ZANU-PF United Kingdom/Europe District based members who fled Zimbabwe due to the economic turmoil and human rights abuses caused by the ruling party they are affiliated to will hand over a petition to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in solidarity with the SADC region over the removal of punitive sanctions which they claim to have adversely affected the country’s economy.

The development comes after Sadc leaders have resolved to reserve October 25, 2019 as a day when the 16-member states would conduct activities to jointly call for the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

The district’s secretary for administration Xavier Zavare in a statement said Southern Africa countries have to fight these devastating human rights abuses and anti-development sanctions which were inhibiting economic revival and prosperity, killing thousands of ordinary citizens in Zimbabwe and the Sadc region as a whole.

Zavare said the district executive and general membership based in the UK will be convening for a meeting on September 28 to strategise on how best they could actively participate on the anti-sanctions day slated for October 25, 2019.

He added that Zanu-PF UK/Europe District will engage the Zimbabwean Ambassador to the UK, Retired Colonel Christian Katsande, to propose that they hold peaceful protests at the United States Embassy in the UK, Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Westminster Parliament and hand in a petition letter at 10 Downing Street, home of the British Prime Minister, demanding that these punitive sanctions be removed.

“An attack on one of us is indeed an attack on all of us Africans.

“To that regard, our district executive and general membership based in the UK will be meeting on Saturday 28th of September to plan on actively participating on the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day, 25th of October 2019 as proclaimed by the SADC.

“As the leadership, we will be consulting with our Zimbabwean Ambassador to the UK, proposing that as Zimbabwean citizens we hold peaceful demonstrations to the effect that these inhumane and anti-Zimbabwe progress sanctions be lifted up henceforth.

“We will be inviting our fellow from the SADC region, other African brothers and sisters as well as Zimbabwean well-wishers to come and join us on this day,” said Cde Zavare.

He also said that Zanu-PF will write to British Members of Parliament, who represent the constituencies in which they live across the UK, emphasising how these restrictive sanctions are mercilessly affecting citizens as the country’s health and other key institutions cannot access much-needed investment capital due to the devastating economic sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean government has dismissed a human rights abuse report published by internationally renowned Amnesty International.

Amnesty International recently reported that Zimbabwe had witnessed, over the last year, “a ruthless attack on human rights, with the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association increasingly restricted and criminalised”.

In a statement last night, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana dismissed the report claiming that the statement was politically biased towards the MDC.

‘‘We have noted the statement from Amnesty International and wish to object to the use of political epithets and undertones,” he said.

“We have also noted the ill-informed inaccuracies which are contained in their statement.

‘‘Firstly, no Zimbabwean should be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment. Whenever such is alleged, there will be a thorough and professional investigation. This is a position we have consistently stated. We take this opportunity to reaffirm it.’’

Last week, police quashed MDC arranged demonstrations against deteriorating economic environment in the country. The police claimed that the demonstrations were going to be violent and infringe on other people’s rights.

Mangwana said the police will continue with its reform efforts in line with modern policing methods, adding that the force will protect the rights of civilians from violent protesters.

‘‘On the 15th of August 2019, police issued a prohibition order against protests planned for the following day,” he said.

“The reason for this was that evidence had been found that suggested the protests would turn violent. This was challenged in court and the prohibition order was upheld.

“Police had also issued a statement informing everyone that this would not be a legal protest. These are the circumstances that led to the dispersing of the protesters.

‘‘It is the same issue of planned violence that also informed the prohibition of subsequent planned protests elsewhere. The safeguards within our law include access to the court where decisions of this nature are presented for review when one is aggrieved. In all the cases involved, the courts agreed with the police assessments.’’

Mangwana said it was the prospect of a repeat of the demonstrations and direct threats of violence that led authorities to take preventative action by prohibiting the protests that threatened the security of persons and property.

‘‘We also wish Amnesty International would improve on its governance and credibility after recent corruption scandals involving the major abuse of donor funding and false claims that one Tinashe Kaitano of Kadoma had been shot by authorities and buried, a claim which later proved to be a falsehood when Mr Kaitano appeared in court,’’ he said

Mangwana said Government will continue on its reform agenda.

‘’Two of the bills replacing AIPPA are already before Parliament and we have keenly followed and absorbed the contributions coming from citizens and other stakeholders in the outreach programme,” said Mr Mangwana.

“As a Government, we are very happy to see the public participating in the legislative processes, as all laws should reflect both the values and the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people. We hope the emerging laws will help further broaden our democratic space and strengthen our multi-party system.’’

Civil servants have provisionally agreed to have government pay them the offered 76 percent cost of living adjustment which will see the least-paid worker taking home $1 023 per month but insisted that they still want engagements on the minimum wage demand of $4 750.

This was revealed at a Press conference convened by the Apex Council in Harare yesterday after meeting Government representatives led by Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Simon Masanga at a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting.

Apex council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander told journalists that a cost of living adjustment of the total package will be effected from beginning of this month.

“A cost of living adjustment (COLA) ranging from 55 percent to 76 percent of the total package of the basic salary be effected on the sliding scale with effect from 1 August 2019,” she said.

Mrs Alexander said they have provisionally agreed to the offer while they continue with negotiations.

“It must be reiterated that this is a provisional agreement meant first and foremost to allow the Government to cushion its impoverished civil servants.”

However, she said they will continue pursuing Government for a $4 750 salary increment.

“Our substantive demand of $4 750, which is benchmarked against the interbank rate, still stands and negotiations still continue towards that end,” said Mrs Alexander.

Government last week offered the 76 percent cost of living adjustment which the Apex Council neither rejected nor accepted but went back to consult its members and yesterday gave feedback that provisionally sealed the deal.

A ZVISHAVANE taxi driver allegedly committed suicide by consuming a pesticide at the house of a municipal police officer who had clamped his taxi in the town’s Central Business District.

Frustrated by the council cop’s move to clamp his taxi, Tasaranago Chinyoka (41) reportedly bought Dimethate pesticide and proceeded to the municipal police supervisor’s house where he consumed the poison in protest.

Police confirmed the incident which occurred in Zvishavane’s Maglas suburb on Monday evening.
Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende, said Chinyoka was pronounced dead on admission at Zvishavane District Hospital where he had been rushed to in an ambulance.

“Police in Zvishavane are investigating a case of sudden death in which one Tasaranago Vengai Chinyoka who accused a council official, Mr Mufandaedza Mbizvo, of clamping his car and reporting him to the police was said to have later visited Mr Mbizvo’s house.

“While at Mr Mbizvo’s house, Chinyoka, who was holding a bottle of Dimethate 40 percent pesticide, threatened to kill himself,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.

She said Chinyoka sprinkled the pesticide on food he had found at Mr Mbizvo’s house and consumed it.
“Mr Mbizvo called an ambulance which took Chinyoka to the hospital where he died on admission. Police attended the scene and found Mr Mbizvo’s house still smelling of the pesticide. A post-mortem obtained was also consistent with sudden death due to poisoning,” said the acting police spokesperson.

She appealed to members of the public to always seek amicable ways of resolving
disputes.

“People must respect the sanctity of life and in cases of disputes, they must always seek amicable ways of resolving them,” Asst Insp Mukwende said.State media

Harare’s dormitory town of Ruwa is facing a severe water crisis as its sole dam, Nora, is only left with about six weeks’ water supply, an official has said.

Ruwa Town chairperson Mr Kizito Chivafa yesterday said: “We are left with one and half months water supply.”

Mr Chivafa said council had decided to procure at least four water bowsers as part of measures to ease the water woes affecting all parts of the town due to 2018/19 El Nino- induced drought.

“We currently have four bowsers and that is not enough to cover areas that need water in Ruwa. As a response to the current situation we find ourselves in, we want to buy more bowsers to help areas under stress,” he said.

