State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe is contemplating pulling out of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to fully benefit from its conservation of natural resources.

At its 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES underway in Geneva, Switzerland, the body rejected a proposal by Sadc countries to open trade to clear existing stockpiles of ivory, with Zimbabwe sitting on US$600 million worth of stock.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the upgrading of a 6,5-kilometre stretch along the Harare-Chirundu Highway financed by Japan, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was going to express its reservations before pulling out of the body, if need be.

He said clearing of the ivory stockpile would aid conservation efforts through procurement of equipment and fences for buffer zones to curtail human and wildlife conflict.

“We have our friends like Japan and China whom we can negotiate with to buy our ivory after we express our reservations with CITES,” said President Mnangagwa, speaking in Shona.

“We are sitting on ivory stockpiles worth US$600 million. It’s a lot of money we can use for big projects. Our wild animals are being discussed in Geneva (at the on-going CITES summit), an irrelevant place to the animals. We now know what to do about the issue.”

President Mnangagwa said it was unfair that Zimbabwe carried the burden of conserving its wildlife, but did not benefit from the resource.

“CITES is made up of people who have exhausted their wildlife resources and those who have managed to conserve them,” he said. “Europeans have consumed all their animals, but they want to set rules for us who have managed to conserve theirs.

“They bar us from killing our animals for selling ivory, but they want us to protect them from being poached.”

President Mnangagwa said the country needed resources to train rangers to look after the animals and the erection of fences to demarcate buffer zones to minimise human and wildlife conflict.

“We want the hides, ivory and other essentials to be sold so that we get money to invest in looking after the animals,” he said. “At the moment we have more than 84 000 elephants for a carrying capacity of around 56 000.

“We have an excess population of elephants, but they bar us from selling. Just the day before yesterday they were saying we cannot sell products from our wildlife, but we rejected that. We cannot be denied such a privilege by people who no longer have the elephants. They now know elephants from pictures and films.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was looking forward to cooperating with Japan in promoting sustainable wildlife management.

“We also look forward to partnering with Japan to build greater resilience in our agriculture sector, and issues related to sustainable management of wildlife resources should be strengthened,” he said.

CITES rejected the proposal by Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana to open the trade of ivory to clear existing stockpiles, alleging that it would encourage poaching and reverse gains in wildlife management.

Yet the argument from the Sadc countries has always been that they need the funds to help protect the animals from poaching and enhance conservation efforts.

The Zimbabwe National Army will continue to protect the country from perpetrators of violence who are pushing for regime change, ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo has said.

Speaking during a handover and takeover ceremony of command at Artillery Brigade in Domboshava yesterday, 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.

“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,” said Lt-Gen Chimonyo.

“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.”State media

President Mnangagwa last night left for the Tokyo International Cooperation on African Development (TICAD) Summit where he said he will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Naruhito to call for increased cooperation and support.

The Head of State and Government said the engagement sought to deepen cooperation, building on existing cordial relations which have seen Japan providing humanitarian assistance and human resources development.

The President was seen off at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Ministers Owen Ncube (State Security), Cain Mathema (Home Affairs and Culture), Oliver Chidawu (Harare Metropolitan Province), Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, senior Government officials and service chiefs.

He is accompanied by senior officials from the administration.
In an earlier address at the ground-breaking ceremony for the improvement of a 6,5-kilometre stretch along Makuti-Chirundu Road, commonly known as Wafa-Wafa owing to its steep gradient and sharp curves, President Mnangagwa said his mission was to request Japan to help fund the remaining 14,5 kilometres.

“I would like to thank the Japanese government for the support on the 6,5-kilometre stretch. That is a bad part of the Harare-Chirundu Road.

“Later this evening (yesterday), I will depart for Japan where I will meet Prime Minister Abe and the Emperor (Naruhito) the day after tomorrow (Wednesday) and ask them to help construct the road from here (Mana Pools turn-off) to Makuti covering the whole 21 kilometres as they have done before in other projects,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President expressed optimism that Japan would accede to his request and the launch of the project coincided with the opening of TICAD today.

He expressed optimism more
Japanese companies will invest in the country.

“I will be leading a delegation to Japan to attend the Summit and we are optimistic that our participation in the Summit will result in more Japanese companies investing in Zimbabwe.

“We are eagerly keen to see more mutually beneficial economic projects between Japan and Zimbabwe. In this regard, I am aware of Japan’s strong competency around science, technology and innovation.

“My Government has embarked on massive construction of innovation hubs within our institutions of higher learning in our ambitious drive to leapfrog our development,” he said.State media

By A Correspondent| At least 85 percent of respondents here believe that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is behind the recent spate of abductions and torture of human rights defenders and opposition stalwarts.

Government officials are on record accusing the opposition MDC of perpetrating the abductions and torture of human rights defenders and it’s own members in order to remain relevant.

However, of the 379 votes cast. 85 percent believe that Mnangagwa is responsible for the abductions and torture of civilians, while 9 percent say Chamisa is the one responsible for these atrocities.

At least 6 percent of the respondents attributed the violence to former President Robert Mugabe’s G40.

We publish the final poll outcome below:

By A Correspondent| Local sugar manufacturer, Tongaat Hullet has increased the price of sugar for the umpteenth time this year.

In the latest circular released by the company, effective 26 August 29, the recommended retail prices of sugar for single units are as follows:

• Brown Sugar 1kg – $9.90
• Brown Sugar 2kg – $19.80
• Brown Sugar 5kg – $49.50
• Brown Sugar 10kg – $99.00
• White Sugar 1kg – $10.40
• White Sugar 2kg – $20.40
• White Sugar 5kg – $52.00
• White Sugar 10kg – $104.00

By A Correspondent| The Tendai Biti-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts heard that the Ministry of Finance paid US$400 million to a funeral assurance company for the supply of Command Agriculture fertilizer.

The revelations came out on Monday when Paymaster General, Daniel Muchemwa and chief principal director, Zvinechimwe Churu appeared before the Committee.

It was also revealed that the Ministry officials had no information as to who owns the company or where it is located.

The visibly angry MDC lawmaker took the officials to task.

He said:

“Who are directors of this company known as FSG? Who is FSG? (Paymaster General, Daniel) Muchemwa, (Ministry chief principal director, Zvinechimwe) Churu, and Ngurura all you cannot tell this committee that you do not know who FSG is? So what are you doing there (Finance Ministry)? Your Ministry is rotten then.

You know you are under oath. You do not know your clients? How is it possible that you pay US$400 million to someone you do not know?

I put it to you that you are trying to mislead us. If you pay something to someone you do not know it is illegal according to the laws of this country.”

• Millions of Zimbabweans are food insecure
• This comes as the food crisis in the country has escalated
• The crisis is fueled by austerity measures, environmental disaster and political problems

The food shortage in Zimabwe has grown more severe, with an estimated 38% of the country’s rural population in need of assistance.

