We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all our colleagues, friends and family who stood by us during a storm that proved not to affect us only but all our dear ones.

We felt and saw all your concerns about Gonyeti and the Bustop TV team. We also saw all your posts, tweets and retweets which strengthened us.

As Bustop TV, we are law-abiding citizens, we create content using humour to help citizens of this beloved nation cope and smile as outlined in section 16 which guarantees artistic expression.

We would like to give a special mention to our partners, associates and supporters who worked and are still working night and day to ensure that we obtain justice and all possible assistance.

A resounding thank you to MISA Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Counselling Services Unit, Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum, Magamba Network, Hivos Southern Africa.

If everything was in our power we would mention each one of you individually, but this is to let you know that we are fully grateful.

Sadly, Gonyeti still has leg and back pains, but she is gradually recovering.

United Kingdom based Zimbabwean Scholar Brilliant Sgabande Mhlanga says International Trade Minister General Sibusiso Busi Moyo must not talk about anything related to the economy because he is not qualified to.

Sgabade who was commenting on General Moyo’s OP-ED on local currency said, “You (Moyo) are mad. What do you know about the economy? Just announce another coup because that is what you are popular for.”

The outspoken scholar is known for his fiery engagements on social media that is pro-Mthwakazi agenda.

The Former University of Zimbabwe student activist was recently invited by the Queen of England to be party of her birthday celebrations at the Buckingham palace.-Bulawayo 24

Farai Dziva|Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu has stirred a hornet’s nest after reportedly referring to MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as CCC in a tweet he posted.

According to Zanu PF stalwarts Zivhu posted messages on his Twitter handle
lobbying for dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangangwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

He allegedly referred to Chamisa as CCC which stands for Chamisa Chete Chete.

“Zivhu referred to Chamisa as Chamisa Chete Chete and how can we protect him?

He is a sellout -it is very clear,” said a Zanu PF Official.

Farai Dziva|Energy Minister Fortune Chasi has ordered ZESA to restore power supply to former President Robert Mugabe’s farm.

Last week ZESA disconnected electricity supply to farms owned by Mugabe and Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa over unpaid bills.

According to The Independent, former First Lady, Grace Mugabe reportedly approached Chasi for assistance to have power restored while working on a payment plan.

“As you know, Zesa is owed huge amounts of money by some of its clients and farmers are among the biggest culprits.
So it was decided that there should be no sacred cows and everyone indebted to Zesa must have the power disconnected at their properties.
This is how Mugabe and Mutsvangwa ended up having their farms disconnected. But they are not the only ones, there are hundreds others.

However, last week, the minister called management to a meeting and told them that they needed to immediately reconnect the affected farmers and work out a payment plan while allowing them to continue with their operations,” a source told the paper.

In response Minister Chasi said:

“What I can say is that last week ZESA disconnected several farmers, including some very prominent people who I cannot name, that owe it huge amounts of money on electricity bills.

Some of them then approached me and I decided that they should immediately be reconnected while we work towards a payment plan and to solidify payment arrangements.
Whilst disconnection is the ultimate weapon where people are not paying, the timing is not appropriate because we are having a food deficit and we need not be food insecure.
We could incur further costs at a time we are already having serious food shortages. So anything that worsens it would not be good for us.”

By Tariro Moyo| Former Bikita West Lesgilator Munyaradzi has filed an application claiming Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi lied.

According to Kereke, Hodzi’s lies were relied upon by a High Court judge to pass a determination in one case he was accused of being given preferential treatment by prison officials.

“Application is to restore and protect applicant’s fundamental human rights that would be irreparably violated the case CO 0603/19 proceed before correction of 1st respondent’s untruthful, erroneous and misleading declarations in it’s court papers,” the former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Advisor said.

In 2016 Kereke was jailed 14 years for raping his niece a minor and has been fighting tooth and nail to get out of prison with little success.

According to the papers issued by Kereke at the High Court, the former Zanu PF MP dismissed claims that he is a trustee of a Humanity Earth Trust, which is alleged to have corruptly sponsored a chicken project to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in a bid to buy him preferential treatment while serving time.

“The applicant is not and has never been a trustee of Humanity Earth Trust. Also applicant is not an employee of the Trust,” reads part of the application.

Last month Kereke once again wrote to the Supreme Court seeking the establishment of an independent tribunal to investigate alleged criminal abuse of office by Judicial Services Commission (JSC) officers who handled his High Court appeal.

He also recently lost his appeal against both conviction and sentence after High Court Judge, Charles Hungwe ruled that he deserved his jail sentence.

But the Harare businessman insists through his court papers that the judgment was biased. His latest application to the Supreme Court was triggered by Judge President Justice George Chiweshe’s refusal to entertain his claims.

But Justice Hlatshwayo ruled the application was before him improperly.

Jane Mlambo| High Court Judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu granted bail pending appeal of ZWL$1000 to opposition MDC activist, Paddington Japajapa after spending nearly two months at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

He was convicted for inciting the public to commit political violence.

More to follow….

Police yesterday arrested Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko, a councillor and an engineer on allegations of abuse of office through corrupt activities involving the sale of commercial stands.

The mayor, who assumed office four months ago, is among top officials that have been arrested in the new dispensation under President Mnangagwa, who is calling for zero tolerance to corruption.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is fighting hard to implement the President‘s call which has started yielding results as there are no sacred cows despite political affiliation with former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Zanu-PF member Minister Prisca Mupfumira among several bigwigs who have been arrested.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed the arrest of the trio, saying they were still assisting with investigations at St Mary’s Police

“I can confirm that we arrested ward 7 councillor Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko, ward 2 councillor Kudakwashe John and works director David Duma and they are currently assisting police with investigations.

“The trio are being charged with criminal abuse of office involving the selling of commercial land in Chitungwiza, 2 000 square metres at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre. They later sold 1 500 of land to the wife of the mayor after a council resolution they made,” he said.

However, reports from sources at Town House said another councillor who is also alleged to be deeply involved in the scam Richard Chamutsa is said to be on the run.

The sources close to the on-goings said the councillors were bribed and allocated some commercial stands at Chigovanyika shopping centre without a proper council resolution.

“Mayor and his other councillors were bribed by a suspected MDC top official and sold out commercial stands at Chigovanyika for allocation of a service station without the knowledge of the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“The whole this was not procedural, no certificates from either ZERA or EMA were submitted and presented before full council meeting,” said one of the sources.

The recommendation to sell the land at Chigovanyika was shot down by councillors during a recent full council meeting due to many grey areas, but the trio allegedly proceeded with their decision.

City fathers argued that it was not proper to have a service station in the area which was too close to residential houses as it was dangerous because of its vicinity to residential houses.

The sources further allege that Maiko was no longer seeing eye to eye with Dr Makunde’s whom he was now undermining as the town clerk and is said to have written him a letter on Wednesday warning him to be effective in his duty threatening to fire him.

We understand that Mayor Maiko has not been in good books with the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“As such he wrote a letter warning Dr Makunde that he must report for work daily and attend council meetings since he is usually absent most of the times. This did not go down well with him”.

Informal land deals have been the order of the day at Chitungwiza Town house mostly being spearheaded by councillors in connivance with some members of management and some junior employees.

Dr Makunde last night could not respond to the allegations saying he was yet to get information regading the arrest of the trio.

In April 2017 Government suspended former Chitungwiza Mayor Phillip Mutoti and 24 other councillors for allegedly corruptly allocating themselves tracts of land worth over $7 million.

They were later cleared the charges.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A married woman together with her married lover who decided to secretly wed without the knowledge of their spouses were left with egg on their faces after the wedding was stopped just before they exchanged vows.

Priscilla Mashonganyika (43) who has been customarily married to Christopher Kachipare (53) for the past 15 years, and her lover Enerst Mudimu (75), of Riverside suburb became the joke of the day last week on Friday at Gweru Civil Court when Mudimu’s wife of 35 years stopped the wedding citing that she was the official wife. 

