A South African taxi driver is changing the stereotypes of his profession and about men in general.
He has revealed that he buys pads and stores them in his taxi for female passengers.
According to the South African Human Rights Commission, one in 10 girls in Africa misses school because of periods and not being able to afford the appropriate products.
According to Drum, the 31-year-old from Limpopo started buying the pads after he saw how some of his female passengers would struggle whenever they were menstruating.
He says that he would often see stains on his car seats. He decided to pack some pads in his car. He says that they only cost him R17 and wishes other drivers would also get on board with his initiative.
The biggest obstacle he says he faces is that people find it taboo to speak about periods. The determined driver is trying to normalise menstruation by openly talking about it.
Now, all the neighbouring school children, their parents and vendors outside the schools know that there are pads in available from Kamogelo and approach him for them.
He believes that men need to learn that menstruation is not something to avoid.
“Some believe that when a woman menstruates she should stay away from men, food and church. That concept must change.”
Kamogelo has called on other drivers and motorists to join his initiative by keeping pads in their cars.
A wave of abductions, torture and arrests in Zimbabwe are targeting opposition activists and other government critics, the latest being a popular comedian dragged from her home by armed and masked men.
Barely two years after euphoric scenes engulfed Zimbabwe following the forced resignation of former repressive ruler Robert Mugabe, frustration and fear have returned.
Comedian Samantha Kureya was this week dragged from her bed, stripped naked and tortured by masked men with assault rifles for skits perceived as anti-government. She spoke to The Associated Press from her hospital bed.
I was wearing my underwear and a T-shirt when they took me, they didn’t even give me a chance to dress properly.
“I am living in fear,” she said, complaining of “severe pain” in her legs and on her back.
Kureya said the men claiming to be police officers dragged her from bed half naked and bundled her into a waiting car on Wednesday night. They beat her using short whips, forced her to roll in a stream of sewage and drink from it, she said.
“I was wearing my underwear and a T-shirt when they took me, they didn’t even give me a chance to dress properly,” she said. Her abductors forced her to strip naked during the torture and warned her against mocking the government before abandoning her to seek clothing and help from strangers, said Kureya.
She had received threats on social media before the abduction, she said. Her latest skit mocked security agents for beating up demonstrators that included elderly women.
Political tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as the economy deteriorates with inflation at over 175% and growing dissatisfaction with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over from Mugabe less than two years ago with promises of a “new dawn” and a “flowering of democracy.”
Human rights groups say at least six activists were abducted and tortured by suspected security agents ahead of an opposition demonstration last week. Police later used violence to disperse demonstrators in Harare on August 16.
On Friday, police broke up a protest by a group of teachers and arrested nine people, including a lawyer for the teachers and a journalist filming the arrests, according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO providing them with lawyers. They are yet to be charged, said the organization.
One of the activists abducted and tortured ahead of last week’s demonstration, Tatenda Mombeyarara had visible wounds on his legs, hands, buttocks and back. His kidneys were damaged and doctors put metal plates and pins on his fractured left leg and hand, he said, showing AP a scan while lying on a hospital bed.
He said he was beaten with sjamboks (short whips), gun butts and a wheel spanner and also submerged in a pool of dirty water at a quarry dumpsite.
“They told me ‘you think you are a hero, all that will end today. You are going to die and your American sponsors will not save you’,” said Mombeyarara, who has been in hospital for the past nine days. “I am still traumatized. The pain was unbearable. I thought I was going to die.”
An opposition member of parliament said unknown people fired shots at his house Wednesday night, while a top official was arrested Thursday and accused of failing to stop supporters from demonstrating against the government. Since January, more than 20 activists have been charged with plotting to unseat Mnangagwa.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said the recent abductions and attacks “are being investigated” but denied that security agents were involved.
“We cannot blame security agents (for the abduction) because investigations are still underway,” he said.
Government spokesman Nick Mangwana blamed the attacks on “a force” he associated with Mugabe “to impair President Mnangagwa’s image as a sincere reformer.”
The U.S embassy in Zimbabwe and the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe said in a joint statement earlier this week that reports of worsening human rights abuses were of “great concern.”
Kureya, the comedian, said she would continue poking fun at the government despite her abductors threatening to “put a bullet” in her mother’s head if she continues with her work.
“That is how I survive,” she said. “I don’t have any other job, plus we all can’t just keep quiet when things are as bad as they are in this country.”
Nelson Chamisa|Vibes from Khami Prsion..A stampede at Khami Prison..Humbled by inmates’ affection here at Khami Maximum Prison just outside Bulawayo where I visited The people’s Chief, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamanhwe Ndiweni recently sentenced to 18 months in prison for exercising his lawful duties as a Chief.The people’s Chief is upbeat,unbroken & thanking you all for your solidarity.As a people’s leader, Chief Ndiweni is concerned at the human rights abuses, torture, terror and violence against the citizens.We had time to pray for the Chief, all others and our beautiful country!
Chapungu put on a stunning display to beat Caps United 4-2 in Saturday’s Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match day 20 action.
Gracious Muleya opened the scoring before Newman Sianchali pulled one back. Philip Marufu and Ian Nyoni pulled the airforce side further before Kepekep got on the scoresheet again throuugh Clive Rupiya. Another goal would come from Chapungu through Marufu to give Darlington Dodo a terrible debut as Caps United coach.
Another coach to have a bad start is Rahman Gumbo has his TelOne side was swathed 3-0 by ZPC Kariba.
Shadreck Nyahwa was on target for strugglers Bulawayo Chiefs in there vital 1-0 win over Black Rhinos.
Yadah and Herentals drew 1-1 and it was the same scoreline for Ngezi Platinum at home to Hwange.
Gabon’s media regulator, the High Authority of Communication (HAC), announced the journalist’s suspension on national television on Thursday
President Ali Bongo of Gabon makes his first live appearance in public nearly 10 months afer sĺfering a stroke, attending ceremonies in the capital Libreville. AFP j
Gabon has revoked a journalist’s accreditation for two months, accusing him of writing a “false” report that questioned the state of President Ali Bongo’s health.
There has been widespread speculation about the 60-year-old leader’s ability to rule since he suffered a stroke 10 months ago.
The article by Radio France Internationale (RFI) journalist Yves-Laurent Goma said Bongo had failed to stand to salute troops during an independence day ceremony in Libreville at the weekend.
Gabon’s media regulator, the High Authority of Communication (HAC), announced the journalist’s suspension on national television on Thursday.
It said his article used “inaccurate information with malicious insinuations… questioning the physical integrity (of Bongo)”, and that Bongo had risen during the ceremony “whenever necessary”.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is surrounded by good people. Among them, he has great formal and informal advisers; talented and eminent people from different backgrounds, who really can make a difference if given some latitude to express themselves.
Of course, it is public knowledge that he is also surrounded by criminals; greedy parasites just there to enjoy the gravy train ride and loot public resources. There are certainly thriving scoundrels there. Overnight they are rich, but they can’t explain their ill-gotten wealth. But to give the devils their dues, they are innovative and enterprising in their own way.
Yet there are some genuinely resourceful entrepreneurs who have done well through formal and legal enterprise. Not every successful person around Mnangagwa is a thief. There are credible, honest and hard-working businesspeople around the president.
However, with all his advisers — some working through the Presidential Advisory Council — Mnangagwa has failed to show that he is a skilled moderniser and reformist like contemporary China’s Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the country’s rise from the wreckage of Mao Zedong’s disastrous leadership and depredations to becoming the world’s second largest economy.
There were huge expectations when Mnangagwa came in through a military coup against his mentor Robert Mugabe. Many people were willing to ignore the coup — except some who foresaw the consequences ahead — in the hope that as long as Mugabe is out, things will be fine.
Millions of locals bought into that narrative. Only some sceptical people resisted the political temptation to join the bandwagon. The region and the continent joined in. So did the international community. Britain, in particular, was complicit in the coup project.
The trouble with the people around Mnangagwa is that they failed to advise him, to start with, on the proper transitional model and his role in it. They also didn’t have a strategy on how to manage the transition, unite a divided country, reform and revive the economy in the interregnum.
Politically, they were just blind. Our repeated reportage that Mnangagwa had serious internal challenges and that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was going to emerge as a big contender was ignored. So were observations that Mnangagwa would almost certainly find himself compelled to negotiate with Chamisa after the elections. This was not due to clairvoyance, but a basic reading of local politics.
It was evident Chamisa had personal charisma and appeal, although he had no party because of the way he came in. It was also evident that Mnangagwa lacked personal appeal and popularity, although he had a relatively stronger party, effective electoral machinery and was far more experienced — of course, also much older.
All these interrelated issues were ignored, judging by the path Mnangagwa and his advisers took. And indeed judging by their attitude and pronouncements. They thought Chamisa was just woolgathering. It doesn’t matter whether he is clever or not, competent or not, the balance of forces, the view of voters and the reality is that there was a huge message from the electorate for an inclusive transitional process to unite, reform and fix the nation ahead of the pursuit of power for self-aggrandisement.
Continuing to ignore the legitimacy question and the resultant crisis is political hara-kiri. It leads to tragedies like the ones on August 1, 2018, January 2019 and August 16, 2019.
The brutal clampdown by the police on anti-government protests last Friday exposed Mnangagwa’s administration for what it is: an authoritarian regime.
It has also exploded the myth and refrains of a new dispensation; that Zimbabwe is open for business and further compounded Mnangagwa’s legitimacy crisis, while damaging his international reputation. His mask fell irretrievably.
Only national dialogue, an increasingly popular tool for conflict resolution and political transition, can help Zimbabwe out. It must be inclusive, transparent and be organsied by a credible convener to discuss the transitional arrangement and the roadmap to reform and change.
THE opposition Zapu party says it feared controversial Ntabazinduna chief and fierce government critic, Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni could be poisoned in jail.
Ndiweni was jailed 18 months by Bulawayo Magistrate, Gladmore Mushove last week for damaging his subject, Fetti Mbele’s homestead. His other 23 co-accused villagers were sentenced to 525 hours of community service.
Zapu Women’s Union this week organised a prayer meeting for the incarcerated traditional leader at its offices in the country’s second largest city.
The party Women’s Union provincial chairperson, Jane Mlalazi said the prayer meeting was meant to “protect” the incarcerated traditional leader from any harm and poisoning while in prison.
“We are concerned by our chief’s health and safety while in prison. We are praying that God intervenes in his life so that he will not be poisoned like what happened to our commander Lookout Masuku who died following his release from prison,” said Mlalazi.
Although authorities claim that Masuku died of meningitis, some people strongly suspect that he died as a result of poisoning while in prison.
The Zapu Women’s Union boss maintained that Ndiweni‘s imprisonment was more political than criminal.
“We know that there is a political hand in all this. We have not only called this prayer meeting for his release but for his health as well. With this regime, he is certainly in danger,” she said.
Mlalazi warned that the Zapu women are willing to take to the streets until Ndiweni is released.
Another Zapu activist, Therezia Taka also concurred with Mlalazi.
“As a party, we are very worried about the chief’s fate in prison. It is clear that these people wanted him locked up for speaking his piece of mind,” she said.
Ndiweni has rubbed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime the wrong way by openly calling for political reforms and seemingly indicating the Zanu-PF leader might not have won last year’s presidential election cleanly.
The traditional leader also attended the opposition MDC congress in May this year.
Before his ascendancy to the Presidency in what has been described by analysts as one of Africa’s softest coup, Emmerson Mnangagwa was being investigated over 39 Counts of fraud.
According to the Zimbabwe Independent, the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigations Department was investigating Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s role in the mismanagement and looting of Zanu PF’s business empire, leading to its collapse, in what was seen as part of President Robert Mugabe’s succession war.
Said Tendai Rushwaya, Ndumiso Ncube and Bhongomafin:
We publish below the full report by the publication:
“Police sources reportedly said the investigations stemmed from a Zanu PF’s Report of the Committee on Party Investments, debated by the politburo on July 27 2005 and August 3 2005, which revealed the companies, supervised by Mnangagwa who was then secretary for administration, were a shambles due to gross mismanagement and corruption.
Zanu PF had interests in public and private companies held through M&S Syndicate (Pvt) Ltd. The ruling party had invested in Treger Holdings, Mike Appel, Catercraft, Fibrolite, which closed in December 2004 as well as Zidlee, which failed to take over Delta in 1989.
The party also had interests in Southern African Re-Insurance Company (Sare), Zidco Holdings and First Bank, whose Democratic Republic of Congo investment also collapsed.
Zanu PF also had interests in National Blankets, Woolworths and Ottawa Building, which were disposed of under unclear circumstances.
Furthermore, Zanu PF separately owned Jongwe Printing & Publishing Company, as well as Jongwe and Nyadzonya farms.
Mnangagwa, who sat on nearly all the companies’ boards, supervised M&S Syndicate with Manharlal Chiunilal and Jayant Chiunilal Joshi.
The Zanu PF probe team comprised the late David Karimanzira, who chaired the committee, and the late retired army commander General Solomon Mujuru, Obert Mpofu, Simba Makoni and Thokozile Mathuthu.
The report said the companies were a mess and riddled with managerial corruption and incompetence which could have prejudiced the ruling party of billions of dollars and assets.
It said some of the companies had virtually collapsed, while others had not been audited for years and their financial accounts were a complete mess.
During mid-2005, the official exchange rate was US$1:Z$38, although on the black market it was US$1:Z$10 000.
On the first count, Sare allegedly paid a dividend of Z$13 900 on June 17, 2002 which was however diverted to Mnangagwa First Banking Corporation account.
On December 10 2001, Z$20 million was allegedly withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s Zimbank account. Mnangagwa also allegedly benefited from Z$33 million which was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into his Jewel bank account on March 17, 2003.
Police are also investigating allegations that Z$10 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and reinvested into Mnangagwa’s Mafidi Corporation at NDH on March 27 2003.
On October 9 2003 Z$2,3 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s CBZ account, while on October 13 2003 Z$3,3 million was withdrawn from Kushinga Investments and deposited to Mnangagwa’s First Banking Corporation account, the report alleged.
There are investigations into allegations that Z$5 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s CBZ account on October 13 while on October 16 Z$1,7 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and also allegedly deposited into his CBZ account.
Also in October 2003, Z$5,3 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger as cash and given to Mnangagwa. The vice-president also allegedly donated Z$1 million to Mnene Mission Hospital which was taken from AM Treger.
The vice-president also allegedly benefitted from Z$2 million which was withdrawn from AM Tregger on October 24 2003 and paid into his First Banking Corporation account and on the same day Z$19 million was withdrawn from the same account and used to pay for kitchen refurbishment at Mnangagwa’s house.
On October 31 2003, Z$53 000 000 was taken from AM Treger account and paid to Clonsilla Service Station in Gweru for the prurchase of petrol by Aleta Mambodza, Mnangagwa’s family friend.
