FORMER Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Patrick Mavhura (Right)
State Media|FORMER Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Patrick Mavhura and ex-head finance, administration and human resources manager Benenia Shumba are likely to be charged with 18 more cases involving corruption, a court heard yesterday.
This was said by the investigating officer handling the pair’s criminal abuse of office case Detective Assistant Inspector John Bvundura while testifying during the duo’s bail application at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
The State was opposing the application.
Det Asst Insp Bvundura said police were already seized with the 18 new cases.
“There are more cases with more values than the one which is before the court today, there are about 18 more counts,” he said.
“The cases were reported at CID Anti-corruption and investigations are still going on that is why they have not yet been included.
“They might abscond because they know they have other cases coming.”
Asst Insp Bvundura further stated that the seriousness of the offence was another ground that may force the duo to abscond trial.
‘‘There is overwhelming evidence as there are Memorandum of Agreements signed by Mavhura as the ZBC representative,” he said.
“They also received bank statements from advertising agents.”
The prosecutor Mr George Manokore said because of the porous nature of the country’s borders, the duo was likely to abscond if the State conceded to granting of bail.
“Mavhura is also a person of influence and some of the witnesses were under his command, so if he is granted bail he will interfere with witnesses,” he said.
Through their lawyer, Brighton Mapadza, Mavhura and Shumba had indicated that they had no other pending cases as the investigating officer failed to provide evidence of such in court.
Mapadza cited that the two are of fixed abode and have families.
He said the duo was also willing to submit their passports and abide by any reporting conditions. Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro rolled the matter over to today for bail ruling.
Allegations are that the two siphoned more than US$340 000 in advertising revenue from the national broadcaster.
According to court papers, Mavhura bought a house in Borrowdale, vehicles and other properties.
“An advertising company Total Media was asked to make advance payments of US$75 000 and US$25 000 to an Ecobank account belonging to Mugiya and Macharaga Law chambers in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$112 500 and US$37 000 respectively,” the court papers read.
“The former ZBC boss and his accomplice again entered into another agreement with Adrenalin Advertising agent who also made an advance payment of US$100 000 in exchange for advertising airtime worth US$150 000.
“Under instruction from Shumba, Adrenalin Advertising deposited the money into Mugiya and Mucharaga law chambers’ Ecobank account.”
Mavhura and Shumba left the national broadcaster early this month following the appointment of a new board.
Former principal director of State Residences in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma (left)
State Media|Former principal director of State Residences in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma’s bid for freedom hit a brick wall yesterday after Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya dismissed his application for bail on the basis that there had been no changes to circumstances relating to the case.
Tapfuma allegedly abused his office by facilitating the importation of several vehicles duty-free.
In his application for bail on the basis of changed circumstances Tapfuma through his lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange submitted that the case did not constitute a serious offence and should attract a level 13 fine.
Mr Samukange told the court that the fact that a trial date for his client was now in place also constitutes changed circumstances in the matter.
Mr Samukange proposed that his client be granted $500 bail.
He also proposed that Tapfuma be ordered to reside at his given address, surrender his passport with the clerk of court not to interfere with witnesses and to report once every Friday at Waterfalls Police Station.
“Two commuter omnibuses, which are part of exhibits have been released to Kwekwe Council where they are being used as ambulances and that is also another change in circumstances,” he said.
The State led by Mr Clemence Chimbare opposed the application saying Tapfuma was a flight risk given that he now knows that a trial date for the matter has been set and that they are witnesses to testify.
Mr Chimbare told the court that Tapfuma was also likely to interfere with State witnesses now that he had been served with State papers containing witness statements.
He called the investigating officer Mr Timothy Guta to strengthen its position in opposing bail.
Mr Guta told the court that he was opposed to granting of bail to Tapfuma since investigations were still ongoing.
Mr Mujaya dismissed Tapfuma’s application saying they are no changed circumstances in the matter. Allegations against Tapfuma arose when he purchased two personal minibuses from South Africa under the guise of the Government on April 10, 2018.
On April 17, 2018 he allegedly assigned Bonani Ganyane, an officer working in the transport section of the Department of State Residences to proceed to Beitbridge and facilitate clearance of the two vehicles on behalf of the department using report order forms as if they were Government vehicles.
It is the State case that clearance of goods by report order form is a clearance procedure that is normally used by Government departments to apply for deferred clearance of goods from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Ganyane allegedly proceeded to Beitbridge and provisionally cleared the vehicles using report order forms.
After clearing the alleged vehicles, Ganyane advised Tapfuma, who instructed him to hand the vehicles over to Vongaishe Mupereri, who at that time was National Assembly Member for Mbizo constituency.
The court heard that on April 20, 2018, Tapfuma made an application to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet requesting for duty-free certificates in the name of the President’s Department which were issued.
Tapfuma allegedly applied for duty exemption for the vehicles at Zimra which was granted. He then registered the vehicles at Central Vehicles Registry under the name of the President’s Department and started using the vehicles in his personal capacity.
The alleged vehicles were liable to pay duty amounting to US$3 180.
The court heard that on the second and third counts, Tapfuma allegedly purchased an additional of five personal vehicles between June and August last year from South Africa.
The construction of a mausoleum for former President Robert Mugabe has started, with preparatory work at the site under way, while work on the design is still to be completed.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga said: “What the nation might want to know is that work has commenced. In as far as design is concerned, yes, work is being done. The costs will only be known once we have the design.”
Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Melusi Matshiya said they were coordinating efforts with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
“Yes, work is going on, but the lead ministry is that of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing when it comes to construction work,” said Mr Matshiya.State media
Missing Harare doctor Peter Magombeyi bade his house-mate farewell and told him to lock up the door since he was going for an all-night prayer, according to a “hospital memo.”
According to a Harare Central Hospital internal memorandum dated September 16, 2019 and addressed to the chief executive officer Dr Tinashe Dhobbie by the Human Resources Department, Dr Magombeyi left home intentionally.
“On the 15th of September 2019, we visited Dr Magombeyi’s residence on number 2915 Budiriro 2, Harare. On our way, we passed through Budiriro Police Station where Dr Jena, his house mate was reporting the case.
From there went to their house where Dr Jena showed us Dr Magombeyi’s bedroom. On the bed there was laptop and clothes Dr Magombeyi had removed that night,’’ reads the memo.
“Dr Jena told us that the last time he spoke to Dr Magombeyi was the previous night and Dr Magombeyi said that he was going out for an all-night prayer. He also instructed Dr Jena to lock the door since he was not coming back,’’ reads the memo.State media
FORTY seven days after his landmark signing for Aston Villa, Zimbabwe international midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, finally made his English Premiership bow yesterday in a Monday Night league match.
In-form West Ham United, with three wins in their previous three matches, were the opponents.
The pulsating match ended goalless with the visitors surviving a late storm as the hosts took full advantage of playing with an extra man from the 66th minute when Arthur Masuaku was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Under the lights of a roaring Villa Park, and 20 days after featuring in the Carabao Cup in a 6-1 thrashing of lower division side Crewe Alexandra, Nakamba was thrown into his first Premiership game by Villa manager Dean Smith in place of Brazilian Douglas Luiz.
The Brazilian had been away playing for his country’s youth side and Smith felt this had provided an opportunity for Nakamba in a three-man midfield that also featured captain Jack Grealish and John McGinn.
“Douglas has been away with Brazil. He’s played a couple of games over there, he’s the captain of the U21s,’’ Smith told Sky Sports.
“It tires people out, flying out to South America, playing a couple of games and then coming back. “Marvelous has been knocking on the door, he’s been playing well. He fits the style that we play very well.”
The Zimbabwean’s first touch came in the very first minute, and his first completed pass in the Premiership came in that move, rolling the ball across the midfield with his cultured left foot.
Twice, in the first half hour, he also gave possession away in a game that was being played at a very furious pace with very little time being given on opponents once they had possession.
‘‘It’s fast and furious,’’ said Sky Sports commentator, Martin Tyler. After 13 minutes, Nakamba started the move, deep in his half, from which Villa should have taken the lead.
He fed his skipper, Grealish, who played the ball into the path of Jota on the right channel, with the Villa captain continuing with his run which took him beyond the Hammers defence.
Jota found him with the return pass and Grealish sent in a wicked cross into the West Ham box.
Giant forward Wesley Moraes, who used to be Nakamba’s teammate at Belgian side Club Brugge, rose to make a strong connection but his header was way off target from a position of real promise for the hosts.
Six minutes later, Nakamba’s intended pass came off referee Mike Dean and rolled out of play for what, in the past, would have been a throw in for the opposition.State media
Chief Zvimba has blasted some relatives of former President Robert Mugabe who are trying to politicise his burial while tainting President Mnangagwa’s name.
Speaking to The Herald on the sidelines of a farewell ceremony at Murombedzi Growth Point yesterday, Chief Zvimba said the former President was not a chief, but belonged to the Zvimba royal family.
“Mugabe belonged to the Zvimba clan and he was a member of the Zvimba royal family and former President of this country. “He was not a chief and the chief’s burial that you are hearing is not the truth,” he said.
“It’s a strict burial initiated by the Zvimba clan and the Government. We are working together with the Government. Whatever they want to do, they consult, so there is nothing that is done outside the requirements of the family and outside Government requirements.
“We work together with Government to the logical conclusion of the burial and there is nothing private or fishy about it. We will make the rightful announcements at the right time and there is no speculation.” He said all those who were in exile should not confuse Zimbabweans by commenting from foreign lands, but urged them to make their contributions in person.
“I believe that Patrick Zhuwao left Zimbabwe after committing an offence. There is nothing that President ED Mnangagwa has done to chase out all those who went into exile, including Patrick Zhuwao. I can say that the guilty are afraid, ED as President has not expelled anyone from Zimbabwe,” he said.State media
MDC-Alliance members have been advised to “repent” and join the ruling Zanu-PF which enjoys overwhelming support from the generality of Zimbabweans.
The call was made by the ruling party Women’s League national political commissar Mybe Mbowa, who said the revolutionary party was the only party of choice owing to its people-oriented policies.
Addressing thousands of supporters at a star rally to drum up support for the party candidate in the forthcoming Zaka East Parliamentary by-election last week, Clemence Chiduwa, Mbowa said MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa will never lead Zimbabwe.
Mbowa said the opposition leader was doomed after going to bed with the “enemy” and will never make it to State House.
She said Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabwe forever. “I want to tell Chamisa today that this country will never be run by an opposition,” she said.
“It is better for the MDC supporters to join the big tent. Zanu-PF will rule forever.”
Mbowa said all opposition supporters should wake up and realise that there is future in Zanu-PF rather than be misled by Mr Chamisa.State media
MDC-Alliance members have been advised to “repent” and join the ruling Zanu-PF which enjoys overwhelming support from the generality of Zimbabweans.
The call was made by the ruling party Women’s League national political commissar Mybe Mbowa, who said the revolutionary party was the only party of choice owing to its people-oriented policies.
Addressing thousands of supporters at a star rally to drum up support for the party candidate in the forthcoming Zaka East Parliamentary by-election last week, Clemence Chiduwa, Mbowa said MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa will never lead Zimbabwe.
Mbowa said the opposition leader was doomed after going to bed with the “enemy” and will never make it to State House.
She said Zanu-PF will rule Zimbabwe forever. “I want to tell Chamisa today that this country will never be run by an opposition,” she said.
“It is better for the MDC supporters to join the big tent. Zanu-PF will rule forever.”
Mbowa said all opposition supporters should wake up and realise that there is future in Zanu-PF rather than be misled by Mr Chamisa.State media
At least five people were killed, while 25 others were seriously injured on Sunday when a Mitsubishi lorry they were travelling in veered of the road and overturned several times at the 54-kilometre peg along Mutare-Burma Valley Road.
The Mutare-bound lorry had 29 passengers on board when the accident occurred.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.
“The accident occurred around 10:30am on Sunday at the 54-km peg along Mutare-Burma Road and five people perished,” he said.
“A Mitsubishi lorry, which was bound for Mutare had 30 people aboard, including the driver.
“On approaching the 54-km peg, the driver lost control of the vehicle while descending a steep slope, which resulted in it veering off the road and overturning several times before it landed on its wheels, killing five people on the spot and injuring 25 others.
“The lorry was carrying people who were coming from a memorial service near the Mozambican border.”State media
By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is literally buying his late boss Robert Mugabe’s body using title deeds to the deceased’s houses, it has emerged.
The latest is a development from a protracted war between the Mugabe family and Mnangagwa’s administration for the corpse ever since Mugabe died last week but one.
Last week saw the scheduled heroes’ burial which was Sunday being cancelled after the family said they would give to the government something else not the actual body, to bury.
On Thursday, Leo unequivocaly told ZimEye reports of a deal with the government to hand over his uncle Mugabe’s body were false and misleading.
The family has from day one repeatedly stood their ground saying that they will bury their loved one privately during a chief’s ceremony even journalists are not allowed to attend. WATCH BELOW the family spokesman, Leo, announcing the cancellation.
1/4 – Speaking to journalists at Blue Roof on Friday night, Mugabe Family spokesman and President Mugabe's nephew, Leo, said "our ZimEye I'm sure, they are distorting things that we are talking about, but I understand why…cause there is some various misunderstanding arising… pic.twitter.com/SSZTqdB4Cu
Recorded audios of meetings held between the family and the government have revealed a can of worms with Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party officials announcing that there would be repercussions if they do not get the body.