Ironically, Mudimu and his wife, whose name could not be established, go to the same Methodist church with Mashonganyika and Kachipare.

As if that is not enough, Mai Mfundisi Sithole, whose husband is the pastor of the city centre branch where the two couples fellowship, was also part of the invited guests at the wedding.

A witness who saw the whole drama unfold said Mudimu’s wife heard from the grapevine about her husband’s secret wedding while Kachipare only got to know about the wedding after it was stopped. 

“Mudimu and Mashonganyika planned their wedding while still staying with their spouses meaning their affair has been going on for a long time. Very few relatives were told about the wedding as they didn’t want the news to reach their spouses. But what boggles the mind is that their pastor’s wife graced the shameful occasion knowing very well that the two love birds were customarily married to other people,” said the source.

It also emerged that Mashonganyika was also dating John Mpala (73), a widower, and the two were in the process of getting married customarily.

“This woman was also dating Mpala, a widower and Mpala was finalising preparations to marry her not knowing that she was planning a wedding with another man. Mpala used to pick her up everyday at her work place in South view suburb,” added the source.

Contacted for comment Mpala denied the allegations saying he last saw her a long time ago. He, however, changed goalposts alleging that Mashonganyika was his niece.

“That’s a very old story and l last saw her long back ad l didn’t have any relationship with her people were just speculating. Actually she is my sister’s child which makes her my niece,” said Mpala.

Kachipare declined comment on the matter saying he was still hurt by the whole incident.

“Am still hurting because of that issue so l don’t want to talk about it now, but all l can say is  that men should beware of cunning women  out there who pretend to love them yet they are only after their money and property,” he said.

Pastor Sithole who commented on his wife’s behalf could not shed more light on the matter saying there was a hierarchy that must be followed in the Methodist Church.

“Unfortunately she cannot comment on that matter because in our church there’s protocol that must be followed,” said Pastor Sithole.

Mudimu and Mashonganyika could not be drawn to comment as their mobile phones were unreachable.-BMetro

According to MDC Vice President Tendai Biti, police have arrested the party deputy organising secretary Buda Masara accusing her of being the convenor of the August 16 demonstration in Harare.

Posting on Twitter, Biti said; “The regime has arrested our Deputy Organising Secretary Mrs Buda Masara. Her crime is she is a co -convenor to our 16 August #demo which the police themselves thwarted by a dubious #Prohibition order.This regime has no shame ,no limit , no elasticity, no boundary, no principle.”

By A Correspondent- A chaplain based at Nkulumane Police headquarters in Bulawayo allegedly tried to entice a married woman into a sexual relationship by sending an image of his male organ to her.

This was after Constable Valiance Mlotshwa had approached the man of cloth, Assistant Inspector Elias Ndlovu, for counselling since her marriage with Constable Stephen Chada was on the brink of collapse.

However, the man of cloth, who is a respected figure as he is regarded as a pastor, took advantage of Mlotshwa’s sour romance with Chada and allegedly started to propose love.

In WhatsApp  messages  in possession of this publication  Ndlovu took his  sexual cravings  a gear up as he asked for Mlotshwa’s  nude picture.

Mlotshwa said: “I don’t have the pictures dear, my phone crushed.”

After several exchanges of chats, Ndlovu says: “Gaya sengin**** ngobuhle bakho (Your beauty has aroused me).”

Mlotshwa laughs it off saying: “But for the why Chaplain nhai. Interesting to realise that you are already horny.” 

Ndovu did not stop there as it seems his sexual cravings had taken toll on him and he asked: “Was your husband sexually satisfying you?”

After which, he passionately  begs to send his male organ to  Mlotshwa who responded saying: “Yes, he was satisfying me in bed. If it’s less than 8cm do not send it and I wanna compare with of my hubby (sic).” 

Clouded by sexual urge Ndlovu captured his male organ and sent it to Mlotshwa. After which he asked  Mlotshwa to send her private parts  but she declined.

“I told you that my phone crushed,” responded Mlotshwa.

Determined to view Mlotshwa’s flesh, Ndlovu sent her his passport size picture before asking for a picture from her.

“I have just sent my passport size picture which is not nice but kindly send your picture, I want to  see how beautiful you are,” said  Ndlovu.

After her marriage collapsed Mlotshwa asked Ndlovu to facilitate a transfer. 

“I have talked to the boss and  he will help you. So what are you going to pay me with (sic),” asked Ndlovu.

Mlotshwa said she would pay with a bucket of fish but Ndlovu said: “Angizithandi inhlanzi  ngifuna  okumnandi (I don’t  like  fish . . . I want something nice).

Mlotshwa then launched a fierce attack on Ndlovu: “You call yourself man of God while you are this wicked. Instead of helping people with counselling services and solving their marriages you hit on their wives.”

Contacted for a comment Asst Insp Ndlovu who was cagey said: “I don’t know anything about that. You know people fabricate stories, uxolo, just ignore the story.”

Chada was not reachable by the time of going to print.

Mlotshwa said: “I’m not allowed to talk to the media.” She then terminated the call.-BMetro

Another earth tremor struck Chipinge district on Wednesday evening, hardly a month after another judder, on July 30, hit the eastern part of the district.

No property damages or casualties were recorded following the incident.

Chipinge residents who spoke to The Manica Post expressed shock over the frequent occurrence of tremors in the district.

Chipinge Town Council community relations officer Mr Tawanda Maoneke confirmed the incident, adding that the local authority and civil protection unit (CPU) were on high alert monitoring the situation.

“On Wednesday around 9pm Chipinge experienced a tremor which hit mostly the upper part of the district. The tremor was generally felt by many residents within our jurisdiction.

“I actually experienced the shaking at home. Most residents were still awake when the tremor hit the town, though it subsided quickly. Immediately after it had subsided, the local authority was inundated with calls from concerned residents and stakeholders, some sharing their experiences and expressing various fears.

“No reports of casualties or damage of property were reported. The tremor may not have been that powerful, but all the relevant structures are on high alert and monitoring the situation,” he said.

Mrs Vivian Chimbongora said most residents were now living in fear, given the high frequency of such unusual occurrences.

“We are not sure what is likely to happen as these unusual natural occurrences affect the district. Chipinge is now experiencing more tremors than in the past, and this is so devastating. Experts should tell us what is happening,” she said.

Another resident Mr Amos Mundadzoka, of Gaza, said the recent tremor shocked many residents.

“I was outside the house with my family, preparing super, when it occurred. There was a sudden a wave-like strong wind, which shook and vibrated the ground.

“We really need to be helped to understand these things because they are occurring so frequently. This is really a serious cause of concern for the people of Chipinge, and we need assurance that we are safe from natural disasters,” he said.

Chipinge has over the past years been hit by tremors.

In July, tremors hit parts of Mount Selinda, Beacon and Jersey.

In December 2018 another tremor hit the greater part of the district, destroying buildings.

In March, the district was shredded by the furious Cyclone Idai.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A 12-year-old boy from a village under Chief Mkoka in Gokwe has sent tongues wagging after he impregnated his 13-year-old neighbour.

A local publication reported that the two juveniles had been dating since last year in June. The two children both stayed with their grandparents who never suspected anything until the girl fell pregnant.

“These two have been friends since childhood so when they started dating, no one noticed as we all thought they were just friends. They used to visit each other more often and they even went to school together. The boy would sometimes sleep over at the girl’s home under the pretext that they were doing their homework.

“The girl’s grandmother would let them share the same room although they used different beds as she never suspected that the two might play the adult game,” said the source.

The matter only came to light when the girl fell sick and was taken to a local clinic where a pregnancy test was done and it revealed that she was two months pregnant.

“The girl was asked who the father of the baby was and she confessed that she had been dating her neighbour for more than a year. She narrated how they would watch porn on the boy’s uncle’s phone and how they would then copy what they would have seen,” said the source.