Police are further investigating allegations that Z$5 million was withdrawn from AM Treger and deposited in the vice-president’s CBZ account on November 3, while on December 10 Z$10 million was paid into his CBZ account.
The vice-president also allegedly benefitted from Z$1,5 million, which was withdrawn from AM Treger and deposited into his First Bank Corporation account.
The Zanu PF probe team report had established that a Z$650 million Tregers Holdings cheque for dividend declared on February 18 2003 for the year-ended December 31 2002 could not be accounted for.
The report said it was “inconceivable” that Tregers, in which Zanu PF had 41,96% shareholding, managed to declare a Z$1,2 billion dividend in four years when its annual turnover was about Z$150 billion.
There were queries over the murky investment of Z$120 million in the portfolio investment company M&S Investments by Zanu PF’s wholly owned investment arm, M&S Syndicate.
The report said another company, NamZim, was “closed due to mismanagement and the property was looted by unknown people”.
Some companies’ books, for instance those of Catercraft, were not audited for four years while there were no board meetings for two years.
Mnangagwa, who was interviewed twice by the probe committee because he held sway over the party’s network of companies, confirmed the chaos in the businesses by admitting most of the companies had no records.
“He (Mnangagwa) said that in most of these arrangements there were no written agreements on the formation of the companies and most of these agreements were done verbally between parties,” the report said. “Neither was there an agreement for payment of management fees to the Joshi brothers as these companies were operating as one.”
The Joshi brothers and Dipak Pandya fled the country shortly after the probe began. Several Zanu PF officials were quizzed about their escape.
Former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa said the three ran way from being arrested and were in regular contact with him. He said Jayant was believed to be in Dubai, while Manharlal was in Manchester, England.
Some of the Zanu PF investments such as in Bindura Nickel Mine were also unclear. The report stated that Zanu PF had a 23% equity in Bindura through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Further inquiries into this investment were recommended.
There were also fears that companies like Tregers could have externalised funds.
As a result, the report recommended that “police/law enforcements agents should go into further investigations in order to establish any prejudice in terms of revenue to the party on its investments”.
More investigations were required into the shady M&S Z$120 million investment, Fibrolite and Catercraft operations, the unaccounted for Z$650 million Tregers dividend and other dividends declared without audited accounts, as well as Mike Appel’s dividend declarations.
The report said it was surprising that Mike Appel declared a Z$31 million dividend in 2003, but Z$250 million in 2005. Sare and shelf companies like M&S Investments, Segmented Investments through which Zanu PF had a 27% interest in First Bank, and Smoothnest Investments, Hutsonville and Amelia Properties, the report said, should also be further investigated.-TheZimbabweIndependent
The Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Victor Matemadanda says the acts of abductions in the country are a work of enemies who want to tarnish the name of the so called new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Addressing war veterans and traditional leaders from Mashonaland East Province in Marondera this Friday, Matemadanda laughed off the issue of abductions, saying what would the government get in abducting a comedian like Samantha Kureya, popularly known as Gonyeti.
“It is laughable to hear people saying the government is abducting its citizens. Surely what would we get from abducting a comedian like Gonyeti, that is the work of our detractors bent on tarnishing the image of the government,” said Matemadanda.
Mashonaland East War Veterans Chairperson, Daniel Sigauke and provincial Chiefs’ Council leader, Chief Nechombo said their institutions have always supported government efforts on development.
“As war veterans, we have always supported developmental initiatives by the government and we will continue to render our support to all programs,” said Cde Sigauke.
“As traditional leaders from this province, we are supporting all government programmes including devolution which is set to decentralize issues of development,” said Chief Nechombo.
The meeting was attended by chiefs from the province and members of the war veterans provincial leadership and district representatives.
By A Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf heavyweight Professor Jonathan Moyo has said failure by Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s failure to avail to the nation a fully dressed judgement which saw the courts declare Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner of the 2018 elections exposed the latter’s illegitimacy.
Said Moyo:
#OneYearLaterNoMalabaJudgment Still no "fully dressed judgment" as promised by Chief Justice Malaba on 24 August 2018. Instead Zimbabweans remain stuck with his undressed judgment that has left the country with a naked problem of Mnangagwa's illegitimacy, after a stolen election! https://t.co/Dye5JyN9W9
Do you think Justice Malaba will release the fully dressed judgement? Show your thoughts in the poll below:
@ProfJNMoyo said failure by @JusticeLukeMalaba to furnish the nation with a fully dressed judgement of how the courts decided that @edmnangagwa had won the #2018elections 1 yr later exposed Mnangagwa's illegitimacy. Do you think Justice Malaba will ever release the judgement?
VETERAN cricket administrator Peter Chingoka, who passed on on Thursday morning, will be buried on Monday at Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare.
According to his younger brother Patrick, mourners continue to throng the Chingoka residence at 38 Sandringham Drive in Alexandra Park, where a church service was held last night.
“Tomorrow (today) we will have a church service at 6pm and on Sunday at 4pm we will collect his body from Nyaradzo and it will lie in state at his house.
“Monday 10am we will have a church service at St George’s School Chapel and have burial thereafter at Glen Forest,” he said.
The cricket fraternity, including players, management, family and friends have been paying their condolences.
Former Zimbabwe cricket coach, Alan Butcher, has also paid his condolences.
“When we were team mates at Universals as callow 22-year-olds, Peter looked after me and we became great mates.
“Very sad news. RIP Peter. Zimbabwe Cricket please pass on my condolences to Shirley,” he wrote on Twitter.
The International Cricket Council have since paid tribute to the long-serving chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa was removed in a military coup carried out on 1 August 2018, evidence was presented in a raging debate last night proving.
Nelson Chamisa was removed in a military coup carried out on 1 Aug 2018, evidence was presented in a raging debate proving.This was after ZANU PF youth league leader(UK),Farai Muvuti had said there is no evidence whatsoever of Chris MutsvangwaFULL VIDEO ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0apic.twitter.com/0W0eot2Wp0
This was after ZANU PF youth league leader (UK), Farai Muvuti had said there is no evidence whatsoever of Emmerson Mnangagwa senior advisor Chris Mutsvangwa announcing on military deployment for the purpose of changing elections results. Muvuti was viciously in denial until the moment the ZBC footage was produced; he later bolted out after further evidence was brought in of the Finance Ministry revealing the carrying out of a military coup to remove Chamisa upon a win. WATCH THE BELOW –
The wait continues for Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba’s Aston Villa debut, as he is not in the match day squad for tonight’s Premier League game against Everton.
Nakamba, who made the switch from Belgian giants Club Brugge for a reported £12 million, has not appeared for the Premier League returnees in an official game so far.
Villa coach Dean Smith explained this week that the Warriors midfielder is “still a bit off” in as far as fitness is concerned.
Nakamba played for Zimbabwe at AFCON 2019 but took part in only one game, the 1-0 defeat to Egypt, and the delay in the confirmation of his move to Villa Park resulted in him not having a full pre-season.Soccer 24
This man was a student at Mugabe Secondary School between 1998-2001 and most of his victims were parents of his former school mates. The school is in Uzumba and he was from Manyika village. pic.twitter.com/rcGPzTGl9A
ZimEye can reveal the “killer’s” name is Mr Anesu Kapere.
By Own Correspondent | Latest details have emerged over the Uzumba man who confesses to allegedly killing six (updated) MDC members.
The were suggestions in a live broadcast on ZimEye on Wednesday that the man is suffering from a mental health condition.
But following the program, several people have confirmed the development. One of our sources in an audio recording, went to the extent of stating the man exact whereabouts.
ZimEye can now authoritatively reveal the “killer’s” name is Mr Anesu Kapere.
Kapere is seen on video confessing to killing the below list of people in exchange for $500 per person promised him by a ZANU PF MP. He also pleads for people to put spread news of this on social media platforms. On his Facebook page, he has placated the below as his profile picture:
Anesu Kapere
Kapere confidently says that he killed MDC members during the violence that lasted 72 hours in which perceived 32 MDC supporters were murdered in May 2008.
VIDEO LOADING (story also continues) BELOW…
This was just after the announcement of the 2008 Presidential elections where Morgan Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe by over 72% of the total vote tally.
To corroborate with the report, Emmerson Mnangagwa who was Mugabe’s chief election agent, is also in a separate video seen boasting that he is the one who later pushed for the election result to lead to a run off.
The murders happened in Uzumba. The list includes:
Farai Mudimu – Musafare Mudimu was murdered, confimed with MDC list
Karombe Benson Chipungu – Manyika Village, confirmed with MDC list
Amai Mushayahembe – Ruth Mushayahembe of Chimbwanda Village, confimed with MDC list
Brighton Mabwera – Child – 4 years old, in Manyika Village. He was burnt while inside his parents house after the father had fled.
Econet Wireless has introduced a fuel finding feature in its Yo Mix app.
The fuel finder is really simple – you simply open Yo Mix > Services > Fuel Finder.
A map will open with fuel icons scattered all over the map. The icons are colour coded as follows:
Fuel available – Blue
Maybe available – Orange
No fuel – Red
It’s not clear how often the application will be updated to reflect accurate updates but this is a welcome feature. The ability to add notifications for certain service stations and the type of fuel you want will also be a feature that can be added in future and make the app more efficient.-Techzim
The lawyers representing @ARTUZ_teachers teachers and @DougColtart have challenged the State's request to place them on remand as they believe the charges are utterly spurious. The Magistrate hearing the matter has postponed the ruling on this application to 1.30pm
This man was a student at Mugabe Secondary School between 1998-2001 and most of his victims were parents of his former school mates. The school is in Uzumba and he was from Manyika village. pic.twitter.com/rcGPzTGl9A
It was a clear case of command justice when MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya was on Friday remanded in custody to Monday 26 August for a ruling on his bail application.
Chibaya, the convener of last week’s peaceful and constitutional demonstrations that were brutally foiled by the police, spent five hours incourt today with the prosecution arguing that he be denied bail.
His lawyer, Obey Shava exposed the State case for its clumsiness, arguing that Chibaya could not be denied bail on a lesser charge of violating provisions under POSA when he was already on bail on a more serious charge of subversion.
The State also denied a bail offer from Hon. Chibaya to commit a monetary payment with stringent reporting conditions as well as a pledge not to interfere with State witnesses, who in any case are police officers. Chibaya’s passport is already with the court as part of his reporting conditions for a subversion charge he is already facing and for which he is on bail.
Chibaya’s remand in custody is testimony that the regime is undertaking a brutal programme of persecution by prosecution after they denied the MDC Organiser bail even though he had handed himself over to the police in the company of his lawyer.
The MDC believes that the country is choking under the thick blanket of an unofficial state of emergency. There is a systematic targeting ofinnocent Zimbabweans and the people’s leaders by brutally blocking them from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.
It also telling that Hon. Chibaya was denied bail on the very same day that the State waged a clampdown on the leaders of a rural teachers union in which their lawyer, Douglas Coltart, was brutally assaulted. Coltart is the son of the MDC Treasurer-General, Hon. David Coltart.
Citizens are under siege. The people’s leaders are under siege but all Zimbabweans remain in high spirits, well aware that brutality has short legs and that no amount of State-sanctioned thuggery will triumph over the people.
In fact, it is the regime that is under siege from its cluelessness and from the legitimate grievances of the citizens that it is failing to address.
Zimbabweans are peacefully clamouring for a truly people’s government that can begin to address the challenges facing the nation.
MDC: Change That Delivers.
Luke Tamborinyoka Deputy National Spokesperson Movement for Democratic Change
By Farai D Hove| It was nightly last night when the street preacher, Talent Chiwenga took to criticise ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa saying he has elevated himself to a diety.
Chiwenga said Mnangagwa has shed so much blood that he has countless souls he is responsible for. Below was a snippet of the sermon:
By A Correspondent- Four wardens at the Chikurubi Maximum Prison have appeared before the courts for breaking the leg of an inmate over a $1 coin dispute.
The State alleges that the four officers, Taona Nyoni, Godweu Njeku, Norman Chari and Marshal Nyandowe assaulted and broke the inmate’s leg for picking a $1 coin in the office he was cleaning.
The inmate, Masiiwa Vhitorini, who is said to be Harare magistrate Nyasha Vhitorini’s younger brother reportedly picked the coin and shoved it into his pocket.
The State also alleges that Njeku who was supervising him demanded the coin back when he realised that it was missing.
Despite the inmate handing the coin back, Njekuis alleged to have assaulted Vhitorini with his open hands demanding more money.
Njeku’s workmates whom he is jointly accused with later joined in assaulting Vhitorini.
Nyoni is said to have drawn his service rifle which he then used to repeatedly hit the inmate’s leg until it fractured.
The State also alleges that the accused warned Vhitorini against revealing what had transpired. They are said to have even accompanied him to the hospital in a bid to make sure he does not say anything.
The matter was however revealed when Vhitorini’s brother visited him. The magistrate then reported the matter to the police and the officers were arrested.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Opposition Deputy Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka has claimed that there was no difference between president Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor, Robert Mugabe.
Tamborinyoka cited the shrinking democratic space since the ascendancy of Mnangagwa to power in 2017. Tamborinyoka said:
“It (the repression) confirms the de facto state of emergency in the country. Mnangagwa has just mounted a second coup on the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
This is a continuation of the First Republic. Mnangagwa is simply a scarfed Robert Mugabe, which is why we are saying that with these sanctions that ED has imposed on Zimbabwe, Sadc should understand that there is a siege in Zimbabwe.”
His remarks come when reports of abductions of MDC members and human rights defenders have been increasing lately.
The latest report is that of Bustop TV comedienne, Samantha Kureya whose stage name is Gonyeti. Reports suggest that she was abducted at her home by masked and armed men who claimed to be soldiers.
They assaulted her family members before abducting her. They reportedly forced her to strip naked before assaulting her and forcing her to drink sewer.
Observers have implicated the government in the violations against human rights saying that the victims were government critics.
The government has however said that there is a third hand behind the abductions. It also says that some of the “so-called” abductions, including that of Gonyeti, were being stage managed.-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC has said that national demonstrations against the deteriorating state of affairs are coming very soon.
Party Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende told a local publication that the national standing committee had given a go-ahead on demonstrations after reading the mood of the masses.
Hwende said:
“The banned protests showed us that people are ready for action, and as such, we will be rolling out more protests throughout the country, including at growth points … and those are coming very soon.”
The publication further reports that party insiders revealed that protests should be expected as early as next week.
These remarks come when the country has blocked all demonstrations which the MDC had scheduled to start on the 16th of August in Harare.
The State argued that it had gathered concrete evidence that suggested that the protests were going to be violent.
Police violently dispersed protesters who had defied the prohibition order and thronged to the streets on the 16th of August.-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who are representing members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe have said that they are failing to locate one of their clients.
