Information just received indicates that senior doctors at government hospitals have also downed tools joining junior doctors who have been on strike for the last four weeks.
According to sources the doctors advised their employer the Health Services Board that they can no longer afford coming to work out of their income.
This is a developing story, more details to follow.
We shall be going LIVE shortly (within the hour)-
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Former Zanu-PF national commissar Savior Kasukuwere says former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s health deteriorated leading to his death due to the treatment he received from his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mugabe died on 6 September at the age of 95.
Kasukuwere said after Mugabe’s ouster in the November 2017 military coup, Mugabe was subjected to a barrage of attacks and humiliation by senior Zanu-PF members.
“I think to an extent that the harassment, the unfair behavior by the comrades who have now taken over the country, we must put it clearly that you can’t keep on doing thisz effectively Mugabe died in exile,” said Kasukuwere
“He was the founding father of our country, come the day of the coup, President Mugabe accepted that well, this is what the nation wants for me to step down and he did that but there were many statements thereafter.
“Everybody who thought they had to say something would say this man was a sell out, he is the one who brought sanctions on the country, very unguided statements by senior members of the party which they know very well that this can’t be accepted.”
Kasuwere said the attacks were unacceptable especially considering that Mugabe and his wife Grace were the only remaining names on the United States and European Union sanctions list.
“To then caricature such a man just because you want power is unacceptable. I think the time has come for us to be very blunt with each other and say no Cdes we are going wrong, we are going astray, let’s respect each other, let’s respect the founding fathers of our, President Mugabe did not deserve to be treated in the manner he was,” said Kasukuwere.
The health department in KwaZulu-Natal has put a stop to the hiring of foreign health professionals, particularly doctors, to accommodate Cuban-trained South African doctors.
An internal circular dated 4 September 2019 signed by the department’s acting head of health, Dr Musa Gumede, states: “The Department has taken a decision to suspend the recruitment and employment of foreign health professionals in particular foreign doctors.”
The African News Agency (ANA) has seen the circular and verified its authenticity. It is addressed to district managers, hospital managers, community health centre managers, institution heads and head office managers.
In the circular, Gumede says the decision to suspend the foreign professionals was taken because the department “has recruited a huge number of South African citizens to be trained as doctors in Cuba”.
Some of the medical students were returning to medical schools around the country to complete their training, continued Gumede, and the department “will not have sufficient posts and funds to absorb these doctors should the recruitment and employment of foreign doctors not [be] reviewed and suspended”.
The department also had a “huge” responsibility to ensure the Cuban-trained doctors were absorbed into the healthcare system in the near future, said Gumede.
“Planning ahead is therefore crucial for this project to be successful, bearing in mind the financial constraints in the filling of critical posts.”
The suspension would continue until further notice, concluded Gumede.
In a statement issued last year as part of celebrations to welcome 260 Cuban-trained student doctors to KZN, the department said there were 2 885 medical students in Cuba who were at various levels of study.
“No fewer than 590 doctors have already qualified from the training programme, while 98 students are doing their final year at South African medical schools,” said the release.
“For the first time, the student doctors would be placed in various hospitals throughout the province, as opposed to the erstwhile approach where their training was mainly concentrated in the metropolitan areas of eThekwini and UMsunduzi municipalities,” said Dhlomo.
KwaZulu-Natal’s then health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, called the agreement to train South African students in Cuba “revolutionary” and a catalyst for the continued “upskilling” of medical students.
Former President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Jason Zhuwao has announced that he has commissioned entertainment company Bustsop TV to cover the funeral of the Zimbabwean strongman
In a tweet on Wednesday the Chairman of the Robert Mugabe Institute ‘ “| I have assigned to give you live updates of the proceedings. From VaMugabe’s arrival to when he is laid to rest. Follow their Facebook page now to keep informed.”Bustop TV has gained popularity in Zimbabwe over its political skits that probe critical developments happening in the comic in a comic manner.
International journalists have been camped at the Zvimba homestead of Robert Mugabe and more are expected in the country on Wednesday afternoon to witness the arrival of the remains of the late leader who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years.
Mugabe who passed away at the age of 95 in Singapore was removed through a bloody coup in November 2017.
The coup claimed lives including that of CIO Boss Peter Munetsi and exiled many ZANU PF cadres including Patrick Zhuwao and Jonathan Moyo.
REUTERS|Even in death, former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe remains an Achilles’ heel for his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy.
Since 1977, Mnangagwa has been on Mugabe’s side – first as his assistant, then as a body guard and then as a trusted minister from 1980, only to leave cabinet between 2000 and 2005, when he lost in parliamentary elections.
Still, Mugabe kept him on the political radar as speaker of parliament, despite Mnangagwa plotting with Jonathan Moyo to effect “leadership change” in the Zanu-PF that would have resulted in a palace coup to remove Mugabe through the infamous Dinyane Declaration in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North.
Despite spending all these years as allies, in his last days in office last year, Mugabe passed a vote of no confidence in Mnangagwa when he regularly claimed that no one among his lieutenants had leadership qualities.
This was followed by what became a Zanu-PF slogan: “There’s no vacancy in the presidium.”
An impatient Mnangagwa would later be fired from the government, before briefly fleeing the country.
His response to being fired was a military coup. Having worked with Mugabe for years, it was not a hard move, but it was a play that broke up their relationship for life.
Now, for Mnangagwa, presiding over the funeral wake and burial of a man he knew so well would be an honour.
Mugabe’s burial was provisionally planned for Sunday – coincidentally falling on Mnangagwa’s 77th birthday.
The event is expected to take place at the National Heroes Acre in Harare. Deputy information minister Energy Mutodi was less than diplomatic when he declared that Mugabe would be buried there, while presidential spokesman George Charamba told journalists that the date and location for the burial had not yet been set.
Mugabe’s family was having none of that, however. “President Mugabe’s wishes on his final resting place must be respected – irrespective of the desires and wishes of any politician, no matter what lofty positions or office they think they occupy,” said Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao in a statement.
Zhuwao also hinted that he was not allowed access to Mugabe’s corpse in Singapore to pay his last respects this week.
To show how much Mnangagwa still needs Mugabe’s endorsement, even in death, the president had a meeting with the leadership of the Gushungo clan – Mugabe’s tribesmen – on Tuesday about the burial arrangements. Sources said the meeting was to convince them to consider a Heroes’ Acre burial.
After the meeting, Charamba said the government was working closely with the family but no date or place of burial was mentioned because it was still a point of contention.
“The delegation pledged full support to government arrangements and programmes, which are being drawn up and executed in close consultation with the family of the departed,” said Charamba.
Political scientist Dr Ibbo Mandaza told TimesLIVE that the main reason for Mnangagwa to push for centre stage at Mugabe’s burial was because he wanted to give the impression that there was no rift between the two.
“It’s simply a move to try to tell the world that there was no coup, Mugabe resigned on his own and left power to the younger leader,” he said.
To date, however, no one knows where Mugabe’s resignation letter is. As a result, assistant clerk of parliament Johannes Gandiwa was fired.
REUTERS|The body of Zimbabwe’s founder Robert Mugabe arrived at the country’s main airport on Wednesday but his final resting place remains a source of mystery amid a dispute between some family members and the government.
Mugabe, one of the last “Big Men” of African politics who ruled the southern African nation for 37 years until he was ousted by his own army in November 2017, died in a Singapore hospital five days ago.
He is proving as polarising in death as he was in life, as the fight over where he will be buried threatens to embarrass his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and deepen divisions in the ruling ZANU-PF party.
The former president’s body arrived at Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport shortly at 15:00hrs.
Crowds had gathered at the airport well before the scheduled arrival time, with some people wearing T-shirts bearing Mugabe’s face and others with Mnangagwa’s image, while music blared from loudspeakers.
A convoy of 4×4 vehicles with number plates bearing the letters “RG Mugabe” and the former leader’s signature were also on the runway.
Mugabe’s wife Grace and Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Mohadi were among those accompanying the body of the former leader on the plane.
Mnangagwa, top officials and other Mugabe family members were at the airport to receive the body.
Leo Mugabe declined to say where Mugabe would be buried, saying only that on arrival his body would be taken to his palatial home in the capital, known as Blue Roof.
On Thursday, ordinary Zimbabweans and supporters are expected to pay their last respects to Mugabe at Rufaro soccer stadium, where the body will lie in state before being taken to his rural home in Kutama, 85 km from the capital.
Mnangagwa and his party want Mugabe buried at a national monument to heroes of the liberation war against the white minority Rhodesian regime.
But some of Mugabe’s relatives have pushed back against that plan. They share Mugabe’s bitterness at the way former allies including Mnangagwa conspired to topple him and want him buried in his home village.
A government minister said on Tuesday the burial was still planned for this Sunday, a day after a state funeral. But the minister said Mugabe’s burial site would only be known once the body had arrived and government officials had consulted with the family.
Mugabe left behind an economy wrecked by hyperinflation and deeply entrenched corruption, and a raging political rivalry between ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC.
The MDC said in a statement on Wednesday that it had postponed its 20th anniversary rally because of Mugabe’s funeral. It said: “Notwithstanding our legendary differences with Mr. Mugabe, we have no reason to exhibit barbarity by hosting a national festivity during his funeral.”
Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda says he will attend the funeral of former President Robert Mugabe since it was a national event.
Matemadanda said he will also be attending the funeral to support President Mnangagwa.
The declaration by the tough-talking Matemadanda puts to rest unconfirmed social media reports that the Zanu-PF Political Commissar and war veterans’ secretary general has been barred from attending the funeral wake.
Speaking on a live radio programme on Classic 263 on Monday, Matemadanda said he was going to attend as Mugabe was not a family person but a national asset.
He said no family member has the right to decide who attends a funeral and who doesn’t.