It is understood that the matter brewed tension between the two neighbours as they all blamed each other for bad parenting.

“The girl’s grandparents did not take the matter lightly. They accused the boy’s grandparents of failing to raise their grandson properly. As a result, the matter was taken to Chief Mkoka’s traditional court where it was deliberated on,” said the source.

Contacted for comment, Chief Mkoka confirmed the incident saying he warned the two youngsters against engaging in sex.

“I presided over a matter of two grandmothers who were fighting after their grandchildren had a relationship which resulted in pregnancy. I counselled the two women and l also strongly warned the two children to stop engaging in sex.  I have since forwarded the girl’s name to an organisation that deals with children who get pregnant so that she can be assisted,” said Chief Mkoka.-BMetro

Zesa HOLDINGS has reverted to Stage Two load-shedding schedule hardly two weeks after assuring consumers of significant relief.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira earlier this month said they had downgraded load-shedding from Stage Two to Stage One after it started receiving 400MW from Eskom of South Africa.

However, before most consumers had improved supplies, Zesa yesterday announced increased load-shedding due to depressed generation of power.

Writing on his Twitter handle yesterday, Mr Gwasira said load-shedding was now at Stage Two.

“Load-shedding is at Stage 2. The small Stage 1 generators, whilst online, are producing very little and a major Stage 2 unit gone out for repairs. Shedding has increased phenomenally,” said Mr Gwasira.

However, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi told The Herald that improved electricity supplies could be witnessed in September.

Minister Chasi said following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station, adding 160MW to the grid, power supply had improved, but Zesa was prioritising the productive sector.

He said Government negotiations with Mozambique to increase power imports were also underway.

“Following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange adding 160MW to the grid, we expect to see improvement in power supply.

“Unit 6 will be opened up for inspection on the first week of September for fault diagnostic,” said Minister Chasi.

“Currently, Zesa is prioritising the productive sector such as mining, winter wheat and the manufacturing sector.

“Our intention is to ensure that we are giving as much power to the productive sector.

“The Government wants to make sure that the mines are operating. On the farms, particularly now, there is winter wheat, we want to make sure the farmers have got power.

“So the domestic consumer admittedly will find that there will be load shedding, but we should look at the global picture and what our priorities are,” said Minister Chasi.

He added that it was the responsibility of Zesa to inform consumers on changes in load-shedding, especially in residential areas.

“I must admit that there has been a bit of regression over the past few days, that is not a permanent situation.

“It will be resolved very soon. Zesa should publicise load-shedding schedules to customers so that they make informed decisions.

“It has been due to challenges we faced on a number of units in Hwange.

“They are actively being sorted out.

“We want to continue to improve the availability of power and I want to assure the public that we are working very actively around the clock on the challenges facing the country,” said Minister Chasi.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- In a matter yet to be heard at the Bulawayo Customary Court, a man from Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo is seeking divorce after suspecting that his wife was cheating on him because she was constantly calling out her ex-lover’s name during s_e_x.

For Felix Dube, his wife Nombulelelo Moyo’s habitual actions of repeating her ex-lover’s name when in the throes of passion may seem like the sort of blunder which is better suited to a bad film.

This came to light when Dube filed for divorce at the Bulawayo Customary Court claiming his wife always calls out her former boyfriend’s name whenever they are making l0ve.

In his suit he stated that there was no love anymore between him and Moyo reiterating that their customary marriage had irretrievably broken down and there were no prospects of a restoration to a normal relationship.

The main reason being that his wife was constantly shouting another man’s name while the action was going on.

“I am customarily married to Nombulelelo Moyo and our union has irretrievably broken down as I suspect that she is still dating her ex-l0ver because, whenever we are in bed, she calls out his name.

“As a result there are no prospects of restoration to a normal relationship because we now have irreconcilable differences which render the continuance of the relationship impossible. As a couple we have also lost l0ve and affection for each other,” read the papers in part.

He further claimed whenever he confronted her about the issue; she became violent and started verbally and physically abusing him.

Dube, who said he would take care of their two children‘s upkeep upon the dissolution of their marriage, wants to have their property mostly household items and livestock to be shared equally.

Moyo’s response is set to be heard when the parties appear in court.-BMetro

By A Correspondent- The Ambassador EU Delegation in Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen said the EU does not favour any political party but is only amplifying what is prescribed in the Zimbabwean Constitution.

He said this while speaking at SAPES Trust Dialogue Forum, Thursday held under the topic “The Deepening Crisis In Zimbabwe.

He said:

“I have been accused of driving a partisan agenda. I just want to say that we deny that. We are not favouring any political party; everything that myself and my colleagues have been saying; basically it is all reflected in the Constitution of Zimbabwe…issues that have been highlighted in the national transition stabilisation program.

… These are our references and we have these concerns in our discussions with the government… Obviously we want to see Zimbabwe succeed. I have seen all sorts of conspiracy theories about how we have an agenda to foil efforts of making Zimbabwe prosper.

Obviously these accusations, they are smokescreens obviously to divert attention. Why would we want to see Zimbabwe fail?”

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

USD = ZWL$10.7139
ZWL$ = RAND1.4567
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$11.90 zimrates
USD = ZWL$11.90 zwl365
USD = ZWL$12.00 bluemari
USD = BOND8.40 zimrates

More: Marketwatch

By A Correspondent- Government says it has paid US$10 million to the Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), Mozambique’s power utility to clear part of the US$35 million debt it owes them to unlock fresh power imports.

A local weekly reported that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe pledged to release US$10 million to HCB towards clearing the debt owed to it to import more power.

Speaking at the 53rd Southern African Power Pool Management (SAPP) Committee official opening Thursday, Energy deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa said the payment had been made.

SAPP is a co-operation of the national electricity companies in southern Africa under the Southern African Development Community, which allows for excess electricity to be sold to power utilities with insufficient power.

In June, Energy minister Fortune Chasi stated that US$10 million had been paid to South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, only for the South Africans to later deny those claims.

“If we can get up to 400 megawatts from HCB, that will be fine for us. We have to source for the funds because our electricity situation is not that good so we have to source for funds to pay HCB,” Mudyiwa said.

Zimbabwe is in the throes of severe power outages caused by low water levels at Kariba Dam, the main source of the country’s hydro-electric power.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Police yesterday arrested Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko, a councillor and an engineer on allegations of abuse of office through corrupt activities involving the sale of commercial stands.

The mayor, who assumed office four months ago, is among top officials that have been arrested in the new dispensation under President Mnangagwa, who is calling for zero tolerance to corruption.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is fighting hard to implement the President‘s call which has started yielding results as there are no sacred cows despite political affiliation with former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Zanu-PF member Minister Prisca Mupfumira among several bigwigs who have been arrested.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed the arrest of the trio, saying they were still assisting with investigations at St Mary’s Police

“I can confirm that we arrested ward 7 councillor Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko, ward 2 councillor Kudakwashe John and works director David Duma and they are currently assisting police with investigations.

“The trio are being charged with criminal abuse of office involving the selling of commercial land in Chitungwiza, 2 000 square metres at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre. They later sold 1 500 of land to the wife of the mayor after a council resolution they made,” he said.

However, reports from sources at Town House said another councillor who is also alleged to be deeply involved in the scam Richard Chamutsa is said to be on the run.

The sources close to the on-goings said the councillors were bribed and allocated some commercial stands at Chigovanyika shopping centre without a proper council resolution.

“Mayor and his other councillors were bribed by a suspected MDC top official and sold out commercial stands at Chigovanyika for allocation of a service station without the knowledge of the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“The whole this was not procedural, no certificates from either ZERA or EMA were submitted and presented before full council meeting,” said one of the sources.

The recommendation to sell the land at Chigovanyika was shot down by councillors during a recent full council meeting due to many grey areas, but the trio allegedly proceeded with their decision.