In Zimbabwe once a person is declared a national hero, especially if they served in a government capacity, their body falls into state hands.
Leo has in the latest development announced saying Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses, Blue Roof land, and Bona’s Mt Pleasant house to the former President’s family, to ensure they have decent accommodation. At a news conference in Zvimba on Sunday, Mr Mugabe confirmed that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses. “I was told by President Mnangagwa that the party will help to transfer the title deeds of the properties to the former President’s family. I do not want to jeopardise the process.” “It’s so funny the party (Zanu-PF) is the one that bought the first house in Mt Pleasant and the land on Blue Roof property. “It leaves the former President Mugabe without a house in Harare,” he said. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu, confirmed the development saying they were doing the paper work to transfer the properties. “The process is currently underway to transfer them to the (Mugabe) family,” said Dr Mpofu.
WHY DOES MNANGAGWA WANT MUGABE’S CORPSE?
3 things Mnangagwa is after: 1. Mugabe's scarf. (he wears it everyday) 2. Mugabe's body. Since the July 2018 elections, he is struggling for legitimacy, after Mugabe as it were anointed his opponent Nelson Chamisa.
The 2019-20 ABSA Premiership continued with a host of fixtures down south over the weekend and here is how Zimbabwean players plying their trade across the Limpopo fared.
Danny ‘Deco’ Phiri was named man of the match in his Golden Arrows’ 1-1 draw with Durban rivals Amazulu.
In that same game, Edmore Sibanda also started in goals for Abafana Bes’thende while Knox Mutizwa came on as a second half substitute.
Khama Billiat came off the bench for Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium but could not help Amakhosi avoid their first defeat of the season; a 1-0 loss to Polokwane City. Walter Musona also came on as a second half substitute for Rise and Shine in that game.
In the Limpopo derby, Elvis Chipezeze made some crucial saves as his Baroka FC defeated Cuthbert Malajila’s Black Leopards 2-0.
Onismo Bhasera started for Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United in their trillling 3-3 stalemate with Cape Town City while Kuda Mahachi was introduced in the second half.Soccer 24
Knowledge Musona’s RSC Anderlecht continue to struggle in the Belgian league after succumbing to yet another home loss, this time a 2-1 defeat to Antwerp.
This was Anderlecht’s fourth loss in seven games played this season and they have only a single victory in the 2019/20 campaign and sitting just above the relegation places.
Musona has not featured for the side this season after numerous exit rumours but still has a contract and reportedly still trains with them.
Vincent Kompany quit the managerial role at the struggling club but that has changed little, if not nothing, in terms of results.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF youth leader, Pupurai Togarepi has claimed reports of abductions in Zimbabwe are mischievous and misleading.
Togarepi tweeted:
Some of these dramas should come to an end. We cannot allow selfish interest to destroy the image of our Country. I hope our security forces will get to the bottom of these so called “Kidnappings” otherwise we will continue to be soiled by those with nefarious agendas…
A ZRP officer who was masquerading as a doctor after joining a strike by doctors has been exposed.
This comes after a strike by doctors across the country, over the abduction of the president for the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.
Unfortunately for him, he was unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.Vuka Zimbabwe/Mvenge Mvenge
Farai Dziva|The MDC says it is ready for the coming Zaka East by-election scheduled for September 21.
Said the party in a statement :” Upcoming elections -MDC Alliance candidate Dereck Charamba is contesting in the Zaka East, Masvingo by-election on 21 Sept, if you are a registered voter please go and support your incoming MP.
Victory is certain!
MDC@20 ‘celebrating 20 years of courage, growth and people’s victories.”
ZANU PF and the CIO register their party called G40 and then some regime idiots and sick fools sit down and write bogus so-called analysis about some phoney thing they created. How foolish and stupid can some people be!
Lets not forget that Dr. Peter received death threats from suspect CIO agents before his disappearance. This is why we are saying he Mnangagwa regime should produce this young man alive to his family. No more cover ups, just produce the doctor alive!
In Zimbabwe, citizens do go missing, they are abducted and tortured by the state. Thats a major difference between the Harare regime and US. Hope this is clear-Pedzisai Ruhanya
Dear Editor-The Deputy Treasurer of the MDC Students Council Timothy Mushaya was heavily assaulted on Friday the 13th of September 2019.
He was assaulted in Gweru near Club Ecite after buying a beer at around 7 in the evening.
He was in the company of a friend Moses Soko. Timothy Mushaya was wearing an MDC t.shirt when one unidentified man charged at Timothy and started assaulting him with clenched fists. His friend tried to intervene but was also assaulted.
Another group of seven men joined in the assault saying “Vapfanha veMDC vanoda kupihwa gwara”. The group of seven assaulted the pair with fists and iron bars.
During the assault, Timothy Mushaya was robbed of a US $20 note and house keys of where he rents as a student. He sustained injuries from the attack.
Timothy Mushaya and his friend then proceeded to Gweru Central Police Station where they reported the case.
The police officers initially refused to entertain the matter. They instead chased the pair away saying “nyaya dzePolitics dzinonetsa, saka vapfanha ibvai pano!” Mushaya and colleague remained adamant and they reported the matter. However, since Friday the perpetrators have not been brought to book despite the fact that they are regularly seen drinking at Club Ecite.
Farai Dziva|An MDC official was nearly killed for wearing a party t-shirt.
Below is a statement released by the MDC Students Council on the matter:
Deputy Treasurer of the MDC Students Council Timothy Mushaya was heavily assaulted on Friday the 13th of September 2019.
He was assaulted in Gweru near Club Ecite after buying a beer at around 7 in the evening.
He was in the company of a friend Moses Soko. Timothy Mushaya was wearing an MDC t.shirt when one unidentified man charged at him and started assaulting him with clenched fists. His friend tried to intervene but was also assaulted.
Another group of seven men joined in the assault saying “Vapfanha veMDC vanoda kupihwa gwara”. The group of seven assaulted the pair with fists and iron bars.
During the assault, Timothy Mushaya was robbed of a US $20 note and house keys of where he rents as a student. He sustained injuries from the attack.
Timothy Mushaya and his friend then proceeded to Gweru Central Police Station where they reported the case.
The police officers initially refused to entertain the matter.
They instead chased the pair away saying “nyaya dzePolitics dzinonetsa, saka vapfanha ibvai pano!” Mushaya and colleague remained adamant and they reported the matter. However, since Friday the perpetrators have not been brought to book despite the fact that they are regularly seen drinking at Club Ecite.
By A Correspondent- Mining giant Falcon Gold’s woes continue to mount after its total comprehensive loss for the six months to March 31, 2019 skyrocketed by 1 519% to $27 million.
According to its unaudited interim consolidated results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2019, Falgold’s losses amounted to $27 million against $1,7 million reported in the same period last year.
It recorded a net working capital deficit of $11 million, up 68% in the comparable period and negative equity of $44 million.
“The group continues to incur losses. The increase in total comprehensive loss is mainly due to foreign exchange losses amounting to $23 917 228,” the group’s chairperson, Ian Saunders said.
The group produced 1 849 ounces of gold in the period under review, with an average sale price of US$1 350 per ounce on the sale of 1 961 ounces of gold, compared to 1 920 ounces of gold recorded in the same period last year at an average sale price of US$1 321 per ounce.
Gold production decreased by 71 ounces or 3,7% in 2019, compared to 2018.
Mineral production expenses increased to $5 million.
“The board and management, with the assistance of the majority shareholder, are exploring options for additional US$2,5 million to US$3m of funding to enable repair of the mill and resuscitation of mining operations, but have not finalised the funding structure,” he said.
In its statement to shareholders accompanying the September 30, 2018 year-ended financial statements, the group reported that there was a catastrophic engineering failure of the main operating mill at Golden Quarry Mine, which had adversely affected production and cash flows.
Saunders said termination of power supplies by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company further compounded the problems.
“As a result of this and other cash flow challenges, the Golden Quarry Mine has not been operational. Management has undertaken a full impact assessment and is evaluating various options to deal with the situation including either repair, refurbish or outright replacement of the mill,” he said.
“Notwithstanding the mill failure, to date the funding required to execute the 2019 budget has not been provided and discussion with the company’s majority shareholder are ongoing.”
In the outlook, Saunders said there have been some positive developments in the operational macro environment for the mining industry compared to previous years, although the tax regime remains unfavourable.
He said the gold price has remained favourable and was predicted to continue the upward trend in the foreseeable future.
“The power supply situation remains unstable, although it is believed that there could be some improvements going forward with the mining industry set to be on dedicated power supply,” he said.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Chiredzi’ s ward 18 councillor, Gilbert Mutubuki has been arraigned before the court for allegedly inciting public violence against war veterans who invaded Tongaat Hulett workers’ cottages last month.
The State alleges that sometime last month, Mutubuki convened an unsanctioned meeting where he addressed and incited Tongaat Hulett workers to attack war veterans who had invaded some of their houses.
The workers are said to have attacked and destroyed property belonging to the war veterans during the skirmishes.
Mutubuki, through his lawyer, Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri, however, denied the charges. Magistrate Constance Mtandwa remanded him to September 24. Mutubuki is also MDC youth assembly portfolio secretary for lands and agriculture.
By A Correspondent- A Lupane villager has been slapped with a 10-year jail term for torching a hut in which his ex-girlfriend was sleeping with two minors.
Silandulo Tshuma (38) was convicted of attempted murder by Hwange magistrate Colet Ncube.
Three years were conditionally suspended, leaving him to serve an effective seven years.
Prosecutor Vumizulu Mangena told the court that the complainant in the matter include Nobukhosi Nkomo (19) and two minors aged seven.
It is the State case that on March 21, Nkomo and the two children were asleep in her bedroom hut when she was awoken by smoke in the hut and she noticed that the roof was on fire. Nkomo tried to open the door, but she discovered that it was secured from outside.
Nkomo then screamed for help before her brother Method broke down the door and rescued them.
Nkomo and her brother later tracked down footprints at the hut which led them to Tshuma’s home.
They then made a report to the police, leading to Tshuma’s arrest.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A Harare woman claims her husband’s girlfriend has been tormenting her by sending her text messages telling her that her husband is good in bed.
Rosemary Kambiya opened up at the Harare Civil Court where she accused Petronella Shumba of insulting her after snatching her husband.
“It’s been two months now and my husband has not been coming back home staying at his girlfriend’s place.
“The girlfriend has been calling me and sending text messages informing me how good my husband is.
“We stay in the same neighborhood and she has been visiting my place of residence to see my kids when I’m not around.
“She insults me whenever she sees me in public saying I am not responsible,” said Kambiya.
She added: “She has been telling my husband that the pregnancy I am carrying doesn’t belong to him.”
Petronella denied ever insulting Rosemary though she has been dating her husband.
“I have been seeing her husband for a year now and he promised to marry me.
“We started dating when they had separated so she came back when she realised that she was pregnant.
“I suggest being the second wife because I have been dating him for a long period of time and my relatives know him since I was also introduced to his parents,” said Petronella.
She added:
“She is lying that I have been insulting her because she is the one who has been visiting my house threatening to kill me if I don’t leave her husband.”
Presiding magistrate Nyasha Marufu ordered Petronella not to insult or harass Rosemary.-StateMedia
By Wilbert Mukori- President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the Zimbabwean
government is building a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre as a way of
paying homage and honour to the country’s late founding father Robert Mugabe.
President Mnangagwa said the date of burial will
now be determined by the period it will take to complete the mausoleum.
Mugabe was a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and
murderous dictator. He has destroyed the country’s once promising economy
sending unemployment to soaring heights of 90% and ¾ of the population live in
abject poverty today.
He managed to stay in power for 37 years and his party,
Zanu PF, is still in power to this day; because the party has routinely rigged
elections and used brute force to impose its rule on the nation. The party has
murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans in cold blood to establish and retain
the de facto one-party dictatorship.
Throughout the last 39 years Mugabe and his Zanu PF
cronies have creamed off the nation’s wealth build palatial mansions, buy cars,
businesses and finance their extravagant lifestyles. In the turn of the century
when Mugabe started to run out of loot to give his ever-demanding but wasteful
cronies; he started to seize the white-owned farms and dished them out to his
supporters. This triggered the collapse of the country’s agricultural sector
and with it the national economy.
With the country’s basic services like education
and health in decline due to lack of funds, the country’s ruling elite started
to out-source their needs outside Zimbabwe which only accelerated the collapse
of the local services.
Mugabe used to go to Singapore for all his health
care needs at the cost of US$3 million @ trip, according to 2012 Minister of
Finance, Tendai Biti. That year he made no few than 24 trips. Mugabe spent the
last five months is a hospital in Singapore. All this at public expense.
Mugabe was a corrupt and ruthless dictator who
caused untold human suffering and deaths. He was not a hero, for Pete’s sake!
So, what is all this nonsense of the nation honouring a corrupt and murderous
dictator, building a mausoleum to preserve his remains!
Yes, Robert Mugabe fought in the liberation war
that ended white colonial exploitation and oppression of the blacks but it was
not to set the downtrodden free. It was for the sole purpose of him and his
fellow Zanu PF thugs becoming the next oppressors and masters.
The country’s dictator of the first 37 years is
dead but the dictatorship he helped to create is alive and thriving and its
greed for power, wealth and glory is insatiable. The country’s survival is now
on the line, the economic meltdown and political paralysis have pushed the
nation right up to the very edge of the abyss. Zimbabwe needs liberating from
the Zanu PF dictatorship before it is too late; before the country slides
beyond the point of no return to become another Libya or Syria!
