A Zimbabwean woman who grew up in Mpopoma, the lovely Linda Vilika, has been murdered allegedly by her husband. A murder probe has been launched after the woman was found stabbed to death in a broad daylight horror attack.
The 41-year-old was declared dead at the scene in the sleepy village of Great Saling, Essex, at around 2.45pm yesterday.
A man, 42, was arrested on suspicion of murder but is currently in hospital after falling ill. Cops scrambled to the village and discovered the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds.
A cordon and forensic tent is now in place and police are appealing for information, said Bdoadcast journalist Ezra Sibanda. Forensic officers were also seen emerging from a small rented flat. An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and we are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and heard or saw anything suspicious.
“Anyone with information is asked to call the North Major Crime Team on 101 or email [email protected]“ Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org”.
By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate has dismissed an application for refusal of further remand by political activist, Pastor Evan Mawarire, trade unionists Peter Mutasa and Japhet Moyo who are facing charges of allegedly trying to subvert a constitutionally elected government.
Meanwhile, a 55-year-old woman Lucia Rugonye has appeared in court facing charges of attempted murder after she poured hot water on her 17-year-old housemaid Muchanyara Chaorongwa after a misunderstanding.
Chaorongwa was rescued by passers-by who took her to the hospital for medication after which she made a police report.
In another case, judgment has been postponed in the case of Godfrey Utsiwegota who is facing charges of allegedly assaulting his former-girlfriend Ashley Shashi Moyo, the daughter of Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo.
Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye postponed the case to Friday saying he did not have enough time to write down the judgment after the state made its submissions on the day of ruling.
Utsiwegota is accused of assaulting Moyo at Pabloz Night Club in Harare until she became unconscious with medical reports showing that she sustained back and leg injuries.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police have served the opposition MDC with a prohibition order which bans the party’s Mutare demonstration that was slated for Thursday.
The ban becomes the fifth after the State also blocked the Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo demonstrations.
Police argue that they have concrete evidence which suggests that the demonstrations would degenerate into chaos. Chief Superintendent Florence Marume brought into remembrance some violent demonstrations which were allegedly caused by the MDC in Mutare before.
They say that although demonstrating is everyone’s constitutional right, public safety, which these demonstrations are threatening, overrides the right.
Commentators have however claimed that the state’s evidence which is the basis of banning the protest was planted by the State so as to find an excuse to ban the demonstrations.
The bans have been widely and wildly condemned by human rights defenders, Diplomatic Missions in Zimbabwe and opposition political parties in Zimbabwe.
They describe them as an attack on democracy.
The demonstrations aimed at challenging government over the deteriorating state of affairs in the country.
By A Correspondent- Former Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko has on Wednesday (today) appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Mr Enias Magate, facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
Mphoko is said to have unlawfully instructed some junior police officers to release from cells, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive, Moses Juma.
However, Mphoko argues that the release was not unlawful since the prolonged detention was against the court order which set Juma free.
Magate remanded Mphoko out of custody to September 4 on $1 000 bail and ordered him to report once a week at the CID Commercial Crimes Divisions in Bulawayo once a week.
The former VP was also ordered to surrender his passport and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised.
He was also warned against interfering with State witnesses as part of the bail conditions.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Nelisiwe Magubane, an Eskom board member, has said that slight economic growth in South Africa will trigger power cuts.
Reports suggest that South Africa power utility, ESKOM, cannot meet demand, therefore, it will be forced to introduce load shedding.
The power utility is said to have lots of challenges including huge debts. ESKOM’s generating fleet is reportedly at about 69% instead of 80%.
This comes at a time when ESKOM is exporting 400MW to troubled Zimbabwe. The latest power deal between Zimbabwe and South Africa provided that as long South Africa had power cuts, no electricity will be exported to Zimbabwe.
A power crisis in South Africa will have a direct impact on Zimbabwe which has already rolled out a crippling power cut schedule that has seen several parts of the country going without power between 0400 hours and 2200 hours.
Zimbabwe power utility, ZESA, has attributed the power deficit to dwindling water levels at Kariba Dam which supplies Kariba South Hydropower plant.
It also blames ageing equipment at Hwange Thermal power station.
Auditor General’s report also revealed that massive corruption at the power utility exacerbated the power crisis.-Fin24
By A Correspondent- Former Finance Minister, Advocate Tendai Biti, has blasted government for failing to prioritise the basic needs of citizens while availing resources to crush citizens’ voices through demonstrations.
Biti’s remarks come after the State blocked MDC initiated demonstrations slated for the 16th, 19th, 20th and 21st of August in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo respectively.
The government cited the need to avoid chaos as the main reason for banning the protests.
Police said that they had discovered concrete evidence to suspicion that the MDC wanted to conduct violent demonstrations.
Police crushed the Harare demonstration, leaving several demonstrators nursing injuries.
Soldiers and police were also heavily present in other cities, a development viewed by some as a measure to scare off civilians from protesting against the increasing economic meltdown under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Posting on Microblogging site, Twitter, the MDC VP said it was mind boggling that government had resources to thwart citizens’ constitutional right to demonstrate yet it was failing to provide basic social services:
He said:
“It is amazing that a regime that can’t feed its people , provide power, fuel and medicine to its people, provide textbooks to its children, provide decent wages to its workers, provide decent pensions to its elderly will find such energy, zeal and resources to crush its people.
The MDC is arguing that a huge deficit in electricity, food, medicines, fuel and several other essentials is the reason why the demonstrations were initiated.
On the other hand, the ruling government views the demonstrations as a mere way of planning to overthrow the government.”
By Dorrothy Moyo| Emmerson Mmangagwa on Wednesday afternoon scored his own goal again when the police issued a prohibition order barring the upcoming MDC demonstration in Mutare.
So far (in the space of 5 days) the police have banned Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo demos, one after the other, using the very same explanation, an allegation that they will turn violent in ways similar to the 1 August 2018 military shootings.
But none of that ever happened and the only violence seen came from the police, as in the case of the one in the capital city, Harare last Friday.
The Officer Commanding Mutare Central District on Wednesday issued a prohibition stopping the MDC Alliance demonstrations that were set for tomorrow.
Chief Superintendent Florence Marume said there was potential the demonstrations will turn violent. She cited previous such incidents she claimed were by the MDC Alliance in Mutare.
Meanwhile, the state media reported claiming “the business community in Mutare had also spoken against the demonstrations citing loss of business the last time the opposition party engaged in such activities.”
Mnangagwa based on the Constitutional Court Judgement of August 2018, claims that he is the winner of the 2018 elections contrary to what his opponent Nelson Chamisa says. But the verdict’s full report is still to be produced and state broadcast video evidence shows that Mnangagwa unleashed the military on 1 August to change election results. The development comes as further footage emerged of Mnangagwa announcing that his party is the army, the police, the airforce and “anything that you can imagine.”
Mnangagwa says ZANU PF is everything in Zimbabwe and must be respected. We are the police the army….we are everything in this country pic.twitter.com/HrRFrSGUoh
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2019
Mutare Police have issued a prohibition stopping the MDC Alliance demonstrations that were set for tomorrow.
More to follow…
The MDC family has learnt with deep shock of the passing on of Victor Zunza, the chairperson of the party’s Veterans Activists Association and a gallant fighter in the country’s democratic struggle.
Zunza, a founder member of the party, just collapsed and died in Mbare on Tuesday.
The party has lost a dedicated cadre. Under his stewardship the party’s Veterans Activists Association, did a lot to restore the livelihoods of survivors of political violence. He spearheaded the rebuilding of destroyed homes and did sterling work in improving the lot for ordinary people across the country who had suffered the brutality of the Zanu PF regime.
The MDC joins the Zunza family in their moment of grief. Zunza’s work had outgrown the narrow strictures of his family and the party feels it has lost a solid founding stalwart whose philanthropic work across will forever remain a statement of his unstinting dedication to the people’s democratic struggle in Zimbabwe.
Our thoughts are with the Zunza family in this moment of grief. The MDC leadership will be with the Zunza family throughout this ordeal and will attend his burial in Mudzi tomorrow.
Go well, gallant son of the struggle. You will always be remembered.
MDC: Change that delivers.
Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change
Below are the words of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday as he quoted a radio journalist calling him the King Of Israel:
“Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for the very nice words. “President Trump is the greatest President for Jews and for Israel in the history of the world, not just America, he is the best President for Israel in the history of the world…and the Jewish people in Israel love him….
….like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God…But American Jews don’t know him or like him. They don’t even know what they’re doing or saying anymore. It makes no sense! But that’s OK, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s good for…..”
The MDC family has learnt with deep shock of the passing on of Victor Zunza, the chairperson of the party’s Veterans Activists Association and a gallant fighter in the country’s democratic struggle.
Zunza, a founder member of the party, just collapsed and died in Mbare on Tuesday.
The party has lost a dedicated cadre. Under his stewardship the party’s Veterans Activists Association, did a lot to restore the livelihoods of survivors of political violence.
He spearheaded the rebuilding of destroyed homes and did sterling work in improving the lot for ordinary people across the country who had suffered the brutality of the Zanu PF regime.
The MDC joins the Zunza family in their moment of grief. Zunza’s work had outgrown the narrow strictures of his family and the party feels it has lost a solid founding stalwart whose philanthropic work across will forever remain a statement of his unstinting dedication to the people’s democratic struggle in Zimbabwe.
Our thoughts are with the Zunza family in this moment of grief. The MDC leadership will be with the Zunza family throughout this ordeal and will attend his burial in Mudzi tomorrow.
Go well, gallant son of the struggle. You will always be remembered.
MDC: Change that delivers.
Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change
By A Correspondent| Reward Kangai, a former Chief Executive Officer of NetOne Zimbabwe has appealed to ZACC to investigate Netone board members who presided over an illegal and corrupt contract at the parastatal calling on ZACC to bring to account all those who were involved.
Said Kangai, who himself has been dragged before the courts over graft at the parastatal:
Kangai was appointed Managing Director at the founding of NetOne when the former Posts and Telecommunications Corporation of Zimbabwe (PTC) was disbanded to create TelOne, NetOne and Zimpost.
In March 2016, Kangai was suspended for three months from his role as CEO following allegations of corruption at the company.
In December 2017 Kangai wrote a report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa alleging that Supa Mandiwanzira had captured NetOne and POTRAZ.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Goodson Nguni announced in January 2018 that Mandiwanzira had been cleared by the ZACC investigations and that instead, they wanted to arrest Kangai himself.
He was arrested on 10 January 2018.
Dear Editor- Government has increased the costs of applying for a passport by an alarming five hundred percent with effect from Monday August 19.
The new charges that are yet to be published by government will be as follows:
Normal
$53 to $253
Urgent/ Emergency
$253 to $800
Immediate
$318 to $1000
This is really disturbing. ..
Concerned citizen
Farai Dziva|A mentally challenged man shocked all and sundry when he crushed two babies to death with stones.
The incident happened in Mazonde Village in Gutu District last week.
According to the police the man forced himself into the kitchen where the two babies were sleeping and crushed them to death with stones.
The mother of the children, Sunungurai Charova (29)
Said her daughters Shallom (6 months) and Ruvarashe(3 years) were killed by Tauya Tafirei Bonda (33) .
Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhehwa confirmed the incident.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko appeared at Tredgold Magistrate’s court in Bulawayo today afternoon.
He was granted ZW$1000 bail on condition to surrender his passport and report at Drill Hall. Mphoko was remanded to September 4.
More to follow…
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Farai Dziva|Resurgent Harare giants Dynamos face a litmus test when they take on Chicken Inn in a league match at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
See a list of PSL weekend matches below:
SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST 2019
Bulawayo Chiefs FC Vs Black Rhinos FC
Luveve Stadium 1500hrs
Chapungu FC Vs Caps United FC
Ascot Stadium 1500hrs
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC Vs Hwange FC
Baobab Stadium 1500hrs
Yadah FC Vs Herentals FC Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs
ZPC Kariba FC Vs TelOne FC Nyamhunga Stadium 1500hrs
SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST 2019
Highlanders FC Vs Harare City FC
Barbourfields Stadium 1500hrs
DYNAMO’S FC Vs Chicken Inn FC
Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs
POSTPONED
FC Platinum Vs Mushowani Stars FC
Manica Diamonds FC Vs Triangle United FC
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
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Farai Dziva|Real Madrid’s Belgian star, Eden Hazard, is set to return from injury sooner than previously thought.
The former Chelsea man suffered a thigh injury in traning before Los Blancos’ Laliga opener against Celta Vigo, and he was said to be out for at least five weeks.
