“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…
Below is the letter written by the world football body FIFA to president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son-in-law, Gerald Mlotshwa who was seeking to remove the current ZIFA leadership:
Situation of the Zimbabwe Football Association.
Dear Chairman,
We refer to your letter dated 14 August 2019, through which you requested FIFA to appoint a normalisation committee for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), namely because of allegations of financial mismanagement.
At the outset we would like to underline that FIFA encourages close cooperative relations between its member associations and national governments. In addition, we expect our member associations to be fully accountable for and, if required, submit to the authorities all relevant information regarding the use of public funds, if any are provided, in line with the pertinent national legislation.
Regarding funding provided by FIFA, we would like to inform you that every member association receiving FIFA Forward development funds, including ZIFA, is subject to rigorous controls in the use of these funds. This includes an annual central audit review which is undertaken by an independent professional auditor appointed by FIFA. Adverse findings noted by the auditors are reported to the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee and may result in a restriction or even suspension of funding. Furthermore, in the event of any suspicion of the misuse of funds, the matter is referred to the competent FIFA judicial body.
As a consequence of the above, we deem that the conditions for setting up a normalisation committee for ZIFA in line with art. 8 par. 2 of the FIFA Statutes are not fulfilled. In this context, we must remind you about the contents of art. 14 par. 1 let. i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, which stipulate that all member associations are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.
Therefore, should the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation of Zimbabwe, upon recommendation of the Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC), decide to appoint an interim committee to administer the affairs of ZIFA, it would be considered undue influence in the sense of the FIFA Statutes. Consequently, the matter would be presented to the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and possible action, which may include the suspension of ZIFA.
Finally, we would like to inform you that FIFA is engaged in assisting ZIFA with its debt servicing strategy. In this regard, we would like to underline that we remain at the authorities’ disposal to discuss, if possible, joint efforts to address ZIFA’s current financial situation.
We thank you for taking note of the above and trust in your understanding. Yours sincerely, FIFA
Alasdair Bell Deputy Secretary General (Administration)
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.
Zambian opposition leader Chishimba Kabwili of National Democratic Congress was yesterday arrested on allegations of defaming the President Edgar Lungu and his ministers.
Kambwili was arrested following a video circulating on social media in which he allegedly implied that Lungu was a dog.
In a video Kambwili had said “Some dogs from Chawama do not get tired of travelling,”
He is accused of committing the offence contrary to the Zambian laws of Section 61,the Panel Code Chapter 87.
Fifa has told the Sports and Recreation Commission and the Ministry of Youth Sport, Arts and Recreation not to dare touch the Zimbabwe Football Association
The key aspects of the statement said:
Therefore, should the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation of Zimbabwe, upon recommendation of the Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC), decide to appoint an interim committee to administer the affairs of ZIFA, it would be considered undue influence in the sense of the FIFA Statutes.
Consequently, the matter would be presented to the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and possible action, which may include the suspension of ZIFA.
And it gets more
Finally, we would like to inform you that FIFA is engaged in assisting ZIFA with its debt servicing strategy. In this regard, we would like to underline that we remain at the authorities’ disposal to discuss, if possible, joint efforts to address ZIFA’s current financial situation.
That is that then.
Read the full letter below:
By Nomusa Garikai- “As long as Ramaphosa plays big brother to an illegal president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) then we (Zimbabweans in SA) are staying put and not going anywhere,” twittered Kudakwashe Kadenhe
There is no doubt that Ramaphosa, together with all the other SADC and AU leaders, should have condemned Zimbabwe’s last elections because Zanu PF rigged. Still, Zimbabweans must admit that it was none other than our own oppositions leaders who must take the lion’s share of the blame here.
It is a matter of historic record that Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends failed to implement even one meaningful democratic reform in five years during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Not even one reform!
SADC leaders fought hard to get MDC to implement the reforms, but all their warnings were ignored. The regional leaders made one desperate attempt to have the 2013 elections postponed until reform are implemented but that too failed.
“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit. I went there,” explained Dr Ibbo Mandaza, in an interview with Violet Gonda.
“I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws.
“And after that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”
As we know MDC participated in the 2013 elections with no reforms and Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections. History was to repeat itself in 2018, as it always does with those who refuse to learn from the past.
What is particularly annoying here is that MDC leaders know that by participating in these flawed and illegal elections they are giving the process some credibility and Zanu PF some legitimacy; as Senator David Coltart has readily admitted.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed Senator David Coltart in his Book The Struggle Continues 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe.
So, Zimbabweans like Kudakwashe should not blame outsiders like President Ramaphosa for propping up this illegitimate Mnangagwa regime when it is none other than MDC leaders who are whitewashing the Zanu PF dictatorship and undermining efforts to bring about meaningful democratic change in Zimbabwe.
The solution to Zimbabwe’s political paralysis and economic meltdown is ending the country’s curse of rigged elections. And what better way of doing that than declaring “winners” of rigged elections illegitimate and demanding that the said regime steps down.
We must denounce the corrupt and incompetent MDC leaders who are giving the illegitimate Zanu PF dictatorship legitimacy. MDC leaders have been running with the hare and hunting with the hounds; this must not be allowed to continue.
It is up to us, Zimbabweans, to find the solutions to the myriad of problems we have created for ourselves and should not be blaming outsiders our failures and suffering. We must stop seeing the speck in the outsider’s eye when we cannot see the log in our own eyes!
By A Correspondent- ED Pfee singer Admire Sanyanga (32), who is also known as Chief Shumba, has been granted $200 bail by a Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko.
Sanyanga, who is facing rape charges, was instructed not to interfere with state witnesses and to continue residing at his given address as part of the bail conditions.
The matter will be heard on September 6.
It is the state’s case that Sanyanga allegedly raped a housemaid who works at a Waterfalls home where he receives spiritual healing.
The incident took place on July 30 this year when Chief Shumba asked the victim to assist him carry his luggage from the house where he was receiving treatment to his house.
When they arrived, Sanyanga invited the complainant into the room but she rejected the offer. He reportedly dragged her inside and raped her without using any protection before he threatened her with unspecified action if she reported the matter.
The maid recorded the incident in her diary which was later discovered by her employer who made a police report leading to Chief Shumba’s arrest..
There was heavy presence of police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) personnel in the country’s three cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu despite a Supreme Court order that stopped Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and its leadership from organising demonstrations that were scheduled for Wednesday through to Friday.
Police armoured vehicles were stationed along the Masauko Chipembere Highway in Blantyre, and the stretch from Area 18 Roundabout to Lumbadzi in Lilongwe while the scenes were also familiar in strategic places such as Mzuzu University, Katoto Secondary School Ground and volatile townships such as Chibavi, Chiputula and Luwinga in Mzuzu City.
Police officers in patrol vehicles and on foot were spotted throughout the cities.
HRDC has been leading protests aimed at forcing Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah to step down after the May 21 tripartite elections.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Appeal stopped HRDC and its Chairperson Timothy Mtambo and his deputy Gift Trapence from organising demonstrations for a period of 14 days to give room to talks with the Attorney General (AG), Kalekeni Kaphale, on how the former will ensure peaceful demonstrations.
The AG appealed to the Supreme Court to restrain HRDC, Mtambo and Trapence from organisning protests.
While some residents in Blantyre welcomed the postponement of the demonstrations, others said they were ready to take part.
One of the residents Esther Linyama said although the country’s security was important, her right to freedom of expression and demonstration should not be compromised.
“It is a court order [stopping the demonstrations] so it has to be respected. But next time there are demonstrations, I am surely taking part,” she said.
In Lilongwe, the situation remained tense in the morning as people were not sure the demos would take place or not.
Some shops remained closed as business owners exercised caution. However, some banks remained open.
One resident Thomas Phiri, who operates a minibus said business was affected by the tension.
“Whether demonstrations [are taking place] or not, business has been affected and we are not expecting to make money as a lot of people are not travelling today [yesterday],” Phiri said.
In Mzuzu, the MDF mounted a spot check at Vigwagwa an entrance into the city, and Chiputula where vehicles were being searched.
The city had been quiet in the morning as only few people braved the tension to operate their businesses.
However, the tension was over later in the afternoon as prospective demonstrators got wind that there would be no demonstrations.
“We will wait for HRDC, the court and the government to discuss but if the 14 days go by without any tangible resolution, we will be forced to go to the streets on our own,” Moses Kayira said.
A statement from HRDC, released on Tuesday, says although the coalition called off the protests, they will continue fighting for the rights of citizens.
“In respect of the orders highlighted, HRDC finds it necessary to follow the Supreme Court order to engage with the Attorney General on matters as directed,” the statement reads.
“HRDC will never relent and let Malawians down. As such the coalition will soon announce new dates for the demonstrations outside the 14 days of the order of the Supreme Court of Appeal,” it reads.
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.
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…
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.
FORMER President Robert Mugabe’s preferred successor Sydney Sekeramayi has been dragged to court by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) after failing to settle a $311 000 electricity bill.
The struggling power utility company issued court summons against Sekeramayi who is also former Defence Minister on August 28, 2019.
It claimed that Sekeremayi has refused to pay despite numerous demands.
“On the 28th of September in Harare, the applicant and the respondent signed a Deed of Settlement in terms of which it was agreed that the respondent would pay the applicant a total sum of $319 000 being charges for electricity supplied by the latter to the former,” reads ZETDC declaration.
According to the court application, it was agreed that the amount would be paid in monthly instalments from September 2018 until September 2020.
It was also agreed that in the event of the respondent’s failure to pay any instalment due in terms of the Deed of Settlement, then the whole amount outstanding would become due and payable.
Sekeramayi, in breach of the agreement, has only paid $7 500 which he paid in instalments.
“By reason of the said breach, the respondent is now obliged to pay the said sum of $311 500 to the applicant,” said the power utility.
Sekeramayi is yet to file his respond to the application.
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"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…" –@euinzim's
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019
@TimoOlkkonen pic.twitter.com/eEeE90KNFE
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"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…" –@euinzim's
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019
@TimoOlkkonen pic.twitter.com/eEeE90KNFE
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
"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…" –@euinzim's
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 29, 2019
@TimoOlkkonen pic.twitter.com/eEeE90KNFE
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Below is the letter written by the world football body FIFA to president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son-in-law, Gerald Mlotshwa who was seeking to remove the current ZIFA leadership:
Situation of the Zimbabwe Football Association.
Dear Chairman,
We refer to your letter dated 14 August 2019, through which you requested FIFA to appoint a normalisation committee for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), namely because of allegations of financial mismanagement.
At the outset we would like to underline that FIFA encourages close cooperative relations between its member associations and national governments. In addition, we expect our member associations to be fully accountable for and, if required, submit to the authorities all relevant information regarding the use of public funds, if any are provided, in line with the pertinent national legislation.
Regarding funding provided by FIFA, we would like to inform you that every member association receiving FIFA Forward development funds, including ZIFA, is subject to rigorous controls in the use of these funds. This includes an annual central audit review which is undertaken by an independent professional auditor appointed by FIFA. Adverse findings noted by the auditors are reported to the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee and may result in a restriction or even suspension of funding. Furthermore, in the event of any suspicion of the misuse of funds, the matter is referred to the competent FIFA judicial body.
As a consequence of the above, we deem that the conditions for setting up a normalisation committee for ZIFA in line with art. 8 par. 2 of the FIFA Statutes are not fulfilled. In this context, we must remind you about the contents of art. 14 par. 1 let. i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, which stipulate that all member associations are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.
Therefore, should the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation of Zimbabwe, upon recommendation of the Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC), decide to appoint an interim committee to administer the affairs of ZIFA, it would be considered undue influence in the sense of the FIFA Statutes. Consequently, the matter would be presented to the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and possible action, which may include the suspension of ZIFA.
Finally, we would like to inform you that FIFA is engaged in assisting ZIFA with its debt servicing strategy. In this regard, we would like to underline that we remain at the authorities’ disposal to discuss, if possible, joint efforts to address ZIFA’s current financial situation.
We thank you for taking note of the above and trust in your understanding. Yours sincerely, FIFA
Alasdair Bell Deputy Secretary General (Administration)
29-08-2019 (Harare) – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the timing of the drilling of 15 boreholes by the District Development Fund (DDF) in Glen View South which ZANU-PF seems to have taken advantage of in its campaigns ahead of a by-election scheduled to be held on 7 September 2019 in the Constituency.