“I am going to attend the funeral as a leader in the Zanu-PF hierarchy and to support my President Cde Mnangagwa,” said Matemadanda.
“No one in the Mugabe family has the right to decide who attends; they are too small for that, not at this juncture. They don’t tell us how to bury our heroes, they are not heroes.
“Mugabe is a national person and as such, I will attend and if they don’t want me to view the body then I don’t mind but I will be there as a war veteran and a Government minister.” Matemadanda said he has not yet withdrawn what he said about the late Cde Mugabe during the infamous interface rallies.
“Let everyone be reminded that I haven’t withdrawn what I said about (Cde) Mugabe that Zimbabwe was not a family dynasty. I still stick to that up to this day. Zimbabwe is not a dynasty.
“People must know that I was representing all war veterans when I made those remarks. But that does not mean someone has to bar me from attending the funeral; no it’s too late now.
“In our culture, we don’t fight over dead people and who can want to do that. He was a human who had his mistakes but we will give him a befitting send off,” he added. Matemadanda’s intervention follows reports that some Mugabe Family members had banished him from attending the funeral wake of the former President allegedly on the basis of what he said at the height of factional fights in the revolutionary party.
— State Media
The body of Zimbabwe’s ex-president Robert Mugabe has arrived in Zimbabwe from Singapore on Wednesday afternoon.
The 95-year-old statesman died in a Singapore hospital on Friday.
Mugabe’s body and the delegation that was dispatched to bring the body back home was received by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the airport with thousands of cheering ZANU PF supporters brought in from across the country.
On arrival the body was taken to One Commando barracks for formal reception by the defence forces. After that it will be taken for overnight stay at Mugabe’s Blueroof Residence in Harare.
The body will then lie in state on Thursday and Friday at Rufaro Stadium to allow the public to pay their last respects.
According to President Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s funeral is expected to take place on Sunday an announcement which was immediately rebuked by the Mugabe family.
His burial at Heroe’s Acre is also still being contested.
Spokesperson of the late Robert Mugabe family, Leo Mugabe, has disputed an announcement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the late former President will be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre.
In a brief interview with ZimEye.com at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on the sidelines of activities marking the arrival of Mugabe’s body, Leo Mugabe, reiterated his previous stance that the date of Mugabe’s burial and place of burial will be announced by the chiefs from Zvimba when the body gets to Mugabe’s rural home.
Addressing a not so big crowd of people who turned up to witness the arrival of the body, President Mnangagwa said Mugabe will be buried on Sunday at the National Heroes Acre after a series of services at Rufaro Stadium and the National Stadium in the capital.
Watch video downloading below:
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The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary on Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, as the day for the National Memorial Service for the late President Robert Mugabe.
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.
Thank You
God Bless You
God Bless Zimbabwe
Stand-in Warriors skipper Alec Mudimu says leading Zimbabwe to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers group stage is a dream come true.
Joey Antipas’ charges booked a place in dramatic fashion, leaving it late courtesy goals from Marshall Munetsi, Knox Mutizwa and Khama Billiat, much to the delight of the Wales-based defender.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I thank everyone and God bless everyone,” Mudimu told Soccer24 after the game.
“Of course it’s a dream come true and I’m so grateful that God has made my dreams come true, to lead my nation in any game whatsoever, let alone a World Cup qualifier is amazing. It’s a dream come true.”
“I thank the fans for always having my back and supporting me, I thank my family and friends and everyone that has been involved, it’s been a long journey,” he added.Soccer24
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Farai Dziva| A government official has released a tentative list of world leaders who are expected to attend former President Robert Mugabe’s funeral.
Below is the initial list of expected guests:
Ghana – President Nana Akufo Addo, Former President John Mahama, Former President Jerry Rawlings & Former President John Kufuor.
Zambia – President Edgar Lungu, Former President Kenneth Kaunda, Former President Rupiah Banda & Former President Guy Scott.
South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa, Former President Jacob Zuma & Former President Thabo Mbeki.
Lesotho – King Letsie III
Malawi – President Peter Mutharika
Chad – President Idriss Deby
Botswana – President Mokgweetsi Masisi & Former President Festus Mogae.
China – President Xi Jinping Former President Hu Jintao
Mozambique – President Filipe Nyusi, Former President Armando Guebuza & Former President Joaquim Chissano.
India – Prime Minister Narenda Modi & Former President Pranab Patil
Equatorial Guinea – President Obiang Mbasogo
Togo – Faure Gnassingbe
Namibia – President Hage Geingob, Former President Sam Nujoma & Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
DRC – President Felix Tshisekedi & Former President Joseph Kabila.
Congo Brassaville – President Denis Nguesso
Angola – President Joao Lourenco & Former President Jose Dos Santos
Brazil – Former President Dilma Rousseff
Tanzania – President John Magafuli, Former President Jakaya Kikwete & Former President Benjamin Mkapa.
Cameroon – President Paul Biya
South Sudan – President Salva Kiir
Nigeria – President Mohammadu Buhari & Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko
Kenya – President Uhuru Kenyatta & Former President Mwaii Kibaki.
Cote Divoire – President Alassane Ouattara
Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni
President
Malaysia – Former Prime Minister Najib Razak
Singapore – President Halimah Yacob
Cuba – Former President Raul Castro
Liberia – President George Weah & Former President Ellen Johnson Serlief
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Jane Mlambo| Hundreds of people are gathered at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to receive the body of the late former President Robert Mugabe who died on Friday morning in Singapore.
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His body is expected to land at 1500hrs and President Emmerson Mnangagwa who in the morning presided over the burial of the late Army general Mugoba will receive Mugabe’s body.
Mnangagwa is yet to arrive. Other government officials including Stste Security minister Owen Ncube, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi are already here at the airport together with relatives of the departed national hero.
Zanu Pf members including the famous Mbare Chimurenga choir are also here at the domestic terminal of the RGM International airport.
More to follow….
Farai Dziva|The MDC has stepped up efforts to assist victims of xenophobia in South Africa.
Read full statement below:
Yesterday the 10th of September 2019,the MDCSA Province dispatched a high powered 5 member delegation led by the Provincial Chairman Trust Ndlovu to Kathlehong to assess the situation on the ground,that befell our fellow countrymen and women,and come up with a comprehensive report of the assistence needed by the victims.
The team comprised Chairman Trust Ndlovu,Treasurer Joel Marere,I,Innocent Nsingo the Communications Secretary,SAYA Director of Elections Loveness Gotora,and Jozi District Youth Chair Praise Mahlanganise.
Our brethren are accomodated at Tsulu hall in Kathlehong,where women,men and children share the same hall.We couldn’t ascertain the actual number of people who are currently staying at the hall because some had gone to work when we arrived,but according to the list produced to us there are more than 200 people there.Only one male person is confirmed to have lost life in the attacks,and he left behind a young wife and a 6 weeks old daughter.
Various necessities,ranging from food,toiletries,clothing,latex gloves,blackets,matresses,mops,brooms,disinfectants etc are needed urgently.The young 6 weeks babe also needs warm clothes,towels,bath and washing soaps,nappies,porridge,milk etc.
There are some among the victims who want to go back to Zimbabwe.There is need for transport for these people,and some parcels of groceries.They will need among other basic items;sugar,salt,mealie-mean,flour,cooking oil,rice,bath soap,washing soap,washing powder,beans,blackets,clothes,tinned foods,candles,matches etc.
Below is the breakdown of the total number of victims who volunteered to be transported back to Zimbabwe.
Men 34
Women 30
Children 15
Can well wishers help our brothers and sisters in cash and in kind.
MDCSA calls upon the government of South Africa to protect human life at all times,and fellow South Africans to respect the right to life for everyone.
Innocent Nsingo
(MDCSA COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY
0731355093
[email protected]
Yesterday the 10th of September 2019,the MDCSA Province dispatched a high powered 5 member delegation led by the Provincial Chairman Trust Ndlovu to Kathlehong to assess the situation on the ground,that befell our fellow countrymen and women,and come up with a comprehensive report of the assistence needed by the victims.
The team comprised of Chairman Trust Ndlovu,Treasurer Joel Marere,I,Innocent Nsingo the Communications Secretary,SAYA Director of Elections Loveness Gotora,and Jozi District Youth Chair Praise Mahlanganise.
Our brothers and sisters are accomodated at Tsulu Hall in Kathlehong,where women,men and children share the same hall.We couldn’t ascertain the actual number of people who are currently staying at the hall because some had gone to work when we arrived,but according to the list produced to us there are more than 200 people there.Only one male person is confirmed to have lost life in the attacks,and he left behind a young wife and a 6 weeks old daughter.
Various necessities,ranging from food,toiletries,clothing,latex gloves,blackets,matresses,mops,brooms,disinfectants etc are needed urgently.The young 6 weeks babe also needs warm clothes,towels,bath and washing soaps,nappies,porridge,milk etc.
There are some among the victims who want to go back to Zimbabwe.There is need for transport for these people,and some parcels of groceries.They will need among other basic items;sugar,salt,mealie-mean,flour,cooking oil,rice,bath soap,washing soap,washing powder,beans,blackets,clothes,tinned foods,candles,matches etc.
Below is the breakdown of the total number of victims who volunteered to be transported back to Zimbabwe.
Men 34
Women 30
Children 15
Can well wishers help our brothers and sisters in cash and in kind.
MDCSA calls upon the government of South Africa to protect human life at all times,and fellow South Africans to respect the right to life for everyone.
Innocent Nsingo
(MDCSA COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY
0731355093
[email protected]
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Farai Dziva|Warriors mentor Joey Antipas believes there are no more small teams in football after Somalia forced them to sweat for their 3-2 aggregate victory in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Zimbabwe lost 1-0 in the first leg of the tie played last week before they were almost held at home in the return fixture played on Tuesday.