That seems to have all changed however as according to Spanish publication Marca, provided he can avoid any kind of relapse, the Belgian is expected to be available for the trip to the Estadio de la Ceramica (the venue for Madrid’s Laliga match day 3 fixture against Villareal)
Zinadine Zidane will be happy to have his star man returning sooner than expected, as Real seek to topple Barcelona from their Spanish crown and the fact that the club’s doctors have revised their diagnosis is good news for the Frech coach.
Farai Dziva|Caps United coach Darlington Dodo has picked his assistant following his recent appointment.
Dodo replaced Lloyd Chitembwe who left the club to join Harare City this week. He has roped in Method Mwanjale to assist him.
Mwanjale will also double as a player while pursuing his CAF C Licence.
Farai Dziva|New Warriors coach Joey Antipas has made it clear that he wants Macauley Bonne in the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Somalia next month.
Antipas was named the caretaker coach of the national team on Monday on a deal which runs until the end of the year.
In an interview with The Herald, Antipas requested quick processing of the Charlton Athletic striker’s papers.
With Nyasha Mushekwi no longer available for selection after retiring from international football, the 23-year-old has become a top target for the coach.
“We have very good players available for selection and my wish is for the authorities to sort out the papers of Macauley Bonne so that we can include him in our next squad.
“I have been following his progress, and I can tell you that he is a very good player whom I think can add value to the team.
“If his papers are regularised, we will definitely have him in the team, we want to make competition for places very tight.’’
Bonne who was born in England to Zimbabwean parents openly declared his interest in playing for the Warriors a few months before the Afcon tournament. He was supposed to go with the team to the tournament but his passport was yet to be processed at that time.
To the MDC Family, It is with deep grief and sorrow that I have officially confirmed and now report the sudden death of our VAA Chairman, Victor Zunza.
He collapsed and died at Engen garage in Mbare at around 8pm on Tuesday the 20th of August. The MDC and Vaa family have been robbed of a very dedicated cadre of the democratic struggle. Victor Zunza was a philanthropist who worked tirelessly to support victims of political violence and their families. He was a founder member of the MDC as a shopsteward and workers Committee member at a tobacco company in Birmigham industrial area. Together with Tichaona Jefta Munyanyi they started MDC activities in 1999 in Mbare with the likes of Cotton, Kunaka Nhira, mudhara Mutambu, Shingadeya, George, Hon Matienga, Femai, Mambo Rusere, Washington Ali just to mention a few.
During the peak of Zanu PF violence in 2007 he fled to SA like many mdc activists where he teamed up with Sox Chikowero, Bekithemba Sibanda, Traner Ruzvidzo and others to form VAA whose mandate was to look after the welfare of victims of political violence both in SA and Zim. VAA was thus formed in June 2008. Sox was the inaugural VAA Chairman. Zunza then took over the Leadership of VAA.
Under his leadership VAA assisted families of victims of political violence through (1) memorialization whereby vaa erected over 20 memorial stones on graves of slain mdc activists across the country (2) construction of houses for families of fallen mdc cadres -under Zunza the first Vaa house was built at St Peters outside Bulawayo for Regina whose husband was brutally killed by Zanu PF.
The second vaa house was built in Madyangove village in Mashava for the late Mtombeni’s family. Mtombeni was killed at his house in Mashava in 2008. The third vaa house was built at Kasimhure village in Hurungwe east for our departed mdc cadre. Victor has departed before completing pending vaa housing projects in Gokwe and Bikita for sekuru Brada. These houses were built through the contribution of vaa members. (3) humanitarian support to victims of political violence eg food packs and groceries for people like Wedza who is now disabled after being shot at Morgan Tsvangirai House by an intelligence officer who was renting an office at Harvest House. Wedza is now paraplegic.
These are few examples of the good works done by Victor Zunza. He was a very practical and frank person who called a spade a spade but all done in good faith for the goodwill of mdc. He realized the value of giving hope to victims of political violence and preaching peace, transitional justice and truth.
In recognition VAA’s work the party, at its 2019 Gweru Congress, amended the MDC Constitution and put a clause that recognizes VAA as an Organ of the party -the mdc veterans council together with the war vets and Disability Council. Thanks to President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for his vision and wisdom.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zunza Family on this difficult moment of grief and loss.
Important Announcements1. The body will be taken by Mbare Police from Kuwadzana parlour in Willowvale for postmoterm
Yours in Sorrow and Grief
Dr Tapiwa Maji Marefu Mashakada
VAA Treasurer General and MDC Secretary for Policy and Research.
A man from Lusulu in Binga has been jailed to 24 years for illegal possession of a 306 rifle and 174 pangolin scales weighing 2,525kg.
Killion Siacho (35) pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and pangolin scales when he appeared before Matabeleland North provincial magistrate Livard Philemon in Hwange.
The magistrate convicted him at the close of the State case on both counts. In the first count, he sentenced him to 15 years and on the second, to nine years in jail.
Prosecutor Jamesina Makanza told the court that on February 22, at 6:30am, wildlife rangers and police were on routine patrol in Lusulu where they received information that Siacho was in possession of a rifle and ammunition.
-Newsday
Farai Dziva A member of the MDC Veteran Activists Association, Victor Zunza has died.
MDC Veteran Activists Association SA chairperson Trust Ndlovu described Zunza as a dedicated party cadre .
See Ndlovu’s statement:
I am shell- shocked and saddened by the heart breaking news ,sudden death of one of the great sons of the soil, a comrade,friend and a brother.
When l think of his commitment, his passion for our struggle, his contribution on mdc victms of violence, his solid stance on defending the vulnerable victims ,orphans and widows left behind by our heroes and heroines who died at the behest of Zanu PF, my heart bleeds.
Victor Zunza wakamira mira wakarwa hondo,zvakaoma kudaro hauna kudududza,…..uyiqawe lama qawe ..uyibekile Induku ebandla .uyidela kufa
Your struggle songs in rallies, MDC gatherings,demonstrations,and other party programs still vibrate in my ears …
May your soul rest in peace
Trust Ndlovu
MDC SA Chair
VIEW PICTURE BELOW….
A Chinhoyi man hanged himself after receiving news that his daughter had died before her husband paid lobola.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the death of Gift Muzamarunya (35) of Machingauta village, Chihota Farm, Muvami in Makonde district.
Police said on August 11, the now-deceased got information that his daughter (age not given) had died at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital from an undisclosed cause.
He reportedly told his neighbour, Portifa Kadyamatimba, that he was going to commit suicide because his daughter has died before he received lobola from his in-laws.
He then vanished from his homestead, only to be found hanging from a tree after neighbours alerted his wife about his threats to commit suicide.
— NewsDay
Farai Dziva|The MDC has been denied exhibition permission at this year’s edition of the Harare Agricultural Show.
This was revealed by the party in a statement below:
The MDC Youth Assembly Harare Province notes with no surprise the denial by the ZAS to grant the party exhibition permission at the Agricultural Show.
An application to Exibit at this year’s Agricultural Show was made two weeks ago on behalf of the the Party.
Harare Province Youth Secretary Cllr Denford Ngadziore held several meetings with the top management of ZAS but to no fruition.
We have detected Zanu PF fingerprints in this barbaric act.
Harare Province Youth
Secretary for Communication
Hammy Madzingira
Farai Dziva|Heavily armed soldiers intimidated residents of the city of Masvingo- openly telling them not to risk their lives by participating in the MDC demonstration.
“The planned MDC demonstration was tainted by the heavy presence of soldiers in Masvingo.
Three groups consisting of up to 200 soldiers each have been seen in high density surburbs.
The group at Sisk Business Centre was heavily armed.
Another group was seen Target Kopje
The third group was in Mucheke Suburb,”the MDC said in a statement.
The residents of Chitungwiza have been grappling with water scarcity for many years,on average they have been receiving tap water once a week,but as if that was not worse enough,the taps have gone completely dry for the past three months in most areas.This unavailability of water is grossly complicating the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.
The standards of hygiene and sanitation have been negatively impacted with the obvious risk to residents of water borne diseases like typhoid and cholera.
Residents are resorting to using unsafe water from shallow and unprotected wells for domestic purposes.
Critical are toilets which need water for flushing.
A survey by CHITREST revealed a gloomy picture with most residents lamenting the sorry state of affairs with most toilets blocked by unflushed raw sewer.
As CHITREST we are worried by the failure by our Municipality to proffer solutions to this serious problem being faced by residents.We are informed there are three recent reports of suspected typhoid cases in Manyame and our worst fear is that this diarrheal disease can easily spread especially in our environment of shortage of water and compromised levels of hygiene and sanitation.
Given this prevailing situation CHITREST calls upon Chitungwiza Municipality to call for an urgent indaba of all critical stakeholders to find immediate solutions to ameliarate this serious crises.
Inserted by Chitungwiza Residents Trust.
The MDC which had threatened to roll out countrywide protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, has since indicated that it would soon change its tact following a heavy security clampdown on its recent protests.
In a letter addressed to the MDC Midlands provincial secretary Lazarus Chacha, police officer commanding Gweru district, Chief Superintendent Tsitsi Chikono said she did not accede to the holding of the demonstration.
“This office acknowledges receipt of your notice to hold (a) public demonstration, dated August 8 2019. This office is not in support of your notice,” the letter read.
Informal traders opened late in the day after gauging the security mood in central Gweru, while trucks carrying armed riot police patrolled the city and suburbs such as Mkoba which have been hotspots in previous protests. Roadblocks were also mounted along roads leading into the city.
Sources told Southern Eye yesterday that the MDC provincial leaders were debating behind the scenes on whether to appeal to the court or try other means of protests such as civil disobedience and stayaways.
“There is a feeling that it is not necessary to go to the magistrates court to appeal since the Bulawayo application was thrown out and the High Court also turned down overtures by the party in Harare after similar circumstances,” the source said.
Takavafira Zhou, the MDC Midlands provincial spokesperson, said consultations are still being made among leaders on the way forward after the police ban, but also hinted a position not to appeal is likely to be made.
“I think there has already been a precedent that has been set after both the High Court in Harare and the magistrates court in Bulawayo threw out our appeals.
So it’s like you go to court already knowing the verdict because there will always be reference to these past two verdicts,” he said.
“We certainly need to change our strategy and tactics. Conducting a demonstration is one option that has left us vulnerable to the might of Zanu PF as it is able to concentrate its forces and totally cripple our quest for democratic expression through manipulation of the law, force or naked violence and thuggery.
“Henceforth, we need to consider elements of diversion, surprise, spontaneity in various areas in order to guarantee success. The cause of liberty should not be surrendered, even at the last moment of defeat. Defeat is just temporary, but giving up makes it permanent,” Zhou said.
Josiah Makombe, the MDC Midlands provincial chairperson, said a final position on the way forward would be announced at a Press conference today.
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Former Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko has said that his involvement in the release of former Zinara acting chief executive Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri from police custody in 2016 was not a unique case.
He said that it is very similar to the case of a land baron and former ZANU PF youth leader, Godfrey Gomwe who was also released after president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention.
It was alleged at that time that Gomwe had extorted about US$46 000 from housing cooperatives using former first lady Grace Mugabe’s name.
Mphoko said that his intervention in the ZINARA case was in partial fulfilment of his duties as a member of the presidium. In a statement yesterday through his daughter Siduduzile, the ex-VP said:The Presidency is an institution … Mnangagwa was tasked to look into the resuscitation of the Ziscosteel, mining and exporting raw chrome, command agriculture and to resolve the Harare Zanu PF province, where Gomwe had been arrested. Mnangagwa’s intervention got Gomwe released from his arrest.
Mphoko further contends that his involvement in the case was actually to prevent unlawful further detention of the duo who had been set free by the courts.
-Newsday
Teachers have threatened to withdraw their labour when schools open for the third term next month to force government to pay them in United States dollars or the equivalent of US$550 at the interbank rate, among other demands.
The teachers have also told the Zimbabwe School Examination Council that the educators will only invigilate in the Grade Seven, O and A Level final examinations after they are paid invigilation allowances.
“Schools will remain closed until (our) demands are met. Let’s prepare for an indefinite closure of schools until our demands are met. Let the schools open while they are closed,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said in a statement on Monday.
“That the government has taken this long before addressing our legitimate demands calls for greater coordination, unity of purpose, collectivity of action, dexterity, vigilance and resilience.”
He said it had been made crystal clear that the government was not willing to give in to their demands through dialogue.
