viable solution to the challenges Zimbabwe is facing,”said Chamisa.

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By A Correspondent- A Filabusi magistrate has been arrested for allegedly embezzling court funds amounting to $431.

Mzingaye Ephraim Moyo (33), who is the resident magistrate in charge of Filabusi Magistrates’ Court, was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira, facing a charge of criminal abuse of office.

He was remanded out of custody to September 17 on $300 bail.

Mr Dzira granted Moyo bail on condition that he reports every Friday at Filabusi Police Station, does not go to Filabusi Magistrates’ Court, surrenders his passport and does not interfere with State witnesses. The State did not oppose bail.

Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said Moyo received $431 from the clerk of court and converted the money to his own use instead of depositing it into the court’s account.

“Between 19-24 August, Moyo, who is the resident magistrate in charge of Filabusi Magistrate’s Court, received $431 being judicial fines, court fees and Z69 (j) funds from the clerk of court and signed for the money. Instead of depositing the money into the court’s and administration account, he converted the money into his own use.

“He later transferred an equivalent amount of $431 from his personal account into the court’s and administration account which is contrary to his duties as a public officer. The offense was discovered on September 3 and the matter was reported to the police resulting in his arrest,” she said.

Moyo is being represented by Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners Legal Practitioners.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Two Mt Darwin artisanal miners died on Friday after a mineshaft collapsed and buried them while panning for gold.

Stewart Marimo (36) and Oliver Muchenje (32), both from Gotani village under Chief Kandeya, were trapped to death while panning for gold in the same village

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the tragedy.

It is alleged that on the fateful day, a syndicate of four artisanal miners last Friday entered a disused shaft in search of gold. While they were panning, the shaft collapsed and trapped the now-deceased who died on the spot.

“We are appealing to all those who are interested into mining to license their activities and shun illegal mining. A lot of artisanal miners are dying due to lack of skills, hence they should get the adequate mining skills before practising,” Mundembe said.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Govt has appealed to white commercial farmers who were spared the ax during the fast-track land redistribution program to formally approach the Lands ministry and obtain offer letters in order to acquire bankable 99-year leases.

Addressing Mashonaland West farmers yesterday, Lands and Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri said:

“If you are occupying a farm and you don’t have an offer letter, go (and) get an offer letter. The reason why the government has allowed you to remain on the piece of land up to today is that they want you. They recognized the role you are playing, so go (and) get an offer letter.”

“There should be no other considerations to say you are not on the list. Which list? The (Zanu-PF) party representatives recommended some farmers to remain. I am a member of the Zanu-PF politburo. So, we are saying all those who are on the land who do not have offer letters, please, do us a favor so that you don’t unnecessarily get inconvenienced,” Shiri added.

Turning to the issue of illegal settlers, Shiri said they should be evicted.

“We have tasked Provincial Affairs ministers, using their Joint Operational Command team when applicable, to ensure that illegal settlers are removed and those who are genuinely in need of the land they should be resettled once land has been identified,” he said .

Shiri expressed concern over vast tracts of land lying idle in various parts of the country and urged the landowners to fully utilise the resource or risk evictions.

By A Correspondent- A 45-year-old man from Gokwe South has been arrested on charges of raping his 13-year-old daughter in front of his four-year-old son.

This was heard when the accused (name withheld) appeared before Gweru regional magistrate Phathekile Msipa charged with one count of rape.

Prosecutor Michael Ndoro told court that on July 14 this year, at around 4pm, the accused went to the kitchen where his daughter was doing household chores while her younger brother was seated in the same room. The accused allegedly grabbed the complainant and raped her, while her brother was watching.

The two minors had been left in the custody of their father after their mother went to Gokwe town centre for shopping.

“After the incident, the complainant kept crying for help, which prompted her neighbour to rush to the scene. After enquiring what had happened, the neighbour accompanied her to the police station where a report was filed, leading to the arrest of the accused,” the prosecutor said.

The accused, who was not represented, denied the charge and was remanded in custody to Monday next week.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Vigil Coordinators have urged Zimbabweans near London to come to a vigil to mark Robert Mugabe’s passing.

Read the message from the vigil coordinators:

“The Zimbabwe Vigil will mark the passing of Robert Mugabe from 2 – 5 pm on Saturday 7th September 2019 at the Zimbabwe Embassy London. Come and join us and bring your own messages and posters.”

