WIDOW to former Zimbabwean President Canaan Sodindo Banana, Mrs Janet Madade Banana has received a brand new Ford Everest car from Government as part of her benefits.

The Government early in the year, made a commitment to pay Mrs Banana’ medical bills on top of other benefits after she returned to Zimbabwe after an 18-year stay in the United Kingdom. All former First Ladies are entitled to certain packages.

In an interview at her sister’s home in Southwold suburb in Bulawayo on Friday, Mrs Banana said she was grateful to the Government for fulfilling its promise.

“The vehicle was delivered on 8 August. It was a shock really, although I had been expecting it for a long time. In the end I was really glad and appreciate what Government has done for me so far. It is a Ford Everest, I even bought a shed for it to cover it and protect it from the sun and the rain,” she said, smiling.

Mrs Banana said the Government was also taking care of her medical bills as she was still undergoing treatment. She also acknowledged that she has been receiving her pension, but added that there were still some outstanding issues that were still to be addressed.

“They are still sorting out my accommodation, security and general upkeep. When I returned home I had to ask my sister to live with her as the Government had said I could be put in a hotel while I wait for my accommodation to be sorted out. But I turned that offer down because I did not want to be isolated and lonely in a hotel,” she said.

Mrs Banana sang praises to the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa who visited her in June.

“I am grateful for Amai Mnangagwa’s initiative of coming here to see me, I told her about my problems such as accommodation and transport. I am really thankful to her, she is a star to me. Things have been progressing since her coming,” said Mrs Banana.

Mrs Banana also took time to highlight the need for Zimbabweans to assist in nation building and not focus merely on living in the diaspora.

“Living in a foreign country is not easy; don’t envy those that are out of the country. I know there are hardships that are there at home but I think to conquer these hardships we need to work together to unite for the progress of the country,” she said.

Mrs Banana said she is not going back to the UK.

“I am not going back to the UK. I have decided to retire and live in Zimbabwe, I even had my sister sending me some of my belongings because when I left the UK, I was going on holiday in South Africa and I became seriously ill.

“My visa was now expiring in South Africa and I spoke to the Ambassador about my predicament and he suggested I come to Zimbabwe and apply for another visa and go back but I told him once I go home that is it,” she said.

“I go to Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and I have been there once, when I get better I will be going more often and I am now mobile.”

President Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba has dismissed as false the claims that indisposed Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has returned from China.

According to Charamba, Chiwenga spoke to President Mnangagwa by phone on Monday and the VP is continuing treatment in China.

Charamba’s response comes when some local publications had claimed that the former military boss had returned from China with a number of Chinese doctors for further treatment at home.

Chiwenga was airlifted from South Africa to China where a team of doctors from Zimbabwe, South Africa, China and India are said to be attending to him.

Recently, President Mnangagwa revealed that Chiwenga was recovering and was about to undergo real treatment.

Some observers, however, were sceptical of Mnangagwa’s remarks saying if they were true, the government would not be sending Chiwenga’s close family members to stay close to him.

For the past eight months, Chiwenga has been in and outside the hospital.

State Media|THE Government duly takes exception and offence in instances where accredited diplomatic personnel dabble in “opposition politics in Zimbabwe”, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said.

In a no-holds-barred meeting with ambassadors from Western countries held in the capital on Thursday, Minister Moyo said although the new administration was not averse to criticism, it was deeply concerned with the “one-sided character of the brickbats” following the 16 August “illegal demonstrations”.

Thursday’s meeting was convened a day after the same missions issued a statement criticising the way Government handled the protests. Zimbabwe’s top diplomat said although ambassadors had the right to associate with whomsoever they want, this did not translate to interfering in the affairs of a sovereign State.

“You may all have your personal likes or dislikes: you may have friends and acquaintances across the broad spectrum of Zimbabwean politics — indeed, as diplomats, it is to be expected and it is perfectly acceptable that you should engage all players across that spectrum and gain as full as possible an understanding of this country and its robust socio-political and economic dynamic. Nothing is wrong with that. But when any accredited representative allows themselves to become actively engaged in or associated with that political dynamic; and is sucked into the crude machinations which, today, constitute opposition politics in Zimbabwe, then, Excellencies, we do take offence and we do take exception,” he said.

Police had decided to issue a prohibition order, which was upheld by the High Court, after establishing “grounds of probable violence, danger to life and probable destruction of property”, he said.

Three people — Evidence Ncube (28) of Gokwe, Masimba Jemwa (41) and James Pfundira (27) — have already been jailed for two months by a Harare court after they were arrested at a police roadblock while travelling in an unregistered Nissan Hardbody vehicle during the MDC-Alliance’s illegal demonstration.

Notably, the trio was found in possession of a satchel containing machetes and a knife. Minister Moyo also questioned why the ambassadors have remained deafeningly silent despite continued incendiary rhetoric from the opposition calling for the removal of a “democratically elected” Government.

“Your Governments, Excellencies, are quick to condemn us for any breach of law or for any failure to uphold the rule of law. But you are silent when opposition formations blatantly disregard the law, defy the High Court and repeatedly threaten to overthrow the elected Government of the day through violent protests and the promotion of chaos and anarchy . . . Again, Excellencies, your silence at this stated determination — to undermine democracy in Zimbabwe, to overthrow the Government and plunge the country into chaos — is deeply concerning,” he said.

Minister Moyo said despite dealing with a mob acting in open defiance of the law, which had also committed “provocation at its worst” by marching to Munhumutapa Offices — the seat of the Presidency — police had carried out their duties satisfactorily. No serious injuries or fatalities had been recorded on the fateful day, he said.

Dr Moyo said the nascent signs of economic recovery are making the opposition increasingly uneasy as they know that a growing and stable economy spells a bleak future for them.

Minister Moyo also exhorted the embassies to counsel the opposition and civil society, which had shown a determination for what he called “political insurgency”.

Woke up to see 13 missed calls from my landlord and neighbors.

Just called them back and they telling me armed men came looking for me just after 2300hrs.

Thank God they did not harm anyone or damage anything and also that they did not find me home. pic.twitter.com/7brETt9mFH

— Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) August 25, 2019

By Own Correspondent| Gunmen reportedly visited human rights campaigner, Makomborero Haruzivishe late Saturday evening.

He was not at home at the time when he says his landlord and neighbours were awoken when the untold number of men descended onto the property.