The 2019 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee has found that 5.5 million Zimbabweans face food insecurity.

Partly as a result, the military has reportedly given President Mnangagwa a deadline by which time he must leave office.

It is not yet clear when the military wants the president gone. According to Bulawayo24, insiders say that the army initially wanted Mnangagwa gone by December 2019, but now there are suggestions that he may be given the boot sooner than expected.

Additionally, sources have speculated that, if push comes to shove, Mnangagwa may find himself removed from office by the military in a similar fashion to his predecessor Robert Mugabe, Briefly.co.za has gathered.

The current food crisis in Zimbabwe is the product of a combination of factors. The country has struggled economically for some time, and austerity measures to address this have added to the financial strain of many citizens, The South African has reported. In addition, the 2018/19 drought ravaged the country, as did other environmental disasters such as cyclones .

These factors have hurt the poorest Zimbabweans the most. The 2019 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee says that $331.5 million in humanitarian aid will be needed before April 2020 to address the crisis.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has rejected the 76 per cent salary offer from government which is effective 1 August 2019.

In a Circular Letter Number 21 of 26 August 2019) addressed to National Executive Members, Provincial Executive Members, Sub Associations – NAPH, NASH and NASID, ZIMTA secretariat and ZIMTA members, the Association said:

By A Correspondent| Amnesty Southern Africa has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first year in office has been marked by a systematic and brutal crackdown on human rights.

Said the organisation:

By A Correspondent- The government has revealed that a satellite teachers college for Matebeleland North Province has been set at Hwange.

The development, as government authorities say, is the government’s effort to ensure that every province has a tertiary learning institution.

Speaking in an interview after the Hillside Teachers’ College graduation last Friday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira said:

“The chiefs have been talking about having a college in Matabeleland North. If you look at our country you’ll realise that every province in Zimbabwe has at least one tertiary institution, a teachers’ college or a polytechnic, except for Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West.

So we’ve started with Matabeleland North. United College of Education (UCE) has set up a satellite college in Hwange. The satellite college is already operational with 150 students who are already studying and 65 percent of them are from Matabeleland North.

He also revealed government plans to make the college a fully-fledged one. Tagwira added that although the college targets to make sure that local residents benefit, having students learning at institutions far away from their homes was important for diversity.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A 13-year-old boy crawled to his neighbours to seek help after he woke up to find his three relatives mysteriously dead in their home yesterday morning.

Sipho Miya was terrified to discover the bodies of his grandmother Stella Miya, 73, aunt Gugulethu Miya, 35, and cousin Mpho Dube, 13, in their home in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

Sipho had apparently gone to sleep early the night before and was traumatised to wake up and find the bodies of his relatives lying around the house. The cause of death of the three family members is yet to be determined. Police spokesperson Capt Teboho Lephoto said three inquest cases were being investigated.

Lephoto said police were not certain whether the cause of death could have been smoke inhalation from a brazier that was found in the house or whether the three ingested poison.

A neighbour, who was the first to respond to the 13-year-old boy’s cries for help, was stunned to find the bodies of the three family members lying around the house.

Sophia Khumalo, 53, told Sowetan she was called by another neighbour who told her that the boy had crawled to his house to seek help.

“I rushed and found him [Sipho] lying on the ground.

All that he was able to do was to tell the other neighbour that his grandmother, aunt and cousin refused to wake up.

“He said he tried to shake them but they still didn’t wake up. He told us this and then collapsed,” Khumalo said.

She said she went to investigate what the problem was and found three bodies in the house.

Khumalo said she was horrified to find that Stella had vomited blood.

“I found Mpho [the cousin] lying face down on the floor in the kitchen. Stella [the grandmother] was lying diagonal from Mpho and then I went to the bedroom where I found Gugu [the aunt] lying in bed with her head tilted in a funny angle,” Khumalo said.

Relatives said they were left dumbfounded when they arrived at the house to find their kin dead.

Mxolisi Miya, 53, Stella’s son, said the family will find it difficult to come to terms with the deaths of three members at one go.

“We are hurt and don’t know what to do. We got a call from my older brother who said we needed to come to Sebokeng because there was a problem.

“When we arrived and found a crowd around the house and police as well, we knew that there is a big problem,” Mxolisi said.

He said they were still processing the news of the deaths.

He described his mother as a pillar in their family who took care of everyone.

“She was a strong woman and did everything for us. She loved being at home and she would take care of her grandchildren.

“Gugu was a happy soul who was always smiling, and you would never find her angry or upset. We don’t know what we will do without them now,” he said.

Mxolisi said Sipho, his nephew, had regained consciousness and that he was undergoing counselling.

“He is at the hospital and we heard that he was awake.

“He will need to receive counselling and be tested to determine whether he ate the same food as they did and if that was the source that killed everyone else,” he said.

-Sowetan

By A Correspondent- A businessman from Chiyanga Village under Chief Chireya stunned villagers after confessing that he sleeps with his own mother to boost their family business.

The man, Tadiwa Rushungo (37), shocked all and sundry when he revealed that he has been sleeping with his mother Getrude Mashamba for the past two years, a secret that was only known by the two of them.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the two “love birds” would “make love” every month end as was directed by a traditional healer following the death of Tadiwa’s father, Twoboy Rushungo, two years ago.

“The two would have sex every month end as they were directed by their traditional healer. No one suspected that there was something going on until they were caught red handed by a neighbour.

“The two were then dragged to court on charges of incest. Tadiwa, a father of four, admitted before Chief Chireya’s fully packed court that his relationship with his mother was meant to boost the family’s businesses.

He even confessed that ever since their illicit affair, they had managed to buy a new house in Gokwe centre and two commuter omnibuses.

“Mashamba told the court that she agreed to sleep with her son because she was instructed to do so by the traditional healer following the death of her husband who was the owner of the businesses. She said the healer had told her that if she didn’t do so, the businesses would crumble,” said the source.

Chief Chireya confirmed presiding over the matter saying he ordered Mashamba and her son to pay five cows for disrespecting the community. He said incestuous relationships were a taboo adding that people engaging in such acts should be handed stiff penalties.

“I do not tolerate incestuous relationships in my community. Such kind of relationships are not even accepted in Zimbabwe as a whole because they are inhumane and disgusting.

I ordered Mashamba and her son to pay five cows to the entire village for such an embarrassment and l also made him pay three more cows to his wife,” said Chief Chireya.

-BMetro

The MDC and the citizens are perturbed by the deafening silence of independent commissions as abductions, persecutions and rampant human rights violations continue to escalate against defenceless civilians. Silence by independent Commissions on abductions and torture a cause for concern.

Since the MDC, on behalf of the people, gave the notice to demonstrate on 16 August 2019, against the hardships experienced by the people of Zimbabwe, the country has been engulfed by increasing abductions, torture, and persecutions of opposition and civil society. The people’s crime is raising voices of concern against induced life-threatening hardships.