The Zimbabwe Vigil takes place every Saturday afternoon outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in London.

The Zimbabwe Vigil protests against gross violations of human rights.

LEGENDARY former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu has revealed how he used to consult former President Robert Mugabe whenever he wanted to make a move in his illustrious footballing carrier.

Mugabe died yesterday at the age of 95 in a hospital in Singapore where he was receiving treatment.

And, as tributes continue to pour from across the world, Zimbabwe’s most successful captain Ndlovu said he always wanted to give his iconic Warriors jersey Number 12 to the late former President.

“Today (yesterday) is indeed a very sad day for us, Zimbabwe, Africa and the world,’’ King Peter said.

“We have lost our father, leader, friend, hero and an icon. In simpler terms, we have lost a legend. I would like to appreciate what he (Mugabe) did for me as an individual and the pivotal roles he played in advising me, and my former manager Winston Makamure, throughout my footballing career and life in general.

“I never moved to any club without consulting him as a father, to have an input.”
The Mamelodi Sundowns manager had in previous interviews pledged to hand over one of his Warriors shirt to the late former President.

“As per the promise that I made to the world in one of my interviews, which was to be carried in a BBC documentary in which I said my Number 12 special shirt that I wore with pride and joy, would only part with me going Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s way, I would have loved to present it to him.

“I would have wanted to do that while he was still alive to show more respect. As people, unfortunately, only appreciate and honour people when they are gone.

“However, I will make means to have access, through the family, to present this shirt. I would also appeal to fellow legends to help me out.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace and may his family, wife Grace and the kids, be consoled in Jesus’ name and may the Almighty God lay his healing Hands upon you all and the whole world to be able to deal with this sad loss.”State media

By A Correspondent- Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has called on Zimbabweans to promote sustainable waste management practices and initiatives in a bid to keep a clean environment.

Speaking at the National Environment Cleaning Day campaign at Glen View 1 Shopping Centre in Harare Friday, VP Mohadi said promoting sustainable waste management benefited the country economically as it will “create investment opportunities in waste management projects and green jobs.

He said:

“A clean environment also attracts tourists, resulting in job creation and foreign currency generation.

We need to conform to global trends of reducing plastic pollution by giving ourselves up to December 2020 to eliminate and phase out single-use plastics. To date, over 60 countries in the world have either banned or restricted single-use plastics and over 30 of these countries are in Africa.

Let it, therefore, be kept in mind that as a nation, we are committed to live in a clean environment.

May I remind the nation that the National Clean-Up Day should be part of our culture, hence I am calling all Zimbabweans to embrace it. We need to further train ourselves in good hygienic and environmentally positive habits. The clean-up should not be a one-day affair, but a culture for everyone.

Adoption of streets, or roads by corporates has become the most recent way of corporate social responsibility demonstrated by the private sector the world over. I appeal to the corporate world to step forward and adopt roads or portions and not only clean them up, but also green them up.”-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The United States government has extended a condolence message to Zimbabwe following the death of former president Robert Mugabe adding that his human rights abuses and gross economic mismanagement however betrayed the majority’s hopes of a better Zimbabwe.

Below is the statement by the US:

“We extend our condolences to those mourning the loss of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Robert Mugabe helped liberate Zimbabwe, but his human rights abuses and gross economic mismanagement impoverished millions and betrayed his people’s hopes for their nation. We continue to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a better, more prosperous future.”

By A Correspondent- MDC Secretary-General Charlton Hwende says the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has indicated that it wants to investigate allegations of vote-buying involving the Minister of Health Obadiah Moyo in the Lupane by-election held this year.

Said Hwende:

“Today when I was traveling to the Airport I received a phone call from the Anti Corruption Commission they are interested in pursuing my complaint about the abuse of hospital drugs by ZANU PF and the minister of health during the lupane by-election.”

By A Correspondent- Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has urged exiled former cabinet Minister Patrick Zhuwao to come back to Zimbabwe and bury his uncle the former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe who passed away in Singapore on Friday morning.

Mliswa said:

“My brother Patrick, nematambudziko, you know I’ve always been in touch with you and have always said you’ve no case to answer. Where they tried to implicate you in the NSSA forensic audit, they failed. You’re like your uncle when it comes to theft, it’s just not in your DNA.”

Mliswa pledged to collect Zhuwao from the airport.

