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
By A Correspondent| Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has condemned the arrest of the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Raymond Majongwe.
Majongwe used his Twitter handle to speak about his arrest earlier on Wednesday.
He said:
“Am getting detained at Mbare Police with my two sons who were assaulted by police at Mbudzi roundabout this morning. Sad things go like this.”
Commenting on Majongwe’s arrest, ARTUZ said:
“We condemn the arrest of Raymond Majongwe by the overzealous the Police who have since become the number one public enemy due to their excesses. We demand the unconditional release of cde Majongwe.”
By A Correspondent| Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi’s remark, that Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni is an enemy of the State has been condemned.
Mutodi took to Twitter after Chief Ndiweni was freed on bail by a Bulawayo High Court judge on less stringent conditions. He wrote:
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.
Here are some of the responses on Twitter:
David 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.
Zenzele: So #ChiefNdiweni is an enemy of the state?. This is hate speech from a govt minister. This is the gukurahundi language. #Asakhe
Hopewell Chin’ono: You have just confirmed what we have always known, that your government thinks of Chief Ndiweni is an enemy of the State.
How pathetic that you see everyone who disagrees with your corruption, incompetence, nepotism, theft and Mismanagement of the State as an enemy of the State!
Pedzisai Ruhanya: Energy Mutodi says ED has taken the rule of law to another level after Chief Ndiweni was granted bail by the High Court kkkkkk surely ZANU PF does not need this apo akapfeka doctoral gown, maiwe zvangu iwe!
Cde Setfree Mafukidze: I think you are psychotic my God Jehova Eriiiiiya tibatsirei this dimwit is Deputy Minister?No Dambudzo iri iDambudziko raunaro muHurumende. Energy Mutodi has the audacity to call a Chief @ChiefKhayisa an enemy of the state? How is he an enemy because he disagrees with your lot?
Adv Tinomudaishe Chinyoka: How? Isn’t the whole point of Judicial Independence precisely that President @edmnangagwa had nothing to do with it? With supporters like this, who needs enemies?
By A Correspondent| A Zvishavane-based pastor was last week arraigned before a magistrates court facing allegations of fraud.
36-year-old Christopher Mudawarima, a pastor with Fountain of Life Ministry allegedly defrauded several people of over US$11 000 and R3 000.
He lured his victims with promises of helping them import cars and secure studying places at various institutions.
Mudawarima appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga facing fraud charges.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody to August 29.
The accused allegedly used the money to buy two cars and a residential stand.-Newsday
People in the rural areas are feeling the heat of high bus fares, such that they are no longer in a position to travel to family gatherings such as funerals, weddings and graduations in the cities or to visit their relatives in other villages.
We have come to the point whereby literally those who belong to cities stay in the cities and those in rural areas stay in the rural areas as people have no financial capacity to visit their parents or siblings. There is now an artificial border –or Berlin Wall- created by the high bus fares.
Rural based expectant mothers and those who are critically ill are also finding it difficult to access maternal care or medical attention such that maternal deaths and mortality of the elderly and other people who need constant medical attention, for instance, those that suffer from hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases are in mortal danger.
Giving comparison of bus fares: Harare to Bulawayo ranges between $80 and $105; Harare to Mutare is around $70.; Harare to Mutoko around $40; Harare to Chinhoyi around $25; Harare to Kadoma $40; Harare to Gweru is around $65.
These price hikes have been due to fuel and toll gate price hikes, as well as spare parts that are charged in United States Dollars or its equivalents.
We are anticipating further fare hikes as operators continue to cushion themselves.
Tafadzwa Goliati
President of Passengers Association of Zimbabwe
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor to speak out against the crackdown on protestors being experienced in neighbouring Zimbabwe at the moment.
The official opposition wants South Africa’s government to take a stand against what is happening in Zimbabwe but, short of that, it at least wants an acknowledgement.
Situation in Zimbabwe is not improving
The situation in the neighbouring country is steadily declining with reports of long periods of load shedding of up to 16 hours per day, food shortages, and outlawing of anti-government protesting.
Just a week previously, a group of teachers, their lawyer, and an accompanying journalist were arrested for protesting the fact that their salaries had been reduced from $500 to just $38 per month.
De-facto state of emergency
The state recently banned any kind of anti-government protest and have repeatedly used teargas to disperse crowds.
The move was described by opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as placing the country into a de-facto state of emergency.
DA calls for South African government to break its silence through Naledi Pandor
Through all of this, South Africa’s government has not even released a press statement indicating that it is aware of or monitoring the situation.
Something which the DA believes is time to change.
“After a protracted period of clashes between the police and protestors, violent crackdown of opposition voices and news of food shortages – the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, and the South African Government have remained deafeningly silent over the turmoil, violence, and unrest in Zimbabwe,” DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Darren Bergman said in a statement.
“The Democratic Alliance has written to Minister Pandor to break her silence and inform the nation of government’s official stance on the degenerating situation in the country,” said Darren Bergman
A Zimbabwean woman, apparently on her way to a church service, was crushed to death on Sunday morning in the Johannesburg suburb of Windsor East.
The woman was identified by police as 31-year-old Geraldine Nyaradzo Mudimu.
According to witnesses, the car was being driven by an unlicensed Nigerian national who was whisked away by his friends.
He has not been found since.
“Yes we can confirm the death of the woman who was hit by a car. The same driver first hit and injured another man who was ferried to Helen Joseph Hospital with serious injuries. We are still looking for the driver who is still on the run,” said a police detective working on the matter.
He will likely be charged for murder, attempted murder or alternatively culpable homicide as well as defeating the ends of justice by evading from the law.
The suburb came to a standstill as residents, the majority of whom are foreign nationals, descended on the scene to catch a glimpse of the incident.
“The accident was horrific. The driver was speeding and he first hit the guy, lost control and then hit the woman who was waiting for a taxi,” said Lesley Makumbe who was among the first ones to arrive on the scene.
“It was a very painful death as she was dragged underneath the car for about 50 metres before it was stopped by the wall. Paramedics struggled to pull her body out as she had already passed away,” said Makumbe.
This is the second accident along the same spot six years.
In 2014 two sisters lost their lives after being by a car as well.
The injured man was identified as Ntuthuko Mkwebu also a Zimbabwean and sustained serious head injuries and he is in Intensive Care Unit. His friend Elvis Chiwanda who comes from Malawi says he is likely to make it.
“Yes he is still in intensive care but the situation is improving. I actually praise God because it could have been worse. I have worked with him for a very long time and he is a good guy,” said Chiwanda.
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..
Information released on social media sites indicates that Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers have taken over the street of the capital Lilongwe following the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision to call off a scheduled three-day demonstration by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition.
Eyewitnesses in the capital, Lilongwe confirmed of the developments.
“Armoured MDF vehicles have been strategically parked from Area 18 Roundabout, where the Lilongwe demonstrations were supposed to start from.”
“At Area 10 junction, there are five armoured vehicles and two MDF trucks stationed and a number of MDF soldiers. Some are manning the entry of the shopping mall,” said the sources.
In Mzuzu, MDF soldiers are patrolling the street with less number of police officers and many shops remained closed for the better part of the day.
Malawians have been protesting heavily against President Peter Mutharika’s May election victory which they claim was fraudulent.
More details to follow…..
A former Liverpool Football Club striker, Dean Saunders, has been jailed for 10 weeks.
The Welshman pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a roadside breath test and failing to provide a breath sample for analysis at a police station.
The 55-year-old, who was stopped on suspicion of drunk driving by police in Boughton, Chester, on May 10, was sentenced on Wednesday.
Saunders, of The Paddocks, Whitegate, near Northwich, Cheshire, had initially denied both charges at an earlier hearing but indicated a change of plea to guilty on Tuesday.
He said he had been out at Chester Races and had drunk two pints.
He will also be banned from driving for 30 months upon his release from prison and ordered to pay court costs of £620.
Saunders, who also played for Aston Villa and Derby County and was capped by Wales 75 times, is a regular football TV and radio pundit.
District Judge Nicholas Sanders told him: “Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone who’s previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law.
“In fact the opposite is true – someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law.”
The Welshman’s defence had earlier told the court that Saunders refused to provide a breath sample as he suffers from asthma, and the two drinks may have ‘interacted’ with the medication.
But prosecutor Kerry Pepperall claimed that this was not mentioned during the arrest.
And she stated the CCTV footage showed ‘an intoxicated person’ who was ‘highly under the influence of alcohol’.
A maximum sentence of six months can be carried if a person fails to provide a specimen for analysis when told to do so by police officers.
The Welshman played 75 times for his country before retiring in 2001.
He has had spells managing Wrexham and Doncaster but was axed by Wolves in 2013 after relegating the club to the Championship in 2013.
His last job came with Chesterfield in 2015, where he lasted just six months before being sacked.
Saunders is a regular on talkSPORT and was on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show as recently as Monday morning.
Former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi has revealed that the secret to a long life is avoiding women at all costs. The former President believes that the main reason he has lived long is because he has avoided women and spends most of the time playing on the verandah of his house in Kabarak.
Moi was born a few years after World war one. When asked for tips on how to live a long and happy life, Moi responded ” I always spend most of the time in the fresh air playing a lot with my dogs on the verandahs. I hate noise and that is why I prefer staying alone.” Daniel Arap Moi first became president of Kenya in 1978. For most of his years as president, Moi and the ruling party have had absolute authority over the country’s political and judicial systems. Moi is a tough, experienced fighter, with “country boy cunning” and craftiness in exploiting tribal divisions.
As the pro-government Sunday Times said: “Moi may not have studied politics at anyone’s university, but he has proved himself a real ‘Professor of politics’ in the practical sense.” In 1982 Moi pushed legislation through making Kenya a de jure (by right) one-party state, although it had been a de facto (actual) one-party state since 1969 when the opposition was banned and KANU had begun overriding Parliament in decision-making matters.
A Harare woman has approached the court seeking an upward variation of maintenance for one minor child, citing her ex-husband is giving her RTGS while he is receiving his salary in United States dollar.
Nyaradzai Mango said she wants 3000 RTGS from Maxwel Chamvari citing the cost of living has changed and the school fees of their child have gone up.
“Economy is now changed, prices of goods are skyrocketing almost every week especially for gas and rentals. My four year old boy school fees have gone up its now 900 bond. My ex-husband is paid in US$ but he is giving me RTGS, the money that he is giving me is equivalent to 60RTGS,” said Mango.
In response Chamvari said he can offer 100RTGS per month
“I’m not able to pay 3000 RTGS but l can offer 1000 RTGS.I work for an NGO and the contracts expires. I earn US$1000 but after tax l remain with US$786. I’m kindly asking the mother of the child to send child to a cheaper school,”Chamvari said
Mango disputed her former husband’s earnings.
“AM not accepting offer of 100 bond, I know his earnings because l stayed with him .This man is a director…., unless he bring his bank statement,” she said.
In her ruling magistrate Sheila Nanzombe postponed the case to 30 August as she ordered Chamvari to bring his Stanbic statement.