Sequel to the MDC notice to demonstrate, the ZHRC, and the NPRC issued statements acknowledging and ascertaining the democratic rights of the people to ‘peacefully demonstrate against the hardships’.

Both institutions strongly urged the demonstrators, as well as the state representatives who were making violence fermenting statements against the peaceful demonstrations to desist from violating the process. True to its values, the MDC, and the people, have remained peaceful even in the wake of the state’s systematic violence of denying people of their right to demonstrate.

To this day, the nation continues to witness daily increases in the number of wanton abductions, torture and persecutions. Yet the independent commissions for Human Rights and Peace have gone mum-and-dumb!

We are surprised and worried by the conspicuous silence by the country’s independent institutions for peace against these continued gross human rights violations.

The constitutional mandates of these commissions are spelt under chapter 12 of the supreme law of the land, including the protection and defending of citizens against violation of their rights and protecting the sovereignty and interests of the people while promoting constitutionalism.

Statements by the ZHRC Chairperson that they could not comment on the on-going abductions because they are still carrying out investigations are a cause for concern.

One of the key roles of these commissions is to promote, protect, enforce and prevent. As such you don’t promote, protect, enforce and prevent retrogressively. Watching and witnessing the abductions, and then issuing condemning statements are not helpful.

We are not saying that the interventions by independent peace commissions are the total sum for the panacea to stop the obviously and habitual sponsored human rights violations, but the efforts for timely constitutional mandated interventions are critical for both current deterrence, and posterity reference.

All the independent Commissions ZHRC, NPRC, Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the Zimbabwe Media Commission should pile concerted efforts to compel the state to stop these abductions; torture, persecutions and many other violations.

Commissions need to justify their existence, by living up to their constitutional mandates, without fear or favour. We cannot keep the oxen and then span ourselves to plough.

Hon Blessing Chebundo
MDC National Secretary for Healing, Peace and Reconciliation.

By A Correspondent- A woman is seeking a divorce from her husband because he showers her with gifts and cleans the house without being asked, it has been reported.

The wife says her husband’s “extreme love” has pushed her to a divorce, she told a Sharia court in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

He never yelled or argued with her and was always kind, but despite his affection, the woman claims her life was “hell” because of his “cruel-free treatment”, English language UAE newspaper Khaleej Times reports.

She has reportedly complained “his love and compassion are so over the top” and she wants a divorce.

She told the court: “I am choked by his extreme love and affection. He even assisted me in cleaning the house without me asking him.”

The woman said the couple never had an argument and the husband never shouted at her during their year-long marriage, according to reports.

When she complained about his weight, her husband even went on a strict diet and exercise regime that left him with a broken leg.

Local media said this didn’t please her as she still complained about her husband’s compliments and gifts.

-The Sun

High Court has ended the lengthy detention of #Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) by granting him ZWL$1 000 bail and ordering him to report at ZRP three times per week.

-More to follow….

26 August 2019

The MDC national Vice Chairman, Hon. Job Sikhala appeared at the Bikita Magistrates courts today.

Sikhala, who is already out on bail; was further remanded until the 1st of November 2019.

The MDC would like to thank all our party leaders and members who turned out in their large numbers today in solidarity with Hon. Sikhala.

MDC: Change that Delivers

Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Public Accounts Committee on Monday heard that the Finance Ministry loaned US$68 million to unnamed parastals but could not furnish parliament with the supporting vouchers.

Speaking before the Tendai Biti chaired Publis Accounts Committee, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Finance cast a shadow of doubt on whether government would be able to recover the loans.

Watch the video below for this and more…..

By A Correspondent- Speaking before parliament, Secretary for Finance and Economic Development revealed that government paid over USD$400 million to a company called FCG on the pretext that it would supply fertilisers for Command Agriculture.

However, the government official said that they have no clue where this company is, who it’s owner is and its location.

The Public Accounts portfolio committee chaired by Tendai Biti was also told that due process was not followed when FCG was awarded the contract since it did not even go to tender.

Watch the live video below for this more….

Following the noise about the missing Ngoni Danzwa who disappeared on the 16 of August, MDC Youth Assembly leader Ostallos Siziba has reported that the missing activist has been found at Harare Remand Prison.

Siziba said he visited Harare Central law and order section looking for Danzwa where he was later referred to Harare remand.

Danzwa was arrested and charged with inciting public violence and will be appearing in court on the 2nd of September.

“Today l went to Harare central Law and order section to look for Ngoni Danzwa who was arrested on the 16th and his whereabouts were not clear. 
After a long stay l was referred to Harare remand prison where k have located him.

“He is being charged with inciting public violence and will be appearing in Rotton Row court on the 2nd of September

“He is good spirit is focused,” said Siziba.

Danzwa was arrested with 27 others on the 16th of September, the day the MDC had planned its mega demonstration in Harare.

Former Co-Minister of State for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration during the inclusive Government and founding member of the MDC, Mrs Sekai Holland, has said 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 yesterday.

“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 Second Republic to call for peace and to open new spaces for conversations.”

Yesterday, the US Embassy in Harare posted on Twitter that it remains “concerned about more abductions, violence & intimidation in Zimbabwe . . .”

In response to the tweet, irate citizens slammed the US Embassy for fomenting chaos in the country.

Said Nicole Hondo: “We are equally concerned about the . . . sponsorship of terrorism and fake abductions in Zimbabwe, all aimed at regime change.”

Another Twitter user, Simbarashe Shereni, told the US not to meddle in local politics: “Don’t meddle in our politics. You don’t tell us what to do. You stage-manage abductions to try and justify your stance against our beautiful nation.

“We are not that daft. Sadly, you have puppets here. But they will be defeated at all costs.”

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has slammed government for lacking sincerity and belief in genuine citizen participation in all national processes.

In a story carried in a local weekly, ZCTU leader Peter Mutasa said the reconstituted Tripartite Negotiating Forum had a false start as government had not given it the weight it duly deserves.

“The government does not believe in genuine and effective citizen participation. When we met on June 26, the inaugural meeting after the TNF Act came into effect; there was only one minister and two deputy ministers present.

All the other important ministers snubbed it as they normally do. The resolution of TNF for Cabinet to review Statutory Instrument 142 of 2009 taking into account inputs of both business and labour was also brushed aside,” said Mutasa.

SOUTH Africa based pop artiste, TK Hollun, says he is working on a massive project that will see him silencing his critics.

Born Tendekayi Mushekwi, the musician told H-Metro he is recording a new video that will serve as his comeback after a sabbatical.

Pictures of the Ndafunga Kure singer shooting the video in Durban have since gone viral after the musician engaged professional models that have left fans looking forward to the visuals.

“I was born to do quality music that is timeless and my fans know that every song is worth the wait.