Town secretary Mr Kumbirai Madanhi recently said the council was also putting in place measures to tighten water rationing in order to conserve the precious liquid.

“We are now moving into the water rationing mode. We have to use some stricter measures in terms of water supply. This means that people have to reduce the amount of water that they are using and the town will also reduce the amount of water that we are pumping.

“We have introduced a water demand management system in light of the current acute water shortages. The idea is to ensure that at least every connected house gets water twice a week,” he said.State media

Farai Dziva|There was pandemonium during a council meeting at the Civic Centre in Masvingo after Mayor Collin Maboke had instructed Zanu Councillor Manyanga to take off the “Emmerson Mnangagwa ” scarf he was wearing.

Maboke argued that nobody was allowed to wear party regalia during the meeting.

“After being asked to take off the scarf he was wearing, Councillor Manyanga flatly refused to do so – resulting in chaos,” said a council official.

MDC councillors threatened to walk out of the meeting and council workers had to intervene to calm matters, sources at the Civic Centre said.

By Own Correspondent| As there is a list of many credible incidents when Auxillia Mnangagwa has physically clashed with several people including CIOs at State House over her husband, the world’s largest search engine, Google has recorded a surge in inquiries over the rumoured Auxillia Mnangagwa vs (MDC-T leader) Thokozani Khupe fight, in what has pressured for the two politicians to respond.

Auxillia’s husband, Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the dominating 1980 liberation party has also been pressured.

In the last 24 hours alone, the Google graphic-fuse was pushed to a peak. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, world searches for the two literally spiked.

The spikes were triggered by a rumour that claimed Auxillia physically clashed with Khupe. It was claimed the two were fighting for one man, Emmerson.

It was also powered by a long history of credible reports of Auxillia physically attacking other women simply for smiling at her husband.

Earlier in the year, Auxillia physically bashed several CIO agents at State House and one man was forced to drop his trousers on her orders, “to prove that you are a man.”

She also fired several CIOs and ZimEye has official documented evidence as proof.

Two months later, a military general was in a recorded telephone call told he would be dealt with by her “in your office” as punishment for spying on her.

The rumour was dismissed by the prolific MP for Norton Temba Mliswa who said there is no truth whatsover in it.

Said Mliswa: “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

“The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

Meanwhile, the three politicians had not responded by the time of going to press and efforts to obtain a comment were fruitless.

Farai Dziva|MDC youth chairperson for Midlands Province, Sekai Marashe Muchina has been assaulted by “drunk” Zanu PF supporters.

“Sekai Marashe (Muchina) was today attacked by Zanu PF youths in Kwekwe.

The visibly drunk thugs assaulted the MDC Provincial youth leader before taking her to their Zanu PF offices where they further assaulted her.

She sustained serious injuries.

Sekai has since made a police report at Kwekwe Central Police station,” the MDC said in a statement

By A Correspondent- A Marondera woman, Erenia Guwa, whose husband was fatally shot by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) during the January 2019 demonstration, has approached the High Court, demanding compensation amounting to over $900 000.

The protests against a 150% fuel price hike and the deteriorating economic situation in the country were organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Guwa is one of the more than 40 individuals who, on Friday last week, filed summons against the ZRP and the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), claiming more than $14 million against the country’s security forces for the assaults and killings.

In her declaration through her lawyers, Guwa said she is claiming damages for the death of her husband, Solomon Nyaruwa, who was shot and killed on January 15, 2019.

“The plaintiff (Erenia Guwa)’s claim is for damages arising as a result of the unlawful shooting and killing of plaintiff’s husband (Solomon Nyaruwa) perpetrated by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Marondera,” the lawyers said.

The lawyers further said that on the day in question at about 2pm and at Dombotombo B Centre in Marondera, a group of uniformed police officers, acting in concert with one another, unlawfully shot and killed Nyaruwa.

“The actions of the ZRP officers were unlawful, unjustified and wrongful. The deceased was a general dealer and a bread winner to plaintiff and her two minor

children. The deceased owed a legal duty of support to his immediate family during his lifetime,” the lawyers said. The lawyers also said as a result of the unlawful killing, Guwa had suffered grief, emotional distress, incurred funeral expenses and loss of prospective support for herself and her two minor children.

“At all material times, the members of the ZRP involved in the killing of the plaintiff’s husband were acting within the course and scope of their duties. As such, the defendants are vicariously liable to their actions,” they said.

“By reason of the death of plaintiff’s husband from the wrongful and unlawful killing, the plaintiff has suffered and will suffer damages in the total sum of $901 000 arrived at as detailed hereunder; funeral expenses amounting to $1 000, shock, pain and suffering amounting to $300 000 and loss of prospective support in the sum of $600 000.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- As there is a list of many credible incidents when Auxillia Mnangagwa has physically clashed with several people including CIOs at State House over her husband, the world’s largest search engine, Google has recorded a surge in inquiries over the rumoured Auxillia Mnangagwa vs (MDC-T leader) Thokozani Khupe fight, in what has pressured the two politicians to respond.

Auxillia’s husband, Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the dominating 1980 liberation party has also been pressured.

In the last 24 hours alone, the Google graphic-fuse was pushed to a peak. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, world searches for the two literally spiked.

The spikes were triggered by a rumour that claimed Auxillia physically clashed with Khupe. It was claimed the two were fighting for one man, Emmerson.

It was also powered by a long history of credible reports of Auxillia physically attacking other women simply for smiling at her husband.

Earlier in the year, Auxillia physically bashed several CIO agents at State House and one man was forced to drop his trousers on her orders, “to prove that you are a man.”

She also fired several CIOs and ZimEye has official documented evidence as proof.

Two months later, a military general was in a recorded telephone call told he would be dealt with by her “in your office” as punishment for spying on her.

The rumour was dismissed by the prolific MP for Norton Temba Mliswa who said there is no truth whatsover in it.

Said Mliswa: “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

“The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

Meanwhile, the three politicians had not responded by the time of going to press and efforts to obtain a comment were fruitless.

By A Correspondent- A Kambuzuma girl has alleged that she was impregnated at 15 by famous broadcaster Phatisani Sibanda (46) before she was dumped.

The girl opened up on a social media and alleged that she reported the broadcaster who works at Star FM to the police but the police and the courts did not give her hope to pursue the matter.

She said her parents and relatives engaged the broadcaster but he refused to cooperate labelling her a prostitute.

Speaking to ZimEye’s Mellin Maisva, the girl alleged:

“I fell in love with Sibanda at 15. We attended a wedding where he was a masters of ceremony and I started drinking beer. Phatisani does not drink beer. He then took advantage of me when i was drunk and slept with me. I did not know that i got pregnant, I was still a minor.

After a month, the people around me started noticing changes in my body. I never thought about it. After 2 months that is when i realised that i was pregnant and my mother asked me about it and i told her what had happened.

My uncles went to him (Phatisani) and tried to talk to him but he was very rude to them and told them that i was a prostitute. He even told them that nothing will happen to him because he is well known.

We took the matter to the police and later to the court. The area prosecutor at Mbare magistrates court told us that we had no case because i had lied to Phatisani that i was 18 at the time that i was dating him. Him (Phatisani) did not come for the court session, maybe he sent someone i do not know.

I was then moved to Bulawayo, where i gave birth to my baby but i am not in contact with him. What pains me the most is that he goes around telling people that he infected me with HIV.

This is totally false because i have been tested several times and i am not positive. I cannot date anyone because he makes sure that he ruins all my relationships. He must just stop. He goes around sleeping with a lot of girls and he is well known in Kambuzuma for dating young girls.

I turned 18 in May this year and i have moved on…..He stays with his child and an aunt.

The last time i called him, he went to the police and accused me of black mailing him and demanding $1k. I do not speak to him. He must stop sleeping with young girls and date women his age.

My child is staying with my sister in Bulawayo and I am being taken care of by my parents. I am studying at Harare Polytechnic and i am back at college.