It is believed the reason Mako is being targeted is a tweet he made concerning a missing

“Woke up to see 13 missed calls from my landlord and neighbours,” he wrote.

He continued saying, “just called them back and they telling me armed men came looking for me just after 2300hrs.

“Thank God they did not harm anyone or damage anything and also that they did not find me home.”

The development comes as ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa verbally attacked civil society organisations saying they must “restrict themselves to their mandate. ”  It also comes as the 68^th United Nations Civil Society Conference  opened under the theme: “BUILDING INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES” 

State Media|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will this week meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), a major engagement set to unlock mutually beneficial opportunities between Harare and Tokyo.

The three-day TICAD summit, which begins on Wednesday in Yokohama, has become a prime global platform through which international stakeholders join forces to promote Africa’s development. Japan is the third largest economy in the world after the United States and China, and is also a member of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, from which Zimbabwe is seeking a financial package to clear arrears owed to international finance institutions.

G7 — made up of the world’s seven most advanced economies as described by the IMF — consists of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Japan’s embassy Counsellor to Zimbabwe Mr Kenichi Kasahara told our Harare Bureau that Zimbabwe will need “international help” during its reform process, which Japan is willing to provide.

“The topmost point is that the President himself, President Mnangagwa, is going to Japan and he will meet Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe. We are actually arranging a bilateral meeting to be held on the sidelines of the summit.

“Sending a delegation headed by the President himself is an advantage in terms of TICAD. Zimbabwe will definitely be known; if the delegation meets Japanese side, they can certainly impress their counterparts with their background and potential,” he said.

The indaba, he said, will likely have potential benefits for the local economy as it presents an opportunity for the country to get international support to clear its obligations to international finance institutions.

Zimbabwe owes US$2,5 billion to multilateral institutions, of which the World Bank (WB) is owed US$1,5 billion, African Development Bank US$702 million, European Investment Bank US$309 million and other multi-laterals US$74 million.

As at the end of June 2019, the country’s total bilateral debt amounted to US$5,5 billion, with Paris Club creditors accounting for US$3,5 billion and non-Paris Club US$1,6 billion.

Mr Kasahara said: “I believe that TICAD can be the thrusting element in terms of development of Zimbabwe’s economy.

“I know that Zimbabwe is seeking financial aid from one of the G7 members. But at the same time, the international financial system is a tight system; we have to focus on the fact that Zimbabwe has cleared its arrears with IMF but it cannot get finance from the IMF, because it has to clear its arrears with WB and the African Development Bank also.

“Yes, Japan is a member of G7, G20 and also a member of the Paris Club, but the issue of finance must be collectively resolved with everyone’s consent.”

It is believed that the private sector will also be presented with an opportunity to pitch projects to potential investors. One of the six sessions at the conference is specifically meant for the private sector, which will be attending its own side events.

In a statement last week, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Toshiyuki Iwado, who also paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa ahead of the summit, said Harare can expect more assistance from this year’s TICAD summit.

“It is only through Africa developing sustainably that the world’s development will be assured. Our assistance is implemented with this in mind. Since Japan launched TICAD in 1993, the policy of Japan’s assistance towards Africa has been strengthened and elaborated even further, and our assistance to Zimbabwe can be seen by our support to rural communities,” he said.

Since 1980, Japan has provided loan aid amounting to US$346 million, as well as grant aid worth US$560 million.

Some of the developmental projects funded by Japan in Zimbabwe include the Nyakomba irrigation scheme in Nyanga, which is benefiting hundreds of households in the area. Last year, Japan provided a US$21 million grant for a road construction project to improve the Makuti-Chirundu highway on the north-south corridor.

Japan has also provided a US$5,5 million grant for road construction materials that were distributed to eight provinces around the country. Emergency relief assistance has also been provided to the victims of Cyclone Idai.

President Mnangagwa’s bilateral engagements have been yielding huge material benefits for the local economy.

His visit to China in April last year unlocked funding for the US$1,3 billion expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station, including a US$150 million loan for the expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Beijing also provided a US$100 million grant for the construction of the new Parliament building in Mount Hampden. All the projects are currently underway.

More projects and investments from Russia are set to be announced in October after President Mnangagwa’s fruitful bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin in January this year. Visits to United Arab Emirates and Belarus, among others, have also proved to be worthwhile.

At the last TICAD summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016, Japan committed to investing approximately US$30 billion under public-private partnerships for Africa. This year’s TICAD summit, which will be held from under the theme “Advancing Africa’s Development through People, Technology and Innovation”, will focus firmly on business and investment, giving further impetus to Zimbabwe’s investment drive.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has assured the nation that by the end of 2019 the country’s economic reforms will have been completed and the country will be back on its feet.

In a publication by weekend state media, Mthuli Ncube said that the current tough austerity measures will have scaled down by year end and the country will be flourishing once more.

“Really, the major macro-economic policy adjustments we are coming towards the end of that and really my view is that within the year 2019 we should be able to complete all the major adjustments.

“And then beyond that, we put those behind us then we focus on jobs, productivity and competitiveness to see how we can focus these on the micro- economy so that we can lay the foundation for real prosperity going forward, having concluded all the major macro-economic adjustments” the finance minister said.

Minister Ncube has previously said that while the reform agenda let loose the inflation scourge, underlying factors for high inflation were already in place only waiting for a trigger to bolt away.

He, however, indicated from the outset his reform initiatives, dubbed austerity measures, would inevitably cause suffering among citizens, but remained necessary to correct ills of the past.

Frankly, his interventions have already started bearing results and for the first time in a long period Treasury has consistently posted primary budget surpluses since November 2018.

Treasury recorded a primary budget surplus of $803,6 million between January and June 2019 on the back of fiscal discipline in line ministries and government, as the TSP initiatives start to bear fruit.

And between January and March this year, Zimbabwe registered a positive current account balance of US$200 million, also the first since dollarisation in 2009, which provides signs that the country’s macro-economic fundamentals are falling in place.

Although Zimbabwe remains largely trapped in the throes of high inflation, it has recently experienced relative price stability, seen official and parallel market rates converge, is starting to see shorter fuel queues, growing foreign currency balances in the banks and witnessing improved access to forex by companies on the interbank.

Minister Ncube stated in his macroeconomic reform document, Transitional Stabilisation Programme, that the prevailing environment of macro-economic imbalances presented constraints to rapid economic development, as public deficits fuel unsustainable.