“We cannot be treated as if we are of no account. When we spoke, government did not listen. It’s now time to act and our actions must speak louder than words,” Zhou said.
“The message is clear that government is arrogant and only understands the language of industrial action and not negotiation and worse still collective bargaining,” Zhou said, adding that there was need to command the beast in them and put an end to abuse by government.
In the past, government offered the teachers a cushioning allowance, but it has since been devalued as the local currency, introduced recently by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, is losing value against its benchmark greenback. Charging that the previous cushion was meant to deceive the teachers, he added: “Our demands are the modest (that is) restoration of the purchasing power of our salaries to the pre-inflationary US$550, rescue package in US dollar, non-payment of tuition fees for three children for every teacher and free access to stands for accommodation purposes.”
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said teachers will not report for work next term until their grievances are met. “The protests for a living wage are ongoing. This Friday we will be protesting at Finance ministry offices in a protest dubbed Pay Day Funeral. We closed the second term early on 22 July 2019 and we will not be opening until our grievances are addressed,” he said.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association president Richard Gundane said teachers are incapacitated.
“Teachers are seriously incapacitated as a result of runaway prices in the wake of salaries that are way below the poverty datum line. The delayed implementation of a cost of living adjustment coupled with a budget that does not give any hope of a living wage will occasion the failure of the majority of teachers not to go to work in the third term,” he said.
Gundane said so far resignations and absenteeism attributed to incapacitation are haunting the education system and urgent action was required on the part of government to avert a crisis during the public examinations period that begins in October. But Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima told NewsDay that discussions were underway between civil servants’ representatives and the government.
“The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has promised to address some of their issues. Ncube has also promised to address their grievances. So, I do not see why teachers would want to go on an industrial action,” he said.
The opposition MDC’s top leadership is convening in Harare today to review their foiled countrywide protests which were ruthlessly crushed by the police and soldiers.
The leaders are expected to brainstorm and come up with new strategies to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to restore political and economic stability in the country.
Highly-placed MDC sources said party leader Nelson Chamisa, after being outfoxed by Mnangagwa on the diplomatic front in the region, will be looking for new ways to continue piling up political pressure on the Zanu PF government without causing bloodshed.
“The meeting comes in the face of blocked demonstrations in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and other towns. The MDC is clear that political pressure is the only alternative given that leaders on the continent are siding with the oppressive regime. So we are now finding new ways of venting and they are there,” the source said.
Using the Public Order and Security Act, the police banned demonstrations slated for Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru between Friday and yesterday, deploying heavily armed police to disperse the protesters. The opposition tried to use the courts, but left with egg on the face after the courts upheld the police’s prohibition orders.
Deputy party spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka confirmed the meeting would take place to devise new strategies.
“These are not normal times in the country. The nation is agitated due to enormous national grievances that include power shortages, fuel shortages, unemployment as well as the imposition of a debased currency that has dismally failed to provide respite to the despondent nation. Amid all this, we are experiencing what amounts to the subversion of the constitutional order in the country. The fascist regime has staged yet another coup, this time, a coup of the Constitution of the country and we are basically under a de facto state of emergency. Under these circumstances, the leadership has to meet and will meet,” Tamborinyoka said.
He added that the deployment of State security agents on the streets of Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru was ample demonstration that the MDC needed to revisit it tactics.
“When you see the State machinery all over our towns attempting to stop the citizens from exercising their constitutional rights, it amounts to a coup of the Constitution. The crude and fascist banning of the citizens’ right to march peacefully means there is a need to discuss the mammoth crisis and gross violation of human rights,” he said.
Turning to Sadc, the MDC said while it continues with its diplomatic offensive, it was dismayed that Mnangagwa had been made the chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.
Contacted for comment, Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said the ruling party was not worried about the MDC’s change of tact.
“The party does not enforce the laws of this country. We are, therefore, not concerned about the restrategising of the MDC,” he said.
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows
USD to ZWL$: 10.1778
ZWL$ to RAND: 1.5049
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 11.25
USD to ZWL$ zwl365.com 11.10
USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 11.10
USD to BOND: zimrates.com 80.00
More: marketwatch.co.zw
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) says it plans to rebrand and become more open and transparent to the public ahead of critical elections in 2023.
Speaking during a strategic meeting held in Harare yesterday, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said they had retreated to map a strategic plan which should put emphasis on rebranding Zec, alignment of electoral laws and regulations to the Constitution, delimitation of boundaries and improvement in the electoral process such as stakeholder engagement and results transmission.
Results transmission and stakeholder engagement were big issues in the 2018 general elections, leading players in the election to cast a vote of no confidence on Zec.
Zec chief elections officer (CEO) Utoile Silaigwana, acutely aware of the burden of mistrust and the attendant results, told senior Zec officials and other stakeholders that he was going to create more transparency and engage stakeholders more openly.
“Accountability means that the electoral management body (EMB) is responsible for its activities and must provide evidence to its stakeholders and public that these activities are effective and meet its prescribed legal, ethical, service and financial standards. The principle of accounting requires the EMB’s to provide comprehensive public information on their policies, intended outcome, performance and the resources they have used and intend to use including public and other funds,” Silaigwana said.
The newly-appointed CEO said this would not only improve transparency and public trust, but would protect Zec from unfounded allegations.
“Transparency in our activities increases public trust and confidence in the EMB’s operations and may protect it against unfounded allegations,” he
said.
Independent electoral watchdog Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) has been urging Zec to publish its elections calendar well in advance for accountability purposes.
In its election observer mission compendium, Zesn noted that it was critical for Zec to be transparent.
“The Zec should provide information on all stages of the electoral process in an easily accessible form including, Zec resolutions, data on the process of removing duplicates from the voters roll, (and releasing) all polling station results in a tabulated format, including the original V11 and V23a/b returns,” part of the recommendations read.
At the retreat meeting, Zec acknowledged the recommendations and expressed desire to implement them.-Newsday
Jane Mlambo|Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) leader Japhet Moyo and Peter Mutasa have been further remanded to the 2nd of October.
The two were arrested early this year on charges of subversion following the January 14 protests that brought Harare to a standstill.
Despite efforts by our lawyers to have @MutasaPeter and @japhet_moyo removed from further remand, today they have been further remanded to 2 October 2019. It’s a long walk to freedom.@ituc_africa @ituc @SolidarityCntr @_cosatu pic.twitter.com/gh1Odio4eW
— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) August 21, 2019
By A Correspondent- A family from Mpopoma village under Headman Chilonga, south of Chiredzi town, which is predominantly Shangani, has set tongues wagging after marrying off their 13-year-old daughter for $80 as the area continues to record cases of child marriages.
The mother and an aunt of the minor, whose name cannot be revealed to protect the child’s identity, are reported to have received the money from their 24-year-old groom as part of the initial bride price sometime in May.
Tiyani Chilonga, who is Headman Chilonga, confirmed the incident and said the number of child marriages was growing by the day, forcing him to engage the police, traditional leaders and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to stop the scourge.
“I am aware of the issues to do with marriages involving children under the age of 15. I had to call a meeting with all my village heads after I noticed that the situation was getting out of hand and also approached the police and several other NGOs that deal with issues to do with children,” Chilonga said.
“The law does not allow children below the age of 18 years to enter into marriage or parents to marry off their children who are below that age – worse still those below 15 years. I am sure the issue of child marriages is slowly coming under control. We will continue to engage our people and other stakeholders to help us fight this problem.”
According to Rugare Mativenga, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) Peace Ambassador, who is also a community representative, they had to track down the 13-year-old in the company of police to farms in Chikoko near Mukambi in Chiredzi.
She also said there were other girls aged between 13 and 15 they had rescued and placed them in children’s homes where they were now undergoing counselling.
“Right now, we have managed to track down six girls between the ages of 13 and 15 and brought them back. Some are now living at Chambuta Children’s Home, while others are now with their families. One 14-year-old is feared to be pregnant so she is at the home waiting for medical checks,” Mativenga said.
“We went as far as Chivi to bring these young girls back home. So, recently, another 14-year-old girl ran away with her husband who had come to pay lobola when they were tipped off that we had brought in the police. The process was abandoned immediately and the man and girl just disappeared. We do not know where they are right now.”
When reached for comment, the mother of the 14-year-old refused to speak with the media.
“I am busy at work right now. I don’t know anything about what you are talking,” she said.
Both Chilonga and Mativenga attributed the problem to hunger caused by the drought that has ravaged most parts of the country.-Newsday
MDC has filed papers to challenge police decision to ban demo- court decision set for 12 pm..
More to follow…
By A Correspondent- The government has established a $40 million loan fund for financially disadvantaged students to be drawn from all State universities.
This was revealed by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Amon Murwira in an interview with the state media on Monday.
He said:
“As Government, we have secured $40 million for access by those deserving bright, but indigent students from the State universities.
So far we are targeting those vulnerable groups, such as orphans.
We started it as a seed, but my ambition would be for the loans to be universal to every student.
However, that would need the fund to grow first. I was in a meeting with all the vice-chancellors who said the respective committees have been set up and we deliberated on the need to create foolproof selection criteria to ensure that those we are targeting benefit.
These committees will be working on the specific frameworks in the identification of deserving students, among other modalities and as the scheme grows, more students will certainly be taken on board.”-StateMedia
By Patrick Guramatunhu: “At the heart of Zimbabwe’s tragedy, is the existence of adults who lack the critical thinking to understand that SANCTIONS will go away if Mnangagwa simply followed the Zimbabwean constitution. Such ignorance is frightening and makes us a laughing stock!” twittered Hopewell Chin’ono.
I had to read the twitter three times just to be certain I understood the statement because coming from Chin’ono; who until now was an ardent Mnangagwa apologist, to put it mildly; speaks volumes. Of course, Chin’ono is right!
Indeed, given the many stories of billions of dollars the nation has lost and continue to lose to this day through corruption; it beggars belief that anyone still failed to see that sanctions was just a Zanu PF five-legged hare. In 2016 former President Robert Mugabe admitted the nation was being swindled out of US$15 billion in diamond revenue. No nation can afford that level of economic haemorrhage especial one with a mere US$ 10 billion GDP like Zimbabwe!
Of course, sanctions were always a feeble excuse for decades Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown, which predates the sanctions anyway, but Zanu PF has religious stuck to sanctions because it had no other excuse. Mnangagwa had even talked his fellow SADC leaders to once again go hunting with him for this five-legged hare, sanctions. The leaders, in their infinite wisdom, have instructed the SADC Secretariat to formally ask the AU and UN to back the regional body in demanding the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
One can only imagine the consternation Chin’ono’s twitter is causing in Zanu PF circles, given that many of the party’s hardliners counted him as one of their own. There will be no such consternation amongst SADC leaders, most of them are fools and therefore the twitter will make them look their normal selves!
As for Hopewell Chin’ono, this is certainly your Saul to Damascus moment! You used to praise this Mnangagwa regime to the high heaven; what brought about this up this tectonic political drift? Was it the disappointment at being left out of the Mnangagwa gravy train?
Was it the hyperinflation; the countless romantic dinners because of 18 hours a day every day ZESA load-shedding; shortages of fuel, bread, etc.; etc?
Well whatever cause the bolt of inspiration and opened your eyes Chin’ono; we, the long suffering povo, welcome like the errant prodigal son you are! Of course, it is a tragedy and a crying shame that so many Zimbabweans have fooled into taking off their eyes from rigged elections, corruption and other teething national problems in pursuit of sanctions, the five-legged hare.
ANALYSIS| Emmerson Mnangagwa has unleashed security agents onto his political enemy, Phelekezela Mphoko on exactly the same day the late VP Joshua Nkomo (fled from ED) flew back into Zimbabwe. On the 16th August 1983, Mnangagwa was in hot pursuit after Nkomo when he flew back into Zimbabwe.
The three Mnangagwa, Nkomo and Mphoko have served at the same level, as Vice Presidents. Exactly 16 years later, Mnangagwa last week (16th Aug 2019) unleashed his new state security arm which he said “bites” the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption agency onto Mphoko’s house, seeking to arrest the former VP. There is a crucial legal principle that is used in courts of law all-over Zimbabwe and internationally – This is that Justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done. It is a no brainer that the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission’s principal, Mnangagwa already has a political interest in humiliating Mphoko, so do they carry any locus standing to arrest Mphoko, especially in these circumstances?
Problem Masau| Luckson Chikutu’s book FlashBack Identity which is going to be launched on October 6 will be on the shelves at Africa Festival on November 16 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The book which has been translated into English following its success in Swedish has been described by cultural enthusiasts as rich in preserving the Zimbabwean culture.