While ZESN acknowledges that Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe requires the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve progressive realization of the right to food and water, it appears the prioritisation of the service delivery has been influenced by political considerations. ZESN observers have reported on the official opening of some of the boreholes by ZANU-PF during its ongoing campaigns in the Constituency. They have also observed DDF trucks carrying borehole rigs moving in convoys with vehicles carrying ZANU-PF supporters in their full party regalia heading for the borehole drilling sites. This can be viewed as a form of vote buying or attempts to influence voting preferences.
Vote buying, according to, The Electoral Knowledge Network (ace) includes promising, offering or giving money; goods; services and/or other inducements (such as promises of employment or special favours or treatment) to voters and/or others, including voters’ families or communities in the run-up to an election, after an election has been announced, or during the campaign, by a political party candidate or others (agents) operating on their behalf in a way which is intended or reasonably could be expected to influence how voters cast their vote or would likely do so. Whenever it happens, vote buying has the effect of making the playing field uneven. Yet, critical for a free and fair electoral context is a pre-election environment devoid of irregularities and malpractices that include vote buying.
The act is also in contravention of, among others, Section 4.1.4 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections which stipulates that “Member States shall take all necessary measures and precautions to prevent corruption, bribery, favouritism, political violence, intolerance and intimidation.”
The Networkis concerned with the timing of the drilling of the 15 boreholes in an area that is scheduled to have a by-election soon when there are so many other areas in Harare and other cities and towns that are facing rampant water shortages and erratic water supplies. It is also disturbing that essential service delivery now seems to be tied to electoral campaigns. This perception is reinforced by another incident that was observed by ZESN on 11 May 2019 in Ward 10 of Mutasa Rural District Council by-election where a borehole was drilled on the actual polling day. Further, concerns about vote buying were also raised in the Lupane East National Assembly by-election when a letter replying favourably to a request, by the ruling party, for medicines to be supplied to Lupane in support of the party’s campaign was leaked. This letter widely circulated on social media during the run up to the by-election and its contents were not refuted.
The Network reiterates the need for clear legislative measures prohibiting vote buying as well as the enforcement of Section 156 (c) (i) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that requires ZEC to ensure the establishment of appropriate systems and mechanisms to eliminate vote buying mars the pre-election environment.
ZESN remains committed to support the promotion of democratic electoral processes that are in line with best practices outlined in regional and international instruments governing the conduct of democratic elections.
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.”
Hopewell Chin’ono
Ichi chiri kupisa as vafanha would say, Volume Bho!
You see, instead of coming up with ideas and plans to fix the mess that they have created, ZANU PF and its useless crude propaganda machinery spends every minute available creating lies, smear and embarrassing narratives! SAD
Delegitimisation of opposition leaders with lies and smear will not change the fact that Mai Tizirai is going to bed on an empty stomach!
They attempted to lie that Nelson Chamisa has a home in Sandton, then Zororo Makamba was like, wait a minute, that is my father’s home.
Yaenda Musango Propaganda! Yarova Madziro. These people destroyed all that goodwill through corruption, incompetence, nepotism, mismanagement and theft.
Chamisa is not the government, he is not responsible for the State plunder and failure to put medication in public hospitals!
ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa are!
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.
Farai Dziva|Marvelous Nakamba made an impression during his competitive debut for Aston Villa in a League Cup tie on Tuesday.
The midfielder was named in the first XI and played the entire ninety minutes as his team went on to beat Crewe 6-1.
Nakamba’s performance in the game was commendable and his figures were not bad, managing an overall rating of 7/10.
The draw for the third round of the competition was made last night and Villa will face fellow EPL side Brighton and Hove.
17-year-old Zimbabwe-born Tivonge Rushesha who made his senior debut in Swansea’s second round win over Cambridge United on Wednesday will be hoping to be included in the squad again when the Championship side take on Watford.
Andy Rinomhota’s Reading will travel to Wolves while injured Tendayi Darikwa will miss the trip to Arsenal.
The ties will be played the week beginning 23 September.
Farai Dziva|The 2019/20 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony will be held this evening in Monaco.
Here is everything you need to know about the draw.
Time and Venue:
The draw takes place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and the ceremony starts at 7 pm CAT.
How to watch the Draw:
The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s official website and will also be available to watch live on SuperSport.
Seedings:
Pot 1
Liverpool
Chelsea
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Manchester City
Paris Saint-Germain
Zenit
Pot 2
Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
Napoli
Shakhtar Donetsk
Tottenham
Ajax
Benfica
Pot 3
Lyon
Bayer Leverkusen
Salzburg
Olympiacos
Club Brugge
Valencia
Inter Milan
Dinamo Zagreb
Pot 4
Lokomotiv Moscow
Genk
Galatasaray
RB Leipzig
Slavia Prague
Red Star Belgrade
Atalanta
Lille
Draw Procedure:
– The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other in a double round-robin system. The eight group winners and eight runners-up proceed to the knockout phase.
– Pot 1 consists of the holders (Liverpool), the Europa League winners (Chelsea) and the champions of the six highest-ranked nations. Pots 2, 3 and 4 are determined by the club’s Uefa coefficient ranking.
-Teams from the same country cannot be drawn together and clubs from Russia and Ukraine must not be drawn in the same group.
Group Stage Calender:
Matchday one – September 17/18
Matchday two – October 1/2
Matchday three – October 22/23
Matchday four – November 5/6
Matchday five – November 26/27
Matchday six – December 10/11
Round of 16 draw, Nyon – December 16
Farai Dziva|The MDC youth assembly has described Douglas Mahiya’s remarks during a media conference yesterday as reckless and unfortunate.
See the MDC Youth Assembly statement :
MDC Youth Assembly is highly incensed by unfortunate utterances attributed to the war mongering ZLWVA spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya by the press.
Exhibiting immaturity and disrespect to the lives lost during the long protracted war of liberation, Mahiya stupidly threatened to upset national peace by unleashing anarchy and violence just to protect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s parochial power ambitions.
Not only does Mahiya’s reckless utterances expose his thuggish and terrorist behavior, but more importantly it lays bare his questionable war credentials.
Real war veterans loathe war for obvious reasons that it is a retrogressive mechanism of problem solving.
Only pretenders and bogus liberation war veterans calls for a repeat of such a traumatic and painful experience that left thousands dead, maimed, displaced and homeless.
A small dig into the liberation archives clearly shows that Douglas Mahiya was no where near the liberation war front nor was he at worst a war refugee.
Unlike his garrulous war mongering friend, Victor Matemadanda who at least crossed the borders to be a taxi driver in Zambia, Mahiya was domiciled in Mbare where pickpocketing was his daily routine.
Clearly Mbare is not and can never be Mgagao, Chifombo, Chimoio or any other liberation war base where our esteemed liberation war veterans received their training.
We know there is a clear ploy by ZANU PF apologists like Mahiya and Matemadanda bent on pilfering and soiling the image of real liberation war heroes.
Key to the ethos of liberation war is the principle of one man-one vote, respect of civil and political rights and the land question.
Unfortunately Mahiya’s employers ZANU PF and his master, Emmerson Mnangagwa have all but lost the liberation war moral campus.
By stealing the July 2018 elections, they defiled the principle of one man-one vote and by killing innocent civilians on 01 August 2018 and banning demonstrations, they soiled the liberation agenda of creating a society that respect civil and political liberties.
It is for that reason why the European Union has effected targeted embargoes and clearly MDC is not EU and neither the vice versa is true!
As young social democrats, our ethos tap into those of real war veterans!
War and abductions surely is not going to chase hunger and starvation from the doorsteps of long suffering Zimbabweans.
As an Assembly is equally important to warn Douglas Mahiya and cabal that any attempt to provoke the already angry masses will responded to in a suitable fashion.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|The Mighty Warriors suffered a heavy 0-5 drubbing at the hands of She-Polopolo of Zambia but what really went wrong?
Below is analytical exerpt published by Soccer24.
The senior women’s national soccer team, the Mighty Warriors endured a catastrophic second half in which they were breached five times by Zambia and suffered one of their heaviest defeats ever yesterday.
Sithethelelwe Sibanda’s charges, who ussually stand toe-to-toe with She-Polopolo, as evidenced by previous meetings which to some extent they dominated, totally crumbled in the second half after a goalless first half in Lusaka.
To say the Mighty Warriors prepared well for the tie would be a contender for ‘lie of the year’. Put simply, they didn’t and their situation was made worse by the fact that they had to travel to Lusaka by road, amid the Zimbabwe Football Association’s “austerity measures”.
Additionally, if the reports suggesting that they are still owed allowances from COSAFA Women’s Championship are true, then ZIFA might just be expecting too much from the girls- they simply lack motivation, understandably so, because they don’t even knowing when or if they will be rewarded for their efforts.
For a team which only last year, won 1-0 in Zambia to be massacred 5-0, with virtually the same players and same coach, means something is not right in the manner in which the game is being administered.
MDC Youth Assembly Statement _On ZLWVA Utterances_
The MDC Youth Assembly is highly incensed by unfortunate utterances attributed to the war mongering ZLWVA spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya by the press.
Exhibiting immaturity and disrespect to the lives lost during the long protracted war of liberation, Mahiya stupidly threatened to upset national peace by unleashing anarchy and violence just to protect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s parochial power ambitions.
Not only does Mahiya’s reckless utterances exposes his thuggish and terrorist behavior, but more importantly it lays bare his questionable war credentials.
Real war veterans loathe war for obvious reasons that it is a retrogressive mechanism of problem solving.
Only pretenders and bogus liberation war veterans calls for a repeat of such a traumatic and painful experience that left thousands dead, maimed, displaced and homeless.
A small dig into the liberation archives clearly shows that Douglas Mahiya was no where near the liberation war front nor was he at worst a war refugee.
Unlike his garrulous war mongering friend, Victor Matemadanda who at least crossed the borders to be a taxi driver in Zambia, Mahiya was domiciled in Mbare where pickpocketing was his daily routine.
Clearly Mbare is not and can never be Mgagao, Chifombo, Chimoio or any other liberation war base where our esteemed liberation war veterans received their training.
We know there is a clear ploy by ZANU PF apologists like Mahiya and Matemadanda bent on pilfering and soiling the image of real liberation war heroes.
Key to the ethos of liberation war is the principle of one man-one vote, respect of civil and political rights and the land question.
Unfortunately Mahiya’s employers ZANU PF and his master, Emmerson Mnangagwa have all but lost the liberation war moral campus.
By stealing the July 2018 elections, they defiled the principle of one man-one vote and by killing innocent civilians on 01 August 2018 and banning demonstrations, they soiled the liberation agenda of creating a society that respect civil and political liberties.
It is for that reason why the European Union has effected targeted embargoes and clearly MDC is not EU and neither the vice versa is true!
As young social democrats, our ethos tap into those of real war veterans!
War and abductions surely is not going to chase hunger and starvation from the doorsteps of long suffering Zimbabweans.
As an Assembly is equally important to warn Douglas Mahiya and cabal that any attempt to provoke the already angry masses will responded to in a suitable fashion.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|MDC Treasurer General David Coltart has said Energy Mutodi must apologize for calling Chief Felix Ndiweni an enemy of the state.
Said Coltart: Enemies of the State? How can a Chief who is clearly a Zimbabwean patriot be an enemy of the State? I suggest you apologise. I find that when one is in a hole it makes sense to stop digging.”
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| 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.
I hear the crazy regime has issued a warrant of arrest against me for not turning up at court on the 23rd of August 2019 while I was detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. I am liaising with my lawyers on the matter. No amount of illegal arrests will deter me.
I hear the crazy regime has issued a warrant of arrest against me for not turning up at court on the 23rd of August 2019 while I was detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. I am liaising with my lawyers on the matter. No amount of illegal arrests will deter me.
— Promise Mkwananzi (@pmkwananzi) August 29, 2019
I hear the crazy regime has issued a warrant of arrest against me for not turning up at court on the 23rd of August 2019 while I was detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. I am liaising with my lawyers on the matter. No amount of illegal arrests will deter me.