The Treasury chief noted that large fiscal borrowing requirements and money supply growth, in the process consumed scarce foreign reserves and undermining currency stability.

The fiscal deficit, a major cause of macro-economic instability and financial sector vulnerability, was estimated at US$1,4 billion at the close of the first half of 2018, and was projected at over US$2,7 billion in the absence of corrective measures being taken.

Annual growth in money supply to May 2018 stood at 40,8 percent, from US$6,5 in 2017, underpinned by growth in domestic credit of 47,3 percent, mostly to Government. And so, these were some of the fiscal misnomers the minister sought to correct.

Presenting his 2019 midterm policy review statement last month Minister Ncube said a relentless commitment to full implementation of key macro-economic reforms, void of policy reversals and inconsistencies had, as intended, set a solid stabilisation base for triple “S” growth, which is strong, sustained and shared growth.

His sentiments were recently shared by ex-MDC-A parliamentarian and former Bulawayo legislator Mr Eddie Cross who said “The economy is about to turnaround.”

Government takes exception and offence in instances where accredited diplomatic personnel dabble in “opposition politics in Zimbabwe”, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said.

In a no-holds-barred meeting with ambassadors from Western countries held in Harare on Thursday, Minister Moyo said although the new administration was not averse to criticism, it was deeply concerned with the “one-sided character of the brickbats” following the August 16 illegal demonstrations.

Thursday’s meeting was convened a day after the same missions issued a statement criticising the way Government handled the protests.
Zimbabwe’s top diplomat said although ambassadors had the right to associate with whomsoever they want, this did not translate to interfering in the affairs of a sovereign State.

“You may all have your personal likes or dislikes: you may have friends and acquaintances across the broad spectrum of Zimbabwean politics.

Indeed, as diplomats, it is to be expected and it is perfectly acceptable that you should engage all players across that spectrum and gain as full as possible an understanding of this country and its robust socio-political and economic dynamic. Nothing is wrong with that,” said Minister Moyo.

“But when any accredited representative allows themselves to become actively engaged in or associated with that political dynamic; and is sucked into the crude machinations which, today, constitute opposition politics in Zimbabwe, then, Excellencies, we do take offence and we do take exception,” he said.State media

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an acute shortage of family planning pills with pharmacies and private institutions also affected.

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Matabeleland regional officer Blessed Gumbi said the shortage of the contraceptives has become a crisis.

He said:
We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain.

We have nothing in our stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as they normally buy from us.

However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation.

We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible. However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the challenge.

Gumbi suggested that members of the public should approach health institutions and access alternative methods while waiting for the pills.

He further recommended using condoms as a viable birth control measure.State media

By Tariro Moyo- Jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura’s wives have vowed to remain loyal to their husband and united despite negative coverage by some sections of the media.

Even from prison, Gumbura still ensures all his wives are catered for and will do little things to ensure they are happy.

When they visited him on Thursday during the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week, his wives and children wore similar red and white hats bought by the incarcerated clergyman.

They said Gumbura parted with 3kg of sugar as payment for the hats sewn by a fellow inmate.

Speaking to the media, Gumbura poured cold water on reports alleging that he had allowed his wives to look for love elsewhere since he would be in jail for a long time.

He said:

“Look at all my wives as they sit there, which one do you think I will divorce, which one?” he said as the wives burst into laughter.

“You can ask them, they are all here, all the mothers are here,” he added.

Gumbura’s family visited him as part of the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week facility at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

He is serving a 40-year jail term and has been behind bars for the past five years.

Sitting around their husband, all the wives nodded in agreement that in the five years Gumbura has been away, they have been and will remain faithful to him.

They said previous reports in some sections of the media that they had deserted him were false.

“It was a lie. We know that media will be looking at selling their newspapers, so we just ignore it. We will remain loyal to our husband,” said spokesperson Queen Bunga, who is Gumbura’s second wife.

Asked how many of his wives had visited him, Gumbura insisted that all the mothers of his children had come. He added that his children would visit later that day and start feasting as a family.

Gumbura applauded the Prison and Correctional Services department for providing such an opportunity for convicts to meet their families.

He said without such a provision, it would be a challenge for people like him serving long sentences of up to 40 years to recognise their children when they were eventually released.

“With this current arrangement, you can relate with developments happening back home. You can trace the growth of your children. Very soon, my children will be coming here, you will see them.

“They are not very difficult to spot. You will see them in their numbers with their hats similar to those of their mothers,” said Gumbura.

Media reports alleged that Gumbura’s wives had stopped visiting him in prison while others reported that he had given them his blessings to look for love elsewhere.

The Gumbura family remains a centre of attraction at all Family Weeks. During each visit, a huge crowd comprising his wives, children and a few parishioners visit him.

Gumbura was convicted in 2014 on four counts of rape.

He has 21 wives, nine of whom do not have children with him.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- With about two weeks to go before the Mangwe constituency by-election, the Zanu-PF leadership has challenged party members to honour the 1987 Unity Accord by ensuring the party retains the seat.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo descended on Matabeleland South province ahead of the by-election set for 7 September where he met the provincial leadership and party supporters in Mangwe district.

He challenged the party members to unite and deliver victory for the party in the constituency following the death of the party’s Deputy Chief Whip, Obedingwa Mnguni.

Chief Hobodo and the Zanu-PF candidate, Hlalani Mguni, who is Mguni’s widow, said nothing is going to stop the party from retaining the seat as Mangwe District is a Zanu-PF strong-hold.

The Mangwe by-election will be held on the same day with another in Glenview South constituency in Harare.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A South African registered bus, Africa Link Coach was involved in an accident killing 5 people and leaving scores of other passengers seriously injured.

The accident, which happened this evening in Rutenga, Mwenezi along the Harare Beitbridge highway was heading to South Africa and had on board passengers of Malawian nationality.

The injured have been rushed to Neshuro Hospital.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has engaged some European ambassadors seeking co-operation in efforts to identify and repatriate offshore investments from proceeds of corruption by locals, it has emerged.

Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo met with ambassadors from some EU member states on Thursday last week and struck an agreement to assist in locating properties owned by individuals involved in corrupt activities.

Officials who attended the meeting said the ambassadors agreed to engage their respective governments in the process. 
Zacc wants all those convicted of corruption by the courts to have their offshore investments repatriated by the state.

Zacc spokesperson John Makamure confirmed the meeting, but declined to give details.