The national team managed to secure three late goals which saw them winning the second leg 3-1.
“I am quite happy to win against the so-called small team,” said Antipas. “There are no more small teams in football.
“It was difficult, but we dominated the entire match and created chances, but they (Somalia) sat back and relied on counter-attacks.
“They got an opportunity and scored, it became difficult for us, but we kept probing and pushing. It was that belief which gave us the victory.”
The game was tied in a deadlock until the 77th minute when Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring. The visitors responded six minutes later with Abdulla Mohamed following a defensive error by Teenage Hadebe.
Knox Mutizwa and Khama Billiat hit the target with six minutes left on the clock to ensure Zimbabwe reach the group stage of the qualifiers.
Farai Dziva|Members of the public are free to receive former President Robert Mugabe’s body today.
The family has invited members of the public to be at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to receive Mugabe’s body.
Mugabe passed on in the early hours of Friday the 6th in a hospital in Singapore where he was receiving medical attention.
The plane carrying his body is said to have departed Singapore at 0230 hours (Zimbabwean time).
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By Pupurai Togarepi |Former President Robert Mugabe is gone, a giant of the liberation struggle and a colossus that stood against imperialism is no more, he has been silenced by ineluctable fate.
In this instance death has been very unkind and unjust, snatching from us a fatherly figure before we had the opportunity to tap all the wisdom from his encyclopaedic memory.
Baba Mugabe was the pacesetter, a trailblazer and the first leader of independent Zimbabwe, we owe our freedoms to him, the schools, hospitals and an informed citizenry we have today are all a result of that liberation war icon.
He ran his race, fought the good fight, just as the Bible says, maybe as fellow revolutionaries we let him down, yes we probably let him down when we allowed an overambitious clique to abuse his old age, but then we all make mistake and that is the mistake we corrected rather belatedly.
A true Pan-Africanist, he was one of the last men standing from that glorious and selfless generation that took initiative to find colonialism and its ills. He was no push over throughout his political life.
For us as Zanu PF youth league, we are proud that we are products of his vision, we honour him, and to express our love we have his birthday February 21 as a youth holiday, we have a Robert Mugabe International Airport, writing his name in stone and for eternity.
Indeed heroes don’t die they just turn into legends and the legend of Cde Mugabe is the one that will live in Zimbabwe, Africa and the world memories forever. We were highly privileged to live in Robert Mugabe’s time and we should remain apostles of his principles.
He was an illustrious son of the soil, the Father of the Nation, a true nationalist who was also a good mentor, a shepherd and symbol of our black consciousness, now he is gone, snapped by inescapable death all we have are sad memories, we remember him because its only natural to remember him and we shall try to follow in his giant footprints although that will be a tall order.
There is no doubt that some may not have so fond memories of Cde Mugabe but he was no saint, his good and bad sums all our hopes and failures, we have to learn from his trials and tribulations – engrave his good deeds in our hearts.
Rest in Peace Our Leader, Rest in Peace Gushungo, indeed “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts…” RG was a special breed from his legacy we learned to defend the Revolution. Rest in Power dear leader of the African cause.
Former President Mugabe played his part and we shall keep the fire burning.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo yesterday presented a paper to Cabinet, indicating Zimbabwe lost about US$98 billion due to the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the United States and the European Union.
This was said by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa during a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade tabled in Cabinet a paper highlighting the impact on Zimbabwe and the SADC region of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the USA and the EU. The minister stated that Zimbabwe had lost at least US$42 billion in revenue over the past 18 years due to the sanctions,” she said.
“It is also believed that Zimbabwe lost bilateral donor support estimated at US$4,5 billion annually, since 2001. A total of US$12 billion in loans from the IMF, the World Bank and African Development Bank as well as commercial loans worth US$18 billion were also lost on account of the sanctions.
“The sanctions also brought about an estimated GDP reduction to the tune of US$21 billion.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the unilateral sanctions had, and indeed continue to inflict grievous pain on the rank and file of the citizenry, especially women and children.
The revelations of the impact of sanctions on the economy fly in the face of ridiculous claims by the US, in particular, that the sanctions were targeted and therefore did not impact on the ordinary person.
The US claims that its sanctions regime is targeted at 65 individuals and 56 companies, and not the ordinary man, when in fact the companies targeted employ ordinary people.
A number of companies including the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) have indicated recently that they were having challenges acquiring spare parts because of sanctions, and had resorted to using middlemen to access the spares, which increases operating costs and makes their freight charges uncompetitive.
SADC has since declared October 25 as a day of solidarity with Zimbabwe against the illegal sanctions.
Minister Moyo also said the document on the impact of the sanctions would be published once it has been adopted by Cabinet.
“Indeed, when it has been finalised, that report is going to be publicised not only to the media but the region as a whole,” he said.
A number of activities are being organised for October 25 to protest the illegal sanctions.
-State Media
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Teenage Hadebe’s mistake almost cost the Warriors in the World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday, but the defender has promised to avoid such incidents in future.
The Turkey-based centre-back gave away the ball at the back, and it resulted in Somalia getting the precious away goal.
The Warriors were leading 1-0 courtesy of Marshall Munetsi’s effort before the mistake happened. They were now in need of two more goals within six minutes to progress to the group stage.
But Knox Mutizwa and Khama Billiat went on target before the full-time to secure a 3-1 victory which sent the team to the next round.
Speaking after the game, Hadebe explained that the mistake was due to some communication breakdown with Alec Mudimu.
“It is part of the game, but it can’t always be like that,” said Hadebe, according to The Herald.
“I made a mistake after some communication breakdown involving me and captain (Alec Mudimu), but it’s part and parcel of the game.
“I will strive to do much better in the next assignments.”
More World Leaders have confirmed their attendance to The State Funeral of The Former President RG Mugabe according to George Charamba The Deputy Chief Secretary in the office of The President and Cabinet.
Here is the list of confirmed guests so far:
Ghana – President Nana Akufo Addo, Former President John Mahama, Former President Jerry Rawlings & Former President John Kufuor.
Zambia – President Edgar Lungu, Former President Kenneth Kaunda, Former President Rupiah Banda & Former President Guy Scott.
South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa, Former President Jacob Zuma & Former President Thabo Mbeki.
Lesotho – King Letsie III
Malawi – President Peter Mutharika
Chad – President Idriss Deby
Botswana – President Mokgweetsi Masisi & Former President Festus Mogae.
China – President Xi Jinping Former President Hu Jintao
Mozambique – President Filipe Nyusi, Former President Armando Guebuza & Former President Joaquim Chissano.
India – Prime Minister Narenda Modi & Former President Pranab Patil
Equatorial Guinea – President Obiang Mbasogo
Togo – Faure Gnassingbe
Namibia – President Hage Geingob, Former President Sam Nujoma & Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
DRC – President Felix Tshisekedi & Former President Joseph Kabila.
Congo Brassaville – President Denis Nguesso
Angola – President Joao Lourenco & Former President Jose Dos Santos
Brazil – Former President Dilma Rousseff
Tanzania – President John Magafuli, Former President Jakaya Kikwete & Former President Benjamin Mkapa.
Cameroon – President Paul Biya
South Sudan – President Salva Kiir
Nigeria – President Mohammadu Buhari & Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko
Kenya – President Uhuru Kenyatta & Former President Mwaii Kibaki.
Cote Divoire – President Alassane Ouattara
Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni
President Malaysia – Former Prime Minister Najib Razak
Singapore – President Halimah Yacob
Cuba – Former President Raul Castro
Liberia – President George Weah & Former President Ellen Johnson Serlief
More to follow…
State Media|A BULAWAYO fruit and vegetable vendor who fatally struck his colleague with a broomstick during a fight over two cabbages worth $2, escaped custodial sentence after he was ordered to perform 840 hours of community service.
James Ncube (33) of Njube suburb was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva.
Ncube, who was initially facing a murder charge in connection with death of Ronnie Ndlovu (30), was sentenced to three years of which one year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining two years were further suspended on condition that Ncube completes 24 weeks of community service at Njube Police Station starting Monday next week.
Ndlovu, who was popularly known as Wire, was selling cabbages for Ncube at the Bulawayo Market along 5th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street, when he failed to account for $2 from the sales resulting in the fight.
In passing the sentence, Justice Takuva condemned Ncube’s conduct, saying the courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of human life.
“On the aggravating features, we note that a life was needlessly lost over a dispute involving a mere $2. The courts encourage people to resolve disputes in an amicable manner and this is what happens in a civilised world. Culpable homicide arising from the use of violence is a serious offence and the courts have a duty to uphold the sanctity of human life and there is need to deter the accused person and those like-minded,” he said.
Justice Takuva said Ncube’s moral blameworthiness is low after noting that the deceased was the aggressor.
“We note that the deceased was the aggressor when he refused to give the accused person his money for the cabbages he had sold. The deceased’s conduct reduces his moral blameworthiness, particularly considering that the accused person showed remorse and even rendered first aid soon after the attack,” he said.
The judge said Ncube also assisted the deceased’s family with money for the coffin and transport to ferry the body to the deceased’s rural home.
Prosecuting, Mr Trust Muduma said on June 29, 2017 at around 8.30AM at Ncube’s market stall, Ndlovu sold two of the cabbages belonging to the accused person in his absence and realised $2.
The court heard that upon Ncube’s arrival, Ndlovu refused to give the accused his money and demanded a commission for selling the commodity. Mr Muduma said an altercation ensued between the two men after which Ncube went back to his stall and started cleaning the place.
“The deceased confronted the accused person and started to assault him. An altercation ensued between the two men during which Ncube picked a broomstick and struck the deceased once on the head and he fell headlong and hit the ground resulting in his death,” said Mr Muduma.