“I appeal that you, therefore, come home to bury your uncle. Be there to support Mkoma Leo and Family. I’ll even pick you up from the airport. Even in the unlikely event you’re arrested just go through it as you’ll come out clean; please come home your family needs you.”

Zhuwao fled the country during the height of the November 2017 coup that was waged by the army to end 37 years of President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Government has dismissed circulating messages to the effect that a seven day public holiday has been declared to mourn the late national hero Robert Mugabe who passed on yesterday morning in Singapore.

In a statement on Twitter, government said;

SCHOOLS OPENING DAY
Schools are due to open on Tuesday 10 September 2019. There has been no change to that plan. Please ignore any messages to the contrary. Boarders are expected to travel to their respective schools on Monday 9 September 2019. Thank You

By A Correspondent- nCommander Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda has said whatever happened during former President Robert Mugabe’s last days should not be used to tarnish all the good he did for the nation.

Gen Sibanda said this as he sent the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) condolence message to the Mugabe family, the Zimbabwean population and the whole African continent, following the death of Mugabe yesterday morning.

In an interview with the media at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Gen Sibanda said Mugabe played his part during the liberation struggle.

“It is a very sad day indeed for Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Zimbabwe in general. I received the news early this morning.

“He played his part in the liberation of this country and in moving this country from colonialism at Independence to where we are today.

“Whatever happened towards the end of his leadership should not be used to rubbish the good things that he did during his life,” said Gen Sibanda.

-StateMedia

Africa has lost a great nationalist. Robert Mugabe will continue to live in the hearts and minds of all lovers of freedom as the symbol of Zimbabwe’s emancipation. https://t.co/qIGoWx9dIE

By Own Correspondent- There are three reasons for sadness as the former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe’s remains lie in a mortuary in Singapore.

The first is he lived as long as he did. The second is he is dying unpunished for some of the foulest crimes of this era. And, the third is his victims will never be compensated for the loss of liberty during his repressive rule.

More than 20 000 Zimbabweans in Matabeleland were killed during Gukurahundi by Mugabe and his acolytes, most of whom constitute the current regime, for opposing his tyrannical rule.

The Perence-Shiri-led Five Brigade butchered defenceless Ndebele-speaking citizens, supporters of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), an opposition party led by Joshua Nkomo, his erstwhile ally in the guerrilla war that ushered independence from British rule in 1980.

Those who survived the bullets from the guns were finished off by the bayonets of the AK47s. Corpses of defenceless men, women and children were put in shallow and mass graves or disused mineshafts. Even their livestock went along with them.

Amid the genocide, the world cheered him on. Some even gave Mugabe honorary degrees. Such is the hypocritical world we live in.

Mugabe, a self-avowed Catholic, helped himself to Stanley Goreraza’s wife, Grace, while his esteemed wife, Sally, lay in her deathbed, siring two children in the process. The hapless Goreraza was sent to the United States to further his studies and later on given a diplomatic posting, just to get him out of the way.

Starting in 2000, more than 5 000 Zimbabweans were forced off their farms plunging Africa’s breadbasket into a basket case. Their crime: they supported the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), an opposition party led by the late opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. Millions of Zimbabweans fled abject poverty into neighbouring countries and overseas as the situation in the southern African country plummeted.

Zimbabweans watched helplessly in 2008 from their safe havens abroad as the dead dictator, aided and abetted by the current despot, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the disgraced former South African president Thabo Mbeki, refused to hand over power to Tsvangirai after a routing at the polls.

They watched helplessly as the victor was forced into a compromise government to avoid a bloodbath reminiscent of Gukurahundi. And, they watched helplessly as Mugabe’s thugs continued their reign of terror on their relatives countrywide.

The painful thing is, most Zimbabweans will have nothing or very little to leave for their children when they die. Yet, the dead  despot’s children have jaw-dropping wealth looted during his ruinous rule. Going by Mugabe’s own admission, US$15 billion from Chiadzwa diamonds was looted in less than a decade. One shudders to think how much more was stolen in the 37 years he was in power.

Zimbabweans will remember him as the lunatic who inherited a wonderful economy and plunged it into a basket case because of his obsession with power.

Ta-ta Robert Gabriel Mugabe!

We extend our condolences to those mourning the loss of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Robert Mugabe helped liberate Zimbabwe, but his human rights abuses and gross economic mismanagement impoverished millions and betrayed his people’s hopes for their nation. We continue to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a better, more prosperous future.