“It is true, the chairperson met with those ambassadors, but I cannot give you the details yet since I have not received a briefing,” he said.

Diplomats who attended the meeting told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that Matanda-Moyo sought assistance from the ambassadors after the explosion of the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) corruption scandal in which those accused of pillaging the pension fund are suspected to have used the money to acquire real estate in Europe, particularly Britain.

“A senior UK diplomat attended a diplomatic briefing with Zacc chairperson Loice Matanda-Moyo. Any request for assistance in this regard would go through the appropriate legal channels in the UK,” a British embassy spokesperson said.

“There was a meeting where we were exploring how we can co-operate in the country’s anti-corruption drive. I can say the mood was very cooperative and we will see how their operations proceed but, basically, everyone agreed to help where they can,” one of the diplomats said.

Sources said although Zacc had initially targeted property in Britain said to be owned by former cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira, who is accused of fleecing Nssa of more than US$95 million during the time she was Labour and Social Welfare minister, the issue had opened a can of worms as some people living in the United Kingdom have come forward and offered to appear as witnesses in many other cases.

As such, sources said, Zacc will now also investigate corruption cases dating as far back as 2003.

“The chairperson met with the EU ambassadors on Thursday last week where she sought their assistance in the forfeiture and repatriation of those properties upon the conviction of the accused persons. In fact, the issue is now not only limited to Nssa,” a source said.

“There are many other cases being investigated, (with some of them) dating as far back as 2003. The investigation will also involve those who were named in WikiLeaks files, so it has become wider and there are many people offering to stand as witnesses.”

Matanda-Moyo requested for more time with the top British diplomat after other diplomats had left. 

The Independent also understands that Zacc has engaged a London-based Zimbabwean national to trace some of the properties allegedly owned by Mupfumira and others.

The investigator, who is currently checking on a company in which Mupfumira is believed to have interests, will then be able to stand as a witness.

The investigator has been viewing files lodged at the Companies House and in particular with respect to a company in which one Priscah Chidavaenzi is named as a director, sources said.

The company, Priscah C Limited, was registered on August 14 2015 in Leicester.

“What is interesting about this company is that it has a board of directors who appointed Priscah Chidavaenzi as a director, yet there is a small amount of funding. What are they hiding? When the agent in London entered Mupfumira on the website, it came up with Priscah Chidavaenzi,” the source revealed.

One of the cases on Zacc’s radar is a long-standing Grain Marketing Board (GMB) scandal involving two businessmen accused of corruptly exporting maize which cost the country US$26 million.-Zimbabwe Independent

By A Correspondent| An estimated 20 passengers are feared dead after a cross-border bus was involved in an accident this evening.

While details of the accident were still sketchy by the time of writing, sources privy to the development said the accident occurred near Neshuro turn off in Rutenga, Mwenezi district along the Harare-Beitbridge highway.

Said Munyaradzi Naison:

“I heard it was going to South Africa. It happened near Neshuro turn off.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

By A Correspondent- Doug Coltart and several Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe members who were arrested yesterday (23 August 2019) have been released on bail.

They were granted bail on Saturday afternoon by a Harare magistrate and later released that evening.

Coltart tweeted about the bail and release:

He said:

We are finally out! Thank you so much to all those who have been praying for us and showing your solidarity. Huge thank you to @ZLHRLawyers for the legal representation. So many reflections from the past two days but that’s for another day. Feeling grateful, hopeful, energized! pic.twitter.com/Wh0MXX6J2P

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) August 24, 2019

An estimated 20 passengers are feared dead after a cross-border bus was involved in an accident this evening.

While details of the accident were still sketchy by the time of writing, sources privy to the development said the accident occurred in Rutenga, Mwenezi district, along the Harare-Beitbridge highway.

More to follow…

By A Correspondent- The Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Victor Matemadanda has said the abduction of the comedienne Samantha Kureya, (popularly known as Gonyeti) is an attempt to tarnish the government’s image by detractors.

He was addressing war veterans and traditional leaders from Mashonaland East Province in Marondera on Friday (24 August 2019).

Said Matemadanda:

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

Matemadanda joins other government officials who have also said that the abduction of the comedian was not by government operatives or any group supporting the government.

Permanent secretary in the Information Ministry Nick Mangwana said on Friday:

“Recent activities in Zim have all the hallmarks of “black ops” hence need to be analysed dispassionately. Who stands to gain from a damage to ED’s local & international prestige? Why would masked people abduct then order victim not to criticise govt? Nicely setting things up?-StateMedia

The Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Victor Matemadanda has said the abduction of the comedienne Samantha Kureya, (popularly known as Gonyeti) is an attempt to tarnish the government’s image by detractors.

He was addressing war veterans and traditional leaders from Mashonaland East Province in Marondera on Friday (24 August 2019).

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

Matemadanda joins other government officials who have also said that the abduction of the comedian was not by government operatives or any group supporting the government. Permanent secretary in the Information Ministry Nick Mangwana said on Friday.

Recent activities in Zim have all the hallmarks of “black ops” hence need to be analysed dispassionately. Who stands to gain from a damage to ED’s local & international prestige? Why would masked people abduct then order victim not to criticise govt? Nicely setting things up?

-State media

By A Correspondent- Veteran municipal manager and City of Masvingo town clerk for 15 years, Adolf Gusha has retired.

Deputy city engineer Edward Mukaratirwa has since been appointed acting town clerk with effect from September 01, to serve until a new substantive town clerk is appointed.

A special full council meeting convened yesterday, August 22, announced the departure of Gusha who had been at the helm since 2004.

Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said council was pleased with Gusha’s contribution to the city since he joined council 32 years ago.

“We are happy with the work that he did for the city. He worked with many mayors including Francis Aphiri. We thank him for initiating many projects including the water augmentation programme which we are still carrying forward. As we wish him the best in his retirement, we also wish our acting town clerk the best in his duties,” said Maboke.

Gusha was overdue for retirement, and had initially been expected to leave at the end of August 2018.Gusha joined the municipality in 1987, and served in various capacities before being appointed substantive town clerk in 2004.

Before joining Masvingo town council, he worked for Shurugwi Rural District Council and for the Ministry of Local Government.

His record as the topmost council manager in Masvingo was marked by both ups and downs; many will remember his runs-in with former executive mayor, the late Alois Chaimiti in 2007 and 2008.