City fathers argued that it was not proper to have a service station in the area which was too close to residential houses as it was dangerous because of its vicinity to residential houses.

The sources further allege that Maiko was no longer seeing eye to eye with Dr Makunde’s whom he was now undermining as the town clerk and is said to have written him a letter on Wednesday warning him to be effective in his duty threatening to fire him.

We understand that Mayor Maiko has not been in good books with the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“As such he wrote a letter warning Dr Makunde that he must report for work daily and attend council meetings since he is usually absent most of the times. This did not go down well with him”.

Informal land deals have been the order of the day at Chitungwiza Town house mostly being spearheaded by councillors in connivance with some members of management and some junior employees.

Dr Makunde last night could not respond to the allegations saying he was yet to get information regading the arrest of the trio.

In April 2017 Government suspended former Chitungwiza Mayor Phillip Mutoti and 24 other councillors for allegedly corruptly allocating themselves tracts of land worth over $7 million.

They were later cleared the charges.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Zesa Holdings has reverted to Stage Two load-shedding schedule hardly two weeks after assuring consumers of significant relief.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira earlier this month said they had downgraded load-shedding from Stage Two to Stage One after it started receiving 400MW from Eskom of South Africa.

However, before most consumers had improved supplies, Zesa yesterday announced increased load-shedding due to depressed generation of power.

Writing on his Twitter handle yesterday, Mr Gwasira said load-shedding was now at Stage Two.

“Load-shedding is at Stage 2. The small Stage 1 generators, whilst online, are producing very little and a major Stage 2 unit gone out for repairs. Shedding has increased phenomenally,” said Mr Gwasira.

However, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi told The Herald that improved electricity supplies could be witnessed in September.

Minister Chasi said following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station, adding 160MW to the grid, power supply had improved, but Zesa was prioritising the productive sector.

He said Government negotiations with Mozambique to increase power imports were also underway.

“Following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange adding 160MW to the grid, we expect to see improvement in power supply.

“Unit 6 will be opened up for inspection on the first week of September for fault diagnostic,” said Minister Chasi.

“Currently, Zesa is prioritising the productive sector such as mining, winter wheat and the manufacturing sector.

“Our intention is to ensure that we are giving as much power to the productive sector.

“The Government wants to make sure that the mines are operating. On the farms, particularly now, there is winter wheat, we want to make sure the farmers have got power.

“So the domestic consumer admittedly will find that there will be load shedding, but we should look at the global picture and what our priorities are,” said Minister Chasi.

He added that it was the responsibility of Zesa to inform consumers on changes in load-shedding, especially in residential areas.

“I must admit that there has been a bit of regression over the past few days, that is not a permanent situation.

“It will be resolved very soon. Zesa should publicise load-shedding schedules to customers so that they make informed decisions.

“It has been due to challenges we faced on a number of units in Hwange.

“They are actively being sorted  out.

“We want to continue to improve the availability of power and I want to assure the public that we are working very actively around the clock on the challenges facing the country,” said Minister Chasi.-StateMedia

“I don’t care whether that person is in authority or out of authority: no problem in Zimbabwe can be solved by violence,” the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo told the nation just before his death.

Nkomo is credited for bringing sanity to government at the height of rising corruption and he is the one who practically produced Zimbabwe’s first self made black billionaire, Strive Masiyiwa. VIDEO:

"I don't care whether that person is in authority or out of authority: no problem in Zimbabwe can be solved by violence," the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo told the nation. pic.twitter.com/xN8ulkiZtd

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 30, 2019

https://twitter.com/LabodeRuth/status/1166905905474150400?s=09

Proposal for another "Lancaster House" deal …. WATCH LIVE ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/8fvt4LjsDh

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019

Zimbabweans have revealed that they are forced to part with at least US$200 bribe to get a passport that normally costs ZWL$52.

Sources who spoke to ZimEye.com said that authorities in the offices charge as high as US$600 to the rich who want to get their passports issued immediately at the Harare passport offices.

Since the beginning of last year, government has been failing to process passport applications with people who applied in March last year still waiting to get their passports.

Though government has been making assurances that the situation will improve following acquisition of new processing equipment, things have actually been getting worse on the ground with further delays being experienced as those paying bribes by past the long queue of outstanding passports.

Meanwhile, Registrar General Clemence Masango has called on Zimbabweans to stop paying bribes to his officials when seeking for passports and any other identity documents.

Speaking to the media after a tour by the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee at the Registrar General’s Department of Passport Production Centre in Harare on Thursday, Masango said there was no justification in Zimbabweans parting with any extra fee other than the one stipulated for passport application.

“Do not pay. There is no justification for that. Corruption is a crime. Everybody must take responsibility in resisting it, fighting it and reporting it,” said Masango an ex police officer.

“If anybody has paid more than the statutory fee and there is no receipt obviously please come and also feel free to report to the police. The law will take its course. We will not condone corruption, we will not protect corruption.

“The President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a very strong statement which we all must take responsibility to implement and give effect to.”

Masango said the department is governed by the civil service regulations and those who fail to follow the rules and regulations would be liable to penalties.

“If anyone offends those regulations, there are also clear regulations for punishment. I have always said that it is easy to allege corruption but it is always not easy to prove it.

“But I do not find most of our people willing to cooperate which make it impossible for law enforcement agents to detect for prosecution purposes. Why are we doing that?” he said.

The Zimbabwean passport remains a much sought after document by locals who are keen to find greener pastures outside.

THE ED Pfee singer who was on Tuesday denied bail for rape allegations by the court and ordered to seek bail at the High Court was yesterday brought to the same court and granted bail by another magistrate under unclear circumstances.

Admire Sanyanga, who was initially denied bail by magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, was yesterday granted $200 by magistrate Barbara Mateko after the intervention of the Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi.

The State on Wednesday opposed bail, saying Sanyanga should approach the High Court, but surprisingly, the State yesterday said the PG’s Office was now consenting to bail.

According to the law, an accused who has been denied bail by the lower court can approach the High Court for bail.

He or she can approach the lower court when there are changed circumstances, but Sanyanga was brought to court after he had been remanded in custody to another date.

It is suspected that there was interference in the case of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s praise singer.

Sanyanga is accused of raping a maid employed at a house where he was receiving spiritual healing.

The 18-year-old complainant was allegedly raped at Sanyanga’s apartment after he asked her to assist him with his luggage.

The alleged rape came to light when the complainant’s employer read her diary and came across the recorded statement.

While addressing the court, prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa indicated that the State had shifted its position and was consenting to Sanyanga’s admission to bail.

No reasons justifying the position were proffered.

Mateko granted the accused person bail and ordered him to report to the nearest police station twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.

She also ordered him not to interfere with witnesses and to continue residing at the address he gave to the police until the finalisation of the matter.

He will be back in court on September 6, and not the initial remand date of September 10.

Allegations are that on July 30, 2019 at around 1pm, Sanyanga asked the complainant to assist him carry his luggage from the house where he was receiving spiritual healing to his house and she agreed.

When they arrived at Sanyanga’s flat, the complainant stood outside the door, but he invited her inside, an invitation she declined.

He allegedly dragged the girl to get into the apartment, where he then raped her.

The girl recorded down the rape in her diary and hid it in her bedroom and the matter came to light when her employer came across the diary and went through it. A police report was made, leading to Sanyanga’s arrest.

Independent|THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of Zesa Holdings, last week disconnected power supplies to farms belonging to former president Robert Mugabe and Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, among other high-profile individuals, over unpaid bills.

They were, however, reconnected after the intervention of Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi.

Sources told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that Zesa switched off Mugabe’s Gushungo Dairies Farm in Mazowe, about 40km north of Harare last week after the family failed to settle an undisclosed electricity bill.

However, the sources said, former first lady Grace Mugabe approached Chasi for assistance to have power restored while working on a payment plan.