According to the post mortem, the cause of death depressed skull fracture, assault and subarachnoid haemorrhage. A report was made to the police leading to Ncube’s arrest. Mr Arkisayi James Dhliwayo of T Hara and Partners represented Ncube.
Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat hit an excellent strike in injury time against Somalia to keep Zimbabwe in the hunt for the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
Somalia proved a tough nut to crack when the opening goal came only on 77 minutes through Marshal Munetsi.
The worst drama came for the home side around the 85th minute. Somalia’s Omar Mohamed smashed in the all-important away goal that sparked screaming celebrations from the visiting side.
But Knox Mutizwa responded with a superb free-kick just before the 90th minute. The best was left for last as Billiat collected a ball on the left before skipping a defender to smack in a left shot into the top corner.
The Warriors are now set to learn of their Group stage qualification opponents before continuing the dream road to Qatar in 2022.
Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to ‘react accordingly if State security were to try and stop him from attending former President Robert Mugabe’s funeral.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Harare Tuesday, Chamisa said Mugabe’s death is not a party event and Zanu PF has no power to decide who attends the late president’s funeral.
“We don’t want any political party to be monopolising something that is national. Clearly that will send signals and we will respond accordingly. We are the leading party. In any event, Harare where Mugabe last resided, is under the MDC. Mr Mnangagwa resided in MDC territory; they are in our backyards,” said Chamisa.
Watch video downloading below:
Despite the glaringly checkered record as a leader, Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s life story remains one of pan Africanism and hope for those struggling to repel neo-colonialism. In death, just like in his life, Mugabe casts a divisive incongruous persona.
The avalanche of obituaries written fail dismally to appreciate the fact that he was by and large a product of the very same colonial system he fought hard to dismantle.
Growing up in Kutama village the young Robert Mugabe understood well that colonial education was critical to overcome grinding poverty and colonial suppression. He became a very disciplined and studious, influenced by his mother and a Catholic priest.
Mugabe joined the famous Fort Hare University, a breeding ground for African political activism. The university boasts an impressive list of alumni such as ZK Matthews, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Mugabe’s first vocation seems to have been in education and, as a response to that, he worked in Zambia and later in Ghana as a teacher.
In Ghana, Mugabe met Kwame Nkrumah, a pan-African leader that he admired and influenced his own political orientation. The other important towering figure Mugabe met in Ghana was his first wife Sarah Hayfron. These two further influenced Zimbabwe’s future leader’s pan-African ideals.
Due to involvement in politics upon his return home in early 1960s, Mugabe was imprisoned for almost 11 years by Ian Smith’s white minority regime. During his long sentences, Mugabe acquired more academic qualifications that had undoubtedly an effect on his ensuing years. Throughout the 1970s, he fought with nationalist movements in Zimbabwe and the region.
Although Mugabe’s Zanu party was on the verge of defeating the white minority regime in Rhodesia, he joined Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu at the Lancaster House to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Contrary to most misleading obituaries that portray him as a brutal dictator, he was revered in most Western capitals, especially in London. In the early years of his leadership, President Mugabe achieved great strides in education and health for his people.
He stood firmly for regional integration in southern Africa and Africa. He became a formidable voice within the Global South advancing solidarity in the face of apartheid in South Africa and neo-colonialism during the cold war.
While recording these achievements, Mugabe brutally suppressed his opponents in Matabeleland Province (Gukurahundi massacre) while Britain and most Western countries stayed silent. Mugabe was knighted by the queen and received numerous honorary degrees in UK and the US.
Throughout Mugabe’s first decade and half, he protected appalling British interests particularly land agreed upon at Lancaster House. Mugabe’s regime became a typical carbon copy of Frantz Fanon’s depiction of the post-independence African state and elite.
When his progressive agenda to expand education and health was forcefully curbed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank through austerity measures, Mugabe lost support of the urban elite. Zimbabwe’s war veterans became more restive because they had relied on state patronage. To maintain political power and retain their loyalty, Mugabe embarked upon the land distribution programme.
What Africa can learn from Mugabe’s journey is that leaders should be wary of not losing their ideals in their clamour to impress foreign interests. Mugabe was expendable to the West and experienced the ignominy of being tossed when he exhausted his usefulness. Another lesson is that power should not be maintained at all costs, especially if if is detrimental to the people.
* Monyae is director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
SABC|Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says his party is determined to celebrate the life of the late Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe.
He says this week the EFF will hold a memorial service for first democratically elected president of the neighbouring country. Malema says he refuses to allow enemies of progressive countries to dictate how they should celebrate and honour African leaders.
He says they will be also attending the funeral in Harare at the weekend. Watch video downloading below.
“The memorial service is open to everyone, we wrote to Zimbabwe embassy here and ZANU-PF, informing them that we’ll be honouring president Mugabe like we did with Fidel Castro. We always honour those that white monopoly capital wants us to hate, we do the opposite.”
The Zimbabwean government announced that the state funeral will be held at the National Stadium.
Mugabe died in a hospital in Singapore on Friday at the age of 95. A full programme is yet to be released.
The body of Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe was en route from Singapore to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, five days after he died in hospital in the city-state, according to an event schedule issued by his embassy and flight data.
Mugabe’s body was due to leave Singapore at 8:50 a.m. (0040 GMT), the programme of events showed.
A private jet departed from Singapore’s international airport in the direction of southern Africa on Wednesday morning, according to flightradar24.com, a plane tracking website.
Earlier, a police motorcade escorted vehicles to the airport from the Singapore Casket, a funeral parlour where Mugabe’s body was being held.
Mugabe’s body was expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on Wednesday at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT).
Mugabe died on Friday aged 95 in Singapore, where he had long received medical treatment. He had dominated Zimbabwean politics for almost four decades from independence in 1980 until he was removed by his own army in a November 2017 coup.
Revered by many as a liberator who freed his people from white minority rule, Mugabe was vilified by others for wrecking one of Africa’s most promising economies and ruthlessly crushing his opponents.
TimesLive|Robert Mugabe may be gone, but his children will carry the name, good or bad, in their chosen paths which feature showbiz, farming and mining, for years to come.
When Mugabe married Grace, she had a son from a previous marriage to an air force officer, Stanley Goreraza. Their child, Russell, became the eldest in the Mugabe household.
Russell was close to his mother’s business interests and, to some extent, used her influence in striking multimillion dollar contracts. His most publicised deal was the acquisition of platinum concessions by a Kazakhstan company, Todal Mining, in which he played the role of middleman.
It was a lucrative venture for Russell who also acted as his mother’s “fixer” in a deal where they purchased a US$1,5m diamond ring from Lebanese businessman Jamal Hamed.
Hamed is now suing them for US$4m over the alleged “unlawful seizure” of his houses in Harare.
At the time of his stepfather’s death, Russell had relocated to Sandton, Johannesburg, with some associates who ruled the Harare social scene when Mugabe was in power.
Mugabe’s first born and daughter Bona is married to a former pilot, Simba Chikore, and they gifted him with his only grandchild. In Bona, Mugabe saw himself. During his last days in power, he took her on international diplomatic missions. He also appointed her to the Zimbabwe Censorship Board, part of whose mandate was to deal with the “Mugabe insults”.
In the week her father was toppled in November 2017, her wheat farm was burnt by angry protesters. She then withdrew into private life, surfacing at a show for Nigerian musician Davido in Harare in April 2018. One of her notable extravagant projects was the construction of a multimillion dollar mansion in a prime area in Harare.
The two “bad boys” of the Mugabe household, Robert Junior and Bellarmine Chatunga, are the most prominent. The inseparable pair’s champagne lifestyle caused some turbulence, even sparking a diplomatic controversy when their mother walked in on a “party” and allegedly beat Gabriella Engels with an electrical cord upon finding her in the boys’ rented apartment in Sandton.
The boys were not academically gifted. Robert Junior dropped out of university. Bellarmine earned the nickname “Undertaker” from his father. They run a promising entertainment business, Triplife Entertainment.
In 2016 Chatunga reportedly approached a local bank for a loan to finance his business but was turned down. In an interview with the state run Herald last month, Chatunga said their entertainment venture had been funded by their sceptical parents. “My parents actually gave me money. I am not going to lie to you. My parents used to say, ‘we don’t know what’s going to happen, we don’t know whether this will work out or not’.”
Privileged or not, they will both benefit from and be disadvantaged by their late father’s controversial legacy.
ZANU PF vowed way ahead of Mugabe’s death that they will not bury him at the National Heroes Acre. Now that he has died and requested not to be buried there, they are going out of sorts wanting to drag him to the shrine.
Watch video of the lady Mnangagwa sent to Singapore, Mabel Chinomona, to bring Mugabe’s body to Zimbabwe take swipe at Mugabe and declare that he will not be buried at the Heroes Acre.
Late former President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa against diverting from the wishes of his uncle on where he wanted to be buried.
There are people to whom President Mugabe outlined his wishes on where he would like his mortal remains to be interred,” Zhuwao wrote on his personal blog.
“As nephew of the Gushungo clan,” he went on, “I’m very aware of the spiritual power that vanaGushungo have over matters to do with their wishes, traditions and legacy. Let those who think they can torment President Mugabe’s departed soul and subjugate the wishes of the Gushungo ancestors know that they are inviting the spiritual wrath of the whole clan. Be warned; you will never win that spiritual war; kuzvikokera ngozi (that is inviting a curse on oneself).”
The government said the burial would take place on Sunday, September 15, but family spokesperson Leo Mugabe on Tuesday told ZimEye.com that this was not the case.
President Mnangagwa yesterday hurriedly summoned a section of members of Mugabe family at his Munhumutapa Offices where he is reported to have tried to get the group to convince the greater part of the family to allow him to lead the burial of the late former head of state Robert Mugabe.