He won for the city many service delivery awards but was also there when former employees left the council destitute after a costly legal suit for unpaid wages. The legal wrangle resulted in all council vehicles getting attached in 2011.

Gusha, however, presided over a remarkable recapitalisation drive which saw the council buying new service vehicles altogether.

The introduction of a roads levy in 2015 drew the indignation of many residents, but it seems the idea has paid off, with the city in 2017 commissioning its own fleet of earth moving equipment needed for roadworks.

Gusha will mostly be remembered probably for leaving behind a city that boasts arguably the cleanest municipal water in the country. The city recorded few, if any, incidences of cholera in 2008, at a time when thousands were dying of the waterborne diseases in other urban areas.

Gusha, however, leaves behind decaying pipes and deep trenches of the botched Mucheke Trunk Sewer project which has cost the ratepayer millions of dollars yet with nothing to show of it.

He also leaves at a time when the quality of service delivery is plummeting, with refuse being collected but not on a regular basis. The whole city has only two refuse compactors.-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care Ambassador, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, has said measures are being taken to prevent conditions that promote the spread of malaria ahead of the onset of the rain season.

The First Lady also said there was no going back on cancer screening awareness campaigns. 

She Mnangagwa said this during her visit to the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in Harare where she toured various stands yesterday.

While touring the Health and Child Care stand, Mnangagwa said:

“We are now approaching the rain season and malaria is the most prevalent disease during that period. Since there is a problem of water-logging during the rain season, mosquitoes get a conducive environment to breed.

However, from what I saw here, I can say the ministry is preparing itself to deal with the disease. I also saw some herbs on display that are said to manage various conditions. Some people opt for herbs while some choose pharmaceutical drugs. However, the doctors here said people should not mix the two.

On cancer screening, we are not going back and we will not tire, the programme is still ongoing.”

“The Chinese are our all-weather friends and they are always there to help us. They do not come as tourists only, but they also bring useful things into the country, the things that help us as a nation, things that alleviate some of the challenges we face.”

Amai Mnangagwa toured the stand for Tongaat Hullet which donated half a tonne of sugar to Angel of Hope Foundation, a brainchild of the First Lady.

She also visited Agricultural Produce Hall were products from communal and small holder farmers were on display, and stands for Tregers, Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) and CIMAS medical aid society.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF Chivi South legislator and businessman Killer Zivhu’s political career is hanging by a thread after the ruling party here recommended his expulsion citing treacherous behaviour.

Zivhu’s fate now lies with the Zanu-PF National Disciplinary Committee(NDC) which has the final say on whether or not to endorse his expulsion. If the decision to expel him is upheld by the NDC, Zivhu will also automatically cease to be the ruling party legislator for Chivi South, necessitating a by-election.

The ruling party’s provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) yesterday overwhelmingly resolved to kick out Zivhu from the party. This was after the Chivi South legislator who is the provincial secretary for Environment and Tourism had snubbed a hearing called by the party’s provincial disciplinary committee chaired by vice chair, Ailess Baloyi, over a week ago.

Zivhu had been served with a prohibition notice prior to the recommendation for his dismissal.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair, Ezra Chadzamira, confirmed the decision.

Chadzamira who is also Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister said Zivhu remained unapologetic hence the decision to summarily expel him.

“We sat as the PCC today (yesterday) and recommended to the NDC that Zivhu be expelled from the party for his activities on social media. We arrived at the decision to recommend his expulsion because even when we served him with a prohibition order and called him to a hearing, he snubbed the process,’’ said Chadzamira.

He said Zivhu continued with his treacherous behaviour even after the prohibition order by using the social media to push for a meeting between First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa’s wife, Sithokozile.

The controversial Chivi South legislator stood accused of violating party rules via social media platforms such as Whats App and Twitter where he allegedly said he was going to push for dialogue between President Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa.

Zivhu is also accused of having initiated the process of collecting signatures for people in support of his initiative for dialogue between President Mnangagwa and the MDC Alliance leader.

Prior to yesterday’s decision to recommend his expulsion, Baloyi had also accused Zivhu of being unrepentant and having ignored several warnings via various social media platforms by other party members to stop his treachery.

Baloyi said Zivhu’s push for dialogue between President Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa raises stink because the MDC Alliance leader has repeatedly snubbed overtures to be part of POLAD, instead demanding face to face talks with the President.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Mr Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, will be in Zimbabwe on an official visit from 17 to 27 September this year.

Nyaletsossi Voule’s visit is by invitation of the government of Zimbabwe.

In a statement, The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner outlined some of the issues the Special Rapporteur will assess:

“– Legal frameworks in place to guarantee the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (including key cases from the judiciary);

– Procedural and practical measures for holding peaceful assemblies, including issues of authorisation versus notification and access to public spaces; legal and practical limitations to the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly;

– Facilitation and management of assemblies by law enforcement officials, including relevant guidelines and training; internal and external oversight mechanism in case of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials

… During the visit, in addition to government authorities, the Special Rapporteur wishes to meet with independent institutions working on human rights, civil society actors, human rights defenders and other stakeholders working on the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.”

A wave of abductions, torture and arrests in Zimbabwe are targeting opposition activists and other government critics, the latest being a popular comedian dragged from her home by armed and masked men.

Barely two years after euphoric scenes engulfed Zimbabwe following the forced resignation of former repressive ruler Robert Mugabe, frustration and fear have returned.

Comedian Samantha Kureya was this week dragged from her bed, stripped naked and tortured by masked men with assault rifles for skits perceived as anti-government. She spoke to The Associated Press from her hospital bed.

I was wearing my underwear and a T-shirt when they took me, they didn’t even give me a chance to dress properly.

“I am living in fear,” she said, complaining of “severe pain” in her legs and on her back.

Kureya said the men claiming to be police officers dragged her from bed half naked and bundled her into a waiting car on Wednesday night. They beat her using short whips, forced her to roll in a stream of sewage and drink from it, she said.

“I was wearing my underwear and a T-shirt when they took me, they didn’t even give me a chance to dress properly,” she said. Her abductors forced her to strip naked during the torture and warned her against mocking the government before abandoning her to seek clothing and help from strangers, said Kureya.

She had received threats on social media before the abduction, she said. Her latest skit mocked security agents for beating up demonstrators that included elderly women.

Political tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as the economy deteriorates with inflation at over 175% and growing dissatisfaction with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over from Mugabe less than two years ago with promises of a “new dawn” and a “flowering of democracy.”