South African Capital City, Pretoria, CBD has descended into chaos, as reports coming in from sources claim that foreign-owned shops have been targeted by angry rioters.
Based on the information that is circulating on social media, it is not safe to be walking in and around the Pretoria CBD area.
According to @TrafficSA, a well-reputed road traffic news source, riots have broken out in the capital’s central business district, and foreign-owned shops are at the receiving end of the violence.
The details are sketchy at the moment but it appears that the riots have been fuelled by the death of a taxi driver.
Police have not issued an official statement nor has the City of Tshwane issued any updates on the events that are unfolding in Pretoria CBD.
However, according to research, the revolt allegedly comes after a taxi driver was murdered by foreign nationals. This, however, has not been confirmed as SAPS in Pretoria have not said anything.
@TrafficSA has, on Wednesday morning, issued a warning to motorists and commuters: Avoid Pretoria CBD at all cost.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as and when we receive updates.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested members of MRP for demonstrating outside the Bulawayo High Court.
Various online reports said at the time of writing the activists were locked at the Central Police Station at the CID Law and order section at Central Police Station.
The said arrested activists are Partone Xaba, Ndabazelizwe Ncube ,Ackim Ndebele, Mongameli Mlotshwa, Prince Mazilankatha Ncube.
No charge has been filed as yet.
South Africans have taken to all sorts of media to warn foreigners living im the country of deadly xenophobic attacks on the 2nd of September.
In an interview with Voice of America’s Studio 7, an unidentified Zulu man said, “We are going to shut down the whole of South Africa and go to all firms where foreigners are working and we will remove them from the workplaces.”
Zimbabweans caught up in Xenophobic crossfire
Foreigners in South Africa must gear up for a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks beginning on the 2nd of September 2019.
The man further said they will talk to the employers to fire all illegal foreigners and employ locals with papers. He said they will be accompanied by the department of labour, SARS and human rights association.
“We will put block all main roads to stop and search all foreigners working with home affairs. We are not happy that foreigners come to South Africa and accept meagre wages while in South Africa we agreed the minimum wage should be R3 500.”
When asked about Ndebele people the man said, “The people who went with Mzilikazi are our brothers we want to sit down with them and talk to them on how they can come back. The others we do not know them.”
He added that foreigners were smuggling drugs to South Africa to sell to the children of that country instead of bringing their children to partake of the drugs.
Meanwhile the Zambian High Commission in South Africa has warned its truck drivers from travelling to the said country till security is guaranteed.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Cain Mathema has warned the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) against fresh plans for nationwide protest to push the government to address the declining economic situation that has seen prices of basic commodities going up by over 700 percent.
In a statement released today, Mathema accused the MDC of abusing the constitution to foment disorder and cause anarchy in the country.
“While constitutionalism exists in Zimbabwe in terms of observance of human rights, it is disturbing that these rights which are clearly espoused in the constitution are now being misused to foment disorder and cause anarchy in the country,” said Mathema.
He further accused diplomatic missions of siding with the opposition against the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), Article 41(1) which he said emphasized against their interference with the internal or domestic affairs of the receiving state.
“My ministry is therefore concerned by the security implications of these diplomatic missions’ interference and visits to private residences of some opposition political party leaders under the guise of diplomatic engagements,” added Mathema.
Despite wide calls from the international community against the brutal assault of citizens at the hands of the police, Mathema insisted that the executive had empowered the Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga to quash the planned protests by the opposition across the country.
“The agenda will not work as the Commissioner General of Police has been given the responsibility to ensure that law and order is maintained in every village, district, province and the nation at large,
“Let me assure all peace loving and law abiding citizens that the law enforcement agents are on high alert to deal with any acts of lawlessness in the country,” he added.
Mathema further claimed that the opposition was working with transport operators to ferry its members for demonstrations at various centres across the country saying those who will be used will have their vehicles impounded by the police.
“We are quite aware that the opposition and its partners intend to hire buses and other vehicles to ferry people to various centres in the country for unlawful gatherings.
“Transport operators, both public and private should not be used as destabilising agents in the country. Let me reiterate that anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with without fear or favour. Vehicles used to promote lawlessness will certainly be impounded by the police,” said Mathema.
The MDC has notified the Regulating Authorities in all Police districts and stations of its intended demonstrations on the 29th to the 31st of August 2019.
The Zimbabwe Football Association has explained why several regular players in the national team were omitted in the squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Somalia next month.
Almost half of the players that went to the 2019 Afcon were not included in the selection for the upcoming encounter and these include the team’s three captains – Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru and Danny Phiri.
Goalkeepers George Chigova and Edmore Sibanda have also not been considered along with the likes of Talent Chawapiwa, Jimmy Dzingai, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Knox Mutizwa.
The snub is widely believed to be a decision by the ZIFA board to bar those they think led a player revolt in Egypt.
The association’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela has, however, rubbished the claims, saying the coach selected the players he thinks will deliver and there was no interference from Zifa.
“ZIFA takes pride in the independence of the coach,” Gwesela told The Herald. “The coach uses his discretion in the selection of the national team and ZIFA don’t interfere with the selection of the national team.
“We respect the coach’s decision.”
Commenting on the squad, coach Joey Antipas said: “It is a balanced squad with a lot of youthful players which I believe need to be given a chance with the national team.
“We want to have a broad selection of players and this is their chance to prove they deserve to be in the team.”
The encounter is a preliminary round fixture and the first leg will be played on a neutral venue in Djibouti on 5 September. This is due to security concerns in Somalia.
The return leg will be played at Barbourfields Stadium, three days later.
ZIMBABWE Divine Destiny leader Ancelimo Magaya has urged the country’s political leaders to unearth past acts of killings and violence and have them addressed if the nation is to achieve lasting peace.
Addressing a churches convergence on peace meeting in Gweru yesterday, Magaya said although it was noble for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to fight corruption, there were more “horrendous and horrific” issues that needed to be addressed.
“Although we have seen attempts by authorities to address the issue of corruption with the recent arrest of the likes of Priscah Mupfumira (former Tourism minister), there are, however, more horrendous and horrific issues underneath that need to be unearthed,” he said. “We cannot have people who killed continuing to roam the streets without being arrested.”
Magaya said it was pointless to continue talking about peace without embracing what it took to achieve that peace.
The cleric further noted that there was need for truth to be told and people who committed acts of violence and killings should be arrested.
“Let the truth be told, in (the 1980s Matabeleland and Midlands) genocides, who ordered the army to kill civilians?” he asked.
“In the run-up to the 2008 elections, there were people who were maimed, raped and killed, yet the murderers are still roaming the streets. Who ordered the soldiers to shoot at 45 degrees in the August 1 (2018) killings? Those that killed on August 1 are yet to be arrested.”
He challenged government to implement the Kgalema Motlanthe Commission recommendations following last year’s fatal shootings by security agents. Magaya said even the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission would never achieve its mandate if truth is not told.
He added that while it was commendable for the police to arrest people who looted during protests, there was need to also arrest those who kill others during such demonstrations.
The peace meeting was convened under the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and included Christian organisations such as the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance and Zimbabwe Divine Destiny.
American Entertainer Steve Harvey has been sucked into fractious politics after the opposition MDC Alliance, led by Nelson Chamisa, persuaded him to delete a tweet in which he posted a video of the Victoria Falls.
Matters came to a head after Harvey posted the video showing a rainbow over the Victoria Falls, with an emoji of clapping hands.
Harvey’s tweet gained some traction with positive comments until the MDC Alliance got wind off it. The opposition party then persuaded the American comedian to delete it.
Dr Nkululekho Sibanda, spokesperson for Chamisa, claimed he had persuaded Harvey to delete the tourism promo tweet.
“He is just making his money, I agree with you. Just got excited, the ZANU PF consultants in the US, got Steve Harvey @IAmSteveHarvey to tweet about@edmnangagwa, we got to him and he quickly deleted the post. They are failing, that is how bad they are. They are losing fast!” tweeted Sibanda.
The MDC and the ruling Zanu PF party led by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa are at loggerheads. Hard pressed Zimbabweans are restless. Discontent has been rising along with commodity prices.
Joblessness is rife. Electricity and water are in short supply in many urban areas.
Last week police clamped down on attempts by the MDC to hold demonstrations against the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Harvey, the award-winning entertainer, businessman and philanthropist, is in South Africa where he will launch “Family Feud” the internationally acclaimed game show,
CHIEF Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni who was is serving 18 months imprisonment following his conviction with his 23 subjects for destroying a villager’s property in Ntabazinduna, was today released by the High Court on $500 bail coincidentally on the day that the City of Bulawayo remembers gallant freedom fighter Sydeny Malunga who died on the same day in 1994.
During the Gukurahundi genocide years, Sidney Malunga was imprisoned, tortured and put on trial for treason. He was finally acquitted, in time to see his party absorbed by the ‘new’ ZANU-PF.
He could have walked away, but instead he walked into a hostile parliament and took his seat. He knew that the honourable members to the left and to the right of him had sanctioned breathtaking acts of barbarism on his people.
Many rubbed it in his face – he often spoke of “a man” that regularly spoke of ‘the cockroaches’ when he approached – a reference to the systematic dehumanisation of the Ndebele people before and during the genocide. That man was current President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
But Sidney did not surrender his dignity, in spite of the clear and present danger. The smell of cordite and blood was still fresh on both sides, victor and vanquished.
Even after the ‘ceasefire’, Mugabe’s minions had found an ingenious way to quietly terminate high ranking former members of the defunct PF-ZAPU. Their cars would be involved in high speed head-on collisions with armoured vehicles or freight trucks; the number of such ‘unfortunate accidents’ was mounting. Sidney’s profile fit the bill for such an end, and he had received less than veiled threats and tip-offs of an imminent attempt on his life.
Sidney was loved by his people. He never backed down, and continued to ask hard questions in and out of parliament. No-one could or would accuse him of being a ‘sell-out’. When Sidney walked through the streets, he stopped for anyone, any colour, gender, age, social standing; you would watched him commiserate with an elderly white woman who had just lost her husband, and equally engage with a dusty street child. He always had a ready smile and easy manner, never in so much of a hurry that he wouldn’t stop and listen.
“Be true to yourself first, and you cannot but be true to others. If you witness a wrong, never avert your eyes. Remember what you have seen and keep it vivid in your mind. Refuse to be silenced. Refuse, until there is some justice, or until you are dead.”
Sidney and his driver died in mysterious circumstances in 1994 – Jacob, reportedly swerved for ‘a black dog’ and slammed into a lamp post. ‘Black dog’ was to become a euphemism for ‘army truck’.
Ndiweni (54) and 23 other villagers were recently convicted by Bulawayo magistrate, Ms Gladmore Mushove for malicious damage to property belonging to Mr Fetti Mbele’s property.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa ruled that Chief Ndiweni’s appeal against both conviction and sentence had prospects of success and dismissed the State’s assertion that if granted bail, the applicant was likely to abscond.
