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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On his issue of sanctions Mnangagwa said;

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

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

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

By Own Correspondent|

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

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Farai Dziva|Police have claimed Dr Peter Magombeyi has not been arrested.

Dr Magombeyi was abducted last weekend and he was found in Nyabira last night.

“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.

He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” police said in a statement.

Farai Dziva| Battle lines have been drawn in Zaka East Constituency as perennial political foes Zanu PF and MDC fight for supremacy.

Zanu PF is represented by Clemence Chiduwa while Advocate Derrick Charamba is the MDC candidate in the by-election scheduled for Saturday.

” The MDC Zaka East aspiring Member of Parliament, Derrick Charamba, senators, vice national chairlady, Masvingo Provincial Administrator Peter Chigaba, National youth organiser councillor Kurau one, Masvingo Provincial youth, main and women wing members, Zaka East branch and district members had door to door campaigns in all wards.

Zanu PF has been using its traditional ways of rigging namely: giving maize and other food hand-outs, clothes, tearing MDC campaign posters, and intimidation.

More so, Zanu PF has invested a lot in the Zaka East By-election, it gave its candidate a brand new car,” said an observer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The ZRP wishes to advise members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team.

He has been examined by his own medical team and government medical officers. He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the police once he is cleared by his medical team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Farai Dziva|Police have claimed Dr Peter Magombeyi has not been arrested.

Dr Magombeyi was abducted last weekend and he was found in Nyabira last night.

“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.

He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” police said in a statement.

Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Republic Police says Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi is safe at a local hospital where he is admitted following five days in abduction.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the police said investigations into the abduction of Dr Magombeyi are currently underway.

“The ZRP advises members of the public that investigations in Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi’s case are in full swing. He is currently admitted at a local hospital for observation by a medical team. He has been examined by his own medical team and Government Medical Officers.

“He is safe and has not been arrested at all as claimed in some sections of the media. Dr Magombeyi will be interviewed by the Police once he is cleared by his medical team,” reads the police statement.

Farai Dziva| Battle lines have been drawn in Zaka East Constituency as perennial political foes Zanu PF and MDC fight for supremacy.

Zanu PF is represented by Clemence Chiduwa while Advocate Derrick Charamba is the MDC candidate in the by-election scheduled for tomorrow.

” The MDC Zaka East aspiring Member of Parliament, Derrick Charamba, senators, vice national chairlady, Masvingo Provincial Administrator Peter Chigaba, National youth organiser councillor Kurau one, Masvingo Provincial youth, main and women wing members, Zaka East branch and district members had door to door campaigns in all wards.

Zanu PF has been using its traditional ways of rigging namely: giving maize and other food hand-outs, clothes, tearing MDC campaign posters, and intimidation.

More so, Zanu PF has invested a lot in the Zaka East By-election, it gave its candidate a brand new car,” said an observer.

Farai Dziva| The MDC Youth Assembly has said life is now hell on earth under Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

See below the MDC Youth Assembly statement :

The MDC Youth Assembly is gravely concerned about the economic free fall that is threatening to wipe out the entire generation with hunger and starvation under the watch of a careless, corrupt and extravagant military regime.

The economy is on a free fall and downward spiral with the prices of basic commodities on a diurnal free rise and upward spiral.

Life for ordinary citizens has become hell on earth with nail biting and scourging poverty on display everywhere.

Images of urban dwellers queueing for dirty and unsafe drinking water at waterholes, dark streets and homes at night and black suit and smokes from firewood and plastics used for cooking best summarizes the new levels of the new lows facing our people.

These sorry and gory images of our suffering people clearly paints and depicts a deliberate ZANU PF agenda to ruralize all urban areas as a punishment for being strongholds for MDC and dissenting voices.

At the centre of all these problems is a cabal of heartless men and women who continue to force themselves on people through the bullet and the gun, abductions and illegal political arrests hiding under the guise of a ‘New Dispensation’.

Virtually there is an abundance of poverty of leadership from Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military administration and the deleterious effects of such is a nation in poverty and turmoil amidst plenty.

Yes as MDC we have spoken, teachers have spoken, lawyers too have spoken and more recent doctors have spoken too!

It is now clear that this is an uncompromising and deaf regime and the only language that underlines their thinking is force as evidenced by brutal crushing of demonstrations, forced disappearances and political arrests.

As an Assembly of young social democrats we do not subscribe to the notion of force and violence, but like any other revolutionaries before us we are not going to hide under the cocoons on ‘non-violence’ narrative while our rights are subverted.

We are also alive and conscious to the fact that the struggle for democracy has also morphed into a struggle for survival.

Such a struggle abhors purists as it does not respect ideological standing but the people’s call to survive first!

As an Assembly, we call for a convergence of all citizens to escalate the first against this military dictatorship which is clearly the author of our poverty and problems.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|David Coltart has said the Zanu PF government was forced to release the Acting President of the Hospital Doctors Association, Dr Peter Magombeyi due to relentless pressure.

Said Coltart: “Dr Peter Magombeyi was finally released at Harare Central police station at 12.30am and reunited with his family, colleagues and legal team.

I am grateful to God that he is free and safe. Amhlophe to his fellow doctors, legal team, the general public and the international community for the massive pressure placed on the regime to release him.

I have no doubt that once he has received medical attention his legal team will find out what happened to him and advise us all.