By A Correspondent- At least seven armed robbery suspects have been arrested as the net closes fast on rabid criminal gangs that have hit several houses and businesses in Manicaland, looting hundreds of thousands in foreign currency, vehicles and a litany of valuables.
The marauding thugs, who are usually armed with pistols, machetes and iron bars, have in some of the cases gang raped victims.
As the robbers struck with reckless abandon, residents quacked in their shoes with many quickly turning their dwellings into strongholds to protect themselves from the criminals.
One of the suspects who masterminded heists in Chipinge has since been slapped with a 36-year jail sentence after he was convicted of three counts.
Officer Commanding Manicaland Police, Commissioner Dr Wiklef Makamache said a specialised crack team has since been put in place to deal with the robberies.
He said detectives were hot on the heels of the remaining suspects who would be rounded up soon.
“This special crack team is made up of officers who have special skills regarding this type of crime. They have since posted good results as evidenced by the arrest of these suspects,” he said.
“If you look at the profile of these suspects you will see that most of them are foreigners to Manicaland, who come from Harare and Chitungwiza to rob people here with the aid of a few local criminals. As such, we have sat down with traditional leaders and advised them to be mindful of new faces that come to seek shelter in their villages.”
Dr Makamache said the courts were speedily dealing with armed robbery cases as well as placing in remand prison some of the suspects who usually run away from justice after being granted bail.
“With the good relationship we are enjoying with the courts, we are on the right course to decisively deal with these robberies and put an end to this vice,” he said.
Detectives in Mutare recently arrested two suspects who confessed to executing robberies in the city, Penhalonga and Odzi.
“We are not going to unmask their identities as this will jeopardise ongoing investigations.
“Some of the complainants have come up and positively identified these suspects as the criminals who robbed them. They have confessed to some of the crimes and named accomplices they teamed up with to commit the crimes.
“They are giving us useful information that will definitely help us bring all involved culprits to book,” said a member of the crack team who requested anonymity.
Two more suspects who are linked to robberies in Manicaland have been arrested in Gweru and four more suspects are in remand prison in Bulawayo.
Efforts are in progress to transport them here and make them stand trial for crimes committed in this province.
The 28-year-old Chipinge suspect, Prosper Mwafaune, was last week slapped with a 36-year jail term for conniving with Harare-based armed robbers to pounce on three complainants in the district and vanished with money and valuables.
Mwafaune of Musapingura Village under Chief Musikavanhu appeared before regional magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing robbery charges.
He pleaded guilty to all the three counts.
Public prosecutor Mr Themba Dhliwayo said Mwafaune committed the crimes with five other suspects who are still in remand prison.
The State proved that on May 28, the gang which was armed with two pistols, iron bars and knives pounced at Mapuranga homestead.
“They pretended to be police officers and demanded to see Jacob Mapuranga. During the commotion they pointed the firearms at the victims and demanded cash.
“They assaulted everyone at the homestead and ransacked the house in search of cash. The gang took a bag containing various clothing items worth $750,” he said
Mr Dhliwayo said in pursuant to their mission, the gang organised another robbery.
“On June 10, the gang went to Zivachako homestead at Kondo Business Centre. They jumped over the precast wall and manhandled two male adults who were sleeping in the veranda.
“The criminals then manhandled the businesswoman Pamela Penyakufa and force marched her into her bedroom. They took US$24 000, R44 200 and RTGS$2 859 and went away,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said the gang then committed another robbery the following week at Chibuwe Business Centre.
“On June 28, the suspects pounced on Samuel Maadza’s homestead and stole R186 000 and RTGS$17 000,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said detectives managed to find a call history on one of the culprit’s cell phone and established that Mwafaune was the one who came up with the targets.
Of the sentence three years were suspended on condition of restitution and more three years were set aside on condition of good behaviour.-ManicaPost
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean athlete, Fortunate Chidzivo, has broken a National Zimbabwean Record of Irvette van Zyl of 32:49 from 2018 when she clocked 32:26 at the 2019 10km Peace Run at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
Irvette van Zyl’s 33:49 record was broken by Chidzivo’s latest record.
Other Zimbabweans who are participating in the marathon are displaying a splendid performance.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Four Grade Three pupils at Mafakela Primary School in Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb were on Friday rushed to hospital after they were injured when the roof of two classroom blocks was blown away by a whirlwind.
The incident occurred at about 2PM and the pupils were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Acting Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Mrs Olicah Kaira, who attended the scene, revealed that the four pupils suffered minor tissue injuries.
“We are at Mafakela Primary School where a whirlwind has just blown off roof tops from two classrooms. About five asbestos sheets were blown off from two classrooms. As a result four of our Grade Three learners who were still in school sustained minor soft tissue injuries but no one else was injured in the process. The pupils were attended by paramedics before being rushed to Mpilo (Central Hospital) for treatment,” said Mrs Kaira on Friday.
“Some of the parents came to the school panicking as they suspected that their children had died following the whirlwind incident. However, they found that it’s not as serious as they thought. I guess the response from the three ambulance teams could have triggered them to panic because the incident created a hive of activity at the school as concerned parents rushed to the institution. But we want to assure them that their children are safe despite the natural accident.”
She expressed gratitude to emergency teams for their quick response in attending to the scene.
Mrs Kaira said the old school structure could have led to the roof succumbing to the whirlwind.
Last year in November, seven pupils at Maranatha High School were injured after a whirlwind blew off the roof of a newly constructed double storey building.
Shoddy workmanship was cited as the reason for the roof’s collapse.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has started investigations into reports alleging that Econet’s Ecocash agents are manipulating the cash ecosystem through selling cash to citizens at prohibiting prices.
Said the ZACC in a statement:
“We are concerned about the volumes of isolated of reports we have received in connection @EcoCashZW agents manulating the cash ecosystem to their unfair advantage by selling cash & at prohibiting rates. We are aware that this practice is enabled and supported at a systematic level.
An investigation has been opened which must determine and charge the real perpetrators behind this rot. We hope that @econetzimbabwe and @ReserveBankZIM will also look into this seriously to bring an urgent and lasting solution.
We believe that in order to effectively fight corruption, all avenues that promote corruption regardless of size must be shut with urgency and we look forward to work with all stakeholders in such scenarios to actively close these pilferage opportunities.”
By A Correspondent- Some Ecocash Agents are reportedly charging about 60% for every transaction conducted by their customers. These charges are outside the system hence unofficial.
The new charges mean that if one had $100 in his or her Ecocash wallet, they would get less than $50 in cash.
It is also worth noting that the charges vary for coins and notes. The coins which are now being rejected in some shops are cheaper than notes.
The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has however revealed that it is instituting investigation into the operations of Econet’s Ecocash platform which it said was fleecing citizens.
Said the ZACC:
“We are concerned about the volumes of isolated of reports we have received in connection @EcoCashZW agents manulating the cash ecosystem to their unfair advantage by selling cash & at prohibiting rates. We are aware that this practice is enabled & supported at a systematic level.
An investigation has been opened which must determine and charge the real perpetrators behind this rot. We hope that @econetzimbabwe and @ReserveBankZIM will also look into this seriously to bring an urgent and lasting solution.
We believe that in order to effectively fight corruption, all avenues that promote corruption regardless of size must be shut with urgency and we look forward to work with all stakeholders in such scenarios to actively close these pilferage opportunities.”
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer who joined the doctors’ protest as a medical health practitioner has been exposed.
The official, joined the protesting doctors who were marching to hand over a petition seeking to push government for the release of the ZHDA acting president Dr Peter Magombeyi who was reportedly abducted on Saturday.
Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.
He was however unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.
HIGH Court Judge Justice Edith Mushore on Monday ordered who ever is holding Dr Peter Magombeyi, the leader of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) to immediately release him or bring him to the High Court within 48 hours and for Home Affairs and State Security Ministers to determine his whereabouts and set up a team of investigators to search for him at all places in Zimbabwe.
Justice Mushore granted the order after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Dr
Magombeyi’s family and from representatives of the respondents who include Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema and Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office Owen Ncube, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation Isaac Moyo.
The hearing came after Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday.
Justice Mushore ordered the team of investigators to furnish human rights lawyers Alec Muchadehama, Tinomuda Shoko and Paidamoyo Saurombe from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, representing the Magombeyi family, with a report of the progress of their probe.
Hon. Mathema and Hon. Ncube were also ordered to advertise details about Dr Magombeyi, the missing President of ZHDA, on all State-run print and broadcast media including ZTV, The Herald and The Chronicle, to determine his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, medical doctors and nurses on Monday 16 staged a protest in Harare and served a petition of President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressing concern about the abduction of Dr Magombeyi and advised him that they had withdrawn their services in protest against the ill-treatment of the ZHDA leader.
At High Court, human rights lawyers expressed solidarity with the protesting medical practitioners and condemned the pervasive practice of abductions and enforced disappearances.
Standard|The death of Robert Mugabe brings great sadness to all of us, but for different reasons.
For those who benefitted from his tyranny and rapacious rule, he was almost god-like, and they likened him to the angel Gabriel (his middle name).
To the four million exiles, destitute, held in contempt in the diaspora, their fortunes back home stolen or squandered by a rapacious government, they remember him with unforgivable sadness, their dreams quashed by the man who held their fate in his hands for 37 years.
There is a third group, that of whites, who remained in Zimbabwe, because of a promise of a new and great Zimbabwe.
On that fateful pre-independence speech of April 18, 1980, Mugabe made the greatest speech of his life, every dream and parameter delineated in that speech, he lived to betray and to dishonor.
Such was the man, on whom fate had entrusted the dreams of a nation, shameless, completely without honor, and prideful in his betrayal.
But, lest we be blinded by this betrayal.
Mugabe remained a hero to the majority of Africans of the Atlantic diaspora, whose parents had been enslaved.
Here was a man who challenged the white men, dispossessed them of their wealth, and died in his bed.
He, like United States president Donald Trump, spoke their words, and expressed their contempt of the white man, not without reason, for past misdeeds.
Herein lay the greatness or the treachery to humanity, if one takes the contrary view.
In order to understand the life and times of Mugabe, one must retrace the mythical story of the four elands and the lion.More in Home
Seeing four proud elands grazing in the rich vale, the lion informed the bull eland, who regarded himself as the most beautiful animal in the wild kingdom that he was held in utter contempt by his three siblings.
When the bull eland separated himself from the siblings, the lion knew that when it attacked, it would have no resistance from the other three.
Thus, one by one, each eland, in anger, at the behest of the lion, withdrew from common pasture, only to find itself a part of the lion’s dinner.
Mugabe, born physically weak, in 1924, in the Zvimba paramountcy, learned how to instill anger, play one big boy against another, and in the end come out the benefactor of perpetual internecine conflict.
“I urge you, whether you are black or white, to join me in a new pledge to forget our grim past, forgive others and forget. Join hands in a new unity and together as Zimbabweans trample upon racialism, tribalism, and regionalism and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate or society as we reinvigorate our economic machinery.” This was the speech of which destiny is made of.
He even talked of a “total commitment to build a great Zimbabwe that will be the pride of all of Africa.”
If Mugabe had achieved only half of the dream outlined above, a dream that attracted any white colonials to return from exile and some to remain in the new Zimbabwe.
Even as he outlined this shared dream, shared by his people and the whole of Africa, in his inner heart, he was secretly planning to undo the good that was before him.
He was secretly in conclave with North Koreans in an evil pact designed to destroy once and for all the Ndebele nationality and the leadership of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union.
It was in October, only six months after independence, that this secret conclave was discovered by enterprising journalists, and by February 1981, the Zapuleadership was on the chopping block.
An entirely tribal Shona army, trained and designed to destroy Zapu and the Ndebele, and cassus belli, sufficiently grave, was manufactured to justify the atrocities that preceded the murder of 20 000 Ndebele murdered and the wanton destruction of Ndebele villages.
I was a witness to these atrocities on two occasions.
In the autumn of 1983 (mwedzi wepfumvudza) I was a passenger on a Shu Shine Bus when we were stopped by a military posse and all passengers with Ndebele names asked to leave the bus.
They were never seen of again.
In another incident, at Esigodini, villagers were herded into the orange grove, where a fire revealed human figures going and coming.
Nevertheless, the ghoulish cries of men and women being beaten filled the night.
Passengers explained that the beatings were routine in villages where young men, being warned of the militia, had fled into the bush.
The elderly women and men were then “given the treatment” in order for them to betray hdidng places.
Mugabe was lucky throughout his life. Both the Roman Catholic fathers and the British Mi V who gathered information were reluctant to scandalize Mugabe’s name.
They wanted his co-operation in the coming negotiations for freedom in South Africa.
So, even while Mugabe became a bloody tyrant, he kept a semblance of respectability on the world stage until 2000.
All were betrayed
If I were to make a list of those who served Mugabe and eventually were betrayed, I would not make an end of it.
Almost all the henchmen who were tasked to do some shady work for Mugabe either died in suspicious circumstances, once they had expended their usefulness.
General Josiah Tongogara died on his way to Zimbabwe in a bizarre accident.
One report said he was driving a lorry through the bush at night. The general who replaced him is reported to have died from a cigarette fire in his house.
There were no witnesses.
His vice president, a man who had been by his side for fifty years, survived poisoning. Another general, with similar long service, was incapacitated by poisoning.
Others, after serving their master came to ignominious ends.