The judge ordered Chief Ndiweni to report once a week at ZRP Ntabazinduna and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised as part of the bail conditions.
Speculation has been rife on the condition of ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is receiving treatment in China.
Some sources have been writing him off, however latest reports from China suggest otherwise. He is getting better and here is his first picture since he was taken to china…
Exiled former ZANU PF heavyweight Jonathan Moyo was lost of words on seeing the picture.
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 MDC Welcomes the Granting of Bail to Chief Ndiweni
The MDC is absolutely delighted to hear that the Bulawayo High Court has granted bail to Chief Ndiweni
According to the High court; Chief Ndiweni will need to abide on the following bail conditions:
Further, there was no condition attached to his travel documents.
The MDC remains of the strong view that Chief Ndiweni should not have been arrested in the first place.
The charges against him are politically motivated and have no legal justification whatsoever.
lndeed, the MDC remains convinced that there are high prospects of success on appeal against both his conviction and sentence.
The MDC would like to thank all its leaders and members; and the general public for turning out in their large numbers in active solidarity with Chief Ndiweni.
MDC: Change that Delivers
Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson
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
Jane Mlambo| As part of his bail condition, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has been asked to report every Friday at Ntabazinduna police station.
Ndiweni has just been granted ZWL$500 bail by the Bulawayo High Court.
He was convicted of destruction to private property and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Farai Dziva|One person has been reportedly abducted by suspected government agents outside the High Court in Bulawayo.
According to Bulawayo based CITE, someone wearing a traditional head gear and a cream shirt has been bundled into a Mitsubishi Truck outside the High Court by security agents in plain cloth.
This followed the granting of bail to Chief Ndiweni by the Bulawayo High Court.
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According to Bulawayo based CITE, someone wearing a traditional head gear and a cream shirt has been bundled into a Mitsubishi Truck outside the High Court by security agents in plain cloth.
This followed the granting of bail to Chief Ndiweni by the Bulawayo High Court.
More to follow…
Mthwakazi people celebrate the ruling which was granted in favor of Chief Ndiweni. #Asakhe #ChiefNdiweni pic.twitter.com/HfGhRV7eUk
— Cite (@citezw) August 28, 2019
We condemn the arrest of @RMajongwe by the overzealous @PoliceZimbabwe who have since become the number one public enemy due to their excesses. We demand the unconditional release of cde Majongwe.
— ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) August 28, 2019
Dear Customer. Please take note bundle prices for Data & SMS will be reviewed effective 29 August 2019. Dial *143# or *151# to buy Data or *140# to buy SMS Bundles.
Am getting detained at Mbare Police with my two sons who were assaulted by police at Mbudzi round about this morning.Sad things go like this. pic.twitter.com/eWD76OhL9x
— Raymond Majongwe (@RMajongwe) August 28, 2019
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.
Jane Mlambo| Ntabazinduna chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has been granted RTGS$500 bail after his lawyers led by MDC Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube succesfully appealed against his sentence.
More to follow…
By A Correspondent| Jailed Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni has been granted $500 bail by a Bulawayo magistrate, Thompson Mabhikwa.
He was represented by lawyers MDC Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube and Dumisani Dube of Mathonsi Law Chambers.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
Farai Dziva|The Mighty Warriors clash with She-Polopolo of Zambia in a potentially explosive Olympic Games qualifier at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka this afternoon.
Sithethelelwe Sibanda’s troops, who travelled to Zambia by road, will be looking for a possitive result to carry back to Harare for the return leg slatted for the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
There are nine competitive meetings since 2007 between the two sides and the Mighty Warriors have six wins.
Zimbabwe took part in the 2016 edition of the Olympic Games in Rio and will be looking to book another place at the international event.
Farai Dziva|Former Warriors striker Tendai Ndoro was on target as Highlands Park beat Amazulu in an ABSA Premiership match played last night.
Ndoro equalised for his side from the penalty spot in first half time added on after Bongi Ntuli had put Amazulu ahead in 5 minutes ealier.
Peter Shalulile put the result beyond doubt, making it 2-1 in the 62nd minute to ensure that Amazulu’s woes continue. They are bottom of the table with just a single point from 4 games.
Farai Dziva|Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba’s statue will be erected in his honour in home town Hwange.
The 25-year-old recently made headlines after becoming the first Zimbabwean since 2012 to play in the EPL. The last player to achieve that success was Benjani Mwaruwari when he turned out for Portsmouth.
Warriors legend and former Coventry City player Peter Ndlovu has told The Athletic that town chiefs in Hwange, are concocting plans to build a statue in his honour.
“Marvelous knows that we are recognising his hard work with this idea and hopefully the statue will be a confidence booster for him,” said Ndlovu.
“Moving to Aston Villa is an unbelievable achievement for him and we must show our support as a nation.
“The people of Hwange recognise their heroes and while the exact details are yet to be finalised, discussions are taking place to decide what happens next.”
“This isn’t about me, it’s about Marvelous.
“He’s the man with the opportunity of a lifetime to represent our nation now, to make a difference and define our future.
“He must not let this opportunity pass because the whole of Zimbabwe is watching and hoping he will succeed.”
Farai Dziva|Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando has said freedom of speech is a taboo in Zanu PF.
Chitando was commenting on the suspension of Zanu PF MP for Chivi South Killer Zivhu for allegedly undermining the authority of the President.
See Chitando’ s argument :
If reports that Chivi South Member of Parliament Killer Zivhu is being dragged before a disciplinary committee for suggesting that Zanu PF President Mnangagwa and MDC President Chamisa must engage in talks are true- then democracy in Zanu PF is in the coffin.
Killer Zivhu represents the people of Chivi South. The views he might be communication to the nation might be the general sentiments and aspirations of Chivi South.
If ZanuPF is prepared to nail its own son on the cross for airing his views or those of people he represents,then it should not surprise you that any views by the opposition party will be opposed.
This Killer Zivhu incident only serves as evidence that freedom of speech in Zanu PF is a taboo.
Jeffryson Murisi David Chitando
The greatest weapon of mass destruction against democracy in rural areas by ZanuPF is abuse of food handouts.
Government agricultural inputs and food handouts are ZanuPF AK 47 for rural votes. Unless and until Zanu PF and government programs are separated food handouts will be used by the ruling party to “rig ,bribe and coerce” rural voters to vote for ZanuPF.
The Zanu PF government has failed to empower rural communities to be self sufficient or self reliant .The 40 years Zanu PF has been in power has made the rural people dependent on food and agricultural inputs from government.
Whilst the program of agricultural inputs is aimed at increasing food production in rural areas the opposite has been true.
In the early 1980s when rural communities used to buy subsidized agricultural inputs from shops harvest was fairly encouraging. GMB had various buying centre points in rural areas.
The introduction of free selectively political driven agricultural inputs handouts given to rural farmers harvest has drastically reduced. The government used to subsidize seed at manufacturing point for every farmer to afford.The price of seed was affordable and farmers were able to prepare for their next agricultural season on time.
The formation of the MDC changed the government programs to suit Zanu PF political campaign strategy. The government abandoned the subsidizingn of seed at manufacturing point instead bought all seed to dish out to farmers. Zanu PF knew that by having farmers freely buying seed from shops would make it difficult to attach ZanuPF to the government program.The agricultural inputs were named “Presidential Input Scheme” as though the inputs were bought from the President’s personal savings.Why not call them ” Government Inputs Scheme?” ZanuPF knew its implications to name and attach the President to the scheme.The ZanuPF political chefs and structures were to be involved in the distribution ,selection of beneficiaries and politicization of the agricultural inputs.
The seed which was left in shops was not subsidized making it beyond the reach of many rural people. This strategy turned ZanuPF into the messiah. Supporting Zanu PF was made materialistic and strategic for rural farmers.
The worst was when Zanu PF government created Maguta and Champion Farmer organs to oversee the
distribution of seed in rural areas. The two organs were headed by retired and serving army members. Zimbabwe agricultural inputs and food handouts were turned into highly political and military operations.
The agricultural inputs were normally given out late after the planting season had began when the farmers were in desperate need of seed.This made ZanuPF to be looked upon as the most caring, loving and concerned political party. The rural people couldn’t know that their problems were created by Zanu PF.
Zanu PF knew that giving the agricultural inputs late would make the chances of poor harvest was more than 75% .The people would not have enough harvest to last long so they will be in need of food handouts. Around June or July the people will begging for food.”Vaiva nemasunda chando chete chete” creating a never-ending cycle.
Until Zimbabweans are empowered by way of making it possible to buy seed in shops and over reliance on agricultural inputs from government is removed rural areas will continue to vote Zanu PF not because of their own volition.
NGOs have not done a good job as well in liberating rural people from ZanuPF-government agricultural inputs dependence syndrome.
NGOs have targeted food handouts instead of concentrating on empowering the rural communities on food production. World International NGOs only surface during time to handout food aid instead of concentrating on agricultural inputs for the rural communities to be self sufficient and avoid being abused by ZanuPF.
When election observor missions are told of how government food handouts is used to subvert the people’s will they won’t be able to collect the data as it a lifetime problem- process.
Traditional leaders have also being roped into the illegitimate distribution of food handouts and agricultural inputs.
Zimbabwe needs political reforms, electoral reforms, security sector reforms and traditional leadership reforms in food handouts and agricultural inputs distribution for a free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
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 Chitungwiza girl has disclosed how she was attacked by members of the Johane Masowe Apostolic Sect for wearing a pair of trousers.
The girl told H-Metro she was assaulted by a group of men and women from the sect.
“They were big men and women who beat me up while some children were harassing me, throwing stones and mud on my face.”
“They shouted at me and I was confused, I didn’t know what to do or where to run to.
I live with my dad but he is not here and I do not stay with my mother who is somewhere,” she said.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW…
Jane Mlambo| War veterans have quashed any chances of political dialogue saying power will never be negotiated.
Addressing a press conference today, war veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they fought for power and will never let go easily.
“War veterans have sat down here today to be able to tell the nation and the world that we are unmoved, in fact the question of power, what we went out there to do was nothing else but power and the question of power will never be negotiated, it will never be got on any other terms other that struggling.”
WATCH FULL VIDEO BELOW…
WATCH VIDEO BELOW…
War veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya has said the former freedom fighters are surviving on less than a dollar day, emphasizing that the economic welfare has not been properly looked at.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW…
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.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW
By Tariro Moyo| APOSTOLIC Faith Mission International (AFMI) has stepped in to clarify legitimacy issues that have been bedevilling the church in Zimbabwe and recognised Reverend Madawo as the Bona Fide leader, Zim Morning Post has learnt.
AFM International Conference was held at Kenyatta University last week while reports claim that Chiangwa regardless of not being invited travelled for the conference but was stopped from attending meetings.
In a press statement, AFMI threw Rev Chiyangwa under the bus by inviting only Madawo to the Conference and it triggered tension between the two rivals.