ZLHR say that top lawyer, Beatrice Mtwetwa and others are extremely worried about Godfrey Chanda @ARTUZ_teachers Midlands member.
Posting on Twitter, the lawyers said:
“.@ZLHRLawyers currently at Law & Order representing at least 9 people arrested for participating in @ARTUZ_teachers peaceful protests. Those arrested include @OMasaraure, a journalist Leopold Munhende & lawyer @DougColtart were also arrested.
By Hardlife Mudzingwa| Massive borehole drilling in Glen View will breed a health disaster in the near future. The by-election for Glen View South Constituency which birthed the jostling for power, has brought interventions to drill many boreholes in the area. I want to state my position today. This so-called development is a seed to funerals in the area.
Glen View is near Firle Sewer Treatment Plant. Majority of the sewer generated in Harare finds it’s way to Firle. Blockages of sewer pipes, clogging and all manner of challenges on sewer reticulation are rampant in Glen View. Ground water in Glen View is heavily contaminated. THAT PARTLY EXPLAINS WHY MABVUKU WITH DECADES OF NO WATER SUPPLY HAD FEW CASES OF TYPHOID AND CHOLERA THAN GLEN VIEW. IT PARTLY EXPLAINS WHY BUDIRIRO AND GLEN VIEW ARE CHOLERA HOT SPOTS.
This by-election will therefore bring funerals in Glen View because politicians need votes. I urge development practitioners to prepare for interventions to correct mistakes brought by the hunger for power.
My prayer is that those who will vote based on boreholes drilled will not at least loose their lives in the near future. The sad situation happens when you fast track your death by okaying a health time bomb.
By A Correspondent- Jailed RMG End Time Message founder and leader, Robert Martin Gumbura said that his wives remain loyal to him even after spending many years in prison.
Speaking to a local publication on Thursday during the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week, Gumbura said:
Look at all my wives as they sit there, which one do you think I will divorce, which one?.
You can ask them, they are all here, all the mothers are here.
Gumbura’s wives and children had visited him at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison as part of the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week facility.
Gumbura’s spokesperson and second wife, Queen Bunga, vowed that the wives will remain loyal to their husband.
She said:
It was a lie. We know that media will be looking at selling their newspapers, so we just ignore it. We will remain loyal to our husband.
Gumbura was convicted of four counts of rape in 2014 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He has 21 wives, nine of whom do not have children with him.-StateMedia
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an acute shortage of family planning pills with pharmacies and private institutions also affected.
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Matabeleland regional officer Blessed Gumbi said the shortage of the contraceptives has become a crisis.
He said:
We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain.
We have nothing in our stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as they normally buy from us.
However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation.
We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible. However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the challenge.
Gumbi suggested that members of the public should approach health institutions and access alternative methods while waiting for the pills.
He further recommended using condoms as a viable birth control measure.State media
By Own Correspondent| On 23 August 2019, members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, arrested ten (10) people who include Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members, their lawyer Doug Coltart and a journalist Leopold Munhende outside a government complex in Harare.
The ARTUZ members were arrested as they engaged in a peaceful protest dubbed “PAY FUNERAL”
Those arrested include ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure, Shepherd Tazvivinga, Gerald Tinashe Taruvinga, Tryvine Musokeri, Andrew Mungure, Nation Mudzitirwa, Simon Drury, Godfery Chanda, Doug Coltart and Munhende.
They were apprehended outside the Ministry of Finance Offices in Harare, where they intended to hand over a petition highlighting their grievances as teachers whose salaries have been severely eroded by inflation and the changes in monetary policy resulting in most teachers taking home a salary of less than an equivalent of thirty-eight United States Dollars every month.
Nine (9) of those arrested excluding Munhende (who is a journalist arrested during the course of his work) have since been charged with committing ‘Criminal Nuisance’ as provided in section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and are detained at Harare Central Police Station.
The nine are represented by Blessing Nyamaropa, Tinomuda Shoko and Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an acute shortage of family planning pills with pharmacies and private institutions also affected.
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Matabeleland regional officer Blessed Gumbi said the shortage of the contraceptives has become a crisis.
He said:
“We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain.
We have nothing in our stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as they normally buy from us.
However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation.
We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible. However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the challenge.2
Gumbi suggested that members of the public should approach health institutions and access alternative methods while waiting for the pills.
He further recommended using condoms as a viable birth control measure.-StateMedia
By Tariro Moyo| Jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura’s wives have vowed to remain loyal to their husband and united despite negative coverage by some sections of the media.
Even from prison, Gumbura still ensures all his wives are catered for and will do little things to ensure they are happy.
When they visited him on Thursday during the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week, his wives and children wore similar red and white hats bought by the incarcerated clergyman.
They said Gumbura parted with 3kg of sugar as payment for the hats sewn by a fellow inmate.
In an interview with The Herald, Gumbura denied reports that he had allowed his wives to look for love elsewhere since he would be in jail for a long time.
“Look at all my wives as they sit there, which one do you think I will divorce, which one?” he said as the wives burst into laughter.
“You can ask them, they are all here, all the mothers are here,” he added.
As part of the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week facility, the wives and children had visited Gumbura at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Gumbura is serving a 40-year jail term and has been behind bars for the past five years.
Sitting around their husband, all the wives nodded in agreement that in the five years Gumbura has been away, they have been and will remain faithful to him.
They said previous reports in some sections of the media that they had deserted him were false.
“It was a lie. We know that media will be looking at selling their newspapers, so we just ignore it. We will remain loyal to our husband,” said spokesperson Queen Bunga, who is Gumbura’s second wife.
Asked how many of his wives had visited him, Gumbura insisted that all the mothers of his children had come. He added that his children would visit later that day and start feasting as a family.
Gumbura applauded the Prison and Correctional Services department for providing such an opportunity for those incarcerated to meet their families.
He said without such a provision, it would mean for people like him serving sentences of up to 40 years would never recognise their children when they were eventually released.
“With this current arrangement, you can relate with developments happening back home. You can trace the growth of your children. Very soon, my children will be coming here, you will see them.
“They are not very difficult to spot. You will see them in their numbers with their hats similar to those of their mothers,” said Gumbura.
Previously, other media houses reported that his wives had stopped visiting him in prison while others reported that he had given them his blessings to look for love elsewhere.
The Gumbura family remains a centre of attraction at all Family Weeks. During each visit, a huge crowd comprising his wives, children and a few parishioners visit him.
Gumbura was convicted in 2014 on four counts of rape.
He has 21 wives, nine of whom do not have children with him.
By a Correspondent- The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), is concerned that jailed Ntabazinduna traditional leader, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, could be killed while he is in prison.
Chief Ndiweni was sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison after he was convicted alongside 23 of his subjects of malicious damage to property involving a fellow villager.
ZAPU deputy organising secretary Ndodana Moyo told a crowd attending a prayer meeting in Bulawayo on Friday that their prayer was that the Chief’s life will be spared, unlike what happened to Lookout Masuku. He said:
We are praying that God intervenes in the life of our chief. They must not kill our chief.
We know they hate him with a passion and they are willing to end his life by any possible means.
But we know with God’s power nothing is going to happen.
… Mphoko, who knows Zanu PF more than us, says he is afraid of being killed. So, we are praying that they must not kill our chief like what they did to Lookout Masuku.
Recently, former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s lawyer told Voice of America’s Studio 7 that his client was afraid of lethal injection if he was taken into custody.
Mphoko is out on bail on charges of criminal abuse of office dating back to the time he was the Vice President.-DailyNews
By Talent Gondo- Landlords in Masvingo have escalated boarding houses charges by up to 100 percent in a move that borders both on profiteering and a fair attempt to keep up with inflation.
Accommodation prices have been raised from last semester’s RTGS$600 per head to RTGS$1200 per head. The rise in private boarding fees is said to be a response to Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’s decision to hike on-campus accommodation fees from RTGS$300 for a room for two and RTGS$350 for a room for one to RTGS$500 for two and RTGS$600 for one at some campuses.
A landlord with a boarding house in Rhodene said he hiked charges to cushion himself against increases in the cost of electricity, Wi-Fi and water.
“The rentals per semester seem unreasonable to you but it is not that greedy but a fair response to the increase in the cost of everything else. We have to see to it that students have uninterrupted power, water and WI-Fi so there is no other way I can manage.
It is also even difficult for landlords to come up with a cost structure for our services because the market is not stable. The fee might be fine for us this week but it may not be the same the following week due to inflation.Things are now expensive in the shops and it’s becoming worse every day.
We need the money to renovate the walls, beds and everything so that the students can enjoy their stay,” he said.Some landlords of other boarding houses are said to be charging their houses at US$120 per head per semester.2-TellZim
THE Minister of Energy and Power Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi, has said the prolonged load shedding hours experienced in some parts of the country over the past few days were due to unexpected technical challenges at Hwange Power Station.
In an interview with Zimpapers Television Network on Thursday, Adv Chasi said there had been faults at Hwange Power Station and as a result the electricity supply situation in the country has been erratic in the past few days.
The Minister assured the nation that the power situation was set to improve as his Ministry was making frantic efforts to address the matter.
“I must admit that there was a bit of regression over the past few days. This not a permanent situation. It’s really arising from the challenges that we faced from a number of units in Hwange but its actively being sorted out so I am confident that they will come on board pretty soon,” said Adv Chasi.
He, however, said the load shedding programme would continue for domestic consumption as Government prioritises the productive sector in the country.
“What we are doing at the moment is to ensure that we give more power to the productive sector. We want to make sure that the mines are operating and that the farms, and particularly now that we have wheat, we want to ensure that the farms have power. So the domestic consumer will find that they will be load shed,” said Adv Chasi.
The Minister said he would ensure that Zesa sticks to its published schedule for the convenience of the public.
He said if the power utility is not able to stick to its schedule, it must communicate to its clients.
“The load shedding schedule must operate as it has been published and presented. I have emphasised to Zesa that they need to stick to the schedule and that in those situations where they are unable to do so, the public must be informed that there has been a change. Otherwise if there is a schedule that is not speaking to reality, it gives a false impression and we do not desire that at all,” said Adv Chasi.
GOVERNMENT has awarded a 76% salary hike to its restive workers, a move which will see the lowest paid civil servant getting around $1 000 per month, but civil servants’ representative body, the Apex Council, yesterday described the increase as a drop in the ocean, given the rate of inflation in the country.
The increase comes after most civil servants had notified their employer of their incapacity to continue reporting for duty, with others threatening industrial action over the high cost of living.
In a statement, the Apex Council said the salary adjustment fell far short of their expectations of $4 750 (US$475) for the least paid worker.
“Following the rejection of a 10% government offer by the Apex Council, the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting convened today (August 23, 2019) saw government move their offer to 76% of the total package with effective from August 1, 2019,” part of the statement co-signed by Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander and vice-chairperson, Thomas Muzondo, read.
“The offer does not meet the stated position of the workers, which is pegged at $4 750 for the least paid civil servant. According to this development, the lowest paid worker is expected to take home $1 023 from $582.”
Apex Council leaders said they would soon consult their members again and update government of the outcome at their next meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou had poured cold water on the government’s salary offer.
“Why has the government and Apex Council been quiet for all along? Government and Apex Council claim to be talking when civil servants threaten to go on strike. We certainly do not eat empty promises. The government already claims that a hefty salary is on its way, but we are aware that this is a tissue of misrepresentation,” he said.
“Let the teachers measure the deftness of the salary rather than the self-appraisal of a starvation salary being labelled hefty by an uncaring employer.”
“At any rate, the government is well known for peddling falsehoods. They promised duty-free cars to civil servants last year, but up to now, not even a single teacher has accessed that facility. The government has failed to provide stands for teachers’ accommodation purposes, let alone to exempt three children for every teacher from paying tuition fees,” Zhou said.
This comes as staff at State universities have declared that they are financially incapacitated to continue reporting for duty following the erosion of their salaries by inflation.
Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics president Alois Muzvuwe on Thursday gave notice that from September 8, their members would stop going to work until government reviewed their salaries.
“This decision comes after realising that efforts to seek redress on State universities have not yielded the desired outcome. The Higher Education ministry has failed to provide answers or solutions to low standards of living and hardships that are being experienced by State universities teaching staff,” Muzvuwe said in a statement.
This came after Midlands State University (MSU) staff on Wednesday registered the same concerns with their administration.
In a memorandum to vice-chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa, the MSU Lecturers’ Association said their salaries had dropped 10 times, adding they were now only able to report for duty on the first three days of the month.
MSU spokesperson Mirirai Mawere yesterday told NewsDay Weekender that the university management was now seized with the matter.
“We acknowledge receipt of the memorandum and we wish to assure our valued stakeholders that the university is seized with this matter. We are pursuing internal strategies to ensure that our students continue to learn and are not inconvenienced in any way,” she said.
BOUT 300 people believed to be Zimbabweans were on Wednesday arrested around Musina, including the Beitbridge Border Post areas, for allegedly flouting South African immigration laws, officials in South Africa have said.
Among those arrested was a suspected human trafficker, caught with a two-year-old undocumented Zimbabwean toddler during a joint operation code-named “Basadi”, supervised by Mamane Dickson Masemola, a member of the executive committee (MEC) in charge of the affairs of the Limpopo province bordering Zimbabwe.
A joint statement from Masemola – who is the MEC for Transport and Safety and the Limpopo Province commander of South African Police Services (Saps), Lieutenant-General Nneke Ledwaba – issued on Wednesday evening said 295 people had been arrested under the Immigration Act .
It also said Mamane, who sits on a committee of provincial ministers, participated in operation Basadi, which incorporated stop-and-search roadblocks, including patrol crime-beats.
“The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Namane Dickson Masemola, has today (August 21, 2019) visited Musina in support of the law enforcement operation, Basadi”, the statement said.
“The on-duty parade was held at the Musina South African National Defence Force (Sandf) military base and the integrated operation was conducted until 13:00hrs, covering Musina, the Beitbridge Border Post and surrounding areas.”
The stop-and-search operation was carried out along all the major roads, targetting police wanted persons and all unlicensed businesses.
“In total, 373 suspects were arrested for residence and business burglary, aggravated and common assaults, thefts of and from motor vehicles,” the statement read.
“Saps units from the lowest to the highest ranks, constituting female police officers within the environments of Crime Intelligence, Assets Management, Legal Services, Corporate Communication, Provincial Support, Vispol, Detectives, Stock Theft, FCS, VCIU, DPCI, CR & SCM, POCC, ORS, K9, Mounted Unit, the Public Order Police Unit, Beitbridge Border Gate and cluster commanders of Tzaneen, Seshego, Mahwelereng, Polokwane, Makhado, Giyani, Modimolle, Lephalale and Thohoyandou, joined forces as they embarked on law enforcement activities around the border area. During this operation, Saps women were also joined by other law enforcement partners from the Provincial and Municipal Traffic and the Sandf.”