— Promise Mkwananzi (@pmkwananzi) August 29, 2019
Abraham Chingawawa: However, the issue of illegal immigrants flooding into SA should be scrutinized from different angles,it is quite undisputed that us foreigners have a negative impact on the general lives of locals,we have invaded all workplaces, formal and informal , as for Nigerians they have brought all illegalities to the land in South.
Zimbabweans l can’t tell,we have made Pretoria a bigger Harare, Com on guys we have our own nation we need to build,we can’t hide forever,it is clear that we have overstayed our welcome.
l wish the SA gvt could engineers a plan,a peaceful one jus to see that foreigners have been send back home especially Zimbabweans so that they can face reality in their own land,Munonyanya kubva mati zii
Brian Mazorodze: When you say let us go back to build our country kahle what do you mean? Let’s say you have packed your bags and go to Zimbabwe and you have arrived in Chivhu, where do you start?
There is no electricity, no water, no jobs, high inflation, high corruption, low salaries, strong abuse of human rights, drought. Let us be realistic.
Where do you start? Open a tuckshop? For who? Every house with a durawall has one. Open an industry? With no electricity? Demonstrate and get killed? Oppose the government and disappear? Look for a jobs which are non-existent? Tell us exactly how we will build our country in these circumstances.
By A Correspondent| Politician and former Minister of State for Masvingo province Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has described the war veterans leader Douglas Mahiya as a flip flopping “sadza vet” who is nothing but a joke.
Bhasikiti said this while responding to a statement by Mahiya Wednesday who trashed as cheap propaganda reports of abductions by state security agents of opposition MDC members, human rights defenders and artist Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya.
Said Bhasikiti:
“Don’t be fooled by Mahiya. Yesterday when fleeing from former president Robert Mugabe terror, he cried “this is not what we fought for” and invited MDC to remove RGM . Now that he eats, everything is OK and those fighting current dictatorship are imperialists, What a joke! Zita tachinja he is now a Sadza vet” meaning his name has changed to Sadza veteran.
By A Correspondent- Speaking during a press briefing before the start of the public hearings in Bulawayo Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission chairperson, Dr Elasto Hilarious Mugwadi said the commission will conduct public hearings in all the country’s 10 provinces until the end of November.
He said:
“The main objectives of this national inquiry are to inquire into challenges in accessing national documents and the extent to which they affect people in Zimbabwe. To determine the factors that hinder easy access to national documents. To assess the impact of lack of documentation on the enjoyment of human rights.
To review the effectiveness of existing laws, policies, procedures and institutions relating to access to national documents and to formulate recommendations and follow up actions for addressing barriers identified in accessing national documents.”-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Public hearings on the national inquiry on access to documentation in the country are underway in Matabeleland South Province with witnesses giving accounts on challenges faced in accessing the vital documents.
The hearings being conducted by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) started on Tuesday at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda.
The ZHRC has held public hearings in three other provinces namely Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central.
Community members from various districts narrated challenges they were facing in accessing documents.
Staff from the Registrar General’s office present during the hearings enlightened people on procedures to follow to solve their problems.
Ms Nomvelo Bianca Ndlovu (43) from Fort Rixon said she did not have a birth certificate and National Identity Card and efforts to obtain these documents had been fruitless.
“My father died during the liberation struggle while we were staying in Nkayi. Because of the difficulties during the war my mother fled with me and we settled in Fort Rixon where I’m staying now. Since my father died during the liberation struggle it was difficult for me to obtain a birth certificate and as a result I don’t have an ID either,” said Ms Ndlovu in tears.
“My mother and I have tried to get the documents several times but without luck as they keep telling me that I have to go to Nkayi where I was born. I have two children aged 10 and 15-year-old and they don’t have birth certificates too and it’s difficult for me to get these documents for them because I also don’t have them myself.”
Ms Senzeni Sine (46) also from Fort Rixon said she was struggling to obtain a passport.
She said she was born in Zimbabwe but her birth certificate states that she was from Malawi as her father was Malawian.
Ms Sine said she has visited the Registry Office over the matter and was advised to bring her father’s death certificate which she does not have.
Mr Alfred Mpengesi said he was looking after his two maternal grandchildren aged 11 and 13 who both do not have birth certificates. He said he did not know the whereabouts of his daughter who was their mother or the children’s father.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent| Zanu Pf has moved its 18th annual National People’s Conference from Murape Secondary School to Mandedza High School in Seke district.
The development comes after the Zanu PF leadership led by National Chairman, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri visited Murape Secondary School to assess the suitability of the venue to host the conference.
The team agreed that the venue did not meet the expected standards, hence the shift to Mandedza which is a few kilometres away.
Said Muchinguri:
“I think we have to settle for Mandedza as it has more space and facilities. Murape, although it was the province’s choice, did not meet the expected standards.”
The conference will be held from the 10th to the 15th of December at Mandedza High School, Mashonaland East Province.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said called upon the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) to come up with a formula for reviewing workers’ salaries.
ZCTU secretary-general, Mr Japhet Moyo, in an interview that workers’ salaries were not in sync with reality on the ground.
Moyo said:
The cost of living is not just above the food basket, which has risen several times. There is transport, rentals, utilities and school fees and so on. Government has put in place a formula for fuel pricing in line with inflation trends and businesses can easily pass on the cost burden to the consumer, but workers have nowhere to turn to.
His remarks come when workers have been demanding that their salaries be increased as they have been constantly been eroded by the soaring inflation.
Recently, the government reviewed civil servants’ salaries by 76% which saw the lowest paid worker getting $1 023 from $582 a month.
Workers accepted the offer although they have argued that the money was not enough considering the high cost of living.
Prices of basic commodities have been going up when salaries remained stagnant.
ZCTU has earlier threatened to take it to the streets in protest of the paltry salaries which workers are getting.
The labour organisation, however, reportedly shunned the demonstrations after consulting its stakeholders and also after receiving several threats from unknown people.
August 13, 1985
In the weeks following Zimbabwe’s recent election, the government has kept unabated pressure on opposition leader Joshua Nkomo. Mr. Nkomo is regarded by the government of Prime Minister Robert Mugabe as the man solely responsible for guerrilla unrest in the western areas of the country.
In a show of force over the weekend, police confiscated the passports of both Nkomo and his wife and arrested Nkomo’s brother, Steven.
But while the actions of the government are some of the most serious to be taken against the opposition leader since Zimbabwe became independent five years ago, it has stopped short of physically restricting Nkomo’s freedom, or outlawing his party.
In the last three weeks, Nkomo, leader of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union — Patriotic Front (ZAPU), has been deprived of his bodyguards and his household staff — later allowed to return — during police swoops on his residences in Harare, the nation’s capital, and Bulawayo, the capital of the western province of Matabeleland. ZAPU draws nearly all of its support from the Ndebele-speaking population of Matabeleland.
Arrests have also been used to weaken ZAPU. The party’s chief whip, Sydney Malunga, was arrested outside Parliament and was still in detention on unspecified charges at the weekend.
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Immediately after the early July elections for the country’s black voters, Mugabe declared that ZAPU, with its block of 15 seats in Parliament, was the main stumbling block to total unity,'' a phrase generally regarded here as meaningone-party state.” Since then Mugabe has publicly stated that he proposes to put an end to ZAPU if the party does not cease its alleged guerrilla acgivities.
It is evident that the guerrillas back ZAPU and are fighting against domination of the country by Mugabe’s party — the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). But the government has yet to convict any senior ZAPU official for links with the guerrillas.
Mugabe’s terms for peace between ZAPU and ZANU-PF require that ZAPU’s leadership join ZANU-PF. The guerrillas would not accept such an agreement, and they are likely to ignore all appeals to throw down their arms and join ZANU-PF.
Mugabe will then be obliged to implement his promise: If ZAPU does not stop bandits, we will stop ZAPU.'' At a recent rally he said that severalagents” had been deployed by ZAPU into Harare townships to foment unrest during the elections, and that they would appear in court. A conviction would strengthen Mugabe’s case against ZAPU, allowing him to move more quickly to “stop” the party.
The government said the police action directed at Nkomo concerned investigations into guerrilla activities. In one of the swoops on Nkomo’s homes the government said it had arrested a guerrilla.
Nkomo has kept a low profile, avoiding Parliament and seldom leaving his home. He appeared resigned to what he termed police harassment'' and told newsmen,Do not be surprised if you hear I am dead. It is horrible.”
Visitors calling on Nkomo have also been arrested. Just being seen at the Nkomo household in Bulawayo has begun to be regarded as dangerous.
Observers here say that any precipitate action against Nkomo, who is still a hero of the liberation war, could create dangerous antagonism among the people of Matabeleland, who are already strongly resentful following two antiguerrilla campaigns in Matabeleland.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor.
VOA|The outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Bishow Parajuli, says the current crackdown targeting opposition demonstrators and activists is “intolerable,” because the country’s constitution allows citizens to protest.
The U.N. envoy expressed concern about the situation, telling reporters that sanctions imposed by some Western countries are not directly responsible for Zimbabwe’s slow economy.
“The constitution provides space for people to participate in a peaceful means of demonstrations,” Parajuli told reporters during his last address in Harare. “I would say all means of peaceful demonstrations should not be threatened through violent means. And that can only add negative image on Zimbabwe, frankly. Zimbabweans are very peaceful people, that is what I have seen, and tolerant people. And going to people in the evenings in masks and beating, that is absolutely intolerable. That should not be the right thing to do.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has said it is investigating who is behind abductions, which have left many activists injured after taking part in recent anti-government demonstrations.
Tatenda Mombeyarara, the leader of the activist group Citizens Manifesto, is recovering in a private hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Aug. 28, 2019. (Photo: C. Mavhunga / VOA)
Tatenda Mombeyarara, the leader of the activist group Citizens Manifesto, is recovering in a private hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, Aug. 28, 2019. (Photo: C. Mavhunga / VOA)
Tatenda Mombeyarara, the leader of the activist group Citizens Manifesto, is still recovering in a private hospital in Harare, after he was abducted by about 10 armed men. He still insists the people who abducted, injured, tortured and left him for dead are security forces.
“The people who attacked me had AK-47s. The people who attacked me did it in a choreographed manner,” he said. “The people who attacked me acted as a unit, so these cannot be random or untrained people. So it must be one of the units of the security forces. My very best guess would be one of the trained people and I would put army at the top.”
Mombeyarara is one of the activists Harare accuses of attending a meeting in the Maldives earlier this year to plot against Mnangagwa’s government. He and several other activists are facing charges of treason.
Meanwhile, the outgoing U.N. boss in Zimbabwe urged Mnangagwa’s government to continue engaging the west as part of efforts to remove sanctions imposed on the country’s leadership in 2002 following reports of election rigging. Sanctions, he says, have little to do with Zimbabwe’s current economic problems.
“If you dissect the element of sanctions, some of the countries with restrictive measures are the largest supporters of Zimbabwe from a humanitarian development point of view. So they care (about) Zimbabwe,” he said. “Yes, the perception of sanctions can mislead certain interests in terms of potential but I have seen strong interests coming to invest from some of these countries. Not necessarily these restrictions limit investments from these countries. But I think the major challenge in my perception has been wrong policies.”
The U.N. diplomat urged the Zimbabwe government to enact investor-friendly laws and to continue engaging countries that imposed sanctions on senior officials of the government and some state-owned companies in 2002. Parajuli is moving to India to head the World Food Program after serving in Zimbabwe for five years as the country’s U.N. resident coordinator.
Malawi Congress Party Dowa East legislator Richard Williams Chimwendo-Banda is currently stranded with hundreds of used car tyres that he took from local market sellers in Dowa in preparation for HRDC demos that were slated for 28 to 30 August 2019. Cables have uncovered communication between Chimwendo and Dowa East vendors who have since begun to demand payment for the used tyres from the MP.
The MCP Youth Director’s plan was to distribute the tyres to violent young villagers so that they can be used to mount illegal roadblocks across the Central region. They were meant to be paid for immediately after the UTM and MCP thugs would bring together items they would loot from privately-owned shops.
Unfortunately, the planned HRDC violent demos have been been foiled by the Supreme Court decision to place a moratorium on any demos till after 14 days.