“The AFMI Conference held in Kenya however gave the AFMI another platform to speak on the developments in Zimbabwe. Prior to the Conference in Kenya, the AFMI had maintained its position by inviting Reverend Madawo to attend the Council of Presidents slated for the 19th of August 2019 at Kenyatta University starting at 1400hrs and expected to end at 1700hrs. The invitation dated 4th July 2019 was only sent to the Church’s Presidents in member countries and was sent by email to Reverend Madawo.”
“Reverend Chiangwa did not receive the letter triggering complaints from his camp directed at the AFMI,” reads the statement.
Chiangwa mobilized his Constituency and traveled to Kenya but he was snubbed despite his presence.
AFM recognized Reverend Madawo as the president of AFM in Zimbabwe with similar insinuation being made by the then AFMI President Reverend Chinake.
“Without the assurance and the promises, Reverend Chiangwa still mobilized his constituency and with his delegates, they travelled to Kenya to attend the Conference. The AFMI however stuck to their guns and only allowed Reverend Madawo to attend the Council of Presidents on Monday the 19th August 2019. Reverend Chiangwa was not allowed to attend this meeting.”
“On Wednesday the 21st August 2019, the AFMI once again recognized Reverend Madawo as the Bona Fide leader of the church in Zimbabwe when the then AFMI President Rev Chikane introduced Reverend Madawo as the President of the AFM in Zimbabwe,” reads the statement.
However, Rev Madawo requested to the AFMI that Zimbabwe be observers and not participate in the Council given that the church at home was not in order.
Rev wrote the letter to AFMI advising them of the following facts as they were behind their pulling off from participating in the Council.
“This letter serves to advise you that as the AFM in Zimbabwe leadership, we wish to recuse ourselves from participating in the Council for the following reasons:1. Our house (i.e. the church in Zimbabwe) is not in order.2. The AFMI is seized with the matter3. The matter is pending before the courts in Zimbabwe,” reads the letter.
The Chiangwa led AFM had all along believed that they were the rightful leadership of AFM arguing that they were operating within the dictates of the original AFM constitution.
The split was a result of a cumulation of issues within the church with the Rev Chiangwa led faction citing change of constitution, victimisation of pastors as well as alleged gross inefficiency in the church for a long time.
-Zim Morning Post
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows;
USD = ZWL$10.5189
ZWL$ = RAND1.4566
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
USD = ZWL$11.50 zimrates
USD = ZWL$11.40 zwl365
USD = ZWL$11.60 bluemari
USD = BOND8.20 zimrates
More: Marketwatch
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has noted with concern the mischief by MDC and its surrogates who have notified the Regulating Authorities in all Police districts and stations of the intended demonstrations on the 29th — 31′ August 2019. It is clear that the MDC Alliance is now playing to the gallery and does not want law and order to prevail in the country.
While constitutionalism exists in Zimbabwe in terms of observance of human rights, it is disturbing that these rights which are clearly espoused in the constitution are now being misused to foment disorder and cause anarchy in the country.
The Government of Zimbabwe is quite aware that the timing of these demonstrations is meant to draw the attention of the international community especially when the President has intensified the country’s re – engagement process at various regional and international fora.
Sadly, some individuals, Non Governmental and Civic Organisations are openly engaging in political acts as a ploy to raise funds from the international world and at the same time tarnish the image of the country in pursuance of a regime change agenda.
The Government of Zimbabwe is also disturbed by the activities of some diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe who are engaging in local politics and clearly showing open support for the opposition political parties in the country through various activities. Let me remind the missions that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), Article 41(1) emphasizes the duty of Diplomats which is to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state and they are duty bound not to interfere with the internal or domestic affairs of the receiving state. My ministry is therefore concerned by the security implications of these diplomatic missions’ interference and visits to private residences of some opposition political party leaders under the guise of diplomatic engagements. The nation cannot afford to be having demonstrations on a daily or weekly basis, the economy suffers as attention is taken away from key activities which as a country we should be focused upon. We cannot continue to be in the elections mode indefinitely as this creates a security threat to the country.
We are also aware that there are manoeuvres to rope in civil servants in the demonstrations through the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions which has openly engaged in opposition party politics. The Government has a way of interacting with its workers without alarming and threatening messages being sent. My ministry is concerned by the MDC Alliance’s continuous agenda of dividing and polarising the nation. This agenda will not work as the Commissioner General of Police has been given the responsibility to ensure that law and order is maintained in every village, district, province and the nation at large.
Let me assure all peace loving and law abiding citizens that the law enforcement agents are on high alert to deal with any acts of lawlessness in the country. May I urge Zimbabweans to remain calm and not to be hoodwinked to join unlawful gatherings or demonstrations which are meant to benefit individuals at the expense of the people of Zimbabwe.
We are quite aware that the opposition and its partners intend to hire buses and other vehicles to ferry people to various centres in the country for unlawful gatherings. Transport operators, both public and private7should not be used as destabilising agents in the country. Let me reiterate that anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with without fear or favour. Vehicles used to promote lawlessness will certainly be impounded by the police.
We urge members of the public NOT to take heed of retrogressive calls to join or participate in the demonstrations. Government in its entirety is working day in,day out to improve the socio – economic situation in the country. Let us all support these efforts for the good of the country and promote peace in all corners of Zimbabwe.
Ambassador N. C. G Mathema (Senator) Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
By Tariro Moyo|AN opposition MP has demanded that Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema issues a statement on the ongoing reports of abductions and torture across the country.
MDC Mbizo MP, Settlement Chikwinya on Tuesday requested that Mathema approaches parliament with a statement.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Tsitsi Gezi agreed, saying the minister must indeed attend to the request in due course.
Mathema, who was following proceedings in the house, immediately walked out of the legislative chamber as Chikwinya finished his request and before Gezi ruled.
Chikwinya said many MDC supporters and activists have been forced into hiding in the aftermath of the banned demonstrations the MDC had planned early this months.
Dozens have been abducted by suspected State security agents, tortured and left for dead.
“I rise on a motion of privilege and my concern is that since August 14 this year, 26 members of the opposition have been abducted and tortured at night.
“Section 61 (1) (b) of the Constitution allows freedom of expression but our youths are being abducted every day. It is dismay that one of our MPs Caston Matewu had his house sprayed with 21 bullets last week on 19 August, 2019 around 2am. Whilst we are doing our work, we expect protection from the law and enforcement agents Madam Speaker.,” Chikwinya said amid jeering from Zanu PF MPs.
Chikwinya said it was disheartening that the Zanu PF administration was violating the Constitution by not allowing MDC members to petition government on various issues affecting the nation.
The vocal MP also stated that Section 59 of the Constitution allows citizens to petition and demonstrate where they have any dissatisfaction towards government policies or programmes.
“It is disheartening Madam Speaker that continued abuse of our members whereby the opposition is not allowed to petition the government. We hope that government will see sense and abide by the dictates of the Constitution.
“I therefore implore the Minister of Home Affairs Cain Mathema to issue a ministerial statement on the developments that are taking place,” he added as one Zanu PF MPs shouted, “Hamusati matanga (you have not yet started).”
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tsitsi Gezi agreed that a statement be issued by the Home Affairs Minister.
“I will advise the Honorable Minister to come and give a ministerial statement,” Gezi responded.
On Friday, Minister Mathema professed ignorance on the matter and angrily told reporters that she was lying before hanging up his cellphone.
President Mnangagwa has used police to thwart countrywide demonstrations that were planned by the opposition over continuous price hikes in goods and services.
The MDC and the citizens are perturbed by the deafening silence of independent commissions as abductions, persecutions and rampant human rights violations continue to escalate against defenceless civilians.
Since the MDC, on behalf of the people, gave notice to demonstrate on 16 August 2019, against the hardships experienced by the people of Zimbabwe, the country has been engulfed by increasing abductions, torture, and persecutions of opposition and civil society. The people’s crime is raising voices of concern against induced life threatening hardships.
Sequel to the MDC notice to demonstrate, the ZHRC, and the NPRC issued statements acknowledging and ascertaining the democratic rights of the people to ‘peacefully demonstrate against the hardships’. Both institutions strongly urged the demonstrators, as well as the state representatives who were making violence fermenting statements against the peaceful demonstrations to desist from violating the process.
True to its values, the MDC, and the people, have remained peaceful even in the wake of state’s systematic violence of denying people of their right to demonstrate. To this day, the nation continues to witness daily increases in the number of wanton abductions, torture and persecutions.
Yet the independent commissions for Human Rights and for Peace have gone mum-and-dumb!
We are surprised and worried by the conspicuous silence by the country’s independent institutions for peace against these continued gross human rights violations.
The constitutional mandates of these commissions are clearly spelt under chapter 12 of the supreme law of the land, including the protection and defending of citizens against violation of their rights and protecting the sovereignty and interests of the people while promoting constitutionalism.
Statements by the ZHRC Chairperson that they could not comment on the on-going abductions because they are still carrying out investigations are a cause for concern. One of the key roles of these commissions is to promote, protect, enforce and prevent. As such you don’t promote, protect, enforce and prevent retrogressively.
Watching and witnessing the abductions, and then issuing condemning statements are not helpful.
We are not saying that the interventions by independent peace commissions are the total sum for the panacea to stop the obviously and habitual sponsored human rights violations, but the efforts for timely constitutional mandated interventions are critical for both current deterrence, and posterity reference.
All the independent Commissions ZHRC, NPRC, Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the Zimbabwe Media Commission should pile concerted efforts to compel the state to stop these abductions; torture, persecutions and many other violations.
Commissions need to justify their existence, by living up to their constitutional mandates, without fear or favour. We cannot keep the oxen and then span ourselves to plough.
Hon Blessing Chebundo
MDC National Secretary for Healing, Peace and Reconciliation.
By Tariro Moyo| Aging infrastructure and equipment are major contributors to Zimbabwe’s continuing electricity supply problems a senior official at the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has said.
Bernard Chizwengeya the parastatal’s business development manager told NewZimbabwe.com that there are also overdue maintenance procedures required on most infrastructure some dating back to six years.
“Munyati Power Station was built in 1946 with an installed capacity of 120, Harare Power Station was installed in 1947 with capacity to generate 75 MW now it has shut down waiting re powering and Bulawayo Power Station commissioned between 1947 with an installed capacity of 120 megawatts,” Chizengeya said.
“I have mentioned the commissioning dates of thermal power station because it has a life span of 35 years so Bulawayo, Harare and Munyati Power Stations has so far exceeded.”
He added; “I think there are in their 70s if it was human being you can imagine, so two 35 years span is what we have gone through hence the problem we are experiencing is low generation on the small thermals.”
Zimbabwe is facing its greatest power challenges since majority rule 39 years ago due to poor maintenance and lack of investment in infrastructure with Kariba Dam the country biggest hydro-power supplier facing closure due to water levels attributed to climate change.
Chizengeya said the situation is the same at coal fired Hwange Power Station (Unit 1to 6) which were installed with a generation capacity of 220MW but have since dropped to about 170MW production.
“We had a fault on Unit 6 we had done a major overhaul in 2017 and unfortunately when we took it out, a separate problem developed and indications are that it may take about eight months to repair,” he said.