Speaking from his base in Sweden, Chikutu who is known in entertainment circles as Manluckerz said his wish is for the book to be used in schools.
“I really want to share it with the new generation and adults about how best we can document our Zimbabwean culture and history. I will be happy to see the book being used in schools.
“I want to inspire my fellow country men about how one could achieve his or her goals through determination, dedication and discipline. This book is about how to preserve our identity and culture,” he said.
The musician- cum-author said writing his debut book has been an experience.
“The writing of the book has been a long journey with positive feedback. It was motivated by the need to document the cultural history I received when I was growing up,” he said.
“The writing of the book has been a long journey with positive insights I received and a high ambition to write about my family’s history, the cultural heritage I learnt when I was growing up. The book also captures how music and dance are used to influence humanity in Zimbabwe,” said Manlukerz.
The book describes music business, how it has been used through out history to influence humanity on earth.
“After a long period of persistent writing and endless patience, finally came the result, a book titled Flashback Identity.
By Own Correspondent- Teachers have warned the government that they will not be able to resume their duties when schools open for the third term next month because of incapacitation.
They are demanding salaries to be paid in United States dollars or the equivalent of US$550 at the interbank rate, which translates to ZWL$5 500.
In a statement issued on Monday, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said:
“Schools will remain closed until (our) demands are met. Let’s prepare for an indefinite closure of schools until our demands are met. Let the schools open while they are closed.
That the government has taken this long before addressing our legitimate demands calls for greater coordination, unity of purpose, a collectivity of action, dexterity, vigilance and resilience.
We cannot be treated as if we are of no account. When we spoke, the government did not listen. It’s now time to act and our actions must speak louder than words.”
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) said that teachers are incapable of returning to their work stations due to runaway prices:
ZIMTA president Richard Gundane said:
“Teachers are seriously incapacitated as a result of runaway prices in the wake of salaries that are way below the poverty datum line.
The delayed implementation of a cost of living adjustment coupled with a budget that does not give any hope of a living wage will occasion the failure of the majority of teachers not to go to work in the third term.”
Meanwhile, Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima said that there was no need for teachers to down tools as the government has promised to address their grievances.-Newsday
Consumer rights watchdog, Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT), says during the month of July, an average family of six required at least $1 684,45 to sufficiently source food and non-food items.
This comes as the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has, for the past few months, failed to release its monthly cost of living basket that has been ballooning since January.
PRFT is a civil society organisation focused on policies that alleviate the poor through conducting research on poverty-related issues and engaging with policymakers.
“In the month of July, 2019, a family of six in Harare needed $1 684,45 to have access to a sufficient quantity and quality food and non-food items. Accessing the basic needs at this cost has become a nightmare, given that the salaries for both the public and private sectors have remained frozen, with civil servants earning an average income of $500 per month. Prices of most goods and services are being pegged at the parallel market rate (currently fluctuating US$1: ZW$11 on average) yet salaries have not been reviewed to match the prices level,” PRFT said in a statement.
“There is no reprieve for citizens as fuel prices are continuously being increased due to the continued weakening of the Zimdollar against the United States dollar and other foreign currencies. The increase in excise duty on fuel imports, which was recently announced in the mid-term budget review statement made by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, partially contributed to the increase in fuel prices.
“The increase in excise duty is operationalised by Statutory Instrument 161 of 2019, Customs and Excise (Tariff) (Amendment) notice 10, 2019. Fuel price increases continue to push-up costs of transporting goods and this is ultimately increasing the prices of basic goods and services.”
According to PRFT, despite having introduced a local currency, Zimbabwe is still facing a two-tier pricing model.
The pricing model includes prices of goods pegged in electronic money and hard currency, which are bond notes and coins.
In that regard, evidence gathered by PRFT during its price tracking in Harare established that tuckshops prefer selling basic commodities at bond cash prices and charge an extra 10% to 15% on average to a consumer who buys with electronic money (EcoCash).
This situation is compounded by the fact that the central bank has not yet increased the supply of cash in banks, though they promised to do so following the re-introduction of the Zimdollar.
“The daily maximum withdrawal for banks is still pegged at $100 for individuals and $300 for institutions. PRFT’s overall observation is that the introduction of the local currency through the SI 142 of 2019 has not removed the two-tier pricing system and the citizens have continued to be short changed,” PRFT said.
“The Poverty Reduction Forum Trust continues to advocate for government to come up with policies which ensure that all citizens can afford to live dignified lifestyles. The economic hardships are increasingly being characterised by an erosion of social norms and values.”
By A Correspondent- Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leaders are brainstorming on what course of action to take to make the government listen to their grievances after police banned protests that were scheduled for Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru.
The party’s MDC Midlands provincial spokesperson, Takavafira Zhou said that there is a need for the party to change tactics going forward.
He said:
“We certainly need to change our strategy and tactics. Conducting a demonstration is one option that has left us vulnerable to the might of Zanu PF as it can concentrate its forces and cripple our quest for democratic expression through manipulation of the law, force or naked violence and thuggery.
Henceforth, we need to consider elements of diversion, surprise, spontaneity in various areas to guarantee success.
The cause of liberty should not be surrendered, even at the last moment of defeat. Defeat is just temporary, but giving up makes it permanent.”
The MDC had planned a series of demonstrations in the country’s major urban centres to force the government to address the concerns of citizens.
However, police have so far banned protests that were planned for Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has released the full list of all students who were legally and procedurally allocated campus accommodation for the new semester that starts on 26 August 2019.
The list is available on the University website at www.uz.ac.zw
The development comes after reports that there were students who were allocated University accommodation through illegal and clandestine.
The University is however encouraging such students to come forward and report their cases.
A special desk to entertain such reports has been established at the Great Hall, UZ Main Campus from Wednesday, 21 August 2019 to Friday, 23 August 2019.
By A Correspondent- Gold panners here have become a menace to Gwanda residents as they become violent at times thus becoming a threat to human life and property.
This was revealed by Ward Five councillor, Ernest Ncube recently during a Gwanda Local Peace Committee (LPC) meeting in the town.
He said:
We have a serious problem in Ward Five. There are two business centres namely Njanji Shopping Centre and Red Cross Business Centre which have become hotspots.
At Njanji Shopping Centre there is a nightclub where gangs comprising mostly gold panners gather. When the nightclub closes at 4 AM these gangs regroup and start gambling outside.
Their gambling results in altercations and these fights move to residential areas and in the process, people are affected.
Their property is destroyed and all of these violent activities have left residents unsettled as they fear for their lives.
The rowdy gold panners allegedly engage in fistfights and hurl insults at one another in the full view of young children.
Ncube urged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to deployed officers in the area as residents are now petrified by the marauding gangs.-StateMedia
By Jephias Gwashavanhu in ZimEye Group| A preacher does not oppose a country ruler, that’s what the Bible teaches as Jesus asked whose head is on this coin and commanded them to give to Ceasar what belongs to Caesar. I say whose head is on this nation, Mnangagwa is the head so give honor to Mnangagwa as the head of State.
To say I don’t recognize ED as head of State it’s to create unGodly society and rebellion, Rebellion & anarchy spirit comes from the devil coz he was the first rebel and God threw him down to the earth in great demotion.
A man in power can throw you to the grave any minute he wishes and the fact that ED does not kill Biti or Chamisa , it’s grace in him just like God did not kill Satan and even God allows Satan to oppose God but does not destroy the devil for now.
That’s why the Bible says country leaders are God’s representative/ messengers. Those apostolic sect guys are not in error when they used to give Mugabe (and now ED) church garments.
The word of God is simple, it says rulers are a terror to the violent and criminals! When shall we have the wisdom of God as Zimbabweans so that we focus on developmental and Godly politics? You see Mr Chamisa claiming to be a pastor and promoting devilish type of politics (sellout , rebellion and violence)!
And you see some people who claim to be Christians failing to see that hypocrisy. Such people are blind followers and the Bible says such people as led by such a blind man shall fall into a pit once their leader falls into the pit.
If you don’t know, to avoid falling into a pit, just don’t follow any leader, just follow God only. Equally you have no obligation to follow a country leader but you can choose not to follow without being rebellious and violent.
Leaders of a country are ordained by God! The Bible says and it’s God who put into them into power and him who removes them from power. A true Christian politician must understand this- JOIN THE ZIMEYE GROUP TO COMMENT ON THIS,
By Wilbert Mukori: “IF the citizens do not feel any longer represented by the men and women they have cast their ballots for, and Parliament is no longer effective in serving the common good, can no longer defend human rights, and preserve human dignity, opposition parties will resort to political pressure and demonstrate publicly against hunger, unemployment, failure of health services and education, including the breakdown of public transport,” wrote Father Oskar Wermter SJ.
I wish our situation was that simple and clear cut. Alas, it is not!
How can we say the people of Zimbabwe “cast their ballots for” this Zanu PF regime when 3 million in the diaspora were denied the vote, rural voters were subjected to intimidation and harassment by tradition leaders and Zanu PF operatives, etc. ZEC squandered US$ 75 million on procurement of the biometric voter registration kits and yet still failed to produce a verified voters’ roll.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner,” stated the EU Observer Mission final report.
“The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability. Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
There was a mountain of evidence of the serious flaws and illegalities in the affidavits presented to the Constitution Court from both Chamisa and ZEC. A close examination of the data submitted by ZEC showed there were three different vote count totals all different from Chamisa’s totals; proof of the “numerous errors” mention in the EU report. Worse still, it was clear no one was able to verify and trace any of their figures because key documents like the verified voters’ roll and V11 forms, summary of vote count by polling station, were never released.
Why the Constitutional Court ignored all the glaring flaws and illegalities in the conduct of the elections and still declare the process free, fair and credible, beggars belief. The judgement was based on the “primary source evidence”, said the Chief Justice Malaba.
Apparently the Court assumed the evidence in the sealed ballot boxes, “primary source”, contained will have no errors; the missing V11 forms, will all be there; although the voters’ roll was never verifies the copies in the boxes will be verified; etc. The court did not ask any sealed ballot boxes to be opened to satisfy themselves that any of the assumptions were right. In other words, the judgement was more a matter of faith and not evidence.
Of course, the Constitutional Court, like ZEC and all the other state institutions, is corrupt and compromised. We should not forget the same judiciary had ruled the November 2017 military coup “legal, justified and constitutional!”
The country’s corrupt and incompetent MDC opposition is mudding the waters by failing to implement the reforms to stop the rigging and by participating in flawed and illegal elections. It is clear MDC will participate in the elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process gets for the sake of winning the few gravy train seats Zanu PF dishes out as bait.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed David Coltart, MDC-Ncube minister in the 2008 to 2013 GNU.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
Four of the MDC factions did form a coalition before last year’s elections and still they all participated in the flawed elections out of greed.
MDC did win most of the gravy train seats given away as bait and hence the reason the party has endorsed the elections as free, fair and credible. The party has withheld its endorsement of Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential race but only for the purpose of force him into a power sharing arrangement in which Chamisa and other MDC leaders will be appointed ministers.
No Father, Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year’s elections; the regime has no mandate to rule, it is illegitimate, and it must step down. After decades of Zanu PF rigging elections and letting the regime get away with it; it is imperative that we start being honest with ourselves and call a spade a spade.
We must now spend all our time, sweat and treasure on getting Zanu PF to step down so we can appoint an interim administration that will implement the reforms and finally end the curse of rigged elections. The MDC’s ambivalence on elections is frustrating our efforts by giving Zanu PF some modicum of political credibility. We should be wry of MDC’s treasonous habit of running with hare and hunting with the hounds.
Zimbabwe’s problem is one of bad governance characterized by the curse of rigged elections. After 39 years of rigged elections and us burying our heads in the sand whilst the nation sunk deeper and deeper in the abyss; it is imperative that we final admit the problem and deal with it!
By Own Correspondent| Former Vice President and National People’s Party President Joice Mujuru has revealed that there was a lot of mistrust in Zanu Pf even before the death of her husband Solomon Mujuru.
She said the late army general whose death remains a mystery warned her to be wary of the “boys”.
Without disclosing who the boys were, Mujuru said she appreciated her late husband’s word as he had predicted the future correctly.
She said:
“Today we remember a true hero of the people’s struggle. Makasiya mataura kuti tivangwarire vakomana vaye meaning you told us to be wary of those boys. Maive nemuono wetwiza meaning you predicted and could see in the future.
RIP Solomon Mujuru aka Rex Nhongo. The people’s general. The people’s hero. Hazvina mhosva meaning it is well.”