Happy Friday everyone – this is a cause for celebration.”

As ZHDA we are pleased to announce that our Acting President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi has been found by the police along Chinhoyi Road. We will update on the issue when we have gathered accurate information.

Members are being urged to take this opportunity to recover and re-energise from what has been a very eventful week. Today let us celebrate the safe return of our brother and also focus on the graduation ceremony at UZ main pitch.

Let us also allow his family to reconnect with him first and also pave way for the responsible authorities to carry out their full investigations.

All those willing to celebrate can meet in solidarity at Parirenytwa Doctors Bar. And once again as ZHDA we would like to congratulate all those graduating today.

By A Correspondent- The picture of a Rusape dealer kissing and cuddling a maried woman broke an eight-year-old marriage.

Simbarashe Mupoperi has been sleeping with Tawanda Mutungwe’s wife, Ivene Dube. Mupoperi and Mutungwe are friends.

Mutungwe was scrolling through his wife’s phone picture gallery when he saw the pictures. Ivene confirmed that she dating the dealer and Mutungwe took her back to her parents.

“I got my wife’s phone and perused through her picture gallery, and was shocked to see her pictures kissing, cuddling and
caressing Mupoperi. I confronted and dragged Mupoperi to Ivene’s father and then surrendered her back to her parents in his presence.

I told Ivene’s father that Mupoperi was his new son-in-law.

“Mupoperi rents a shop from my brother at Vengere market and that is where I suspect he got connected to my wife. Mupoperi would pounce on my wife when I am away in Tanzania to collect his cars. They would have se_x in lodges dotted around the town,” said Mutungwe.

“Yes it is me and her (Ivene) in those pictures. The pictures were not taken in a lodge but at a family function. She is my wife’s
relative. Go ahead and write whatever you want, you are free. Pressure zero, zero pressure,” Mupoperi said.

-ManicaPost

Citizens here have questioned how and why the state media’s Herald and the VOA obtained immediate access to the missing Hospital Doctors Association president, Peter Magombeyi… interrogated him leading to him being arrested and questioned by the police.

The manner of questioning or interrogating appeared strongly to trap him while he was in this state of being unwell, after going missing for over 5 days.

None of these two media houses pursued or bothered to investigate evidence of clearly written threats to abduct Dr Magombeyi contained in an Aug 28 SMS message, something that could easily be done by a High School student within minutes.

It is without question that the doctor is a victim of torture beginning with the threat that he received 3 weeks ago via SMS on his cellphone.

No sane journalist repeatedly interrogates such a person for answers concerning his health (same question over and over) after going missing for over the 5 days.

For goodness’ sake, the man even narrates saying he was electrocuted. This means interviewing such a person is unethical and even illegal until after they have been clinically cleared.”

It is because of those two interviews that police have since arrested Dr Magombeyi. There is clear video recorded evidence that VOA Zimbabwe is working for Mnangagwa. We even have official VOA correspondence proving this. Another piece of evidence is Marvelous Nyahuye Mhlanga announcing she is now working for Mnangagwa to do Social Engineeering work for him. Thursday’s video programming work comes in perfect timing with the UN summit in what appears to assist ED so he is not challenged on Dr Magombeyi’s abduction once in the US at the weekend.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By A Correspondent- Government, through the Department of Civil Protection, has ordered the Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator’s office to prepare a detailed report following revelations that food items donated to Cyclone Idai victims were rotting in warehouses in Chimanimani East.

The development follows a report highlighting how the food donations had passed their consumption date while locked up at Charter Hall and Nyahode District Union warehouses.

The Department of Civil Protection falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“We are waiting for a fully detailed report from the district and the administrator (Mr Edgars Seenza) will also give us more information,” said Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo.

“We have decentralised structures up to the provincial and district level. The provincial administrator must give us the inside story and we are waiting for a detailed report from Manicaland.”

The Herald is reliably informed that some foodstuffs have either decayed or expired while locked up in the warehouses.

“Among the food items that have expired while in the warehouses awaiting distribution are the following: 30 tonnes of mealie meal, 1 850kg of corn soya blend, 1 150kg of plain flour, 500×6 packets sugar beans and 1 000kg of Maheu Instant,” a source told The Herald.

The 30 tonnes of mealie meal expired on September 7.

The 1 150kg of plain flour expired on March 27, while the Maheu Instant donations passed consumption date on August 18.

The Herald news crew visited the warehouses on Tuesday, but could not gain access as they were locked.

The keys to the warehouses are reportedly kept in the Chimanimani District Development Coordinator’s office.

On Wednesday, Mr Seenza confirmed receiving reports suggesting food donations were rotting in the warehouse, but referred questions the District Coordinator Mr John Misi, who was not reachable for a   comment.

Chimanimani East legislator Cde Joshua Sacco also confirmed perishables had rotten while some foodstuffs had expired.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A deputy head at Nyamandlovu Primary School was found guilty of committing a “serious breach of trust” when she brutally assaulted a Grade Seven Pupil several times on the head with a mopane switch as punishment for making noise.

Victoria Vambe (52) was arrested after the 12-year-old pupil’s father learnt of the horrendous crime and notified the police. 

This was after the boy, who sustained bruises on the scalp and swollen eyes, also developed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault.