Zesa officials also revealed the power utility disconnected electricity supplies to Mutsvangwa’s farm, as Zesa moves to recover ZW$1,2 billion it is owed by clients.

Mutsvangwa is said to have personally approached Chasi.

The sources said following the development, Chasi called senior Zesa executives and ordered them to immediately reconnect all affected farms after her farm was switched off.

“As you know, Zesa is owed huge amounts of money by some of its clients and farmers are among the biggest culprits. So it was decided that there should be no sacred cows and everyone who is indebted to Zesa must have power disconnected at their properties,” a senior official said.

“This is how Mugabe and Mutsvangwa ended up having their farms disconnected. But they are not the only ones, there are hundreds others. However, last week, the minister called management to a meeting and told them that they needed to immediately reconnect the affected farmers and work out a payment plan while allowing them to continue with their operations.”

Chasi confirmed the developments when contacted by the Independent this week. He said he ordered Zesa to reconnect the farmers to avert a potential food crisis if operations at farms were disrupted because of the disconnections, which came at a time the country is in the middle of the winter wheat season.

Other crops grown during winter include peas and horticultural products.

In the case of Mugabe’s farm, the disconnection meant the disruption of milk production.

Currently, the country is facing a major bread crisis after running out of stocks and is solely reliant on wheat and flour imports.

“What I can say is that last week Zesa disconnected several farmers, including some very prominent people who I cannot name, that owe it huge amounts of money in electricity bills. Some of them then approached me and I decided that they should immediately be reconnected while we work towards a payment plan and to solidify payment arrangements,” Chasi said.

“Whilst disconnection is the ultimate weapon where people are not paying, the timing is not appropriate because we are having a food deficit and we need not be food insecure. We could incur further costs at a time we are already having serious food shortages. So anything that worsens it would not be good for us.”

Chasi said he was in the process of tabling a proposal in cabinet for electricity to be considered a strategic input in the government’s controversial specialised agriculture input scheme — command agriculture.

“If you look at it, you realise that costs for water, seed, fertilisers and agro-chemicals are covered under the command agriculture scheme except for electricity which is also a very critical input. So I am going to propose in cabinet that it should also be included among those inputs and, that way, farmers can be able to relax a little bit,” he added.

Mutsvangwa denied approaching Chasi, saying her farm bills are handled by the farm manager.

“As is the practice, farmers negotiate to settle bills as they get paid on season deliveries to the market. I have a farm manager who deals with Zesa issues and this does not involve the minister at all. My manager organises such payments from time to time and he says he is in a satisfactory standing,” she said.

Zesa’s acting chief executive officer Patrick Chivaura disclosed in May this year that the power utility is owed over ZW$1,2 billion by its customers.

He said the company, currently bedeviled by a major power deficit caused by a sharp decline in water levels at Lake Kariba which has seriously affected production at the Kariba hyro-power plant.

The situation has been worsened by frequent breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Plant.

The country has had to turn to neighbouring countries South Africa and Mozambique to augment power supplies.

Zimbabwe is importing 400 megawatts from South Africa and intends to import an additional 400MW from Mozambique.

THE High Court yesterday nullified the election into council of beleaguered Bulawayo deputy Mayor, Councillor Tinashe Kambarami.

The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Thompson Mabhikwa, followed an application by 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust, through its lawyer Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners seeking an order nullifying the Kambarami’s election as councillor for Ward 3 and the city’s deputy Mayor.

In papers before the court, Kambarami, the Bulawayo City Council, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and MDC were cited as respondents.

Justice Mabhikwa ruled that the election of Kambarami was in violation of section 119 (2) (e) of the Electoral Act following his conviction of theft.

Kambarami was in July last year convicted of theft by Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani, under case number CRB 1981/18.

He was fined $80 or 18 days in prison for stealing an extension cord from an electrician he had hired to work at his offices.

“It is the court’s finding that once the first respondent (Kambarami) was convicted of theft on 27 June 2018, which was before the election day, he was obliged, not only by his conscience and inner conviction, but also by the law, to advise the third respondent (MDC-Alliance) and even fourth respondent (Zec) that he was no longer eligible to stand for a public office,” said Justice Mabhikwa.

He said Kambarami’s failure to notify his party and Zec was in itself an act of dishonesty and an illegality, which rendered his subsequent election a nullity.

“I am convinced therefore that indeed in this case, it is not the outcome of the election results that is being challenged but simply the first respondent’s suitability to hold public office wherein he may especially in the office of deputy mayor, be called upon at some stage or another, to deal with public finances or assets,” said Justice Mabhikwa.

“Clearly, this court cannot, as it were, and in the circumstances bury its head in the sand and pretend that nothing happened. It would run the risk of setting a precedent that is very bad at law.”

Justice Mabhikwa said the court cannot condone an illegality with a limited mental vision following a criminal offence.

“The court has to protect the rule of law and doctrine of legality. Accordingly, it be and is hereby declared that the election of first respondent as councillor for ward 3 in Bulawayo was in contravention of section 119 (2) (e) of the Electoral Act following his conviction of theft at the Bulawayo magistrate’s court under CRB number 1981/18 on 27 June 2018. It (Kambarami’s election) is therefore set aside on account of it being null and void and his unsuitability to hold public office,” ruled the judge.

Justice Mabhikwa ordered Kambarami to pay the costs of suit on an ordinary scale.

In its application, 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust sought an order declaring Kambarami’s nomination and subsequent election as councillor for Ward 3 in Bulawayo null and void on the basis that he was convicted for stealing an extension cord from an electrician he had hired to do manual work at his offices.

In her founding affidavit, Ms Dorothy Ndlovu, who is the applicant’s secretary, said the application is premised on the provisions of the Electoral Act which disqualify a convicted person from being nominated as a candidate for council elections.

“It has come to our attention as an organisation that the first respondent (Clr Kambarami) has a criminal record and should not have submitted his nomination papers to Zec.

“He was charged and convicted of theft on July 27, 2018 under case number CRB1981/18,” she said.

Ms Ndlovu said as an organisation they could not sit back and watch an illegality being perpetuated.

According to section 119 (2) (e) of the Electoral Act, a person shall be disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for or from election as a councillor if he or she has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty.

Kambarami was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft.

Mr Nyoni said the election of Kambarami as councillor and deputy mayor was a nullity right from the onset.

He said the law disqualified Kambarami and whatever then happened thereafter was not in terms of the law. “Kambarami failed to disclose his criminal record to Zec prior to his nomination in the run up to the July 30 harmonised elections,” he said.

Mr Nyoni said 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust represents citizens of this country who have a direct interest in this matter since it is in the interest of the public and their constitutional right.

He said Kambarami was given a chance to voluntarily relinquish his posts as councillor and deputy mayor and he declined.

Kambarami’s lawyers, Messrs Dickson Moyo and Maqhawe Ndlovu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners, argued that the High Court had no locus standi to handle the matter, arguing that the application was an election petition.

They said the application was a petition, which was supposed to be heard by the Electoral Court as defined in terms of the Electoral Act.

“The Electoral Court, which existed through the General Notices, expired on December 31, 2018, and extending its tenure through this court would be improperly constituted,” said Kambarami’s lawyers.

They further argued that there has to be a tribunal that was set in terms of section 174 of the constitution to handle the disqualification of Kambarami.

Section 41 (7) of the Urban Councils Act states that a councillor who is convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of six months or more shall forthwith cease to exercise his or her functions or to be entitled to any remuneration as a councillor, and subject to subsection (8), he or she shall cease to be councillor at the expiry of 30 days from the date of such sentence.

On August 1, 2017, Kambarami engaged the complainant, Mr Washington Chirikuudzi (68), to do some manual work at his offices.

Kambarami then asked the complainant to leave his tools at his offices inside a safe before knocking off.

When the complainant returned the following morning, he discovered that his extension cord was missing.