Human rights groups say at least six activists were abducted and tortured by suspected security agents ahead of an opposition demonstration last week. Police later used violence to disperse demonstrators in Harare on August 16.

On Friday, police broke up a protest by a group of teachers and arrested nine people, including a lawyer for the teachers and a journalist filming the arrests, according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO providing them with lawyers. They are yet to be charged, said the organization.

One of the activists abducted and tortured ahead of last week’s demonstration, Tatenda Mombeyarara had visible wounds on his legs, hands, buttocks and back. His kidneys were damaged and doctors put metal plates and pins on his fractured left leg and hand, he said, showing AP a scan while lying on a hospital bed.

He said he was beaten with sjamboks (short whips), gun butts and a wheel spanner and also submerged in a pool of dirty water at a quarry dumpsite.

“They told me ‘you think you are a hero, all that will end today. You are going to die and your American sponsors will not save you’,” said Mombeyarara, who has been in hospital for the past nine days. “I am still traumatized. The pain was unbearable. I thought I was going to die.”

An opposition member of parliament said unknown people fired shots at his house Wednesday night, while a top official was arrested Thursday and accused of failing to stop supporters from demonstrating against the government. Since January, more than 20 activists have been charged with plotting to unseat Mnangagwa.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said the recent abductions and attacks “are being investigated” but denied that security agents were involved.

“We cannot blame security agents (for the abduction) because investigations are still underway,” he said.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana blamed the attacks on “a force” he associated with Mugabe “to impair President Mnangagwa’s image as a sincere reformer.”

The U.S embassy in Zimbabwe and the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe said in a joint statement earlier this week that reports of worsening human rights abuses were of “great concern.”

Kureya, the comedian, said she would continue poking fun at the government despite her abductors threatening to “put a bullet” in her mother’s head if she continues with her work.

“That is how I survive,” she said. “I don’t have any other job, plus we all can’t just keep quiet when things are as bad as they are in this country.”

AP

Nelson Chamisa|Vibes from Khami Prsion..A stampede at Khami Prison..Humbled by inmates’ affection here at Khami Maximum Prison just outside Bulawayo where I visited The people’s Chief, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamanhwe Ndiweni recently sentenced to 18 months in prison for exercising his lawful duties as a Chief.The people’s Chief is upbeat,unbroken & thanking you all for your solidarity.As a people’s leader, Chief Ndiweni is concerned at the human rights abuses, torture, terror and violence against the citizens.We had time to pray for the Chief, all others and our beautiful country!

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1131389088848916482?s=19

THE opposition Zapu party says it feared controversial Ntabazinduna chief and fierce government critic, Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni could be poisoned in jail.

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1131389088848916482?s=19

Ndiweni was jailed 18 months by Bulawayo Magistrate, Gladmore Mushove last week for damaging his subject, Fetti Mbele’s homestead. His other 23 co-accused villagers were sentenced to 525 hours of community service.

Zapu Women’s Union this week organised a prayer meeting for the incarcerated traditional leader at its offices in the country’s second largest city.

The party Women’s Union provincial chairperson, Jane Mlalazi said the prayer meeting was meant to “protect” the incarcerated traditional leader from any harm and poisoning while in prison.

“We are concerned by our chief’s health and safety while in prison. We are praying that God intervenes in his life so that he will not be poisoned like what happened to our commander Lookout Masuku who died following his release from prison,” said Mlalazi.

Although authorities claim that Masuku died of meningitis, some people strongly suspect that he died as a result of poisoning while in prison.

The Zapu Women’s Union boss maintained that Ndiweni‘s imprisonment was more political than criminal.

“We know that there is a political hand in all this. We have not only called this prayer meeting for his release but for his health as well. With this regime, he is certainly in danger,” she said.

Mlalazi warned that the Zapu women are willing to take to the streets until Ndiweni is released.

Another Zapu activist, Therezia Taka also concurred with Mlalazi.

“As a party, we are very worried about the chief’s fate in prison. It is clear that these people wanted him locked up for speaking his piece of mind,” she said.

Ndiweni has rubbed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime the wrong way by openly calling for political reforms and seemingly indicating the Zanu-PF leader might not have won last year’s presidential election cleanly.

The traditional leader also attended the opposition MDC congress in May this year.

Before his ascendancy to the Presidency in what has been described by analysts as one of Africa’s softest coup, Emmerson Mnangagwa was being investigated over 39 Counts of fraud.

According to the Zimbabwe Independent, the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigations Department was investigating Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s role in the mismanagement and looting of Zanu PF’s business empire, leading to its collapse, in what was seen as part of President Robert Mugabe’s succession war.

Said Tendai Rushwaya, Ndumiso Ncube and Bhongomafin:

We publish below the full report by the publication:

“Police sources reportedly said the investigations stemmed from a Zanu PF’s Report of the Committee on Party Investments, debated by the politburo on July 27 2005 and August 3 2005, which revealed the companies, supervised by Mnangagwa who was then secretary for administration, were a shambles due to gross mismanagement and corruption.

Zanu PF had interests in public and private companies held through M&S Syndicate (Pvt) Ltd. The ruling party had invested in Treger Holdings, Mike Appel, Catercraft, Fibrolite, which closed in December 2004 as well as Zidlee, which failed to take over Delta in 1989.

The party also had interests in Southern African Re-Insurance Company (Sare), Zidco Holdings and First Bank, whose Democratic Republic of Congo investment also collapsed.

Zanu PF also had interests in National Blankets, Woolworths and Ottawa Building, which were disposed of under unclear circumstances.

Furthermore, Zanu PF separately owned Jongwe Printing & Publishing Company, as well as Jongwe and Nyadzonya farms.

Mnangagwa, who sat on nearly all the companies’ boards, supervised M&S Syndicate with Manharlal Chiunilal and Jayant Chiunilal Joshi.

The Zanu PF probe team comprised the late David Karimanzira, who chaired the committee, and the late retired army commander General Solomon Mujuru, Obert Mpofu, Simba Makoni and Thokozile Mathuthu.

The report said the companies were a mess and riddled with managerial corruption and incompetence which could have prejudiced the ruling party of billions of dollars and assets.

It said some of the companies had virtually collapsed, while others had not been audited for years and their financial accounts were a complete mess.

During mid-2005, the official exchange rate was US$1:Z$38, although on the black market it was US$1:Z$10 000.