Vambe, who pleaded not guilty was, however, convicted and sentenced after a full trial by Bulawayo magistrate Adelaide Mbeure. She, however, heaved a huge sigh of relief when the magistrate sentenced her to pay a fine of $200 (or two weeks in prison).

In addition she was also sentenced to four months imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not within that period commit a similar offence for which upon conviction she is sentenced to a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine.  In coming up with the sentence the court took into consideration the fact that she was a first offender and also a breadwinner.

“It is the duty of the court to rehabilitate such first time offenders because giving such persons custodial sentences turns them into hardened criminals. The accused is a deputy head and has been working for 29 years in the ministry (Primary and Secondary Education) and a conviction will ruin her career,” reads the ruling in part.

Meanwhile, justice was done following investigations by this publication that there was evidence of plans, by the parties who were involved in handling the matter, to sweep it under the carpet despite the fact there was a medical report showing that the pupil suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack.

This was also after Matabeleland North deputy director responsible for primary education, Mrs Beatrice Manjere said investigations by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) revealed that the incident never happened.

The court proved that on 25 February this year and at around 10.30 am the boy and other pupils were at assembly point when Vambe came and accused them of making noise. It was established that one of the pupils singled out the boy saying he was the one who was making noise before the deputy head started assaulting him on the head and towards the forehead with a mopane switch.

The court heard that in the process Vambe was saying “hamba uyeceba lapho oceba khona” meaning go and report where you usually report.

It is reported that Vambe repeatedly assaulted the boy who vainly pleaded for mercy saying he was not the one who was making noise.

After the brutal attack, the boy suffered a severe headache and later informed his parents who reported the matter to the police leading to Vambe’s arrest.

His parents then took him to Mpilo Hospital for treatment where the injuries were described as “very serious”.

During trial the boy said the deputy head assaulted him after a fellow pupil misrepresented to her that he was the one who was making noise.  

He said the accused assaulted her several times on the head using a mopane switch saying he should go and report where he usually reports.

His evidence was also corroborated by that of his father who said on the day in question he was also at the school attending a meeting when he saw the deputy head assaulting the boy, unbeknown to him that it was his child who was being beaten.

“I was about 30-35 metres from where the assault took place. I didn’t know that it was my son who was being whipped at the assembly point. I only discovered it when he came back home from school and narrated the incident to me. 

“This was not the first time that my child has been subjected to physical abuse at the school. He was once assaulted in 2016 and I reported the matter to the district education offices. From that time his life at the school has been hell as the teachers would not teach him,” the father charged. 

However, in defence, Vambe refuted the allegations saying the boy’s father had a vendetta against her as she didn’t take up his complaint in 2016 leaving him to approach her superiors.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A local bar waitress in Matsheumhlope, Siphathisiwe Moyo (30) cracked the court open last Friday when she told the court that it was her right to smash her boyfriend’s car bonnet after she found him in the company of another woman at the Cubana Club.

Pleading guilty before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Munjanja for smashing Nqabeni Ncube’s (44) car, Moyo had a few lines to justify her actions.

“It was my right to smash his car bonnet, as far as I am concerned I was his girlfriend and seeing him with another girl wasn’t right and it made me jealous,” said Moyo.

That was at least before she found out in court that her boyfriend had already dumped her before the night of the incident.

“I didn’t know I was now an ex. We had a misunderstanding on the previous Saturday after he came to visit and didn’t find me home. I didn’t know that meant the end of our relationship,” she explained.

According to documents filed in court, Moyo arrived at the Cubana Club at around 11pm where she spotted Ncube with another lady whom she chose to ignore and rather conversed with other club patrons.

Ncube then stood up and went to relieve himself in the loo. To his surprise, Moyo followed him to the gents where she swore at him “Uyangijwayela.”

However, Ncube ignored her and went back to his company in the bar.

His new girlfriend who also felt the urge to pee went to the loo accompanied by Ncube’s brother hoping to keep her safe from Moyo who was already causing a stir in the club.

However, that didn’t stop Moyo from assaulting the two who did not retaliate after she smashed them with ice that she had put inside a glass.

Perhaps feeling like justice was not served and her right violated, the infuriated Moyo made her way to the parking lot where she found an empty bottle and used it to smash Ncube’s Audi that was parked there.

Ncube who witnessed the incident happening as he had made his way to sleep in his car quickly took a taxi and went to report Moyo at the Bulawayo Central Police Station leading to Moyo’s arrest.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A self-proclaimed prophet based in Bulawayo’s Northend suburb that claims to be the late popular Chipinge n’anga Sekuru Ndunge’s son has been jailed for 24 months for selling two cellphones which belonged to his clients.

Isaac Makuyana Ndunge (37), reportedly sold two cellphones  which belonged to his clients  — Simbisai Zimbodza (35) and Slyvia Njanji (32). 

At the court set down before his trial, Ndunge bragged to the prosecutors saying he possessed  supernatural powers and as such  he would never be thrown  behind bars and threatened to unleash lightning on the prosecutor. 

However, when he stepped into the dock for trial before   Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe  Jamela facing theft charges somehow fear took its toll.

When he was asked on his plea to the charge he did not waste  the court’s time. He pleaded guilty.

He took to the stand and said: “Your worship, these two ladies (Zimbodza and Njanji) came to my shrine seeking to have their marital and financial woes solved. I advised them to pay US$15. But they paid $3 and promised to pay the balance after two days.”