When Mr Chirikuudzi inquired about the whereabouts of his cable, Kambarami admitted that he took it and promised to return it.

However, Kambarami did not return the cable despite pleas from the complainant.

Mr Chirikuudzi reported the matter to the police leading to Kambarami’s arrest.

Kambarami was elected deputy mayor in September last year after beating his closest rival, Clr Mlandu Ncube of Ward One.

State Media|Police yesterday arrested Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko, a councillor and an engineer on allegations of abuse of office through corrupt activities involving the sale of commercial stands.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is fighting hard to implement the President‘s call which has started yielding results as there are no sacred cows despite political affiliation with former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Zanu-PF member Minister Prisca Mupfumira among several bigwigs who have been arrested.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed the arrest of the trio, saying they were still assisting with investigations at St Mary’s Police

“I can confirm that we arrested ward 7 councillor Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko, ward 2 councillor Kudakwashe John and works director David Duma and they are currently assisting police with investigations.

“The trio are being charged with criminal abuse of office involving the selling of commercial land in Chitungwiza, 2 000 square metres at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre. They later sold 1 500 of land to the wife of the mayor after a council resolution they made,” he said.

However, reports from sources at Town House said another councillor who is also alleged to be deeply involved in the scam Richard Chamutsa is said to be on the run.

The sources close to the on-goings said the councillors were bribed and allocated some commercial stands at Chigovanyika shopping centre without a proper council resolution.

“Mayor and his other councillors were bribed by a suspected MDC top official and sold out commercial stands at Chigovanyika for allocation of a service station without the knowledge of the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“The whole this was not procedural, no certificates from either ZERA or EMA were submitted and presented before full council meeting,” said one of the sources.

The recommendation to sell the land at Chigovanyika was shot down by councillors during a recent full council meeting due to many grey areas, but the trio allegedly proceeded with their decision.

City fathers argued that it was not proper to have a service station in the area which was too close to residential houses as it was dangerous because of its vicinity to residential houses.

The sources further allege that Maiko was no longer seeing eye to eye with Dr Makunde’s whom he was now undermining as the town clerk and is said to have written him a letter on Wednesday warning him to be effective in his duty threatening to fire him.

We understand that Mayor Maiko has not been in good books with the town clerk Dr George Makunde.

“As such he wrote a letter warning Dr Makunde that he must report for work daily and attend council meetings since he is usually absent most of the times. This did not go down well with him”.

Informal land deals have been the order of the day at Chitungwiza Town house mostly being spearheaded by councillors in connivance with some members of management and some junior employees.

Dr Makunde last night could not respond to the allegations saying he was yet to get information regading the arrest of the trio.

In April 2017 Government suspended former Chitungwiza Mayor Phillip Mutoti and 24 other councillors for allegedly corruptly allocating themselves tracts of land worth over $7 million.

They were later cleared the charges.

Zesa HOLDINGS has reverted to Stage Two load-shedding schedule hardly two weeks after assuring consumers of significant relief.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira earlier this month said they had downgraded load-shedding from Stage Two to Stage One after it started receiving 400MW from Eskom of South Africa.

However, before most consumers had improved supplies, Zesa yesterday announced increased load-shedding due to depressed generation of power.

Writing on his Twitter handle yesterday, Mr Gwasira said load-shedding was now at Stage Two.

“Load-shedding is at Stage 2. The small Stage 1 generators, whilst online, are producing very little and a major Stage 2 unit gone out for repairs. Shedding has increased phenomenally,” said Mr Gwasira.

However, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi who only last week had been screaming that there is a huge improvement in power supply changed his stance to say that improved electricity supplies could be witnessed in September.

Minister Chasi said following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station, adding 160MW to the grid, power supply had improved, but Zesa was prioritising the productive sector.

He said Government negotiations with Mozambique to increase power imports were also underway.

“Following the return to service of Unit 5 at Hwange adding 160MW to the grid, we expect to see improvement in power supply.

“Unit 6 will be opened up for inspection on the first week of September for fault diagnostic,” said Minister Chasi.

“Currently, Zesa is prioritising the productive sector such as mining, winter wheat and the manufacturing sector.

“Our intention is to ensure that we are giving as much power to the productive sector.

“The Government wants to make sure that the mines are operating. On the farms, particularly now, there is winter wheat, we want to make sure the farmers have got power.

“So the domestic consumer admittedly will find that there will be load shedding, but we should look at the global picture and what our priorities are,” said Minister Chasi.

He added that it was the responsibility of Zesa to inform consumers on changes in load-shedding, especially in residential areas.

“I must admit that there has been a bit of regression over the past few days, that is not a permanent situation.

“It will be resolved very soon. Zesa should publicise load-shedding schedules to customers so that they make informed decisions.

“It has been due to challenges we faced on a number of units in Hwange.

“They are actively being sorted out.

“We want to continue to improve the availability of power and I want to assure the public that we are working very actively around the clock on the challenges facing the country,” said Minister Chasi.

Farai Dziva| Controversial Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi’s has described Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni as an enemy of the State.

Mutodi castigated Chief Ndiweni on Twitter.

“Chief Ndiweni’s release on bail proves judicial independence, a free and democratic society where enemies of the state are protected by the law.

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa has taken the rule of law to another level in Zimbabwe,”wrote Mutodi.

Farai Dziva|War veterans leader Douglas Mahiya has claimed that former President Robert Mugabe is to blame for the economic crisis in the country.

Mahiya also appealed to citizens to complement Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to restore the country’s economy.

Mahiya blamed Mugabe’s administration for ruining the economy.

“ We have to look at what we achieved when we stopped the G40. However, things did not go according to plan when we removed Mugabe,” he said.

“The whites seized the revolution and recruited other new members to remove the new administration led by Mnangagwa.

But I want to reiterate that the government is trying to resuscitate the economy which was destroyed by Mugabe.

Mnangagwa cannot do that on his own. Zimbabweans must come on board to assist the President achieve this and this will remove antagonism among the people of Zimbabwe and further reduce contradictions among the people.”

Farai Dziva|Controversial musician Chief Shumba who released the song Munhu wese ED Pfee has appeared in court for allegedly raping a maid.

Chief Shumba whose real name is Kennedy Sanyanga, is known for releasing the song, “ED PFEE”.

He appeared in court facing rape charges.

The court heard that the incident took place on July 30 2018 in Waterfalls.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW..

@lilomatic ACCUSES @nelsonchamisa OF REFUSING TO CHALLENGE MNANGAGWA'S LEGITIMACY IN COURT LAST YEAR… WATCH LIVE ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/KyqCPyQeoz

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019

By A Correspondent- The Ambassador EU Delegation in Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen said the EU does not favour any political party but is only amplifying what is prescribed in the Zimbabwean Constitution.

He said this while speaking at SAPES Trust Dialogue Forum, Thursday held under the topic “The Deepening Crisis In Zimbabwe.

He said:

“I have been accused of driving a partisan agenda. I just want to say that we deny that. We are not favouring any political party; everything that myself and my colleagues have been saying; basically it is all reflected in the Constitution of Zimbabwe…issues that have been highlighted in the national transition stabilisation program.

… These are our references and we have these concerns in our discussions with the government… Obviously we want to see Zimbabwe succeed. I have seen all sorts of conspiracy theories about how we have an agenda to foil efforts of making Zimbabwe prosper.

Obviously these accusations, they are smokescreens obviously to divert attention. Why would we want to see Zimbabwe fail?”

Watch the video below for this and more….

EU AMBASSADOR AT SAPE TRUST LIVE https://t.co/mNV48ji416

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019

By A Correspondent- The new dispensation has structurally liberalised Zimbabwe’s economy to make it open for investment to all willing investors from any part of the world, President Mnangagwa has said.

In an interview with Japan media houses on the sidelines of the three-day Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD) summit that kicked off in Yokohama Wednesday, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement drive does not close the door on any worthy investment.