We approached Girl Child Network and they told us to engage them when the blackmail case that he reported kicks off. It has not.”

It is so pathetic that an empty head like Victor Matemadanda would open his mouth spewing nonsense about clients lawyers in the MDC represent.

Matemadanda has no idea about how the profession of law is governed through the Legal Practioners Act administered by our regulating authority, the Law Society of Zimbabwe. There is huge disparity between being a taxi driver masquerading as a war veteran and to be a lawyer.

Law the world over is governed by its rules and regulations that does not accept any form of discrimination of whatever form as protected by Section 56 of our national constitution.

The same daft Victor Matemadanda was defended by one of the outstanding human rights lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa when he was arrested by the Law and Order at Harare Magistrates Court attending the case of one of his colleagues Douglas Mahiya.

Myself and Beatrice Mtetwa had to run up and down at Rotten Row Magistrates Court looking for him after he was whisked away by State Security Agents from Law and Order and the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).

It is an act which I am regretting up to this present day. I would like to take this opportunity to ask the people of Zimbabwe to forgive me for the act of misguided benevolence I did on the day in question.

We were supposed to leave him at the mercy of Mugabe’s menacing agents. So for him to quickly forget how the same lawyers came to his rescue yesterday because of the plastic and false power in possession, and try to regulate the conduct of professionals on the job which he has no idea about is going too far.

Carrying a big empty head is not a sign of cleverness. Douglas Mahiya was being represented by my own nephew and I never persuaded him to dump him. When I met him at my really blood nephew’s office in Central Harare he was ranting about the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights not treating his case as a human rights issue.

He looked desperate and rambled for hours calling upon lawyers to defend him and asked me to stand with him during his time of trials and tribulations.

Today, because they think they are safe, they can waffle whatever comes across their empty heads. We were wrong to rescue you Victor Matemadanda, a masquerade during your time of your incarnation by Mugabe.

Victor Matemadanda is a caricature and idiot who no single Zimbabwean takes serious.

For your own information, the blood that flows in my veins is the same with the one flowing in my uncle Walter Mzembi. His life is mine. His trials and tribulations are mine.

As a lawyer do you think I have got space to listen to your persecution of him disguised as fighting corruption. My uncle survived poisoning of the colon which was admistered on him by the Varakashi. You poisoned him and wanted to kill him.

My Uncle has never committed a single act of abusing his authority at any material time when he was still the member of your rotten party which he is no longer. He is happy in his present political station.

He needs his peace and happiness rather than political harassment disguised as fighting corruption by clueless and empty vessels like this masquerade called Victor Matemadanda.

This is the only time I have spoken on my client-legal practitioner relationship with my uncle Walter Mzembi. Don’t harass me over my professional relationship with my uncle. You can go hang.

Job Wiwa Sikhala
MDC National Vice Chairman

By A Correspondent- There was pandemonium during a council meeting at the Civic Centre in Masvingo after Mayor Collin Maboke had instructed Zanu Councillor Manyanga to take off the “Emmerson Mnangagwa ” scarf he was wearing.

Maboke argued that nobody was allowed to wear party regalia during the meeting.

“After being asked to take off the scarf he was wearing, Councillor Manyanga flatly refused to do so – resulting in chaos,” said a council official.

MDC councillors threatened to walk out of the meeting and council workers had to intervene to calm matters, sources at the Civic Centre said.

By A Correspondent- Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has branded MDC Midlands youth assembly chairperson, Sekai Marashe (Muchina) a “prostitute” after she was beaten by suspected ZANU PF youths.

The attack reportedly occurred on Tuesday (today) in Kwekwe when the visibly drunk ZANU PF youths assaulted her, and then took her to their offices where she was further assaulted.

Commenting on the pictures of the battered and bruised “Muchina”, Mutodi said:

“These are purely beer drink fights… They have nothing to do with the government or human rights. You are looking for an opportune moment to tarnish the government but unfortunately, we can’t guarantee drunkards and prostitutes will not assault each other during our democratic rule.

… No matter how democratic our government can be, we can never guarantee that drunkards and prostitutes stop fighting.”

However, Twitter users castigated Mutodi for being coarse and insensitive for his remarks as it is not something expected of a senior government official.

By A Correspondent- An 18 year old Kambuzuma girl has alleged that she was impregnated at 15 by famous broadcaster Phatisani Sibanda and dumped.

The girl opened up on Zimbabwe’s most popular social media FB group and alleged that she reported the broadcaster who works at Star FM to the police and her case kept disappearing.

She said her parents and relatives engaged the broadcaster but he refused to cooperate labelling her a prostitute.

Speaking to Mvengemvenge’s Mellin Maisva, the girl alleged:

“I fell in love with Sibanda at 15. We attended a wedding where he was a master of ceremony and I started drinking beer. Phatisani does not drink beer. He then took advantage of me when i was drunk and slept with me. I did not know that i got pregnant, I was still a minor.

After a month, the people around me started noticing changes in my body. I never thought about it. After 2 months that is when i realised that i was pregnant and my mother asked me about it and i told her what had happened.

My uncles went to him (Phatisani) and tried to talk to him but he was very rude to them and told them that i was a prostitute. He even told them that nothing will happen to him because he is well known.

We took the matter to the police and later to the court. The area prosecutor at Mbare magistrates court told us that we had no case because i had lied to Phatisani that i was 18 at the time that i was dating him. Him (Phatisani) did not come for the court session, maybe he sent someone i do not know.

I was then moved to Bulawayo, where i gave birth to my baby but i was not in contact with him. What pains me the most is that he goes around telling people that he infected me with HIV.

This is totally false because i have been tested several times and i am not positive. I cannot date anyone because he makes sure that he ruins all my relationships. He must just stop. He goes around sleeping with a lot of girls and he is well known in Kambuzuma for dating young girls.

I turned 18 in May this year. He stays with his child and an aunt.

The last time i called him, he went to the police and accused me of black mailing him and demanding $1k. I do not speak to him. He must stop sleeping with young girls and date women his age.

My child is staying with my sister in Bulawayo and I am being taken care of by my parents. I am studying at Harare Polytechnic and i am back at college.

We approached Girl Child Network and they told us to engage them when the blackmail case that he reported kicks off. It has not.”

By A Correspondent- The Bulawayo City Council has said it resorted to water disconnections as its financial situation is dire and residents had to pay to ensure uninterrupted service. 

In an interview Monday, the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube described water disconnections as a last resort to recover part of what the city is owed by ratepayers, as its books are in shambles due to non-payment of rates. 

“The situation is very bad now because residents are not paying their dues. Disconnections are done as a last resort to encourage rate payers to honour their obligations or at least pay something and make payment plans to enable council to continue with the provision of services,” said the Town Clerk. 

He said water disconnections had since divided residents, with some being for the idea while others felt that it was too harsh.

“The disconnections have received mixed feelings from the residents. Those who are paying their dues are happy to see council doing something about defaulters. 

“Some defaulters have come forward to pay what they can afford and made payment plans. Alas, there are those who simply don’t want to pay and we’ve complaints mainly on affordability challenges. However, as council we’ve an obligation to collect revenue and all the efforts are not in any way meant to punish our citizens but to cater for their welfare,” said the Town Clerk. 

Municipal banking halls were a hive of activity over the weekend and the whole day yesterday as residents rushed to service their accounts and negotiate for payment plans.

At Nkulumane housing office, some residents said they had last paid their rates in 2018 as they were struggling to make ends meet.

“I am struggling. I am surviving on money from tenants at my house, so it becomes difficult to pay rates. But now since they are disconnecting water I have no choice but to just pay. I brought money for three months so I am hoping that I will be able to make a payment plan. The queues are just too long,’ said Mrs Nancy Lunga, a resident.

Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairperson, Mr Winos Dube, urged Government to intervene in the matter to ensure that ratepayers are protected in the prevailing difficult economic times.

Mr Dube urged residents to be responsible citizens and make efforts to meet their obligations as residents of the city.

However, he called on council to find more innovative ways of generating revenue than relying on rate payers.

“We call on Government to intervene on the matter and ensure that the resident’s right to water is protected. This is a clear indication that things are difficult. -StateMedia

By A Correspondent- One of Matabeleland South’s traditional leaders, Chief Mathema, has said he smells a political hand in the recent incarceration of the outspoken Ntabazinduna chief, Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni.

Mathema said the arson charge and value of the property destroyed did not warrant the harsh sentence imposed on his fellow chief.

He said if the State was not satisfied with the chief’s judgment, it should have done it properly and reversed it than incarcerate him.

Chief Ndiweni, together with 23 of his subjects, were sentenced to 24 months in prison for malicious damage to property by Bulawayo provincial magistrate Gladmore Mushowe a fortnight ago. Six months of his sentence – including those of his subjects – were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

His subjects had the remaining 18 months of their sentence suspended on condition they completed 525 hours of community service at different stations in Ntabazinduna.

The chief was jailed to an effective 18 months as the court noted that his moral blameworthiness was too high as he acted “in a barbaric manner for a modern society”, since he was a custodian of the law.

The traditional leader and his subjects were accused of destroying one of his subjects, Fethi Mbele’s fence and burnt his kraal after he allegedly defied his order and took back his wife, who the chief had banished from his area of jurisdiction for adultery.

Responding to a question during a presentation at a Community Youth Development Trust-organised Matabeleland South anti-corruption indaba on Friday, Chief Mathema said he suspected a political hand behind the whole case.

“In my view, there was a political hand behind the incarceration of Chief Ndiweni. Traditional leaders derive their power from the communities they lead, culture and norms. You saw that he was arrested together with 23 of his subjects, which shows he had the support of his people who didn’t condone adultery in their community,” Chief Mathema said.

“Something went wrong; he shouldn’t have gone to jail. There are a lot of things which went wrong; he shouldn’t have been jailed for a value of $300 bond.”

The traditional leader said the country has an appeals system which should have been used to reverse Chief Ndiweni’s judgment and made him compensate the damage than to send him to jail.

“You know, I’m from a rural set up. It now needs law gurus to consult and see what went wrong. They should have used the appeals system, up to the ConCourt (Constitutional Court), without jailing the chief. We make mistakes as traditional leaders at our courts, but there are proper ways to deal with it. Just like magistrates, they are not jailed since their judgments go for review before a High Court judge,” he said.

Chief Ndiweni and his subjects, through their lawyer Dumisani Dube, last week filed an appeal at the High Court against both their conviction and sentence.

The traditional leader has also filed for bail pending appeal. He is currently held at Khami Prison, waiting for the appeal cases to be heard at the High Court. Before his incarceration, he had been critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has branded MDC Midlands youth assembly chairperson, Sekai Marashe (Muchina) a “prostitute” after she was beaten by suspected ZANU PF youths.

The attack reportedly occurred on Tuesday (today) in Kwekwe when the visibly drunk ZANU PF youths assaulted her, and then took her to their offices where she was further assaulted.

Commenting on the pictures of the battered and bruised “Muchina”, Mutodi said:

“These are purely beer drink fights… They have nothing to do with the government or human rights. You are looking for an opportune moment to tarnish the government but unfortunately, we can’t guarantee drunkards and prostitutes will not assault each other during our democratic rule.

… No matter how democratic our government can be, we can never guarantee that drunkards and prostitutes stop fighting.”

However, Twitter users castigated Mutodi for being coarse and insensitive for his remarks as it is not something expected of a senior government official.

By A Correspondent- The Apex Council has provisionally accepted the salary offer tabled by the government of between 50% and 76% and said that negotiations are ongoing.

This follows a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting held in Harare on Tuesday.

The NJNC agreement reads as follows:

Having taken note of the challenges being faced by members of the Public Service due to the rising cost of living, and having noted the state of the economy, the following agreement was made in the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting held on 27 August 2019 at Kaguvi Building, Harare that:

• a cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) ranging from 50% to 76% of the total package (basic salary + transport allowance + representation where applicable) be effected on a sliding scale with effect from 1 August 2019.

The Council also agreed that negotiations would continue taking into consideration the cost of living and the prevailing economic environment.

Meanwhile, on Monday, doctors and teachers rejected the offer, with the former saying that the deal is tantamount to nothing.

By A Correspondent- Lecturers at state universities and colleges have been urged to exercise patience while the government reviews their conditions of service.

This follows threats of job action issued by the lecturers through the Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics, a collective of state university lecturers.

Speaking at Hillside Teachers’ College graduation ceremony last week, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira assured the restive lecturers that the Treasurer is looking into their issues.

He said:

Processes are going on, therefore let’s wait and see what is going to come out from those discussions.

Through their association, university staff met with the ministry and we came up with a document.

That document was taken and given to the Ministry of Finance. We believe that something is going to come out of it.

Last week the government offered civil servants a 76% pay rise which has since been rejected by the Apex Health Council and the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) as well as by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA).

By A Correspondent- Lecturers at state universities and colleges have been urged to exercise patience while the government reviews their conditions of service.

This follows threats of job action issued by the lecturers through the Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics, a collective of state university lecturers.

Speaking at Hillside Teachers’ College graduation ceremony recently, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira assured the restive lecturers that the Treasurer is looking into their issues.

He said:

“Processes are going on, therefore let’s wait and see what is going to come out from those discussions.

Through their association, university staff met with the ministry and we came up with a document.

That document was taken and given to the Ministry of Finance. We believe that something is going to come out of it.”

Last week the government offered civil servants a 76% pay rise which has since been rejected by the Apex Health Council and the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) as well as by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA).

This past weekend there was a lavish wedding for one of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s children in Harare. The rich and famous attended in all their finery.

It is of course right and proper for parents to celebrate the nuptials of their children, that is not the issue.

What sticks in the throat is that over the weekend at the very same time these celebrations were taking place, seemingly with no expense spared at the wedding, innocent poor people were incarcerated by Mnangagwa’s regime.

One was a Chief of great integrity sentenced unjustly to 18 months imprisonment on politically motivated charges, in essence for speaking out against corruption and abuse of power.

Some others were a group of teachers detained and assaulted for complaining about the US$40 salary the government is paying teachers.

Another was an MDC leader detained unjustly for not being clairvoyant – in other words for not anticipating that the government would ban a peaceful march (called to complain about corruption) at the 11th hour.

In essence, all these Zimbabweans were jailed because they have been complaining about the excesses flaunted by the ruling elite in their lavish lifestyles and about the vile levels of corruption in Zimbabwe which largely facilitate these lifestyles.

It is the juxtaposition of, the contrast between, the opulent lifestyles of the ruling corrupt elite and the suffering of the poor which is so wrong in Zimbabwe.

I am no socialist – far from it – but when vast wealth has been acquired and/or retained through position rather than work and is done at the expense of millions of Zimbabweans floundering under oppressive rule, it is unjust.

I have posted 5 pictures below – all apparently taken over the weekend and they tell a thousand stories, and those stories are not just about Mr Mnangagwa himself.

Those who joined in the revelry, of all races, do not appear to care a damn for the suffering caused to millions of Zimbabweans by the regime led by their host.

There is certainly no evidence that they have even whispered their disquiet with what is going on all around them.

By A Correspondent- An 18 year old Kambuzuma girl was allegedly impregnated and dumped by the famous broadcaster Phatisani Sibanda at the age of 15, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.

The girl who opened up on social media, alleged that she reported the broadcaster who works at Star FM to the police while her case kept disappearing.

She said her parents and relatives engaged the broadcaster but he refused to cooperate labelling her a prostitute instead.