This has left Chimwendo stranded with the tyres and also rounded up by owners of the commodities who are saying that according to them, the tires must be paid for whether demos happened or not.
Originally born as Richard Chimwendo the Dowa East MP was raised in Blantyre and migrated to Mvera in Dowa together with his parents when they bought land in the district. When Chimwendo miserably failed to pass his MSCE, he was enrolled as a messenger at World Vision using his Junior Certificate (JCE) qualification.
Due to the requirements of Parliament when Chimwendo first contested for the Parliamentary seat in 2014, he inherited an MSCE certificate belonging to his deceased relation by the name of Williams Banda — which forced him to illegally change his name to Richard Williams Chimwendo Banda in order to be using the stolen education credentials. To date, Richard Chimwendo uses the MSCE certificate bearing the name ‘Williams Banda’.
Former opposition UDF Balaka North MP Lucius Banda (now UTM) was convicted in 2006 for presenting a fake MSCE to a person employed in public service.
The premier soccer league matchday 21 fixtures proved to be the fixture of the season following displays of entertaining football.
A total of 24 goals were harvested in seven games.
As the season nears to closure, teams are either fighting for the big price or survival.
MatchDay 21 seem to support that it’s no longer business as usual after more than 20 goals were recorded in seven matches.
Though they failed to maintain a clean sheet, rejuvenated Dynamos scored the fastest goal of the season, 34 seconds to beat Herentals by 3:2.
Their next door rivals, Caps United under the new coach Darlington Dodo secured a last minute victory over tittle contenders Black Rhinos.
The game ended 2:1 in favour of Caps United.
Champions FC Platinum’s title hopes were dented by hosts Hwange following 1:1 at Colliery Stadium.
ZPC Kariba seem to have struck the right cord towards the tittle competition after dismissing relegation candidates Bulawayo Chiefs by 3:0.
In Gweru, newly appointed TelOne head Rahman Gumbo who suffered a 3:0 defeat against ZPC Kariba in his first game, thumped hapless Yadah Stars 4:1.
Following some dismal performances in their previous matches, Joey Antipas’ men are now back to winning ways after a 2:0 victory over visiting Ngezi Platinum at Luveve Stadium.
Mushowani Stars who are financially crippled squandered two opportunities to allow cash rich Manica Diamonds to twice come from behind to snatch a point.
FULLTIME SCORES
Herentals 2:3 Dynamos
Caps United 2:1 Black Rhinos
Hwange 1:1 FC Platinum
TelOne FC 4:1 Yadah Stars
ZPC Kariba 3:0 Bulawayo Chiefs
Chicken Inn 2:0 Ngezi Platinum
Mushowani Stars 2:2 M/ Diamonds
Social media was on Tuesday inundated with pictures of a heap of laundry alledged to be from Rusape Hospital being done at Rusape River.
Government through the Ministry of Health has denied the claim but residents in the town insist that the scenario is fact.
One Charles musembwa @cgmusembwa said:
Don’t say its fake. The truth is its happening but its another gvt institution in Rusape
Remember kwa Rusape ikoko kune vanhu so musatiitire chizanu zanu pano chekuramba zviripachena (Reember there are people in Rusape, Shun this ZANU PF behaviour of deying things which are clearly happening).
Fox News video downloading below:
Zimbabwe will not bend the law to please the opposition and its sympathisers who are supporting the recent attempts to embark on illegal protests, President Mnangagwa has said.
Western embassies have in the past two weeks openly sided with the opposition after police stopped a series of futile illegal protests that had been organised by the MDC-Alliance.
Responding to questions from Japan’s media organisations on the sidelines of the three-day Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the law cannot be applied selectively.
The journalists had asked President Mnangagwa to comment on the so-called crackdown of opposition protesters
“We apply the rule of law, those who commit crime, the law must apply. You cannot have double standards where the rule of law is concerned. If people funded by the Americans commit crimes, we should not touch them? No! Zimbabwe is a unitary state and our laws apply to every citizen, whether you are in the opposition or you are in Government or you don’t belong to any political party at all.”
The President added: “If you commit murder you get arrested, if you commit corruption you get arrested, any violent act you get arrested. That is the rule of law which we observe.”
“I would like you to quote an action where Zimbabwe has acted outside the rule of law and I would like to hear that.”
President Mnangagwa said Government was committed to political, economic and legislative reforms.
“There is POSA and AIPPA which are in the process of being repealed. We are not repealing to please America, we are repealing because it is necessary for us. It is for Zimbabwe and if it helps the Americans so be it,” he said.
ABC News|Queen Elizabeth has approved a request by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to suspend Parliament, a move that appears designed to thwart opposition lawmakers from blocking Brexit, prompting protests in cities across the United Kingdom.
Johnson spoke to the Queen on Wednesday to request an end to the current Parliament session in September. The shift gives opposition lawmakers less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the U.K.’s Oct. 31 deadline to leave the European Union.
Johnson, who helped lead the push to exit the EU in a national referendum three years ago and took over from Theresa May in July, has insisted the suspension of Parliament had nothing to do with blocking scrutiny of his Brexit plans, and was instead about delivering on his domestic policy agenda.
“To deliver on the public’s priorities we require a new session and a Queen’s Speech,” he said. “Parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill required for ratification ahead of 31 October.”
In a letter circulated to all members of Parliament, Johnson said that “the Government will take the responsible approach of continuing its preparations for leaving the EU, with or without a deal.”
The suspending of Parliament is known as“proroguing” Parliament. When this happens, any motions or questions lawmakers have put forward then lapse until Parliament formally opens again.
However, the highly controversial move has dragged the monarch into the Brexit debate for the first time. The last time a British government asked the monarch to suspend Parliament in order to avoid opposition to government policy was 1948, five years before Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne, according to the Institute for Government.
While the Queen’s powers are almost entirely symbolic, her approval paves the way for her to open the next session of Parliament with her traditional Queen’s Speech on Oct. 14. Under that schedule, opposition lawmakers will have less than three weeks to scrutinize the government’s Brexit plan.
Prime Minister Johnson has said that the UK will leave the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal, despite critics of a no-deal Brexit warning that it would have a disastrous economic impact on the British economy.
The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has asked to meet the Queen to block the move, and vowed to do “everything we can to stop Boris Johnson’s smash and grab against our democracy.” Corbyn has opposed a no-deal Brexit, the default outcome on Oct. 31, as in reality “a Trump-deal Brexit” that would put the UK “at the mercy of the big US corporations.”
President Trump meanwhile has weighed in to back the current prime minister.
“Would be very hard for Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, to seek a no-confidence vote against New Prime Minister Boris Johnson,” the President posted on Twitter. “Especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be “a great one!” Love U.K.”
Within hours of the announcement, demonstrations were held in cities across the U.K. to condemn Johnson’s plan as a coup. In London, thousands of protesters marched from Parliament toward the prime minister’s office at 10 Downing Street, waving EU flags and holding up signs that read: “Defend Democracy: Resist the Parliament Shutdown.”
Just after 11 at night local time, an online petition saying “Do not prorogue Parliament” had reached more than a million signatures.
The immediate reaction to the news from the majority of lawmakers opposed to the Johnson government was one of shock.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, whose role is to preside over Parliamentary debates, described the move as a “constitutional outrage.”
The leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted that “today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy.”
Anna Soubry, a lawmaker who is in favor of remaining in the EU and is campaigning for a second Brexit referendum, said the move was “outrageous.”
However, James Cleverly, a Conservative lawmaker who serves in the current Johnson government, played down the news. “Put it another way,” he tweeted. “Government to hold a Queen’s Speech, just as all new Governments do.”
Prime Minister Johnson said from Downing Street that, despite the suspension, lawmakers would still have “ample time” on both sides to debate Brexit in the coming weeks.
Opposition lawmakers could mount a legal challenge to the government, as advocated by former prime minister John Major, or call a no confidence motion in the government which, if successful, would force a general election.
Zesa Holdings is owed $360 million by local authorities, forcing Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi to intervene.
In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Minister Chasi said there was need for debtors to honour their obligation for zesa to realise its potential.
“The local authorities owe the power utility $360 million,” he said. “We have engaged their parent Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to work on how we can deal with the issue of debts, which is crippling the power utility.”
The non-paying local authorities include Harare, which owes zesa $145 million, Bulawayo owes $112 million, while Gweru City Council has a $28 million debt.
Kwekwe owes $18 million, while Kadoma owes $10 million, with Victoria Falls owing $5 million, Kariba $4 million, Marondera $3 million, Chegutu $3 million and Mutare $2 million.
Minister Chasi said they engaged the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to address the concerns of the local authorities.
“We have also engaged the ministry to see how we can work with the local authorities on power generation to ease power outages in the country,” he said.
“We recognise that local authorities have a lot of weight behind them, so we believe there is need to work together and bring investors willing to invest in renewable energy. We want investors willing to invest in waste management so that local authorities can be liberated.”
With regards to institutions with legal issues with zesa, Minister Chasi said there was need to work in harmony with a view to ensure sanity in the energy sector.
He encouraged all debtors to engage the power utility and make payment plans to clear their debts.
“Those owing zesa are advised to pay up or arrange credible payment structures with them without delay,” said Minister Chasi.
zesa is owed in access of $1 billion by both private and public entities in mining, manufacturing, agriculture and domestic users and local authorities.
Minister Chasi said the country had vast resources in the form of agricultural and municipal waste.
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development, through Rural Electrification Fund, is installing domestic and institutional biogas digesters around the country.
Biogas can be used for cooking, heating, lighting and electricity generation.
Minister Chasi said a number of companies expressed interest in making use of waste dumping sites such as Pomona to generate electricity.
State Media|Zanu-PF has approved Mandedza High School in Seke constituency in Mashonaland East as the venue for the 2019 annual national conference.
The approval of the venue marks the beginning of preparations for the event.
Speaking after touring the place yesterday, party national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said they were happy with the venue.
“After touring several places which were listed, we finally settled for this place as the venue for this year’s conference,” she said.
“We now need to work on all the necessary developments in preparation of the conference, but we are impressed by this venue.”
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza called on all provincial party members to join hands and make the event a success.
He commended the part leadership for awarding the province the honour to host the conference.
“It is good that the national chairperson has toured venues we suggested for the upcoming conference and has settled for this place,” said Matiza.
“This means fully-fledged preparations are commencing, we are confident that we will beat the deadline.
“As the provincial chair, I am happy and would like to commend our leaders for this honour of hosting such a big conference. It is an important event for us and we want to make it a resounding success. To the whole province, this is our opportunity to shine.”
Seke legislator Munyaradzi Kashambe commended the party leadership for allowing the event to be hosted in the constituency.
“It is a very welcome development in my constituency, you know when you are an MP you will be focusing on developing your constituency and this move will surely bring that development,” he said.
“As a constituency, we are grateful to the party leadership at national and provincial level for allowing us to host an event of this magnitude.
“Preparations are starting as soon as possible and we will make this conference a memorable one.”
Kashambe, who is one of the Zanu-PF youths to win a constituency in the 2018 harmonised elections, commended the revolutionary party for giving youths a chance to prove their worth in executing party and national duties.
“As you are aware, I am one of the youths who won in the 2018 harmonised elections, and now I am hosting the biggest annual event,” he said.
“I am so confident that the event will be a success.”
By Prof Mthuli Ncube|Zimbabwe, the country I serve as finance minister, has been in the news for restricting the use of the US dollar and other international currencies as legal tender. Why would we want to return to our own currency, given such recent, home-made, experience of monetary turmoil?
The answer can be found in our recent history. Following hyperinflation at the close of 2009, and to stem the instability produced by bad governance and fiscal ill-discipline, a mixture of other nations’ bills – the US dollar, British pound, South African rand, the euro, the Chinese renminbi and the Botswanan pula – became Zimbabwe’s medium of exchange in place of the Zimbabwean dollar.
But while this curtailed household prices – its primary purpose – today it is outdated. It is overlooked that this was a tourniquet, not a cure.
Dollarisation has acted as a break on Zimbabwe’s economic development as we are a country reliant on exports. The strong dollar stifled our competitiveness. Without our own currency, we have had no control of monetary policy. We have had no mechanism to stimulate economic activity — not exports, nor foreign direct investment – or to deal with downturns in international markets. That is why the government must introduce its own new, and permanent, fiat currency.