ZIMBABWEANS and political leaders from across the globe yesterday expressed mixed reactions to news of the death of former President Robert Mugabe, with some describing him as a judicious leader while others labelled him one of Africa’s worst dictators who overstayed in power and eventually ruined his legacy.

Last night, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Mugabe a national hero and said all the coming days would be set aside for mourning until the 95-year-old former Statesman is laid to rest.

Mugabe died yesterday morning at the age of 95 after being admitted at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore in April this year.

Friends and foes immediately took to social media to express their views, with some analysts saying his style of leadership spanning 37 years was loved and hated in equal measure.

Mugabe was toppled in a military coup at the height of the ruling Zanu PF party’s factional fights in November 2017 and immediately succeeded by his then deputy, Mnangagwa, following a nasty fallout.

Mnangagwa broke the news of his political mentor’s death in a tweet, describing Mugabe as a liberation war icon and pan-Africanist who sacrificed all for the emancipation of Zimbabweans.

“Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten.

May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Mnangagwa said on Twitter before cutting short his business engagements at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, to come back home and arrange for the repatriation of Mugabe’s remains.

Mugabe, who, during his tenure attracted scorn from the opposition after denying national hero status to several

deserving liberation war heavyweights, is reported to have told close family members that he wished to be buried at his rural home in Zvimba, Mashonaland West province.

Although Mnangagwa is yet to publicly respond to the proposal, top Zanu PF sources said government was most likely to override Mugabe’s deathbed wish and bury him at the national shrine, where his first wife, Sally, was laid to rest.

National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson retired Justice Selo Maselo Nare said Mugabe would be remembered for extending an olive branch to his white oppressors at independence in 1980.

Justice Nare added that Mugabe’s peace and reconciliation efforts brought once warring parties Zanu and PF Zapu together when he and then Zapu leader, the late Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Agreement on December 22, 1987,

allowing citizens to once again taste peace after the regrettable Gukurahundi violence in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

“At a time the country was at a crossroads, Cde Mugabe again signed the Global Political Agreement with the late

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to pave way for the Government of National Unity. It is no coincidence that the constitutional and legislative processes to establish and operationalise NPRC began during his tenure as President,” Justice Nare said.

“The NPRC extends its heartfelt condolences to the Mugabe family, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for the sad (and) untimely departure of the liberation icon and Pan-Africanist.”

Most loathed at home, Mugabe was revered in the Sadc region as an iconic leader.

Many African leaders described Mugabe as a liberation legend, with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta declaring three days of mourning the former Zanu PF leader.

Neighbouring South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party hailed Mugabe for exhibiting principled leadership, saying Africa was poorer without him.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said Mugabe’s life epitomised the “new African” who, having shrugged off the colonial yoke, strived to ensure his country took its place among the community of nations, firmly in charge of its own destiny.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also acknowledged the role Mugabe played in advancing regional solidarity, integration and development through Zimbabwe’s participation in the Southern African Development Community.

Mugabe’s decision to invest in his country’s education helped the nation even after the collapse of its economy, South Africa’s opposition United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said in a statement.

But Democratic Alliance spokesperson Solly Malatsi said Mugabe would be remembered for his conflicting legacy as

a liberator towards independence and an oppressor of the democratic values he once fought for.

Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial master, said Zimbabweans had “suffered for too long” under Mugabe.

“We express our condolences to those who mourn Robert Mugabe’s death. However, Zimbabweans suffered for too long as a result of Mugabe’s autocratic role,” the British Foreign ministry said in a statement.

The European Union said it would continue to stand with Zimbabwe and its people to secure the democratic future of the country.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said: “Many important dates in Zimbabwe’s modern history are tied to the name of Robert Mugabe. He made a great personal contribution to the battle for your country’s independence, to the building of Zimbabwean State institutions.”

GraÇa Machel, widow of the late Mozambican leader Samora Machel and South African President Nelson Mandela, said Mugabe was like a brother to her.

“Mugabe was my brother because before he came back in Zimbabwe in 1980, he was in Mozambique. I knew him very well and when my husband, the former President of Mozambique Samora Machel, was killed, I ran and came to this country to Mugabe because I could not sleep,” she said in Harare during a Zimbabwe Council of Churches Women’s Dialogue platform.

“When the former First Lady, the late Sally Mugabe passed away, I also came to Zimbabwe to mourn with him because he was my brother. But there is something wrong with leaders sitting in power for too long. As a result,

for the younger generation, they cannot remember that he contributed immensely for the liberation of this country.”