The brilliant politician and constitutional expert, Edison Zvobgo, wrote the document that elevated Mugabe to a dictatorship.
He was side-lined and died a bitter man.
And so the list of political supporters who outlived their usefulness, were sidelined or died in suspicious circumstances goes on.
A lover of power, the world was bamboozled by his impeccable British attire, assuming that clothes maketh a gentleman.
Here is one man who fooled the whole world, playing, as the mythical story of the elands has shown us, one against another for 37 years.
The world was also enchanted by his professed Roman Catholic upbringing and piety to believe that there were two Mugabe’s; one a man of professed piety and reasonableness, the other a tyrant.
In my book, Life and Times of Robert Mugabe: Dream Betrayed, the evidence does not favoUr two Mugabes.
“There was only one Mugabe throughout his life. Mugabe wanted to be master of everything he laid his eyes on.
“A perfect illustration is that he insisted on being chancellor of all the ten state universities and capping every graduate.
“What he could not master he destroyed. In his universe humans were to be used and discarded when their usefulness expired.”
At independence, the white population numbered 100 000.
Of these 5 000 were wealthy commercial farmers who had made Zimbabwe the bread basket of Southern Africa, 1953-1980.
Having failed to incorporate this small population into his one party state, he set about destroying the basis of that power, nationalizing their farms without compensation, 2000-2005.
Thus, the former breadbasket of Southern Africa became the basket case.
But, it was not about wealth. Power was everything. The discovery of the largest diamond deposits in the world would have made Zimbabwe the richest country in the world.
It was not to be.
To buttress his power, he parceled out the diamond fields to his military supporters and the remainder to the Chinese, who literally stripped, stones and earth, transporting them to China, vacuuming a forty year diamond field in less than ten years.
He is given credit for having expanded education enormously in the first ten years of his rule, surpassing Egypt and Morocco in literacy.
In the black world, and in Africa, he is regarded as a hero, a black man who stood his ground against imperialist forces and remained standing.
In Zimbabwe and abroad, four million exiles are celebrating his death.
Fate was gracious to Mugabe in the enemies who challenged him. Joshua Nkomo, the founding nationalist hero, was tricked to join the ruling party only to find that the title of vice president had no responsibility.
He died a bitter man.
Morgan Tsvangirayi of the Movement for Democratic Change, won the election of 2008 with a 73% majority but had to seek refuge at the Dutch embassy in Harare fearing of his life.
If an electoral victory was not worth dying for, Mugabe cannot be blamed for remaining in power when the winner was nowhere to be seen.
While Mugabe’s death marks an era, Mugabeism, that intertwining of violent tyranny and corruption that formed the foundation of a criminal state enterprise has remained.
Zimbabweans, sitting on fabulously rich mineral deposits remains the poorest national population behind Haiti.
There is no laughter in Zimbabwe, the celebratory fires signify nothing but sadness.
To crown it all, Mugabe, angry at being overthrown by his own, has indicated that he does not want a national memorial.
He wants his body to lie in a tribal grave, next to his mother.
Even in death, at the Gleneagles Hospital, a colonial relic of British imperialism in Singapore (founded by the British that he despised so much) the killer of dreams, lived and died, without friends, a dissembler.
Ken Mufuka spent ten years researching the Life and Times of Robert Mugabe: Dream Betrayed, 2018. It is sponsored in Zimbabwe by INNOV Bookshops and can be found on the Internet on kenmufukabooks.com. In his previous life, the award winning writer, served as a representative of Zapu in the West Indies
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa leaves after paying his respects at former president Robert Mugabe’s official residence in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. Controversy over where and when Robert Mugabe will be buried has overshadowed arrangements for Zimbabweans to pay their respects to the deceased leader.
IOL|Zimbabwe is serious about pursuing political and economic reforms and deserves international support, its foreign minister told Reuters on Friday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a different approach when he replaced longtime ruler Robert Mugabe after November 2017 coup, but he has found it hard to revive economic growth and faced criticism over a heavy-handed response to protests.
Mugabe’s death last week aged 95 has made some people question what Mnangagwa has achieved in his two years in power.
“The international community needs to understand and nurse this country. This country has suffered for the past two decades,” Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo said in an interview.
“This is the time when it must be supported in its reforms.”
Mnangagwa’s government has taken steps to relaunch the Zimbabwean dollar, cut the budget deficit, remove subsidies on fuel and power and repeal laws curbing public and media freedoms.
But the currency reforms and austerity measures have compounded ordinary people’s hardships in an economy where unemployment is estimated to be as high as 80 percent. The opposition says it is being denied the right to protest peacefully.
On Friday, Zimbabwe’s central bank raised its overnight borrowing rate to 70 percent from 50 percent after a surge in inflation and a steep fall in the domestic currency.
Moyo, a former army general and Mnangagwa loyalist, said the government would strengthen social safety nets to cushion the impact of austerity measures and seek to recover public funds “where there was clear-cut evidence of pilfering”.
He said the authorities would not use excessive force to control protests and that there was no blanket ban on demonstrations staged by the main opposition group MDC.
“This country is undertaking all these reforms, with all the painful processes which are taking place, without any form of support from outside. No lines of credit, no balance of payments support, nothing,” Moyo said.
“We are a sincere government in delivering the necessary reforms and freedoms.”Reuters
Zimbabwean industrialists and economists say the current shortage of maize meal and the subsequent astronomical price increases of basic goods are being caused by the Competitions and Tariffs Commission’s (CTC) interference in the manufacturing sector’s self-regulatory initiatives.
CTC recently banned millers from monitoring prices of their products saying that they (millers) were creating cartels.
Millers, through their apex body, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) in May signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers whereupon the two parties agreed on a model pricing system of basic commodities.
Products whose prices millers were monitoring included maize meal, self-raising flour, rice and salt.
The association said the price monitoring programme was meant to protect consumers from being short-changed by unscrupulous retailers.
However in July this year, CTC suspended the exercise saying that it intended to investigate the possibility of cartels that could emerge from initiatives where producers of goods and services set recommended price ranges of goods and services.
As a result of this, the country is now having an acute shortage of maize meal which millers attribute to holding of the commodity on prices for speculative purposes by retailers.
Where maize meal is found, the commodity is being sold at exorbitant prices which are beyond the reach of the ordinary person.
Speaking at the state of the economy breakfast meeting organised by a local daily in Harare on Thursday, Dr Gift Mugano, the Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) executive director said CTC was being anti-people.
“The CTC must be flexible and must move in tandem with events happening in Zimbabwe. Yes they have an Act but in as much as they have the role of implementing the Act, they must also consider the international experience in dealing with prices in this kind of the environment which is volatile, said Mugano.
He said there was no competition to talk about in a free market economy.
“How do you allow competition to take place when there is a shortage? The market will fail definitely! So we have seen that it is a basic practice globally even in South Africa. Even here (in Zimbabwe), we used to see Coca Cola putting the price on the trucks that the drink of Coca Cola costs $0.40 and that was self-regulation and the CTC was quiet about it. But right now the millers have come up with a mechanism of a value chain approach to bring in moral suasion in pricing of commodities and CTC is saying we have a mandate of avoiding connivance and cartels.
“It’s really a question of value chain approach, a negotiation to say that we should allow a situation where people go into a rent seeking behaviour and what is now happening is that some retailers are charging prices which are astronomical and you can see this.
“If you can just do window shopping, that one is five times more than the other on the same product and the same CTC is sleeping.
“They are not going there and investigate unfair pricing, but when the industry wants to self-regulate.
“In any way, the Consumer Council Act which is coming into play will allow industrial self-regulation. So if they continue with that they are going against the current legislative process which is being put by the government”.
“So they need to go in tandem with the reality on the ground so that we can be able to deal with this inflation. What is very fundamental is that we need a social contract. So if you think of a national tripartite forum where you think of a social contract, what is it? Its moral suasion to dealing with things which are affecting the country. So self-regulation is part of a mantra of a social contract. So in all areas they (CTC) are off-side and they are actually going against the social contract that is being pushed by the government,” he said.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZI) president Henry Ruzvidzo said by self-regulating itself, the industry was avoiding wanton price increases.
“In my view, with the challenges that we are facing which are unusual for any country we probably need to introspect,. We need to go back to the basics and do what works and not just apply the rules that are perhaps sometimes applicable to a better functioning economy.
“So the initiative by the milling industry to try and self-regulate and control the events that are happening in the economy, perhaps what should be happening is there should be more discussions held with the authorities on how that can also work without infringing on the issues of competition,” he said.
Commenting on the same issue, Eve Gadzikwa, the Director-General and Secretary to the Standards Association of Zimbabwe said old management practices were suffocating the economy.
“We now need a mind-set change and management change programme starting from the top and the tone must be set right from the top and it must be cascaded right down through to the last person in this country so that this vision we can realise it for all the sectors across the board,” she said.
GMAZ deputy chairman Masimba Dzomba said it it were not because CTC suspended their price monitoring programme, retailers would not be holding maize meal for price speculative purposes.
“Although the allocations we are getting are lower than normal, they cannot, however, explain the shortages of maize meal being experienced. We strongly believe that maize meal is being transferred to further parts of the Southern region where there the product is being sold in Rands.
“We were able to trace this unethical practice through our Price and Commodity monitoring programme until recently when the exercise was banned by the Competitions and Tariffs Commission, and it’s unfortunate that the consumer is now exposed,” he said.
However, repeated attempts to seek comment from CTC director Ellen Ruparaganga were not successful.
Blade Nzimande addresses delegates at the Southern African Clothing and Textiles Workers Union (Sactwu) conference in Durban on Monday.
South African Communist Party Secretary General Blade Nzimande says African leaders must “get their act together”.
The minister of higher education, science and technology was addressing hundreds of members of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) at their national congress in Durban on Monday.
Denouncing attacks on fellow Africans in SA in recent weeks, Nzimande, speaking in his capacity as general secretary of the SACP, said SA could not be looked upon to absorb foreigners whose leaders had looted their countries.
“African leaders themselves must get their act together, such that they don’t destroy their country and people have to leave. As South Africa, we cannot absorb the result of all the problems that are made by leaders who want to loot their country, who do not care about their own people.”
He said South Africans could not be blamed for wanting jobs in their country and questioned the motives of other African leaders.
“What are you doing to make your countries better places to live in? We are saying, let’s not attack foreign nationals, but part of the problem is instability that leads to South Africa having to absorb what it is not able to absorb,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the workers shortly.
By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is literally buying his late boss Robert Mugabe’s body using title deeds to the deceased’s houses, it has emerged.
The latest is a development from a protracted war between the Mugabe family and Mnangagwa’s administration for the corpse ever since Mugabe died last week but one.
Last week saw the scheduled heroes’ burial which meant for Sunday being cancelled after the family said they would give to the government something else not the actual body, to bury.
On Thursday, Leo unequivocaly told ZimEye reports of a deal with the government to hand over his uncle Mugabe’s body were false and misleading.
The family has from day one repeatedly stood their ground saying that they will bury their loved one privately during a chief’s ceremony even journalists are not allowed to attend. WATCH BELOW the family spokesman, Leo, announcing the cancellation.
1/4 – Speaking to journalists at Blue Roof on Friday night, Mugabe Family spokesman and President Mugabe's nephew, Leo, said "our ZimEye I'm sure, they are distorting things that we are talking about, but I understand why…cause there is some various misunderstanding arising… pic.twitter.com/SSZTqdB4Cu
Recorded audios of meetings held between the family and the government have revealed a can of worms with Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party officials announcing that there would be repercussions if they do not get the body.
In Zimbabwe once a person is declared a national hero, especially if they served in a government capacity, their body falls into state hands.
Leo has in the latest development announced saying Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses, Blue Roof land, and Bona’s Mt Pleasant house to the former President’s family, to ensure they have decent accommodation. At a news conference in Zvimba on Sunday, Mr Mugabe confirmed that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses. “I was told by President Mnangagwa that the party will help to transfer the title deeds of the properties to the former President’s family. I do not want to jeopardise the process.” “It’s so funny the party (Zanu-PF) is the one that bought the first house in Mt Pleasant and the land on Blue Roof property. “It leaves the former President Mugabe without a house in Harare,” he said. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu, confirmed the development saying they were doing the paper work to transfer the properties. “The process is currently underway to transfer them to the (Mugabe) family,” said Dr Mpofu.
WHY DOES MNANGAGWA WANT MUGABE’S CORPSE?
3 things Mnangagwa is after: 1. Mugabe's scarf. (he wears it everyday) 2. Mugabe's body. Since the July 2018 elections, he is struggling for legitimacy, after Mugabe as it were anointed his opponent Nelson Chamisa.
Being in Harare in the past two weeks has been quite an experience. The Mugabe era has finally closed and he has been sent off to wherever he is destined by the country in a dignified and even spectacular manner.
Eddie Cross is an economist and a former opposition MDC MP for Bulawayo South
But from a people perspective the whole operation was just a curiosity – we have already moved on and this just seems like another diversion from the harsh realities of daily life.
But whatever you think about the man, he was at the very centre of this country’s history for longer than any other leader in our history. Just for once let’s consider the contribution of the men who have made this part of the world what it is today.
First the leaders who led the historical migration from north Africa of the people who settled and built Great Zimbabwe and established a kingdom that dominated the region for over 500 years.
Then the man who led another migration – this time from the south in the form of Mzilikazi who brought thousands of his people to settle in and around a place he called Gubulawayo or the ‘Place of Slaughter’.