“Anyone thinking that I am now a spent force is dreaming, I am not under pressure from anyone, I was just under the weather for some time but I am now back on my feet.

“I am currently recording my new video in Durban for the song-Blood Pressure and so far everything looks perfect,” said TK Hollun.

Pictures from the Durban shoot have also gone viral with the Ndafunga Kure singer riding on the wave.

“The video is lit and my fans should look forward to having a quality product on their screens.

“We engaged professional models casted from Tanzania, Burundi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe to come up with a good product,” he said.

TK Hollun also revealed how went through a trying time.

“I was hospitalised and went through an operation which almost threatened my life, I would like to thank my dear brother Nyasha Mushekwi and my wife for standing with me.

“I met a number of obstacles but promise my fans to share with them all finer details in my new album.

“I promise the album will not disappoint and being absent from the scene spending time with family helped me realise my potential,” he said.

He says he will be launching his forthcoming album back home in October.

Through his Shakestone Records, the musician has been able to get a few Zimbabwean artistes off their feet.

-State Media

Opposition MDC youth leader and human rights Activist Makomborero Haruzivishe’s court case has once again been postponed to next week Tuesday by the Harare magistrates court.

Haruzivishe was arrested early this year on allegations of shooting a video at the airport.

The case was postponed after the state witness failed to show up.

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe’s workers body the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union has lashed at government for ignoring their call to dump its widely unpopular austerity measures saying the situation on the ground leaves workers with no option except to protest.

In a story carried in the weekly The Standard, ZCTU leader Peter Mutasa said government did not take heed to their call to do away with austerity measures which have been responsible for the suffering of the masses as prices of basic commodities have gone up by close to 700 percent.

“Workers and trade unions have tried to make government understand the folly of continuing in this direction of austerity measures, but this has been met with scorn and brutality, and as a result workers have no other option than to stop working and to protest until government is ready to listen,” he said.

Standard|Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe says Zimbabwe’s politics is very violent in nature with women and the opposition being the biggest victims.

The country’s youngest legislator made the remarks in an interview on The “A” List Show, a talk show hosted by dancer and actress Dalma Chiwereva and produced by United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean actress and choreographer Enisia Mashusha.

“Just like any journey or anything in life, obviously there are challenges that one has to face to be where they are today,” she said.

“One of the challenges is the personal risks, Zimbabwean politics is very violent in nature and it’s very patriarchal as well.

“You face resistance from your colleagues, that is the male counterpart.”

“Being in politics on its own is a challenge and also being a young person, and being a woman that is a challenge on its own.

“To penetrate politics when you are a woman is very difficult because of the nature of politics.

“Our systems and culture are very patriarchal in nature. So being a woman it becomes very difficult to penetrate those spaces and I am not an exception.”

The 26-year-old legislator said the older women who were already in politics can be a stumbling block as they do not want competition.

“There was a challenge where I also faced difficulties [to get] support from older women, not necessarily from Harare West constituency, but even from outside my constituency,” she added.

“They would comment about my being young and that I should take time. Also coming from a molecular biology background, they would say why can’t you go and practice in the laboratory? But my answer was that for the challenges that we are facing in Zimbabwe, the solutions are not going to come from the lab, we are going to get them from the ground, from Parliament, so this is where I am going to put my energy.”

Mamombe said those who want to get into politics must be determined and be prepared to face the personal risks.

“Politics, especially in opposition, comes with a lot of personal risks, the issues of harassment, abuses, torture and arrests,” she added.

“I have been arrested a lot of times. I have been beaten up, slept in jail for months.

“I have slept on a hospital bed after being admitted after being beaten up by the police in this country — I have faced that.

“I have been charged with treason, they say I was the first female to be charged with treason after Mbuya Nehanda.

“This is abnormal in nature that somebody can be arrested and charged with treason for just speaking out about fuel prices.”

She also bemoaned the state of the country’s prisons.

“The conditions in our prisons, particularly in the female prisons are bad,” Mamombe said.

“Chikurubi female prison is not spared from the economic challenges that we are facing — the issues of water, the issues of electricity, all other issues we are facing as a country are a challenge.”

Mamombe said Zimbabwe needed to address its governance deficiencies for it deal with the economic crisis that has stretched for over a decade.

-The Standard

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says the country was now in a humanitarian crisis and accused government of ignoring the plight of workers and of downplaying the impact of its austerity measures.

In an interview with NewsDay, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said workers were suffering, but their pleas were being treated with scorn and brutality after police arrested 10 officials from the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe last Friday, together with their lawyer, Douglas Coltart. The officials wanted to present a petition to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube over poor teachers’ salaries of around $500 a month.

“Due to shortages of (electricity) and low domestic demand, many companies are scaling down and some are closing shop with people losing jobs; and retrenchments are now common in the labour market. What we have now is a humanitarian crisis of gigantic proportions,” Mutasa said.

“Workers and trade unions have tried to make government understand the folly of continuing in this direction of austerity measures, but this has been met with scorn and brutality, and as a result workers have no other option than to stop working and to protest until government is ready to listen,” he said.

Workers from different sectors have declared incapacity due to the low wages.

In the past two weeks, the police have snuffed out five attempts by the opposition MDC to hold demonstrations to protest over government’s handling of the economy.

Zimbabwe’s economy is mired in its worst crisis in a decade characterised by rolling power cuts, and shortages of fuel, cash, medicines and increased clampdown on citizens by security forces.

“Everything is getting to a standstill and nothing is functioning despite the tomfoolery being displayed by some policymakers, especially the Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and government spokespersons,” he said.

Mutasa said workers could no longer afford to report for work, pay rentals, feed their families or pay school fees.

“No amount of brutality must lead to people surrendering their constitutional rights. Workers will never surrender their collective power. The ZCTU has completed its consultations and workers have emphatically demanded that we call for nationwide general strikes until the government starts to respect citizen engagement. We are announcing the form and dates soon.

“People are starving and dying in homes due to lack of medical care. The country is in total darkness and queues for fuel and even bread are the order of the day. What is a 76% increment from someone that has increased fees of all government services by over 500%? That is a mockery. Wages have been eroded by up to eleven-fold since Ncube adopted fascist economic experiments,” he said after the latest government offer to its workers.

While prices of goods and services keep going up daily, including exchange rate movements, salaries of both public and private sector employees have remained stagnant and they were robbed of their future through erosion of their pensions and savings, Mutasa said.

“The only solution is to redollarise and have workers earn the stable currency again or pay salaries based on the prevailing interbank exchange rate,” he opined.

Mutasa described Ncube’s financial measures as disastrous neo-liberal economic structural adjustment policies.
“We warned Ncube against Nazi-style economic authoritarianism of austerity. Instead of taking heed they brutalised and arrested us,” he said.