“The key constraints at Hwange are overdue major overhauls, Unit 3 is over due by six years, we are supposed to do major overhaul on each Unit after every five years, Unit One (4 years), Unit 5 with one month due.”
The unavailability of spare parts due to foreign currency shortage has also been identified as a major handicap.
“We have inadequacy of spare parts and raw materials, we do not manufacture turbines, we do not manufacture generators in Zimbabwe but we contract outsiders and we do not have adequate foreign currency.
“Typical example Unit 6 failed in March and we needed about 3.3 million Euros and we only got a paltry 481 Euros which only helps in dismantling. We are still looking for the rest of the foreign currency.
“So you can see ripple effects, customers are not paying ZETDC, ZPC is producing power selling to ZETDC and ZETDC to customers who intend are not paying,” the senior official said.
“So how do we do the maintenance, how do we buy the spares parts, if we do not have the money? And also these plants use the most treated water, the water we actually drink is less stringent than the water we use in put in these broilers so you are also need chemicals.”
Government has had to resort to begging neighbouring countries for fresh supplies at very difficult conditions including being forced to pay US$870 000 weekly to South Africa’s Eskom. Negotiations with Mozambique’s Hydro-Cabora Bassa are underway.
By Tariro Moyo| MPs from across the political divide Tuesday filed out of the house of assembly one after the other, abandoning debate on key Bills.
Only a handful cabinet ministers remained.
In a sign of lack of seriousness with the business of the house, most MPs walked out as soon as debate on some Bills began. This was despite having been on a two week break.
Recently, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda called for Zimbabweans to change the Constitution and include an educational qualification threshold for aspiring lawmakers arguing most of them had shown lack of appreciation of issues they are supposed to debate.
On Tuesday, the Coroner’s Office Bill H.B. 5, 2019, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill, H.B. 4, 2019 were tabled after being adjourned for some-time now.
The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Bills is supposed to assist in the anti-corruption fight and give authorities power to forfeit acquisitions from proceeds of crime.
Also tabled was the Education Amendment Bill H.B. 2019 where clause 9 of the Bill was debated.
Members present agreed to have the Education Amendment Bill’s adverse report be returned to the committee for further fine tuning.
This was after the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Paul Mavima gave an undertaking that he would bring the required amendments.
Most Zanu PF MPs who were present however did not contribute except leader of Government Business in the House, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Mudzi South MP Jonathan Samkange, Mavima and MDC Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa.
The Coroner’s Bill is due for the second reading and was adjourned to Wednesday. It is supposed to help authorities deal and investigate full causes of death. This could assist police in the investigation of murders.
As regards the Education Amendment Bill, Mavima suggested that faith-based schools be treated the same as government schools despite the fact that the latter are subsidised by government.
But Mushoriwa argued that Clause 9 of the Bill be amended to remove the definition of “public school.”
“Madam Speaker, the challenge is from the Minister’s explanation and the mischief I believe needed to be corrected was purely the removal of the phrase ‘non-profit making faith-based’ from the definition in the previous clause.
“This is not fair to the House. The minister is trying to hoodwink us. It was not appropriate to bracket government schools, local schools together with non-profit making faith-based schools,” argued Mushoriwa.
“The minister is just removing the definition of ‘public schools’ when in reality the definition should have remained in place and just remove the word ‘non-profit’ so that the public schools refer to government or local school.
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Professor Jonathan Moyo has sensationally claimed that Chief Justice Luke Malaba and other members of the Judiciary are involved in a matter that saw them blowing ab accounted USD$100 000 during a recent trip.
Said Moyo, “Trouble at the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). CJ Malaba was recently in Russia with Msipa, Makomo, Acting Registrar and two girls. USD100K was chewed up & unaccounted for. Meanwhile Acting JSC Secretary, W Chikwanha has new wheels, latest Range Rover, in unclear circumstances!”
TROUBLE at the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). CJ Malaba was recently in Russia with Msipa, Makomo, Acting Registrar & two girls. USD100K was chewed up & unaccounted for. Meanwhile Acting JSC Secretary, W Chikwanha has new wheels, latest Range Rover, in unclear circumstances! pic.twitter.com/Zl6e11yzUp— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 28, 2019
It is however not clear when the Chief Justice undertook the said trip by Moyo.
Justice Malaba has been unpopular with Zimbabweans since his August 2018 judgment that pronounced President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the rightful of the controversial 2018 elections during the much hyped Concourt case.
MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs Minister Abednico Ncube has threatened that government will release a heavy police force into the province ahead of opposition MDC demonstrations at the end of the week.
In a Press conference on Monday, Ncube said it had come to his attention that the MDC had planned to lead demonstrations on Friday in Gwanda, Plumtree and Beitbridge.
“I would like to call upon all the people of Matabeleland South Province in particular those in Beitbridge, Plumtree and Gwanda to ignore the calls to stage demonstrations this week being made by the MDC Alliance and its partners.
“We are a rainbow province known for love, peace, unity and development. Demonstrations will not bring food to our tables but destroy life and property. Zimbabwe has a democratic Government which was elected in July 2018 and can’t be removed by demonstrations. Economic challenges are solved by hard work and not by demonstrating,’’ he said.
He said that the police will be out in full force on the day.
Ncube described the demonstrations against the deteriorating economic environment in the country as a plot by the MDC to disturb peace in the province and hinder development.
“It’s the duty of the police to maintain law and order and police will be on the look out. The police will not hesitate to enforce the law on anyone that will break the law or cause disturbances. People are assured that the police will protect them and they should go about their business as usual and report for work,’’ he said.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national organiser Amos Chibaya will return to the Harare Magistrates Court next month after being released on bail.
Chibaya is facing flimsy charges after he allegedly failed to stop a protest two weeks ago.
The police had banned the demonstration, but MDC supporters went ahead, leading to clashes with authorities.
More than 140 people were arrested while scores others were beaten.
Chibaya’s lawyer Obey Shava said the state had no case against his client.
“The court took notice of our submission which is that the charges don’t exist in our statute. For now, the state has failed to provide compelling reasons to justify his detention.”
Adopting a stable cryptocurrency is not only a future-oriented thing for Zimbabwe to do, but it can also solve many of the country’s currency troubles.
This is the view of former FNB CEO and Montegray founder Michael Jordaan, who said a “stablecoin” like Facebook’s Libra may be suitable.
Zimbabwe has been struggling with hyperinflation since 2007, with inflation hitting a peak of 80 billion percent month-on-month before the currency collapsed.
After the government stopped printing Zimbabwean dollars in 2009, people started to use international currencies, including the US dollar and the South African rand, to trade.
Zimbabwe then reintroduced the Zimbabwean dollar in June 2019 and banned the use of foreign currencies like the US dollar or SA rand as legal tender.
While the country’s finance minister said reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar has stabilised the economy, the cracks are already starting to show.
According to Harare-based economist John Robertson, Zimbabwe’s official annual inflation rate was 230% in July – and rising.
This hyperinflation, Jordaan said, is one of the big challenges which the country faces and is essentially a tax that hurts the poor for life and across generations.
“Inflation forces the poor to spend their income on basic necessities such as food and shelter leaving little to invest in education or acquiring inflation resistant assets,” Jordaan explained.
“Once again the poor are overwhelmingly being made to pay for their bad government. Those who hold real assets like land or currencies that are trusted are not affected.”
Jordaan said there are a few causes of inflation, which include “too much money chases too few goods”.
“It is usually because a government has been printing way too much money to first pay their own bills,” he said.
Adopting a stable cryptocurrency – also known as a stablecoin – could help to keep Zimbabwe’s inflation in check.
Stablecoins are typically pegged to a currency or exchange-traded commodities, which minimizes volatility.
“One of the major benefits of cryptocurrencies is that they are governed by mathematical algorithms rather than by humans who decide how much money to print,” Jordaan said.
“We know exactly how much Bitcoin has already been created and how much will still be mined. We have no idea how many Zimbabwean dollars will still be minted.”
Jordaan said the effects of hyperinflation on an economy are devastating – tax revenues drop, businesses die, unemployment rockets, and political instability becomes inevitable.
For this reason, he said, Zimbabwe would be well-advised to abolish their untrusted dollar and adopt a trusted cryptocurrency that has a limited supply and is free to transact on mobile phones.
To avoid the volatility of Bitcoin, Zimbabwe can adopt a stablecoin like Facebook’s new Libra cryptocurrency.
Another option is for Zimbabwe to launch their own ‘Zim dollar’ cryptocurrency with explicit supply constraints that are optimal for their economy.
“This is an opportunity to be visionary, to stop taxing Zimbabwe’s poor by embracing the future,” said Jordaan.
Jordaan indicated that this forward-looking approach to money is unlikely to happen in Zimbabwe.
“Sadly, the best we can hope for is that they follow a more conventional approach and adopt the currency of their largest trading partner, South Africa’s Rand as their de facto transacting medium,” he said.
“This would at least reduce inflation in Zimbabwe to the 3 – 6% range and enable economic growth to rescue Zimbabwe.”
NewsDay|THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has shifted focus from major cities and now wants to carry out its anti-government protests at growth points and smaller towns starting this Friday.
The opposition party leadership has since notified police in Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Mashonaland West on plans to protest at growth points and smaller towns in the provinces on Friday and Saturday.
In Mashonaland East, protests are targeting Mahusekwa, Mutoko, Murehwa, Marondera, Goromonzi and Wedza, while Rusape, Chipinge and Nyanga are prime targets in Manicaland.
MDC Manicaland provincial spokesperson David Panganai confirmed the planned protests.
NewsDay is reliably informed that mobilisation in the rural areas, a Zanu PF stronghold, has begun with disgruntled citizens expected to lead protests against a deteriorating economy for the first time in many years within a rural set-up.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza was not available for comment yesterday.
But police in Marondera yesterday barred a demonstration slated for the town, saying the move was against the provisions of the Public Order and Security Act.
“The police refused to grant us the go-ahead and we have since been instructed by the party leadership to withdraw the protests until further notice. I will notify the police of the withdrawal. I think the withdrawal instruction also applies to other demonstrations across the province,” MDC Marondera district organising secretary Misheck Manyere said.
The opposition party has over the past two weeks been failing to hold its demonstrations in major cities after being served with police prohibition orders.
However, Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema last night said he was aware that the MDC was plotting to hire buses to ferry people to cause anarchy in rural areas and such an act will not be tolerated. He also warned diplomatic missions against openly siding with the MDC, accusing some non-governmental organisations of formenting chaos in order to get funding.
The minister said the country cannot be continually in election mode and protests will hinder government’s effort to recover the economy.
The High Court order restraining government and Malawi police from stopping Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) from holding nationwide demonstrations has been overshadowed with the moratorium issued by Supreme Court of Malawi retraining the civil society organisations from holding the protests.
Supreme Court is the upper court in Malawi and it’s orders respected as an authority in all judicial matters in the country.