The former army general Mujuru who was known as Rex died in a fire in the early hours of the night of 15 August 2011, at the homestead of Alamein Farm, Beatrice in circumstances which to date remain a mystery and have been described by many as suspicious.
His wife Joice is however on record claiming that her husband, who was regarded as the “king maker” in the southern African country, was shot dead before being burned inside his farmhouse.
She believes that the country’s former leadership some of whom are still at the helm of power know who killed her husband, but were not willing to disclose that information to her.
Joice is on record saying:
“There was a blue, blue flame, almost one and a half to two metres high, not normal at all. It seemed to me there was some kind of accelerant. I can’t say who did it, but they know the people in power. It will come out.”
Her optimism for justice have however remained a dream 8 years later.
There are over 15 players who are based in Europe, it has emerged. This came out during a state media interview with Warriors interim coach, Joey Antipas.
Antipas expressed optimism that there are numerous players who can be called up for national duty going forward.
Antipas told the Herald on Tuesday that players will be selected on merit. He said: “We have a very good catchment of players, and if we make the right calls, I am sure we can make the country a powerhouse again.
“There are players who have played for the national team before who are doing very well, and some who are yet to play for the team whom I feel needs to be given a chance.
“I have read about some of the names in the press, of players who are playing abroad and I would like to assess some of them because, frankly speaking, I have not yet seen some of them in action.
“Our selection will be on merit and I believe the best players, and those doing very well, will get a chance to play for their country.
Zimbabwe now has a number of players plying their trade in competitive leagues in Europe. These include:
While the whole region is watching developments in Malawi over the May disputed elections, rogue Zimbabwean Businessman Wicknell Chivayo has visited the Malawian President Peter Mutharika and congratulated him on his “tipex” victory.
Posting on his social media page, Chivhayo declared impending relations with the disputed head of state.
Wrote Chivayo:
HAUPARARE HU MAMBO NDE HWEROPA…I spent the last 5 days in Malawi on a business trip and more importantly had to pass by and congratulate HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI PROF ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA on his victory on the recent elections…He is indeed a wonderful FATHER FIGURE to us all AFRICANS…As a long time supporter of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) i commend his tireless efforts to grow the economy and redevelop MALAWI to improve lives of the ordinary citizens…I’m proud to be part of his vision…??? DPP###PROSPERITY###JUSTICE###
SECURITY###
A TOUT from Bulawayo allegedly beat his cousin to death with an iron bar and made a false police report that he had found him dead.
Makhosi Ncube (33) is suspected to have killed Keith Ramjis (40), whom he lived with at a family house in Thorngrove suburb between Saturday and Sunday morning.
On Sunday night, a panicky Ncube allegedly told neighbours that he had stumbled on Ramjis’ bloodied body in the house and they advised him to report to the police.
Police investigations linked him to the brutal killing and he was arrested on the same night.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday confirmed the murder case and said police were yet to establish a motive for the killing.
He said Ncube was assisting cops with investigations.
“We are investigating a suspected murder case where 40-year-old man was found dead at his home in Thorngrove suburb. The deceased and the informant shared a room,” said Insp Ncube.
“Investigating officers observed that the deceased had a deep cut on his forehead. His head was swollen and he had another cut on his back. The officers also discovered a wooden piece of broom stick and an iron bar which were hidden under the deceased’s bed.”
The officers, Insp Ncube said, also discovered that Ramjis’s blood stained blankets had been placed on a washing line together with the Ncube’s bloodied jeans.
“This led to the police connecting the informant with the murder and he is now assisting them with investigations,” he said.
He said prior to Ramjis’s death, the two had attended a party in Mahatshula suburb on Saturday. “It is alleged that on Saturday the two of them attended a party in Mahatshula suburb before returning home at 8PM.
“The two shared a room in the house belonging to the deceased’s mother who is based in the United Kingdom.
The informant claimed that he left the following morning and went to Harare Road where he operates as a tout. He claimed that on his return at about 8PM on Sunday he stumbled on the deceased’s body and reported the matter to their neighbours who encouraged him to report the case to the police who attended the scene,” he said.
A Chronicle news crew visited the family’s residence yesterday where relatives said they were not sure what led the cousins to have the fatal scuffle.
Family spokesperson Mrs Siqondeni Chitsiga said: “We don’t know what transpired. What we know is that they fought.
“They are cousins. We also have not accessed him (Ncube) since he was picked by the police to ask him what really transpired,” said Mrs Chitsiga.
Sentenced to six months in prison for taking part in a banned demonstration, lawyer and activist Michèle Ndoki of the opposition Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) faces the death penalty in other cases.
Aboard the black Toyota Prado, which is driving her to the Nigerian border on February 26, Michèle Ndoki is taking every precaution to leave the country in complete discretion. Her companion, who remains her only intermediary with the rest of the world, does the same by turning off his phone, after briefly answering a few phone calls.
The lawyer has felt in danger since she was shot three times in the thigh on the sidelines of an MRC demonstration. For nearly a month, she lived as a recluse in her residence in Limbe. Tired of this situation, she is counting on this journey to make herself safe.
But the journey will be short. Although wearing a long loincloth dress and a large scarf almost covering her face, the officials at the Ekok border crossing have no difficulty in recognizing the person who has just distinguished herself, through her advocacy, as the star of the post-election hearings.
The arresting officer does not have an arrest warrant, he presents her with a “list of political activists banned from leaving the territory” on which her name appears. The lawyer protests, even though she knows she won’t be able to make him see reason.
On the same day, she was transferred to Yaoundé and then incarcerated some time later in the main prison of Kondengui.
The news of Michèle Ndoki’s arrestcaused a shock wave across the public sphere.
Condemnation and support arrive from all sides. Civil society organizations denounce an “arbitrary arrest”, the national bar association calls for her “immediate release”, the economist Célestin Monga salutes her “courage”… An improbable fate for the woman who was unknown in Cameroon’s political sphere two years ago – despite years of activism.
Far from the political arena, it was to the business community that the young lawyer turned when she returned to Cameroon in 1997.
Michèle Ndoki had just graduated in law with a specialization in business law from the University of Reims. In the same year, she joined the law firm Ngwe & Associés of the famous lawyer Marie-Andrée Ngwe, as a lawyer in consulting and corporate law.
Her former colleagues describe a “hard worker”, “passionate about law”. She left Ngwe & Associés five years after joining it, to embark on a career as an independent consultant.
This choice led her to work in several multinationals as a legal manager. From 2006 to 2012, her journey takes her through telecoms giant Orange, the Diageo Group (owner of the Guinness brand), Sanofi Laboratories and Gicam respectively.
Her career is dazzling, but the call of the bar is even more so. “She always wanted to be a lawyer. But when she returned to Cameroon, she felt that the judicial system was very inefficient and that it was difficult to defend clients in such a context,” confided one of her relatives.
In 2014, Michèle Ndoki is working to return to the law by successfully passing the internship access exam. The following year, she won the French-speaking advocacy contest against the death penalty, organized by the collective Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM).
During this competition, the trainee lawyer recounts the murder committed by Jacques Dubuisson of his wife Marie-Thérèse Ngo Badjeck, ‘adopting’ the guise of their 11-year-old son, a witness to the facts.
The case, which dates back to 2011, had made a lot of noise in Cameroon. Michèle Ndoki’s work does not go unnoticed. Alice Kom, the first woman admitted to the Cameroonian Bar and a pioneer in the defence of homosexual rights, is impressed.
She contacted her and offered to put her talent at the service of civil society. Michèle Ndoki is “thirsty for the challenge”, she doesn’t ask for anything.
She is seen alongside Alice Kom in the activities of the Association for the Defence of Homosexual Rights (Adefho), or even in the interior of the country on behalf of Freedom Generation, an association for the defence of freedoms and human rights of which she is the co-founder.
Her ideals bring her closer to lawyers Emmanuel Simh, Christopher Ndong and Désiré Sikati, who wish to bring her into the ranks of the MRC. They are not the first to do so. In July 2013, the opponent Maurice Kamto, leader of the party, offered her a job.
At that time, the MRC was accused of being a party composed solely of the Bamilékés (the ethnic group of Maurice Kamto) and it wanted to diversify the sociological composition of its cadres.
With a brief stint at Garga Haman Adji’s Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), and two years of activism in Edith Kah Walla’s Cameroon’s people party (CPP), Michèle Ndoki’s profile is compelling.
The daughter of the former deputy mayor CPDM of Douala 1st district, Michèle Ndoki, wants to get involved at the local level, and seeks to have her project supported by a credible political party.
The political calculation is done, the marriage with the MRC takes place in December 2016. “The passion with which he[Maurice Kamto] spoke about his vision for our beautiful country touched my heart,” she explained on that occasion.
But beyond the speech, Michèle Ndoki mainly obtains the assurance of being invested by the MRC as a candidate to be a member of parliament.
Maurice Kamto trusted her. Michèle Ndoki is now everywhere: She became the departmental head of the MRC in the Douala 1st constituency, then first national vice-president of women of the party.
For the presidential election of October 2018, the MRC candidate appoints her to the pool in charge of his communication. Ndoki initiated the merger between Maurice Kamto and Akere Muna, who were to form a coalition on the eve of the election.
She is also the one who defends the request for partial annulment of the election during the historical post-electoral litigation hearing.
On that day, Michèle Ndoki carried out an exegesis of the electoral code and concluded that the results held by the Constitutional Council were not reliable.
The audience is broadcast live on all local television channels. And even if neither her arguments, nor those of her colleagues in Maurice Kamto’s defence, succeed in convincing the eleven members of the council, Cameroonians on all sides are won over and welcome this commitment, which is rarely seen among the country’s women politicians.
Almost five months after her incarceration, Michèle Ndoki still bears the traces of her political struggles. The scars of the bullets received on 26 January, and the baton blows received during the march of 27 October 2018 in Douala.
From the cell she shares with eight other detainees, the one who had previously refused French nationality is considering contributing to the resolution of the conflict in the English-speaking area.
“It is time to fight to make our nation shine again,” she announced on social networks through her collaborators.
Also accused of “group rebellion”, “hostility against the homeland”, “illegal immigration” and “incitement to insurrection”, she now faces the death penalty.
This article first appeared in Jeune Afrique.
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a manhunt for former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who reportedly dramatically escaped from ZACC investigators on Monday afternoon.
ZACC, in collaboration with other law enforcement agents, has literally “sealed” the country’s borders to ensure the politician does not flee to other countries.
Mphoko faces arrest over criminal abuse of office charges.
Said ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure: “The position remains the same and Mr Mphoko’s whereabouts are still not known. Our officers are still on the ground looking for him.
“We are working closely with other law enforcement agents on the case and we have since alerted all the border posts to prevent his escape.”
On Monday Mphoko had agreed to surrender himself to ZACC officers at a Bulawayo police station, but he beat a hasty retreat and sped off movie-style, leaving the investigating officers shell-shocked.
He is being accused of criminal abuse of office after he unlawfully instructed junior police officers to release from cells, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) acting chief executive Moses Juma.
Juma was being charged with criminal abuse of office.
Mphoko allegedly committed the offence when he was still Vice President of Zimbabwe.
Mphoko, who reportedly resisted arrest on Saturday at his home, on Monday agreed to meet ZACC officers at a police station in Bulawayo.
His lawyers had gone to ZACC offices to submit his statement, but the investigators demanded his appearance before them.
That is when they agreed to meet at a neutral venue, being a police station in Bulawayo.
Mphoko then indicated that he was on his way to the police station for the recording of his warned and cautioned statement.
Upon arrival at the station, Mphoko drove off at high speed.
By A Correspondent| A newborn fell to his death at Mamelodi Hospital, east of Pretoria, after nurses allegedly refused to help his mother, who gave birth standing up.
Theresa Ngwendu, 30, the Zimbabwean mother, told Sowetan that she was rushed to the hospital a week ago as she was about to go into labour.
She said a nurse at the hospital refused to help her on arrival and told her “this is not Zimbabwe”.
Her water broke inside the maternity ward around 6am.
“My baby came out while I was standing after the nurse refused to assist me. I was in pain while also bleeding,” Ngwendu said.
She said her baby fell head first on to the hospital floor and was immediately declared dead by the nursing staff.
The hospital’s CEO, Dr Terrence Makhudu, said he viewed the allegations in a serious light and had launched an investigation.-Sowetan
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President Mnangagwa has appointed five new judges to the High Court bench in an effort to solidify the judicial organ and ensure expeditious justice delivery.