On the first count, Sare allegedly paid a dividend of Z$13 900 on June 17, 2002 which was however diverted to Mnangagwa First Banking Corporation account.

On December 10 2001, Z$20 million was allegedly withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s Zimbank account. Mnangagwa also allegedly benefited from Z$33 million which was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into his Jewel bank account on March 17, 2003.

Police are also investigating allegations that Z$10 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and reinvested into Mnangagwa’s Mafidi Corporation at NDH on March 27 2003.

On October 9 2003 Z$2,3 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s CBZ account, while on October 13 2003 Z$3,3 million was withdrawn from Kushinga Investments and deposited to Mnangagwa’s First Banking Corporation account, the report alleged.

There are investigations into allegations that Z$5 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and deposited into Mnangagwa’s CBZ account on October 13 while on October 16 Z$1,7 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger and also allegedly deposited into his CBZ account.

Also in October 2003, Z$5,3 million was withdrawn from AM Tregger as cash and given to Mnangagwa. The vice-president also allegedly donated Z$1 million to Mnene Mission Hospital which was taken from AM Treger.

The vice-president also allegedly benefitted from Z$2 million which was withdrawn from AM Tregger on October 24 2003 and paid into his First Banking Corporation account and on the same day Z$19 million was withdrawn from the same account and used to pay for kitchen refurbishment at Mnangagwa’s house.

On October 31 2003, Z$53 000 000 was taken from AM Treger account and paid to Clonsilla Service Station in Gweru for the prurchase of petrol by Aleta Mambodza, Mnangagwa’s family friend.

Police are further investigating allegations that Z$5 million was withdrawn from AM Treger and deposited in the vice-president’s CBZ account on November 3, while on December 10 Z$10 million was paid into his CBZ account.

The vice-president also allegedly benefitted from Z$1,5 million, which was withdrawn from AM Treger and deposited into his First Bank Corporation account.

The Zanu PF probe team report had established that a Z$650 million Tregers Holdings cheque for dividend declared on February 18 2003 for the year-ended December 31 2002 could not be accounted for.

The report said it was “inconceivable” that Tregers, in which Zanu PF had 41,96% shareholding, managed to declare a Z$1,2 billion dividend in four years when its annual turnover was about Z$150 billion.

There were queries over the murky investment of Z$120 million in the portfolio investment company M&S Investments by Zanu PF’s wholly owned investment arm, M&S Syndicate.

The report said another company, NamZim, was “closed due to mismanagement and the property was looted by unknown people”.

Some companies’ books, for instance those of Catercraft, were not audited for four years while there were no board meetings for two years.

Mnangagwa, who was interviewed twice by the probe committee because he held sway over the party’s network of companies, confirmed the chaos in the businesses by admitting most of the companies had no records.

“He (Mnangagwa) said that in most of these arrangements there were no written agreements on the formation of the companies and most of these agreements were done verbally between parties,” the report said. “Neither was there an agreement for payment of management fees to the Joshi brothers as these companies were operating as one.”

The Joshi brothers and Dipak Pandya fled the country shortly after the probe began. Several Zanu PF officials were quizzed about their escape.

Former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa said the three ran way from being arrested and were in regular contact with him. He said Jayant was believed to be in Dubai, while Manharlal was in Manchester, England.

Some of the Zanu PF investments such as in Bindura Nickel Mine were also unclear. The report stated that Zanu PF had a 23% equity in Bindura through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Further inquiries into this investment were recommended.

There were also fears that companies like Tregers could have externalised funds.

As a result, the report recommended that “police/law enforcements agents should go into further investigations in order to establish any prejudice in terms of revenue to the party on its investments”.

More investigations were required into the shady M&S Z$120 million investment, Fibrolite and Catercraft operations, the unaccounted for Z$650 million Tregers dividend and other dividends declared without audited accounts, as well as Mike Appel’s dividend declarations.

The report said it was surprising that Mike Appel declared a Z$31 million dividend in 2003, but Z$250 million in 2005. Sare and shelf companies like M&S Investments, Segmented Investments through which Zanu PF had a 27% interest in First Bank, and Smoothnest Investments, Hutsonville and Amelia Properties, the report said, should also be further investigated.-TheZimbabweIndependent

The Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Victor Matemadanda says the acts of abductions in the country are a work of enemies who want to tarnish the name of the so called new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Addressing war veterans and traditional leaders from Mashonaland East Province in Marondera this Friday, Matemadanda laughed off the issue of abductions, saying what would the government get in abducting a comedian like Samantha Kureya, popularly known as Gonyeti.

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

Mashonaland East War Veterans Chairperson, Daniel Sigauke and provincial Chiefs’ Council leader, Chief Nechombo said their institutions have always supported government efforts on development.

“As war veterans, we have always supported developmental initiatives by the government and we will continue to render our support to all programs,” said Cde Sigauke.

“As traditional leaders from this province, we are supporting all government programmes including devolution which is set to decentralize issues of development,” said Chief Nechombo.

The meeting was attended by chiefs from the province and members of the war veterans provincial leadership and district representatives.

By A Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf heavyweight Professor Jonathan Moyo has said failure by Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s failure to avail to the nation a fully dressed judgement which saw the courts declare Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner of the 2018 elections exposed the latter’s illegitimacy.

Said Moyo:

#OneYearLaterNoMalabaJudgment
Still no "fully dressed judgment" as promised by Chief Justice Malaba on 24 August 2018. Instead Zimbabweans remain stuck with his undressed judgment that has left the country with a naked problem of Mnangagwa's illegitimacy, after a stolen election! https://t.co/Dye5JyN9W9

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 24, 2019

Do you think Justice Malaba will release the fully dressed judgement? Show your thoughts in the poll below:

@ProfJNMoyo said failure by @JusticeLukeMalaba to furnish the nation with a fully dressed judgement of how the courts decided that @edmnangagwa had won the #2018elections 1 yr later exposed Mnangagwa's illegitimacy. Do you think Justice Malaba will ever release the judgement?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 24, 2019

The lawyers representing @ARTUZ_teachers teachers and @DougColtart have challenged the State's request to place them on remand as they believe the charges are utterly spurious. The Magistrate hearing the matter has postponed the ruling on this application to 1.30pm

— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) August 24, 2019

It was a clear case of command justice when MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya was on Friday remanded in custody to Monday 26 August for a ruling on his bail application.