The High Court had earlier on Tuesday granted HRDC permission to commence judicial review proceedings over decision by government banning demonstrations.
It also ordered that the HRDC could proceed to peacefully assemble and demonstrate unarmed.
However, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has since issued a 14 day moratorium against the HRDC from holding any demonstrations in Malawi .
The moratorium paves way for the HRDC, the Malawi Police Service and local government assemblies to discuss and agree on security modalities aimed at preventing property damage and personal injuries during future demonstrations .
This means the High Court order allowing demonstrations is set aside by the Supreme Court until the 14 days.
The Government will use the ensuing deliberations to see how prepared the HRDC is to deploy its own marshalls or crowd controllers to avert incidents that have so far marked each and every one of their outings on the streets of Malawi.
Government contends that the country should not continue to allow these violent protesters to make use of the constitutional right to protest to conceal the ulterior motives of opposition parties fronting the HRDC.
Zahara has many talents, but is being a prophet one of her gifts?
Speculation started after a woman named Dipuo Mokgatho, who claims she is a prophet, told the Daily Sun about an interesting dream she had.
“I dreamt Zahara was wearing a white gown and a crown. God told me to tell her she should focus on being a prophet because it’s another gift He’s given her,” the woman said.
Dipuo added that she would like to meet the Loliwe hitmaker as she has “more prophecies” to share with her.
“I can only reveal them to her,” she told the publication.
Dipuo says she does not want any money and only wants Zahara to understand her gift.
“Zahara has so many attacks because of the gift of prophecy,” she claimed.
But it looks like Dipuo will have to put any talk about prophecies involving the singer on hold.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Zahara says she is shocked by the claims.
“I didn’t know about this calling that I apparently have.”
Zahara wrapped up a tour in America and Canada recently and is currently touring the UK. She says she is “too busy” to pay any attention to the woman’s claims.
The Mgodi singer added that her ancestors have not told her about her alleged calling to be a prophet.
Despite her busy schedule, Zahara, who questioned why Dipuo went to the media, says she is open to talking about the matter at a later stage.
“If it [is] serious, I will make time for it.”—ZAlebs.
Civil servants union groups, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) and Zimbabwe Teacher’s Association (ZIMTA) have rejected the 60% and 76% salary increment proposed by the government
This was revealed by the statements published by both unions on the 26 of August 2019.
The offer for salary increment by government comes at a time when the value of salaries currently have been eroded by high inflation rates, as such the proposed government salary increment is not in tandem with the rates of inflation.
In a statement, Peter Magombeyi the acting president of ZHDA, said the Health Service Board (HSB) should not shift focus away from the pertinent issue facing the doctors of unfair remuneration.
“We also do hereby request that the HSB desist on focusing on technicalities and shift focus to the matter at hand i.e. adjusting salaries according to the market bank rate,” said Magombeyi.
The ZHDA held the Health Bipartite Negotiation Panel (HSBNP) meeting on August 23, and other national wide consultations with its members and have agreed that the 60% offer does not match USD interbank exchange rate.
“The government’s offer of 60% was communicated to doctors nationwide and it has been agreed,” highlighted ZHDA.
The cause of the union in rejecting the 60% increase is based on the high cost of living which can not be addressed by a 60% increment but rather a higher figure, pegging salaries at par with the United States dollar value.
“the 60% COLA offered is mediocre and insufficient to meet the current cost of living” said Mugombeyi.
“we maintain our request to have our earnings, which were previously pegged in US dollars, be paid at the prevailing inter market bank rate,” said ZHDA.
Both statements from ZIMTA and ZHDA highlighted the union position regarding the proposed government new salary.
The ZHDA union has however notified that they will be going on industrial strike if their demands are not meet, starting from a designated date.
“Inability to continue subsiding the employer beyond the 3rd of September 2019. Members will therefore be unable to report for duty on the stated date beyond should the employer fail to adjust their earnings accordingly,” added Mukombeyi.
On the second of August this year the ZIMTA C.E.O appeared before the select parliamentary committee on Lobour and Social Welfare and shared some the, teachers position on salaries review plights and constitution aspects that must be honored by the government.
“we are not crying for exquisite treatment we are only crying for fair remuneration,” said ZIMTA.
“we think that if you address the issue of provisions as given in section 65 of our constitution subsection one, section 65 subsection four the constitution should ensures that workers are given a fair remuneration,” added ZIMTA.
The Apex Council which is the mother body for workers union, on the 23rd of August convened for a meeting and agreed that a remuneration should be pegged at $4 750 for the least paid worker rather than the government increment of $1 023 from $582.
“The offer does not meet the started position of the workers, which is pegged d at $4 750 for the least paid civil servant,” said Apex Council.
Workers’ unions groups have been protesting over the unsustainable remuneration, as witnessed by Amalgamated Rural Teacher’s Union, demonstration dedicating once in a month a day of mourning their salaries unknown as Pay Day Funeral.
Sadc news
Former director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Matabeleland chapter who played a pivotal role in the documentation of the Gukurahundi massacres by CCJP in the 1980s, Joel Buhlalo Silonda has died.
He was 95. The veteran human rights activist and educationist died on Saturday at his home after battling with prostate cancer for a long time.
His second-born daughter, Ntombizodwa revealed late on Sunday that her father succumbed to prostate cancer on Saturday.
The family is still to decide on the funeral arrangements.
“He was a loving, passionate, a unifier and a brave man who could fight for justice even up to the bitter end. He worked in the education sector for 38 years, where he started his education at St Patriarch’s Primary School in Bulawayo and later on became the headmaster of that school,” Ntombizodwa.
“He also went to Kutama Mission with the likes of former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, George Silundika and others. Had an extended family that includes the late general Jevan Maseko, mentored other people such as former Bulawayo mayor Abel Siwela, Swazini Ndlovu and Archbishop Pius Ncube, who later on became his spiritual mentor.”
Ntombizodwa said Silonda fought tirelessly for justice which saw him becoming the CCJP director for the Matabeleland chapter in the 1980s.
“He worked closely with people like Nicholas Ndebele and David Coltart in coming up with the report: Breaking the Silence — a report which chronicled the disturbances in Matabeleland and Midlands from 1980 to 1987,” she added.
Silonda was also a musician who formed the Giypys Jive Band and became Mthwakazi musical director in the 1970s, competing with other groups such as Kings Golden Choristers directed by Remington Mazabane as well as the Wings Over Jordan.
“We are also thankful for the good work he did, not only to the family, but to the general populace at large since he stood for justice locally and internationally. He died while we were in the process of finalising a family tree,” she said.
Silonda is survived by five children with several great and great grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at his home number S35 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo.
Just two weeks ago the club released a statement making it clear that Billiat was not for sale and happy at Naturena. But with Mamelodi Sundowns constantly saying they know Amakhosi have a price for their star player, the issue recurs almost every day.
And with this being the last week of the transfer window, it is an issue on the lips of every soccer fan.
Amakhosi fans are divided on the matter, with some believing the team should just cash in on the Zimbabwean. They’re set on the belief that it’s the player who first went to Sundowns and said he wanted to come back and that there was a perceived disharmony in camp, with some players not happy with how he seemed to be treated differently.
The others feel that Sundowns are just being nasty and trying to destabilise Chiefs’ progress by confessing their undying love for a player who broke up with them in broad daylight and found a new home at Naturena.
While Lebogang Manyama hit the nail on the head last week when he said transfer speculation would always follow big players like Khama, I think he didn’t take this matter seriously enough. A mere statement saying we are not selling, while the player’s agent gives mixed messages and Sundowns insist they are actually rescuing the player from an unhappy situation, was not enough.
Maybe Billiat himself should speak so we can read the body language and other signs when he says ‘I am happy here blah blah blah’ so the matter can be put to rest.
But it might also be unfair for me to expect Chiefs to worry so much about a matter raised by another club who they insist hasn’t even spoken to them about a possible transfer.
What I know is that a player like Billiat can be fickle and players tend to get unsettled under a coach like Ernst Middendorp, who believes every player must fight for his place, and also for the team, without trying to shine as individuals. We have seen it a lot of times.
This is why it was easier to believe when Sundowns said the player came to them.
But perhaps it is time the PSL considered what Gavin Hunt suggested when he said the transfer window must close before the games begin to avoid such speculation from distracting players and teams.
Opinion By Blessing Madzima|Elections came after the fall of Mugabe, and that process failed to create a government that represents all of us and the real will of Zimbabweans. It failed to create a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice.
Real good people failed to go into the government, instead corrupt and incompetent individuals were fraudulently voted into government and parliament. That struggle continues up to now because the aspirations of the people was betrayed by few individuals through the military. Now the government that was created refuses entitlement to be criticised and its objective as a good government to care for human life and happiness instead it is objecting for destruction and persecution of citizens.
This government has also caused a Great Depression which includes severe unemployment, abject poverty, inequality, corruption and an inherent instability of the economy and social life.
It is now inevitable and horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save our lives and our country. This government is refusing to listen to the people or accept any advise even from those reputable developed countries and international institutions.
It claims it is a democracy yet it is persecuting and suppressing its citizens more. It is not acknowledging that democracy is not merely a form of government. It is primarily a mode of associated living and communicated experience.
Democracy is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards your fellow citizens. Corruption by government institutions and individuals from government is hampering development and good governance. There is no cohesion in government and people at large to achieve a national objective.
As a collective, it’s high time as citizens we need to remind this regime that government is us people and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy is not Munagwagwa and his Cabal, but us the citizens and voters of this country.
We now need to embrace crying mothers who have lost their children at the hands of Munagwagwa and his security apparatus who have chosen to put their personal agendas before the national good. The people no longer have any patience for injustice, no more tolerance for government incompetence, and no sympathy for leaders and security who fail their citizens.
We have lost our integrity, identity and our cultural values through persecution and brutality from this government and its security apparatus.
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time when there is a government that deserves also support from its citizens. We now seem to have an invincible tyrant which has been set up above the forms of democracy. Citizens, as the government of our country we have every right to refuse and reject this Cabal through protests and civil disobedience.
We deserve to be supported by the international community and all purported democracies all over the world. Our voices should be loud and technology should be readily available and be used to expose all the atrocities committed by this Junta. All crimes of humanity should be recorded and necessary strategies and action taken before Zimbabwe unfold into another Rwanda or genocide.
The government must be forced into a reform agenda concerning a series of measures to be enacted which should increase the political stability and the supply potential of the economy. The people of Zimbabwe cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists, protecting them and to promote their common welfare, therefore a transitional authority that sets up reforms and an election roadmap that includes economic stabilisation must be established with the urgency that understands the seriousness of the crisis Zimbabwe faces right now.
The army must be disarmed and barricaded into the barracks to ensure citizens have their freedom back to exercise their voice and vote to choose a government and members of parliament of their own choice. We need to create a government that will have the honour and the morals of the whole people to effect an effective, fair administration with good governance.