The ZCTU president added that the labour laws had been amended several times in favour of capital, further noting that the judiciary has been aiding the neo-liberal agenda through retrogressive judgments like the Zuva decision and many others over the years.

On the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), Mutasa said it was dysfunctional and lacked political will.

“The government does not believe in genuine and effective citizen participation. When we met on June 26, the inaugural meeting after the TNF Act came into effect; there was only one minister and two deputy ministers present.

All the other important ministers snubbed it as they normally do. The resolution of TNF for Cabinet to review Statutory Instrument 142 of 2009 taking into account inputs of both business and labour was also brushed aside,” he said.

He said demonstrations and any other collective actions were a legitimate means of exerting pressure on the decision-makers and were also guaranteed in the Constitution.

The call for nationwide protests comes as police recently banned MDC’s free Zimbabwe marches and beat up protesters who had gathered for the Harare demonstration on August 16.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Progressive Teachers Union secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said failure by government to give teachers a meaningful increment will seriously affect the November examinations.

“Third term might not even re-open as long as the issues of teachers are not addressed. We will not be deterred and we are sending a clear message to government that we are not going to allow them to do what they are doing by increasing prices of everything except wages,” Majongwe said.

Last week, government offered a 76% increase for civil servants, which will see the lowest getting paid slightly above $1 000.

Civil servants rebuffed the offer saying it “does not meet the stated position of the workers which is $4 750 for the least paid civil servant”.

-Newsday

Former Co-Minister of State for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration during the inclusive Government and founding member of the MDC, Mrs Sekai Holland, has said 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 yesterday.

“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 Second Republic to call for peace and to open new spaces for conversations.”

Yesterday, the US Embassy in Harare posted on Twitter that it remains “concerned about more abductions, violence & intimidation in Zimbabwe . . .”

In response to the tweet, irate citizens slammed the US Embassy for fomenting chaos in the country.

Said Nicole Hondo: “We are equally concerned about the . . . sponsorship of terrorism and fake abductions in Zimbabwe, all aimed at regime change.”

Another Twitter user, Simbarashe Shereni, told the US not to meddle in local politics: “Don’t meddle in our politics. You don’t tell us what to do. You stage-manage abductions to try and justify your stance against our beautiful nation.

“We are not that daft. Sadly, you have puppets here. But they will be defeated at all costs.”

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Brian Nichols and some officials reportedly visited MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson Mr Job Sikhala’s Chitungwiza home on the eve of a violent demonstration that had been planned for August 16.

-State Media

The MDC has called on the region and international community to intervene in the wake of worsening human rights abuses and persecution of opposition members following the shooting that occurred at Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu’s home last week.

Some gunmen besieged Matewu’s residence and opened fire at his house.

Matewu was not hurt in the shooting, which left his house, vehicle and water tank bullet-riddled.

In a statement, MDC Marondera spokesperson Farai Nyandoro said there was need for the international community to intervene given the lawlessness prevailing in the country, which has seen opposition party members and rights activists being abducted and tortured.

“Marondera central district condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric attack and destruction of property that took place at MP Matewu’s residence. We call on Sadc and the international community to intervene in order to rein in this parallel junta,” he said.

Nyandoro, a former Marondera mayor, added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should prevent lawlessness in the country.

“Surely, a genuine President cannot keep mum and remain on mute when lawlessness has reached unprecedented levels ever recorded in the history of Zimbabwe. Matewu has been discharging his duties in a non-partisan manner albeit some sabotage on projects he is carrying out in terms water delivery in Marondera,” Nyandoro said.

Police are currently investigating the shooting.

A number of activists and opposition party members have been abducted and tortured following the announcement of nationwide demonstrations by the MDC over the deteriorating economy.

The police banned all the protests.

-Newsday

A SMALL-SCALE miner, who recently told a public hearing that a member of national assembly was behind a plot to grab her gold mining claims on Friday approached Parliament seeking protection after she allegedly received threatening messages from a Zanu PF legislator.

Martha Thokozile Moyo from Silobela says she now lives in fear after giving oral evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines which was gathering views on the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) petition on degradation, pollution by mining conglomerates and lack of corporate social responsibility programmes.

The law stipulates that whenever a person makes a contribution during public hearings, they are protected in terms of the Parliament Privileges and Immunities Act.

Moyo claimed that Silobela legislator Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu (Zanu PF) was one of the individuals who were threatening her.

“When the Mines Committee came to gather oral evidence in Kwekwe, it was said we (participants) were going to be protected under the Parliament Privileges and Immunity Act, but I am concerned that I am now receiving threatening messages after I made contributions during the public hearing and this is haunting me,” Moyo told the committee.
“I fear for my life and my request now before the Mines Committee is that can I get Parliament protection because I was promised that protection.

“I am glad that the Silobela MP is here, but I am not working well with him and he is taking advantage of me,” she said.

Chairperson of the Mines Committee Edmond Mkaratigwa (Zanu PF) advised Moyo to submit her complaint in writing to the Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda for her to get a protection certificate in terms of the Parliament Privileges Act.

“Your issue is a special case and I can rightly tell you that you are protected by the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunity Act. We would require you to put your issue in writing and submit it to the Clerk of Parliament so that you can be protected. The Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda will give you a certificate of protection.”

In an interview with Southern Eye, Silobela MP Mpofu denied threatening Moyo.

“I do not know anything about that. I have never even spoken to her and I do not know who threatened her,” Mpofu said, adding that Moyo had problems with some gold miners over claims, and he did not know why she was dragging him into the squabble.

-Newsday

Movement for Democratic Change, MDC national organising Secretary Amos Chibaya has been granted RTGS400 bail after spending five days behind bars.

A Harare Magistrates court has this morning freed Chibaya and ordered him to report back to court on 12 September 2019.

Chibaya is facing a new charge of failing to stop the demonstration in Harare last week of which he was the official Convenor.

This means that Chibaya is now facing yet another charge apart from the already existing one of subversion.

By A Correspondent- The forthcoming Glen View South by-election set for September 7 will be a litmus test for Zanu-PF leader, President Emerson Mnangagwa, whose government is grappling to contain several challenges, including high unemployment, rolling power cuts, closure of industries and high cost of living, MDC Harare provincial chairperson Wellington Chikombo has said.

The seat fell vacant in June following the death Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a road traffic accident on a stretch of road just outside Kwekwe going to Kadoma.

The MDC party has selected the late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s son, Vincent, to fill the vacant post left by his sister. He will face Zanu-PF candidate Orphard Muchuwe and a host of other candidates.

In a bid to garner more votes, the MDC party has also recalled veteran politician, Grandmore Hakata, who stood as an independent candidate during the July 31, 2018 general elections to help campaign for the party.

Yesterday, Chikombo told a local publication that Hakata’s inclusion into the equation would spell doom for the Zanu-PF party given that he previously amassed more than 3 000 votes last year.