Operation Basadi (women), which is ongoing, has a bias to acknowledge police women and has in some occasions involved Zimbabwean female cops in operations within the border areas.
Thousands of Zimbabweans are arrested in South Africa on a daily basis as they flee a free-falling economy which government blames on illegal sanctions.
The main opposition MDC party, however, points at misrule and poor management of the economy — coupled with corruption — as the main undoing of an otherwise promising nation whose citizens now flock to South Africa where they settle for poorly-paid second-class jobs.
Of late, most cross-border travellers have found themselves having to jump the border, risking robberies and attacks by wild animals since Zimbabwe currently does not have enough material to produce passports, with government only able to produce 800 travel documents per day.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa was removed in a military coup carried out on 1 August 2018, evidence was presented in a raging debate last night proving.
Nelson Chamisa was removed in a military coup carried out on 1 Aug 2018, evidence was presented in a raging debate proving.This was after ZANU PF youth league leader(UK),Farai Muvuti had said there is no evidence whatsoever of Chris MutsvangwaFULL VIDEO ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0apic.twitter.com/0W0eot2Wp0
This was after ZANU PF youth league leader (UK), Farai Muvuti had said there is no evidence whatsoever of Emmerson Mnangagwa senior advisor Chris Mutsvangwa announcing on military deployment for the purpose of changing elections results. Muvuti was viciously in denial until the moment the ZBC footage was produced; he later bolted out after further evidence was brought in of the Finance Ministry revealing the carrying out of a military coup to remove Chamisa upon a win. WATCH THE BELOW –
By A Correspondent- Mutare City Council has teamed up with Forestry Commission and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to stop rampant deforestation at Mutare’s top tourist attraction, the Christmas Pass.
The rate of deforestation at the aesthetic mountain has escalated to 80 percent throughout the year and this is attributed to increased load shedding.
Council spokesperson, Mr Spren Mutiwi said they have put tight security in the woodlands to monitor people.
“We have been policing people around the Christmas Pass and so far these efforts have yielded a good result. We have recovered 36 tonnes of wood.
“However we are still scaling up our operations to ensure that there is no more environmental devastation because most of the deforestation is now happening during the night when our patrollers are not in the forest,” he added.
Mr Mutiwi also urged citizens to play their part in reducing deforestation.
“We are slowly losing our identity as a people by destroying our environment. This is not council’s role alone, every stakeholder should take a proactive role and play their part to sustain our scenic Christmas Pass,” he said.
The National Tree Ambassador Mr Never Bonde, said he was concerned with the decimation of Christmas Pass vegetation and suggested other measures that could be done.
“I have been to Rwanda recently and they put beehives in such mountains with trees to prevent people from cutting down trees. Our government should take this initiative of using beehives to prevent tree cutters,” he said.
The environmental activist said they have started promoting whistle blowing to avoid further destruction of the woodland.
“We have since started promoting snitching among citizens if a person reports on the act we give them a tip off. We have tried this to ensure the sustainability of the forest.
“We will also continue to raise awareness on the alternatives that can be used and dangers of deforestation. Starting next week we will be having campaigns at household level in all suburbs,” Mr Bonde said.-ManicaPost
By Talent Gondo- An infant was on Monday morning found dumped in Sakubva River, in an incident that left residents in the sprawling high-density suburb of Sakubva shell shocked.
The lifeless body was found floating in the river on Monday around 10 am.
Police said they were yet to ascertain further details, particularly the mother of the child. Eye witnesses told The Manica Post that the body was found floating in the river Monday morning.
“I was heading to where I stay in St Joseph’s when I saw the body floating in the river. We were shocked and in a few minutes people were gathered jostling to see it. We have no idea who the mother of the infant is but we were all shocked,” said one eye witness.
Police arrived at the scene and covered the infant with a plastic wrapper.-ManicaPost
By Talent Gondo- Mutare businessman Gondai Musabaeka was last week arrested and dragged to court on allegation of duping his former girlfriend US$4 700 in a botched stand deal.
Musabaeka (54), of Lot 2 Kellys Farm, Penhalonga was arrested last Thursday by detectives from Rusape after a Canada-based nurse Ms Rebecca Chinamasa, of Plot 1 Lionshead Farm, Rusape lodged fraud charges against him.
Musabaeka, who was represented by Mr Walter Mangwende, of Chiwanza and Partners Legal Practitioners, was granted $300 bail by magistrate Mr Vusimuzu Gapara.
He was also ordered to report once a fortnight at ZRP Penhalonga and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Mr Marlon Makamba prosecuted.
Mr Makamba had opposed the release of Musabaeka arguing that he was not a suitable candidate for bail as he was facing a serious offence.
Mr Makamba told the court that Ms Chinamasa, sometime in 2012, met Musabaeka in Mutare, who promised to assist her to acquire a residential stand.
When Ms Chinamasa returned to Canada, Musabaeka allegedly informed her that there was a residential stand on offer in Nyanga. Ms Chinamasa allegedly wired US$4 700, which the accused converted to personal use.
“Musabaeka and Chinamasa are not related, but were once lovers. In June 2012, Chinamasa came to Zimbabwe and met Musabaeka in Mutare, where she confided in him that she was in need of a residential stand. Musabaeka offered to assist her, and he drove her around Mutare showing her some stands which he alleged were vacant.
“Musabaeka also drove her to Nyanga where they approached Nyanga Rural District Council, but were told that there were no vacant residential stands at that moment.
“They were advised that some residential stands would be available in a few months’ time. Chinamasa went back to Canada and maintained communication with Musabaeka. In August 2012, Musabaeka told Chinamasa there were some residential stands available in Nyanga. He told her that US$100 was needed as registration fee.
“On 31 August 2012, the complainant wired CAD 101,65 to Musabaeka as the registration fee through MoneyGram. From September 2012 to November 2012 Chinamasa wired varying amounts towards the purchase of the stand.
“When Chinamasa returned to Zimbabwe, she made numerous efforts to locate Musabaeka so that he could show her the residential stand she had paid for and surrender the documentation to her, but she failed to find him. This month (August 2019) Chinamasa returned to Zimbabwe and then lodged a police report after realising that Musabaeka had duped her.
The transaction history from MoneyGram could be produced in court as exhibit. The value is US$4 700 when converted to United States dollars and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Makamba.
Musabaeka’s trial was expected to kick off yesterday (Thursday) as Chinamasa was expected to fly back to Canada today (Friday).-ManicaPost
Tongogara says: "On 25 Oct, SADC economies will collapse after supporting a terrorist (Mnangagwa) who's killed more blacks than apartheid South Africa and is continuing" IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?
By Talent Gondo- Zimbabwe’s livestock sector is set to produce the country’s first veterinary vaccines after Treasury provided funding for the programme.
Speaking at the 7th Annual National Agribusiness Conference at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in Harare this Wednesday on stakeholders’ preparedness for the 2019/20 summer agricultural season with regards to livestock vaccines, Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) chief executive officer Professor Robson Mafoti said the they would be in a position to report completing the first batch of locally produced vaccines by year-end if the everything went according to plan.
Seed houses, fertiliser and agro-chemical companies also took the opportunity to announce their preparedness to play their part in making the 2019/2020 agricultural season a success.
Seed Co Limited managing director (Southern Africa) Mr Denias Zaranyika who briefed the conference on the seed supply situation on behalf of all seed houses at the event said they had 35 000 tonnes of maize seed, 8 000 tonnes of wheat seed, 7 000tonnes of soya bean, 1 200 of sugar beans, 1 200 tonnes of sorghum and 8000 tonnes of cotton seed while the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) also confirmed that they had enough seed in their stocks for the season.
Mr Zaranyika highlighted that 13tonnes of the total maize seed were of the early maturity category and could play a critical part in alleviating food shortages in the event of a poor season punctuated by insufficient rains.
Chemplex Corporation chief executive officer Engineer Tapuwa Mashingaidze chipped in calling on Government to capacitate local manufacturers such as Sable Chemicals to produce to capacity and help cut on the import billadding that there was a worrisome dependency on imported that were bleeding Government’s coffers every year.
He said 400 000 tonnes of fertiliser were required for the summer cropping seasonwith an estimated RTGS$2, 2 billion needed for this season’s fertilizer requirements only.
Eng Mashingaidze added that these projections could be met if the RTGS$3, 2billion funding that treasury availed for fertilizer the sector was channelled to the intended parties on time.-ManicaPost
By Talent Gondo- The computerisation programme in the transport sector has increased government revenue, with at least US$375 million being realised over the past five years since the programme was implemented.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has computerised most of its departments and services, curbing leakages, pilferage and corruption, as human interface has been significantly reduced, raising the amount of money accruing to Treasury.
The ministry modernised systems through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (zinara), Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) and most recently through the Zimbabwe Traffic Information System (ZIMTIS).
In an interview on Thursday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said they were excited as Government with gains that have accrued to the fiscus owing to the computerisation process.
“We are quite excited with the computerisation process which has removed the human interface, thus reducing corruption in a significant way. Not only has it eradicated or reduced corruption, the system has also brought efficiency and convenience to the ordinary public.
Some of the work was being done manually, but it is now being done electronically. Revenue has increased significantly, something which is a source of pride to us. We will continue to work to improve the system in our quest to fight corruption and inefficiencies.”
According to statistics glimpsed by a local publication, vehicle licensing, under ZINARA, generated revenue of US$15 million annually before the advent of the system, but was now raking in an average of US$56 million.
Tolling revenue across the 17 tollgates increased from $16 million when manual receipting was being carried out in 2013, to an average of $50 million a year, meaning computerisation drove a revenue increase of $34 million. Revenue also rose with respect to road transit programme fees which is collected when foreign registered vehicles traverse the country.-StateMedia
By Talent Gondo- About 300 people believed to be Zimbabweans were on Wednesday arrested around Musina, including the Beitbridge Border Post areas, for allegedly flouting South African immigration laws, officials in South Africa have said.
Among those arrested was a suspected human trafficker, caught with a two-year-old undocumented Zimbabwean toddler during a joint operation code-named “Basadi”, supervised by Mamane Dickson Masemola, a member of the executive committee (MEC) in charge of the affairs of the Limpopo province bordering Zimbabwe.
A joint statement from Masemola – who is the MEC for Transport and Safety and the Limpopo Province commander of South African Police Services (Saps), Lieutenant-General Nneke Ledwaba – issued on Wednesday evening said 295 people had been arrested under the Immigration Act .
It also said Mamane, who sits on a committee of provincial ministers, participated in operation Basadi, which incorporated stop-and-search roadblocks, including patrol crime-beats.
“The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Namane Dickson Masemola, has today (August 21, 2019) visited Musina in support of the law enforcement operation, Basadi”, the statement said.
“The on-duty parade was held at the Musina South African National Defence Force (Sandf) military base and the integrated operation was conducted until 13:00hrs, covering Musina, the Beitbridge Border Post and surrounding areas.”
The stop-and-search operation was carried out along all the major roads, targetting police wanted persons and all unlicensed businesses.
“In total, 373 suspects were arrested for residence and business burglary, aggravated and common assaults, thefts of and from motor vehicles,” the statement read.
“Saps units from the lowest to the highest ranks, constituting female police officers within the environments of Crime Intelligence, Assets Management, Legal Services, Corporate Communication, Provincial Support, Vispol, Detectives, Stock Theft, FCS, VCIU, DPCI, CR & SCM, POCC, ORS, K9, Mounted Unit, the Public Order Police Unit, Beitbridge Border Gate and cluster commanders of Tzaneen, Seshego, Mahwelereng, Polokwane, Makhado, Giyani, Modimolle, Lephalale and Thohoyandou, joined forces as they embarked on law enforcement activities around the border area. During this operation, Saps women were also joined by other law enforcement partners from the Provincial and Municipal Traffic and the Sandf.”
Operation Basadi (women), which is ongoing, has a bias to acknowledge police women and has in some occasions involved Zimbabwean female cops in operations within the border areas.
Thousands of Zimbabweans are arrested in South Africa on a daily basis as they flee a free-falling economy which government blames on illegal sanctions.
The main opposition MDC party, however, points at misrule and poor management of the economy — coupled with corruption — as the main undoing of an otherwise promising nation whose citizens now flock to South Africa where they settle for poorly-paid second-class jobs.
Of late, most cross-border travellers have found themselves having to jump the border, risking robberies and attacks by wild animals since Zimbabwe currently does not have enough material to produce passports, with government only able to produce 800 travel documents per day.-Newsday
By Talent Gondo- Government has awarded a 76% salary hike to its restive workers, a move which will see the lowest paid civil servant getting around $1 000 per month.
However, the civil servants’ representative body, the Apex Council, yesterday described the increase as a drop in the ocean, given the rate of inflation in the country.
The increase comes after most civil servants had notified their employer of their incapacity to continue reporting for duty, with others threatening industrial action over the high cost of living.
In a statement, the Apex Council said the salary adjustment fell far short of their expectations of $4 750 (US$475) for the least paid worker.
“Following the rejection of a 10% government offer by the Apex Council, the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting convened today (August 23, 2019) saw government move their offer to 76% of the total package with effective from August 1, 2019,” part of the statement co-signed by Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander and vice-chairperson, Thomas Muzondo, read.
“The offer does not meet the stated position of the workers, which is pegged at $4 750 for the least paid civil servant. According to this development, the lowest paid worker is expected to take home $1 023 from $582.”
Apex Council leaders said they would soon consult their members again and update government of the outcome at their next meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou had poured cold water on the government’s salary offer.
“Why has the government and Apex Council been quiet for all along? Government and Apex Council claim to be talking when civil servants threaten to go on strike. We certainly do not eat empty promises. The government already claims that a hefty salary is on its way, but we are aware that this is a tissue of misrepresentation,” he said.
“Let the teachers measure the deftness of the salary rather than the self-appraisal of a starvation salary being labelled hefty by an uncaring employer.”
“At any rate, the government is well known for peddling falsehoods. They promised duty-free cars to civil servants last year, but up to now, not even a single teacher has accessed that facility. The government has failed to provide stands for teachers’ accommodation purposes, let alone to exempt three children for every teacher from paying tuition fees,” Zhou said.
This comes as staff at State universities have declared that they are financially incapacitated to continue reporting for duty following the erosion of their salaries by inflation.
Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics president Alois Muzvuwe on Thursday gave notice that from September 8, their members would stop going to work until government reviewed their salaries.
“This decision comes after realising that efforts to seek redress on State universities have not yielded the desired outcome. The Higher Education ministry has failed to provide answers or solutions to low standards of living and hardships that are being experienced by State universities teaching staff,” Muzvuwe said in a statement.
This came after Midlands State University (MSU) staff on Wednesday registered the same concerns with their administration.