Exiled former Cabinet minister in Mugabe’s government Jonathan Moyo tweeted: “It’s sad you have gone at the most trying time for Zimbabwe. Truth-telling will one day reveal how you fought your regime’s enforcers to find each

other with (Joshua) Nkomo in 1987 and (Morgan) Tsvangirai in 2009; and why besides yourself, only (Nelson) Chamisa got your vote for the presidency!”

Chamisa said even though his party differed politically with the late former President during his reign, he recognised the positive contributions Mugabe made as the country’s founding President.

“There’s so much to say for a life of 95 years and national leadership spanning over 37 years, but in the true spirit of Ubuntu, we would like to give this moment to mourning, but there will be time for greater reflection,” the opposition MDC leader said yesterday.

MDC national secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said Mugabe ruined his legacy by clinging to power against all odds.

“A lesson learnt is not to overstay in power, a lesson that one can be many things to different people. Hated and loved in equal measure. A ruined country remains, he died far from it,” Mafume said.

Another MDC official, David Coltart, said Mugabe made immense contribution to the country’s education system, but also had a dark side whose negative legacy will live on and haunt Zimbabweans for decades to come.

Youth Forum Zimbabwe director Ashton Bumhira blamed Mugabe for the economic malaise the southern African nation is facing.

“For my generation, Mr Robert Mugabe should be remembered for what he was to us. He was a dictator. He was ruthless. He is the author of the current economic and political challenges we’re facing as a nation,” he said.

“If it was not the coup, Mr Mugabe wanted to rule from the grave. The current Zanu PF leadership is the epitome of his legacy.”

An entrepreneur in Mbare, the slums of Harare, Albert Chibanda (29), described Mugabe as an iconic leader who empowered the youths through various initiatives.

“It is sad to hear that Mugabe has passed on. To us the youths, he empowered us through his indigenisation and

empowerment programmes. He was very influential. During his times, he supported us to establish businesses which are enabling us to put food on the table for our families today,” he said.

Petunia Mugadza (25), a vendor in the capital, said Mugabe, through his economic policies, ensured that Zimbabweans would not suffer.

“I wish if he had lived longer than this. During his days, we did not suffer like we are doing now,” she said.

Opposition New Patriotic Front leader Tendai Peter Munyanduri also said “the world is now poorer without him and his contributions. He tried his best while on earth!”

By A Correspondent| A 28 year old cop will rue the day he took the law into his own hands after he was jailed 6 years for shooting a murder suspect in the leg. 

Tatenda Manyaira, will spend 6 years behind bars after he was convicted for attempted murder.

He committed the offence when he was stationed in Midlands.

Manyaira shot one Aspicious Kangwara who was wanted in connection with an attempted murder case on the right leg just above the knee cap and he sustained an injury that resulted in his leg being amputated.

It is the state’s case that Manyaira on 13 May 2018 was on duty looking for the suspect Kangwara who was wanted for an attempted murder case. 

Manyaira was with 3 other police officers and one police officer has a riffle loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition. It is believed that the cop approached the suspect and the 2 of them had a misunderstanding that resulted in Manyaira taking a gun from one of the police officers and shooting the suspect. 

The matter was reported to the police and Manyaira was arrested. Handing down the verdict the magistrate said:

You shot the complainant who was unarmed and cooperating with the police. You are sentenced to seven years in prison of which one year is suspended on condition you don’t commit a similar offence in the next five years.-StateMedia

State Media|Former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe (95), who died in Singapore early yesterday morning, has been declared a national hero. President Mnangagwa — who cut short his trip to South Africa where he was attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) — announced the national hero status while addressing the media at State House in Harare yesterday evening.

Earlier, the ruling Zanu-PF had met at an extraordinary session at the party’s headquarters in Harare to deliberate on the former leader’s status.

“Zanu-PF, which the late departed helped found, has met and accorded him national hero status which he earned and richly deserves,” eulogised President Mnangagwa.

“Let me also register the gratitude of Government and the entire nation to the Government and people of the Republic of Singapore for the unmatched hospitality and medical care they extended to our leader up to the very end.

“In particular, we are most grateful to the team of medical experts and support staff which cared for him with such great diligence, dedication and compassion. They did all they could up to the very end.”

He also declared days of national mourning until the former President’s burial.