To be clear, at this time, in this year, any and every responsible Zimbabwean government would be doing the same as we are today. This is not a “political” decision, therefore, but simple economic and geopolitical necessity. Zimbabwe’s recovery will still depend on export-led growth. Had the opposition been in office, they too would now be introducing a new currency – just the same – despite their present protestations to the contrary.
As the former chief economist at the African Development Bank, I have witnessed the results of currency volatility across many contexts. I have seen what works — and the reverse. And that is why, in June of this year, the government made the RTGS – a quasi-currency that will act as a bridge to the introduction of a sovereign currency later this year – the sole legal tender in Zimbabwe.
Dollar strength
To an outsider, it may seem puzzling that the government chose to implement this now. Plenty of foreign exchange is required to stabilise the introduction of a new currency and leaven its inevitable inflation. Zimbabwe’s reserves could not be described as abundant.
Yet, with the US dollar strengthening over the years against the currencies of Zimbabwe’s major trading partners, exports were continually losing competitiveness. A fresh tranche of foreign exchange in the required volume and timeframe was improbable.
Sooner or later, the current administration knew it would have to introduce a new, national currency. Prevarication would only place Zimbabwe in a weaker position. It was a choice between short-term turbulence now or far greater anguish later.
The compromised position Zimbabwe found itself in would always mean there would be some damage – though it will presage a revival. With a weaker currency, exports will gain in competitiveness, bringing much-needed foreign exchange to counteract the inflationary pressures the nation is currently experiencing.
There is also an imperative to develop a market for Treasury bills and long-dated bonds and create a yield curve. A monetary policy committee will be appointed soon to buttress monetary policy conduct.
The Zimbabwe dollar, comprising RTGS and bond notes, is now the designated sole legal tender in Zimbabwe – pending the rollout of a fiat currency later in the year. Initially, the government introduced it alongside the other currencies, with the intention of it becoming the main currency of exchange in place of the dollar, which would primarily be used as a reserve of value.
Forceful change
The theory was not borne out in reality. Every day, the RTGS was shedding one percent of its value against the dollar, hampering its transition to the primary currency of domestic exchange.
Change had to be driven more forcefully: it was clear the RTGS had to be designated the sole legal tender. Admittedly, the government did not manage this without fault. The implementation was too indiscriminate, with international and export facing companies under its purview, causing disruption to the flow of business.
The government has recognised this was wrong and rectified it. International facing companies can again trade in foreign exchange. Only to carry out transactions in the domestic market they must first convert into RTGS dollars.
For the moment, it is causing some economic turbulence – something no serious government would wish to be the result of their policy. But this was always to be expected. There is no way to fully avoid it. And a commitment to better their citizen’s future requires the same government to make sometimes difficult choices.
Zimbabwe was once the exporting breadbasket of Africa. Now, its balance of payments is negative. But with control of our currency, we can reclaim the best parts of our past – and resume our place in the world economy as an export-led nation in the near future.
Mthuli Ncube is Zimbabwe’s minister for finance and economic development and a visiting professor at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He was formerly chief economist and vice-president of the African Development Bank.
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WATCH | Widespread destruction in Pretoria CBD after protest descends into looting spree
Firefighters raced to save burning buildings and debris littered the streets of Pretoria’s CBD after a protest descended into a looting spree on Wednesday.
Security has been beefed up in Pretoria following widespread rioting and looting on Wednesday.
The capital came to a standstill after thousands of taxis blocked several roads in the CBD to protest the killing of one of their colleagues.
Buildings were set alight, widespread looting occurred and streets blockaded during a protest by taxi operators.
The City of Tshwane confirmed the riots were the result of the taxi driver’s death on Tuesday – he was shot dead near the Bloed long distance taxi rank in Pretoria.
The Sowetan reported taxi operators had found people, suspected to be police officers, allegedly involved in the selling of drugs on Tuesday.
Taxi operators then used buses to block traffic to “deal” with the nyaope boys.
WATCH | Widespread destruction in Pretoria CBD after protest descends into looting spree
Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela met with the City and representatives of the taxi industry in Tshwane on Wednesday.
The police and Tshwane Metro Police Department have since intensified deployments and will maintain a presence in the CBD to ensure no further incidents occur.
Meanwhile, 10 people were arrested for the possession of suspected stolen property, while seven others were held for public violence.
Taxi industry representatives have distanced themselves from the incidents of looting that took place in the Pretoria CBD, and reiterated, on behalf of their operators, there was no aggression on their part.
South African National Taxi Council representative Mack Makata said the council “had planned for a demonstration to highlight some of the issues with the shooting of one of its members”.
Criminal elements took advantage
Mataka added they believed some criminal elements had taken advantage of the situation to advance their criminal intent.
Mawela said the police would look into the allegations and assured the taxi industry that feedback would be given shortly.
“The taxi industry plays an integral part in the well-being of our communities so when they cry out for police attention, it is important that we respond positively and swiftly, in the best interests of the community,” he added.
Mamabolo urged the police to prioritise the investigation of the murder case.
Source news 24
South African Prsesident Cyril Ramaphosa has said his government is not happy with the killing of Nigerians in his country.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Yokohama, Japan, Ramaphosa said he was not in support of the killings or the killing of anybody without justifiable reasons.
When asked whether the killing of Nigerians was discussed with Buhari on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said it wasn’t on the agenda, but added that it would tabled during Buhari’s visit to South Africa next month.
He said, “We are going to be discussing all that because we have very good relations. We will talk about the issue of Nigerians who are dying in South Africa. We feel very upset about that.
“Obviously, our criminal justice system is working on it. We don’t support killings. Nobody should ever be killed, but it is also good to use this opportunity here in Japan to renew the bond between us, to talk about common things between South Africa and Nigeria.
“We know we have to play key roles in the overall development of the continent.”
A 46-year-old Nigerian businessman based in South Africa, Pius Ezekwem, has been killed by a group of eight police officers in South Africa’s eastern cape province.
Nigerian media, Naija News, reports that Pius was killed after he engaged in an argument with the officers at his home over the weekend.
He was arrested from a Nigerian eatery and was allegedly forcefully taken to his home for a search and interrogation where the argument broke out with the due; an argument that led to the death of Pius.
A gunshot was fired as a result of the argument between the Police and Pius.
During the argument, the police officers were reported to have seized all the phones in the house of Pius except that of his sister-in-law who recorded his altercation with the Police.
While confirming the report, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Godwin Adama, has said that a formal report has already been launched to the South African police on the incident.
The president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has fired his chief of protocol (SCOP), Fatmata Kargbo after she testified at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) owned by Nigerian clergyman, TB Joshua.
Reports have it that Kargbo was featured on Emmanuel TV testifying on how God helped her get her recent appointment as an aide to the president and how she has been able to complete her new house.
“I want to thank God for blessing me with this job as SCOP to the president of Sierra Leone, ambassador at large and the blessings that come with it. If you look closely at this picture you will see the luxurious house God has blessed me with. I was living in a single room apartment. But my story is now different,”
Her testimony has since caused a major outrage in Sierra Leone. forcing President Bio to terminate her appointment as well as order the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate her finances.
A letter sent to Kargbo by the AAC reads in part
“The Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an official investigation into the conduct of the official and her testimony. We will also look at her source of wealth in acquiring her house and other properties. If it contradicts the anti-corruption act or we find instances of unexplained wealth, she will be charged to court and will be asked to pay a fine.”
A SECURITY company supervisor has been arrested after he attempted to rape his subordinate’s wife who he had waylaid at a secluded place.
Shaipu Njeza (39) is a supervisor at Real Star Security Company in Victoria Falls and resides at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) compound near the airport.
He pleaded not guilty to attempted rape when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate, Ms Rangarirai Gakanje.
Njeza, who is being represented by Mr Givemore Mvhiringi of Mvhiringi and Partners, claimed that on the day he is alleged to have committed the crime, he was at the Vehicle Inspection Department offices applying for a driver’s licence.
Prosecutors invited a Mr Foya who is an instructor at White Falls Driving School to testify. Mr Foya told the court that Njeza booked for a driving test at 9:30AM and was at the VID depot until after 2PM.
However, prosecutors disputed the claims as there are suspicions that the licence (certificate of competence) in question could be forged as the time indicated on it is different from the time Njeza is said to have booked.
Mr Foya defended Njeza saying the time discrepancy was because he could not get cash to pay for the licence disc in the morning.
The magistrate remanded Njeza out of custody on his own cognisance to today for judgment.
Prosecutors allege that Njeza waylaid Ms Rosina Nyoni at a homestead in Lupunyu after lying to her that her husband had knocked off and was waiting for her there.
The homestead in Jabulani Village under Chief Mvuthu belongs to the complainant and her husband Mr Innocent Moyo but the couple stays at their other place of residence.
Mr Moyo had no phone and Njeza allegedly deployed him so he could have sex with his wife.
The prosecutor, Mr Bheki Tshabalala, said: “On the 19th day of November 2018 at around 7AM, the complainant called the accused’s asking for her husband,” said the prosecutor.
The court was told that the accused perceived that there was a misunderstanding between the couple and he allegedly hatched a plan to rape her.
“On the same day at 2PM, the accused phoned the complainant and told her that her husband had knocked off and had gone home. At 3PM, the accused proceeded to the said homestead whereupon arrival he entered the bedroom hut where the complainant was. He pushed her onto the bed and undressed before putting on a condom. He pushed the complainant’s skirt up and mounted her,” said Mr Tshabalala.
The court was told that Ms Nyoni managed to push Njeza aside and fled from the room.
BULAWAYO City Council last week failed to pay its workers their August salaries and this was confirmed yesterday by the Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni.
Clr Mguni blamed the council’s financial woes on the failure by residents and companies to pay their bills.
“We are failing to function as a result of non-payment of bills. Our coffers are dry and as such we failed to pay this month’s salaries which were due last week,” said Clr Mguni.
He said council was also failing to pay contractors and suppliers on time and some of them were suing the local authority.
The Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, said August salaries were supposed to be paid on August 21 but council failed to raise enough money.
He, however, said council managed to pay July salaries on time.
“Normally salaries are paid on the 21st of the month but up to now we are yet to pay the August salaries.
The workers are now burdened with reporting for work given the increased transport costs,” said Mr Dube.
He said council hoped to have raised enough money to pay junior workers by the end of next week.
“Fuel is now very expensive yet we need a lot of it for our Fire and Ambulance Services, refuse collection, attendance to faults and many other services. We therefore urge residents and companies to pay their bills to enable council to meet its obligation to provide services as well as pay its workers,” said Mr Dube.
RETAILERS have increased prices of basic commodities again despite stability in the exchange rate and a consumer outcry over erosion of disposable incomes.
A snap survey conducted in Bulawayo shops yesterday revealed that several leading retailers have this week further increased prices of basic goods such as sugar, mealie meal, soap and cooking oil, among others.
For instance, a 2kg bag of sugar now costs about $20 from $17 last week while a 10kg bag of mealie meal has gone up to $33 from about $25. A 2-litre bottle of cooking oil now costs $27 from about $23 while green bar soap has risen to $12 from about $9. A loaf of bread now costs $7 from $6. Peanut butter, bath soap and rice are also among the affected commodities.
Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Mr Effie Ncube, said the incessant price increases, especially on basic goods, were worrying as consumers could not afford them.
“It is getting to a stage where a majority of the people won’t be able to afford anything. So, there is a need for an early intervention on the side of Government to work with whoever is a stakeholder to ensure that we stabilise inflation, prevent speculative pricing or cut down on certain prices,” he said.
“We need to ensure that at the end of the day we have full access to goods and services that we want as the people at affordable prices.”
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers’ president, Mr Denford Mutashu, said the price increases were normal in a liberalised economy.
“It should stop surprising anyone if prices go up in an environment where the economy is moving fast to full liberalisation owing to the current trajectory by the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
THE move to peg fuel price according to delivery distance from Harare has sparked outcry among consumers and business leaders who feel the move will disadvantage communities that are far from Harare.