Ndunge advised the two ladies to leave their cellphones behind.

“I asked them to leave their cellphones as collateral and assured them that they will find the cellphones under their pillows in their respective bedrooms after paying the balance. Unfortunately the cellphones were stolen since a number of people visit my shrine,” he said.

Ndunge went on to say he gave them a concoction to drink so as to cast out evil spirits that were destroying their marriages.

Zimbodza took to the stand: “We were made to drink a concoction after paying US$3 and he told us to pay a balance of US$12 each after two days. We later fell unconscious and recovered later. He then asked us to leave our cellphones saying we would find them under our pillows after paying the balance. After two days we paid the balance and returned with the belief that we would find our cellphones under the pillows but we could not find them.

“We confronted him (Ndunge) but shockingly he told us that our cellphones were stolen since a number of people visit his shrine.”

Njanji told the court that they made a police report leading to the arrest of Ndunge.  

Due to overwhelming evidence the magistrate found Ndunge guilty.

In mitigation he said he was the sole breadwinner and married to three wives who stay in Chipinge.

“Your worship, I beg for your leniency. I’m the sole breadwinner. I’m married to three wives and I have 12 children, seven of them are attending primary school,” he  begged.

The magistrate sentenced him to 24 months behind bars. Six months were suspended   on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within  a period of five years, another three months were suspended on condition that he restitutes  Njanji $530 on or before 30 September. 

-BMetro

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

USD = ZWL$14.4330
ZWL$ = RAND1.0224

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

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

More: Marketwatch

Power utility ZESA Holdings yesterday revealed that it had incurred exchange losses of up to $4 billion since February, when the central bank liberalised the exchange rate.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ditched the discredited 1:1 official peg with the United States dollar on February 20, and merged the bond notes and electronic dollars into a transitional RTGS dollar currency.

But the local currency has continued to weaken on the interbank market, and was yesterday trading at US$1: $14,42.

On the thriving black market, it was trading US$1:$20.

“In an environment where we have instability in terms of the exchange rate, you can imagine what is happening to Zesa. We have made a proposal for a review of tariffs and our tariffs should have an adjustment formula that will kick in whenever we have fiscal variables like the exchange rate,” acting managing director Milton Munodawafa told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.

“Each time there is movement, we experience exchange losses and right now, we have exchange losses amounting to $4 billion, so the figures that I expect to see at the end of this financial year are horrendous. We just have to manage the issue through the tariff adjustment formula that I have just discussed and we intend to review the tariffs after every quarter (three months).”

He said they were also encountering exchange loses in terms of the money they are owed by their customers which people are now paying back in the local
currency.

“People who owed Zesa when the exchange rate was 1:1 are paying using the Zim dollar. We were owed US$1,2 billion by our customers when the exchange rate was introduced,” Munodawafa said.

“I did some calculations about two months ago and we had lost value amounting to US$900 million and I think in terms of loss it amounts to billions of dollars because where we had US$1,2 billion, we now have ZWL$1,2 billion. Even if we are to collect that ZWL$1,2 billion it will not assist us in a big way.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has urged political parties to invest in campaign processes to ensure a large voter turnout during polling elections.

Zesn said this in its latest report, noting a drop in voter turnout compared to the 2018 elections during the recently held by-elections in Glen View South and Mangwe constituencies won by the MDC and Zanu PF, respectively.

A Zesn analysis of the voter turnout shows that in Glen View South, the MDC votes decreased by 6 468 compared to 9 942 votes garnered by the opposition party during the 2018 harmonised polls.

In Mangwe, Zanu PF retained the national assembly seat, having garnered 4 553 votes, which is 3 191 less compared to the votes received in 2018.

“The drop in figures of the votes cast during the Glen View South and Mangwe National Assembly by-elections for both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance are a clear indication of voter apathy associated with by-elections,” the Zesn said in its analysis.

“Political parties should improve the quality of their campaign efforts to support improvement in the turnout of voters during the by-elections,” the independent election watchdog noted in its recommendations, adding a voter registration blitz by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is also necessary.

The organisation also deployed long-term observers (LTOs) prior to the elections to track electoral and political developments that occurred during the campaign season for the Glen View South and Mangwe constituencies.

“Zec should conduct periodic voter registration blitz and avail voter registration centres at the sub district level to facilitate registration by persons that were unable to register during previous blitz and those who have turned 18,” Zesn said.

Zec is currently registering voters in Bulawayo. However, the process has been marred by a poor turnout, the elections body has reported.

Among some of the recommendations by Zesn is for political parties to also invest in the training of polling agents and facilitate an inclusive process in the nomination of candidates.

“Zesn urges political parties to create structures, mechanisms and policies that facilitate the nomination of a more diverse range of candidates during the internal party primaries. This will make the process more inclusive,” the election watchdog body said.

“Political parties should invest in the recruitment, training and deployment of their party agents to allow parties to comment authoritatively on Election Day processes.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A dossier revealing corruption allegations at George Stark High School in Mbare, Harare, has been availed to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).

The allegations, dating back to 2016, under Zacc reference number 91/0819, allege that some staff members were getting more than double their fuel allocations on top of questionable travel and subsistence allowances.

One staff member allegedly claimed $3 000 for a trip to Swaziland to attend a sporting competition which the school was not involved in.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure confirmed that the anti-graft body was investigating the matter.