Speaking at national hero Major-General Mugoba’s residence in Harare yesterday where he had gone to pay condolences, President Mnangagwa disclosed that he had met with the members of the family and chiefs ahead of the arrival of Mugabe’s body today in the afternoon.
“I am just coming from a meeting with traditional leaders from Zvimba,” he said.
“They wanted to express their gratitude with the support Government rendered to our founding President from the time he has been unwell to date.
“The chiefs said they had received reports of all the good works that the Government provided to the former President and thanked us for that.
“Tomorrow (today) we will be burying Maj-Gen Mugoba and soon after that we will go to the airport to welcome our founding President.”
Former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that President Mnangagwa bribed the Zvimba traditional leaders with ten thousand ($10 000) cash each and promises of cars in a bid to influence their decision over the burial of Mugabe.
Posting on Twitter on Tuesday, Moyo said:
It is believed that the meeting was meant to discuss where the former ZANU PF boss will be buried. The State wants him to be buried at the National Heroes Acre whilst Mugabe’s family members are reportedly keen to have him buried at his rural home in Zvimba.
One of the chiefs who attended the meeting, spoke to the Voice of America’s Studio Seven late Tuesday evening declaring that they had met and agreed to handover Mugabe’s burial to Mnangagwa and his government.
Speaking to ZimEye.com shortly after the VOA report, family spokesperson, Leo Mugabe outrightly dismissed the chief’s sentiments insisting that he family has not come up with a final programme nor date which Mugabe will be buried.
Speaking to ZimEye Tuesday morning, Leo Mugabe said the burial of Robert Mugabe is no longer on Sunday as highlighted by the chief and government.
Responding to questions, Leo said the 95 year old will be buried any day after next Sunday.
Latest information also indicates that Emmerson Mnangagwa is banned from seeing his late boss’ body. On Tuesday morning it emerged, the 95 year old will get a secret burial.
The Mugabe family will secretly fly the former President’s body into Zimbabwe and drive him straight to Zvimba out of the public eye and the world only discover about it a month later, his nephew, Leo has revealed.
The late Morgan Tsvangirai’s son Richard Tsvangirai has remarked that the late former president Robert Mugabe was not his hero by a long shot.
The younger Tsvangirai revealed this in a social media post.
If Mugabe was a hero to you, don’t impose that on anyone. In the event that you do, you’ll be doing nothing but vindicating your and his villanism.
A hearse carrying the body of Zimbabwe’s ex-president Robert Mugabe left a funeral parlour in Singapore on Wednesday (Sep 11) bound for an airport from where it will be flown back home for burial.
Mugabe, who swept to power after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain and went on to rule for 37 years until he was ousted in 2017, died on Friday, aged 95.
His health deteriorated after he was toppled by the military and former loyalists in November 2017, ending an increasingly tyrannical rule that sent the economy into ruin.
Relatives and Zimbabwean government officials led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi travelled to Singapore, where Mugabe died after receiving treatment for several months, to collect his body.
A white hearse carrying Mugabe’s body left the funeral parlour, accompanied by police motorbikes, and drove past a group of journalists.
The visiting group, who include Vice President Mohadi, arrived in Singapore on Tuesday and attended a private Catholic mass for Mugabe at the parlour, officiated by a Zimbabwean priest.
Zimbabweans have been divided over how to mourn a former leader once hailed as a liberation hero but who later brutally repressed his opponents.
On arrival in Zimbabwe, Mugabe’s body will be taken straight to his village in Kutama, in Zvimba district west of the capital Harare, from where family elders and chiefs will direct the proceedings.
State Media|Government has embarked on an audit of more than 700 Private Voluntary Organisations registered in the country, amid concerns that most of them have deviated from their mandate and are meddling in opposition politics.
In an interview yesterday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke said Government noted with concern that some PVOs were deviating from their mandate, while others were not visible.
He said the audit exercise will be completed by October as part of the ministry’s 100-day cycle.
Deputy Minister Matuke said Government will rationalise operations of PVO, amid concern that some of them were concentrating their work on areas known to be strongholds of opposition parties at the expense of carrying humanitarian aid in an impartial way.
“We are working well with some PVOs, but there are some briefcase NGOs, those that do not stick to their mandate,” he said.
“They get registered on the basis of what they would spelt out to the Government and once they are registered they do not stick to their mandate.
“We have another category of PVOs that have since ceased to be visible on the ground, we are also looking at all that in our 100-day cycle.
“Another category of PVOs is those that mobilise resources and channel them through humanitarian aid only in constituencies controlled by the opposition.
“We are saying there must be harmonisation of activities by these PVOs because we have noted that in one province you might have several NGOs providing aid, while in other province there would be no single NGO.”
Deputy Minister Matuke said by end of next month they would compile a report.
State Media|The magistrate hearing the case of fired minister Prisca Mupfumira yesterday said he needed more time to prepare his bail ruling, saying there were “intricate jurisprudential” issues that were raised by both the State and defence.
He will make the ruling today.
Mr Elijah Makomo said as a result, he could not rush to make a ruling without thoroughly going through the complex legal issues raised and rolled over the matter to today for ruling.
He said while the bail application was made last week Friday, he did not get time to go through the arguments since he was attending a funeral.
The former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister who is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million which she allegedly committed when she was Labour and Social Welfare minister, made a fresh bail application last Friday following the expiry of her 21-day detention period.
She also made another application challenging her arrest and detention.
Mr Makomo had remanded the case to Monday for ruling, but Mupfumira was further remanded to yesterday after the State indicated that Mr Makomo had lost a relative.
Yesterday, Mr Makomo said: “I would like to apologise first for the delay, but the circumstances are not of my making.
“I lost a close relative on Saturday and had to attend the funeral. I returned to Harare this morning (Tuesday) and only started writing the ruling after lunch. I have covered three quarters of it, if you may be patient with me, by tomorrow 8am I would have finished.
“I noticed that there are intricate jurisprudential issues raised by both parties that I could not rush through hence I need more time to go through them.”
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With the consent of both the defence and the State, Mr Makomo then rolled over the matter to today.
Mr Michael Reza represented the State while Mr Charles Chinyama acted on behalf of Mupfumira.
Relatives and government officials attended a mass for Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe in Singapore Tuesday, after arriving in the country where he died, to collect his body.
Mugabe who swept to power after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain and went on to rule for 37 years until he was ousted in 2017, died on Friday, aged 95.
His health deteriorated after he was toppled by the military and former loyalists in November 2017, ending an increasingly tyrannical rule that sent the economy into ruin.
“When he was 93-94 he was able to walk but the speed with which he deteriorated after the coup is just incredible and I can imagine what he was going through and that’s why I am saying, he rested,” said nephew, Leo Mugabe.
Family members and officials arrived in Singapore, where Mugabe had been since April, early Tuesday on a chartered flight. They are due to fly out with his body at around 8:30 am Wednesday, said his nephew Adam Molai.
The group, who included Vice President Kembo Mohadi, attended a private Catholic mass for Mugabe at the funeral parlor where his body is, officiated by a Zimbabwean priest.
The mood at the service was “sombre, everybody is sad”, said Molai.
“I will always remember the immense, immense contribution he made not only to the people of Zimbabwe but to the people of Africa,” he said.
Asked whether Mugabe had been bitter about being ousted, he said: “Everybody is human. When you go through an experience of that sort, of course you feel pain,” Molai said.
On arrival in Zimbabwe, Mugabe’s body will be taken straight to his village in Kutama, in Zvimba district west of the capital Harare, for an overnight wake.
THREE people, including a policeman and his three-year-old son, died on the spot while eight others were injured when the vehicle they were traveling in burst a tyre and overturned near Mashava.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the accident occurred at the 42km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road near Mashava Mine on Friday at around 12 noon.
He said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary for post-mortems.
The injured passengers were rushed to the same hospital for treatment where the condition of one passenger is said to be critical.
He said the other seven passengers were in a stable condition.
“I can confirm that three people including a 27-year- old policeman who was based in Bulawayo and his three- year-old son died on the spot in a road traffic accident.
“The vehicle they were travelling in burst rear left tyre and swerved to the right before it overturned once and landed on its roof facing east at the 42km peg near Mashava Mine,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said the names of the deceased were being withheld until their next of kin were notified.State media
INDIGENOUS churches in Zimbabwe have described the late former President Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s David, who was a great leader who contributed to the decolonisation of Zimbabwe and Africa.
Speaking during the Ordainment of three Bishops of three different indigenous apostolic churches in Zvishavane, Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) Executive Moderator, Archbishop Johannes Ndanga said former President will go down in the books of history as the country’s own David.
The ceremony saw the elevation of Reverend Tobias Zunguzira, who is the Bishop for Mapisarema Apostolic Church to ACCZ vice president.
“We want to thank God for the long life that he gave to former President Mugabe,” said Archbishop Ndanga. “He accomplished his mission in this country which the Lord had assigned him to do.
“He had his own flaws towards the end of his reign, but we should understand that it was because of the old age. We leave a predetermined life.
“God planned everything for us because the holy book says in the end his will shall prevail. So, we can’t bury all the good deed he did including playing a pivotal role during the liberation struggle. He was unwavering on protecting the gains of the revolution. We know many strayed along the way but he remained focused.”
Archbishop Ndanga said indigenous churches were grateful to President Mugabe for instigating black empowerment through the land reform programme.State media
Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda says he will attend the funeral of former President Robert Mugabe since it was a national event.
Matemadanda said he will also be attending the funeral to support President Mnangagwa.
The declaration by the tough-talking Matemadanda puts to rest unconfirmed social media reports that the Zanu-PF Political Commissar and war veterans’ secretary general has been barred from attending the funeral wake.
Speaking on a live radio programme on Classic 263 on Monday, Matemadanda said he was going to attend as Mugabe was not a family person but a national asset.
He said no family member has the right to decide who attends a funeral and who doesn’t.