On Monday, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) announced an increase in the price of fuel, with cities having different prices ranging from $10,01 to $10,56 for petrol and $10,32 to $10,86 for diesel.
According to the price list released by the authority, motorists in Matabeleland are now buying fuel at higher prices compared to what their counterparts in other provinces are paying. The increase comes a week after the authority reviewed fuel prices to $9,36 for diesel up from $9,27 while petrol went up to $9,12 from $9,09.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president for Matabeleland Chamber, Mr Shepherd Chawira, said they would soon engage authorities to express their displeasure over the pricing of fuel. He said fuel price disparities would affect prices of products produced in the region which logically would be more expensive compared to those produced say in Harare.
“It’s an issue that we are seized with as industry in Bulawayo because what we are saying is that the fuel price disparities will render all goods and services produced in Bulawayo uncompetitive and this also undermines efforts being made to revive the city’s industries,” he said.
In Victoria Falls for instance, petrol is now Z$10,80 per litre while diesel is Z$10,88. Motorists in the resort town said they were concerned as this will force many of them to park their vehicles amid fears public transport operators will also hike fares.
“Fuel is now very expensive. Transporters have started adjusting their fares with a one way trip now going for Z$6. We know we are far away from the fuel source but we cannot be punished for that. We are earning the same salaries that workers in other cities and towns are being paid hence we should pay the same prices for fuel,” said a taxi driver, Mr Ignatius Muleya.
He said they were already feeling the negative impact of the price disparities as commuters were now walking to town after they adjusted fares inline with the new fuel prices.
Commenting on the same, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union secretary general, Mr Japhet Moyo, said employers including Government should constantly increase salaries to cushion workers against such shocks as fuel price increases.
Many Zimbabweans took to social media platforms to express reservations over the decision to have different fuel prices for cities and towns and implored Government to reverse it.
Contacted for comment Energy and Power Development Minister, Advocate Fortune Chasi defended the decision saying the model was in line with international trends.
“If there was a pipeline from Botswana to Bulawayo naturally fuel was going to be cheaper in Bulawayo compared to areas far way such as say Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central province,” he said.
Minister Chasi said such pricing was being implemented in other countries.
“In South Africa forexample, areas that are close to the coast where the fuel is warehoused, pay less compared to what motorists say in Musina and other areas pay.The same thing happens in Malawi but in Tanzania it’s different because the Government subsidises fuel so that the price is uniform throughout the country,” said Minister Chasi.
He, however, said it was important for the nation to come up with measures that will make fuel accessible across the country at a reasonable prices.
Minister Chasi said his ministry was therefore analysing several proposals to ensure fuel is provided at affordable prices across the country.
Association for Business in Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Mr Victor Nyoni, backed the minister’s stance saying fuel price disparities were justified taking into account business fundamentals. “We understand that there are transportation costs that will obviously cause variation in terms of the price of fuel and we all know that fuel has to be moved from Harare to various places,” he said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has blamed the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy on his predecessor Robert Mugabe who he accessed of applying populist policies on the economy.
Responding to questions from Japan’s media organisations on the sidelines of the three-day Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit yesterday, President Mnangagwa said his approach to the economy is far different from that of Mugabe.
Asked on what differs in his approach to leadership of Zimbabwe in comparison with former president Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa failed to outrightly castigate his mentor who he removed through a military assisted coup in 2017. Mnangagwa described Mugabe as the respected leader of the liberation of the country.
“Former president Mugabe was our commander for 15 years, when we fought the liberation struggle against Ian Smith. In 1979, we went to Lancaster where we got our political independence.
“Secondly, former president Mugabe is the founding father of our Independence and the principle grievance that we had during the liberation struggle was for us to get back our land.”
The President said his liberalisation of Zimbabwe’s economy also showed that his economic vision is different from the former president who was known for promoting counterproductive populist policies.
“In July last year, I won the elections with two thirds majority in Parliament. I have the majority party in Parliament. I have now liberalised and opened the space so that in modern times you must compete for global capital to come into your country. We are doing the liberal measures in Parliament, a raft of economic measures, political and social measures.”
State Media|President Mnangagwa yesterday told the high-level Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) that his administration is committed to comprehensive economic reforms and making the country a safe destination for investment.
He lauded Japan, saying the world’s third largest economy had a “critical role to play for Africa’s economic transformation, diversification and industrialisation”.
The President made the remarks while addressing a plenary session at the three-day TICAD 7 Summit, which was officially opened yesterday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
A number of African Heads of State are attending or are highly represented at the summit which seeks to stimulate trade and investment between the continent and Japan.
President Mnangagwa said under his new administration, Zimbabwe is ripe for investment and is pulling all the stops to attract global capital.
“Guided by our Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, my administration is determined to continue implementing reforms, aimed at making Zimbabwe a safe, favourable and competitive destination for investment.
“My Government has put in place comprehensive reforms to accelerate the economic development agenda.
“We are promoting private sector-led investment, particularly in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, ICTs and service sectors,” he said.
The President lauded Japan for its inspiring development model characterised by advanced technology, saying Zimbabwe is ready to walk hand-in-glove with Tokyo to take lessons from Japan’s advancement.
“Zimbabwe recognises and applauds the immense strength that Japan continues to have in science, technology innovation and stands ready to enhance cooperation with Japan in these and other spheres.
“Zimbabwe and others within our African continent has vast resources across all sectors and remains ready to increase trade and investment with Japan on mutually beneficial basis,” he said.
The President underscored the significance of TICAD, saying partaking at the high-level meeting primes Zimbabwe to achieve its goals of modernisation and industrialisation to become a middle income economy by 2030.
“Our participation at this important conference reaffirms my Government’s continued commitment to the TICAD process. The private sector is a valued partner in sustainable economic development in our quest to transform, modernise and industrialise our economies,” the President said.
President Mnangagwa informed TICAD delegates of the tangible progress made under the ease of business programme, including remodelling of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) for a One-Stop-Shop that will enhance convenience for potential investors.
“We have embarked on the ease of doing business reforms, which seek to enhance the country’s investment environment.
“The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) will ensure that all Zimbabwe’s investment information is available and processed under one roof,” President Mnangagwa said.
He also said the jettisoning of the indigenisation and economic empowerment act was a game-changing move by the Government to lure investors.
“Under my administration, Zimbabwe has liberalised our investment conditions, by repealing the indigenisation and economic empowerment act,” he said.
“This now allows for greater adjustment in the private sector participation across all sectors, which should in turn, further accelerate our economic transformation and industrialisation.”
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Abe, who is co-chair of the summit, pledged to aggressively promote private-sector investment from Japan to Africa.
He said Japan’s private sector invested US$20 billion in Africa over the past three years.
“The Japanese Government will do its best to encourage the private sector so that it will surpass the $20 billion in investment over the past three years.
“I make this pledge to you that Japan’s investment will be surpassed under the New TICAD that we agreed to come up with at the last summit in Nairobi Kenya,” said Prime Minister Abe.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as African Heads of States also addressed the high level summit that was co-chaired by African Union chairperson and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The TICAD summit is co-organised by the AU, the UN, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.
State Media|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has recovered over $10 million since it assumed office and has vowed to continue pouncing on Government officials who abuse their positions for self-enrichment or interfere with judicial processes.
Latest statistics however indicate that Zimbabwe loses about $4 billion per year into corruption. So if one considers the fact that Zimbabwe is a $16 billion economy and 25 percent of that is lost, then you can actually project that in Zimbabwe we are losing about $4 billion through corruption.
The money which ZACC recovered mainly was mainly minor sources like tax evaders and individuals who had acquired illicit wealth but not the dominant political figures and the elite private sector individuals who milk the country dry.
The anti-graft body also asserts that the recent arrest of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was not politically-motivated and the independent body does not take instructions from anywhere to pounce on suspected law-breakers.
ZACC spokesperson Mr John Makamure said Mphoko’s arrest sought to finalise a case which the previous commission had failed to dispose of.
He said ZACC had so far recovered over $10 million from its corruption busting efforts, but said the figure could be more if Parliament expeditiously passes the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill (2019) which is before the House.
The Bill empowers corruption-fighting State agents like the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Zacc and the police to demand explanations from people who flaunt wealth above their known legitimate means.
“Zacc is now prioritising revenue and asset recovery. Those who have stolen Government revenue or misuse Government assets will be pursued, Zacc is keen to recover those assets. So far Zacc is pleased with its achievement in that regard. Since we came into office, Zacc has managed to recover over $10 million that has since been paid to Zimra, through Zacc’s efforts. So we want to intensify recovery. We need to intensify revenue recovery so that it aids economic recovery,” said Mr Makamure.
Under the Bill, law enforcement agents will have powers to question people leading flamboyant and swanky lifestyles from inexplicable sources of income, as the Government moves in to curb corruption, money laundering and tax evasion, among other vices.
Those who fail to explain or hide useful information pertaining to the source of their wealth will be jailed up to two years, while the tainted property will be forfeited to the State.
“I would like to call upon Parliament to expeditiously pass legislation to do with unexplained wealth because that will facilitate Zacc to be able to ensure that ill-gotten wealth, wealth that was acquired through corrupt activities is forfeited to the State. There is a law that is before Parliament for someone to explain how you acquired that wealth. Parliament must quickly pass that law to facilitate our work. The point is asset and revenue recovery is very important, we need enabling legislation,” said Mr Makamure.
Turning to the arrest of former VP Mphoko, Mr Makamure said Zacc did not act on the directive of anyone but merely exercised its constitutional duty and obligation to fight crime whenever it reared its ugly head.
Mr Makamure was responding to some media reports that sought to cast aspersions that the arrest of VP Mphoko was politically motivated.
“We look at the story as an attempt by certain sections of the media to divert public attention from a serious case of abuse of office by the former Vice President. This is not a new case, it is a case that happened in 2016 or thereabout, so what ZACC simply did was to finalise that matter. The previous commission was unable to finalise it probably because of their own ineptitude. But the new ZACC simply took over that matter and we are finalising it, so there has been no attempt by anyone to direct us to deal with the matter in a certain way. The matter is now before the courts which the previous commission was unable to do,” said Mr Makamure.
“ZACC is guided by the Constitution, which is very clear that there should be no interference by anyone and we have not come across that interference. On the contrary, the highest political office has been very supportive as evidenced by His Excellency President Mnangagwa being the Guest of Honour at our national Anti-Corruption Awareness launch, a joint programme between us and the National Prosecuting Authority. Also Government recently gave ZACC additional funding through supplementary budget, funding which we believe will enable us to carry our operations. We are grateful of the additional funding we got. This is what the Government should be seen to be doing because the Constitution requires that independent Commissions be adequately funded.”
He said Zacc will arrest anyone who upon reasonable grounds was suspected to have committed corruption or abused his or her office.
“The former VP’s case must send a strong signal that ZACC will pounce at anyone who abuse his or her social status to interfere with judicial processes. So Zacc, without fear or favour will pounce at anyone who interfere with judicial processes, that is a serious case of abuse of office. Let me say that the fight against corruption is a fight that requires everyone’s participation including the media. The media is a strong ally in this fight,” he said.
A 42-year-old man committed suicide in Kariba on Tuesday afternoon after he had assaulted his wife following a misunderstanding at their home.
The man, whose name was still being withheld yesterday, thought that he had killed his wife following the assault, yet she had only lost consciousness.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man’s body was later recovered on the shores of Lake Kariba.
“On August 27, 2019 at around 12pm, a 42-year-old male adult in Kariba had a misunderstanding with his spouse at their residence,” he said. “The male adult struck his wife with an unknown object and she lost consciousness.
“The man fled from the scene and his body was later found on the shores of Lake Kariba. The woman was taken to hospital where she was treated and later discharged. We reiterate that members of the public should not resort to violence when embroiled in domestic disputes.”
This incident comes after the Zimbabwe Republic Police recently expressed concern over an increase in domestic violence cases, which have resulted in deaths and injuries.