He said:

“The new dispensation which I lead decided that despite the sanctions which the West decided to have on us – in particular the Americans under Zidera – we open our economy and liberalise the economy on all fronts. 

We then came up with the engagement and re-engagement policy. Engagement meaning we are willing to engage and work with any member state of the United Nations. Re-engagement meaning that we would like to re-engage with those countries that disengaged with us a result of sanctions. So we have opened up.”

Asked if Zimbabwe was seeking credit lines from China or Japan, Mnangagwa said Harare had opened its doors to potential investors from any part of the world.

“I will be meeting the Japanese Prime Minister to continue to support us in our endeavour to revive our economy. 

With regards to China, there is the FOCAC, where African countries are invited to participate and apply for funding for projects. It is the same platform as TICAD.

Most of the member states of the EU are now in discussions with us. We have discussions with France, German has sent a Minister to discuss and open old ties that we had. 

Italy has done the same. Brussels has also done the same. With regards to the EU, there is a lot that is unfolding towards Zimbabwe. But with the US, that is where we have the problems but we are doing everything possible to appeal to the Trump administration to revisit the Zidera sanctions.

When we are in this transition to open up, our currency had to find a level to which it stabilised. Now it has stabilised around between 8 and 10 on the exchange rate.

For us to leapfrog and catch up with the rest of the region, we have opened up and we are inviting global capital to come into the country by creating an environment that is conducive to attract global capital.”-StateMedia

MDC Deputy National Organiser, Hon Sibusisiwe B. Masara was on Thursday afternoon taken into custody at Harare central police station and will appear for a bail hearing on Friday at 9 am. Hon Masara was the deputy Convenor of the 16 August.

The party’s national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya was arrested last week for failing to stop a demonstration by MDC supporters in Harare on 16 August. He was however released on bail after spending the weekend behind bars.

“Our meeting with young people from various districts to discuss developmental issues was today stopped by the police after they charged we had not given notification though the youths were drawn from our structures The police who arrived in a small truck were heavily armed with Ak 47 s ,truncheons and tear gas cannisters,” Dumisani Nkomo

More details to follow…

This media brief seeks to draw your attention to the socio-political and economic challenges currently facing the country. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating socio-economic conditions and closure of democratic space in Zimbabwe.

We are worried about the political situation in our country and with an escalation of human rights violations and the collapse of the economy and resultant social service nets resulting in the millions of citizens seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and beyond. Fresh cases of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions and abductions of unarmed civilians and civil society leaders are being reported.

Multiple threats and intimidation by government officials against trade unions, civil society leaders and ordinary Zimbabweans are continuing unabated. To date, about 22 civil society leaders and human rights defenders and opposition leaders have been charged with subversion since the beginning of the year.

In August alone, police arrested over 80 citizens in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare on allegations of committing public violence.

In Harare, medical facilities have recorded more than 20 cases of people who were brutally assaulted by police including a journalist, Fani Mapfumo, who was covering a peaceful protest on the 16th of August 2019. The injured include women and children.

The democratic space continues to shrink and Zimbabwe with the banning of demonstrations in all major towns signalling a state of emergency.

The judiciary is now heavily compromised and is being systematically used to deny the people their fundamental rights as enshrined by Section 59 of the constitution and the expansive bill of rights in the Zimbabwean charter.

We fear that if the situation continues unchecked, there are greater chances of an escalation of social unrest and instability in Zimbabwe. This might result in regional instability as Zimbabweans seek food, shelter and refugee in neighbouring countries.

Consequently, this month, the government of Zimbabwe, through their mouthpiece the Herald newspaper on the 16th of August 2019 made sensational allegations that civil society leaders who were attending the SADC People’s Summit in Tanzania were planning to demonstrate against President Mnangagwa and were being trained to commit acts of banditry.

The state went on to publish over 20 names of civil society leaders that they claim were planning to smear the image of the country.

The allegations resulted in the detention and harassment of the activists upon their return to Zimbabwe. We view this move as calculated and desperate tactics by the government to instil fear amongst activists and the civil society in general.

Regionally, we participated at this year’s SADC Peoples Summit held at the National Museum in Tanzania from the 13th to the 18th of August 2019 and the summit urged SADC to ensure the continuation and deepening of the political reform processes in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Lesotho and Zambia in terms of human rights, democratization, constitutionalism, free and fair elections and protection of the rights of the citizens.

It is our view, therefore, that the political processes in Zimbabwe must seek to promote and consolidate democracy, peace and human security and we also maintain that resolving the current political crisis in the country is a pre-requisite for democracy and economic development.

Similarly, in May this year, Zimbabwean authorities arrested 7 civil society leaders upon their arrival from a meeting in the Maldives and charged them with subversion despite the absence of evidence that shows that they were trained in banditry.

Turning to the economy, there is a perpetual economic meltdown (resulting from the current political crisis) which has resulted in high levels of inflation and an increase in domestic debt which has compromised the government’s capacity for the provision of social services and social protection for ordinary citizens.

Zimbabwe’s economy is collapsing under the burden of a) grand corruption and b) the power of a military elite which is subverting constitutional processes.

The recent 76% cost of living adjustment offer to civil servants which will see the least-paid worker taking home $1 023 (less than USD100) per month is inadequate due to the high cost of living.

Equally, a majority of Zimbabweans are surviving on less than USD1 a day is impacting negatively on ordinary citizens and has the potential of fuelling more conflicts in Zimbabwe.

Thought the government through Statutory Instrument SI 142 of 2019 outlawed the use of multiple currencies, prices and cost of living remain benchmarked in foreign currency, hence the need to peg wages and earnings to the united states dollar.

The country is also facing an extreme drought with estimated figures of nearly 5.5 million people–a third of Zimbabwe’s population needing food assistance by 2020, according to a UNICEF report in June.

Going forward

Based on the above background, which should be understood in the context of the ongoing political and economic crisis bedevilling the country, we propose the following urgent interventions:

1) We reiterate our call for internal and inclusive stakeholders’ dialogue in Zimbabwe. It is our conviction that the dialogue process must involve all stakeholders and a national visioning process that has a civil society, government, political parties, business, religious groups and labour unions among other critical stakeholders on board. As an import of the dialogue process should produce a clear timed roadmap to the demilitarization of civilian political processes and the restoration of normalcy by focusing on key political, economic and social reforms.

2) We urge regional and international blocs to promote and support efforts at arresting the economic downturn in Zimbabwe based on a clear reform roadmap and encourage Zimbabwe to adopt and implement pro-poor and inclusive economic policies.

Efforts at economic transformation, stabilization and growth should be aimed at achieving inclusive sustainable economic growth and development.

3) We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to stop the crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, media and the opposition, uphold and guarantee citizens’ rights as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution and other regional and international human rights treaties and statutes.

The Global Political Agreement (GPA) issues guaranteed by SADC/AU remain at the centre of the crisis especially the constitutional reform process. Therefore, the full implementation of the country’s constitution is equally important in promoting democracy in Zimbabwe.

4) We urge SADC and the AU to decisively ACT by urgently and adequately intervening in the Zimbabwe situation. We are concerned that SADC is focusing on the non-event of the so-called sanctions when the country is in flames as the regional body is rendering itself irrelevant as it surely is not showing leadership on the political question in Zimbabwe.

Without addressing the political and legitimacy crisis, the socio-economic dislocations will send shock waves to the entire region.

5) Call upon the Zimbabwe, government to prioritize and prepare for humanitarian assistance programs for the millions facing starvation in Zimbabwe.

MDC Deputy National Organiser, Hon Sibusisiwe Masara was on Thursday afternoon picked up by police officers from the Law and Order section at Harare central police station on charges that she failed to stop a demonstration where she was listed as the convenor.

The charge is listed in the disputed Public Order and Security Act and also carried into the new MOPA Bill that seeks to repeal POSA.

She is expected to appear in court on Friday at 9 am for bail hearing.