Speaking to Mvengemvenge’s Mellin Maisva, the girl alleged:

“I fell in love with Sibanda at 15. We attended a wedding where he was a master of ceremony and I started drinking beer. Phatisani does not drink beer. He then took advantage of me when i was drunk and slept with me. I did not know that i got pregnant, I was still a minor.

After a month, the people around me started noticing changes in my body. I never thought about it. After 2 months that is when i realised that i was pregnant and my mother asked me about it and i told her what had happened.

My uncles went to him (Phatisani) and tried to talk to him but he was very rude to them and told them that i was a prostitute. He even told them that nothing will happen to him because he is well known.

We took the matter to the police and later to the court. The area prosecutor at Mbare magistrates court told us that we had no case because i had lied to Phatisani that i was 18 at the time that i was dating him. Him (Phatisani) did not come for the court session, maybe he sent someone i do not know.

I was then moved to Bulawayo, where I gave birth to my baby but I was not in contact with him. What pains me the most is that he goes around telling people that he infected me with HIV.

This is totally false because i have been tested several times and i am not positive. I cannot date anyone because he makes sure that he ruins all my relationships. He must just stop. He goes around sleeping with a lot of girls and he is well known in Kambuzuma for dating young girls.

I turned 18 in May this year …..He stays with his child and an aunt.

The last time I called him, he went to the police and accused me of black mailing him and demanding $1k. I do not speak to him. He must stop sleeping with young girls and date women his age.

My child is staying with my sister in Bulawayo and I am being taken care of by my parents. I am studying at Harare Polytechnic and i am back at college.

We approached Girl Child Network and they told us to engage them when the blackmail case that he reported kicks off. It has not.”

Efforts to get a comment from Sibanda were fruitless at the time writing.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released the names of three of the five victims who died in a road accident that occurred along the Masvingo Beitbridge highway on Saturday.

In a statement on Monday, National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said those that have been identified are:

1. Pardon Sibanda Mutsikwa (40) of Mboma Village, Chief Shindi in Chivi
2. Sibanda Kizito of Kwekwe, Chief Kwekwete in Kwekwe
3. Rwizi Madhuke with no further particulars

Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi added:

“The other two bodies of female adults are yet to be identified and police appeal to members of the public missing their relatives to visit Neshuro Mortuary to help in identification of the victims.”

By A Correspondent- Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said that a service station in Harare CBD is set to lose its dealership for refusing other payment methods.

Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Chasi revealed that Engen Harare Street and Robert Mugabe was reported to the, and summoned by the Oil company.

He said:

“ENERGY UPDATE: Engen Harare Street and Robert Mugabe was refusing other payment modes. It was reported to the Oil Company which has summoned the Dealer & revocation of the dealership is now in progress.”

Analysts have blasted the Zimbabwe Army Generals for the repeated show of support to ZANU PF and labelling opposition members as regime change agents.

On Tuesday the state owned Herald Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo saying, “As security forces and guarantors of peace and security, we realise that the stability of the nation needs to be safeguarded from proponents of regime change who pride themselves in sowing seeds of disharmony and anger among our people.”

Political analyst Fortune Mlalazi said, “The General is clearly offside. The constitution of Zimbabwe is very clear that the army must not be partisan and their role is not to temper with political processes. When you see such statements being uttered by Generals of the army the nation must be very afraid. We saw such statements coming from Zvinavashe and Chiwenga and we know what the army did to citizens. The only hope in Zimbabwe lies with international solidarity because the army is embedded in the ruling party and they will do everything to keep that party in power no matter how much it oppresses people.”

Lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa said, “In a truly New Zimbabwe these rogue army generals must be dismissed. We are tired of disguised partisan political bootlickers.”

During the bloody November 2017 coup that ended 37 years of President Robert Mugabe’s iron rule, the army made it clear that it shares an umbilical cord with the revolutionary party ZANU PF.

While the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) is making huge demands from the government, their children are right behind making demands of their own saying they deserve special recognition for the ‘heroic’ traits of their fathers and mothers.

The government spends millions of dollars sending children of war veterans to schools but the children say it is not enough and they demand that the government set up a fund that addresses their welfare.

Masvingo provincial chairperson of the Children of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veteran Association, Sengerayi Manyanga said as the children of the national liberation heroes they want better treatment from the government.

“We as the children of the war veterans we want the government to introduce the children of the war veterans’ fund. We want that fund to be available on our motherboard in the ministry. The fund will be used for the wellbeing of the children of the national liberation struggle fighters.

“In a document that we are going to present to the ministry, we have highlighted it as our priority. They have to find that fund; they must source it even from other countries,” said Manyanga.

Some of the widows and children of the fallen heroes that are laid at the provincial heroes’ shrine revealed that the government has long forgotten about them and are only remembered on Heroes’ Day.

ZNLWA Masvingo provincial chairperson Tendeukai Chinooneka said the government must make sure that the welfare of war veterans and their families is guaranteed.

“We hope that things are going to move in the right direction if the government is given enough time to implement what they have put forward concerning the welfare of us and our families,” said Chinooneka.

Early this month, war veterans in Chiredzi made ridiculous demands that their children should be given first preference when they look for jobs even if they do not possess the required qualifications.

TellZim News

High Court today reserved its judgment of Opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change  (MDC)’s National Executive member, Paddington Japajapa’s appeal of his two year jail sentence for unconstitutionally announcing election results to August 30

The High Court of Zimbabwe reserved the judgement for his application in which he is saying the sentence passed by the magistrates court was not fair for the offense being levelled against him.

The MDC national Executive member was convicted for the charge of ‘unofficial or false declaration of results’ by a Harare Magistrate Learnmore Mapiye, who decided that Japa Japa will be locked up for three years, suspending one year on condition of good behaviour, considering that Japajapa had no prior offence related to the case.

The State’s case was that on July 31, 2018, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was announcing election results when Japajapa held a press conference and threatened to call for chaos, claiming the elections had been rigged

Meanwhile, MDC vice president Tendai Biti was convicted of the same offence, prior to the same election period but however, he was  sentenced to a wholly suspended six-month imprisonment sentence on condition of good behaviour.

The MDC vice-chairperson was also ordered to pay $200 fine or seven days imprisonment.

However, the MDC is still adamant that the ZEC connived with the ruling ZANU PF to manipulate the election results in favour of ZANU PF presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa was declared the winner in the election that was unsuccessfully challenged by the opposition MDC at the courts.

Social media has been abuzz with claims that Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Vangelis Haritatos on Monday made sensational remarks that Zimbabweans are eating too much Sadza affecting the national grain reserves.

Haritatos is said to have been quoted by Star FM radio making the unfortunate remarks on Monday.

Renowned junior journalist Mlondolozi Ndlovu broke the matter on his social media page attracting heavy criticism on the deputy minister.

“Zimbabwean deputy Minister Peter Haritatos has urged the country’s citizens to STOP eating sadza/isitshwala THREE times a day saying the country facing acute maize shortages. What then should the poor eat given the high prices of basic commodities? I thought isitshwala was the last option! Sidleni?” wrote Ndlovu.

Haritatos reminded Zimbabweans of former President Robert Mugabe in 2003 when he told a foreign journalist interviewing him on the sidelines of a UN summit in New York that Zimbabweans were starving not because there is lack of food in the country but because they are too much of the staple food.

Mugabe like Haritotas said Zimbabweans were starving because they love their sadza so much that they do not want to eat other foods that are in abundance. Rice and potatoes for instance.

Now, those that are familiar with history, particularly history of the French revolution, will tell you that Mugabe and Haritatos remarks are tragically reminiscent of those of Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XIV, the king who was overthrown in a revolution.

She was told that the poor were demonstrating because they had no bread and she is said to have famously remarked: “If they can’t eat bread let them eat cake.”

Below are some of the responses on digital media in response to the Deputy Minister’s claims.

Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has dismissed a circulating article that First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was involved in a nasty altercation with MDC-T President Dr Thokozani Khupe at a wedding over the weekend.

The article had claimed that Mnangagwa was not happy that Dr Khuphe  was invited to her son’s wedding and guests were shocked guests watched as the feisty first lady accosted Khupe and demanded that she leaves the venue.

Said Mliswa, “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.”

Mliswa added that, “The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

The story had claimed that President Mnangagwa invited Khupe without consulting his wife who suspects that Khupe and the President are more than just political allies.

Khaliphani Phugeni, Spokesman for MDC-T President, Dr Thokozani Khuphe, has dismissed weekend social media reports about an attack on Dr Khuphe by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.

‘Dr Khupe was in Bulawayo at her house on Saturday and on Sunday was in Plumtree campaigning for our Magwe candidate.’

Khaliphani Phugeni said this story was the usual clowning by MDC Alliance juveniles.

Meanwhile, Independent member of parliament for Norton Constituency Temba Mliswa who attended the wedding also dismissed the alledged fight between the two women.

Social media was awash with a story of how Dr Thokozani Khuphe was thrown out by a deranged Auxillia Mnangagwa at the Wedding of her son, Emerson Mnangagwa Jnr.

The bail pending appeal application by jailed Nhlambaloyi Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni at the High Court on Tuesday was frustrated by the State prosecutor who asked for time to respond to Chief Ndiweni’s application.

The prosecutor said the sentencing Magistrate has still not supplied reasons for the sentencing she gave.

The presiding Judge Mabhikwa said the state should avail its response to the bail application and heads of arguments by 4.30pm today.

The case for bail hearing will be heard in court tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10AM.

Sources within the country’s intelligence revealed to media houses last week that the full judgement by the magistrate was sensitive and an instruction was issued that it must not be provided to the lawyers and the public but be kept under lock and key.

Commenting on the latest developments MDC Treasurer General David Coltart said, “It is appalling that the State isn’t ready to argue the matter resulting in Chief Ndiweni having to spend another night in detention in the disgusting conditions prevailing at Khami Prison.

“I question how often the Minister of Justice, Judges, Magistrates and State Prosecutors visit and inspect conditions in police cells and prisons. The flippant way in which negligence, or worse, malice, is allowed to deny citizen’s fundamental rights to liberty is shocking.”

Ndiweni is being represented by Professor Welshman Ncube and Dumisani Dube of Mathonsi law chambers.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

MDC Youth Chairperson for Midlands, Sekai Marashe (Muchina) has been attacked by Zanu Pf youths in Kwekwe.

The youths assaulted and abducted her to Zanu Pf headquarters in Kwekwe. She sustained serious injuries.

She is heading to Kwekwe Central Police station now to report the matter and then go to seek medical attention.

Midlands Youth Assembly Information Department

Farai Dziva|There was pandemonium during a council meeting at the Civic Centre in Masvingo after Mayor Collin Maboke had instructed Zanu Councillor Manyanga to take off the “Emmerson Mnangagwa ” scarf he was wearing.

Maboke argued that nobody was allowed to wear party regalia during the meeting.

“After being asked to take off the scarf he was wearing, Councillor Manyanga flatly refused to do so – resulting in chaos,” said a council official.

MDC councillors threatened to walk out of the meeting and council workers had to intervene to calm matters, sources at the Civic Centre said.

By Own Correspondent| As there is a list of many credible incidents when Auxillia Mnangagwa has physically clashed with several people including CIOs at State House over her husband, the world’s largest search engine, Google has recorded a surge in inquiries over the rumoured Auxillia Mnangagwa vs (MDC-T leader) Thokozani Khupe fight, in what has pressured for the two politicians to respond.

Auxillia’s husband, Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the dominating 1980 liberation party has also been pressured.

In the last 24 hours alone, the Google graphic-fuse was pushed to a peak. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, world searches for the two literally spiked.

The spikes were triggered by a rumour that claimed Auxillia physically clashed with Khupe. It was claimed the two were fighting for one man, Emmerson.

It was also powered by a long history of credible reports of Auxillia physically attacking other women simply for smiling at her husband.

Earlier in the year, Auxillia physically bashed several CIO agents at State House and one man was forced to drop his trousers on her orders, “to prove that you are a man.”

She also fired several CIOs and ZimEye has official documented evidence as proof.

Two months later, a military general was in a recorded telephone call told he would be dealt with by her “in your office” as punishment for spying on her.

The rumour was dismissed by the prolific MP for Norton Temba Mliswa who said there is no truth whatsover in it.

Said Mliswa: “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

“The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

Meanwhile, the three politicians had not responded by the time of going to press and efforts to obtain a comment were fruitless.

By Own Correspondent| As there is a list of many credible incidents when Auxillia Mnangagwa has physically clashed with several people including CIOs at State House over her husband, the world’s largest search engine, Google has recorded a surge in inquiries over the rumoured Auxillia Mnangagwa vs (MDC-Thoko leader) Thokozani Khupe fight, in what has pressured for the two politicians to respond.

Auxillia’s husband, Emmerson, who is President of the dominating 1980 liberation party has also been pressured. Ironically, Mnangagwa himself is also well known for making public statements inciting violence against political enemies

In the last 24 hours alone, the Google graphic-fuse was pushed to a peak. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, world searches for the two literally spiked.

The below graphs were printed off the Google search metre (trends).

The spikes were triggered by a rumour Zimbabweans connected to a picture of Auxillia with a fractured arm at her son’s recent wedding. The rumour claimed Auxillia has physically clashed with Khupe. It was claimed the two were fighting for one man, Emmerson.

It was also powered by a long history of credible reports of Auxillia physically attacking other women simply for smiling at her husband.

Earlier in the year, Auxillia physically bashed several CIO agents at State House and one man was forced to drop his trousers on her orders, “to prove that you are a man.”

She also fired several CIOs and ZimEye has official documented evidence as proof.

Two months later, a military general was in a recorded telephone call told he would be dealt with by her “in your office” as punishment for spying on her.

During her tenure as Chirumanzu Zibagwe legislator, Auxilia was described as a very physical person who literally bashed her own male farm workers.

“She assaulted her own farm workers as if she was beating her children and showed no sign of remorse,” said a source who was employed as a health worker in Chirumanzu Zibagwe constituency.

The rumour was however dismissed by the prolific MP for Norton Temba Mliswa who said there is no truth whatsover in it.

Said Mliswa: “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

“The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

Meanwhile, the three politicians had not responded by the time of going to press and efforts to obtain a comment were fruitless.

A MARONDERA woman, Erenia Guwa, whose husband was fatally shot by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) during the January 2019 demonstration, has approached the High Court, demanding compensation amounting to over $900 000.

The protests against a 150% fuel price hike and the deteriorating economic situation in the country were organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Guwa is one of the more than 40 individuals who, on Friday last week, filed summons against the ZRP and the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), claiming more than $14 million against the country’s security forces for the assaults and killings.

In her declaration through her lawyers, Guwa said she is claiming damages for the death of her husband, Solomon Nyaruwa, who was shot and killed on January 15, 2019.

“The plaintiff (Erenia Guwa)’s claim is for damages arising as a result of the unlawful shooting and killing of plaintiff’s husband (Solomon Nyaruwa) perpetrated by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Marondera,” the lawyers said.

The lawyers further said that on the day in question at about 2pm and at Dombotombo B Centre in Marondera, a group of uniformed police officers, acting in concert with one another, unlawfully shot and killed Nyaruwa.

“The actions of the ZRP officers were unlawful, unjustified and wrongful. The deceased was a general dealer and a bread winner to plaintiff and her two minor

children. The deceased owed a legal duty of support to his immediate family during his lifetime,” the lawyers said. The lawyers also said as a result of the unlawful killing, Guwa had suffered grief, emotional distress, incurred funeral expenses and loss of prospective support for herself and her two minor children.