“As we await the arrival of the remains of our dear departed icon, we pray that the good Lord grant him mercies, putting his dear soul to eternal rest.

“We as Zimbabweans declare days of mourning of our leader until he is buried,” he said.

The President added that the death of former President Mugabe had left a void in the nation and a legacy of adherence to the rights of Africans.

“A veteran nationalist and a doughty pan-Africanist fighter, Cde Mugabe bequeaths rich and indelible legacy of tenacious adherence to principle on the collective rights of Africa and Africans in general, and in particular, the rights of the people of Zimbabwe for whom he gave his all to help free.

“In his life and political career met and melded key phases, moods and shifts in the story of our national struggle and quest for freedom and statehood including the tragedies, pains and rigours which underwrote that epic story.

“Incarcerated for 11 years in settler colonial prisons he, alongside fellow nationalists who include the late Father Zimbabwe Cde Joshua Nkomo, remained unbowed and resolute, eventually escaping from the then Rhodesia in 1974 in order to lead and guide the resumption and escalation of our war of liberation at a time of its tragic setbacks and paralysis,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said under former President Mugabe, the struggle regained momentum and consolidated the Patriotic Front into a formidable coordinated national liberation movement that waged a gruelling and protracted struggle in the Southern Africa region.

President Mnangagwa added that the freedom being enjoyed in the country since 1980, was because of sacrifices of a generation of nationalists and freedom fighters pre-dating the 1960s, who included the late Mugabe.

“A great teacher and mentor, the bitterness of long spells in incarceration and anguish of a brutal and bitter war, never extinguished Cde Mugabe’s forgiving inner humanity,” said President Mnangagwa.

“That humanity shone and undiminished throughout that season of war and forcefully asserted itself by way of the signature policy of national reconciliation on which our whole Statehood was founded and built. Through that policy of forgiveness Southern African politics took a definitive shift towards a just, post-colonial multiracial harmony, which would be replicated elsewhere in our region and beyond.

“He thus wrote a lasting page on nation-building and statecraft for the world, making him stand out as such a remarkable statesman of our century.”

President Mnangagwa said the late former President would also be remembered for post-independence transformations in areas of rights, education and social services for the hitherto marginalised black Zimbabweans including the bold and historic land reform programme.

“Through this programme, indigenous Zimbabweans regained their long denied land rights, to complete their sovereignty. For that he was especially vilified, shunned and punished by those who stood to lose from an end to colonial ‘rights’ and from a just reassertion of African rights.

“With characteristic defiance, he stood firm and undaunted, resolutely pressing on with the land reform programme to completion, all against formidable odds which included punitive sanctions and other reprisals that followed and which still dog us to this day.

“Today Zimbabwe’s land question, itself a principal grievance of our struggle, stands fully and irrevocably addressed and resolved. History will remember him for this bold move,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said Government remained committed to carry forward former President Mugabe’s aspirations.

“As we mourn the passing on of our commander, liberator, founder and leader, we remain determined to carry forward the transformation so fervently desired, including the transformation, including protecting and defending the gains of the struggle for which he made huge sacrifices.

“On the bedrock and solid foundation for the First Republic which he moulded as its leader, we today recover and grow our economy, brick by brick until his lifelong vision of an empowered people is realised,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President extended his “deepest, heartfelt condolences to former First Lady Grace Mugabe, the Mugabe family and the children “on this their saddest loss”.

“Amai Mugabe stood by her husband to the very end, thus imparting to our nation a lasting lesson on devout love and care. For that we deeply thank her, as we join her in the grief and loss and bereavement which is also ours to feel and bear,” he said.

State Media|Spiritual adviser to the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe Father Fidelis Mukonori of the Roman Catholic Church has described the former president’s death as a great loss to the nation. This comes as other churches also paid their condolences following the death of the liberation icon in Singapore yesterday at the age of 95.

Father Mukonori said Mugabe was a believer in God.

“He believed in God and may his soul rest in peace,” he said.

“He was 95 years old, and he has rested. Cde Mugabe was the founding father of Zimbabwe, the founder of nationalism in Zimbabwe and the foundation of the nation.

“We thank him for the role he played in the liberation of Zimbabwe. Our hearts are heavy, we are mourning,’’ he said.

THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) also described the former president as a liberation icon who played an important role in shaping the history of Zimbabwe.