In a memorandum to vice-chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa, the MSU Lecturers’ Association said their salaries had dropped 10 times, adding they were now only able to report for duty on the first three days of the month.
MSU spokesperson Mirirai Mawere yesterday told NewsDay Weekender that the university management was now seized with the matter.
“We acknowledge receipt of the memorandum and we wish to assure our valued stakeholders that the university is seized with this matter. We are pursuing internal strategies to ensure that our students continue to learn and are not inconvenienced in any way,” she said.-Newsday
By Talent Gondo- Embattled Zanu PF chairperson for Mashonaland Central province Kazembe Kazembe has warned ruling party members against remaining in the campaign mode and urged them to accept the current party leadership.
Addressing party supporters during Muzarabani North legislator Zhemu Soda’s victory celebrations at Utete Business Centre recently, Kazembe said he would not leave his party position because he loved it and those who try to disturb his duties would suffer the consequences.
“As Zanu PF, we should be united and not be on each other’s throat every time, meaning we should not be in the campaign mood always,” he said.
“Let us learn to accept the incumbent leaders so as to build the nation. Let me also take this opportunity to warn those fanning divisions in the party that there will be a blood bath. You want me to leave this
chairmanship yet I still want it. There will be bloodbath.”
Serious factionalism is reportedly rocking the province, with war veterans calling for the removal of Kazembe from the chairmanship on allegations of failing to mobilise supporters to attend party programmes supposed to be presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa reportedly snubbed two events at the eleventh hour due to poor attendance.
Kazembe further claimed that officials were already positioning themselves in the structures before the official restructuring exercise.
“We have officials who are already positioning themselves before the official exercise. Why should we be doing that? What do you need these positions for? Give us time to work, a councillor, Member of Parliament and the chairperson of the party should be supported to avoid getting into each other’s tracks, since we are winners,” he said.More in Home
He further castigated the Nelson Chamisa-led opposition MDC for accusing Mnangagwa of stealing votes in last year’s controversial presidential election.
“We have the MDC making noise for the next five years. We were robbed, we were robbed yet time is moving. But we are very alert and will not let the country go. They have set demonstrations after seeing the great works of the President who is fighting corruption with Zacc [Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission],” Kazembe claimed.
He further implored members of the community to police each other and account for their movements and whereabouts in light of the planned demonstrations by the MDC.
“Our President told us that there will be pain when resolving the country’s economic hardships, but Chamisa has taken that opportunity and is now influencing retailers to raise prices so that you revolt against the President,” Kazembe claimed.
“Recently, I heard that they want to move province by province. Here in Mash Central, we do not do demonstrations. Check your neighbour, if you find him or her missing, he or she has to explain about his or her whereabouts,” he said.-Newsday
By AEDIT Beauty Board- In the wake of Allergan issuing a global recall of its BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders, The AEDITION breaks down what it means for patient safety.
At this point, you’ve likely heard that Allergan (the Dublin-based drugmaker behind BOTOX®, JUVÉDERM®, CoolSculpting®, LATISSE®, and more) issued a worldwide recall of its BIOCELL® saline- and silicone-filled textured breast implants and tissue expanders.
The decision followed a request from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove the products from the market due to a link between them and a rare type of cancer known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (a.k.a. BIA-ALCL).
The Backstory
The debate about textured implants is nothing new. Amidst a growing concern about potential health risks (they were pulled from European markets in December 2018, with Canada and Australia following suit in May and July, respectively), the FDA determined in March 2019 that there was not enough evidence to support banning the products at the time. New data, however, has the agency changing its tune.
The FDA now reports there have been 573 cases of BIA-ALCL since 2011, and 481 of the patients had BIOCELL® implants at the time of their diagnosis. Of the 33 deaths from the rare cancer of the immune system, authorities have been able to identify the manufacturer of the implants in 13 cases — 12 of them involved Allergan. The agency believes the risk of disease from BIOCELL® textured products is six times greater than that of other brands.
“Once the evidence indicated that a specific manufacturer’s product appeared to be directly linked to significant patient harm, including death, the FDA took action to alert the firm to new evidence indicating a recall is warranted to protect women’s health,” FDA principal deputy commissioner Amy Abernethy said in a statement.
The Specifics
Unlike smooth implants, textured breast implants are known for their sandpaper-like exterior that helps to hold them in place. While they are common in Europe, they make up less than 10 percent of the units sold in the U.S. market.
Even so, the FDA recommends (as of July 24, 2019) health care providers immediately stop implanting BIOCELL® products and return unused inventory. Patients, meanwhile, are advised to monitor for BIA-ALCL symptoms, which include persistent swelling or pain in the vicinity of the implant. While patients diagnosed with the cancer should have their implants removed, the FDA does not currently suggest the removal of textured implants or tissue expanders for those who are symptom free.
The recall adds yet another layer to the recent negative press breast implants in general have received. In the lead up to that March FDA meeting, some providers renewed calls for so-called “breast implant illness” or BII to be classified as a medical condition due to the autoimmune disorders (think: muscle pain, fatigue, digestive issues, inflammation, weakness, hair loss, and cognitive impairment to name a few) patients and surgeons believe could be tied to silicone implants.
“While the FDA doesn’t have definitive evidence suggesting breast implants are associated with these conditions, we’re looking to gain a fuller understanding of this issue to communicate risk, minimize harm and help in the treatment of affected patients,” the agency said in the report, while imploring medical device manufacturers to invest in long-term testing for BII.
The Takeaway
So, what does all of this new information mean for the estimated five million-plus Americans who currently have breast implants?
If you have a textured breast implant, the risk of developing BIA-ALCL over your lifetime is somewhere between one in 4,000 and one in 30,000. To put that in perspective, the lifetime risk of being hit by lightning is one in 3,000. Thus, the chance of developing breast implant-associated cancer is less than the chance of getting struck by lightning, and treatment of local BIA cancer is nearly 100 percent curable with excision.
The low odds explain why the FDA does not recommend removal of Allergan BIOCELL® breast implants in patients with no symptoms — though it has rightly banned BIOCELL® products from further use due to the unnecessarily and significantly elevated risk of BIA cancer.
Patients experiencing symptoms that could be related to BIA or BII should contact their plastic surgeon.
By Wilbert Mukori- There is no doubt that ever since the 2008 to 2013 GNU there was mutual understanding, a cordial agreement, a “entente cordiale” as the French would say, struck between Zanu PF and MDC. MDC was supposed to implement the raft of democratic reforms SADC leaders had managed to get Mugabe to sign on to at the on-set of the GNU.
“The opposition MDC went
into the Government of National Unity (GNU) between 2009-2013 without a plan
and failed to utilise the opportunity, new party leader Nelson Chamisa has
admitted,” reported New Zimbabwe.
“We got in the inclusive
government and just sat there, spent five years in there. We came out without
doing anything. We will not do that, dialogue must have timelines that are very
clear, the international community must tick us, mark us on the boxes,” quoting
Chamisa
This was just a feeble
excuse; SADC leaders produced a roadmap and they did their best to remind MDC
leaders to follow the roadmap but were repeatedly ignored.
Robert Mugabe entrapped
the MDC leaders with very generous salaries and allowances, ministerial limos,
a former white-owned farm for senor Welshman Ncube, a $4 million Highlands
mansion for senor Tsvangirai, etc., etc.
A down payment and Mugabe’s entente cordiale gesture; proof, as far as
the MDC leaders were concerned, that Zanu PF accepted them as fully paid
members of the exclusive rule elite.
Ditching implementing the
democratic reforms was the least MDC leaders could do to express their
gratitude to Robert Mugabe for his acceptance of the MDC leaders into the
exclusive ruling elite club. Afterall why would MDC leaders still want to
implement the reforms when they too stand to benefit from these undemocratic
practices, now that they are members of the ruling elite for life.
MDC leaders were warned
against participating in the 2013 elections without reforms, but they ignored
the warning. Tsvangirai was cocksure MDC would win that election regardless of
the vote rigging.
Tsvangirai knew Zanu PF
would rig the elections but, given the prevailing entente cordiale spirit, he
was cocksure he would win the 2013 elections. True enough the wanton violence
and barbarism of 2008 was gone, Zanu PF had taken its heavy boot off the wanton
violence pedal. True, the party stepped up its intimidation with party leaders
and operatives warning the populous that the 2008 violence would return if the
party was to lose the election. It was operation harvest fear.
Zanu PF stepped up the
more subtle vote rigging activities such as vote buying and jerrymandering the
voter registration and voting to give the party the edge. The number of polling
stations were increased from 2 000 in 2008 to 9 000 in 2013 and the regime
failed to produce a verified voters’ roll, for example. Still MDC leaders
soldiered on confident they would still win the 2013 elections.
Morgan Tsvangirai won 73%
of the vote in the March 2008 election, according to Mugabe’s Freudian slip,
and he went into the 2013 elections cocksure he will be elected president and
MDC will win the majority. He lost and so did his party! They were shocked but
helpless to do anything about it.
Tsvangirai and company
could not take Zanu PF to task for the blatant vote rigging when everyone who
understood what had happened throughout the GNU KNEW it was MDC leaders’ fault
that not even one reform was implemented in five years of the GNU. Not even
one!
MDC leaders knew they had
lost their chance to implement the democratic reforms during the GNU and with
it their political credibility.
Zanu PF was smart enough
to know the party will need MDC to continue participating in elections
regardless how flawed and illegal the process got if the party was to get away
with rigged elections. Zanu PF offered to let the opposition a few gravy-train
seats to entice them to participate. It worked like a charm!
There were a staggering 23
presidential candidates and no fewer than 130 political parties contested last
year’s elections. All the opposition candidate knew Zanu PF was going to rig
the elections because not even one reform was implemented since the 2013 rigged
elections.
Even when ZEC failed to
produce a verified voters’ roll and the number of polling station had gone up
to over 11 000; not even a team of wild horses would stop the opposition
candidate participating. Chamisa even boasted that “MDC had stringent measures
to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections!” Of course, he was lying. The opposition
candidates were after the few seats Zanu PF was giving away and did not care
that the elections were rigged!
In 2013 Zanu PF rigged the
elections and MDC leaders accepted the outcome without a farce; there are three
main reasons MDC leaders have made a big farce following the 2018 elections
with their demand for Mnangagwa to include MDC leaders in his cabinet.
Chamisa feels
that he had gone the extra mile by participating in the elections even when it
was clear the elections were being rigged. He clearly believes that extra
effort is worthy of political recognition and rewarding. He is asking for a
ministerial position for himself and a few other MDC leaders.
The EU,
Commonwealth and all the other election observers have condemned last year’s
election as a farce making the Zanu PF regime illegitimate. Although the MDC
has accepted the parliamentary process as legitimate the party’s continued
rejection of Mnangagwa as the legitimately elected president is unnerving
Mnangagwa. Chamisa is only taking advantage of the EU, etc. position to
pressure Mnangagwa to concede to his power sharing demands.
By blatantly
rigging the elections, failing to do anything to stamp out corruption, etc.;
Mnangagwa confirmed that Zimbabwe, under his leadership, is still a pariah
state. There will be no meaningful economic recovery as long as the country
remains a pariah state.
Chamisa has offered to revive the economy, if Mnangagwa agreed to share
power. “I have the key to unlock the economy,” said Chamisa. He is bluffing, of
course; there will be no meaningful recovery as long as the country remains a
pariah state.
However, with the country’s economic meltdown going into overdrive,
Mnangagwa will be forced to go into the power sharing arrangement.
In 1939 Adolf Hitler and
Joseph Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact or Non-aggression and
Neutrality Pact. The pact included a secret protocol defining the borders of
Soviet and German “spheres of influence” in the event of possible
rearrangement of the territories belonging to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia, and Finland.
The Zanu PF and MDC
entente cordiale is every bit the Hitler-Stalin pact in which we the ordinary
Zimbabweans are the Poles, Lithuanians, etc. whose rights and freedoms are
being decided by the two parties and we have no say. The new GNU that MDC is
pushing for will secure cabinet positions for MDC but will not advance our
common cause of free, fair and credible elections one iota!
Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and so the regime is illegitimate. The regime must step down to allow the appointment of competent body to implement the reforms and finally end this curse of rigged elections.
MDC is now working in cahoots with Zanu PF to remain in power for each’s selfish gain. It is important that we end this cosy MDC and Zanu PF entente cordiale that has brought nothing but suffering and death to us all.
By Muchie Shamuyarira | In recent years, the UK courts and tribunals have resisted attempts by employers to use the “illegality defence” to block vulnerable migrant workers’ employment tribunal claims.
While this case concerned contractual claims, employers should bear in mind that illegal working does not necessarily preclude a claim under the Equality Act 2010 (see case Hounga v Allen and another [2014] IRLR 811 SC).
Contract of employment | illegal working | enforceability
In the recent case in Okedina v Chikale [2019] EWCA Civ 1393 CA, the UK Court of Appeal held that a worker’s former employer could not block her contractual claims by arguing that she was working without the required immigration status.
Mrs Okedina brought Ms Chikale from Malawi to the UK in July 2013 to work for her as a live-in domestic worker. She worked very long hours and was paid only £3,300 during her employment.
Ms Chikale was initially granted a visa to work in the UK. When the visa ran out in November 2013, Mrs Okedina told Ms Chikale that the necessary steps were being taken to extend the visa. Mrs Okedina made an application for a visa extension, forging Ms Chikale’s signature and applying on the false basis that she was a family member. The application was refused.
Ms Chikale, who was unaware that she was working illegally, continued in Mrs Okedina’s employment, but was dismissed in June 2015 after asking for more money. She brought a number of successful “contractual” employment tribunal claims, including claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal, unlawful deductions from wages, and unpaid holiday pay.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld Ms Chikale’s claims and Mrs Okedina appealed to the Court of Appeal. The sole point before the Court of Appeal was whether or not Mrs Okedina could raise a defence of illegality in respect of the period after November 2013. In other words, Mrs Okedina argued that the contractual claims could not succeed because the contract of employment was illegal once Ms Chikale’s leave to remain expired.
The Court of Appeal noted that the contract of employment could have been unenforceable because of:
Statutory illegality. This is where legislation either prohibits the making of a contract so that it is unenforceable by either party or provides that a contract, or a particular contractual term, is unenforceable by one or other party. The knowledge or culpability of the party seeking recompense is irrelevant: it is a simple matter of obeying the legislation.
Common law illegality. This arises where the formation, purpose or performance of the contract involves conduct that is illegal or contrary to public policy and where the denial of enforcement of the contract to one or other party is an appropriate response to that conduct.
The Court of Appeal observed that, in most case law involving illegality in the employment field, the employee is well aware of their immigration status, although they may have sought to conceal it from the employer. Unusually, Ms Chikale was unaware of her immigration status and it was her employer concealing her true immigration status from her. For this reason, the only possible defence for Mrs Okedina would be “statutory illegality”.