Power to the people through People’s Power is our only way and it needs international support to be able to disarm or force this Junta to respect the will of the people. Our people have ultimately been invaded by our government and is freely doing anything it pleases, while the citizens are only allowed to act by permission, which is now our darkest stage of our human history, stage of rule by brute force.
That is the reason why we are advocating for the international community to be our arbitrator as well as enforcer to ensure citizens are spared their lives and no repeat of past experiences such as Rwanda or Uganda under Idi Amin.
With all this in place Zimbabwe can be guaranteed to start a new leaf with most of its Diaspora expatriates ready to return to Zimbabwe and help in rebuilding the country.
Marvelous Nakamba made his long-awaited Aston Villa debut as Dean Smith’s side smashed Crewe Alexandra.
The midfielder picked up an injury in the Africa Cup on Nations which had prevented him from pulling on the claret and blue, up until now.
Nakamba partnered Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury in the middle as Smith shuffled his pack for the Carabao Cup second round tie.
He anchored the midfield well on a comfortable evening which was dominated by the visitors who were on the front foot throughout.
Here’s what fans made of the Zimbabwean’sVilla bow:
@Elyshalou: Nakamba looks a naughty lil player, Davis fully deserved to finally be on the score sheet, Hourihane massively underrated, Jack is my Jack as per and I call that a job well done Villa boys! UTV.
@DazzPablo: Great run out for the boys who haven’t played much so far. Midfield 3 of Hourihane, Lansbury and in particular Nakamba impressed. Happy for Davis to get a goal as well. 6-1 bit Harsh on Crewe who had decent chances – Villa clinical. Squad looking decent for too many signings!
@RyanFarleyyy: Nakamba looked really good tonight. What a position to be in having both him and Douglas Luiz as our DM options.
@JimhillAVFC: Thought Nakamba grew into the game well this evening.
@DanyNaylorAVFC: Good run out tonight, Nakamba was impressive in front of the back four. Years gone by struggling against lower league opposition so was good we were ruthless. Bring on Round 3!
@Lauren1randall: Not sure who I’m made up for most out of tonight’s performers and scorers – great to see Keinan Davis pick up a well-deserved goal, Conor do what he does best, Konza & Guilbert to get debut goals, Grealish to score his first, Nakamba’s debut, Lansbury’s assists, pure Jota.
@Joshtrich1: Nakamba looks like an absolute tank.
@Georgecoombes_: Enjoyable evening at the Alexandra Stadium as the Villans comfortably dispatch the Railwaymen. Impressive night from Villa’s new boys with Konsa and Guilbert notching their first Villa goals and Marvelous Nakamba producing a classy performance in midfield.
@Mansell_James: Fair play… Nakamba did look Marvelous tonight.
@Adroberts_Adam: Thought Nakamba got better and better as the game went on tonight, Lansbury and Keinan were great too. Also, Guilbert is an upgrade on Elmo, it’s becoming more obvious by the game, looked good even at left back tonight.
Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has shocked the world after he took swipe at MDC Midlands youth assembly chairperson, Sekai Marashe Muchina insinuating she is a “prostitute” after she was attacked by suspected ZANU PF youths.
Marashe was attacked on Tuesday in Kwekwe by drunk ZANU PF youths who physically assaulted her, and then took her to their offices where she was further beaten.
Commenting on his Twitter page on the pictures of the battered and bruised “Muchina”, Mutodi said:
ZANU-PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri yesterday blasted the United States Government claiming that it is interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.
Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Defence and War Veterans’ Affairs Minister, said in it’s big brother attitude, the US was quick to condemn unverified allegations of human rights violations while at the same time sowing seeds of division in the country.
Addressing a Zanu-PF rally ahead of the September 7 Mangwe National Assembly by-election at Tshitshi, Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, Muchinguri-Kashiri, said it was ironic that while the US is projecting Zimbabwe as a strife-torn nation, it was cementing its position in the country by building one the biggest embassies on the African continent.
Muchinguri-Kashiri said the US was employing divide-and-rule tactics to create a false impression that President Mnangagwa’s Government was failing.
“They lie that there is no peace in Zimbabwe, but one of the biggest foreign embassies in Zimbabwe is the American Embassy. If there is no peace what are they doing here?
“They are just after our minerals. They specialise in divide-and-rule. They want to sow seeds of division so that when we are divided they benefit from our resources,” she said .
“However, we will stay put, people like uMdala Wethu (the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo) died for this country, it will not be handed on a silver platter.
“Our inheritance will not be given to strangers, they should keep their Britain, keep their America and we will keep our Zimbabwe. We will not give an inch of our country to others. They should never assume that we are stupid; we are watching closely what is happening.”
Muchinguri-Kashiri said America and its allies want to turn Zimbabwe into a banana republic like they did to Libya where they employed divide-and-rule tactics so that they can loot that country’s resources.
State Media|Harare City Council workers’ representative unions have proposed a minimum salary of $2 000 and called for a review of hygiene allowances.
The employees are represented by the Harare Municipal Workers’ Union, Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers’ Union, Water and Allied Workers’ Union.
The unions are basing their arguments on Section 65 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which states that every person has the right to fair and safe labour practices and standards and to be paid a fair and reasonable wage.
In an interview, Harare Municipal Workers’ Union executive and chairman Mr Cosmas Bungu said the unions had resolved that salaries be adjusted in light of the prevailing economic environment.
“We proposed that an increase of basic salary to $2 202. There are economic fundamentals which have changed and giving an employee $2 00 is no longer feasible. The value has been eroded by inflation,” he said.
Mr Bungu also said the salary review would promote employees’ wellness, to look after their families and be able to fulfil their duties. He highlighted that the cost of living has ballooned to over $1 700 per family.
The employees also proposed that transport allowances be increased to $400 while school fees, housing and electricity bill allowances also be adjusted accordingly.
“In terms of transport allowance the employee proposes an increase to $440 calculated as 22 days multiplied by $20.Employer should also provide transport where an employee is working in areas which need two-way transport.
“For example, where an employee lives in Chitungwiza while working in Borrowdale employer should provide transport from Town House to Borrowdale and back,” said Mr Bungu.
“We propose an increase of electricity allowance from the current $12,50 to $62,50 which is equivalent to the rate at which Government has increased the tariffs at 500 percent.Education allowance should be $200 per child multiplied by three to give $600 per month.
“In terms of rates and water it should be provided as a benefit or employer should pay. Due to the escalating rental costs which are now pegged at equivalent to the United States dollars rate we propose 50 percent on basic as housing allowance.”
Contacted for a comment, the city’s corporate communications manager, Mr Michael Chideme, said the workers’ demands would be discussed at the upcoming full council meeting where a decision will be taken.
ZANU-PF United Kingdom/Europe District based members who fled Zimbabwe due to the economic turmoil and human rights abuses caused by the ruling party they are affiliated to will hand over a petition to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in solidarity with the SADC region over the removal of punitive sanctions which they claim to have adversely affected the country’s economy.
The development comes after Sadc leaders have resolved to reserve October 25, 2019 as a day when the 16-member states would conduct activities to jointly call for the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
The district’s secretary for administration Xavier Zavare in a statement said Southern Africa countries have to fight these devastating human rights abuses and anti-development sanctions which were inhibiting economic revival and prosperity, killing thousands of ordinary citizens in Zimbabwe and the Sadc region as a whole.
Zavare said the district executive and general membership based in the UK will be convening for a meeting on September 28 to strategise on how best they could actively participate on the anti-sanctions day slated for October 25, 2019.
He added that Zanu-PF UK/Europe District will engage the Zimbabwean Ambassador to the UK, Retired Colonel Christian Katsande, to propose that they hold peaceful protests at the United States Embassy in the UK, Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Westminster Parliament and hand in a petition letter at 10 Downing Street, home of the British Prime Minister, demanding that these punitive sanctions be removed.
“An attack on one of us is indeed an attack on all of us Africans.
“To that regard, our district executive and general membership based in the UK will be meeting on Saturday 28th of September to plan on actively participating on the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Day, 25th of October 2019 as proclaimed by the SADC.
“As the leadership, we will be consulting with our Zimbabwean Ambassador to the UK, proposing that as Zimbabwean citizens we hold peaceful demonstrations to the effect that these inhumane and anti-Zimbabwe progress sanctions be lifted up henceforth.
“We will be inviting our fellow from the SADC region, other African brothers and sisters as well as Zimbabwean well-wishers to come and join us on this day,” said Cde Zavare.
He also said that Zanu-PF will write to British Members of Parliament, who represent the constituencies in which they live across the UK, emphasising how these restrictive sanctions are mercilessly affecting citizens as the country’s health and other key institutions cannot access much-needed investment capital due to the devastating economic sanctions imposed on the Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwean government has dismissed a human rights abuse report published by internationally renowned Amnesty International.
Amnesty International recently reported that Zimbabwe had witnessed, over the last year, “a ruthless attack on human rights, with the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association increasingly restricted and criminalised”.
In a statement last night, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana dismissed the report claiming that the statement was politically biased towards the MDC.
‘‘We have noted the statement from Amnesty International and wish to object to the use of political epithets and undertones,” he said.
“We have also noted the ill-informed inaccuracies which are contained in their statement.
‘‘Firstly, no Zimbabwean should be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment. Whenever such is alleged, there will be a thorough and professional investigation. This is a position we have consistently stated. We take this opportunity to reaffirm it.’’
Last week, police quashed MDC arranged demonstrations against deteriorating economic environment in the country. The police claimed that the demonstrations were going to be violent and infringe on other people’s rights.
Mangwana said the police will continue with its reform efforts in line with modern policing methods, adding that the force will protect the rights of civilians from violent protesters.
‘‘On the 15th of August 2019, police issued a prohibition order against protests planned for the following day,” he said.
“The reason for this was that evidence had been found that suggested the protests would turn violent. This was challenged in court and the prohibition order was upheld.
“Police had also issued a statement informing everyone that this would not be a legal protest. These are the circumstances that led to the dispersing of the protesters.
‘‘It is the same issue of planned violence that also informed the prohibition of subsequent planned protests elsewhere. The safeguards within our law include access to the court where decisions of this nature are presented for review when one is aggrieved. In all the cases involved, the courts agreed with the police assessments.’’
Mangwana said it was the prospect of a repeat of the demonstrations and direct threats of violence that led authorities to take preventative action by prohibiting the protests that threatened the security of persons and property.
‘‘We also wish Amnesty International would improve on its governance and credibility after recent corruption scandals involving the major abuse of donor funding and false claims that one Tinashe Kaitano of Kadoma had been shot by authorities and buried, a claim which later proved to be a falsehood when Mr Kaitano appeared in court,’’ he said
Mangwana said Government will continue on its reform agenda.
‘’Two of the bills replacing AIPPA are already before Parliament and we have keenly followed and absorbed the contributions coming from citizens and other stakeholders in the outreach programme,” said Mr Mangwana.
“As a Government, we are very happy to see the public participating in the legislative processes, as all laws should reflect both the values and the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people. We hope the emerging laws will help further broaden our democratic space and strengthen our multi-party system.’’