“On record, I can confirm to you that we have received the case and at the moment, it is being investigated,” he said.

According to the report, the school was also prejudiced of cement and bond paper, with some students who sat for their examinations last year allegedly not issued with their results for failure to contribute cement and bond paper.

The school head, Tafara Zhou, hung up his phone when asked to comment on the allegations and by the time of going to print last night, had not yet responded to questions sent to him.-Newsday

State Media|THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will today and tomorrow shut down water supplies citywide before reintroducing a 48-hour water shedding schedule on Monday.

Acting Town Clerk, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, yesterday said the drastic action was taken mainly due to Zesa power cuts and a burst on a major supply pipe.  She, however, said industry, the central business district and mines will be exempted from shedding.

The local authority warned that residents in high lying areas could be affected beyond the scheduled 48-hour period.

In July, BCC cut supplies across the city to stabilise water levels at reservoirs while conducting major rehabilitation works under the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP).

In a statement yesterday, Mrs Zhou said council will shut down supplies across the city today before reopening taps on Sunday as it stabilises its water reservoirs. 

“Residents are advised that water supply will be cut off on Friday, the 20th September 2019 and Saturday the 21st September 2019 citywide and reopened on Sunday, 22nd of September 2019. Thereafter, we would like to advise residents that the 48-hour water shedding will then resume as per the attached programme with effect from Monday, the 23rd of September 2019,” said Mrs Zhou.

She said the water shedding programme is subject to change if the raw water reservoir level improves or deteriorates beyond the critical level.

“All the areas that are on high ground and are likely to be affected for more than 48hrs will have water supply by bowsers. Residents are urged to conserve water until further notice,” she said.

Mrs Zhou said low water levels at reservoirs are a result of power cuts and a major pipe burst.

She said the situation was worsened by water consumption levels that have increased above council’s daily pumping average. 

“The public is being advised that the City of Bulawayo is currently experiencing challenges with both raw and clear water pumping to the Criterion Raw Water, Tuli Clear Water and Magwegwe Reservoirs. Tuli and Criterion Reservoirs have been affected by reduced power load by Zesa which affected pumping for the past two weeks at Ncema Water Treatment works, Ncema Pump stations and Fernhill Booster Station. 

“The supply of water was also affected by a major leak on the Nyamandlovu pipeline which also feeds into Magwegwe Reservoir,” she said.

“In light of the outlined challenges and also against the background of the growing average daily consumption of 150ML/ day to 154ML/day versus production of 140ML/day to 145ML/day, which the city has been experiencing since the lifting of water shedding in July, the city’s supply and distribution reservoirs have suffered rapid depletion leading to this emergency shedding so as to stabilise and raise them to satisfactory levels.”

Mrs Zhou said Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West, West Somerton, Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda, Maplanka, Barbourfields, Mzilikazi, Nguboyenja, Makokoba, Hillside South, South Riding, Fourwinds, Hillside, Northend, Tegela, Romney Park, Paddonhurst suburbs will affected by the water shedding on Monday to Wednesday.

Others suburbs under the same regime are Sunnyside, Morningside, Rowena, Montrose, Southwold, Greenhill, Barham Green, Kenilworth, Ilanda, Burnside and Mbalabala Barracks as well as Mzinyathini Irrigation Scheme.

She said from Tuesday to Thursday Esigodini, Imbizo Barracks, Fortunes Gate, Selborne Park, Matsheumhlophe, Parklands, Khumalo, Queenspark, Suburbs, Mahatshula, Woodville, Kingsdale suburbs will be affected by the water shedding exercise while supplies will be cut off for Harrisvale, Jungle, Trenance, Richmond, Sauerstown and Neqi between Wednesday and Friday. 

Mrs Zhou said Emganwini, Pumula, Nketa 9, Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Mpopoma, Lobengula, Mabutweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba, Matshobane will also have water shedding from Wednesday to Friday. 

As ZHDA we are pleased to announce that our Acting President Dr Peter Gabriel Magombeyi has been found by the police along Chinhoyi Road. We will update on the issue when we have gathered accurate information.

Members are being urged to take this opportunity to recover and re-energise from what has been a very eventful week. Today let us celebrate the safe return of our brother and also focus on the graduation ceremony at UZ main pitch.

Let us also allow his family to reconnect with him first and also pave way for the responsible authorities to carry out their full investigations.

All those willing to celebrate can meet in solidarity at Parirenytwa Doctors Bar. And once again as ZHDA we would like to congratulate all those graduating today.

ANALYSIS: Citizens last night questioned how and why Herald and the VOA obtained immediate access to the missing Hospital Doctors Association president, Peter Magombeyi… interrogated him leading to him being arrested and charged. The manner of questioning or interrogating appeared strongly to trap him while he is in this state of being unwell, after going missing for over 5 days.

None of these two media houses pursued or bothered to investigate evidence of clearly written threats to abduct Dr Magombeyi contained in an Aug 28 SMS message, something that could easily be done by a High School student within minutes.

It is without question that the doctor is a victim of torture beginning with the threat that he received 3 weeks ago via SMS on his cellphone. No sane journalist repeatedly interrogates such a person for answers concerning his health (same question over and over) after going missing for over the 5 days.

For goodness’ sake, the man even narrates saying he was electrocuted. This means interviewing such a person is unethical and even illegal until after they have been clinically cleared.