The judges comprising four men and one woman are expected to take oath of office before Chief Justice Luke Malaba, when the final term of 2019 legal year opens next month.
Veteran lawyer, Advocate Webster Chinamora, prominent Bulawayo-based lawyer Christopher Dube-Banda, Labour Court judge Evengelista Kabasa, Zimra head legal department Siyabona Msithu and Sunsley Zisengwe, who boasts of shining legal accolades after he obtained first-class law degrees at both undergraduate and master’s levels, are the latest to join the High Court bench.
They were among the cast of 18 candidates nominated to contest for eight vacancies of the High Court bench last month.
Judicial Service Commission acting secretary Mr Walter Chikwanha yesterday confirmed the appointment of the five.
“His Excellency the President has made the appointments of the five to the High Court bench,” he said, adding, “The Chief Justice (Luke Malaba) will preside over the swearing in ceremony of the five on September 4.”
The judges were appointed following public interviews held by the JSC last month, which seeks to increase transparency and enhance good governance.
The five were among the list of top performers, whose names were recommended for appointment by the JSC.
After the interviews, the JSC sent a list of “qualified persons as nominees” for the available posts.
The appointment of the five judges is expected to ease the workload that had reached breaking point, affecting the bench’s capacity to timeously dispense with cases requiring determination.
In one of the judgments, in February this year, Justice Tawanda Chitapi bemoaned the immense pressure the higher court operated under due to increased workload.
He made the remarks while delivering judgment in a dispute over a residential stand in Goromonzi involving Blessing Mureyani and Ms Maggie Genti.
Judgment in the case had delayed for almost three years. Justice Chitapi’s sentiments resonated with Chief Justice Malaba’s remarks during the official opening of the 2019 Legal Year in January.
In his keynote address, the Chief Justice noted the workload of the High Court judges. He said the judges worked under extremely difficult conditions.
“It is anticipated that in 2019 what remains clear is that the judges of that court are overworked,” he said adding, “More Judges are required to lessen the burden on the judges’ shoulders.”
President Mokgweetsi Masisi has once again reiterated that he would like to see former President, Ian Khama, back at the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Speaking over the weekend during the launch of his party’s parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Bonnington North, Annah Mokgethi, Masisi said Khama should return home.
This was the second time that Masisi has expressed his desire for Khama to return to the BDP.
Khama, who is now a patron of newly formed Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), has however remained mum on the invitation by the president.
He left the BDP in May this year and announced his resignation during a Kgotla meeting in Serowe after the much publicised fall-out between the two former allies.
But on Sunday, Masisi said he was serious about seeing the former president back into the BDP fold.
“I am serious, I want him back and he should not assume that I am joking, he should not be going around with UDC criminals, people who are full of crocodile tears,” said Masisi, adding that the UDC was crying in 2014 accusing Khama of killing Motswaledi.
Masisi said during that period, he defended Khama, noting that even now he can stand to say Khama never killed Motswaledi.
“I can tell you that they are not associating with him in good faith, and those who near him, tell him that what you said in 2014 still stands, tell him that you still have at heart what you told him during the 2011 strike. I was there, we are not kids and we’re not here to play,” said Masisi.
BULAWAYO Deputy Mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami and Ward Four Councillor Silas Chigora who were jointly accused of assaulting the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, were yesterday discharged at the close of the State case.
Clrs Kambarami and Chigora were alleged to have assaulted Mr Dube while serving him with a letter of suspension last month. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing that they were fabricated.
Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Tinashe Tashaya, acquitted the two councillors of assault charges following an application for discharge by their lawyer Mr Maqhawe Mpofu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners.
Mr Tashaya said the complainant’s testimony could not be relied upon as it was not credible and truthful.
“In his evidence, the complainant narrated to the court how he was assaulted and the accused persons denied the charge, saying they only served him with a suspension letter. It is clear and not disputed that the evidence by the two State witnesses was damaging to the State case as they contradicted the complainant’s version. Clearly, their testimonies did not corroborate with the evidence of the complainant, which in itself was not credible and reliable,” he said.
The magistrate said the State failed to prove a prima facie case against Kambarami and Chigora.
“In light of the above, the State has failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused persons and I hereby retain a verdict of not guilty and accordingly, they are acquitted,” ruled Mr Tashaya.
In his testimony, Mr Dube alleged Clr Kambarami and Clr Chigora stormed into his office “movie-style,” slapped, punched and kicked him.
He said a senior security officer, Mr Tobias Dube and Makhosi Tshalebwa came to his rescue before Clrs Kambarami and Chigora sought reinforcements from fellow councillors.
In cross-examining Mr Dube, Mr Mpofu challenged the authenticity of his testimony, arguing that it differed from an account given by Messrs Tobias Dube and Tshalebwa in their statements.
Mr Mpofu also challenged the inconsistencies between the statement the complainant gave to the police and his evidence in court.
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said on July 11 at around 2.30PM, the accused persons went to Mr Dube’s office at the City Hall with intentions of giving him a suspension letter.
“The two councillors were in the company of other councillors namely Felix Maka, Clayton Zana, Tawanda Ruzive, Pilate Moyo, Lillian Mlilo, Batirayi Dube and Jabangwe.
As they handed over the suspension letter to the Town Clerk, an argument broke out between them as the Town Clerk refused to abide by the suspension letter,” Mr Chile said.
The court heard that the argument resulted in Clr Kambarami and Clr Chigora teaming up and assaulting Mr Dube all over the body.
The other councillors who were present assisted in shoving the complainant out of office.
The prosecutor said the complainant sustained injuries due to the assault and was referred to hospital where a medical report was compiled.
State Media|President Mnangagwa will soon meet and assign terms of reference to a 10-member commission of inquiry appointed by Zanu-PF to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against senior party members, secretary for administration Dr Obert Mpofu has said.
The appointment of the commission of inquiry is in line with party’s quest to intensify the fight against corruption in the country.
In an interview with state media yesterday, Dr Mpofu said the team would meet President Mnangagwa soon in order to be given their terms of reference before they start work.
Dr Mpofu said Harare province has seconded Jacob Masuku Mawombera to the commission of inquiry.
“As you are aware, the party was waiting for Harare province to submit the name of their preferred Central Committee member to be part of the commission of inquiry. They have finally submitted their preferred candidate, Cde Mawombera.
“Harare province has submitted their name and very soon the President will announce the board chair. The other nine provinces submitted their names earlier. The Politburo has already announced the names from other provinces.
“The commission of inquiry team will meet with the President for terms of reference at a date to be announced. President Mnangagwa will then appoint the chair who will lead the team during their line of duty, so that they hit the ground running.
“The President will give direction to the teams on what needs to be done,” said Dr Mpofu.
The commission include William Mutomba (Manicaland), Sheilla Mabasa, (Mashonaland West), Hillary Masaiti Mombeshora (Mashonaland Central), Max Zvidzai (Midlands), Tshinga Dube (Bulawayo), Rodwell Zinyemba (Mashonaland East), Sibangumuzi Khumalo (Matabeleland North), Patrick Hove (Matabeleland South) and Clemence Makwarimba (Masvingo).
The move follows the decision by the Zanu-PF Youth League to name and shame people accused of corruption in the country. Mpofu’s name was put up top on the list together with already arrested Priscah Mupfumira.
President Mnangagwa recently directed all provinces to nominate Central Committee members to the commission of inquiry to investigate the party bigwigs allegedly involved in corrupt activities.
It is with great surprise that I have seen a report in the Chronicle suggesting that the provisional order in the High Court Application made of the Confederated Retailers Association and others v The MDC Alliance and the Officer Commanding and another was granted.
This is a shameless lie by the Government machine. The order was not granted and was dismissed.
Event though the wording of the order made by the judge in chambers yesterday in the High Court order is vague erroneous what is reported by the Chronicle is a outright false.
The court order itself does not reflect the what was conceded by the Applicants ; that their application was without merit and must be dismissed since it was not within the powers of the High Court to grant such an order and the police had in any event made and served a prohibition order.
In fact, the issue related to costs was debated precisely because the MDC Alliance ,through me , had requested that since the application was so palpably bad in its conception and even in terms of drafting that it should be dismissed with costs.
That the wording of the judgment is so jumbled up has been taken up by the ZANU PF spin machine to shamessly give the impression that the demonstration set for today has been blocked by the High Court.
This is a big lie that misreads the badly drafted order and is the opposite of what the court really ordered.
I would urge the public, on behalf of my client , to disregard the reports suggesting that the demonstration has been blocked by a court order as this could not be further from the truth.
Issued by
Adv.K.I. Phulu
The people of Zimbabwe are suffering big time: The past year has seen exorbitant fuel hikes, bloated food prices and rolling electrical blackouts lasting for 18 hours a day. The country is in turmoil, and when troubled South African power company Eskom is seen as your “get out of jail” route it can only mean the situation is dire.
As it stands, the daily “peak power demand” in Zimbabwe is 1 800 Megawatts (MW). But a total of less than 1 000 MW is being generated by local power producers.
Well, things are about to get much worse for Zimbabwe. The Kariba Dam, which straddles the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi, has fallen to a dangerously low level in August Now it’s just a few weeks from being shutdown.
That’s because the river servicing this enormous facility has been hit hard by the drought in the region. The current water level in Kariba is too low to produce any energy, as it now sits below the “water intake” pipes. The reserve has been left with just the “dead water”, which doesn’t sit high enough to generate power.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) have revealed that the dam will be shutdown in September, and won’t be switched back on until the next forecast season of rain. This loss of a major power source is set to plunge the country even further into darkness, and it could have a severe knock-on effect in South Africa.
Last week, the South African government went cap-in-hand to the free-spending Eskom. The way they have managed their own electricity output in Mzansi has left a lot to be desired. However, the power utility were in a charitable mood, and agreed to supply 400MW to Zimbabwe, in exchange for weekly payments of $890 000 / R13.7 million.
Although the firm could express reluctance over any further deals, Eskom – and South Africa – are usually the first to be approached by the Zimbabwean government. And this may not be a great time for the electricity supplier.
Multiple industry experts fear that load shedding – currently gripping Zimbabwe – will soon return to SA. The grid has had a wobble or two recently, and even South Africa Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan suggested that power cuts could only be staved-off “until the end of August”.
The Kariba Dam shutdown could have consequences across the border. Reality is that sooner than later, ESKOM will pull out of Zimbabwe and spell disaster for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.
War veterans have recommended the Government to pronounce the anti-sanctions day slated for October 25 a public holiday after Sadc countries declared the day a solidarity day against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe adding that modalities for the anti-sanctions day will be discussed at the Former Liberation Movements’ summit to be held in Victoria Falls next month.
Zanu-PF’s secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-political prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees, Douglas Mahiya commended Sadc resolution and said this is an important day for the country.
“It would be very good for day to be declared a holiday. If the President says that day is a holiday it means that industry, farmers, doctors and everyone must be supportive of that day.
“The day is very important, this is a day Zimbabweans should demonstrate how progressive they are because here is a whole region supporting Zimbabwe,” said Mahiya.
He described opposition MDC Alliance and its leaders as misguided elements who are bent on causing disharmony in a peaceful country.
“They are a clique of misdirected, politically immature people who still give the white man support to suppress the black Zimbabweans,” said Mahiya.
He also added that sanctions are not only a threat to Zimbabwe but the region at large.State media
Veteran journalist Godfrey Majonga, alleged to have been forced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to jump from a high rise building in 1987 during a clash over a woman, has died.
In post on its Twitter page on Tuesday, the Zimbabwe information ministry said, “We have learnt with sorrow and sadness the passing on of veteran broadcaster Mr Godfrey Majonga. Mr Majonga made immense contributions to the broadcasting industry as a broadcaster and later as the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Addressing a Zanu-PF interface rally in Mashonaland Central in 2017, then President Robert Mugabe revealed that he had been told by Professor Jonathan Moyo, then Higher Education Minister, how Mnangagwa made Majonga jump from a high rise building.
Mugabe said when Mnangagwa found Majonga at the woman’s flat, he forced Majonga to choose between sitting on a red hot stove or jumping to his death from the third floor of a high rise building in Harare.
The former President said Majonga went for the “easy route” of jumping through the window of the flat.
In 2017, Majonga declined to comment on the incident referring journalists to the generators of the allegations.
GWANDA residents have called for heavy police presence as some gold panners operating in the area have been terrorising members of the public.