By the time these migrants arrived, the Monomutapa Kingdom was long gone and all that remained were signs of their activities in stone structures built across the country and evidence of a community that had traded across the world and was known as being rich in gold.
The new migrants were very different in culture and language. A tribal group with a military history who dominated the southern regions of Africa and were destined to be defeated in South Africa by the Boers and in Zimbabwe, by the Settlers who came to the country in 1893.
Mzilikazi was followed by Lobengula who was finally responsible for negotiations with the settlers and was defeated in a series of battles with the settlers culminating in his suicide in the distant Zambezi valley and an uneasy peace treaty with Rhodes that prevailed until the early 60’s of the subsequent century.
Then the long shadow of Rhodes, never really recognised as a national leader, Rhodes was a global colossus in every way. He died at the age of 49, spent less than 25 years in Africa but has had an influence that continues even today.
He founded 73 companies – two of which, even now, are in the top 500 firms internationally. He fixed the boundaries of Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Congo, Lesotho and Botswana.
He was Prime Minister of the Cape and a confidant of Kings. Whatever you think of the man – he was a towering figure in his day and has had global influence. In many ways his shadow continues to lie across the sub-continent.
Then Lord Malvern, Prime Minister of Rhodesia for 37 years – the longest serving Prime Minister in the Commonwealth. A medical doctor professionally, he led the country through the Second World War and into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
He dominated the country politically by a canny combination of co-option of his opponents and carefully protecting the interests of the small but dominant white population. At the same time, he used our position in the Commonwealth and the Sterling Zone to create a small but competitive economy based on its mines and farms.
Under his long leadership, the countries white population thrived and in their own way made a global contribution becoming leaders in both agriculture and mining and establishing a monetary and fiscal system that made the Rhodesian currency one of the strongest in the world.
In addition, albeit too slowly, Malvern created a small but sophisticated system of schooling for black Rhodesians which eventually produced the leadership of the Nationalist movement which ultimately prevailed and brought Zimbabwe to Independence.
Then Ian Smith. He led Rhodesia for 17 years and was responsible for a spirited attempt to stop history. He failed but not for want of trying and the one thing he was skilled and adept at was how to secure and maintain the trust of the local white population.
The black Community had begun demanding a greater say in how the country was run in 1949 when the emerging leadership led a national strike. This was followed by the creation of Zanu and Zapu under leadership that was to dominate the country after Independence in 1980.
This led inevitably to the liberation struggle which really started in 1962 when the armed struggle was launched by Zapu. This intensified in 1972 when the first Zanla guerrillas entered the country and launched the phase of the war that would eventually lead to Independence in 1980.
The Americans classified the Rhodesian war as a ‘low level guerrilla conflict’ but that hardly describes the heroic but futile attempt by the tiny white settler community that had dominated the country and even the region since 1893, to hold onto power.
The story of the heroism of both sides in this conflict is impossible to tell without engendering feelings of hostility and anger, even today, but that does not deny its truth. But was it worth the sacrifice many asked, when after thousands of casualties and hardship the Rhodesians won all the battles but lost the war.
My own personal view is that the Kissinger intervention in September 1976 saved the country from a savage transition that would have made the country a ruin.
Smith called it the ‘Great Betrayal’ and even Kissinger confessed in his biography that it was a task he took little pleasure in but felt it was necessary to bring this senseless conflict to a halt.
And then Mugabe. The real story of how he came to power in 1980 when in fact he had not played a significant role in the armed struggle and had even been a relatively junior member of the group of National leaders who had negotiated Independence at Lancaster House in 1979.
But that is history. The issue today is what did he do with that task that was handed to him by history and international intervention in 1980.
The record is mixed, at best. No doubt he gave black Zimbabweans dignity and pride and opportunity. In the early days of Independence, we built a new school every day, every District got a Hospital, all institutions were integrated and the task of creating a national army out of the tens of thousands of men who had carried arms in the war was successfully completed.
Every significant town got a Polytechnic and 14 Universities were created. Life expectancy rose in 20 years to 63, literacy to 95 per cent and hundreds of thousands of young people graduated with skills and knowledge that has made them a hot commodity the world over. Today 10 000 Zimbabweans teach mathematics in South Africa.
But always there was a dark side – the Genocidal campaign against Zapu to create a one Party State, the crushing of all opposition until the Labour Unions formed the MDC in 1999.
The harsh cruelty of Murambatsvina where half of the men who were evicted in mid-winter from their homes, died. The thousands killed in the campaign to try and crush the MDC and the steady stream of unexplained fatalities that all seemed to point to the assassin. Even his close associates were not protected.
In his determination to dominate, to control and to make sure his power was never challenged, Mugabe wrecked the economy and left us with a currency that was worthless, a lower standard of living than we had at Independence, a whole raft of failed institutions – hospitals without drugs and even cleaning materials, schools without chalk and an infrastructure that barely functions.
He left us with unsustainable debts and crushing international isolation. On balance I think he will be judged as the leader who failed his country and his people.
So that is how we got here and where is that? This is a small country – its population is less than many mega cities and its total GDP less than the garbage collection budget of New York.
But our potential in terms of human and natural resources is enormous and we need now to harness that potential to make sure that our leadership that has the task of taking us into the future does better than those who have made us who we are. That is not the task of one, it is our responsibility and I am excited to be able to play a small part.
The United States of America Embassy in Harare says the government must take proactive stance in protecting citizens against the wave of abductions that is sweeping across the country.
The Embassy was reacting to reports that one Dr Peter Magombeyi was abducted by unknown assailants on Saturday.
The Embassy said, “Since January more than 50 civil society, labor, and opposition leaders have been abducted in Zimbabwe. No arrests have been made. We urge the government to take action & hold perpetrators of these human rights violations accountable.”
The doctors have since gone on an indefinite strike until Magombeyi is returned to his family.
ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu questioned if the Embassy knows anything regarding the abductions.
You might have a very good plan but the plan might not work in Zimbabwe Sir. All of a sudden there is a chain of ‘abductions’ in our country and you’re the one to make the loudest noise, what’s going on Sir?
Zimbabwe’s foreign currency inflows fell 24% for the six months to June 2019, at a time when the country is needing to pay for key imports from fertilizers and maize to electricity.
According to the latest figures published by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, foreign currency receipts for the first half of the year fell 24% to US$2.58bn, compared to US$3.40bn during same period in 2018.
The proceeds include exports, remittances, offshore loan proceeds, income receipts and foreign investment proceeds.
Receipts from the important mining sector fell by 19.6% to US$1.2bn, despite increases in the price of gold and palladium.
Zimbabwe hikes interest rate to 70% to help plummeting currency
Gold deliveries between January and June 2019 fell sharply by 40.6% to 12.3 tonnes, compared to 17.3 tonnes in the first six months of 2018.
The central bank blamed the decrease on the exchange rate, pricing and payment issues that have bedevilled the mining sector. The bank claimed the issues have been resolved under recent monetary policy measures.
Other double digit declines were recorded
in the tourism sector, which fell 30.5% to US$62m;in the remittances sector, which was down 13.2% to US$504.7m; and in manufacturing, which fell 13.9% to US$80.5m.
Access to external loans, meanwhile, fell by 63.9% to US$207.4m, down from US$574.5m.
Forex slump
The slump in forex receipts comes at a time when Zimbabwe is in need of foreign currency for critical imports.
Following a drought-induced poor harvest, the country needs to import approximately 800 000 tonnes of maize to feed an estimated 5.5 million people who are food insecure. In addition, Zimbabwe will also need to import wheat and soya beans which are in short supply and have resulted in bread and cooking oil shortages.
It also needs foreign currency to import fertilisers ahead of the agricultural planting season, and for electricity and fuel, both of which are in critical short supply.
Flamboyant Mpumalanga businessman Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala, who faces charges of corruption, has been granted R200,000 bail on Monday.
Judgment on his bail application was handed down in the Witbank magistrate’s court where he is facing charges of corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry, departing and remaining in the borders of South Africa, and providing false information to be granted entry into the country.
During judgment on his bail application, magistrate Mdumiseni Mavuso said the state allegations that Chabalala was a dangerous individual could not be proven.
“The state did not give details on why it claimed that the applicant is dangerous,” Mavuso said. “Based on the evidence his [Chabalala] lawyers presented, it seems as if he has strong family and business ties in South Africa. There is no evidence he has family outside the borders of the Republic and it is unknown if he has business and family ties outside of South Africa.”
Mavuso said due to the strong ties that Chabalala has in SA, he does not consider him a flight risk.
“The state further alleges that he planned the assassination of a witness. This too could not be proved. The court does not have proof that he will assassinate a witness,” Mavuso said.
His matter was postponed to November 22 for further investigation.
Dressed in a Gucci jacket and a black pair of jeans, the 27-year-old appeared relieved and celebrated with his supporters before making his way down into the holding cells.
Mshengu, as he is popularly known, shot to national prominence in July when he took a 72-car convoy to the Durban July event. Pictures of his convoy of expensive cars went viral on social media. Most of them had personalised number plates with the name “Sam” on them.
He was arrested by the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation team at an eatery in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, after he allegedly paid home affairs officials a bribe to stop a probe into how he obtained his SA citizenship.
The High Court will on Monday hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a missing medical doctor seeking an order compelling Zimbabwean authorities to account for the whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi, after he was abducted by some unknown assailants on Saturday.
Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi on Sunday filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary including advertising on all State-run print and broadcast media to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who is the President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, after he was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday.
Elizabeth, who is represented by Roselyn Hanzi, Alec Muchadehama, Tinotenda Shoko and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation as respondents to the application.
Elizabeth wants the High Court to order the setting up of a team of investigators, to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for Dr Magombeyi at all places within Zimbabwe as may be reasonably practical, and report on such search to the Registrar of the High Court, on every alternate Friday.
She also wants the respondents to be ordered to inquire from, and where necessary obtain any such information as may be necessary for the investigations from mobile service operators of Econet to try and locate Dr Magombeyi through tracing the mobile numbers that were on his person at the time of his abduction and mobile phone number +263 782 645 911 used to send him messages on 28 August.
The government has reportedly told the family of the late former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe to pay for $2.5 million for catering services provided by Nyaradzo Group for Mugabe’s funeral.
Zim Morning Post reports that the government asserts that the family of the former ZANU PF boss contracted Nyaradzo without government approval.
The publication also notes that the government usually hires Doves Funeral for Heroes’ burials. An unnamed who spoke to Zim Morning Post said:
The family wanted Nyaradzo because of the quality of services yet government says it only has a contract with Doves to provide services for the Heroes.
Government, through Home affairs, also provides catering services so it has since said the Mugabe family should settle the Nyaradzo bill which is likely to run into millions.
Since Wednesday, Nyaradzo has been providing meals at the Blue Roof and for the past five days the bill is at ZW$2,5 million.
This is likely to go even higher because Mugabe family says the veteran leader will only be buried after 30 days as they have requested the construction of a mausoleum at the Heroes Acre.
What is disturbing is that the bill has been handed to Home affairs who in turn say they never contracted Nyaradzo Group
An anonymous top Home Affairs ministry official told Zim Morning Post that government was not going to pay for the services since they did not contract Nyaradzo.
Nyaradzo Group also said that they were dealing with the Mugabe family, not the government.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF youth leader, Pupurai Togarepi has claimed reports of abductions in Zimbabwe are mischievous and misleading.
Togarepi tweeted:
Some of these dramas should come to an end. We cannot allow selfish interest to destroy the image of our Country. I hope our security forces will get to the bottom of these so called “Kidnappings” otherwise we will continue to be soiled by those with nefarious agendas…
Farai Dziva|The MDC says it is ready for the coming Zaka East by-election scheduled for September 21.
Said the party in a statement :” Upcoming elections -MDC Alliance candidate Dereck Charamba is contesting in the Zaka East, Masvingo by-election on 21 Sept, if you are a registered voter please go and support your incoming MP.
Victory is certain!
MDC@20 ‘celebrating 20 years of courage, growth and people’s victories.”
On the 4th of September 2019 I introduced a motion in #Parliament in which I questioned the Ministry of Health to provide answers on governments public disaster management plans given the job action notice by Drs on the 30 of August.
I questioned the Minister about the plans and measures the government was taking to come up with a lasting & permanent solution to personnel issues relating to medical doctors.
There was NO satisfactory response given beyond the blabbering and empty slogans now associated with this regime.
Now, Instead of addressing conditions of medical personnel they resort to what they know best: #Abductions! I personally call upon government, its securocrats and its paramilitary infrastructure to release Dr Magombeyi without delay. I can’t imagine the trauma his family is going through! #NoToAbductions-Joanna Mamombe
The MDC is extremely shocked by the forced disappearance of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) Acting President, Dr Peter Magombeyi; who was allegedly abducted by three men late on Saturday night.
The MDC condemns in the strongest terms the use of such barbaric methods in settling disputes by the regime; whose job it is to protect the citizens of this country.
The MDC reiterates that doctors, like all other workers in Zimbabwe; have a guaranteed constitutional right to fight for better working conditions.
ln return, the regime has a duty to ensure that they are properly remunerated so that the people of Zimbabwe may enjoy their constitutional right to healthcare.
In this case, doctors have been severely incapacitated by the amazingly silly wage they are getting, which wage is not enough for their barest upkeep and travel to and fro work.
The MDC demands that the regime ensures the speedy and immediate unconditional release of Dr Magombeyi.