“At all material times, the members of the ZRP involved in the killing of the plaintiff’s husband were acting within the course and scope of their duties. As such, the defendants are vicariously liable to their actions,” they said.

“By reason of the death of plaintiff’s husband from the wrongful and unlawful killing, the plaintiff has suffered and will suffer damages in the total sum of $901 000 arrived at as detailed hereunder; funeral expenses amounting to $1 000, shock, pain and suffering amounting to $300 000 and loss of prospective support in the sum of $600 000.”

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| As there is a list of many credible incidents when Auxillia Mnangagwa has physically clashed with several people including CIOs at State House over her husband, the world’s largest search engine, Google has recorded a surge in inquiries over the rumoured Auxillia Mnangagwa vs (MDC-T leader) Thokozani Khupe fight, in what has pressured for the two politicians to respond.

Auxillia’s husband, Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the dominating 1980 liberation party has also been pressured.

In the last 24 hours alone, the Google graphic-fuse was pushed to a peak. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwe, world searches for the two literally spiked.

The below graphs were printed off the Google search metre (trends).

The spikes were triggered by a rumour that claimed Auxillia physically clashed with Khupe. It was claimed the two were fighting for one man, Emmerson.

It was also powered by a long history of credible reports of Auxillia physically attacking other women simply for smiling at her husband.

Earlier in the year, Auxillia physically bashed several CIO agents at State House and one man was forced to drop his trousers on her orders, “to prove that you are a man.”

She also fired several CIOs and ZimEye has official documented evidence as proof.

Two months later, a military general was in a recorded telephone call told he would be dealt with by her “in your office” as punishment for spying on her.

The rumour was dismissed by the prolific MP for Norton Temba Mliswa who said there is no truth whatsover in it.

Said Mliswa: “Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady and Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

“The lie is malicious and intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned and executed wedding ceremony.”

Meanwhile, the three politicians had not responded by the time of going to press and efforts to obtain a comment were fruitless.

By A Correspondent- Bus Stop TV’s Sharon Chideu popularly known as Magi has received death threats from a Twitter user, one Nomatter Magaya, warning her against producing any more skits.

This comes a few days after her colleague, Samantha Kureya, a.k.a Gonyeti was abducted from her family home by masked gunmen, stripped naked, tortured and forced to drink sewage. Magi escaped abduction on the same night after she was warned that gunmen were on their way to her home.

The same ghost account (Nomatter Magaya) warned Gonyeti that she was the next target for kidnapping just before she was abducted.

Magi received the following message from Nomatter Magaya:

“Give me your ecocash number ndikutumire mari yembeu uende kumusha kunorima musiyane nezve comedy izvi cause hamuzvigone, it’s almost rain season.

If you keep recording tumaa skits twamurikunyorera ku Morgan tsvangirai house na chamisa you are dead!!”

By A Correspondent- Former director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Matabeleland chapter who played a pivotal role in the documentation of the Gukurahundi massacres by CCJP in the 1980s, Joel Buhlalo Silonda has died.

He was 95. The veteran human rights activist and educationist died on Saturday at his home after battling with prostate cancer for a long time.

His second-born daughter, Ntombizodwa told Southern Eye late on Sunday that her father succumbed to prostate cancer on Saturday.

The family is still to decide on the funeral arrangements.

“He was a loving, passionate, a unifier and a brave man who could fight for justice even up to the bitter end. He worked in the education sector for 38 years,
where he started his education at St Patriarch’s Primary School in Bulawayo and later on became the headmaster of that school,” Ntombizodwa.

“He also went to Kutama Mission with the likes of former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, George Silundika and others. Had an extended family that includes the late general Jevan Maseko, mentored other people such as former Bulawayo mayor Abel Siwela, Swazini Ndlovu and Archbishop Pius Ncube, who later on became his spiritual mentor.”

Ntombizodwa said Silonda fought tirelessly for justice which saw him becoming the CCJP director for the Matabeleland chapter in the 1980s.

“He worked closely with people like Nicholas Ndebele and David Coltart in coming up with the report: Breaking the Silence — a report which chronicled the
disturbances in Matabeleland and Midlands from 1980 to 1987,’’ she added.

Silonda was also a musician who formed the Giypys Jive Band and became Mthwakazi musical director in the 1970s, competing with other groups such as Kings
Golden Choristers directed by Remington Mazabane as well as the Wings Over Jordan.

“We are also thankful for the good work he did, not only to the family, but to the general populace at large since he stood for justice locally and
internationally. He died while we were in the process of finalising a family tree,’’ she said.

Silonda is survived by five children with several great and great grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at his home number S35 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa on Monday visited Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home in Harare and interacted with children before donating an assortment of foodstuffs.

Four of the children at the home were recently removed from the streets by Amai Mnangagwa through her organisation, Angel of Hope Foundation.

Amai Mnangagwa urged the children to treasure school as it was the pathway to success.

She said:

“I have come to interact and socialise with you as your mother and grandmother.

You should be serious with your school work to achieve more in life as you are the leaders of tomorrow.

I am happy with the behaviour being exhibited by my children who left the streets recently and I wish them well in their endeavours. I also want to thank the caregivers here because they always make sure that the children are well-fed and clothed.”

Jane Mlambo|Firebrand independent legislator for Norton, Temba Mliswa has dismissed rumours of a fight between First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and opposition politician Thokozani Khupe at a first family wedding in Harare over the weekend.

Mliswa who was a guest at the weekend dismissed the reports as fake news intended to mar a well planned and executed wedding.

“Just when you thought you’d heard it all along comes a tale like no other! The fake story doing the rounds on social media platforms regarding a purported scuffle between the First Lady & Khupe is so ludicrous one has to question the mental state of the author.

The lie is malicious & intended to mar what was otherwise a well planned & executed wedding ceremony.

By A Correspondent- Government has said schools must be reasonable in pegging fees, taking into account economic difficulties parents and guardians are facing.

In an interview recently, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said it was inevitable for schools to increase fees in line with the prevailing economic environment to save the education sector from possible collapse.

Since the start of the year schools have been adjusting fees in line with changes in the macroeconomic environment. Some of them have even demanded that parents buy stationery as partial fees payment.

“We don’t have an option but to have schools increase like that. But they have to increase in a way that is reasonable, taking into cognisance that parents are hard-up economically. It has to be reasonable. If we don’t, our schools will not function properly. Because there are some schools, for example, that have been charging something like $15 per term and if that school say has 500 learners, assuming that everybody pays it means that school is operating at $7 500 per term, that’s where they buy all the supplies they need for the school,” said Prof Mavima.

“But the worst thing is that most of the parents are not paying, maybe payment is at 50 percent, so we are talking about $3 750 per term and this is where they have to do repairs, this is where they get their stationery, traditional textbooks and other things.

“This is where they draw money for the head to go for meetings and other things. So it’s almost impossible for that school to function properly. We have to consider that. Boarding schools the issue of food for the kids, maintenance of hostels and other things like that. All those costs have gone up and if we want our education to flourish we have to make sure that our schools have adequate resources.”

Government’s policy is that learners who have not paid school fees must not be sent away.

Meanwhile, Prof Mavima said the ministry will next year start the construction of technical high schools and science academies as it moves to harness technical skills from pupils.

He said learners at the technical and science academies will be identified in their ordinary schools before getting scholarships to study in the institutions.-StateMedia

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

USD to ZWL$: 10.3557

ZWL$ to RAND: 1.4828

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 11.35

USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 11.30

USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 11.30

USD to BOND: zimrates.com 80.00

More: marketwatch.co.zw

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo has vowed to safeguard the nation “from proponents of regime change who pride themselves in sowing seeds of disharmony and anger among the people”,

Speaking during a handover and takeover ceremony of command at Artillery Brigade in Domboshava (Monday), Lt-Gen Chimonyo said the ZNA will ensure that a conducive and tranquil environment prevails so that Government developmental programmes are achieved.