Police urged members of the public to seek counselling services to resolve their differences. Meanwhile, police are investigating a case in which a man was hit and killed by an unknown motorist on Sunday at around 2000hrs at the 80-kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
“Anyone with information pertaining to this hit and run accident may report to their nearest police station, or call national complaints desk on 0242 703631 or WhatsApp number 0712800197 ,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.State media
COUNCILLORS and traditional leaders will not be involved in the distribution of food aid and selection of at least 7,7 million food insecure people countrywide following the 2018/19 drought that hit Zimbabwe, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo who is the chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Disaster Prevention and Management made the remarks at a local hotel during a workshop to sensitise and reorient sub-national structures on the management of the 2018-2019 El-Nino-induced drought.
Minister Moyo said Government has so far received $133 million from its $434 million humanitarian revised appeal saying with the sanctity of the food aid distribution process it is crucial for the country to continue getting aid.
“President Mnangagwa is going to meet every rural district councillor in Zimbabwe to address them on what they are supposed to do on the humanitarian appeal. The critical thing is the selection criteria of food aid beneficiaries has to be professional, non-partisan and should be targeted to the most vulnerable.
“We are not going to ask councillors to participate in the selection of vulnerable people because they have an interest and are representatives, will also not ask them to distribute food and cash. Even village heads will also not be involved in the distribution because the sanctity of what we are going to do is crucial if Zimbabwe is to get assistance from the donor community and we also owe it to ourselves,” he said.State media
Musician Admire Sanyanga, who is popularly known as Chief Shumba, yesterday appeared in court on allegations of raping an 18-year-old Waterfalls housemaid.
Sanyanga (32) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.
His lawyer Ms Siox Shoko told the court that his client was refuting the charges.
But the State, led by Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, opposed bail and Mrs Mugwagwa remanded Sanyanga in custody to September 10 for trial.
She advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.
It is alleged that on July 30 this year, Sanyanga asked the maid to carry his luggage from her place of residence to his house and she agreed.
Upon arrival at Sanyanga’s house, the maid allegedly stood outside and he begged her to come inside, promising to give her some oranges.
The court heard that the maid refused to get into Sanyanga’s house and he allegedly threatened her with violence, before dragging her inside.
It is alleged that Sanyanga locked the door from inside and put the keys in his pocket.
He then raped her, before warning her against reporting the matter to anyone. The maid recorded the incident in her diary before hiding it in her room. State media
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Zimbabwe will not bend the law to please the opposition and its sympathisers who are supporting the recent attempts to embark on illegal protests, ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
This came as the state media reported claiming:Western embassies have in the past two weeks openly sided with the opposition after police used their powers to quash a series of futile illegal protests that had been organised by the MDC-Alliance.
Responding to questions from Japan’s media organisations on the sidelines of the three-day Tokyo, International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit yesterday, Mnangagwa said the law cannot be applied selectively to tolerate illegal demonstrations.
The journalists had asked Mnangagwa to comment on the crackdown on opposition protesters.
“We apply the rule of law, those who commit crime, the law must apply. You cannot have double standards where the rule of law is concerned. Are you saying if people funded by the Americans commit crimes, we should not touch them? No! Zimbabwe is a unitary state and our laws apply to every citizen, whether you are in the opposition or you are in Government or you don’t belong to any political party at all.”
Mnangagwa added: “If you commit murder you get arrested, if you engage in corruption you get arrested, any violent act you get arrested. That is the rule of law which we observe.”
“I would like you to quote an action where Zimbabwe has acted outside the rule of law and I would like to hear that.”
Mnangagwa said Government was committed to political, economic and legislative reforms.
“There is POSA and AIPPA which are in the process of being repealed. We are not repealing to please America, we are repealing because it is necessary for us. It is for Zimbabwe and if it helps the Americans, so be it,” he said.
Asked on what differs in his approach to leadership of Zimbabwe in comparison with former president Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa answered: “Former president Mugabe was our commander for 15 years, when we fought the liberation struggle against Ian Smith. In 1979, we went to Lancaster where we got our political independence.
“Secondly, former president Mugabe is the founding father of our Independence and the principle grievance that we had during the liberation struggle was for us to get back our land.”
Mnangagwa said his liberalisation of Zimbabwe’s economy also showed that his economic vision is different from the former President who was known for promoting counterproductive populist policies.
“In July last year, I won the elections with two thirds majority in Parliament. I have the majority party in Parliament. I have now liberalised and opened the space so that in modern times you must compete for global capital to come into your country. We are doing the liberal measures in Parliament, a raft of economic measures, political and social measures.” – State Media
RETAILERS have increased prices of basic commodities again despite stability in the exchange rate and a consumer outcry over erosion of disposable incomes.
A snap survey conducted in Bulawayo shops yesterday revealed that several leading retailers have this week further increased prices of basic goods such as sugar, mealie meal, soap and cooking oil, among others.
For instance, a 2kg bag of sugar now costs about $20 from $17 last week while a 10kg bag of mealie meal has gone up to $33 from about $25. A 2-litre bottle of cooking oil now costs $27 from about $23 while green bar soap has risen to $12 from about $9.
A loaf of bread now costs $7 from $6. Peanut butter, bath soap and rice are also among the affected commodities.
Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Mr Effie Ncube, said the incessant price increases, especially on basic goods, were worrying as consumers could not afford them.
“It is getting to a stage where a majority of the people won’t be able to afford anything. So, there is a need for an early intervention on the side of Government to work with whoever is a stakeholder to ensure that we stabilise inflation, prevent speculative pricing or cut down on certain prices,” he said.State media
A 26 year old man from Jalukange area some 135 km west of Beitbridge town has been arrested for fatally stabbing a fellow villager in a fight over a woman.
Justice Ndlovu who resides under Chief Stauze area was not asked to plead to a charge of murder when he initially appeared before Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Mr Langton Mukwengi on Wednesday.
Ndlovu was remanded in custody to 10 September. Prosecuting, Mr Misheck Guwanda told the court that on Monday the accused and the now deceased had an argument over the courtship of a local woman.
He said a fist fight between the two then ensued.
The court also heard that upon realising that he was being defeated, Ndlovu withdrew a knife from his pocket and stabbed his rival once on the left side of the chest and arm.
The state also alleges that the man died instantly and a report was made to the police who immediately arrested Ndlovu and recovered the knife…State media
ZIMBABWE’S Mighty Warriors will have an uphill task when they face Zambia in the second leg of the second round in the 2020 Olympic qualifiers after they were humiliated yesterday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The Mighty Warriors got a bye in the first round and as they took on Zambia in the first leg encounter of the second round yesterday.
But it proved to be a difficult task for the national senior side.
Although they managed to hold their opponents in the first stanza, Zambia turned on the heat in the second half to find the target five times.
The Mighty Warriors, fresh from the COSAFA Women’s Championship where they claimed bronze, could not provide any resistance in the second half. Misozi Zulu put her side in the lead, in the 51st minute, before Grace Chanda made it two in the 71st minute.
Rachael Nachula weighed in with a brace and Rachael Kundananji was also on target for Zambia as they took a comfortable lead ahead of the second leg on Sunday in Harare.
The defeat leaves the Mighty Warriors with a mountain to climb when they host their northern neighbours at the National Sports Stadium.
It remains to be seen if the Mighty Warriors, who made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean national football team to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, can produce a miracle on Sunday.
The winner between Zimbabwe and Zambia will meet either South Africa or Botswana in the next round of the qualifiers.State media
A 42-year-old man committed suicide in Kariba on Tuesday afternoon after he had assaulted his wife following a misunderstanding at their home.
The man, whose name was still being withheld yesterday, thought that he had killed his wife following the assault, yet she had only lost consciousness.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man’s body was later recovered on the shores of Lake Kariba.
“On August 27, 2019 at around 12pm, a 42-year-old male adult in Kariba had a misunderstanding with his spouse at their residence,” he said. “The male adult struck his wife with an unknown object and she lost consciousness.
“The man fled from the scene and his body was later found on the shores of Lake Kariba. The woman was taken to hospital where she was treated and later discharged. We reiterate that members of the public should not resort to violence when embroiled in domestic disputes.”
This incident comes after the Zimbabwe Republic Police recently expressed concern over an increase in domestic violence cases, which have resulted in deaths and injuries.
Police urged members of the public to seek counselling services to resolve their differences. Meanwhile, police are investigating a case in which a man was hit and killed by an unknown motorist on Sunday at around 2000hrs at the 80-kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Tsholotsho Road.
“Anyone with information pertaining to this hit and run accident may report to their nearest police station, or call national complaints desk on 0242 703631 or WhatsApp number 0712800197 ,” Asst Comm Nyathi said. Herald
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Warriors and Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba finally made his much-awaited debut on Tuesday night against Crewe Alexander in the Carabao Cup. The claret and blue won 6-1.
Nakamba played in the middle of the park alongside two-goal hero Conor Hourihane.
Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail gives his verdict on Nakamba’s performance. He wrote:
A very slick operator, it has to be said. Anchored Villa’s midfield well and things will only get better for Nakamba in claret and blue now.
Does have his work cut out to edge out Douglas Luiz in the holding midfield role but he’s a completely different player as he’s much more defensive-minded – and Smith will no doubt turn to him depending on the Premier League opposition.
Took an extravagant pot shot from range but, all in all, it was a solid showing from Nakamba, who’ll be a key member of Villa’s squad.
Fast, slick on the ball and positionally good. Didn’t see too much of him which is exactly what you want from your defensive midfielder, screened the back four admirably.-Birmingham Post
Farai Dziva| The Member of Parliament for Zengeza East Goodrich Chimbaira who is also a Johane Masowe member, has described the bashing of a 14-year-old girl for wearing a pair of trousers as unfortunate.
“In my capacity as a Member of Parliament, I condemn what happened to the girl and the people behind it.”
“This area is not a private property where people are not allowed to do certain things and everyone has freedom to wear whatever he or she wants to.
We actually accommodated others who now live among us but are not of Johane Masowe church, so people have to be tolerant of other cultures and if they want to have such kind of culture they better construct a wall where no-one can enter,” said Chimbaira.
The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a “coup” and a “declaration of war” but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a “bold and ambitious” new domestic agenda.
It came a day after opposition parties vowed to seek legislative changes to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Queen Elizabeth II approved the request to end what has been the longest session of parliament in nearly 400 years in the second week of September, and reopen it on October 14 — just over two weeks before Brexit.
Thousands of people protested in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and other cities, while an online petition decrying the decision had garnered more than one million signatures within the space of a few hours by late Wednesday.
At the biggest rally, crowds gathered near parliament in London chanting “stop the coup” and waving EU flags.
“Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the government’s overall programme, and approach to Brexit,” Johnson, who leads the Conservative party, vowed in a letter to MPs.
However, his decision incensed lawmakers vehemently against Britain leaving the EU without a deal on October 31 as they will now have less time to try and thwart such a scenario.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, denounced the move as “a smash-and-grab against democracy” and reiterated he would call a no-confidence vote in Johnson’s government, which commands a majority of just one seat.
Former chancellor Philip Hammond also pledged to keep fighting against no deal.
“It would be a constitutional outrage if parliament were prevented from holding the government to account at a time of national crisis,” he said.
– ‘Compliant PM’ –
US President Donald Trump weighed into the row by praising Johnson as “great” and claiming it would be “very hard” for Corbyn to topple him in a no-confidence vote.
In the seismic 2016 referendum on Britain’s EU membership, 52 percent voted in favour of leaving the bloc, a result that has left parliament and the country bitterly divided.
Johnson insists Britain must leave by the October 31 deadline — already twice-delayed — with or without a divorce deal from Brussels.
Parliament has rejected three times the withdrawal agreement struck between Brussels and the government of Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May.
Opposition lawmakers called it a “blind Brexit” while eurosceptics objected to a so-called “backstop” provision to keep the Irish border open for people and goods, which would keep Britain closely aligned with the EU.
Johnson wants the EU to drop the backstop measure entirely — something Brussels has repeatedly ruled out.
In Paris, Britain’s Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told a business conference Wednesday the EU would be blamed for a “lack of flexibility” on the backstop issue in the event of no deal.
The government’s chief Brexit adviser David Frost was in Brussels for talks, but an EU summit on October 17-18 will likely determine whether there is any scope for compromise.
If not, Britain will end its four decades of membership without a deal governing future trade relations and citizens’ rights.
The pound slumped more than one percent at one point but shares rose as London-listed multinationals stand to gain from a weaker currency.