It is because of those two interviews that police have since arrested Dr Magombeyi. There is clear video recorded evidence that VOA Zimbabwe is working for Mnangagwa. We even have official VOA correspondence proving this. Another piece of evidence is Marvelous Nyahuye Mhlanga announcing she is now working for Mnangagwa to do Social Engineeering work for him. Thursday’s video programming work comes in perfect timing with the UN summit in what appears to assist ED so he is not challenged on Dr Magombeyi’s abduction once in the US at the weekend.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Econet owner Strive Masiyiwa has given his thoughts to this whole fiasco as he responded to one of his followers on Facebook.

Here’s the full excerpt:

Liveit L Ndlovu writes, US$1:$12 bond cash,and US$1:$20 eco cash.
Ecocash agents are charging 60%.
I think it’s time to act on that issue Sir.

My reply,
We cannot solve a problem, until we first understand it:

1, EcoCash is not a currency. It is simply a mechanism that money moves through.

You don’t dig up a road, simply because a thief came on a road!
EcoCash is just a road for money, it is not the money!

EcoCash does not have any money. The Cash [bank notes] money belongs to the agent.

Ecocash does not print money, either physical or electronic.

That is done by the RBZ. They decide how much bank notes are in circulation. If there are not enough, then they must supply them, until there is enough supply.

2. Why is there such a shortage of bank notes in the first place, that it becomes possible to sell bank notes?!

Why?!
Where in the world does that happen?!

Give me a break my friend, you are smarter than that!

Who created such an arbitrage situation?

3. Whose cash is the Agent selling, at that rate?!

4. How does Econet police 50,000 agents?

Who can do it?
No one, because that is not the problem.
Ask the RBZ to address the supply of these bank notes, if you believe that is the problem.

What if we stopped them all from dispensing any cash, would it solve the problem?
Why do the banks not dispense cash like banks around the world?
Why?

5. If the State withdrew its electronic money that moves through EcoCash, and replaced it with physical notes, would it solve the problem?

6. When an Agent sells his money at 50% premium, does he share the upside with EcoCash?

Of course not!

If you show me that anyone at EcoCash is involved and benefitting, that is another issue. But that is not what is happening!

Let’s first understand the problem:
This is simply symptomatic of hyper inflation. In case you have not realized Zimbabwe has the highest hyper inflation in the world right now!

If you address the causes of hyper inflation, this problem disappears.

FORMER South African President Thabo Mbeki said the late former President Robert Mugabe delayed embarking on the land reform programme to allow successful negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and the apartheid government for the independence of the neighbouring country.

Speaking at the Durban City Hall on Tuesday during an ANC memorial service for Cde Mugabe in KwaZulu-Natal, Cde Mbeki said the late former President was irrationally vilified by the Western countries over the land reform programme, which he undertook after the British government under Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to honour its commitments during negotiations preceding Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence, to help fund land reform.

“As we began the process of negotiations here in South Africa in 1990, the 10-year period of the constitution of Zimbabwe negotiated at the Lancaster House came to an end. Zimbabwe could now redo its constitution, including addressing this matter of the land question, particularly as it related to the principle of willing-buyer-willing seller. The then secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku from Nigeria then approached President Mugabe to plead with him not to change the Lancaster House provisions related to the land question. His (Chief Anyaoku) argument was that if Zimbabwe did something like that to address the land issue, correctly as they needed to address it, it would frighten the white population in South Africa and make it difficult for ANC to negotiate with them,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said Cde Mugabe then acceded to Chief Anyaoku’s plea.

“That is why the land reform process was delayed in Zimbabwe for at least a decade. It was done in order to give us a space here in order to succeed in our negotiations with the apartheid regime,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said he went to the UK and spoke to Prime Minister Tony Blair and urged the British government to honour its Lancaster House agreement.

Cde Mbeki said Mr Blair gave a false impression that he was willing to address the issue.

“As South African government we told Prime Minister Blair that we think you must honour your promise on the land question….that particular year UK, Canada and Australia and New Zealand, the so called white Commonwealth, all of them for some reasons had budget surpluses and so we said to him (Prime Minister Blair) that if he committed himself to raising the money, we will talk to other Commonwealth countries to support him and he agreed. A donor conference was held in Zimbabwe in 1998 to address this matter and it was agreed, but dishonoured in the first instance by the UK,” he said.

“The matter came up again a bit later when the war veterans started occupying some of the farms and at that particular time there were 115 farms that were available for sale and they would have cost nine million pounds. Zimbabwe sent a delegation to the UK to ask that they be given the money to buy those farms to take the war veterans onto these farms that would have owned away from these commercial ones and the British government said they had no money.”

Cde Mbeki said they then talked to three countries around the world over the issue and they all agreed and he then reported to the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan indicating to him that there was money to buy those 115 farms.

“He (Dr Annan) then said can you give that matter over to us at the UN to depoliticise it and that was the argument that was used and so we agreed. It didn’t work because the UN whereas we were saying there was an agreement in 1998 about how to handle the land question. Now that we have the donor use that agreement they said no, no, no that was not a UN agreement, the UN has its own rules and besides it will fail and we said it will fail and it failed,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said the late former President Mugabe will be remembered as an outstanding fighter for the liberation not only of the people of Zimbabwe, but also all other colonially and racially oppressed peoples, including shaping the negotiations that led to South Africa’s freedom from the apartheid regime in 1994.