“In the previous election, Grandmore Hakata got over 3 000 votes as an independent. In my capacity as the chairperson of Harare, I said to him, ‘please come home’ and he came home. As I speak right now, I am with him and we are doing door-to-door campaigns canvassing support for Vincent so that we win resoundingly on September 7, 2019,” Chikombo said.

“With Hakata in the camp, all cylinders are operating at full throttle. Victory is certain for the MDC and, in fact, Glen View is going to stand as a litmus test for Mnangagwa’s government. We have a high unemployment rate in the country.

The industrial utilisation capacity is very low, we have power shortages in the country, and industry is closing down on a daily basis. So the people of Zimbabwe are going to send a message to the government of Mnangagwa through Glen View. The people’s mood politically will be determined through Glen View.”

Contacted for comment, Hakata confirmed the developments, but declined to shed more light, preferring to direct all questions to the party.

“I can only confirm to you that my blood flows with MDC and it is going to work with my party and we look forward to winning this election,” he said.

Asked about his future plans in MDC politics, Hakata simply responded: “We will cross the bridge when we get to the river.”

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 11.30

USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 11.10

USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 11.20

USD to BOND: zimrates.com 80.00

More: marketwatch.co.zw

By A Correspondent- A security guard who ruptured his genitals after an assault by two municipal police details accusing him of illegal vending has filed a $700 000 High Court claim against the Harare City Council.

Admire Chipusire is suing Harare and two of its employees, Munyaradzi Chaza and Patrick Matumbura, for assaulting him on spurious allegations that he was an illegal vendor.

Through his lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Hamunakwadi of Hamunakwadi and Nyandoro Legal Practice, Chipusire is seeking damages for pain and suffering to the tune of $700 000.

According to Mr Hamunakwadi, the physical attack resulted in the rapture of his client’s organ, part of which was subsequently removed following medical-surgical.

Harare is cited in the claim on account of vicarious liability, as Chaza and Matumbura’s employer.

The incident occurred on March 17 this year, when Chipusire was at his workplace at the corner of George Silundika Avenue and Innez Terrace in the capital, where he is employed as a security guard by the Zimbabwe Post (Private) Limited.

He claims that he was accosted by the two officers who accused him of illegal vending. Without giving him a chance to explain himself, Chipusire claims that Matumbura grabbed him by the arms and Chaza unleashed three fatal kicks on his genitalia.

After the gruesome episode, Chipusire was rushed to hospital where he was admitted for an emergency operation.

“The callous attempted murder committed by second (Chaza) and third (Matumbura) against plaintiff (Chipusire), during the course and scope of their employment and in pursuit of the first defendant (City of Harare)’s interests was blatantly unlawful and has absolutely no place in modern-day civilisation as it is a naked affront to the plaintiff’s constitutionally guaranteed right to life,” read the summons.

Harare City Council, which has 10 days to file its defense to the claim by Chipasure, has of late become a cash cow for litigants.

Some of the cases emanate from the city officials’ bungling in handling labor issues.

By A Correspondent- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said the removal of sanctions by the West will increase investment in Zimbabwe and aid the implementation of land and security sector reforms.

Dr Moyo said in an opinion piece published by Foreign Policy magazine last week that President Mnangagwa’s administration had already started reforms in many areas.

“Lifting sanctions and increasing international investment will speed land and security sector reform and enhance the protection of human rights,” he said.

“Since the election of a new government for Zimbabwe one year ago, the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in which I serve, has begun reforming our land policies, changing laws, and commencing a new compensation initiative to address the injustices of the recent past.”

Moyo said Government and white former commercial farmers were set to conclude negotiations on a final compensation figure for land improvements on acquired properties and payment mechanisms.

He said Government and the farmers conducted a parallel evaluation of how much was required in compensation and what remained was to come up with an agreed figure.

He was responding to issues raised by commentators regarding the compensation of the farmers.

“In parallel, the Government is completing a nationwide evaluation exercise in order to arrive at an overall compensation figure,” he said. “The farmers have already computed their own figure. What remains, therefore, is for the Government and the farmers to conclude ongoing negotiations to reach a final agreed compensation figure and payment mechanism.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The United Nations (UN) will next month dispatch its special rapporteur on human rights, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, to Harare – to assess the situation in the country, amid growing concerns over abductions and beatings of opposition and pro-democracy activists. 

According to a local daily, this comes as political tension continues to rise in the country, while the government escalates its clampdown on critics, in a bid to neutralise the growing dissatisfaction by a restive populace over Zimbabwe’s worsening economic rot.

Western countries have condemned Zimbabwe’s heavy-handed crackdown on opposition demonstrations protesting the country’s deteriorating economic situation.

The European Union, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States released a statement on Tuesday expressing their concern over the attacks on opposition politicians and human rights activists, the East African reported.

“Intimidation, harassment and physical attacks on human rights defenders, opposition politicians – prior to, during and following the demonstration in Harare on August 16 – are cause for great concern,” read the joint statement.

“The heads of mission call on the authorities to respect the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression, as well as to peaceful protest, and urge all political party leaders and supporters to abstain from threats and incitement to violence as well as acts of violence or vandalism.”

The statement added that the brutal crackdown by security forces hindered President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to transform Zimbabwe politically, adding that only by addressing the human rights abuses would Harare’s credibility in tackling the various challenges facing it be restored.

The release of the critical statement followed the banning of another opposition protest, this time in the central city of Gweru.-DailyNews

NewsDay|THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says the country was now in a humanitarian crisis and accused government of ignoring the plight of workers and of downplaying the impact of its austerity measures.

In an interview with NewsDay, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said workers were suffering, but their pleas were being treated with scorn and brutality after police arrested 10 officials from the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe last Friday, together with their lawyer, Douglas Coltart. The officials wanted to present a petition to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube over poor teachers’ salaries of around $500 a month.

“Due to shortages of (electricity) and low domestic demand, many companies are scaling down and some are closing shop with people losing jobs; and retrenchments are now common in the labour market. What we have now is a humanitarian crisis of gigantic proportions,” Mutasa said.

“Workers and trade unions have tried to make government understand the folly of continuing in this direction of austerity measures, but this has been met with scorn and brutality, and as a result workers have no other option than to stop working and to protest until government is ready to listen,” he said.

Workers from different sectors have declared incapacity due to the low wages.

In the past two weeks, the police have snuffed out five attempts by the opposition MDC to hold demonstrations to protest over government’s handling of the economy.

Zimbabwe’s economy is mired in its worst crisis in a decade characterised by rolling power cuts, and shortages of fuel, cash, medicines and increased clampdown on citizens by security forces.

“Everything is getting to a standstill and nothing is functioning despite the tomfoolery being displayed by some policymakers, especially the Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and government spokespersons,” he said.