Outgoing commander of Artillery Brigade Brigadier-General Stanley Mangena officially handed over command to Brigadier-General Sydney Singizi.

Brig-Gen Mangena has been reassigned to the Command Agriculture department.

Said Lt- Gen Chimonyo

“As security forces and guarantors of peace and security, we realise that the stability of the nation needs to be safeguarded from proponents of regime change who pride themselves in sowing seeds of disharmony and anger among our people.

We will not be deterred from our constitutional mandate of defending Zimbabwe from both local and external forces of negativity.

“ZNA will ensure that a conducive and tranquil environment prevails so that Zimbabweans and visitors alike enjoy this beautiful country.”-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A 25-year-old Bulawayo man, Wisdom Sibanda, has appeared in court for allegedly sleeping with a 13-year-old girl over money.

Sibanda who is said to have slept with the minor for almost a month pleaded not guilty saying that he and the minor were in love.

The State alleges that the minor accepted to have sex with Sibanda after the accused bought tennis shoes and promised to take her to school.

Testifying in court, the minor said:

“Wisdom proposed love to me and he promised to take care of my family.

He started buying food for us, did all the necessities for us. He even bought me tennis shoes and promised to take me to school.

When my mother went to sleep, I remained in the kitchen with Wisdom where he had planned that we will have sex that night and we used protection.

Sibanda is said to have later threatened the minor if she would tell anyone about their affair.

An anonymous call was made to the police leading to Sibanda’s arrest

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has announced new fuel prices that differ depending on location, after the authority – for the first time ever – factored in the cost of trucking fuel.

In a notice, Zera said the cost of fuel was distributed according to zones, which mainly factored in the cost of moving it to different places.

In respect of the new pricing model, motorists in Victoria Falls will pay the most at $10,56 per litre of petrol and $10,86 for diesel while in Masvingo, a litre of petrol now costs $10,21 and diesel $10,51 per litre.

Consumers of petrol in Chinhoyi will now be paying $10,14 per litre of petrol, while diesel in that area has been priced at $10,44.

For Harare petrol has gone up by 89 cents to $10,01 per litre, while diesel is 96 cents up to $10,32 per litre.

“The changes in the fuel prices are due to the FOB (Free on Board) price movements and the revised duty regime applicable from Monday, August 26, 2019,” said Zera in a statement.

FOB basically refers to costs involved in shipping the product.

“The petroleum prices applicable in the various cities represent the maximum pump prices taking into account the transport costs.”

The fuel situation in the country has improved over the past few weeks as the local currency prices move towards parity with the United States dollar price.

Previous misalignment in the fuel prices – due to unjustified subsidies – had resulted in instances of significant arbitrage as the country was not receiving all the fuel that it had paid for, with a significant quantity being smuggled out of the country.

State Media|Police have blocked yet other demonstrations by the opposition MDC arguing that their application failed to comply with provisions of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

MDC had notified the police on Saturday that the party would like to have demonstrations in Bulawayo and other provinces on Thursday and Friday.

Speaking to the media, police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said:

For Bulawayo province, where the MDC Alliance notified the provincial regulating authority, I would like to advise members of the public that the party did not comply with provisions of section 25 of POSA, chapter 11:17.

He also said that the MDC should make another application which complies with the regulation.

The development comes at a time when the State had blocked a series of MDC demonstrations that were slated to begin on the 16th of August in Harare.

Police argued that they had gathered concrete evidence to support the idea that the protests were to be violent.

Meanwhile, the process to repeal POSA with the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPO) is already underway with legal experts arguing that the MOPO was a true replica of the former.

POSA has been described in some quarters of society as a draconian law that infringed citizens of their constitutional rights and freedoms.

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The MDC has recalled and expelled Chegutu mayor Henry Muchatibaya.

Party secretary-general Chalton Hwende on August 20, 2019, wrote to Local Government Minister July Moyo and advised him to remove Muchatibaya from the council.

The MDC said that Muchatibaya was no longer a member of the MDC after he reportedly lambasted the party ahead of its August 16 demonstrations.

In the run-up to the protests, Muchatibaya was quoted by state media as saying:

“MDC-Alliance is now being run by selfish and power-hungry people who are not working for the people, but for positions.

These people have their selfish interests and they are using people to push their selfish agendas.

These Friday demonstrations that are being preached by MDC-Alliance leadership are tools being used to push for positions.

The party is being run as a project and totally different from when we joined.

There are people who still do not see that they are being used by this leadership.”

Pindula

FORMER Co-Minister of State for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration during the inclusive Government and founding member of the MDC, Mrs Sekai Holland, on Monday hit state media headlines saying that some reports of abduction of opposition and civil society members by alleged State security agents were false.

Mrs Holland, who is National Peace Trust (NPT) board of trustees chairperson, said it was critical for diplomats in the country to first verify abduction claims before circulating messages on social media.

“The National Peace Trust notes with concern statements coming from some quarters of the diplomatic community, civil society and political players on the situation in Zimbabwe,” said Mrs Holland in a statement.

“Some of these statements border on falsehoods, misinformation and outright malice and have the potential to further derail current fragile multiple peace building initiatives in Zimbabwe, a new and healthy feature which the NPT treasure, after the 52 years of Zimbabweans fear of one another and the painful silence our society has endured.

“Zimbabweans need to take advantage of the new spirit ushered in by the 2nd Republic to call for peace and to open new spaces for conversations.”

Mrs Holland said the NPT – which mainstreams peace with justice, reconciliation and healing in inclusive grassroots sustainable development programmes focusing on children, women, youths, the marginalised and vulnerable – implored parties to refrain from circulating unverified information.

She said while the NPT had not investigated all cases of abduction, the incidents involving the abduction of two opposition activists in Mufakose had been “reported out of context”.

“The same has been with the situation involving the youth leader of a political party at the end of the final discussion programme hosted by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and broadcast jointly by the Zimpapers Television Network and the Voice of America on July 31, 2019,” said Mrs Holland. “These two events have drawn unjustified widespread condemnation. Clearly, organisations involved in communicating these incidents have not bothered to investigate.”

Mrs Holland called on political parties to heed President Mnangagwa’s repeated calls for peace and unity.

Women have become targets for attacks, especially those opposed to the MDC-Alliance’s agenda.

Mrs Holland called on the diplomatic community to support the process of establishing the truth by recognising the “good spirit prevailing in the country and condemning all forms of violence in an impartial manner”.

She called on political parties to support the dialogue process which was initiated by President Mnangagwa, to find a lasting solution to the challenges confronting the country.

In March 2007 Holland was herself abducted, arrested and brutally tortured in a Harare police station with 139 leaders of the MDC.

She sustained a broken arm, a broken leg, fractured ribs, and over 80 lacerations to her entire body caused by whipping, beating, and being stamped on by the torturers.

Sekai spent 15 weeks in hospitals in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia including eight months in Australia, to begin to recover. ‘In the police station, the answer to the group’s inquiry was swift. They were beaten and spat on by more than a dozen police officers.

Three of Holland’s ribs were broken when a policewoman jumped on her. Holland’s 80 injuries included a broken arm, a fractured knee, cuts and lacerations, and a leg snapped by blows from an iron bar. But she survived.’

“Tortured for hours, Holland was jailed, and finally released after two court hearings. To the fury of Mugabe, however, she was escorted by an Australian diplomat to the airport, where she was flown to South Africa for treatment.’

Her Australian husband, Jim Holland, told a reporter: “The regime tried to beat her into submission and has totally failed, and she knows that she’s won.” Prime Minister of Australia at the time, John Howard, called Mugabe a “disaster” and Zimbabwe “a total heap of misery”.