Speaking recently during a Gwanda Local Peace Committee (LPC) meeting, Ward Five councillor, Mr Ernest Ncube, said the rowdy gold panners who were sometimes armed with machetes were a menace to residents from his area.
He said the gang was destroying property, fighting in public and threatening residents.
“We have a serious problem in Ward Five. There are two business centres namely Njanji Shopping Centre and Red Cross Business Centre which have become hotspots.
“At Njanji Shopping Centre there is a nightclub where gangs comprising mostly gold panners gather. When the nightclub closes at 4AM these gangs regroup and start gambling outside.
“Their gambling results in altercations and these fights move to residential areas and in the process people are affected. Their property is destroyed and all of these violent activities have left residents unsettled as they fear for their lives,” he said.State media
HARARE City have sacked Mark Mathe and Tichaona Diya to pave way for the backroom staff brought in by new coach, Lloyd Chitembwe.
The former Caps United coach started work at the capital club yesterday following his appointment on Monday.
Mathe had been in charge of the team on an interim basis since Englishman Mark Harrison left in June.
But, he failed to assert himself and managed a paltry three points out of a possible 18 during his short stint.
He, together with goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya, were shown the exit yesterday as Chitembwe decided to bring with him virtually the entire backroom staff he worked with at Caps United.
Nelson Matongorere, who was Chitembwe’s technical director at the Green Machine, will assist the former midfielder at his new club.
Zwanai Kawadza and Fungai Kwashi are also coming in as part of the backroom staff.
Ironically, Mathe, who spent over a season understudying Chitembwe at Makepekepe, had to be axed for dumping his former boss when he chose to work with Harrison.State media
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is an independent arm of the State which exercised its discretion upon assessing the security situation in the country before it issued a prohibition order against the MDC-Alliance’s intended demonstration last week, a Cabinet Minister said.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Dr Sibusiso Moyo, said the police’s decision barring the planned demonstration was subjected to a legal test when the MDC Alliance challenged it in the High Court but lost the bid to have it prohibition order nullified.
Minister Moyo said this yesterday while responding to questions from journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing which was held in Harare yesterday.
He had been asked to comment on a statement issued by some European Union countries condemning the police action during an attempt by supporters of the MDC Alliance to stage an illegal demonstration in Harare.
“To try and bring the issue of the police reaction is not fair. The police is an independent organ of the State, which makes its own assessment and which deals with the situation as they assess and they made a legal position and they presented it.
It was challenged and unfortunately the challenge was not successful, but thereafter they proceeded with the demonstration which was fundamentally an illegal demonstration in terms of the law,” said Minister Moyo.
“Whether the police used excessive force or not, we will always desire as Government, that police use commensurate force when responding to demonstrations. It is a subjective matter to say at what point. When the protestors wanted to enter Munhumutapa here, what would have police done except to throw smoke. We must be clear about the circumstances.”State media
POSSESSING offensive weapons has proved costly for a Harare trio that was slapped with a two-month jail term.
Evidence Ncube (28) of Gokwe, Masimba Jemwa (41) and James Pfundira (27) were recently arrested for the offence before they were convicted and jailed.
The three were arrested at a police roadblock while travelling in an unregistered Nissan Hardbody vehicle during last week’s MDC-Alliance demonstration.
Police searched them at a roadblock near Dzivaresekwa turn-off along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway.
Ncube was found in possession of a satchel containing a machete and a knife while Pfundira had a machete. Ncube was in possession of a machete, knife, hammer and a small axe.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development saying the offence was serious and that people must desist from illegally possessing weapons.
He said the three were found with machetes and other dangerous weapons.
“Police in Harare have arrested Evidence Ncube, James Pfundira and Masimba Jemwa for contravening section 14(4) of POSA after they were found in possession of offensive weapons against a provisional order banning the carrying of such weapons in Harare,” he said.
The trio appeared before magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje who sentenced them to two months in jail on Saturday.State media
Flamboyant businessman Ginimbi has promised fireworks when he reopens his popular club Sankayi which will be operating under a new name, Dreams.
Ginimbi said party lovers were in for a treat as Dreams, like its name suggests, will be a lifestyle club.
With Sankayi being his first nightspot, Ginimbi said he had learnt a lot and learnt from past mistakes. As such, he is confident that he will change the entertainment scene, not only in Harare, but in Southern Africa with this new club.
In an interview yesterday , Ginimbi said he shut down Sankayi after he noticed he had made mistakes because he was a novice in the entertainment scene.
Dressing, Ginimbi said was of high importance at this club. He urged people to dress up when going to club there in order to avoid the embarrassment of being sent away by bouncers.
“When I opened the nightclub in May last year, it was my first time to run one. I realised all the mistakes that I had made from the setting up of the club and for us to fix all those mistakes, we needed to close the club and rebrand.
“We also decided to drop the Sankayi name because we didn’t want anything to do with it. The owner is the same, but the name has changed,” said Ginimbi.IHarare News
Claiming there are ongoing illegal sanctions, ZANU PF aligned War veterans have asked Government to pronounce the October 25 so called anti-sanctions day a public holiday after Sadc countries declared the day a solidarity event against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe adding that modalities for the anti-sanctions day will be discussed at the Former Liberation Movements summit to be held in Victoria Falls next month.
Zanu-PF’s secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-political prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees, Douglas Mahiya commended the SADC resolution and said this is an important day for the country.
“It would be very good for the day to be declared a holiday. If the President says that day is a holiday it means that industry, farmers, doctors and everyone must be supportive of that day.
“The day is very important, this is a day Zimbabweans should demonstrate how progressive they are because here is a whole region supporting Zimbabwe,” said Mahiya.
He described the opposition MDC-Alliance and its leaders as misguided elements who are bent on causing disharmony in a peaceful country.
“They are a clique of misdirected, politically immature people who still give the white man support to suppress the black Zimbabweans,” said Mahiya.
He also added that sanctions are not only a threat to Zimbabwe, but the region at large.
“Let’s talk about trade for example, Zimbabwe does not consume everything it produces and the same applies for the other regional countries, they produce surplus and that surplus has to be sold to other countries hence countries require a trade congruent where they meet and trade and sanctions have actually affected the region in that respect.
“We are pleased that at the end of the day the region is now satisfied that the fight against sanctions is real and affects everybody. Sanctions are a weapon of mass destruction and they are corrosive as said by the President before.
“Sanctions are meant to punish a nation in order for imperialism to take charge of the economy of that particular country,” he said.
Mahiya also highlighted that modalities for the anti-sanctions day will be discussed at the Former Liberation Movements summit to be held in Victoria Falls next month.
Zanu-PF’s Zaka East by-election candidate, Clemence Chiduwa, has said he is optimistic that the party will romp to victory in the poll slated for September 21.
Chiduwa who recently won the primary election will battle it out with Masvingo-based lawyer, Mr Derick Charamba (MDC Alliance), Mr Clemence Chavarika (NCA) and Mr Lazarus Mubango (FreeZim Congress).
The Zaka parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of the incumbent Zanu-PF MP, Caston Gumbwanda, in June.
In an interview, Chiduwa said he was going to emerge victorious as Zanu-PF is the only people-centred party among those contesting.
“People always want a political party which is people-oriented and it is only our party, Zanu-PF which has those qualities. Zaka East has always been our stronghold and that will not change.
“I am very optimistic that I am going to be the next MP for this constituency and I promise members that I will not fail them in doing my duties,” said Chiduwa.
He said the party had a major campaign rally over the weekend.
“As a barometer, we had a campaign rally over the weekend which attracted
a bumper crowd. This obviously sent shock waves to other contestants, especially from MDC Alliance.
“In actual fact, there is no room for opposition politics in Zaka and the whole province of Masvingo,” he said. Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial information and publicity secretary, Ronald Ndaba, said it is a foregone conclusion that the party would retain the Zaka East seat as it is a formidable political force.
“Holding the by-election is just a formality as the result will be obvious. No party will stand against Zanu-PF and that is the reason why you see the party winning seats, originally held by the opposition,” said Ndaba.
“We are sure that we will give MDC Alliance and two other contesting parties a drubbing, come September 21. That is our seat and we are going to retain it without any problem.”State media
By Tawanda S Dzvokora | In a press conference at the Zanu-PF Headquarters on August 19, 2019, Pupurai Togarepi, the 55-year-old Secretary of Youth in the Zanu-PF government accused US Ambassador, Mr. Brian Nichols, of meddling in Zimbabwe’s politics, encouraging demonstrations, sponsoring terrorists and aiding do called “violent” protests by MDC-A.
These mischievous statements also come after State Media had accused the US ambassador to Zimbabwe of actively encouraging MDC officials to go ahead with Friday’s demonstrations and assuring MDC that the US would impose punitive measures should the government arrest or assault the protestors. The Zanu-PF government’s state media also alleges that there are three hands, US embassy officials, the MDC and civic society organizations that are engaged in planning to oust president Mnangagwa.
Firstly, Togarepi Pupurai at age 55 you are no longer a youth. In a normal party like the MDC after age 35 one is no longer a youth. However, we would understand, knowing that your party, Zanu-PF, is well known for geriatric leaders.
There is no second or third hand behind the peaceful demonstrations by the citizens of Zimbabwe. For over 3 decades your party has been digging its own grave and it is now almost done. If you refer to the Zimbabwe Constitution, Chapter 4, Part 2, Section 59, it says: *Every person has the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully*. The people of Zimbabwe have been peacefully using demos to let the government know of their misery, torture from the government, hunger, no jobs, no running water, no electricity, no education, no money, no basic needs met, the collapse of industries and infrastructure. Zimbabweans are asking for political and economic reform. However, your illegitimate government has captured the armed forces and hapless real youths to react ruthlessly with live ammunition and baton sticks, killing and maiming citizens who are demanding their rights.
Your colleague, Home Affairs Minister, Cain Mathema, has warned NGOs to disclose their sources of funding or they will be deemed spy organizations and forced to close their offices. Disgusting. The people of Zimbabwe are grateful to NGOs because it is difficult to fathom what condition the country would be like without the NGOs.
Zanu-pf is the axis of evil, perpetuating suffering through plundering of the nation’s wealth, police and military brutality, abuse of citizens, including your relatives Pupurai, and denying them of their fundamental rights. The world has for decades watched your party strip Zimbabwean citizens of their fundamental rights, beat them up, maim, kill and destroy their property. It is necessary and important that the world knows that Mnangagwa and his ZANU-PF government including you Pupurai, are evil terrorists, lawless thugs, thieves, murders and a very selfish lot.
All the killings and injustices you pretend to be blind to will continue to set back and isolate the country in the eyes of the international community, Zanu-Pf’s own doing not by anyone’s hand. The USA you barked at in your statement is part of the international community your president Mnangagwa has been courting and wooing through lobbyists. What a confused contradiction!
Meanwhile, Zimbabweans are eagerly calling for and anticipating intervention by the international bodies in accordance with internationally agreed procedures of international responsibility to protect world citizens.
To use your words Pupurai, we know just as the sun will rise tomorrow that we shall soon be free from the heartless Zanu-PF government, including yourself.
Behold the people’s revolution is nigh!
Tawanda S Dzvokora
MDC North America Chairman
MDC Youth Assembly notes with concern and aghast at the futile blame shifting attempts by one Pupurai Togarepi to shoulder peace loving citizens and MDC leadership blame while absolving ZANU PF youths, green bombers and the police on the violence that engulfed the streets of Harare last Friday.
In a long incoherent monologue, the 57 year old ZANU PF Youth leader, Togarepi exhibited quantums of ideological dissonance and mental deficiency by trying to sanitize a ZANU PF hand on the violence that was unleashed on innocent civilians by the ‘police’.
Togarepi’s reckless utterances mirrors a sore picture of the death and dearth of leadership in ZANU PF and the ripple effects of such has deleterious consequences on citizens.
It is quite regrettable that Zimbabweans have been robbed of quality leadership by an illegitimate looting conspiracy that tries so hard to force themselves on the people after stealing an election.
While Togarepi and cabal are now busy enjoying the loot that comes with illegitimacy, Zimbabweans from all walks of life including ZANU PF supporters are forced to bear the brunt that emanates from leadership failure of this fascist clique.
Maybe it is also important to unpack who is Pupurai before further debunking his lies and reckless utterances.
Here is a 57 year old grandfather who is also forcing himself on ZANU PF youths hence it is understandable that the only language he understands is violence.
As we alluded to earlier, Togarepi exhibits clear signs of mental deficiency, dissonance, incoherence and inconsistence!