Mutasa said workers could no longer afford to report for work, pay rentals, feed their families or pay school fees.

“No amount of brutality must lead to people surrendering their constitutional rights. Workers will never surrender their collective power. The ZCTU has completed its consultations and workers have emphatically demanded that we call for nationwide general strikes until the government starts to respect citizen engagement. We are announcing the form and dates soon.

“People are starving and dying in homes due to lack of medical care. The country is in total darkness and queues for fuel and even bread are the order of the day. What is a 76% increment from someone that has increased fees of all government services by over 500%? That is a mockery. Wages have been eroded by up to eleven-fold since Ncube adopted fascist economic experiments,” he said after the latest government offer to its workers.

While prices of goods and services keep going up daily, including exchange rate movements, salaries of both public and private sector employees have remained stagnant and they were robbed of their future through erosion of their pensions and savings, Mutasa said.

“The only solution is to redollarise and have workers earn the stable currency again or pay salaries based on the prevailing interbank exchange rate,” he opined.

Mutasa described Ncube’s financial measures as disastrous neo-liberal economic structural adjustment policies.

“We warned Ncube against Nazi-style economic authoritarianism of austerity. Instead of taking heed they brutalised and arrested us,” he said.

The ZCTU president added that the labour laws had been amended several times in favour of capital, further noting that the judiciary has been aiding the neo-liberal agenda through retrogressive judgments like the Zuva decision and many others over the years.

On the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), Mutasa said it was dysfunctional and lacked political will.

“The government does not believe in genuine and effective citizen participation. When we met on June 26, the inaugural meeting after the TNF Act came into effect; there was only one minister and two deputy ministers present.

All the other important ministers snubbed it as they normally do. The resolution of TNF for Cabinet to review Statutory Instrument 142 of 2009 taking into account inputs of both business and labour was also brushed aside,” he said.

He said demonstrations and any other collective actions were a legitimate means of exerting pressure on the decision-makers and were also guaranteed in the Constitution.

The call for nationwide protests comes as police recently banned MDC’s free Zimbabwe marches and beat up protesters who had gathered for the Harare demonstration on August 16.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Progressive Teachers Union secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said failure by government to give teachers a meaningful increment will seriously affect the November examinations.

“Third term might not even re-open as long as the issues of teachers are not addressed. We will not be deterred and we are sending a clear message to government that we are not going to allow them to do what they are doing by increasing prices of everything except wages,” Majongwe said.

Last week, government offered a 76% increase for civil servants, which will see the lowest getting paid slightly above $1 000.

Civil servants rebuffed the offer saying it “does not meet the stated position of the workers which is $4 750 for the least paid civil servant”.

State Media|Government has warned the opposition MDC against breaking the law after the party notified the police that they intend to hold demonstrations in Bulawayo and other areas countrywide on Thursday and Friday.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema yesterday said law enforcement agents are on high alert to ensure that peace prevails nationwide and anyone caught transgressing will face the full wrath of the law.

This comes after police last week issued a prohibition order barring the MDC-A from demonstrating and the Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court upheld the ban.

The opposition party notified the police about its latest plans on Saturday. The two parties are expected to meet today ahead of the planned Thursday and Friday demos.

“Police will be on high alert to ensure that peace prevails in every part of the country. The constitution allows people to demonstrate but those who will be caught on the wrong side of the law will face the consequences. Zimbabwe is a democratic and peaceful country,” said Minister Mathema.

He urged members of the public not to allow the MDC Alliance to use them through senseless demonstrations.

“People should not allow the MDC Alliance to use them. The party should follow the constitution, which it took part in writing. They don’t know what they want. They run to the courts on every issue but they still don’t want to listen to the courts,” said Minister Mathema.

He said President Mnangagwa was the legitimate Head of State and it was unfortunate if the opposition party does not want to recognise his leadership.

Minister Mathema said it was important for the country to move away from the election mode and focus on the economy and development.

MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza yesterday confirmed that the party plans to hold demonstrations this week, saying they have notified the police.

Mr Chirowodza could not be drawn into giving further details about the protests, saying the party was still in the process of organising.

“We’ve resolved to have nationwide peaceful demonstrations on August 29 and 30. I’m not privy to other details because we’re still organising as a party, but I can confirm that the protests will be nationwide.

“We’ve notified the police about our intentions and we’ll have a meeting tomorrow as part of our preliminaries and further consultations,” said Mr Chirowodza.

In a letter to the MDC-A dated August 24, Officer Commanding Bulawayo Central District, Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Phiri, invited the MDC Alliance to a consultative meeting.

“We acknowledge receipt of your notice dated August 24, 2019, which I received on the same date on notification to hold peaceful demonstrations on August 29 and 30, 2019.

“You’re invited in terms of section 26 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) on August 26, 2019 to attend a consultative meeting at your earliest convenience at Bulawayo Central District Headquarters,” reads the letter.

BEREAVEMENT NOTICE

HARARE PROVINCE

25/08/19

It is with a deep sense of sadness that the MDC Harare Province announces the death of Sekuru Zephania Chikombo the father of Hon Wellington Chikombo the Chairman of MDC Harare Province and MP for Glen Norah Constituency.

Sekuru Chikombo died on Sunday 25 August in Buhera at the age of 75. He will be buried on Monday 26 August in Nyashanu, Buhera.

May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace.

COMMUNICATIONS DESK
MDC HARARE PROVINCE

NewsDay|THE forthcoming Glen View South by-election set for September 7 will be a litmus test for Zanu PF leader, President Emerson Mnangagwa, whose government is grappling to contain several challenges, including high unemployment, rolling power cuts, closure of industries and high cost of living, MDC Harare provincial chairperson Wellington Chikombo has said.

The seat fell vacant in June following the death Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a road traffic accident on a stretch of road just outside Kwekwe going to Kadoma.

The MDC party has selected the late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s son, Vincent, to fill the vacant post left by his sister.

He will face Zanu PF candidate Orphard Muchuwe and a host of other candidates.

In a bid to garner more votes, the MDC party has also recalled veteran politician, Grandmore Hakata, who stood as an independent candidate during the July 31, 2018 general elections to help campaign for the party.

Yesterday, Chikombo told NewsDay that Hakata’s inclusion into the equation would spell doom for the Zanu PF party given that he previously amassed more than 3 000 votes last year.

“In the previous election, Grandmore Hakata got over 3 000 votes as an independent. In my capacity as the chairperson of Harare, I said to him, ‘please come home’ and he came home. As I speak right now, I am with him and we are doing door-to-door campaigns canvassing support for Vincent so that we win resoundingly on September 7, 2019,” Chikombo said.

“With Hakata in the camp, all cylinders are operating at full throttle. Victory is certain for the MDC and, in fact, Glen View is going to stand as a litmus test for Mnangagwa’s government. We have a high unemployment rate in the country. The industrial utilisation capacity is very low, we have power shortages in the country, and industry is closing down on a daily basis. So the people of Zimbabwe are going to send a message to the government of Mnangagwa through Glen View. The people’s mood politically will be determined through Glen View.”