“I am going to attend the funeral as a leader in the Zanu-PF hierarchy and to support my President Mnangagwa,” said Matemadanda.
“No one in the Mugabe family has the right to decide who attends; they are too small for that, not at this juncture. They don’t tell us how to bury our heroes, they are not heroes.
“(Cde) Mugabe is a national person and as such, I will attend and if they don’t want me to view the body then I don’t mind but I will be there as a war veteran and a Government minister.” Matemadanda said he has not yet withdrawn what he said about the late Mugabe during the infamous interface rallies.
“Let everyone be reminded that I haven’t withdrawn what I said about Mugabe that Zimbabwe was not a family dynasty. I still stick to that up to this day. Zimbabwe is not a dynasty.
“People must know that I was representing all war veterans when I made those remarks. But that does not mean someone has to bar me from attending the funeral; no it’s too late now.
“In our culture, we don’t fight over dead people and who can want to do that. He (Mugabe) was a human who had his mistakes but we will give him a befitting send off,” he added.State media
Zanu-PF retained Masvingo North Ward 1 seat after its candidate Richard Kudakwashe Murambiwa polled 1 166 against MDC-Alliance candidate with 334 in an election held in Zimuto area on Saturday.
Total votes cast were 1 514 and 14 were spoilt. The seat fell vacant following the death of Ephraim Chinamasa.
This is the second victory in as many elections that the revolutionary party has registered in the province.
An ecstatic Murambiwa promised to work hard for the benefit of people in Zimuto area under which the ward falls.
“I am humbled by the faith that villagers of Ward 1 have invested in me. I promise to serve Masvingo Rural District Council and my people with distinction,” said Murambiwa.State media
THE Young Warriors went to Barbourfields Stadium yesterday needing nothing short of a miracle to overturn a massive 5-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier deficit, but the football gods were in no mood to smile on them.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya’s charges were mauled in the first-leg of the qualifier last Friday in Johannesburg and were hoping to make history by staging an epic comeback.
The Under-23 Afcon is scheduled to take place in November in Egypt. Three of the best finishers at the eight-team biannual contest will qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The visitors allowed the hosts to have much of the ball while maintaining a good defensive shape.
Despite enjoying massive possession, the Young Warriors failed to create any meaningful scoring chance, as they were taught a lesson on game management. The visitors were comfortable with sitting back and holding onto possession rather than taking the game to the hosts.
Ndiraya bemoaned inadequate preparations for his side’s embarrassing exit.
“The game was lost in South Africa; coming here I thought much of the work had been done in South Africa where we were bad on the night and poor in all aspects of the game.
“I think it all comes down to the issue of preparations. We did not prepare, we are a team that just assembled and went to South Africa and you don’t do that at this level,” said Ndiraya.
Zimbabwe progressed through to the next round of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers after beating Somalia 3-1 to record a 3-2 aggregate win on Tuesday.
The Warriors got their goals late in the game from Marshall Munetsi, Knox Mutizwa and Khama Billiat while the visitors got the consolation from Abduli Mohammed.
Zimbabwe progressed through to the next round of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers after beating Somalia 3-1 to record a 3-2 aggregate win on Tuesday.
The Warriors got their goals late in the game from Marshall Munetsi, Knox Mutizwa and Khama Billiat while the visitors got the consolation from Abdul Mohammed.
Despite controlling the opening of the game, the hosts only managed to create their first meaningful attempt at goal on the quarter-hour mark when Evan Rusike’s shot from a close range was tipped over.
They followed up with a couple of attacks but failed to execute them as the Somali goalkeeper stood his ground with the aid of his defence.
Ovidy Karuru had the best opportunity falling on his way towards the break, but his close-range strike in front of the goal was blocked by the keeper. Divine Lunga also got a good chance a few moments later but his first time shot inside the box went wide.
At the other end, the Ocean Stars never made any threatening raid with their only first-half chance coming in the 21st minute but the effort went wide.
Zimbabwe continued with their dominance in the second period, and again, they were failing to break the deadlock.
However, on minute 76, they finally found their breakthrough when Munetsi finished off a corner-kick with an acrobatic kick.
But the relief quickly faded away after Teenage Hadebe made a mistake at the back which resulted in a goal six minutes later.
The Warriors responded swiftly a minute later and restored their lead in the game when Mutizwa’s free-kick from the edge of the box took a deflection on its way to the back of the net.
The Golden Arrows man then set up Billiat in the added time who killed the contest by burying his effort into the top right corner.-Soccer24
Farai Dziva| A government official has released a tentative list of world leaders who are expected to attend former President Robert Mugabe’s funeral.
Below is the initial list of expected guests:
Ghana – President Nana Akufo Addo, Former President John Mahama, Former President Jerry Rawlings & Former President John Kufuor.
Zambia – President Edgar Lungu, Former President Kenneth Kaunda, Former President Rupiah Banda & Former President Guy Scott.
South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa, Former President Jacob Zuma & Former President Thabo Mbeki.
Lesotho – King Letsie III
Malawi – President Peter Mutharika
Chad – President Idriss Deby
Botswana – President Mokgweetsi Masisi & Former President Festus Mogae.
China – President Xi Jinping Former President Hu Jintao
Mozambique – President Filipe Nyusi, Former President Armando Guebuza & Former President Joaquim Chissano.
India – Prime Minister Narenda Modi & Former President Pranab Patil
Equatorial Guinea – President Obiang Mbasogo
Togo – Faure Gnassingbe
Namibia – President Hage Geingob, Former President Sam Nujoma & Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
DRC – President Felix Tshisekedi & Former President Joseph Kabila.
Congo Brassaville – President Denis Nguesso
Angola – President Joao Lourenco & Former President Jose Dos Santos
Brazil – Former President Dilma Rousseff
Tanzania – President John Magafuli, Former President Jakaya Kikwete & Former President Benjamin Mkapa.
Cameroon – President Paul Biya
South Sudan – President Salva Kiir
Nigeria – President Mohammadu Buhari & Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko
Kenya – President Uhuru Kenyatta & Former President Mwaii Kibaki.
Cote Divoire – President Alassane Ouattara
Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni
President
Malaysia – Former Prime Minister Najib Razak
Singapore – President Halimah Yacob
Cuba – Former President Raul Castro
Liberia – President George Weah & Former President Ellen Johnson Serlief
ZIMBABWE came within five minutes of kissing goodbye to the 2022 World Cup but Khama Billiat’s late strike averted a huge embarrassment for the Warriors yesterday.
The hosts rallied back to beat minnows, Somalia, in a nerve-wrecking second leg of the preliminary round qualifiers at the National Sports Stadium.
The Warriors, who suffered a shock 0-1 defeat in the first leg last week, faced certain elimination from the global football showcase until the 77th minute when Marshal Munetsi broke the deadlock with an overhead kick.
Interestingly, the France-based midfielder was about to be taken out when he scored the goal after playing with a stomach bug.
But a moment of horror almost scuppered Zimbabwe’s chances when Somalia forward Omah Abdullah Mohamed took advantage of a defensive error by Teenage Hadebe to level the scores.
The away goal meant Zimbabwe needed to score two more goals in the last five minutes and, considering the way they had toiled the whole afternoon, it appeared a tall order.
However, substitute Knox Mtizwa emerged as the hero.
The Golden Arrows man gave Zimbabwe the fighting chance when he buried a free-kick in the 88th minute before setting up Billiat, whose rising shot gave the ‘keeper Said Alweys Ali no chance.State media
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda has declared that former President Robert Mugabe’s family members are too small to decide the “veteran” nationalist’s burial place.
See Matemadanda’s statement :
If the family members decided to ban me kuenda kuFuneral then it means they did not learn what this country is all about.
I am going to be there where they like it or not. If not to mourn Mugabe but to support my President. This is a national hero, and no clan or province can bar the ruling party from attending rufu. Haisi wedding ka iyi.
They are targeting me because they are afraid to target munhu wavanoda, ED.
Manje vakatamba iyoyo, tichazotaura kana Mugabe avigwa.
Banning me is banning all war vets.
I will not apologise for being part of those that wanted to correct the wrongs. We were against a family dynasty.
So Mugabe is not a family person but a national person. Saka hasi wemhuri
They are too small to decide for Mugabe
Saka ngavadzikame zvavo.. we will talk more kana avigwa. Atizivi Kuti vakuru vemhuri yekwa Mugabe njere dzavo dzoshanda sei? Vanodecider munhu anouya kurufu rwaMugabe varivanani?
Cde Victor Matemadanda
President Mnangagwa yesterday met the Mugabe family members at his Munhumutapa offices where they expressed appreciation on the Government support rendered to former President Robert Mugabe during his illness and the efforts being made to repatriate his remains from Singapore.
Speaking at the late national hero Major General Mugoba’s residence in Harare yesterday where he had gone to pay condolences, President Mnangagwa said Mugabe’s body was expected to arrive today in the afternoon.
“I am just coming from a meeting with traditional leaders from Zvimba,” he said. “They wanted to express their gratitude for the support Government rendered to our founding President from the time he has been unwell to date.
“The Chiefs said they had received reports of all the good work that the Government provided to the former President and thanked us for that.
“Tomorrow (today) we will be burying Maj Gen Mugoba and soon after that we will go to the airport to welcome our founding president.”
President Mnangagwa formally informed Cabinet of Mugabe’s death yesterday, and the gathering observed a moment of silence in honour of the former President.State media
Robert Mugabe was a political thug.
He was obsessed with power.He viewed his political competitors as enemies. In Zanu he eliminated all those who who opposed to him.He used the CIO to deal with his perceived enemies. Just after independence Nkomo was labelled a state enemy.
Guns were planted in Zapu farms later on displayed as evidence on national television .He out-manoeuvred his enemies. I still believe Bob was a communist .