The party’s national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya was arrested last week for The same offence. He was released on bail.

MDC Deputy National Organiser, Hon Sibusisiwe B. Masara has just been detained at Harare central police station and will appear for a bail hearing tomorrow at 9am. Hon Masara was the deputy Convenor of the 16 August #FreeZimbabweCampaign#ThePeopleShallGovern@nelsonchamisa

— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) August 29, 2019

A huge section of Bulawayo residents went into ecstasy that had stretched into the night following a High Court ruling by Justice Thomson Mabhikwa that controversial Ward 3 councillor Tinashe Kambarami was not eligible to hold a council seat as he has a criminal record.

Justice Thomson Mabhikwa on Thursday morning passed the ruling in a case where 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust was seeking an order nullifying his election as ward councillor, citing his criminal record.

Clr Kambarami was in July last year convicted of theft by Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani, under case number CRB 1981/18.

He was fined $80 or 18 days in prison for stealing an extension cord from an electrician he had hired to work at his offices.

The ruling by Justice Mabhikwa means Kambarami ceases to be both a councillor and the city’s deputy mayor.

MDC Youth Assembly National leadership today paid a courtesy call to two hospitalized MDC Midlands youth leaders, Sekai Marashe and Alfonso Mugwagwa at Kwekwe General Hospital.

The delegation was led by MDC National Vice Chairperson Cecelia Chimbiri, Spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, Secretary for Defence and Security, Tafadzwa Chirombe and Harare Provincial Chairman Stanley Manyenga who were in accompany of National Secretary for Public Service and Social Welfare Maureen Kademaunga.

Marashe who is the MDC Midlands Provincial Chairperson narrated about the gruesome ordeal he suffered at the hands of ZANU PF sponsored Midlands infamous terror group, Al Shabab on Tuesday this week.

The visibly bruised Midlands chairperson said she was assaulted by a gang of ZANU PF youths who were wielding iron bars and machetes.

Earlier today in the morning another MDC Youth leader, Alfonso Mugwagwa who is Ward 3 Chairman for Mbizo was heavily assaulted by six armed known ZANU PF youths on his way to work.

The notorious ZANU PF youth terror group is currently domiciled at their party’s offices where a torture base has been set up.

As MDC Youth Assembly we strongly condemn ZANU PF youths’ provocative behavior and we would like to warn the perpetrators that definitely they will have their judgement day.

Yes, we believe in peaceful means to solve differences but that should never be mistaken as a sign of cowardice.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

State Media|President Mnangagwa on Thursday successfully negotiated a fresh financial package for Zimbabwe after meeting African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) president Professor Benedict Okey Oramah on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit underway in Yokohama.

Afrimaxmbank is famous in Zimbabwe for guaranteeing the out of favour Bond Notes.

The Bond notes were introduced in November 2016 backed by a $200 million loan from Afreximbank.

The small denomination notes and coins have no value outside Zimbabwe.

Details of the the “mega deal” are still sketchy at the moment.

More details to follow…

Five members of the Mthwakazi Republic Party were on Wednesday arrested in abduction style outside the Bulawayo High Court on Wednesday for what court records reveal that they sang a song accusing Shona people of killing Ndebeles.

The police classified their case as participating in a gathering to promote public violence , breaches of peace and bigotry or alternatively disorderly conduct in public place.

Partrone Xaba, Mongameli Mlotshwa, Prince Mazilankatha, Ackim Ndebele and Ndabazelizwe Ncube were arrested during a Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni hearing on Wednesday.

A warned and cautioned statement signed by Mazilankatha said, “It is alleged that I disturbed peace, security and order of the public by singing lingamashona labulala obaba and waving placards inscribed Free Ndiweni and Bulawayo Magistrate for Bulawayo people.”

Mazilankatha is perfoming artists and radio DJ who is popular for promoting maskandi music.

Business Times|Zimbabwe shares political and economic ties with the UK as it played a key supporting role in colonial times and in the immediate post-independence era. Over time, political tensions saw the ties weaken as Zimbabwe grew increasingly isolated from the global community. The exit of Robert Mugabe saw rising hope of the prospect of re-establishing the severed ties with the U.K. Newly instated UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson even hailed it as a “moment of hope” for Zimbabwe. However, recent political developments in both nations have seen hopes of renewed ties weaken.

For the UK, the issue of Brexit has increasingly dominated the political landscape, culminating in the exit of Prime Minister Theresa May following her failure to deliver an agreeable Brexit deal. In line with that Johnson came to the fore under the promise of delivering a swift Brexit, deal or no deal. As a resolution to the long standing debacle seemingly approaches, it is worthwhile to consider the possible implications for Zimbabwean relations with the U.K.

The sentiment shared globally among SMEs for years is that of all possible Brexit scenarios, businesses fear a “no deal” situation the most. If the U.K. leaves the EU without a deal on Oct. 31, say the documents, the country could face…

• Shortages of fresh food, medicine, and fuel
• Disruptions at ports for several months
• The closure of two oil refineries
• Social unrest and the restoration of a “hard border” with Ireland 

Michael Gove, the minister leading no-deal preparations, said the docs were out of date but conceded that leaving the EU without a deal would cause “bumps in the road.” Meanwhile industry groups say there are only so many bumps small businesses can absorb. The latest statistics on UK trade illustrate the significant economic ties with the EU, with the union accounting for 45.6% of UK exports and 64% of imports in 2018.

The effects of a no deal Brexit could stretch into everything for the UK, from banking and insurance to lawyers, musicians and chefs. No deal also means immediately leaving EU institutions such as the European Court of Justice and Europol, its law enforcement body. Membership of dozens of EU bodies that govern rules on everything from medicines to trade marks would end. Currently the standards of products produced in the UK have to conform to EU standards, changes on this front may also see some benchmarks for quality either dipping or rising.

The EU membership required the UK to contribute £9bn a year towards funding of the regional block. This will no longer be required in a “no deal” Brexit. Pro “no deal” politicians believe this money is better served on home soil promoting British sovereignty and development.  New prime minister Boris Johnson said he’s going to take the U.K. out of the EU by Halloween, deal or no deal.

A no deal Brexit would also mean the UK service industry would lose its guaranteed access to the EU single market. Additionally, the added taxes and tariffs that will be charged to UK manufactured goods and services could make UK exports less competitive. This is expected to shrink the UK economy until access to new markets is established. It is that there that observers suggest could be an opportunity for the African market to create synergy with the UK and benefit from the scenario. For Zimbabwe there is undeniably scope to improve trade ties, with only US$4.9 million exports to the UK since 2017 versus US$396 million in imports over the same period.

There is still a sense of uncertainty on what Boris Johnson’s policy on Africa and Zimbabwe will be going forward. Some would argue Zimbabwe has the advantage of potentially capitalizing on its history with the UK to negotiate for a bilateral trade and migration deal. According to statistics, the UK’s biggest exports to the EU are business and financial services while its biggest import travel services, which include tourism services. Both present mutual opportunities given the local need to develop the financial services sectors and the expected role of tourism as a key economic sector. Beyond that, Zimbabwe represents a potential market for UKs manufactured EU exports like pharmaceuticals and industrial equipment.

The nationalistic posturing behind his hard-line stance on Brexit suggests whatever dealings will occur between Zimbabwe and the post Brexit UK will be primarily geared towards the latter’s favour. In any case, the UK has always been firm on what it expects from Zimbabwe in order to improve relations and engagement. While it is more than likely that the Brexit could yield opportunities, Zimbabwe is not exactly at the front of the line to exploit them. In that sense, it is difficult to see any developments around bilateral relations that will not be exploitative or extractive, unless the local government yields to some of the reforms demanded by the UK. The most recent developments in diplomatic relations suggest the window of opportunity is getting smaller with the UK minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin saying the country supports an extension of EU sanctions against Zimbabwe and will not back its plan to return to the Commonwealth.