“In 1989, we drafted a document for negotiations which we marketed among the frontline States, which included Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania and Angola and when we finished it, we took it to the OAU (now AU) to make it policy of the continental body. We took a decision to suggest to OAU that there was an ad hoc committee of the OAU on Southern African to avoid calling a summit of member states. It was decided that the ad hoc committee meeting should be held in Harare. We gave President Mugabe a major task to intervene with regard to that document and market it to the whole continent. It was accepted and that is where the Harare Declaration was adopted, which was fundamental in shaping our negotiations,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said between April and May 1980, they worked out a system of cooperation between President Mugabe’s government and ANC, which meant that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces moved a battalion of the army to the banks of the Limpopo River so they could help bring weapons from Zambia into Zimbabwe to fight the apartheid regime.

“The ZDF would pick the weapons at the border, take them through Zimbabwe to that battalion so that our people come into Zimbabwe carrying no weapons. Instead, the Zimbabwean government would issue them with false identity cards since there were a lot of roadblocks at that time so that they go through as Zimbabweans and collect their weapons on the banks of the Limpopo,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said when they attained their freedom, they decided to adopt former President Mugabe’ reconciliatory approach.

“The leadership under President Mugabe as Prime Minister Mugabe then took a very clear position, which was that we fought against colonialism and white minority domination not against white people and let’s handle ourselves in a manner which will result in that national reconciliation. You can see what happened with us here in 1994, we followed exactly in the footsteps that had been followed by the leadership of Zimbabwe under President Mugabe,” he said.

Cde Mbeki said the late Cde Mugabe’s contribution to the liberation of the African people will never be forgotten.

He said they will always value the late Cde Mugabe as one of the combatants for the liberation of South Africa.

“Obviously, we ourselves knew very well that this relationship is a relationship of solidarity, shared interest, comradeship and therefore there was absolutely no way in which if Zimbabwe was faced with challenges we would turn our backs. It couldn’t be done. For instance, In 1998, the heat was getting up around the land question and we spoke to President Mugabe and said look at Lancaster House as you would recall, the British and the Americans had promised to give Zimbabwe money to buy land and they never kept the promise. I said to President Mugabe let’s go back to the British to remind them of their commitment and we agreed that for three months we must not say anything about land question,” he said.

NewsDay|THE United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has urged government to bury the late former President Robert Mugabe’s legacy of brutality and bring to book those responsible for human rights violations.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has come under local and international pressure following reports of the alleged abduction of Peter Magombeyi, leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, on Saturday evening by suspected State security agents.

He was since found dumped in Nyambire some 35 km out of Harare City.

The US Foreign Relations committee, a standing committee of the Senate charged with leading foreign policy legislation, weighed in condemning the abduction and other rights violations.

“Reminiscent of tactics under Mugabe, assailants are terrorising critics of Zanu PF through abductions, beatings and torture. As Zimbabwe prepares to lay to rest former President (Robert) Mugabe, so should it bury its late leaders’ brutal legacy and prosecute those responsible for these crimes,” the US committee tweeted.

The call comes as anti-riot police yesterday cordoned off Bulawayo’s Large City Hall in the city in reaction to social media reports that local activists were planning to stage a protest over Magombeyi’s abduction.

However, the call posted on social media proved to be a false as it was business as usual in the central business district.

Vigils, however, continue at Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo hospitals as medical practitioners seek divine intervention over their leader’s abduction.

Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations official Reverend Sikhalo Cele said during the vigil: “This situation is deeply worrying because none of the reported cases of abduction and torture have been successfully investigated and prosecuted. The situation is further disturbing because there is government communication suggesting that there is a possibility of a third force.”

Bulawayo civic society activists and the opposition have also attended the vigils, with Zapu going further to call for rolling protests to register anger over Magombeyi’s abduction, which the Zanu PF-led government blames on a “third force”.

Zapu said people should take to the streets to register their discontent with the Zanu PF regime.

“We call upon Zimbabweans to come out in the streets and show this regime that we have had enough of their intolerance,” the Zapu southern region said in statement yesterday.

“Protests, demos, strikes and other mass actions are an integral part of a democracy. They give a voice to the masses. They alert the government that the masses are not happy. They are not West-sponsored regime change agendas.”

State Media|GOVERNMENT, through the Department of Civil Protection, has ordered the Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator’s office to prepare a detailed report following revelations that food items donated to Cyclone Idai victims were rotting in warehouses in Chimanimani East.

The development follows a reports we highlighting how the food donations had passed their consumption date while locked up at Charter Hall and Nyahode District Union warehouses.

The Department of Civil Protection falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“We are waiting for a fully detailed report from the district and the administrator (Mr Edgars Seenza) will also give us more information,” said Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo.

“We have decentralised structures up to the provincial and district level. The provincial administrator must give us the inside story and we are waiting for a detailed report from Manicaland.”

Some foodstuffs have either decayed or expired while locked up in the warehouses.

“Among the food items that have expired while in the warehouses awaiting distribution are the following: 30 tonnes of mealie meal, 1 850kg of corn soya blend, 1 150kg of plain flour, 500×6 packets sugar beans and 1 000kg of Maheu Instant,” a source told The Herald.

The 30 tonnes of mealie meal expired on September 7.

The 1 150kg of plain flour expired on March 27, while the Maheu Instant donations passed consumption date on August 18.