The Court of Appeal set out the two relevant statutory provisions: sections 15 and 21 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Section 15 imposes civil penalties on employers that employ illegal workers, although employers have a statutory excuse against liabilities for civil penalties if they carry out satisfactory right-to-work checks. Section 21 makes it a criminal offence to employ a person knowing that they are disqualified from employment because of their immigration status.
However, the Court of Appeal highlighted that the sections do not expressly prevent the parties from entering into a contract of employment where the employee does not have the appropriate immigration status, nor do they provide that such a contract should be unenforceable by either party. The sections do no more than provide for civil and criminal penalties, which are imposed only on the employer.
The Court of Appeal went on to consider whether or not an intention could be implied into sections 15 and 21 that a
contract of employment where the employee does not have the appropriate immigration status should be unenforceable by either party. To imply such an intention, the Court had to consider “public policy in the light of the mischief which the statute is designed to prevent, its language, scope and purpose, the consequences for the innocent party, and any other relevant considerations”.
The Court of Appeal concluded that it would be going too far to imply such an intention into sections 15 and 21, where the effect would be that an innocent employee is deprived of all contractual remedies against the employer. The Court noted that the “common law illegality” defence remains available where the employee knowingly participates in the illegality.
The Court of Appeal rejected Mrs Okedina’s appeal and upheld Ms Chikale’s contractual claims.
This article and case should not in anyway meant to encourage illegal working in the UK but to advise potential victims regarding their employment rights.
Muchie Shamuyarira (Chartered Member of CIPD – UK)
HR & Industrial Relations Director and also Employment Law Consultant in the UK
The savage attack on lawyer Doug Coltart who was simply carrying out his work as a Legal Practitioner for the Association of Rural Teachers of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is further evidence that all pretence is gone and we are now dealing with a brutal illegitimate regime that has now turned full scale.
lndeed, it now seems that the regime is increasingly making dictator Robert Mugabe now look like an angel. At least with him we knew where we stood.
But this is not so with the illegitimate regime. Having initially assumed office after a coup and having been misled that we were turning the corner it has become evident that this was a false dawn.
We in the MDC now feel vindicated. We have been saying it, time and again that this is neither a New Dispensation nor a Second Republic but a continuation of the repression which started under the racist colonial regime and was perfected by Mugabe and now its deja vu.
The hopes of the long suffering Zimbabwean people have been dashed and the dream of November 2017 has turned into a terrible nightmare.
The New Deception is no longer subtle and we thought that the era where professionals doing their job would be brutalized was gone but alas we are back to square one.
The failure by the illegitimate regime to uphold the rule of law is astounding.
ARTUZ is a bona fide trade union and as such exempt from the provisions of POSA but to the powers that be this matters not and that exception is not recognized.
Further to that the excessive use of force and overreaction is clearly unwarranted if indeed we want to be taken seriously as a democratic country.
Following the brutalization of some journalists who were simply trying to cover events on the 16th of August 2019 it was not surprising that something more frightening was to occur in the dead of the night when Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti received some uninvited visitors who abducted and tortured her.
While we know that the culprits are unlikely to be apprehended what we find reprehensible and disgusting is the Twitter post allegedly under the handle of a Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi that this is an abduction skit.
This is not new as a former Minister Moven Mahachi made a bizarre claim that journalists the late Mark Chavhunduka and Ray Choto who had been tortured had scratched themselves.
This level of insensitivity and callousness is not expected and should have been buried with the demise of racism and apartheid but is alive and well with our new rulers.
We in the MDC cherish the freedoms and rights which are enshrined in our Constitution and we will continue fighting for a truly democratic system which Zimbabweans deserve.
Innocent Gonese
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs
Nyasha Times|The Malawian presidential election nullification petition case will drag for the next four months with Constitutional Court expected to deliver ruling next year.
The revelation comes as the five-judge panel on Friday rejected a new checklist by President Peter Mutharika lawyers who indicated they wanted to cross-examine 243 witnesses.
Last week, the Constitution Court directed that all parties should submit new witness checklist indicating how many dependent they are to be cross examine, their identities and areas or paragraphs to be examined for the court to achieve expedition on the case.
However, Judge Healey Potani, chair of the five-judge panel of Dingiswayo Madise, Redson Kapindu, Mike Tembo and Ivy Kamanga, on Friday noted that Mutharika lawyers were not ‘serious’ on the issues as they only indicated that they want to quiz 243 witness.
“The court has rejected the first respondent’s checklist because it seems like it was not prepared according to the direction of the court. They will have to file a new one which will comply with the court directive,” said Justice Potani.
UTM has indicated it only want to cross examine a total of four, while the Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP), looks set to examine 12 witnesses. Lawyers for President Mutharika want 243 witnesses in the block, while the MEC legal team want a total of 38 from UTM and 15 from MCP affidavits.
The Court has sent back all legal teams to perfect their submissions, indicate the areas which they are in agreement and areas they want to cross-examine the other side. Mutharika lawyers were chided for not being serious.
An estimated 50 witnesses are expected to be on the dock and MCP president Lazarus Chakwera might only be heard in court probably end October or November should the current pace of proceedings persists.
Registrar of High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Agnes Patemba said there is no specific duration to hear the elections petition case, saying the trial may reach December.
Patemba who is Judiciary spokesperson said the constitutional court gives judges mandate to make their determination for a maximum of 45 days after conclusion of hearing the case.
“There are rules that govern elections, Considering that the case is now at the Constitutional Court, there are also rules that are followed,” said Patemba.
Ruling in the case in which UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and a fellow presidential hopeful in the May 21 Tripartite Elections, MCP’s Lazarus Chakwera, petitioned the court to nullify the results, citing irregularities in the administration of the polls can be predicted somewhere after one year of elections.
The MCP and UTM Party presidential candidates claim the presidential elections were rigged in favour of Mutharika who was declared winner with 38 percent of the votes trailed by Chakwera with 35 percent and Chilima with 20 percent.
There was drama last night during a live debate when the ZANU PF Youth League chairman (UK) charged accusing the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo for manufacturing evidence proving military intervention during the 2018 elections. Below is a snippet (ALSO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW :
State Media|Government has offered a 76 percent pay rise to civil servants, which will see the least-paid worker taking home $1 023 per month.
This emerged during yesterday’s National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting in Harare, which involved the Government and civil servants’ representatives.
Government could not be immediately reached for comment as Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza was reportedly in remote areas, while the ministry’s permanent secretary and lead negotiator, Mr Simon Masanga said he “does not issue Press statements”.
But Apex Council chairperson, Mrs Cecilia Alexander, confirmed that Government had reviewed its offer to 76 percent from the initial 10 percent offer.
“We have not rejected and we have not accepted the offer from Government,” said Mrs Alexander.
“We are going back to consult our members; we don’t have the mandate to accept that $1 023 offer, so we are going back to our members.
“But we are going to meet on Tuesday (next week). Once our members have given us a go-ahead — we are messengers — we will accept and if they say no, we will also communicate that accordingly.”
A statement released yesterday by the Apex Council, which was signed by both Mrs Alexander and her deputy Mr Thomas Muzondo, read; “Following the rejection of a 10 percent Government offer by the Apex Council, the NJNC meeting convened today this 23 August 2019, saw Government move their offer to 76 percent of the total package with effect from the 1st of August 2019.”
However, the Apex Council said Government’s latest offer does not meet the workers’ position of $4 750 for the least-paid civil servant.
Presently, the lowest paid civil servant is taking home $582.
The new offer by Government shows its determination to ensure its employees were well remunerated, especially following a wave of unjustified increases in the price of goods and services.
On July 18, Government and its workers met and agreed to a once-off cushioning allowance of $400 to provide relief to employees while a cost of living adjustment (COLA) was being negotiated.
State Media|THE High Court has nullified the suspension of Bulawayo Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, by Deputy Mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami.
The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa follows an application by Mr Dube challenging his recent suspension. He sought a court order declaring his suspension by Clr Kambarami null and void even though council had lifted the suspension.
Mr Dube was recently violently ejected from his office by Clr Kambarami working closely with Ward Four Clr Silas Chigora as they claimed that they were suspending him from work over a number of allegations including abuse of office.
In papers before the court, Clr Kambarami, in his personal capacity and Bulawayo City Council, were cited as respondents. “It is ordered that the letter of the 11th July 2019, authored by the first respondent (Clr Kambarami purporting to suspend the applicant (Mr Dube) be and is hereby declared ultra vires (done beyond one’s legal power or authority) and consequently null and void together with all actions following therefrom,” ruled Justice Mabhikwa.
He ordered each party to bear its own legal costs. Mr Dube, who was represented by lawyers from Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, also wanted the respondents to conform to provisions of the law should they decide to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.
In his founding affidavit, Mr Dube said Clr Kambarami acted unlawfully and unreasonably when he suspended him from office.
“Our country is a constitutional democracy and in terms of the new constitutional dispensation, the right to administrative justice is enshrined in the Justiciable Bill of Rights and every person has a right to administrative conduct that is lawful, prompt, efficient, reasonable, proportionate, impartial and both substantially and procedurally fair,” he said.
Mr Dube said the respondents are bound by the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act to act reasonably and in a fair manner in taking administrative action, which may affect the rights, interests or legitimate expectations of any person. “The first respondent (Clr Kambarami) in casu acted in violation of the law making his conduct unlawful and indeed unreasonable,” he said.
Mr Dube said Clr Kambarami purported to arrogate himself mayoral powers when he suspended him. “The fact that the office of the mayor and that of the deputy mayor are created by the same Section 103 of the Urban Councils Act, does not mean that the deputy mayor can usurp the powers of the mayor.
Of course, there are instances when a deputy mayor can lawfully act in the stead of the mayor, but their functions are governed by Section 104 of the Urban Councils Act,” he said.
Mr Dube said it was unreasonable for Clr Kambarami to storm into his office and serve him with an “illegal purported” letter of suspension.
“My constitutional rights were flagrantly violated by first respondent who was acting illegally by taking the law into his own hands and it is for this reason that I have sued him in his personal capacity. He was certainly acting in a frolic of his own and his conduct was not sanctioned by the second respondent (Bulawayo City Council),” said Mr Dube.
He argued that the purported letter of suspension dated 11 July 2019 could not stand.
Mr Dube later opened a criminal case against his assailants under CRB2516A&B/19 and the matter was ruled in favour Clr Kambarami.
Clr Kambarami suspended Mr Dube and, with the help of other councillors, ejected the Town Clerk from his office before locking it and placing a key blocker.
This was despite advice to Clr Kambarami by Chamber Secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou that they had not followed procedure in their actions.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi on Wednesday stated that the government will find it difficult to respect the rights of the people for as long as the country is under economic restrictions from the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA).
Zimbabwe has been under the economic embargo from the western power since the turn of the millennium after the controversial and highly violent land reform during former President Robert Mugabe’s era.
The restrictions have been used as a scapegoat for the economic collapse and have been accused of fuelling corruption which deters progress.
Corruption rank in Zimbabwe averaged 123.48 from 1998 until 2018, reaching an all-time high of 166 in 2008 and a record low of 43 in 1998.
This has seen most public institutions failing to perform and the old regime under Mugabe seemed to show a lack of zeal to fight the scourge.
Making a presentation during the launch of the Anti-Corruption Campaign which is sponsored by the EU, Ziyambi said it is difficult for the government to respect people’s rights for as long as sanctions are still there.
He said the resections make it impossible for Zimbabwe to attain its vision 2030 as corruption will still be escalated due to unavailability of basic goods and services which are a right for the struggling masses.
“Among the things we need to deal with is the reform process and the respect of our constitution, fundamental human rights. We cannot respect the rights of the citizens of Zimbabwe when sanctions are still there.
“So I want to call upon my brother (EU Ambassador Timo Olkkonen), as we launch the anti-corruption campaign and say that corruption and sanctions go hand in hand.”
Ziyambi said when a country is under sanctions, shortages of basic commodities will be inevitable hence corruption starts sprouting.
“So I urge him to reconsider the rights of the poor citizens of Zimbabwe and become an advocate of the anti-sanctions drive,” he said.
The sentiments came barely a week after the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had its supporters beaten by the police after they took to the streets to protest against corruption, an ailing economy and poor governance by the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration.
The move was condemned by the EU and the USA as the two powerhouses cited human rights abuses.
EU Ambassador, Timo Olkkonen told the same gathering that Zimbabwe needed to respect the rights of citizens to petition and demonstrate and called on Mnangagwa to ensure a free environment for civil society to keep the government in check.
However, Mnangagwa would have none of it as he said the CSOs needs to stay in their lane and respect the laws of the land.
“May I urge civil society to restrict themselves to their mandate. The rule of law observance is not needed for the purpose of pleasing other countries, we need it because it is proper for ourselves,” warned Mnangagwa.
The coming in of President Mnangagwa had revived hopes that Zimbabwe might start acting on corruption.
The recently commissioned Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has made a number of arrests on senior political figures but the “catch and release” gimmick has raised eyebrows over its willingness to deal with the rampant scourge.263 Chat
Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga – who is based in South Africa – has again dismissed allegations that he was involved in corrupt land deals in his home country, saying the ruling Zanu-PF party’s bigwigs were being misled by the youth league.
Earlier this month, the Zanu-PF Youth League accused the businessman of corruption involving the acquisition and sale of residential stands, at a time when authorities have upped the ante in the fight against graft.
Zimbabwe’s newly constituted anti-graft body has been on blitz that has fingered senior government officials including Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira – who has since been arrested and sacked over graft allegations involving millions of US dollars.
Mupfumira is facing seven counts of corruption in relation to the $94 million that went missing from the state pension fund.
Another high flyer to be arrested was Principal Director Monitoring and evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma.
Buyanga, who has previously denied the allegations, on Friday took issue with Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party, which he said was being misled by its youth league. He claimed the youth league was using the anti-corruption blitz by authorities as guise to target individuals.
Last week, the businessman demanded that Zanu-PF Youth League leader Lewis Matutu provides evidence of any wrong doing. So far no such evidence has been made public.
Buyanga said he wants to remind Matutu that he has been at the forefront of fighting corruption in Zimbabwe, even during the Robert Mugabe era. He said since 2013 he has has been calling for an economic surveillance and monitoring unit under the Presidency.
The Hamilton Group founder produced letters in which he implores Zimbabwe government leaders to act against rampant corruption, especially in parastatals.
In a letter dated 30 September 2016, Buyanga tells state residences director, Innocent Tizora, that “… as a national duty, I would only be willing to assist … uncorrupted security sectors. It is not only obvious to the naked eye, but reports on the police and anti-corruption sectors leave a lot to be desired suggesting further that a total weed out of bad apples, if not saboteurs, within these crucial socio-economic segments of law enforcement and State-owned enterprises would help regain confidence for the much-needed recovery”.