Further, the MDC urges all Zimbabweans to unite in exorcising this demon of abductions by standing firmly with the Hospital Doctors’ Association at their time of need.
The MDC also petitions the Almighty God to dismantle the Mugabe mantle that has been passed on to this regime.
The so called ‘new dispensation’ must show itself to be new indeed, and not merely an amplification of the old.
The MDC stands firmly with the doctors in demanding the release of their association’s Acting President, and in demanding for a total improvement in their working conditions, for the sake of the good health of all Zimbabweans.
Dr. H Madzorera
MDC Secretary for Health and Child Welfare
SUBJECT: ABDUCTION ZIMBABWE HOSPITAL DOCTORS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is shocked by reports of the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President, Dr. Peter Magombeyi on Saturday, 14 September 2019.
It is reported that Dr. Magombeyi was abducted by three unidentified men and he has not been seen since. Before his kidnapping, he had received a life threatening message from an unknown source. Dr Magombeyi has been at the forefront in fighting for better working conditions for all doctors in the country.
The ZCTU is appalled by what appears to be a clear and systematic pattern and upsurge of threats and abductions of civic organisation and trade union leaders who voice their concerns against the poor working conditions.
We have witnessed recently the abduction of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, (ARTUZ) President, Obert Masaraure in the same fashion.
Death threats and letters with bullets were also recently sent to the ZCTU President Peter Mutasa and Secretary General, Japhet Moyo after they had indicated that the ZCTU was planning a demonstration.
It is clear to the ZCTU that there is a specialized and well sponsored group of hooligans that has been employed to carry out dirty work on behalf of those in authorities to intimidate, kidnap and torture human rights defenders.
Once again, the ZCTU demands an environment that is conducive for freedom of association and assembly where every Zimbabwean can discharge his or her duties without fear of being arrested, tortured or abducted.
ZANU PF and the CIO register their party called G40 and then some regime idiots and sick fools sit down and write bogus so-called analysis about some phoney thing they created. How foolish and stupid can some people be!
Let’s not forget that Dr. Peter received death threats from suspect CIO agents before his disappearance. This is why we are saying he Mnangagwa regime should produce this young man alive to his family. No more cover ups, just produce the doctor alive!
In Zimbabwe, citizens do go missing, they are abducted and tortured by the state. Thats a major difference between the Harare regime and US. Hope this is clear-Pedzisai Ruhanya
A ZRP officer who was masquerading as a doctor after joining a strike by doctors has been exposed.
This comes after a strike by doctors across the country, over the abduction of the president for the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Constable G Makuvaro masqueraded as a doctor and joined the strike ostensibly to infiltrate the protest and identify the leaders.
Unfortunately for him, he was unmasked, although it is not yet clear how that happened.Vuka Zimbabwe/Mvenge Mvenge
Farai Dziva|An MDC official was nearly killed for wearing a party t-shirt.
Below is a statement released by the MDC Students Council on the matter:
Deputy Treasurer of the MDC Students Council Timothy Mushaya was heavily assaulted on Friday the 13th of September 2019.
He was assaulted in Gweru near Club Ecite after buying a beer at around 7 in the evening.
He was in the company of a friend Moses Soko. Timothy Mushaya was wearing an MDC t.shirt when one unidentified man charged at him and started assaulting him with clenched fists. His friend tried to intervene but was also assaulted.
Another group of seven men joined in the assault saying “Vapfanha veMDC vanoda kupihwa gwara”. The group of seven assaulted the pair with fists and iron bars.
During the assault, Timothy Mushaya was robbed of a US $20 note and house keys of where he rents as a student. He sustained injuries from the attack.
Timothy Mushaya and his friend then proceeded to Gweru Central Police Station where they reported the case.
The police officers initially refused to entertain the matter.
They instead chased the pair away saying “nyaya dzePolitics dzinonetsa, saka vapfanha ibvai pano!” Mushaya and colleague remained adamant and they reported the matter. However, since Friday the perpetrators have not been brought to book despite the fact that they are regularly seen drinking at Club Ecite.
Dear Editor-The Deputy Treasurer of the MDC Students Council Timothy Mushaya was heavily assaulted on Friday the 13th of September 2019.
He was assaulted in Gweru near Club Ecite after buying a beer at around 7 in the evening.
He was in the company of a friend Moses Soko. Timothy Mushaya was wearing an MDC t.shirt when one unidentified man charged at Timothy and started assaulting him with clenched fists. His friend tried to intervene but was also assaulted.
Another group of seven men joined in the assault saying “Vapfanha veMDC vanoda kupihwa gwara”. The group of seven assaulted the pair with fists and iron bars.
During the assault, Timothy Mushaya was robbed of a US $20 note and house keys of where he rents as a student. He sustained injuries from the attack.
Timothy Mushaya and his friend then proceeded to Gweru Central Police Station where they reported the case.
The police officers initially refused to entertain the matter. They instead chased the pair away saying “nyaya dzePolitics dzinonetsa, saka vapfanha ibvai pano!” Mushaya and colleague remained adamant and they reported the matter. However, since Friday the perpetrators have not been brought to book despite the fact that they are regularly seen drinking at Club Ecite.
Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa believes Zimbabwe is now a banana republic.
Chamisa made the remarks after the abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Said Chamisa: I pray for the return of Dr Peter Magombeyi,the President of the Doctors Association who was abducted on Saturday night.
We can’t build a united nation when our doctors are underpaid and abducted when they raise legitimate concerns.
It shows a lack of consent to govern!
The State can’t claim not to know where Dr Magombeyi is,it has a duty to protect citizens.Failure to do so points towards an incapable or incompetent State or both.Citizens can’t live in fear of being abducted, moreso for expressing their rights.This defines a banana republic!”
Dr Magombeyi was abducted by suspected state security agents.
Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction of Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Said Chamisa: I pray for the return of Dr Peter Magombeyi,the President of the Doctors Association who was abducted on Saturday night.
We can’t build a united nation when our doctors are underpaid and abducted when they raise legitimate concerns.
It shows a lack of consent to govern!
The State can’t claim not to know where Dr Magombeyi is,it has a duty to protect citizens.Failure to do so points towards an incapable or incompetent State or both.Citizens can’t live in fear of being abducted, moreso for expressing their rights.This defines a banana republic!”
Dr Magombeyi was abducted by suspected state security agents.
Ezra Tshisa Sibanda|Robert Mugabe’s own War Veterans do acknowledge and recognise that there was Gukurahundi genocide where thousands of innocent people were murdered in cold blood in Matabeleland and Midlands directed by Mugabe as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
Matemadanda is 100% right that Mugabe should never be forgiven and it was a mistake not to prosecute him for crimes against humanity.
Then there are Mugabe’s bootlickers who think Gukurahundi is just a fallacy. Go to hell with your murderer!
Farai Dziva|A furious Ezra Tshisa Sibanda has said Robert Mugabe should have been prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
Said Sibanda : Robert Mugabe’s own War Veterans do acknowledge and recognise that there was Gukurahundi genocide where thousands of innocent people were murdered in cold blood in Matabeleland and Midlands directed by Mugabe as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
Matemadanda is 100% right that Mugabe should never be forgiven and it was a mistake not to prosecute him for crimes against humanity.
Then there are Mugabe’s bootlickers who think Gukurahundi is just a fallacy. Go to hell with your murderer!
Evil man: “Over the course of 37 years, approximately 100,000 civilians had been killed, and many others had been beaten and tortured. Gukurahundi Genocide Watch later estimated that approximately 20,000 had been killed.”
We are surprised by so many kind words from Zimbabwens.
This man has done nothing but led the country to destruction economically. Your people are conjested all over the world and there are faced with extreme poverty. We are not afraid to say thanks to God for finally calling him back home.
Youth in Zimbabwe have no hope nor seeing the importance of education because of the current economic situation-ZIMUCU
LIVE scenes at Zvimba on Monday: In the video below, a military pastor asks Zimbabwe’s leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for… “how can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?”
ZDF Military pastor asks Zimbabwe's leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for, Mugabe, ED. "How can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?" @edmnangagwapic.twitter.com/RA1NJgGBAy
LIVE scenes at Zvimba on Monday: In the video below, a military pastor asks Zimbabwe’s leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for… “how can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?”
ZDF Military pastor asks Zimbabwe's leaders and citizens, what will people remember you for, Mugabe, ED. "How can you develop a legacy for being a murderer?" @edmnangagwapic.twitter.com/RA1NJgGBAy
Farai Dziva|ZIMUCU, a platform that expresses the voice of citizens has said Joshua Nkomo is the real father Zimbabwe, not Robert Mugabe.
Below is ZIMUCU’s full statement.
All these “MUGABE WAS A HERO ” nonsense and RIP messages are sickening to be quite honest.
Let us add a few things- Zimbabweans do not know about this old Clueless former Zim President RGM.
JOSHUA NKOMO the Real FATHER ZIMBABWE is the one who started the liberation struggle. He was the Commander-in-Chief of his party’s (PF-ZAPU) military wing Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA).
ZIPRA was one of the best trained armies in the world at that time such that the White Rhodesian government even feared them. ZIPRA at the end was led by the Legendary General LKV Masuku with the revered Dumiso Dabengwa being Head of Intelligence among other brave cadres who fought under it. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF also had a military wing named Zimbabwe African Liberation Army (ZANLA) which was weak compared to ZIPRA.
Joshua Nkomo wanted land and Mugabe only wanted power, he didn’t care about the land so he conspired with Margaret Thatcher and others after lying to them that Joshua Nkomo was going to take the land from the white people and chase them away.
Fast forward to 1980 Mugabe was elected the PM of Zimbabwe and the truth is Mugabe lost that election hands down. The British rigged that election in his favour. Joshua Nkomo had won that election fair and square. I have no doubt whatsoever that Joshua Nkomo and his PF-ZAPU party would have led this country far much better that this dead dog Mugabe and his useless Zanu-PF party.
After independence Mugabe wanted to create a one-party state (those are dictatorial tendencies).
What he did was he unleashed the 5th Brigade to crush PF-ZAPU supporters and the Ndebele people in the Matabeleland regions of Zimbabwe- this period was known as Gukurahundi.
Many people were butchered, women and girls were rapped, pregnant women had their stomachs ripped open under the pretence that they wanted to see what a Ndebele baby looked like exactly, one boy actually witnessed his whole family being killed when he was hiding in the bush, at one school students were forced to watch their teachers dancing after they had been forced to strip naked, at another school, if not the same school as the one I just mentioned, students were forced to strip naked and made to have sex with each other while the 5th Brigade watched and laughed etc. In total 20,000 Ndebele people were murdered while others put the numbers between 100,000 to 500,000.
The current President of Zimbabwe Emerson Mnangagwa was also involved in the Gukurahundi and Perence Shiri the current Minister of Agriculture led the 5th Brigade.
Joshua Nkomo and members of the PF-ZAPU party were often arrested and tortured while others were always on the run fearing for their lives. At one point in time they even kidnapped the children of the PF-Zapu party members to try and force their fathers out of hiding, we are talking about 10-11 year old children.
Gen LKV Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa were arrested on trumped up charges as a result Masuku died in prison after he had been tortured by Mugabe’s thugs. Because of all the killings and the likes Joshua Nkomo was left with no choice but to unite with Mugabe to form some sort “unity” pact.
In Year 2000 EVIL Mugabe after losing a referendum he invaded white owned farms, remember Mugabe didn’t care about the land. This was after seeing that most white farmers had endorsed the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC party meaning Mugabe was losing his grip on power.
The Land Reform Programme that many of our African brothers and sisters are always giving him praise for was DONE IN BAD FAITH!!!
It was one of the worst things to ever happen in our country Zimbabwe and I will repeat that- The LAND REFORM PROGRAMME WAS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN IN ZIMBABWE!!!
Allow me to say this however Black Zimbabweans and some White Zimbabweans were NOT AGAINST THE LAND REFORM PROGRAMME, it was a good idea after all that is why the Black Zimbabweans went to war, what people were against was the barbaric manner in which it was conducted such that many white farmers were beaten up, rapped and some killed.
Some black farm workers were also beaten up and they suffered more. That disastrous programme led to the further collapse of the economy and to massive food shortages across the country.
There was no wheat/bread/flour, mealie-meal (the country’s staple food), sugar, cooking oil etc. and whenever those commodities were available, there would be long queues with people wanting to buy them. That programme benefited a few-his family and close circle of friends within the Zanu-PF party.ZIMUCU
Farai Dziva|The MDC is unhappy with stringent bail conditions imposed on its party members who were arrested on August 16.
See the party’s full statement below :
27 Cadres Remanded to 3rd October
The 27 cadres who were unjustly arrested on 16 August 2019 appeared at the Harare Magistrates courts this morning.
They were further to 3rd October 2019.
The MDC is seriously concerned by the unnecessarily tough bail conditions that have been imposed on the 27 cadres. They have been asked to report to the Police twice per week on every Monday and Friday.
The MDC believes that their arrest had no valid legal basis but was inspired mostly by the political interests of the regime.
We thank all our MDC leaders and members who managed to join them in court today in active solidarity.
MDC: Celebrating 20 Years of Courage, Growth and the People’s Victories
All these “MUGABE WAS A HERO ” nonsense and RIP messages are sickening to be quite honest.
Let us add a few things- Zimbabweans do not know about this old Clueless former Zim President RGM.
JOSHUA NKOMO the Real FATHER ZIMBABWE is the one who started the liberation struggle. He was the Commander-in-Chief of his party’s (PF-ZAPU) military wing Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA).