During his tenure the CIO was turned into Mugabe’s private army.They could kill people or make them disappear. Dzamara’s bones cannot be located even today.
He used tribalism to his advantage . He elevated his Shona brothers to strong positions.
Matebeleland was portrayed in bad light.
The majority of people in this region supported Nkomo. Even today this place is underdeveloped.
Well we forgive Mugabe. He is going to meet his creator who is going to judge him.-Concerned son of the soil
Speaking to ZimEye Tuesday morning, Leo Mugabe said the burial of Robert Mugabe is no longer on Sunday.
Responding to questions, Leo said the 95 year old will be buried any day after next Sunday.
Latest information also indicates that Emmerson Mnangagwa is banned from seeing his late boss’ body. On Tuesday morning it emerged, the 95 year old will get a secret burial.
The Mugabe family will secretly fly the former President’s body into Zimbabwe and drive him straight to Zvimba out of the public eye and the world only discover about it a month later, his nephew, Leo has revealed.
The former ZIFA boss claimed this was Shona culture.
He said…” ask the elders the Zvimba if you come from that place.
Ask any sabhuku or anybody that when a chief dies, what happens. You know they will tell you. You probably won’t even know that a chief has died.
“And has already been buried by the time they announce it, they will have buried him about a month ago or something like that. Those are our customs, you know let’s respect our own culture, and teach the world that Zimbabwe is culturally rich.”
The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary on Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, as the day for the National Memorial Service for the late President Robert Mugabe.
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.
Thank You
God Bless You
God Bless Zimbabwe
Michael Zivengwa (38) of Gondo Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe is at loggerheads with his neighbor Tom Ruwange after failing to honour a bet he made concerning former President Robert Mugabe ‘s death.
Ruwange said, “Last year in January Mike came to my house and swore that Mugabe would live to see hundred years.
He said the prophet of the church he goes to had prophesied it.
I didn’t agree and a bet was made, he promising to give me his bicycle if Mugabe didn’t reach 100 while I would give him 3 goats if Mugabe made it.
So when the news came on the radio of Mugabe’s death I went to take the bicycle but Mike refused saying this was fake news.
I waited until the Herald ran the story and I brought the copy to him but he threw it in the fire and refused to surrender the bicycle. I went and reported to the Village head who told me to report to our Zanu PF branch chairman but so far I have not been assisted.
What hurts me the most is I once lost a bet to him when Dynamos won the league in 2011. He won a goat and right now he has over 40 goats from that bet. My goats are unique and have big ears. He named them the Pasuwa breed (after former Dynamos coach Kallisto Pasuwa). “
The Citizen tracked Mike and he threatened to axe us but calmed down when we offered him $20 for his side of the story.
” Kutaura chokwadi Tom handimupe bhasikoro rangu.
It’s the only asset of my business, I use it to run errands like kunogaisira vanhu hupfu and I also use it to ferry my wife to church kuGokwe Center. Malifts aakudhura. Ende Tom akauya achimhanya kufarira kufa kwaaMugabe kunge ndiye akavaroya. Hanzi Mugabe wako afa kuSingapore uko ndipe bhasikoro rangu! I won’t give him, ngaaende anomhan’ara kwaanoda . Pachivanhu chedu hatifarire rufu. I suspect him now of bewitching the former President nekuti akafumira husiku even before the death was formally announced! “
The Citizen
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary on Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, as the day for the National Memorial Service for the late President Robert Mugabe.
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.
Thank You
God Bless You
God Bless Zimbabwe
Former BBC journalist and later Ghana government minister Elizabeth Ohene writes that Zimbabwe’s ex-President Robert Mugabe, who has died aged 95, had a special place in the hearts of Ghanaians.
We in Ghana called Robert Mugabe our in-law. It was in Ghana that he met his first wife, Sarah Francesca Hayfron. He married her in 1961, and she became known as Sally Mugabe.
She was one half of a set of female twins and she was teaching in Takoradi city in Ghana’s Western Region when Mr Mugabe met and fell in love with her.
Ghana had achieved its independence from the UK in 1957, and Mr Mugabe had come to “to find himself” and experience the dream of an independent African state.
The unofficial story was that he had received training on how to wage the struggle for independence in what was then Rhodesia.
Those were heady days in the newly independent Ghana and the Hayfron family was educated, political, well-connected and part of high society.
The father was a well-trained horticulturist and his home was famous for well designed gardens.
Sarah Francesca Hayfron was certainly quite a catch for the then unknown and struggling Robert Mugabe.
As it turned out, his new wife turned out to be a veritable political partner and activist, when he took her back to his home country.
The story of the couple’s struggles in Rhodesia – including their incarceration – have become the stuff of legend.
In the midst of it all, and when Mr Mugabe was in prison, their son, Nhamodzenyika, died of malaria in Ghana.
This was to have far reaching consequences because by the time husband and wife were together again, they could not have another child.
In 1987, Mr Mugabe started an affair with his secretary, Grace Marufu, 41 years his junior, because, according to him, he felt he had to provide grandchildren for his mother. It was not because of his desires.
Sally stayed by her man, continuing as a political activist and earning the well-deserved title of Amai, or Mother, by the time Mr Mugabe became prime minister in 1980, and First Lady when he became president in 1987.
We in Ghana felt we had a special status in newly independent Zimbabwe and it was suddenly the place to go.
The 1980s were not good times in Ghana and many top professionals – including medical doctors, university professors, and judges – went to live and work in Zimbabwe.
We in Ghana silently cheered Sally’s firm but tender hold on her husband.
They were anxious for Zimbabwe to learn the lessons from Ghana, and other African countries, which had attained independence earlier and were struggling politically and economically.
They admired the orderliness of the Zimbabwean towns and cities, and their hosts admired their self-confidence.
But on a reporting trip to Zimbabwe in 1987, I found that many of the Ghanaians were expressing anxieties about Mr Mugabe’s decision to transform his position from prime minister to president. They said they feared for Zimbabwe’s future.
Zimbabweans were welcoming to Ghanaians and I remember arriving at the main airport in the capital, Harare – now known as the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport – and the immigration officer smiling when he saw my Ghanaian passport and saying: “Welcome, our in-law.”
By the beginning of the 1990s, some tensions were surfacing as the emerging Zimbabwean black middle class began to resent the presence of Ghanaian professionals.
But the respected in-law position remained. Indeed, Zimbabwe granted Ghanaians visa-free entry, and the arrangement still exists.
We in Ghana silently cheered Sally’s firm but tender hold on her husband and it was widely felt that she was his moral anchor, who kept him on the straight and narrow.
Sally’s death in January 1992 was felt keenly in Ghana and a large delegation went to her funeral in Harare.
Our son-in-law looked bereft and he gave a most touching and powerful eulogy at the burial ceremony.
Once Grace was installed as the new Mrs Mugabe in 1996, we knew our status had changed.
Many of the Ghanaians left, hardly any new ones went and Zimbabwe disappeared from the destination map of the ever-footloose Ghanaian.
In 2017, one of the last surviving members of the group of Ghanaian émigrés – Roger Korsah, a retired judge of the Supreme Court – died, almost bringing down the curtain on that chapter.
But Zimbabwe continued to have a special place in the hearts of Ghanaians.
We can never be as rude about Zimbabwe as we can be about other countries, and when we hear of its political and economic difficulties, the feeling is one of dismay and bewilderment.
In Ghana, your in-law is your in-law, and deserves respect, no matter what happens.
I have to admit though that the last time Mr Mugabe came to Ghana, to attend our 60th independence anniversary on 6 March 2017, the younger generation was only interested in poking fun at him for seeming to fall asleep during the ceremony.
It was, sadly, a different Robert Mugabe from the man who had married our Sally; now at 90-something and into his 37th year as leader of Zimbabwe, young Ghanaians on social media were unsentimental and unforgiving.
Now that he is gone, we will have to go and perform the necessary rites at the funeral; he was our son-in-law, and that cannot change.
BBC
IoL|The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended three permanent employees and unscheduled one freelancer following evidence showing that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent speech to the nation was “sabotaged”.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening last week, when the SABC news channel aired an incorrect clip of Ramaphosa’s pre-recorded address to the nation on The Full View programme.
The SABC’s preliminary investigation into the incident has revealed that material for the 6pm broadcast of the President’s pre-recorded address was prepared in good time to ensure a clean transmission. However, unauthorised changes were effected without any communication to the desk. Consequently, the programme published and played the rehearsal clip from Ramaphosa’s recorded address to the nation, instead of the final version, according to SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu.
The public broadcaster’s Group chief executive Madoda Mxakwe said: “The SABC will not tolerate any acts or omissions that bring the public broadcaster into disrepute, and undermine efforts to eradicate systemic problems of malfeasance and maladministration plaguing the institution.”
SABC News and Current Affairs Group executive Phathiswa Magopeni added: “Any employee found to be involved in clandestine activities aimed at undoing the ongoing work to restore the credibility of the public news service, will be dealt with accordingly within the confines of the SABC’s human resources and disciplinary policies.”
Inside Zim|Former President Robert Mugabe seems to be taking controversy right up to his grave.
Though no one is disputing his national hero status, questions are still being raised on where he will be buried – the national Heroes’ Acre or his home at Kutama.
Now reports say the family will decide when his wife, Grace, arrives from Singapore tomorrow.
If Grace has any say, will she allow Mugabe to be buried next to Sally when all indications are that she will not be buried at the national shrine when she dies?
If Mugabe is buried at Kutama who will be buried next to Sally as there are reports that a space was reserved for Mugabe next to her grave?
The social media frenzy will continue for the next five days.
Despite being loathed by the West, Mugabe has dominated their news pages since his death in Singapore on Friday.