Contacted for comment, Hakata confirmed the developments, but declined to shed more light, preferring to direct all questions to the party.

“I can only confirm to you that my blood flows with MDC and it is going to work with my party and we look forward to winning this election,” he said.

Asked about his future plans in MDC politics, Hakata simply responded: “We will cross the bridge when we get to the river.”

Opposition MDC vice President Tendai Biti has blasted government for censoring statistical data on inflation saying it only happens in rogue regimes.

Posting on Twitter yesterday, Biti said inflation is currently above 700 percent with high chances it will hit 1000 before end of year.

Read Biti’s tweet below;

Standard|Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe says Zimbabwe’s politics is very violent in nature with women and the opposition being the biggest victims.

The country’s youngest legislator made the remarks in an interview on The “A” List Show, a talk show hosted by dancer and actress Dalma Chiwereva and produced by United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean actress and choreographer Enisia Mashusha.

“Just like any journey or anything in life, obviously there are challenges that one has to face to be where they are today,” she said.

“One of the challenges is the personal risks, Zimbabwean politics is very violent in nature and it’s very patriarchal as well.

“You face resistance from your colleagues, that is the male counterpart.”

“Being in politics on its own is a challenge and also being a young person, and being a woman that is a challenge on its own.

“To penetrate politics when you are a woman is very difficult because of the nature of politics.

“Our systems and culture are very patriarchal in nature. So being a woman it becomes very difficult to penetrate those spaces and I am not an exception.”

The 26-year-old legislator said the older women who were already in politics can be a stumbling block as they do not want competition.

“There was a challenge where I also faced difficulties [to get] support from older women, not necessarily from Harare West constituency, but even from outside my constituency,” she added.

“They would comment about my being young and that I should take time. Also coming from a molecular biology background, they would say why can’t you go and practice in the laboratory? But my answer was that for the challenges that we are facing in Zimbabwe, the solutions are not going to come from the lab, we are going to get them from the ground, from Parliament, so this is where I am going to put my energy.”

Mamombe said those who want to get into politics must be determined and be prepared to face the personal risks.

“Politics, especially in opposition, comes with a lot of personal risks, the issues of harassment, abuses, torture and arrests,” she added.

“I have been arrested a lot of times. I have been beaten up, slept in jail for months.

“I have slept on a hospital bed after being admitted after being beaten up by the police in this country — I have faced that.

“I have been charged with treason, they say I was the first female to be charged with treason after Mbuya Nehanda.

“This is abnormal in nature that somebody can be arrested and charged with treason for just speaking out about fuel prices.”

She also bemoaned the state of the country’s prisons.

“The conditions in our prisons, particularly in the female prisons are bad,” Mamombe said.

“Chikurubi female prison is not spared from the economic challenges that we are facing — the issues of water, the issues of electricity, all other issues we are facing as a country are a challenge.”

Mamombe said Zimbabwe needed to address its governance deficiencies for it deal with the economic crisis that has stretched for over a decade.

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has said it has intensified investigations into the case of kidnapping and assault of artiste-cum-comedienne, Samantha Kureya, also known as Gonyeti, who works at Bustop TV.

She is alleged to have been abducted at her Mufakose home by three masked men, one of them carrying a firearm, at night before being allegedly assaulted and dumped in Crowborough North Phase 4.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said that investigations were in progress.

“It’s (the case) under investigation,” he said. “As we speak, police investigations into the case are in full swing.”

After being pressed to reveal if there are any leads in the matter, Asst Comm Nyathi said; “I am not making any further comment beyond assuring members of the public and the media that police have intensified investigations into the matter.”

In a video circulating on social media, Gonyeti said she heard a knock on her door, with the people identifying themselves as police officers. She said the people forcibly entered in the house, wearing masks and assaulted her sister.

Gonyeti alleged that she was dragged out of the house to a waiting car and after being driven for some minutes she was ordered out of the car and assaulted.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement has allocated 10 hectares of land to the youth in every administrative district, which will be used for sustainable agricultural projects.

Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu disclosed the deal at a Zimbabwe Wellness and Tree Planting event held in Harare on Friday.

The initiative, Matutu said, will enable the youth to have a sustainable flow of income and positive impact on a socio-economic scale.

“Through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, young people have been given 10 hectares per administrative district to allow them to kick-start viable agrarian projects that will enable them to have a sustainable income and impact positively on a socio-economic scale,” said Matutu.

“This initiative was set up to boost rural productivity and reduce rural to urban migration by young people. In addition to that, sustainable access to water and sanitation, particularly for young women and girls, can enable them to regularly and safely participate in productive activities.”State media

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said the removal of illegal sanctions by the West will increase investment in Zimbabwe and aid the implementation of land and security sector reforms.

Dr Moyo said in an opinion piece published by Foreign Policy magazine last week that President Mnangagwa’s administration had already started reforms in many areas.

“Lifting sanctions and increasing international investment will speed land and security sector reform and enhance the protection of human rights,” he said.

“Since the election of a new government for Zimbabwe one year ago, the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in which I serve, has begun reforming our land policies, changing laws, and commencing a new compensation initiative to address the injustices of the recent past.”

Dr Moyo said Government and white former commercial farmers were set to conclude negotiations on a final compensation figure for land improvements on acquired properties and payment mechanisms.

He said Government and the farmers conducted a parallel evaluation of how much was required in compensation and what remained was to come up with an agreed figure.
Dr Moyo was responding to issues raised by commentators regarding the compensation of the farmers.

“In parallel, the Government is completing a nationwide evaluation exercise in order to arrive at an overall compensation figure,” he said. “The farmers have already computed their own figure. What remains, therefore, is for the Government and the farmers to conclude ongoing negotiations to reach a final agreed compensation figure and payment mechanism.

“I am confident, given existing goodwill and the desire of all parties to resolve the issue of compensation, that we will soon be in a position to go public with an agreement.

“The issue of the land itself has been agreed and settled. For farms obtained under bilateral investment treaties, reimbursement shall be for both land and improvements to land. However, domestic deeds must be seen in a wider historical arc, one laden with colonial dispossession and racial subjugation. A select few held the finest farmland in Zimbabwe to the detriment of our society.”State media

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda has described “reports of comedian Gonyeti’s abduction as the work of the ruling party’s political foes.”

“This is an attempt to tarnish the government’s image by detractors.”

Matemadanda was addressing war veterans and traditional leaders from Mashonaland East Province in Marondera on Friday.

“It is laughable to hear people saying the government is abducting its citizens. Surely what would we get from abducting a comedian like Gonyeti, that is the work of our detractors bent on tarnishing the image of the government,” claimed Matemadanda.