But now that the youth league has fingered the businessman alleging that he bought and sold land in Zimbabwe in an under hand manner it remains to be seen what action the anti-corruption unit will take.
For his part Buyanga, who appears to be on a collision course with Zanu-PF over the graft allegations, is ready to declare his innocence to anyone who cares to listen.
Zimbabwe’s economy is in meltdown. In the past Buyanga has mentioned the millions of US dollars he says he has invested in that country.
Congratulations to Zimbabwean ?? swimmer ?♀️ Robyn Lee for winning a bronze medal ? in the 200m backstroke at the ongoing All Africa Games in Morocco ??.
Congratulations to Zimbabwean ?? swimmer ?♀️ Robyn Lee for winning a bronze medal ? in the 200m backstroke at the ongoing All Africa Games in Morocco ??.#BeInspiredpic.twitter.com/3b5BtyMJD5
Independent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is gunning for ex-vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko after picking up intelligence that he is reportedly working with some senior Zanu PF officials linked to ailing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and remnants of the ruling party’s spooky G40 faction to launch a court application challenging Mnangagwa’s legitimacy.
Security sources said Mphoko is also being hounded over his former shareholding in supermarket chain Choppies — seen as the source for a war chest to fund the application and the renewed power struggles.
He is also being hunted down over his role as former president Robert Mugabe’s point man to investigate a series of alleged crimes against Mnangagwa which include the late Godfrey Majonga’s forced crippling plunge from a high-rise flat saga, the mysterious death of a Harare woman and the Kwekwe gold mining wars and associated deaths.
The court challenge, security officials said, was meant to be premised around the contestation that Mnangagwa was unconstitutionally and unprocedurally appointed president after the November 2017 military coup which toppled former president Robert Mugabe.
The application was not going to challenge the coup per se, but argue that the constitution was not followed after Mugabe’s ouster.
The revelation comes at a time it has emerged Mugabe’s resignation letter has disappeared from parliament. Sources said this was connected to the planned court battle.
As revealed by the Zimbabwe Independent last week, a senior official in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, assistant clerk Johannes Gandiwa, who was entrusted with custody of Mugabe’s resignation letter, has been dismissed from work for gross negligence after the history-making document disappeared under his watch.
Mugabe resigned under pressure from the military on November 21, 2017, bringing an end to his controversial 37-year rule, although Chief Justice Luke Malaba later ruled he quit voluntarily. The letter, which vanished, says he left voluntarily.
His resignation letter, a culmination of a week of sustained military pressure and street demonstrations, was read out by Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda as parliament was in the process of initiating an impeachment motion against him.
Mnangagwa was then appointed president by Zanu PF before taking over the country.
Mphoko and his allies were said to be preparing to contest how Mnangagwa came in.
Part 4 of the Sixth Schedule Section 14 sub-paragraph 4 of the constitution, which provides a special provision for the election and tenure of president and appointment of vice-presidents, says “if the person elected president in any election referred to subparagraph (1) dies, resigns and is removed from office (a) the vice-president or, where there are two vice-presidents, the vice-president who was last nominated to act in terms of subparagraph (3)(b) acts as president until a new president assumes office in terms of subparagraph (5)”.
Mphoko was the only vice-president when the coup occurred following the firing of Mnangagwa by Mugabe two weeks earlier.
Sub-paragraph 4(b) states that “the vacancy in the office of the president must be filled by a nominee of the political party which the president represented when he or she stood for election”.
Sub-paragraph 5 says: “A political party which is entitled to nominate a person in terms of subparagraph (4)(b) must notify the Speaker of the nominee’s name within 90 days after which the vacancy occurred in the office of the president, and thereupon the nominee assumes office as president after taking the oath of president in terms of Section 94, which oath the nominee must take within 48 hours after the Speaker was notified of his or her name.”
Security sources say Mphoko was going to argue that Mnangagwa was not vice-president when Mugabe was removed and therefore he could not immediately come in from outside as required by the constitution and law, even though Zanu PF later held a meeting to reinstate him and then install him as president. The sources say Mphoko was going to contest the constitutionality and procedure of that process on those grounds.
Mnangagwa has been battling legitimacy questions since he came in; first the coup issue, then the disputed election matter and now Mphoko’s planned challenge. His legitimacy also came under close scrutiny on August 1, 2018 when the military shot and killed six people in the streets, before killing 17 more in January this year and after the police’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors in Harare last Friday.
“After information was obtained showing that Mphoko could launch the court challenge, a decision was made to get him so that he doesn’t become a new headache and a rallying point,” a source said. “An easy way of getting rid of him was to arrest him for storming Avondale Police Station to free former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri who were arrested in 2016 on allegations of defrauding the authority of US$1,3 million.”
Juma was last year jailed for an effective two years, while Norupiri was made an accomplice witness.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commisison (Zacc) officers were then unleashed on Mphoko. They tried to seize him last week on Saturday from his Bulawayo home and fought battles with him on Monday when he escaped arrest.
Zacc claimed on Tuesday he was on the run and a wanted man even though he was at his house. He then appeared in court on Wednesday at the magistrates’ court on criminal abuse of office charges. He was remanded out on ZW$1 000 bail.
Security sources said Mphoko spoke to Mnangagwa by phone on Tuesday to ask why he was being hounded and plead with him to stop Zacc from pursuing him. The sources said Mnangagwa told him that he was not sure why Zacc was in hot pursuit of him, but refused to intervene in the matter.
Despite being co-vice-presidents under Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Mphoko had fractious and sometimes hostile relations which deteriorated after the coup.
In his battle to regain control of Choppies following boardroom squabbles at the company after he was ousted from the vice-presidency in the aftermath of the coup, Mphoko’s backers accused Mnangagwa of supporting their Botswana business rivals.
Sources said Mphoko was only paid ZW$400 000 — instead of US$400 000 — for his 7% equity stake after being kicked out of Choppies.
However, Mphoko insists he owned 51% of the business and was entitled to US$33 million. He also wanted to launch a court case over that.
Sources said Mnangagwa is also hunting down Mphoko because he was used as a blunt instrument by Mugabe to attack him at the height of his succession battles. Mphoko was superintending criminal investigations against Mnangagwa ordered by Mugabe. Mphoko worked closely with former Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, before he was appointed Finance minister just before the coup, and former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri, sources say.
Police were investigating Mnangagwa over a series of allegations, including the murder of a Harare woman which his accusers implicated him in, his role in Kwekwe’s machete-driven gold wars and for allegedly forcing prominent journalist Majonga to jump from the second floor of a flat in the Avenues in Harare, leaving him crippled.
Majonga died in Harare this week.
Besides checkmating Mnangagwa, Mphoko also actively encouraged Mugabe to fire him. After Mnangagwa was sacked, forcing him to flee to South Africa through Mozambique, Mphoko urged Mugabe to appoint Grace as his co-vice-president, saying he was “lonely” as deputy at the top table.
This man was a student at Mugabe Secondary School between 1998-2001 and most of his victims were parents of his former school mates. The school is in Uzumba and he was from Manyika village. pic.twitter.com/rcGPzTGl9A
ZimEye can reveal the “killer’s” name is Mr Anesu Kapere.
By Own Correspondent | Latest details have emerged over the Uzumba man who confesses to allegedly killing six (updated) MDC members.
The were suggestions in a live broadcast on ZimEye on Wednesday that the man is suffering from a mental health condition.
But following the program, several people have confirmed the development. One of our sources in an audio recording, went to the extent of stating the man exact whereabouts.
ZimEye can now authoritatively reveal the “killer’s” name is Mr Anesu Kapere.
Kapere is seen on video confessing to killing the below list of people in exchange for $500 per person promised him by a ZANU PF MP. He also pleads for people to put spread news of this on social media platforms. On his Facebook page, he has placated the below as his profile picture:
Anesu Kapere
Kapere confidently says that he killed MDC members during the violence that lasted 72 hours in which perceived 32 MDC supporters were murdered in May 2008.
VIDEO LOADING (story also continues) BELOW…
This was just after the announcement of the 2008 Presidential elections where Morgan Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe by over 72% of the total vote tally.
To corroborate with the report, Emmerson Mnangagwa who was Mugabe’s chief election agent, is also in a separate video seen boasting that he is the one who later pushed for the election result to lead to a run off.
The murders happened in Uzumba. The list includes:
Farai Mudimu – Musafare Mudimu was murdered, confimed with MDC list
Karombe Benson Chipungu – Manyika Village, confirmed with MDC list
Amai Mushayahembe – Ruth Mushayahembe of Chimbwanda Village, confimed with MDC list
Brighton Mabwera – Child – 4 years old, in Manyika Village. He was burnt while inside his parents house after the father had fled.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has instituted investigations into Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya, who has been facing a slew of allegations of sexually abusing women.
The constitutional and independent body, whose mandate is to investigate possible violations of rights relating to gender and to receive and consider complaints from the public, is inviting “any person or victim with evidence or complaints” against Prophet Magaya.
The announcement was made by commission chairperson Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe in a Government Gazette published yesterday.
“It is hereby notified that, in terms of Section Five of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31) the Zimbabwe Gender Commission intends to investigate complaints of sexual abuse of women by Walter Magaya of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries,” read the notice by Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe.
“Further to the above notice, an invitation is hereby given to any victims or witnesses to any acts of sexual abuse by Walter Magaya to furnish Zimbabwe Gender Commission with written complaints, witnesses’ statements and any other supporting documents or evidence which can assist in the investigation. Oral hearings will commence thereafter on dates to be advised by the Commission.”
Section Five of the Act stipulates that before launching an investigation, “the Commission shall publish a notice in the Gazette and in any one or more national newspapers informing the public that, no earlier than 14 days or later than 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Gazette, it intends to investigate any systemic barrier prejudicial to gender equality”.
Last month, Magaya made headlines in the media after an actress Ms Charity Dlodlo accused him of raping her.
Interestingly, after some days, Ms Dlodlo made an about turn saying the man of the cloth had never done her any harm.
She eventually apologised saying the allegations were false and she had been used by demons to “distract the work God was doing” through Magaya.
Earlier, some parents had claimed that their daughter was raped by the prophet, only for the alleged victim to dismiss the claim.
London — Early Premier League leaders Liverpool and Arsenal face-off, while Frank Lampard is under pressure to deliver his first win as Chelsea boss at Norwich today.
One of the only two remaining 100 percent records in the Premier League will go at Anfield where the European champions will hope to continue a fine recent record against the north Londoners.
Jurgen Klopp has never lost in seven previous Premier League meetings against Arsenal and his side have beaten the Gunners 4-0 and 5-1 at home in the past two seasons.
However, Unai Emery’s outfit are hoping a busy summer in the transfer window, while Liverpool did not strengthen, will have significantly narrowed the 27-point gap between the sides last season.
Emery could hand a first start to 72 million ($87 million) club record signing Nicolas Pepe, while on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos earned rave reviews by creating both goals on his full debut against Burnley last weekend.
However, it is at the back Arsenal need a drastic improvement and there is an early opportunity for veteran centre-back David Luiz to make his mark by halting the free-scoring trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who combined for all five Liverpool goals when the sides last met.
“A lot of times in my life I had sensational players always (but) not world-class players,” Klopp told Liverpool’s website. “Now, thank God I have them and they make the difference. Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah — these guys in the last situation are really outstanding.”
Arsenal have some outstanding finishers of their own. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Mane and Salah last season, has scored his side’s winner in the first two games of the campaign.
And on the evidence of Liverpool’s first four games of the season across all competitions, a defence that registered 20 Premier League clean sheets last season looks far less solid. Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a calf injury, meaning Adrian — whose calamitous attempted clearance gifted Southampton a goal last weekend — will keep his place in goal.State media
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has announced that the body is instituting investigations against Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder, Prophet Walter Magaya over alleged sexual abuse.
The Commission, on Friday issued a notice in a government Gazette inviting any person or victim with evidence or complaints against Magaya.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission Chairperson, Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said:
“It is hereby notified that, in terms of Section Five of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31) the Zimbabwe Gender Commission intends to investigate complaints of sexual abuse of women by Walter Magaya of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries.”
These accusations, however, would not stay for a sustained period of time as the accusers would dramatically withdraw the charges, some accusing the devil of having used them to institute those cases.
There was drama last night during a live debate when the ZANU PF Youth League chairman (UK) charged accusing the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo for manufacturing evidence proving military intervention during tbe 2018 elections. Below is a snippet (ALSO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW :
Zanu-PF Chivi South legislator and businessman Killer Zivhu’s political career is hanging by a thread after the ruling party here recommended his expulsion citing treacherous behaviour.
Zivhu’s fate now lies with the Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee(NDC) which has the final say on whether or not to endorse his expulsion. If the decision to expel him is upheld by the NDC, Cde Zivhu will also automatically cease to be the ruling party legislator for Chivi South, necessitating a by-election.
The ruling party’s provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) yesterday overwhelmingly resolved to kick out Zivhu from the party. This was after the Chivi South legislator who is the provincial secretary for Environment and Tourism had snubbed a hearing called by the party’s provincial disciplinary committee chaired by vice chair, Ailess Baloyi, over a week ago.
Zivhu had been served with a prohibition notice prior to the recommendation for his dismissal. Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair, Ezra Chadzamira, confirmed the decision.
Chadzamira who is also Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister said Zivhu remained unapologetic hence the decision to summarily expel him.
“We sat as the PCC today (yesterday) and recommended to the NDC that Zivhu be expelled from the party for his activities on social media. We arrived at the decision to recommend his expulsion because even when we served him with a prohibition order and called him to a hearing, he snubbed the process,’’ said Chadzamira.
He said Zivhu continued with his treacherous behaviour even after the prohibition order by using the social media to push for a meeting between First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa’s wife, Sithokozile.State media
GOVERNMENT has increased civil servants’ salaries by a massive 76 percent, a development that will see the lowest paid worker earning $1 023 up from $582.
A statement released yesterday by the Apex Council, which was signed by both president Mrs Cecilia Alexander and her deputy Mr Thomas Muzondo, read: “Following the rejection of a 10 percent Government offer by the Apex Council, the NJNC meeting convened today, 23 August 2019, saw Government move their offer to 76 percent of the total package with effect from the 1st of August 2019.
“The offer does not meet the stated position of the workers, which is pegged at $4 750 for the least paid civil servant. According to this development, the lowest paid worker is expected to take home $1 023 up from $582”.
Mrs Alexander said the Apex Council requested for time to consult its members over the salary increase offer.
“We are going back to consult our members; we don’t have the mandate to accept that $1 023 offer, so we are going back to our members. We are going to meet on Tuesday (next week). Once our members have given us a go-ahead – we are messengers – we will accept and if they say no, we will also communicate that accordingly.”