In a statement yesterday, ZCC general secretary Rev Kenneth Mtata said Mugabe’s call for reconciliation in his inauguration speech in 1980 gave hope that Zimbabweans would work together and transcend the racial and ethnic divide.

“In mourning RGM, the nation stands at the ambivalence of the man who together with other liberation heroes oversaw the liberation struggle for the independence of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“He showed determination, tenacity and principle during the Lancaster House negotiations.

“The early years of his rule were marked by the exponential growth and development of primary and secondary education, which firmly set Zimbabwe’s education system among the best on the continent. He also championed a robust primary health system across the country.

“He boldly addressed the outstanding land question through the contentious land reform programme, whose intention was to give land back to the landless black majority. These milestones must be celebrated.”

Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), an umbrella body for Apostolic and Zionist churches also sent its condolences.

“We have lost an icon, a hero and Zimbabwe’s founding father who played a critical role in the liberation of the country,” said Rev Edson Tsvakayi.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

IS MNANGAGWA USING LEO MUGABE TO RIG PRESIDENT BOB'S FUNERAL?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 7, 2019

September 06, 2019

8:15 p.m.

Zimbabwe’s presidential spokesman provided details about former leader Robert Mugabe’s final hours and death at a Singapore hospital.

George Charamba says Mugabe was complaining of chest pains when he was readmitted to the hospital. Mugabe’s personal doctor was with him when he died at 4:45 a.m. on Friday. Charamba told The Associated Press: “When the doctors realized the gravity of Mugabe’s condition, they requested that his personal doctor be present, and he was flown to Singapore.”

7:00 p.m.

Zimbabwe’s president has declared former President Robert Mugabe a national hero, the country’s highest posthumous honor.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the African country would observe an official mourning period until Mugabe is buried; he didn’t say when the funeral would take place.

Mnangagwa announced on Friday that Mugabe died in Singapore at age 95. He didn’t say when the body would return to Zimbabwe.

He thanked Singapore for “unmatched hospitality and medical care they extended to our leader up to the very end”

Mnangagwa was a long-time loyalist until Mugabe fired him from his Cabinet in 2017. He called Mugabe “a great teacher and mentor” and a “remarkable statesman of our century.”

5:25 p.m.

Amnesty International says that Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for almost four decades, left behind “an indelible stain on his country’s human rights record.”

Mugabe died on Friday at the age of 95, two years after being forced to give up power.

The human rights group said Mugabe’s early years as a leader saw “notable achievements” through his heavy investment in health care and education. But the group said he later eroded his own track record, citing the harassment and killings of political opponents under his leadership.

Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa, said: “While casting himself as the saviour of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe inflicted lasting damage upon its people and its reputation.”

4:45 p.m.

A human rights activist is remembering Zimbabwe’s longtime leader Robert Mugabe as a tyrant who killed more black Africans than even the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Peter Tatchell, who is British, also said it was sad that the strongman died without ever facing justice.

Tatchell twice attempted to carry out a citizens’ arrest of Mugabe on charges of torture and other human rights abuses, in 1999 and 2001, but they were unsuccessful.

Mugabe died Friday in Singapore at the age of 95. An ex-guerrilla chief, Mugabe took power after independence from white minority rule in 1980 and presided over a country whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil and allegations of human rights violations.

Tatchell said: “Robert Mugabe was a liberation hero who turned tyrant. He massacred more black Africans than even the evil apartheid regime in South Africa.”

3 p.m.

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader says he is “mourning with the rest of Africa” over the death of former president Robert Mugabe but also acknowledged the pain that the country faced over “decades of political disputes” surrounding his governance.

The former leader of Zimbabwe was forced to resign in 2017 after a 37-year rule whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil, disputed elections and human rights violations. He died on Friday at age 95.

Speaking on Friday, Nelson Chamisa, the leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) gave his condolences to the family of Mugabe.

He acknowledged Mugabe’s place as one of Zimbabwe’s founding fathers, but also referred to problems of human rights in Zimbabwe and the “deficits of governance” during his years of rule.

2:30 p.m.

Kenya’s president has ordered flags lowered to half-staff following the death of Zimbabwe’s longtime ruler Robert Mugabe.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said that the period of national mourning would run from dawn on Saturday until sunset on Monday and would involve flags lowered at all public buildings and military posts.

He called it a “mark of respect for the memory of this African hero and friend of our country.”

1:35 p.m.