– ‘Tinpot dictator’ –
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Johnson of acting like a “tinpot dictator” by pushing through an “outrageous assault on basic democratic principles”.
Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, Conservative leader in Scotland, was set to resign Thursday in part due to opposition to Johnson’s hardline Brexit strategy, according to reports.
More than 70 parliamentarians have launched a fast-track legal bid at the highest civil court in Scotland, aimed at preventing Johnson from suspending parliament.
Lawyers for Gina Miller, a businesswoman and leading anti-Brexit campaigner, said they were also challenging parliament’s suspension in English courts.
Parliament typically goes into recess around the annual party conference season, which kicks off on September 14 and ends on October 2.
Robert Craig, a constitutional expert at Durham University, said there was “theoretically absolutely nothing wrong” with the suspension, noting it was normal for a new leader to start a fresh parliamentary session.
“But the reason that it is causing outrage is because it’s reducing the number of available days for parliament to stop a no-deal.”
John Bercow, the speaker of parliament’s lower House of Commons, who was not forewarned about Johnson’s suspension decision, labelled it a “constitutional outrage”.
“It is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop parliament debating Brexit,” he said. AFP
Zimbabwe Premier League’s highest paid coach, Lloyd Chitembwe boasted of having set a record, he set while playing for one of the biggest teams in Zimbabwe.
The record is yet to be reached by another coach, including England Premier League’s, Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola.
Lloyd Chitembwe beat the same opponents (Highlanders) with two different teams (Caps United and Harare City) within a week.
The newly appointed Harare City coach, beat Highlanders 2 : 1 at the National Sports Stadium eight days before his move from Caps United, and at his arrival at City, within 24 beat Highlanders again 1 : 0 this time at Barbourfields Stadium.
“Their (Harare City players) application of tactics was outstanding given (that) we only worked together for four days”.
“I think we will only get better given more time.
I’m extremely excited that I’m probably the only coach to have played one team three times in one season (and winning twice with two different teams), even the great Pep Guardiola has not managed that feat”.Football News
Zimbabwe will not bend the law to please the opposition and its sympathisers who are supporting the recent attempts to embark on illegal protests, ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
This came as the state media reported claiming:Western embassies have in the past two weeks openly sided with the opposition after police used their powers to quash a series of futile illegal protests that had been organised by the MDC-Alliance.
Responding to questions from Japan’s media organisations on the sidelines of the three-day Tokyo, International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit yesterday, Mnangagwa said the law cannot be applied selectively to tolerate illegal demonstrations.
The journalists had asked Mnangagwa to comment on the crackdown on opposition protesters.
“We apply the rule of law, those who commit crime, the law must apply. You cannot have double standards where the rule of law is concerned. Are you saying if people funded by the Americans commit crimes, we should not touch them? No! Zimbabwe is a unitary state and our laws apply to every citizen, whether you are in the opposition or you are in Government or you don’t belong to any political party at all.”
Mnangagwa added: “If you commit murder you get arrested, if you engage in corruption you get arrested, any violent act you get arrested. That is the rule of law which we observe.”
“I would like you to quote an action where Zimbabwe has acted outside the rule of law and I would like to hear that.”
Mnangagwa said Government was committed to political, economic and legislative reforms.
“There is POSA and AIPPA which are in the process of being repealed. We are not repealing to please America, we are repealing because it is necessary for us. It is for Zimbabwe and if it helps the Americans, so be it,” he said.
Asked on what differs in his approach to leadership of Zimbabwe in comparison with former president Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa answered: “Former president Mugabe was our commander for 15 years, when we fought the liberation struggle against Ian Smith. In 1979, we went to Lancaster where we got our political independence.
“Secondly, former president Mugabe is the founding father of our Independence and the principle grievance that we had during the liberation struggle was for us to get back our land.”
Mnangagwa said his liberalisation of Zimbabwe’s economy also showed that his economic vision is different from the former President who was known for promoting counterproductive populist policies.
“In July last year, I won the elections with two thirds majority in Parliament. I have the majority party in Parliament. I have now liberalised and opened the space so that in modern times you must compete for global capital to come into your country. We are doing the liberal measures in Parliament, a raft of economic measures, political and social measures.” – State Media
Zimbabwe Premier League’s highest paid coach, Lloyd Chitembwe boasted of having set a record, he set while playing for one of the biggest teams in Zimbabwe.
The record is yet to be reached by another coach, including England Premier League’s, Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola.
Lloyd Chitembwe beat the same opponents (Highlanders) with two different teams (Caps United and Harare City) within a week.
The newly appointed Harare City coach, beat Highlanders 2 : 1 at the National Sports Stadium eight days before his move from Caps United, and at his arrival at City, within 24 beat Highlanders again 1 : 0 this time at Barbourfields Stadium.
“Their (Harare City players) application of tactics was outstanding given (that) we only worked together for four days”.
“I think we will only get better given more time.
I’m extremely excited that I’m probably the only coach to have played one team three times in one season (and winning twice with two different teams), even the great Pep Guardiola has not managed that feat”.Football News
Farai Dziva|Members of the Johane Masowe Apostolic Sect have declared that their rights must be respected.
Godfrey Munondo a member of the Johane Masowe Apostolic sect told H-Metro that their community has a way of life which needs to be respected.
Munondo claimed that a 14 -year-old girl who was attacked by the apostolic sect members failed to honour their values.
“We acquired this area as Johane Masowe church, people have to realise that when they pass through they must observe and follow our church doctrine.
We do not allow our women to wear trousers since it tarnishes the true reflection of a human being and as you can see I cannot wear a short because it’s not allowed in this area,”he said.
Farai Dziva| A 14 year-old girl was assaulted by members of the Johane Masowe mob for wearing a pair of trousers.
The incident happened in Chitungwiza, Unit E area – a community dominated by the Johane Masowe sect members.
According to H-Metro, the girl was passing through one of the houses in Unit E and this prompted the community members to gang up against her.
“They beat her up badly, and she sought refuge in a nearby bottle store. She had to hide inside for about three hours as the crowd waited for her to come outside.
The people were so angry that they really wanted her head but the police came and rescued her,”said a Chitungwiza resident.
By Terence Rusirevi| The MDC need to consider withdrawing all their MPs from parliament in order to really kick start a proper struggle against this regime.
There has been another incident in the Zimbabwean parliament involving discovery of more government corruption.
The Minister of Finance is being summoned to answer questions from a parliamentary group. Many of my comrades on the progressive side of politics are salivating over this latest exposé of the vile maxim of this government, but not me.
Here is why: In a military dictatorship such as the one in Zimbabwe, parliament or parliamentary procedures are what the English call ‘vague and inconsequential prancing about’.
In other words, it will lead to nothing. Even if corruption is exposed (something which is not hard to do in Zimbabwe), there is no way of enforcing the law because the law protects the dictatorship. How so? Well, the law enforcers and the judiciary are elements which work entirely for the junta.
So to then jump up and down as if we have made a devout discovery is an old song that’s getting tired. I mean, it’s as clear as day that Zanu are thieves. It’s evident that this government is illegitimate because Mnangagwa came into power via a coup and then rigged the election.
The ghastly judiciary validated the coup and the rigged election – it would have been more honest of the judges if they wore Zanu t-shirts instead of the self important 17th century pageantry which they were trying to project during those hearings. Anyway, we know that law enforcement officers kill and torture people on behalf of Zanu.
It’s obvious that Zanu ministers and their cronies steal money everyday. As I’m writing this there is a Zanu minister stealing money somewhere and using some of it as bait to plough young women.
What I’m saying is this: finding a piece of paper which shows that money has been stolen by this regime is not a monumental discovery. It leads to nothing.
See, this is not a crisis of democracy – it’s a struggle, it’s a war between two sides, one side is led by a few old men who control the military, their cronies and the knuckle draggers who support Zanu and the other side has the hapless Zimbabwean general public.
We should desist from celebrating and gushing over things which lead to nothing. It’s a ‘false consciousness’ to invest hope in parliament or any of the prancing about that occurs there. It leads to nothing. It will not lead to a cessation of corruption. It will not lead to the arrest of the criminals.
This is why I’m absolutely against the notion of parliament in Zimbabwe while there is this dictatorship in place. By having MDC MPs in parliament, we are essentially contributing towards validating this dictatorship by giving a false impression that Zimbabwe is a democracy when it’s not.
Of course, I know our party needs the money from the remunerations awarded to political parties by central government. But we need a much better economic model to avoid this conflict of interest.
Another problem with having MPs in this farcical parliament is that it creates divisions within our party whereby our MPs become part of the ruler class and are subsequently disconnected from the general masses.
Moreover, when MPs collect their salaries, and enjoy the opportunities for wealth which come with that position, the last thing they will want to do is to take an approach to this war which puts them out of business. They will want to pursue these ‘democratic procedures’, not because they believe in them, but because it’s their business – they make a living out of it.
I think the time has come for the MDC to withdraw all its MPs from parliament and really make this a proper struggle against the regime. This would be the ultimate ‘stay away’ demo.
It’s a move that will take off the mask of democracy which has been protecting Zanu pf. It’s a move that would take this struggle exactly where it needs to be and that is in people’s hands, feet, hearts and minds.
MPs, for far too long, have been giving people a false hope that keeps us going round in circles in one position, doing daft things like participating in an election that we know is already rigged.
Look, I’m not saying we shouldn’t dilate over findings of corruption by this Zanu government. I mean, so long as we have our MPs in there, they might as well ask the government tough questions about what’s happening.
All I’m saying is that even if Mthuli is given the third degree in parliament and caves in by admitting that the money was stolen, nothing is going to happen to him or the thief who nicked the money.
This is a military junta not a democracy where government is held accountable. If we are having MPs in order to get funding from central government then its time to create a sustainable economic model.
I have adumbrated what needs to be done on various platforms where I spoke about the three essential layers which are business capital, intellectual capital and activism.
I said and I will keep saying that the party needs to have a 24 hour online radio and TV station (if that’s possible) but definitely a radio station. There also needs to be an aggressive crowd funding effort and the party needs Chamisa to front this because he is the ‘superstar and the big draw in many people’s eyes, no offence to the others.
Having raised money, the party would need to invest some of it in profitable businesses (outside Zimbabwe). A weekly newsletter of the parties activities will also need to be published.
Last but not least, the party needs to carry out ‘smart’ activism which should include doing things which people can actually point at not just talking and making promises. These things can include building bridges, boreholes, women’s health and education.
Some people have told me that it would be difficult to raise money, but I beg to differ. People will donate and fund an organisation if they like it’s products or service.
Churches in Zimbabwe are raising millions every year because people like the ‘service’ and the sense of hope they get from the church leaders, in spite of the fact that a lot of these church leaders are magician spivs in funny costumes who use the Bible as part of their act.
For the MDC the product and service would be the online TV + radio, the newsletter, the humanitarian activism and the hope of regime change. All this is achievable. I have been contacted by a few of the MDC big wigs and they are in agreement about the need for a sustainable economic model, they are exploring ways of putting this into action, thank goodness.
Terence Rusirevi (MDC UK) writes in his own capacity and the views expressed here are his own and not the official position of the MDC in UK and Ireland and the MDC in Zimbabwe.
By Own Correspondent| The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is set to introduce technical high schools and science academies next year.
Education Minister Paul Mavima said that initially there will be one school in each of the country’s 10 provinces.
A list has been drawn up of schools that will be targeted, and these are schools that already have suitable infrastructure for technical and science learning.
Said Mavima:
“As a ministry, we decided to come up with these schools of excellence that favours the competence of learners in their respective areas of choice with the targeted subjects of learning being technical and science ones.
The least number of schools we are targeting to start with countrywide is 10 that is one per each province. So far a tentative list has been done and will be shortlisting them soon.
Our target schools are existing ones that already have a suitable infrastructure for technical and science learning.
These we are going to quickly resource them to facilitate the start of this project.
In terms of funding, we are getting a large chunk from the fiscus, but education being everyone’s business parents can also chip in, but entirely the project is a Government thing with no outside source of funding.
Minister Mavima also revealed that the technical high schools and science academies certificates will be awarded by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC). The certificates will be on par with an Advanced Level certificate, with holders privileged to enrol at university.-StateMedia