The latest salary increment comes at a time when Government has said all civil servants will get their bonuses for the year in November, with Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube conceding that since the introduction of Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019, also known as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Legal Tender) Regulations, wage and salary erosion was now a big challenge, hence the need to continuously adjust wages and salaries.State media
MADRID. – Lionel Messi could be ready to play against Real Betis in the Spanish La Liga tomorrow and Barcelona could do with him back.
In other circumstances, Messi might have left it another week, having missed the whole of pre-season with a calf injury he sustained in his first training session back.
But after re-joining his teammates on Wednesday, the temptation will be to put Messi straight to work, to lift the mood and minimise the chances of what would be a disastrous second slip in La Liga.
One defeat, by Athletic Bilbao inside a bouncing San Mames on the opening night and inflicted by a freakishly brilliant bicycle kick in the 89th minute, might ordinarily have been accepted as a blip.
“San Mames is always a difficult place to play,” said Gerard Pique. “When you’re not at your best, they make you look stupid.” Yet memories of Barcelona’s capitulation in May remain fresh.
The humiliation in the Champions League and submission in the final of the Copa del Rey mean this team and, in particular, their coach begin the season very much on the back foot.
Ernesto Valverde is never far from blame, suspicion about his style and suitability always bubbling under the surface, despite the fact he is hoping to become the first Barca coach since Pep Guardiola to win three La Liga titles in a row. When Messi tweaked his calf, it was assumed an attacking roster of Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele would cope.
Instead, Suarez and Dembele both picked up strains against Bilbao while Griezmann delivered the sort of hesitant display to suggest he may also need time to adapt.
“This league is hard,” Griezmann said. “We have to bounce back.” Another muscle injury for Dembele, his fifth in two years at Barcelona, is a concern, especially after the 22-year-old reportedly took time off in France instead of undergoing medical tests – AFP.
VETERAN cricket administrator, Peter Chingoka, will be buried on Monday at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare.
Chingoka passed away on Thursday morning. According to his younger brother Patrick, mourners continue to throng the Chingoka residence at 38 Sandringham Drive in Alexandria Park where a church service was held last night.
“Tomorrow (today) we will have a church service at 6PM and on Sunday at 4PM we will collect his body from Nyaradzo and it will lie in state at his house.
“Monday, 10AM, we will have a church service at St George’s School Chapel and have burial thereafter at Glen Forest,” he said.
The cricket fraternity, including players, management and family friends have been paying their condolences.
Former Zimbabwe cricket coach, Alan Butcher, has also paid his condolences. “When we were team mates at Universals as callow 22-year-olds, Peter looked after me and we became great mates.
‘‘Very sad news. RIP Peter. Zimbabwe Cricket please pass on my condolences to Shirley,” he wrote on Twitter.
The International Cricket Council have since paid tribute to the long-serving chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket.State media
A WOMAN from Bulawayo and her boyfriend have been arrested for possessing 2kg of crystal methamphetamine, a dangerous drug in the same class as cocaine, worth more than $120 000 which was smuggled from India concealed under a consignment of weaves.
Judith Phiri (24) of Killarney suburb and Keith Mpofu (24) of Pumula North were nabbed by detectives who acted on a tip-off from officials of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) upon receiving the suspicious parcel which arrived via Courier Connect.
The consignment of two boxes containing 25 packets of weaves had 1,980kg of crystal methamphetamine stashed in between the layers of boxes.
Yesterday Phiri and Mpofu jointly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of violating section 157 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (possession of crystal methamphetamine).
Mpofu and Phiri, through their lawyers Messrs Lament Ngwenya and Siphosethu Nkomo of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, applied for bail, which the State opposed.
They were both remanded in custody to Monday for bail ruling. Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on August 20, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics in Bulawayo received information from Zimra officials that there was a suspicious parcel at Courier Connect which had arrived from India. The parcel was addressed to Phiri.
“Armed with the information, detectives carried out a surveillance so that they could identify the owner of the parcel. They then observed Phiri collecting the parcel and she was in the company of Mpofu,” said Mr Mageza.State media
A THREE months pregnant woman from Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo excessively bled and subsequently suffered a miscarriage after she was punched on the stomach by her neighbour who owed her $1,50.
It is said last week on Thursday Alice Ndlovu (23) went to Jabulani Dhliwayo’s place to collect a $1,50 tomatoes debt from Dhliwayo. The court heard that she got there and asked for her money from Dhliwayo. It is alleged Dhliwayo accused her of spreading lies that they were in love when he was married.
As a result an argument ensued and Dhliwayo, in a fit of rage kicked Ndlovu before allegedly turning her into a punching bag while accusing her of being a serial liar.
It is reported he hit her several times on the abdomen leading her to bleed excessively. It is said Ndlovu suffered a miscarriage while she was being rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital. She was treated and discharged. A police report was made leading to the arrest of Dhliwayo.
Ndlovu took to the stand: “He (Dhliwayo) bought tomatoes on credit and promised to pay the next day. But he did not pay. After two days I had to confront him. As I was asking for my money he became angry while accusing me of being a rumour monger who was hell -bent on wrecking his marriage. He was also accusing me of going around telling people who cared to listen that I was in love with him.”
She added: “He then kicked me before he punched me several times on the abdomen, as a result I bled profusely and suffered a miscarriage while I was being rushed to hospital.” Appearing before Ulukile Mlea- Ndlovu for the assault charge he pleaded not guilty: “I deny that I hit her several times on the abdomen leading her to suffer miscarriage. I only slapped her on the face and I was restrained by my brother. I was incensed by her lies that I was in love with her. I never said that I’m in love with her.”
He was remanded out of custody to 26 August.B-Metro
Farai Dziva|Sources in the ruling party Zanu PF have revealed the Masvingo disciplinary committee has made a recommendation for the expulsion of Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu.
Zivhu is accused of undermining the authority of the President by purporting to represent him on the social media.
A party official told ZimEye recommendations have been made for Zivhu’s expulsion.
“It is true we have recommended the expulsion of Cde Zivhu. He is guilty of gross indiscipline associated with social media abuse.
We will soon send a detailed report to the President and the national disciplinary committee,”said the official.
Farai Dziva|MDC Provincial Administrator (Masvingo) Peter Chigaba’s court case has been postponed to September 3.
See the MDC statement:
Update on Mr Peter Chigaba Court Case:
The court hearing has been postponed to 3 September 2019 after defense Lawyer Advocate Maboke argued the state submitted state papers today at 1:15 pm. It was too late to proceed with the matter.
Farai Dziva|The government is failing to purchase new anti-riot equipment because of sanctions.
This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi last week.
Ziyambi made the remarks during a debate in Parliament on the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA).
“We need to upgrade our anti-riot equipment, and I submit that it is difficult for us in government at the moment to procure that riot equipment because of sanctions.
I submit that once the sanctions are removed and we can trade freely with anyone, that issue can be resolved,” said Ziyambi.
Analyst have questioned behind the government’s list of priorities at a time the majority of the people are grappling with the biting economic challenges.
Dictatorships always ultimately fall! We now understand the true nature of the beast …Freedom in our lifetime! The people’s organiser, Hon Amos Chibaya being targeted and victimized for his unwavering commitment to the democratic struggle and real change in Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/iGeORuDBRJ
By A Correspondent- The woman who recently caused drama at the Bulawayo magistrates’ courts when she burst in on her husband’s secret wedding with another woman has broken her silence on her husband’s alleged secret rendezvous, calling it “a great betrayal that left her heart in a million pieces”.
In the stun and shock of everything, Francisca Ncube (36) from Gokwe, who stormed into the wedding room moments before her husband Future Mbiba (36) exchanged vows with Pretty Tshuma (37) said the “scandal” caught her by surprise.
Ncube, who was at their rural home in Gokwe, allegedly received a tip-off from her relatives that her husband who is reportedly a gold panner, was getting married at court and she decided to attend.
This was after Mbiba who was co-habiting with Tshuma lied to her that he had divorced his wife with whom he had three children.
In her anger Ncube endured the embarrassment because her children were reportedly hungry when their father had spent a lot of money preparing for a lavish wedding with another woman.
In a telephone interview with a local publication a heartbroken and devastated Ncube said she last “saw” her husband six months ago before she heard of his secret wedding.
She said after receiving the news she was hurt beyond belief.
“I can’t believe this happened to me, the pain is unbearable. I spent nearly two decades of my life with my husband, just to watch him walk away like that was not easy and that is why I travelled all the way from Gokwe to stop the wedding. I was absolutely devastated and felt so betrayed.
“I pray for the day to come when I don’t wake up feeling this huge anchor on my chest, the day where he (Mbiba) is a distant memory,” said Ncube.
Ncube said although her marriage was not rosy, she kept hoping that Mbiba was going to change. She, however, insisted that her marriage to Mbiba still subsisted because he had not given her a token of divorce or done the formal customary procedure to annul their union.
Added Ncube: “I am also going to sue him for maintenance since he is no longer supporting his children.”
On the day she stopped the wedding, Ncube declared that she would not allow her husband to marry another woman while she was still alive.
Mbiba who left the court with his tail between his legs agreed that the wedding should be called off.-BMetro
By A Correspondent- In a dramatic incident a police officer stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station hid in a toilet after he was pummelled and violently pushed against a guard room wall.
Prayford Masunda (28,) employed as a security guard at Manor Hotel had reportedly handcuffed two unknown male adults while assaulting them.
Priviledge Chikova (33) tried to restrain Masunda from bashing the two men with a baton stick. He never knew that he was courting trouble. The intervention did not go down well with Masunda.
It is said Masunda swiftly grabbed Chikova by the neck before he violently pushed him against the guard room wall. As if that was not enough he reportedly head butted him while shouting obscenities at him. As he charged to mete out instant justice on him an unidentified male patron restrained him.
Chikova made a hasty retreat to the toilet where he locked himself inside.
It is said while in the toilet he phoned a colleague who came and took him. He made a report at Bulawayo Central Police Station leading to the arrest of Masunda. Masunda appeared before magistrate Ulukile Mlea-Ndlovu facing an assault charge.
He pleaded not guilty.
“Your worship, I deny that I headbutted him resulting in him bleeding from the mouth and nose. He tried to arrest me but I refused because I assumed he was not a police officer since he was not in police uniform,” said Masunda.
He was remanded out of custody to next week on Wednesday for judgment.
By A Correspondent- There was drama in New Magwegwe suburb when a jealous woman left residents tongue-tied after she and a group of other women threatened to kill her ex-lover’s pregnant wife.
Nyarai Hofisi is reportedly furious about her ex-lover Moses Mutizwa’s new relationship with Kudzanai Muparangi so she has resorted to making the couple’s relationship hell.
It has been gathered that soon after Hofisi found out that Mutizwa had moved on and married Muparangi she was now in the habit of terrorising Muparangi constantly.
As if that is not enough, Hofisi recently barged into the couple’s home with a group of several women at 8pm. The women were reportedly armed with weapons and threatened to kill Muparangi.
According to sources close to this issue Mutizwa is also scared of Hofisi as she also threatens to kill him whenever she sees him.
“There is nothing Mutizwa can do because he is equally scared of Hofisi because she is a very violent woman,” said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
After Hofisi broke into the couple’s home with several women they were left terrified so Muparangi decided to seek justice from the courts.
“Hofisi is the ex-girlfriend of Mutizwa, my husband. She came to my house with a group of women at night carrying weapons. They were very violent in front of my children and they were insulting me.
“When they broke into my house they threatened me saying that I should not walk alone because they will kill me and my unborn child. May the court grant me a peace order so that she stays away from me and my children,” said Muparangi.
When asked about the issue, Hofisi denied the allegations.
However, Western Commonage magistrate Urgent Vundla ordered Hofisi not to insult, assault and threaten the couple with violence. She was also ordered to stay away from the couple’s house.-BMetro
By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC National Organising Secretary has been remanded in custody to the 26th of August.
Chibaya was arrested on the 22nd of August and charged with failing to ensure that the MDC demonstrations which the State had blocked would not be held.
The development was announced by the MDC on microblogging site Twitter.
The party said:
“Hon. @AmosChibaya was today remanded in custody to 26 August for a ruling on his bail application. Chibaya’s remand in custody is testimony of a brutal programme of persecution by prosecution after the regime denied him bail though he had handed himself over to@PoliceZimbabwe”
The State blocked all of the party’s demonstrations arguing that it had gathered concrete evidence indicating that the demonstrations were going to be violent.
Meanwhile, the party has vowed to launch a series of nationwide demonstrations, this time reaching grassroots levels.
MDC is citing empty stomachs, empty wallets, empty shelves in medical institutions, power shortages, fuel shortages, soaring inflation, shrinking democratic space, partisan distribution of aid and several other issues as the major factors it is initiating the demonstrations.
The party says the government’s illegitimacy and mishandling of the country’s resources including the taxpayer’s money have resulted in the country’s sorry state of affairs.
On the other hand, the government attributes the country’s woes to a number of issues, chief among them, sanctions, corruption, climate change and sabotage by the business sector and the MDC.
By A Correspondent- The government is failing to purchase new anti-riot equipment because of sanctions.
This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi recently
Ziyambi made the remarks during a debate in Parliament on the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA).
He said:
“We need to upgrade our anti-riot equipment, and I submit that it is difficult for us in government at the moment to procure that riot equipment because of sanctions.
I submit that once the sanctions are removed and we can trade freely with anyone, that issue can be resolved,” said Ziyambi.
Analyst have questioned behind the government’s list of priorities at a time the majority of the people are grappling with the biting economic challenges.
By A Correspondent- Former Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzai has approached the High Court seeking $500 000 compensation following his acquittal on charges of unlawfully possessing an umbrella which resembled military camouflage.
Kudzai was on February 22, 2019 arrested at a security roadblock along Domboshawa Road by a Constable Chitana and Corporal Francis Murehwa as police and military officers were carrying out joint “stop and search” operation on motorists.
Kudzai was immediately charged with possession of articles with military style camouflage markings, but was later released on $100 bail by a Harare magistrate.
However, when his trial commenced on March 26, 2019 at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, he was found not guilty and acquitted, prompting him to sue Home Affairs minister Cain Matema, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda, in their official capacities.
“Plaintiff (Kudzai) was detained in police cells, whose conditions exposed him to inhuman and degrading treatment. During the time of his unlawful arrest, detention and subsequent prosecution, plaintiff was unable to go to work and lost business opportunities,” Kudzai said through his lawyers.
He further said at all material times, Chitana and Murehwa were acting within their scope and course of employment with the Zimbabwe Republic Polce and Zimbabwe National Army, respectively, when they arrested and detained him for prosecution.
“As a result of the foregoing, plaintiff suffered loss in the sum of $500 000,” he averred, giving a break-down of the whole amount which includes compensation for unlawful arrest, detention, pain, shock and suffering, malicious prosecution, loss of business opportunities, contumelia and cost of suit.
The cited top government officials are yet to respond to the lawsuit.-Newsday