Civil servants have provisionally agreed to have government pay them the offered 76 percent cost of living adjustment which will see the least-paid worker taking home $1 023 per month but insisted that they still want engagements on the minimum wage demand of $4 750.
This was revealed at a Press conference convened by the Apex Council in Harare yesterday after meeting Government representatives led by Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Simon Masanga at a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting.
Apex council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander told journalists that a cost of living adjustment of the total package will be effected from beginning of this month.
“A cost of living adjustment (COLA) ranging from 55 percent to 76 percent of the total package of the basic salary be effected on the sliding scale with effect from 1 August 2019,” she said.
Mrs Alexander said they have provisionally agreed to the offer while they continue with negotiations.
“It must be reiterated that this is a provisional agreement meant first and foremost to allow the Government to cushion its impoverished civil servants.”
However, she said they will continue pursuing Government for a $4 750 salary increment.
“Our substantive demand of $4 750, which is benchmarked against the interbank rate, still stands and negotiations still continue towards that end,” said Mrs Alexander.
Government last week offered the 76 percent cost of living adjustment which the Apex Council neither rejected nor accepted but went back to consult its members and yesterday gave feedback that provisionally sealed the deal.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has assured the nation that no one will die of hunger as Government has enough grain in its reserves to assist those in need of aid.
The President implored structures of Government and traditional leaders to identify everyone in need of assistance so that resources can be channelled accordingly.
For the first time, Government is also starting to distribute food aid to the vulnerable and food insecure in urban areas, as it broadens its social safety nets.
Speaking at a ground breaking ceremony for commencement of works on the 6,5km stretch of the Harare-Chirundu Highway, President Mnangagwa said he had been briefed by Mashonaland West Minister of State about hunger in some areas.
“Since we had a drought this year because of poor rains, Japan has been giving us humanitarian assistance and the Minister of State for Mashonaland West (Mary Mliswa-Chikoka) told me that there is hunger in the province,” said the President.
“If people at home experience hunger they should approach Government through the Minister of State. We have grain in our reserves and we will give it to the people. We do not want to hear that there is a family that has starved to death.”
He said Government relied on local government systems including councillors, members of Parliament and the traditional leadership to identify people in need of food assistance.State media
A ZVISHAVANE taxi driver allegedly committed suicide by consuming a pesticide at the house of a municipal police officer who had clamped his taxi in the town’s Central Business District.
Frustrated by the council cop’s move to clamp his taxi, Tasaranago Chinyoka (41) reportedly bought Dimethate pesticide and proceeded to the municipal police supervisor’s house where he consumed the poison in protest.
Police confirmed the incident which occurred in Zvishavane’s Maglas suburb on Monday evening.
Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende, said Chinyoka was pronounced dead on admission at Zvishavane District Hospital where he had been rushed to in an ambulance.
“Police in Zvishavane are investigating a case of sudden death in which one Tasaranago Vengai Chinyoka who accused a council official, Mr Mufandaedza Mbizvo, of clamping his car and reporting him to the police was said to have later visited Mr Mbizvo’s house.
“While at Mr Mbizvo’s house, Chinyoka, who was holding a bottle of Dimethate 40 percent pesticide, threatened to kill himself,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.
She said Chinyoka sprinkled the pesticide on food he had found at Mr Mbizvo’s house and consumed it.
“Mr Mbizvo called an ambulance which took Chinyoka to the hospital where he died on admission. Police attended the scene and found Mr Mbizvo’s house still smelling of the pesticide. A post-mortem obtained was also consistent with sudden death due to poisoning,” said the acting police spokesperson.
She appealed to members of the public to always seek amicable ways of resolving
disputes.
“People must respect the sanctity of life and in cases of disputes, they must always seek amicable ways of resolving them,” Asst Insp Mukwende said.State media
NEWLY-appointed Warriors’ coach, Joey Antipas, adopted a new approach in the national team selection criteria when he called up players that command regular jerseys at their clubs in announcing an 18-man squad for the World Cup preliminary round qualifier against Somalia.
The first-leg is set for Djibouti on September 5, with the return leg three days later at Barbourfields Stadium.
The national Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will also be played during the same period, with the Young Warriors taking on South Africa for the final round of qualifiers.
Antipas dropped skipper, Knowledge Musona, who has struggled for game time at his Belgian club Anderlecht, winger Talent Chawapiwa as well as goalkeepers George Chigova and Edmore Sibanda, who were in the disgraced Afcon squad.
Baroka shot stopper, Elvis Chipezeze, who was slammed for his poor performance against DR Congo in the Afcon finals has been called up following his top form for his club in the opening three Absa Premiership matches this season.
Roving Highlanders’ right-back McClive Phiri gets his first cap in a backline that has Turkey-based centre-back, Teenage Hadebe, Alec Mudimu from Welsh side CEFN Druids, Bosso’s Peter Muduhwa as well as Devine Lunga of Golden Arrows.
Kaizer Chiefs’ poster boy Khama Billiat is also another big Afcon squad survivor and will be available for the return leg.
France-based, Tino Kadewere, who has been scoring for fun for his Ligue 2 side Le Havre AC and leads the goal-scoring chart with eight goals in five games, is also part of the squad.
The Warriors’ squad is expected to troop into camp on September 2.
Meanwhile, Young Warriors’ coach Tonderai Ndiraya called up a provisional 27-member squad to prepare for their game against South Africa on September 6 across the Limpopo and September 10 at Barbourfields Stadium.
Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka) Talbert Shumba (Chapungu)
Defenders: Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor) Macclive Phiri (Highlanders) Peter Muduwa (Highlanders) Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids AFC) Divine Lunga (Lamontville Golden Arrows)
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims) Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United) Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United) Tichaona Chipunza (Chicken Inn) Phenias Bamusi (Caps United) Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs)
Strikers: Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC) Clive Augusto (Maritzburg United) Terrence Dzvukamanja (Bidvest Wits) Admiral Muskwe (Leicester City) Evans Rusike (Supersport United)
Under-23 provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Martin Mapisa (Velez CF) Tinotenda Ali (Yadah Stars) Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum Stars)
Defenders: Mbongeni Ndlovu (Highlanders) Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos) Munashe Garan’anga (Ubuntu Cape Town) Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders) Tawanda Chisi (Dynamos) Shadreck Nyahwa (Bulawayo Chiefs) Romario Matova (FK Igman) Keith Mutandagari (Cranborne) Gilbert Nyaupembe
Midfielders: Juan Mutudza (Herentals) Tatenda Tavengwa (Harare City) Blessing Sarupinda (Caps United) Hagiazo Magaya (FC Platinum) Abubakar Moffat (Velez CF) Tinotenda Benza (Herentals) Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars) Nigel Katawa (Dynamos) Anelka Chivandire (Triangle) Clive Rupiya (Caps United)
Strikers: Prince Dube (Highlanders) Obriel Chirinda (Chicken Inn) Wilfred Muvirimi (Harare City) Delic Murimba (Triangle) Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV)-State media
Harare’s dormitory town of Ruwa is facing a severe water crisis as its sole dam, Nora, is only left with about six weeks’ water supply, an official has said.
Ruwa Town chairperson Mr Kizito Chivafa yesterday said: “We are left with one and half months water supply.”
Mr Chivafa said council had decided to procure at least four water bowsers as part of measures to ease the water woes affecting all parts of the town due to 2018/19 El Nino- induced drought.
“We currently have four bowsers and that is not enough to cover areas that need water in Ruwa. As a response to the current situation we find ourselves in, we want to buy more bowsers to help areas under stress,” he said.
Town secretary Mr Kumbirai Madanhi recently said the council was also putting in place measures to tighten water rationing in order to conserve the precious liquid.
“We are now moving into the water rationing mode. We have to use some stricter measures in terms of water supply. This means that people have to reduce the amount of water that they are using and the town will also reduce the amount of water that we are pumping.
“We have introduced a water demand management system in light of the current acute water shortages. The idea is to ensure that at least every connected house gets water twice a week,” he said.State media
NEW Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is set to have a statue erected in his honour in Zimbabwe.
Nakamba (25) has sparked fevered interest in Aston Villa in Zimbabwe after sealing a £12 million move from Club Brugge to the Premier League new boys.
According to The Athletic, town chiefs in Hwange, the place where Nakamba was born, are concocting plans to build a statue in his honour.
Zimbabwe legend, Peter Ndlovu, who played for a number of teams in England, told the publication:
“Marvelous knows that we are recognising his hard work with this idea and hopefully the statue will be a confidence booster for him.
“Moving to Aston Villa is an unbelievable achievement for him and we must show our support as a nation.
The people of Hwange recognise their heroes and while the exact details are yet to be finalised, discussions are taking place to decide what happens next.”
Nakamba has yet to make an appearance for Aston Villa, despite being a long-term target for the club.
When asked why Nakamba is being considered for a statue before making his Premier League bow, Ndlovu told The Athletic:
“This isn’t about me, it’s about Marvelous.
“He’s the man with the opportunity of a lifetime to represent our nation now, to make a difference and define our future.
“He must not let this opportunity pass because the whole of Zimbabwe is watching and hoping he will succeed.”
Nakamba was set to make his debut for Aston Villa in last night’s Carabao Cup clash against Crewe Alexandra.State media
JONAH Fabisch, the son of the late Dream Team coach Reinhard, has been included in the Young Warriors squad for their duel against South Africa.
He is on the books of German side Hamburger SV. It could not be established last night if Jonah has Zimbabwean citizenship.
Eight years ago, his mother, Chawada, the daughter of a Mutoko businessman, revealed to our Harare Bureau that Jonah will consider playing for the Warriors if he fails to break into the German national teams. “Jonah is in so many ways like his father,” Chawada said.
“Even though he inherited a lot of my features he has his father’s colours – the light cloured hair, the green/blue eyes and the pale complexion are all from his father.
“But the shape of the eyes, the lips and even the teeth formation are truly mine. ‘A child of the sun’ we called him sometimes.
“Jonah has a passion for football. He was just born that way I think. It’s in his genes.
“I am sure Reinhard is just as proud of Jonah as l am and l do believe that in spirit he is with us and always will be.”
Meanwhile, Herantals midfielder, Juan Mutudza, says he is excited by his inclusion in the Young Warriors provisional squad named by coach Tonderai Ndiraya yesterday.State media
Farai Dziva|Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela believes Knox Mutizwa saved himself after scoring a late winner on Saturday against Chippa United.
The Zimbabwean striker had fired blanks and delivered a subpar performance in the previous games.
And according to Komphela, the goal reminded the striker on how he should perform in all the games.
“You can see that football is a game of emotions. This outcome and the goal he scores help us then to start pointing at the things we could’ve done better,” Komphela told KickOff.com.
“You could imagine what would’ve been said if he didn’t score that goal, it would’ve been difficult to get him out of it.
“You wouldn’t even point at Bloemfontein Celtic but now you can easily point at it, one-on-one and the two passes he got from the defence of Celtic, you could look back and say you got a one-on-one with the keeper, did you take it? And ask again with other chances.”