ZIPRA was one of the best trained armies in the world at that time such that the White Rhodesian government even feared them. ZIPRA at the end was led by the Legendary General LKV Masuku with the revered Dumiso Dabengwa being Head of Intelligence among other brave cadres who fought under it. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF also had a military wing named Zimbabwe African Liberation Army (ZANLA) which was weak compared to ZIPRA.
Joshua Nkomo wanted land and Mugabe only wanted power, he didn’t care about the land so he conspired with Margaret Thatcher and others after lying to them that Joshua Nkomo was going to take the land from the white people and chase them away.
Fast forward to 1980 Mugabe was elected the PM of Zimbabwe and the truth is Mugabe lost that election hands down. The British rigged that election in his favour. Joshua Nkomo had won that election fair and square. I have no doubt whatsoever that Joshua Nkomo and his PF-ZAPU party would have led this country far much better that this dead dog Mugabe and his useless Zanu-PF party.
After independence Mugabe wanted to create a one-party state (those are dictatorial tendencies).
What he did was he unleashed the 5th Brigade to crush PF-ZAPU supporters and the Ndebele people in the Matabeleland regions of Zimbabwe- this period was known as Gukurahundi.
Many people were butchered, women and girls were rapped, pregnant women had their stomachs ripped open under the pretence that they wanted to see what a Ndebele baby looked like exactly, one boy actually witnessed his whole family being killed when he was hiding in the bush, at one school students were forced to watch their teachers dancing after they had been forced to strip naked, at another school, if not the same school as the one I just mentioned, students were forced to strip naked and made to have sex with each other while the 5th Brigade watched and laughed etc. In total 20,000 Ndebele people were murdered while others put the numbers between 100,000 to 500,000.
The current President of Zimbabwe Emerson Mnangagwa was also involved in the Gukurahundi and Perence Shiri the current Minister of Agriculture led the 5th Brigade.
Joshua Nkomo and members of the PF-ZAPU party were often arrested and tortured while others were always on the run fearing for their lives. At one point in time they even kidnapped the children of the PF-Zapu party members to try and force their fathers out of hiding, we are talking about 10-11 year old children.
Gen LKV Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa were arrested on trumped up charges as a result Masuku died in prison after he had been tortured by Mugabe’s thugs. Because of all the killings and the likes Joshua Nkomo was left with no choice but to unite with Mugabe to form some sort “unity” pact.
In Year 2000 EVIL Mugabe after losing a referendum he invaded white owned farms, remember Mugabe didn’t care about the land. This was after seeing that most white farmers had endorsed the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC party meaning Mugabe was losing his grip on power.
The Land Reform Programme that many of our African brothers and sisters are always giving him praise for was DONE IN BAD FAITH!!!
It was one of the worst things to ever happen in our country Zimbabwe and I will repeat that- The LAND REFORM PROGRAMME WAS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN IN ZIMBABWE!!!
Allow me to say this however Black Zimbabweans and some White Zimbabweans were NOT AGAINST THE LAND REFORM PROGRAMME, it was a good idea after all that is why the Black Zimbabweans went to war, what people were against was the barbaric manner in which it was conducted such that many white farmers were beaten up, rapped and some killed.
Some black farm workers were also beaten up and they suffered more. That disastrous programme led to the further collapse of the economy and to massive food shortages across the country.
There was no wheat/bread/flour, mealie-meal (the country’s staple food), sugar, cooking oil etc. and whenever those commodities were available, there would be long queues with people wanting to buy them. That programme benefited a few-his family and close circle of friends within the Zanu-PF party.ZIMUCU
By A Correspondent- A man from Fort Rixon in Insiza District, who chopped off his father’s head with an axe for allegedly stealing his mangoes, escaped the agony of a lengthy custodial sentence or death sentence after the High Court declared him insane.
Clemence Hove (38) of Maturi village, under Chief Jahana area struck Mr Hlupho Chibaro (73) with a log before chopping off his head with an axe in January last year.
He appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva, facing a murder charge.
Justice Takuva ruled that Hove could not be held legally responsible for his actions as he was mentally disturbed at the time of killing his father.
The judge returned a special verdict of not guilty to the charge because of insanity in terms of the Mental Health Act.
“The psychiatrists’ reports depict a disturbing background of the accused person. Although the reports say you are fit to stand trial, they highlight that the accused has a mental disorder and from the evidence before this court, we are satisfied that you committed the murder because of insanity.”
Justice Takuva said Hove was a danger to his family and society and ordered him to undergo further treatment at a mental health institution.
“The court therefore returns a special verdict of not guilty in terms of section 29 (2) of the Mental Health Act. Accordingly, it is ordered that the accused person returns to prison for transfer to a special institution for treatment. You are a danger to your family and society in general,” ruled the judge.
The prosecutor, Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu said on January 25 last year at about 6AM, Hove went to his father’s homestead and upon arrival found his sister-in-law, Ms Fortunate Hove who told him that Mr Chibaro had gone out in the bush to look for his missing cattle.
The court heard that Hove decided to wait for his father to return.
“When the deceased returned home six hours later, the accused person confronted him and started accusing him of stealing mangoes from his orchard,” said Mr Ndlovu.
The court heard that an altercation ensued between the two men resulting in Hove picking a wooden hoe handle which was lying on the ground.
He struck the deceased three times on the head and he fell down.
While the deceased was lying on the ground, Hove took an axe and chopped off his father’s head leading to his death.
According to the post mortem report the cause of death was decapitation, subarachnoid haemorrhage, assault and chop wounds.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Hove’s arrest.
In his defence through his lawyer Ms Abigail Masawi of Abigail Masawi Law Chambers, argued that he was mentally unstable at the time of committing the offence.
“The accused person was incapable of appreciating his own act and thus lacked the prerequisite mental element for a person to be held guilty of a crime due to insanity, which had somehow been exacerbated by a prolonged use of alcohol and cannabis from an early age,” she argued.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), an opposition and Zimbabwean socialist political party has resolved to retire all veteran leaders from the leadership as part of the party embarks on renewal and rebranding exercise.
ZAPU’s intended rebranding exercise comes after the party has for the past decade been performing dismally in local elections.
The party’s southern region spokesperson, Patrick Ndlovu confirmed the development and said that the rebranding exercise was being spearheaded by the party’s acting president, Isaac Mabuka.
Ndlovu said:
His (Mabuka) mandate is to organise congress and to carry out the renewal and rebranding resolution of our national people’s council (NPC).
Party members, especially the younger members, felt that the average age of our leadership was too high. New blood is needed at the top to bring in new ideas. The current scenario of having them as deputies was not bearing fruit as the blending was felt to be cosmetic rather than practical, hence the party needed new blood at the top.
Mabuka was endorsed as acting president until the party’s 2020 congress following the death of party president, Dumiso Dabengwa in May.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Armed riot police blocked a doctors’ march over the abduction of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president Peter Magombeyi.
The doctors intended to render a petition to the government demanding the return of the missing Magombeyi. He was reportedly abducted on Saturday after leading a demonstration over “paltry” salaries which doctors are getting.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ndabaningi Mangwana has blamed an invisible third force for the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President Peter Magombeyi.
According to Mangwana, the state has no reason to undermine itself and destabilize the country through acts of abductions on its citizens.
“This Administration has no reason to destabilise this country by abducting its citizens. Threats to the security of persons and acts of terror are ultimately threats to the security of the State. There is no rhyme nor reason for the State to undermine itself #3rdForce,” said Mangwana.
Health and Child Care minister Dr Obadiah Moyo has also come out in the morning condemning Magombeyi’s abduction saying that state security agents were ceased with the matter.
Magombeyi was abducted yesterday and the matter has been reported at Budiriro Police Station.
He is still to be found and his colleagues have picketed in town to hand over a petition to the government and have vowed never to return to work until Magombeyi is found.
By A Correspondent- – The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has described as shocking the abduction and disappearance of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association Dr Peter Magombeyi.
Said the association in a statement:
“Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has learnt with shock of the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Acting President Peter Magombeyi.
Dr Magombeyi has been instrumental in advocating for better working conditions and remuneration for civil servants in general through the Health Apex and Doctors in particular through the ZHDA.
As an organisation pursuing the same cause, ZINA is against any action meant to stifle unionism, let alone kidnapping. Kidnapping is a shameful and barbaric act which must be condemned in its totality.
We, therefore, demand the unconditional release of Dr Magombeyi without any further delay. We also appeal to law enforcement agents to investigate and bring to book Dr Magombeyi’s kidnappers.
Unions are not a threat to society, they are a voice for employees to get a fair and decent standard of living.”
By A Correspondent: The family of the missing medical doctor, Peter Magombeyi has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking an order to co compel the government to account for the doctor.
The hearing is today.
Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in a statement:
THE High Court will on Monday 16 September 2019 hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a missing medical doctor seeking an order compelling Zimbabwean authorities to account for the whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi, after he was abducted by some unknown assailants on Saturday 14 September 2019.
Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi on Sunday 15 September 2019 filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary including advertising on all State-run print and broadcast media to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who is the President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, after he was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday 14 September 2019.
Elizabeth, who is represented by Roselyn Hanzi, Alec Muchadehama, Tinotenda Shoko and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation as respondents to the application.
Elizabeth wants the High Court, which will hear the application on Monday 16 September 2019 at 11:AM to order the setting up of a team of investigators, to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for Dr Magombeyi at all places within Zimbabwe as may be reasonably practical, and report on such search to the Registrar of the High Court, on every alternate Friday.
She also wants the respondents to be ordered to inquire from, and where necessary obtain any such information as may be necessary for the investigations from mobile service operators of Econet to try and locate Dr Magombeyi through tracing the mobile numbers that were on his person at the time of his abduction and mobile phone number +263 782 645 911 used to send him messages on 28 August 2019.
By Own Correspondent| A Kwekwe gold dealer lost $37k to heavily robbers who pounced at his house and took off with $37K. The robbers who had pistols broke into Mr Chihwende’s house after shooting 4 dogs, assaulted his wife and took the money before disappearing into the night.
The robbers reportedly kicked and shoved Mr Chihwende’s wife demanding that she shows them where the money is. Mrs Chihwende sustained injuries from the assault.
The Police are investigating the matter since Mr Chihwende reported the incident which occurred last week.
Inspector Goko whose jurisdiction Mr Chihwende’s case fell into has since warned the public against carrying large sums of money as robberies have surged especially due to prolonged darkness due to load-shedding.
By A Correspondent- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association received 190 resignation letters from teachers in August over poor salaries.
This was revealed by the ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure who said:
We have received 190 messages of resignation from teachers since the beginning of August. These are our members who have notified us of their resignation and most of them have gone abroad while some of them are doing various jobs around towns to sustain their families.
Masaraure said the situation has to be addressed soon to save the education sector from collapsing. He called for an urgent meeting to dialogue and deliberate over how to save the sector from collapsing:
We urgently call for a stakeholder meeting to come up with ways to address the challenges that are bedeviling the education sector. We cannot afford to lose teachers to other nations as this will have a large bearing on our education sector.
Masaraure also said some members had gone abroad and some were doing various projects in Zimbabwe to sustain their families.-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- Scores of people who had gathered at Rufaro stadium in Harare left the venue either wearing a single shoe or shoeless following a stamped at the body viewing service for the late former president Robert Mugabe.
The crowds lost either one of both shoes as they stampeded to conduct body viewing for the late president.
See the pictures below…..
Lost shoes at Rufaro stadium Lost shoes Crowds Jostle to view Robert Mugabe’s body at Rufaro Stadium in HarareLost shoes
Several others were also injured in the fracas and some had to be whisked away by the medical personnel who were at the venue.
See the pictures of the injured below…
A man lies injured at Rufaro stadiumA woman lies injured at Rufaro stadium
By A Correspondent- The International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) has called on the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to publish data on projects they are undertaking for the civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media to be able to investigate that data and bring them to account.
IATI is a global initiative that seeks to improve transparency in the use of development and humanitarian resources.
“IATI is a project in which we encourage development and humanitarian organisations to publish all of their data, financial and project information for the benefit of particular partner country governments and CSOs and indeed the media to hold their governments to account and to understand better some of the activities going on in their countries and to be able to follow up,” said IATI secretariat co-ordinator Annelise Parr in an interview on the sidelines of IATI Members’ Assembly Meeting held at the European Commission this week.
Some NGOs and governments in Africa and all over the world have published data on their ongoing and completed projects on d-portal.org where such data is open to anyone willing to access it.
In Zimbabwe NGOs such as World Vision Zimbabwe and Leonard Cheshire have already published data on some of the projects they are undertaking in the country.
The data usually include places where funds are coming from and shows a map where the projects are being implemented in a bid to promote transparency and help CSOs to be able to track the progress of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1 and layout the legislative agenda.
The opening of the Second Session marks the end of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, which saw at least 15 Bills out of 30 Bills presented.
In a statement, Parliament of Zimbabwe said the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa would unveil a new legislative agenda next month.
“His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1, 2019 at noon in the National Assembly,” said Parliament.
At least 30 Bills were expected to be tabled in the First Session of the Ninth Parliament.
The legislative agenda that had been set out by President Mnangagwa mainly focused on improving the business climate in the country and entrench democratic values.
Movers of the Bills will have to seek Parliament to reinstate outstanding Bills at the stage they were by the end of the First Session.
Five Bills were passed by Parliament and two of them were signed into law while the other three are still waiting for Presidential assent.