There were four goals in 15 second-half minutes as the Warriors avoided a massive shock on the road to Qatar 2022
Khama Billiat was the 92nd-minute hero for Zimbabwe as they survived an almighty scare to eliminate Somalia from World Cup qualifying and progress to the Second Round.
After falling to a 1-0 defeat in neutral Djibouti in the first leg, Zimbabwe were lacklustre as they looked to turn their fortunes around at the National Stadium, Harare against Africa’s lowest ranked side.
Marshall Munetsi levelled the aggregate shorelines with an overhead kick in the 77nd minute, but a horror error from Teenage Hades allowed Mohamed in to equalise for Somalia eight minutes later, leaving Zim needing two goals at the death to progress.
Substitute Admiral Muskwe scored a deflected free kick in the 86th minute to breathe life into the Warriors, before Billiat, capitalising on Somali’s narrow back four, slammed home a left-footed winner in the 92nd minute.
The first-leg victory had been Somalia’s first in a qualifying game since they defeated Kenya in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in 1984, their first-ever in a World Cup qualifying campaign, and their first win of any kind since January 2009.
Despite being ranked 202nd in the world, they held the hosts—90 places above them—with a resolute defensive display, and had appeared primed to make the Second Round after Mohamed’s equaliser sent Zim to the brink of elimination.
Of the 54 African nations competing for one of five places at the global showpiece, the lowest-ranked 28 teams are contesting two-legged First Round qualifiers, with the 14 winners advancing to join the top 26 sides in 10 four-team groups.
The 10 winners of those groups will then compete in home-and-away ties for places at the tournament in Qatar.
For the first time in history, Fifa is broadcasting all of the Round One matches across the continent live on their digital platforms.
Deputy government spokesperson and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s closest aide Energy Mutodi says Zimbabweans are not able to use social media in a way that is progressive.
Mutodi got a backlash from ZANU PF supporters over a tweet that he posted insinuating that a certain High Court judge was appointed because his father was a war veteran and not because he deserved the job.
Last week Mutodi torched a storm when he said Ndebeels were refugees from South Africa.
Students at the University of Zimbabwe who were today ordered to leave the hostels to accommodate foreign delegates coming for late former President Robert Mugabe have defied the government order.
The Students Representative Council issued a statement defying the order.
Below is an extract from the statement.
We cannot allow a shift from command agriculture to command mourning. This time we are ready to make sure that as they bury Robert Mugabe they also bury the dictatorial tendencies he planted in this country.
We are fully aware of the motif of the ZANU PF run UZ administration of housing ZANU PF folks who will be attending Robert Mugabe’s funeral using the Halls of Residence at the University of Zimbabwe. We would like to warn them that this shall not be done at the expense of students and we are prepared to meet such a decision with the level of resistance it deserves. This is not only an attack to the students of UZ but it is an attack on the dignity of students across the country.
It is a public secret that accommodation is a crisis for students in this Nation owing to the fact that the very same buffoons failed to provide meaningful accommodation for students.
Students and parents are already finding it hard to sustain a semester due to financial constraints which the cousins of Satan created. We can’t allow those driven by selfish desires to further sink deep in the already empty pockets of the students and parents.
We are calling the University of Zimbabwe to reverse such a call or face the wrath of students as we will find our way into their homes to seek accommodation.
Secretary General
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
The price of bread has shot up to almost $10 following an immediate rise in the price of wheat too millers.
A loaf of bread now costs Z$9.45 (81 U.S. cents), compared with Z$6.80 before.
The state-run Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe on Monday hiked wheat prices to Z$2,200 from Z$1,600.
Over and above the increase in the price of wheat, other input costs such as fuel and electricity have also been increasing
Watch video of Arthur Mutambara resurface to praise Robert Mugabe the man he worked with during the Unity Government.
The body former president Robert Mugabe will leave Singapore on Wednesday morning (Sept 11), five days after he died in a hospital there.
Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, members of the ruling Zanu-PF party and other senior officials as well as family members attended a service at the Singapore Casket building on Tuesday.
Watch video of Kembo Mohadi enter parlour housing Mugabe’s body.
Mr Adam Molai, who is married to Mugabe’s niece Sandra Mugabe, said: “We had a very touching ceremony… it was a very befitting mass, just to see off the body of president Mugabe.”
Speaking to reporters outside the building, he added that Mugabe’s body will be carried home by a chartered flight on Wednesday morning.
Mugabe, 95, a controversial leader who ruled the country for almost 40 years, will lie in state in various centres throughout the country according to latest details.
Zimbabwe’s Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa earlier this week said his body will lie in state at Rufaro Stadium and then at the National Sports Stadium but information coming through indicates that the body will be taken to provinces throughout the country.
Mutsvangwa did not say where Mr Mugabe will be buried, saying more updates will be provided “as more information on the programme trickles in”.
Presidential spokesman George Charamba and Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi had said at the weekend that the former authoritarian ruler would be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre.
Mugabe was the first post-independence leader of Zimbabwe who was initially lauded for liberating his country from white minority rule. But his regime later came to be remembered for crushing political dissent and policies that ruined the economy.
He was ousted in 2017.
Mr Mugabe died at Singapore Gleneagles Hospital, where he was seeking medical treatment.
Mr Molai, when asked on Tuesday whether Mr Mugabe was bitter when he was ousted, said: “You know what, everybody’s human. When you go through an experience of that sort, of course you’ll feel pain.”
The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary on Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, as the day for the National Memorial Service for the late President Robert Mugabe.
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.
Thank You
God Bless You
God Bless Zimbabwe
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Michael Zivengwa (38) of Gondo Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe is at loggerheads with his neighbor Tom Ruwange after failing to honour a bet he made concerning former President Robert Mugabe ‘s death.
Ruwange said, “Last year in January Mike came to my house and swore that Mugabe would live to see hundred years.
He said the prophet of the church he goes to had prophesied it.
I didn’t agree and a bet was made, he promising to give me his bicycle if Mugabe didn’t reach 100 while I would give him 3 goats if Mugabe made it.
So when the news came on the radio of Mugabe’s death I went to take the bicycle but Mike refused saying this was fake news.
I waited until the Herald ran the story and I brought the copy to him but he threw it in the fire and refused to surrender the bicycle. I went and reported to the Village head who told me to report to our Zanu PF branch chairman but so far I have not been assisted.
What hurts me the most is I once lost a bet to him when Dynamos won the league in 2011. He won a goat and right now he has over 40 goats from that bet. My goats are unique and have big ears. He named them the Pasuwa breed (after former Dynamos coach Kallisto Pasuwa). “
The Citizen tracked Mike and he threatened to axe us but calmed down when we offered him $20 for his side of the story.
” Kutaura chokwadi Tom handimupe bhasikoro rangu.
It’s the only asset of my business, I use it to run errands like kunogaisira vanhu hupfu and I also use it to ferry my wife to church kuGokwe Center. Malifts aakudhura. Ende Tom akauya achimhanya kufarira kufa kwaaMugabe kunge ndiye akavaroya.
Hanzi Mugabe wako afa kuSingapore uko ndipe bhasikoro rangu! I won’t give him, ngaaende anomhan’ara kwaanoda . Pachivanhu chedu hatifarire rufu. I suspect him now of bewitching the former President nekuti akafumira husiku even before the death was formally announced! “
The Citizen
The relatives of the late President Robert Mugabe, in laws (Mike Bimha) and government officials have attended a mass for the late national hero in Singapore.
The church service was held this Tuesday with the Zimbabwean delegation in the city-state to repatriate Mugabe’s body.
The group included Vice President Kembo Mohadi and attended the private Catholic mass for Mugabe at the funeral parlour where his body is. It was officiated by a Zimbabwean priest.
The delegation and Mugabe family members are due to fly out with his body at around 8:30 am (0030 GMT) Wednesday.
The late former President’s nephew Adam Molai said that there was a sombre atmosphere during the service.
The location of Mugabe’s burial remains unclear, with Mugabe’s family and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government apparently at odds over whether it would be at his homestead northwest of Harare or at the National Heroes Acre.
Michael Zivengwa (38) of Gondo Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe is at loggerheads with his neighbor Tom Ruwange after failing to honour a bet he made concerning former President Robert Mugabe ‘s death.
Ruwange said, “Last year in January Mike came to my house and swore that Mugabe would live to see hundred years.
He said the prophet of the church he goes to had prophesied it.
I didn’t agree and a bet was made, he promising to give me his bicycle if Mugabe didn’t reach 100 while I would give him 3 goats if Mugabe made it.
So when the news came on the radio of Mugabe’s death I went to take the bicycle but Mike refused saying this was fake news.
I waited until the Herald ran the story and I brought the copy to him but he threw it in the fire and refused to surrender the bicycle. I went and reported to the Village head who told me to report to our Zanu PF branch chairman but so far I have not been assisted.
What hurts me the most is I once lost a bet to him when Dynamos won the league in 2011. He won a goat and right now he has over 40 goats from that bet. My goats are unique and have big ears. He named them the Pasuwa breed (after former Dynamos coach Kallisto Pasuwa). “
The Citizen tracked Mike and he threatened to axe us but calmed down when we offered him $20 for his side of the story.
” Kutaura chokwadi Tom handimupe bhasikoro rangu.
It’s the only asset of my business, I use it to run errands like kunogaisira vanhu hupfu and I also use it to ferry my wife to church kuGokwe Center. Malifts aakudhura. Ende Tom akauya achimhanya kufarira kufa kwaaMugabe kunge ndiye akavaroya. Hanzi Mugabe wako afa kuSingapore uko ndipe bhasikoro rangu! I won’t give him, ngaaende anomhan’ara kwaanoda . Pachivanhu chedu hatifarire rufu. I suspect him now of bewitching the former President nekuti akafumira husiku even before the death was formally announced! “
The Citizen
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