This is the very same man who threatened a big pro-people political movement, MDC with extinction if the party was to go ahead with its plan to hold a peaceful demonstration on that fateful Friday.
True to his word, the world witnessed scenes of violence that has never been seen before as ZANU PF youths clad in police attire terrorized and brutalized unarmed and defenceless citizens on the streets of Harare.
Now one wonders has Pupurai quickly forgot his word that he made on the eve of demonstrations?
If so, then our problems as a people might be bigger than what meets the eye especially if this clique continue to impose themselves on us.
With such kind of rigid, rabid, dishonest, knavish scoundrels at the helms of power then it becomes easier for the common man to see why the economy is on a free fall!
Ancient Chinese wisdom has it that before hitting a dog sometimes it is important to look for its owner first.
It is not far fetched and mendacious for ordinary citizens to view Togarepi’s utterances as a reflection of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deficiencies too!
There is a clear common denominator of pretence and falsehood that underlines the character of Mnangagwa and Togarepi.
From ‘New Dispensation’, ‘soft as wool’, ‘third hand to violence’ to ‘the economy is on a recovery path’ it is lies galore in Mnangagwa and Togarepi’s worlds.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Violence is not the solution to the political crisis in the country, Tatenda Maposa the director of Girl Child Empowerment of Zimbabwe has said.
Maposa called for political tolerance and castigated violence against women.
See Maposa’s statement:
PEACE BEGINS WITH YOU: NO TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE OF WOMEN
As Masvingo residents we are saying no to politically motivated violence, no to looting and no to hate-
speech.
As Masvingo residents, we wish to reiterate that violence is not the solution to political problems.
Apart from leading to injury and infrastructure destruction,
violence breaks social cohesion and peace of the nation.
As Zimbabwe is currently faced by a huge economic turmoil and disagreements between
political parties, Zimbabweans must never allow political discourse to turn poisonous instead we
should all seek dialogue. We also believe that peace must begin with you and is extended to the next
person.
Politically motivated violence disturbs the lives of peace loving citizens and also endangers
the lives of those who have nothing to do with politics.
As Masvingo residents and Zimbabwean
citizens we urge all political party leaders to continue preaching the gospel of dialogue and peace to
their supporters. Political leaders must take lead in denouncing violence in any part of the nation.
Party
supporters must also take a leaf from unity which must be shown by their leaders. Violence itself, in
whatever form is not the best way forward and one can never use violence to advance one’s political
agenda.
Political differences mighty be there but, we are kindly pleading with all political parties to
swallow their pride, put the nation first and at heart and help each other to rebuild the nation. We do
not believe that politically motivated violence is the solution, we must desist from a situation whereby
young people are used as political weapons towards fueling political violence. As a province we are
eager to breed a peace loving generation which believes in peace and nation building. It is high time
our politics should be taken to the next level, where supporters of the victor and loser would be able
to sit down and share ideas, not exchange blows.
Our country has seen so much violence over the
past decades and it is high time political leaders should promote national peace, healing and tolerance.
At the centre of non-violence stands the principle of love.
As Masvingo residents, we believe that returning
violence for violence multiplies violence, adding the deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Farai Dziva|MDC-T vice president has said Zimbabwe is not a puppet nation such that external forces should not not interfere with the country’s internal affairs.
Gutu accused the United States of America of allegedly interfering in Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs.
“We respect the United States of America as a superpower and a global political force, but at the same time, the Americans and indeed, all other foreigners for that matter, should simply leave us to decide and determine our own destiny.
Just look at the havoc that American political interference has brought about in Venezuela. Zimbabwe might be a small country, but all the same, we are a sovereign and independent State and we don’t deserve to be treated like some satellite puppet state of the United States,” Gutu told a state run daily paper.
CAPS United have appointed Darlington Dodo as their new coach following the departure of Lloyd Chitembwe.
Makepekepe made the announcement on Tuesday and went on to post on their Twitter handle.
“Caps President, Mr Farai Jere said: At the moment coach Dodo is going to be responsible for the technical team. He is a qualified guy, he has got all the papers and it’s all about the the support.”
Dodo was assistant to Chitembwe who left to join Harare City.H-Metro
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) notes with concern the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Communique on the just ended 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In particular, the SADC Summit turned a blind eye to the deteriorating socio-economic situation, ongoing human rights violations, persecution of human rights defenders, suspension of the Constitution of the land and lethargy on comprehensive reforms.
The MDC is perturbed by the statement on Zimbabwe in the 36-paragraph SADC Communique issued Sunday following the regional body’s 39th summit of Heads of State and Government that ran from 17 to 18 August 2019 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The SADC Communique is gravely concerning not just about what it said but also about what it did not say about Zimbabwe.
On paragraph 14 of their Communique, SADC leaders report that “Summit noted the adverse impact on the economy of Zimbabwe and expressed solidarity with Zimbabwe and called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country”.
Other than paragraph 6 of the Communique that congratulates “Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation”, nothing else is said about Zimbabwe.
It is disconcerting that SADC could congratulate Mr. Mnangagwa as the new head of the regional body’s organ on Defence and security at a time when Zimbabweans are suffering insecurity and defenselessness from the regime in power in Harare.
While SADC leaders are well within their rights to pronounce themselves on the sanctions issue, it is disappointing that they have a frozen and opportunistic narrative on the matter. There’s no difference between what they have been saying since 2001 and what they said yesterday, like a record stuck in a groove.
For SADC leaders, it is enough to make the news headlines by “expressing solidarity with Zimbabwe” and “calling for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country”. This 18-year old stock-narrative no longer has an audience besides the SADC leaders themselves.
On sanctions, SADC leaders must speak through actions, not through convenient but hollow words for the media. Contextualizing sanctions over a year ago, in January 2018, Mnangagwa himself said, “Yes, sanctions are there, but we should not continue talking about them. We must have solutions and already we have solutions in agriculture, and this should cascade to all sectors”.
Given Mnangagwa’s position, SADC’s call “for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country” is odd and out of step with the reality in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans have come to know that when SADC leaders want to ignore or distort the tricky crisis of illegitimacy in Zimbabwe, they wax lyrical about sanctions and express “solidarity with Zimbabwe”, while saying and doing nothing about the worsening plight of Zimbabweans.
Yet there can be no Zimbabwe without Zimbabweans.
Before its 38th summit in August 2018, SADC was confronted by military and police atrocities committed in Harare on 1 August 2018, in which six Zimbabweans were killed in cold blood and 35 others were critically injured by the Army and the Police. This was confirmed by the Kaglema Motlanthe Commission, an international body whose appointment SADC supported.
It is incredulous that the 2019 SADC summit was dead silent about the findings of the Motlanthe Commission and the failure and the unwillingness, by Mnangagwa’s administration to hold to account the army and police officers who killed six and injured 35 Zimbabweans on 1 August 2018.
Even worse, between 14 to 28 January 2019, at least 17 Zimbabweans were killed, hundreds tortured, some raped, by elements in the army, police, CIO and Zanu PF militia with thousands were displaced internally and externally in an unprecedented orgy of State violence that affected all major cities across Zimbabwe.
As in the case of the atrocities committed on 1 August 2018, in fact worse than in that case, no process of enquiry has been undertaken; and the State culprits are once again getting away scot free with impunity.
The January 2019 scenario was another major clampdown on citizens and was carried out resulting in 17 extra-judicial killings, 17 cases of rape and other violations of a sexual nature, 26 abductions, 61 displacements, 81 assaults consistent with gunshot attacks, at least 586 assaults, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment (including dog bites), and 954 arrests and detention (including dragnet detentions). Further, a record breaking 22 MDC and Civil Society leaders including parliamentarians and labor leaders face trumped up charges of treason and subversion.
On 16 July 2019, labor leaders received anonymous letters with bullets in a clear move meant to intimidate the labor movement against exercising their right to peacefully demonstrate and petition.
Where is SADC’s responsibility to protect? When will SADC, just for once, stand with the people of Zimbabwe and express solidarity not with Zimbabwe but with Zimbabweans?
Yes. Zimbabweans have had enough of a SADC that is always congratulating the President of Zimbabwe and expressing solidarity with the State but never addressing itself to the plight of the ordinary people brutalized by the State.
As SADC leaders were meeting in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, Zimbabwean State agents were busy abducting civil society and political activists; while the police and army were issuing illegal prohibition orders like confetti to deny citizens from holding peaceful demonstrations against the worsening economic hardships induced not by sanctions but by unprecedented corruption through rent-seeking schemes like command agriculture, fuel cartels and abuse of treasury bills by the ruling elite.
On the back of Zimbabwe’s crisis of illegitimacy, these hardships induced by corruption coupled with incompetence are causing multitudes of Zimbabweans to cross the borders into neighbouring SADC countries, notably but not only South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. The consequences of the emigration influx on regional economies are too ghastly to contemplate, yet SADC leaders continue to bury their heads in the sand like ostriches, only to raise the heads when they want to pontificate about 18-year old sanctions while doing nothing about them in real economic terms.
The MDC reiterates that the root cause of Zimbabwe’s problems is political, being a crisis of governance. A legitimacy crisis.
The July 2018 elections further entrenched the legitimacy crisis through a fundamentally flawed electoral process that did not guarantee the will of the people. The 2018 plebiscite did not conform to the provisions of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and the African Union (AU) Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections.
The electoral process was marred by irregularities including a highly partisan and captured Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, lack of transparency in the electoral process including on the printing and storage of ballot papers and poor stakeholder engagement by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, a party-state-military complex, partisan conduct of traditional leaders, partisan distribution of food aid, widespread Intimidation, abuse of State resources, biased State media, an Electoral Law that is not aligned to the Constitution of Zimbabwe including the disfranchisement of diasporans and post-election violence. Such a flawed electoral process perpetuated the legitimacy crisis and is manifesting in the current socio-economic crisis, deteriorating human rights situation and lethargy.
Moreover, there was an outright fudging of the figures as demonstrated by the fact that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission revised downwards its own figures a record three times in a plebiscite SADC still held as credible.
The MDC urges SADC to urgently take note of the worsening situation in Zimbabwe as a threat to peace and security in the region and to recognize its responsibility to protect. We urge SADC to take the following specific actions:
MDC Communications
Farai Dziva|The MDC has bemoaned the suppression of the will of the people by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
In the statement MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka argues that the “Zanu PF regime will not suppress the will of the people forever.”
State effects a de facto ban on civilian politics
In light of the continued proscription of the people’s sacred right to freedom of assembly and expression, Zimbabweans are disheartened that all democratic space in the country has virtually been closed.
Rights have been taken away and democratic space has shrunk. As a people, in light of the national grievances affecting the nation, we have followed the law to the letter and spirit so as to allow ourselves to demonstrate peacefully.
Alas, there has been no appetite on the other side to allow citizens the full enjoyment of their democratic rights. In fact, there has been a de facto ban on the MDC and on civilian politics in the country. State-sponsored violence against innocent citizens has become the regime’s default setting.
The people are being subjected to State-sponsored terrorism while the State continues to foment acrimony between citizens and the law enforcement agents as characterized by the cat-and-mouse games between the citizens and those in authority in the various cities and towns. The sight in Gweru today of soldiers doing public drills in the town where a peaceful and constitutional march was supposed to take place is a case in point.
In the past few days, there has not just been a ban on civilian politics, but a de facto state of emergency. It is tragic that political gatherings and free expression, which have virtually been banned in Zimbabwe, are the very oxygen of politics. The proscription of the people’s fundamental rights is therefore a crude form of political asphyxiation.
Zimbabweans are suffering and have braved myriad national grievances that range from power outages, unemployment, fuel shortages, spiraling cost of living and a steep hike in basic education and health costs, among other issues. It is the view of ordinary Zimbabweans that the final and ultimate solution to the multi-layered crisis afflicting the country is a legitimate people’s government that can begin to address the concerns of the people.
We have seen in the past few days that POSA remains a problem while its successor, the Maintenance of Public Order Act, has dismally failed to enhance the people’s democratic rights. If anything, MOPA has been plucked from apartheid statutes and marks a major regression on the democratic agenda.
Put simply, MOPA is just but another POSA in a scarf!
It must be made clear that the prohibition orders that are being used to stifle and throttle democratic space are in themselves unconstitutional as they brazenly take away sacred constitutional rights and freedoms. As a people, we are sticklers to Constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Sadly, the people have gone to court but have received no remedy. Put simply, the people have found the remedies not available at the courts.
Ultimately, it must be understood that the people reserve their right to organize and express themselves. We have the people and we have the right.
MDC: Change that delivers.
Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change