On Wednesday, Mr Seenza confirmed receiving reports suggesting food donations were rotting in the warehouse, but referred questions the District Coordinator Mr John Misi, who was not reachable for a comment.

Chimanimani East legislator Cde Joshua Sacco also confirmed perishables had rotten while some foodstuffs had expired.

State Media|GOVERNMENT has widened the tax-free threshold to $3 500 with effect from August 1, to improve disposable incomes in the face of price increases. This comes as the highest rate on taxable income has been reduced from 45 percent to 40 percent, to free some money which can be channelled towards consumption and savings.

The development is in line with Government’s efforts to cushion citizens in general, and workers in particular, from the surge in prices.

It also implies that civil servants — who were recently awarded a pay increase to $1 023 for the lowest-paid worker — will take huge chunks of their earnings, tax-free.

In a notice published today, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says the necessary legislation will be announced soon to support the review of tax-free thresholds.

“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) hereby notifies its valued clients that the highest tax rate of 45 percent on taxable income earned from employment which was gazetted in the Finance Act (7) No. 2 of 2019 is being corrected to 40 percent,” said Zimra.

“The necessary legislation amending the highest rate from 45 percent to 40 percent will be promulgated in due course and will be with effect from 1 August 2019.”

Zimra advised employers to effect the correct rate of 40 percent.

Employees earning $3 500 and below will not be taxed, while those earning $3 501 to $15 000 will be taxed at a rate of 20 percent. Those earning between $15 001 and $50 000 will be taxed at a rate of 25 percent; a salary of between $50 001 and $100 000 attracts 30 percent tax; salaries of between $100 001 and $150 000 attract 35 percent tax, while salaries of $150 001 and above will be taxed 40 percent.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube had previously indicated that the tax-free bracket was going to be increased for those paying income tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

He said the move was designed to give relief to those earning below the Poverty Datum Line because of the increase in inflation.

“We want them to have more money to spend in their pockets,” said Prof Ncube.

This becomes the second upward review of the tax-free threshold this year, after it was earlier adjusted from US$300 to US$350 ( before the removal of the 1:1 exchange rate between the RTGS dollar and the United States dollar).

But the gains made by employees were immediately eroded by inflationary pressures, which mounted after the removal of 1:1 peg.

The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) had suggested that the initial RTGS tax-free threshold should be set by multiplying the US dollar amount by the existing exchange rate.

The review of the tax-free threshold is set to be welcomed by low-income earners as the country’s inflation rose to 175 percent for the month of June, torching concerns of value erosion.

Figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStats) show that Zimbabwe’s annual inflation for June 2019 rose to 175,66 percent from 97,85 percent in May 2019.

HARARE medical doctor Peter Magombeyi, who was abducted last Friday, was yesterday found in Nyabira, about 40km from the city centre.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed that Dr Peter Magombeyi had been found and they were still to establish circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

His abduction and disappearance sparked demonstrations, with medical doctors downing tools demanding his release.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Dr Peter Magombeyi (26) who went missing on September 14, has been found by the police at Nyabira,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said Dr Magombeyi had no physical injuries and was due to be examined by health authorities to ascertain any injuries he may have suffered during the ordeal

Speaking to State Media on his mobile phone last night, Dr Magombeyi said he was safe and sound.

“I am safe and sound. I don’t have much to say, but I am in Nyabira, waiting for my colleagues to come and pick me up.”

He said he had a hazy recollection of what transpired since his alleged abduction in Budiriro last weekend.

“I only remember that I was kidnapped by three men in town and I do not remember what happened afterwards,” he said.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) secretary-general Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe also confirmed that Dr Magombeyi had been found.

“I have called him and he indicated he is safe and sound. I personally spoke to him. He is in a bushy area somewhere, but he is well,” he said.

United Nations Special Rapporteur Mr Clément Voule is today expected to meet President Mnangagwa after being invited by Government to make an independent assessment of the country’s achievements and challenges in relation to the exercise of rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Mr Voule meets Mnangagwa at a time when the country is the focus of the world following the abduction, dumping and subsequent arrest of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leader Dr Peter Magombeyi in the hands of suspected state security agents.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa is set to leave the country for New York later today for the United Nations General Assembly where the country’s human rights record is set to be an issue on discussion.

Mr Voule yesterday met Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda to discuss a number of issues relating to the new dispensation’s commitment to political and economic reforms.

“I am not ready to comment up until I meet the President. I am here at the invitation of the Government,” Mr Voule told journalists after the meeting.

Briefing journalists, Adv Mudenda said the UN Special Rapporteur was here at the invitation of the Government.

“The meeting went on very well by acknowledging the fact that the UN rapporteur came into Zimbabwe at the invitation of Government of Zimbabwe.

“To that extent, the new dispensation is demonstrating that it is transparent. It does not want to hide anything and hence the invitation was extended to the rapporteur and we are happy that the rapporteur did come,” said Adv Mudenda

The areas covered, Adv Mudenda said, include an update on the political reforms that Parliament is undertaking, particularly electoral as well as economic reforms.

On issues related to human rights, Advocate Mudenda said they have encouraged members of the public to petition Parliament and Government.

“We have encouraged members of the public to petition Parliament and Government on issues related to human rights and any other developmental issues and so far we have received 69 petitions,” he added.