The president of Kenya is mourning the death of Zimbabwe’s longtime leader Robert Mugabe and recalling him as an African freedom fighter.

Uhuru Kenyatta said that Kenyans will remember Mugabe as “a man of courage.” Mugabe died in a hospital in Singapore on Friday at the age of 95.

Kenyatta described Mugabe in a statement as “an elder statesman, a freedom fighter and a Pan-Africanist who played a major role in shaping the interests of the African continent.”

He said his thoughts and prayers went out to Mugabe’s family, relatives and the people of Zimbabwe, “who, for many years, he served with commitment and dedication.”

1:15 p.m.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry says it is working with the Embassy of Zimbabwe to fly the body of Robert Mugabe home to Zimbabwe for burial following the death of the former African leader.

Mugabe died at the age of 95 on Friday in the Gleneagles Hospital in the wealthy southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, where he had received treatment in recent years.

A spokesperson for Singapore’s Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences on Mugabe’s death.

12:30 p.m.

The former president of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has paid homage to Robert Mugabe, the longtime former leader of Zimbabwe who died on Friday.

Kabila said: “The entire continent has just lost one of the great panafricanists, the lineage of the heroes of the struggle for independence.”

Congo and Zimbabwe once enjoyed very close ties, and Mugabe provided critical military support to the government of Kabila’s father, Laurent Kabila, in 1998, when Rwandan troops were at the doorstep of Congo’s capital Kinshasa.

In his statement, Kabila said: “We will forever remember the worthy son of Africa, who flew to the rescue of our country, then a victim of external aggression.”

12 p.m.

China has called Zimbabwe’s late Robert Mugabe a “prominent leader” who firmly defended the country’s sovereignty.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday that China deeply mourns Mugabe’s death. Geng said the former president opposed foreign interference and actively promoted China’s relations with Zimbabwe and Africa at large.

Mugabe ended his 37-year rule with a forced resignation in 2017. The early promise of his leadership was eroded by economic turmoil, disputed elections and human rights violations.

His successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, confirmed Mugabe’s death at 95 on Friday.

11:15

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that Mugabe died in Singapore in a statement sending condolences on behalf of the government and people of South Africa.

He called Mugabe Zimbabwe’s first post-independence president and said: “Under President Mugabe’s leadership, Zimbabwe’s sustained and valiant struggle against colonialism inspired our own struggle against apartheid and built in us the hope that one day South Africa too would be free.”

He also acknowledged Mugabe’s role in “advancing regional solidarity, integration and development through Zimbabwe’s participation in the Southern African Development Community.”

10:00 a.m.

The Gleneagles Hospital in the wealthy southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, where former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has received treatment in recent years, sent a statement of condolence on his passing.

The hospital’s parent company, Parkway Pantai, says in an emailed statement, “We are saddened by the news of the passing of Mr Robert Mugabe” and expresses its condolences to his family and loved ones.

It says it cannot give further information “out of respect for the privacy of Mr Mugabe and his family.”

The hospital would not confirm that he was being treated there at the time of his death Friday.

8:50 a.m.

Robert Mugabe, the former leader of Zimbabwe forced to resign in 2017 after a 37-year rule whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil, disputed elections and human rights violations, has died. He was 95.

His successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa confirmed Mugabe’s death in a tweet Friday, mourning him as an “icon of liberation.” He did not provide details.

“Cde (Comrade) Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Mnangagwa said.

Mugabe, who took power after white minority rule ended in 1980, blamed Zimbabwe’s economic problems on international sanctions and once said he wanted to rule for life.

But growing discontent about the southern African country’s fractured leadership and other problems prompted a military intervention, impeachment proceedings by the parliament and large street demonstrations for his removal.

Daily Mail|Grace Mugabe covered her face as she left a funeral parlour in Singapore on Friday following the death of her husband who passed away aged 95.

Grace was dressed in black with a blue shawl covering her head.

Grace kept her profile low as she slipped out of Gleaneagle’s Hospital after her husband passed away at 10.40am Singapore time.

Later the family, including Mugabe’s daughter and a woman believed to be Grace’s sister, attended the chapel of rest funeral parlour Singapore Casket to pay their respects.

One onlooker said: ‘She is best known in this country for showing off her designer clothes and been seen in the best shops.

‘It was all different for today, but I was surprised that she hid her face. Maybe the pain is too much for her she just doesn’t want to share it.” Daily Mail