Laws that were assented to are; the Shop Licence Amendment Act and the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act; while the Consumer Protection Bill, Microfinance Amendment Bill and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill are still awaiting assent.
The TNF Act establishes the Tripartite Negotiating Forum that brings together Government, business and labour in a formal setting to discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy with the aim of preventing clashes that characterised relations of the three in the past.
The Shops Licence Act reduces bureaucracy in the establishment of businesses including creation of electronic platforms for applications of business licences while the Consumer Protection Bill seeks to protect consumer rights from unscrupulous businesses bent on profiteering at their expense and provides them mechanisms to seek recourse.
If passed into law, the Microfinance Bill will streamline the institutions from the current four recognised by the law to two that is credit-only micro-finance and deposit-taking micro-finance institutions. MOPA will repeal the Public Order and Security Act and open up democratic space and management of gatherings and demonstrations.
Some of the Bills that are at various stages of debate in Parliament include the Education Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, Coroner’s Office Bill, Freedom of Information of Bill and the Marriages Bill.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Preparations for the MDC 20th Anniversary celebrations are on course, party spokesperson Daniel Molokele has said.
Molokele said the celebrations, which were shelved in order to join the nation in mourning the late former president Robert Mugabe will be held on September 28 as planned.
He said:
“We are having our celebrations on September 28 as planned. Preparations are on going and all is on course.”
The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary last Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, and the party joined the nation at the National Sports Stadium for the national funeral service for the late former president Robert Mugabe.
Said the party in a statement:
“As MDC, being a Pan-Africanist and social democratic party, consistent with our values of ubuntu, solidarity and empathy we have decided to postpone our 20th Anniversary Celebrations to the 28th September 2019 so as to allow the funeral proceedings and events not to compete with our Anniversary celebrations. This is in line with our values of ubuntu, solidarity and empathetic leadership.
We had our differences, which are well documented and recorded, with the late President Mugabe, but this is not the time to rehash those differences. This is the time to join the former President’s relatives and friends in mourning.
In order to give peace a chance and allow for nation building in the context of tolerance and human dignity, we continue to deploy our might and main to things that unite us than those that may divide us.
The MDC does not make profit out of tragedies. For that reason, the party would not use Mugabe’s death to score political points. We have sufficient avenues and platforms to address the huge challenges facing the motherland outside funerals.
As a Pan Africanist and Social Democratic Party, we don’t take our differences with our political adversaries to the grave. Hurt and hatred is not part of our agenda.”
The passing on of former President Mugabe should remind leaders of today, tomorrow and the future on how we must treat each other as Zimbabweans. The position we take today is not to wish away issues of transitional justice to do with past injustice but to exhibit that as the MDC our role is to heal, unite and bring freedom and justice to every Zimbabwean.
To all Zimbabweans, this is an opportunity to reflect on values of nation building, national healing, democracy, tolerance, justice, equality, freedom and solidarity that are central to our democratic struggle.
Let us take this moment to build upon the positives of the past and negate its negatives to build a better nation and a better future. We must correct past mistakes and right the wrongs. We must learn from the omissions and commissions of the past.
By A Correspondent- A senior police official has attributed the abduction of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Dr. Peter Magombeyi to a third force adding that the development may have been stage managed for political expedience.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement:
“We have noted with concern that previously there were a number of alleged abductions ahead of the SADC Summit recently held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The possibility of a third force being involved in the alleged abductions for political expedience and to sustain the human rights abuse narrative ahead of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly cannot be ruled out.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police further notes the continued abuse of social media to propagate falsehoods including the unconfirmed reports of abductions with a view of tarnishing the image of the country and in the process compromise the security and safety of Zimbabweans.
The above notwithstanding, the police assures members of the public that a team is investigating the report which has been made by a ZHDA representative,” said the police spokesperson.”
By A Correspondent- First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday visited the Mazvovere residence in Rutendo, Kwekwe, where she paid her condolences following the death of ZANU-PF Central Committee member Caroline Mazvovere.
Mazvovere, who was the party’s Deputy Secretary for Information Communication and Technology, died on Friday following a long illness.
She succumbed to lung infection in South Africa.
Her body is expected in Zimbabwe on Wednesday before burial the following day.
In her condolence message, Amai Mnagagwa described Mazvovere as a person who helped shape her political career.
“She was instrumental in shaping my political career. She was someone whom I could rely on at any given time.
“All the meetings that we did, she was there and would correct me after I made my speeches. She left a legacy and I urge all of you here in Redcliff to emulate her. Children who have been left behind, do not forget what your mother did for you. Even at her time of death, she remained faithful and hardworking; she will be missed, “ she said.
Gillian, daughter to the late Mazvovere, described her mother as someone who put the party first.
“Even in hospital in South Africa, she was known for loving Zanu-PF. “She would avoid soiling the regalia she was wearing as she said she could not stand soiling the party,” she said.
Gillian said her mother succumbed to a combination of heart and lung complications.
“Her body is expected in Zimbabwe on Wednesday and burial should be on Thursday. We are still awaiting the party to inform us on the status as a family but we don’t have a problem in her being conferred Provincial heroine status,” said Gillian.
Mazvovere left behind husband Medaldo, five children and 10 grandchildren.
The First Lady was accompanied by Minister of State Security Owen Ncube, party provincial spokesman Cornelius Mpereri, and other party members.
State Media|WITH memories of June 30 still haunting him, Elvis Chipezeze could not believe it, when he received a call up for national duty with the Warriors early this month.
Chipezeze had a nightmarish outing at June 30 Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
The call came through his club manager at South African Premiership side Baroka, and the assignment was a World Cup preliminary round qualifier against Somalia.
When he accepted the call up to the national team, the 29-year-old was not aware that he was the Warriors’ first choice goalkeeper.
He got that piece of information upon his arrival in Djibouti on September 5.
“Being called for national duty after what had happened in our last game surprised me. But, what suprised me more was being taken as the Warriors’ first choice goalkeeper. The technical department, led by Joey Antipas, revealed that to me.”
Chipezeze revealed that for a moment, he wanted to turn down the offer.
However, a chat with Warriors coach Antipas and his assistant Lloyd Chitembwe led to a change in heart and he duly accepted the challenge.
“I had a chat with Joey Antipas and Lloyd Chitembwe and they told me that they believed in my capabilities and I was going to be the first choice goalkeeper for Zimbabwe in the two matches.
“Considering what had happened in my last game, the decision came as a surprise to me. I was a bit hesitant at first but, after some deep thinking, I decided to take the opportunity and enjoy the games.” The nightmarish encounter prior to the Somalia assignment still gives Chipezeze some sleepless nights.
“It was my debut Afcon and to be honest, I learnt a lot from that tournament. lt helped me to understand what football is all about and the effect it has on a number of people.
“You have a few minutes before the game, in front of such a big crowd. You are not even ready yet, then boom, you are told that you are now starting.
“I had to be brave, psyche myself up and prepare in a short space of time.
“Playing at Afcon helped me to grow as a player.
“At times when you are watching some of these things on TV you might not be able to comprehend it. But, when you experience it, you get to appreciate what happens.
“But then again, these things happen in football. There are good and bad days in football, every player goes through such phases.”
Chipezeze said bouncing back from the DRC howlers was through the help of some of his Warriors teammates and his club, who hired a psychologist to help the “troubled” goalkeeper.
“After Afcon, I had a long meeting with Baroka chairman Khurishi Mphahlele. He called in coach Wedson Nyirenda, his assistants and the goalkeepers’ coach.
“They said they had faith in me and the club was going to do everything in its power to help me recover from that disastrous outing. That is when they decided to rope in a psychologist.
“At the same time, my teammates in the national team, together with other footballers, were by my side. I think this helped me to quickly recover from the debacle. “What happened in Egypt is now water under the bridge.”
Five games into the 2019-20 ABSA Premiership season, the 29-year-old goalkeeper has already been named Man of the Match twice, bringing his total number of the awards to five, since debuting for the club last year. Chipezeze is confident that he will transform his club form into the Warriors.
“I know how people feel about what happened on that particular night. At times, it is difficult to change people’s perceptions, but I will keep on working hard and doing my best whenever I am called for national duty.”
With the Warriors suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Somalia and leaving it till late to secure a place in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Chipezeze believes the team has what it takes to be one of the African representatives in Qatar. “Everyone was hurt with the result in Djibouti, but the good thing was that, despite the result, everyone had the belief that we would overturn the loss. “The game plan was to score an early goal and with the chances we created in the first half, the team started to panic. When we thought we had found the winner, Somalia equalised. I just said to myself ‘oh not again’. “My focus is to qualify for the World Cup. I believe we have the right talent to take us there,” said Chipezeze.
State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa celebrated his 77th birthday yesterday and citizens from across the political divide wished him well.
First was the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services which posted on its Twitter handle, wishing the President well.
“Today is His Excellency, President @edmnangagwa’s birthday. “We wish him abundant wisdom in leading this nation to the realisation of its aspirations.
“We wish him good health and pray that he keeps his phenomenal temperance and hardwork ethic. We wish him a long life.”
Many people started commenting on the post, also wishing him well.
Shongedzai Mugwagwa said; “Happy born day Shumba Murambwi (President Mnangagwa’s totem) . . . Tinokushuvirai mamwe makore mazhinji (we wish you many more years).”
Charity Maodza also wrote; “Happy Birthday Shumba Murambwi. Wishing you many more fruitful years at the helm of the country!”
Another twitter user, Admire, said; “Makorokoto mdhara mwari akupei makore akwanda ekurarama (happy birthday elder, may God grant you many more years).”
More messages were to follow, with Skhumba Somile saying “happy birthday my President @edmnangagwa. I wish you many more years”.
Trust also said; “Happy birthday Your Excellence (sic)”.
Kudakwashe Mahere had a lot more to say; “Happy birthday our beloved President, the future is bright for you and our country. “May Jehovah bless your works. Enjoy your born day sir! Amen.”
LeilaniAngels also said; “Happy birthday my President, may God and our Lord Jesus grant you an abundant life full of wisdom and prosperity.”
President Mnangagwa also got many birthday wished from supposedly MDC-Alliance supporters, who were reacting to his earlier tweet where he congratulated the party on its 2oth anniversary.
Sean Ndoro said; “Wisdom (referring to the congratulatory remarks)! Happy Birthday Mr. President.”
A twitter user with the moniker, Gweru Zambezi, said; “Happy birthday Shumba.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa says foreign nationals need to abide by the rules and laws of South Africa.
He was speaking at a meeting with ANC Johannesburg region branches on Sunday.
Ramphosa has dispatched a team of special envoys to deliver messages of solidarity to several African countries.
The team of envoys will brief governments about the steps South Africa is taking to end the violence.
Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia are among the countries to be visited.
“In accordance with our protocol, our laws and regulations, one of the presidents of the African countries told me that they had a meeting just two weeks ago before the WEF with their own nationals, and when they had a meeting nationals had complaints,” said Ramaphosa.
“Whilst we understand why our nationals are feeling unsafe, that president also said, you just imagine if you were to have south Africans in your country who do not obey the law, who embark in criminal activity, how would that affect you. They immediately realised indeed the issue of living in accordance with the law of the country is what should be expected from every national,” he said.
Ramaphosa was also one of a dozen African leaders who attended former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s funeral in Harare on Saturday.
South Africa has been rocked by a surge of deadly attacks against foreigners. At least 12 people have been killed in the violence and hundreds of shops destroyed.
By A Correspondent- A Harare couple Tawanda Chimurure and Fadzai Simango are seeking assistance to raise US$13 000 to have their three-month-old baby, Mikayla Rutendo, undergo surgery in India to correct a heart defect.
The baby is suffering from a complex congenital heart disease DORV.
The parents, who can be contacted on 077 816 7754 or 077 254 7801, said doctors had told them that their baby’s complex heart defect is unlikely to improve on medications, but through a repair procedure.
The surgical treatment will include evaluation, complex open heart surgery, omograft conduit, CT angiogram as well as diagnostics special diet and serology.
Donations can be donated in Steward Bank account number 1002876694
News Agencies|Two Nigerian men that deal on drugs have lost their lives after the drugs they swallowed burst during a flight from Brazil to Ethiopia.
The deceased, identified as Chigozie Pascal Aniagbado and Chijioke Chidioka Ogbuefi, died before an emergency landing, despite the fact that emergency first aid was performed on them.
Narrating how it happened, an eyewitness said: “I was in an Ethiopian Airline from Brazil to Ethiopia. My seat number falls at the middle of two men.
The flight was 12hrs. The young man at my right asked me to check the flight map to know how far we had gone which I did. We were already half the journey.
Then he said to me “do you speak Igbo,” I said “yes.” He said he doesn’t know if he would make this journey that it seems the drugs he swallowed must have exceeded its stay in his system.
Then my mind sank. I began to shiver. He said ‘don’t be scared, it’s not in the bag, it is inside my body.’ He said I should stand and get him water, but I refused because I was scared he might insert something in my bag.
I had to wave for the air hostess to come. She came and served him water. He demanded for food, he was given. He became calm. Few minutes later, he brought an olive oil from his bag and drank.
Then he started shivering and fell down. That was when all the doctors in the plane assembled, questioning, asking his country and tribe.
He was able to open up that he swallowed drugs. The doctors had to put him on oxygen, then the other also started shivering.
Because of them, we were to have an emergency landing. The pilots said no matter their crime, it’s their priority to keep them alive. However, eventually lost the battle.”