Chibaya, the convener of last week’s peaceful and constitutional demonstrations that were brutally foiled by the police, spent five hours incourt today with the prosecution arguing that he be denied bail.

His lawyer, Obey Shava exposed the State case for its clumsiness, arguing that Chibaya could not be denied bail on a lesser charge of violating provisions under POSA when he was already on bail on a more serious charge of subversion.

The State also denied a bail offer from Hon. Chibaya to commit a monetary payment with stringent reporting conditions as well as a pledge not to interfere with State witnesses, who in any case are police officers. Chibaya’s passport is already with the court as part of his reporting conditions for a subversion charge he is 
already facing and for which he is on bail.

Chibaya’s remand in custody is testimony that the regime is undertaking a brutal programme of persecution by prosecution after they denied 
the MDC Organiser bail even though he had handed himself over to the police in the company of his lawyer.

The MDC believes that the country is choking under the thick blanket of an unofficial state of emergency. There is a systematic targeting ofinnocent Zimbabweans and the people’s leaders by brutally blocking them from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.

It also telling that Hon. Chibaya was denied bail on the very same day that the State waged a clampdown on the leaders of a rural teachers 
union in which their lawyer, Douglas Coltart, was brutally assaulted. Coltart is the son of the MDC Treasurer-General, Hon. David Coltart.

Citizens are under siege. The people’s leaders are under siege but all Zimbabweans remain in high spirits, well aware that brutality has short 
legs and that no amount of State-sanctioned thuggery will triumph over the people.

In fact, it is the regime that is under siege from its cluelessness and from the legitimate grievances of the citizens that it is failing to address. 

Zimbabweans are peacefully clamouring for a truly people’s government that can begin to address the challenges facing the nation.

MDC: Change That Delivers.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change

By A Correspondent- Opposition Deputy Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka has claimed that there was no difference between president Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor, Robert Mugabe.

Tamborinyoka cited the shrinking democratic space since the ascendancy of Mnangagwa to power in 2017. Tamborinyoka said:

“It (the repression) confirms the de facto state of emergency in the country. Mnangagwa has just mounted a second coup on the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

This is a continuation of the First Republic. Mnangagwa is simply a scarfed Robert Mugabe, which is why we are saying that with these sanctions that ED has imposed on Zimbabwe, Sadc should understand that there is a siege in Zimbabwe.”

His remarks come when reports of abductions of MDC members and human rights defenders have been increasing lately.

The latest report is that of Bustop TV comedienne, Samantha Kureya whose stage name is Gonyeti. Reports suggest that she was abducted at her home by masked and armed men who claimed to be soldiers.

They assaulted her family members before abducting her. They reportedly forced her to strip naked before assaulting her and forcing her to drink sewer.

Observers have implicated the government in the violations against human rights saying that the victims were government critics.

The government has however said that there is a third hand behind the abductions. It also says that some of the “so-called” abductions, including that of Gonyeti, were being stage managed.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC has said that national demonstrations against the deteriorating state of affairs are coming very soon.

Party Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende told a local publication that the national standing committee had given a go-ahead on demonstrations after reading the mood of the masses.

Hwende said:

“The banned protests showed us that people are ready for action, and as such, we will be rolling out more protests throughout the country, including at growth points … and those are coming very soon.”

The publication further reports that party insiders revealed that protests should be expected as early as next week.

These remarks come when the country has blocked all demonstrations which the MDC had scheduled to start on the 16th of August in Harare.

The State argued that it had gathered concrete evidence that suggested that the protests were going to be violent.

Police violently dispersed protesters who had defied the prohibition order and thronged to the streets on the 16th of August.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who are representing members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe have said that they are failing to locate one of their clients.

ZLHR say that top lawyer, Beatrice Mtwetwa and others are extremely worried about Godfrey Chanda @ARTUZ_teachers Midlands member.

Posting on Twitter, the lawyers said:

“.@ZLHRLawyers currently at Law & Order representing at least 9 people arrested for participating in @ARTUZ_teachers peaceful protests. Those arrested include @OMasaraure, a journalist Leopold Munhende & lawyer @DougColtart were also arrested.

@ZLHRLawyers Beatrice Mtwetwa, & others are extremely worried about Godfrey Chanda @ARTUZ_teachers Midlands member. He was isolated from others, lawyers failing to locate him at cells or at Law & Order. @advocatemahere @ZimHRNGOForum @zppinfo@SAHRDNetwork @AmnestySARO “

ARTUZ members were arrested whilst presenting a petition to the Ministry of Finance.

Teachers are complaining about their paltry salaries which they say must be increased.-ZLHR

By Hardlife Mudzingwa| Massive borehole drilling in Glen View will breed a health disaster in the near future. The by-election for Glen View South Constituency which birthed the jostling for power, has brought interventions to drill many boreholes in the area. I want to state my position today. This so-called development is a seed to funerals in the area.

Glen View is near Firle Sewer Treatment Plant. Majority of the sewer generated in Harare finds it’s way to Firle. Blockages of sewer pipes, clogging and all manner of challenges on sewer reticulation are rampant in Glen View. Ground water in Glen View is heavily contaminated. THAT PARTLY EXPLAINS WHY MABVUKU WITH DECADES OF NO WATER SUPPLY HAD FEW CASES OF TYPHOID AND CHOLERA THAN GLEN VIEW. IT PARTLY EXPLAINS WHY BUDIRIRO AND GLEN VIEW ARE CHOLERA HOT SPOTS.

This by-election will therefore bring funerals in Glen View because politicians need votes. I urge development practitioners to prepare for interventions to correct mistakes brought by the hunger for power.

My prayer is that those who will vote based on boreholes drilled will not at least loose their lives in the near future. The sad situation happens when you fast track your death by okaying a health time bomb.

By A Correspondent- Jailed RMG End Time Message founder and leader, Robert Martin Gumbura said that his wives remain loyal to him even after spending many years in prison.

Speaking to a local publication on Thursday during the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week, Gumbura said:

Look at all my wives as they sit there, which one do you think I will divorce, which one?.

You can ask them, they are all here, all the mothers are here.

Gumbura’s wives and children had visited him at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison as part of the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week facility.

Gumbura’s spokesperson and second wife, Queen Bunga, vowed that the wives will remain loyal to their husband.

She said:

It was a lie. We know that media will be looking at selling their newspapers, so we just ignore it. We will remain loyal to our husband.

Gumbura was convicted of four counts of rape in 2014 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He has 21 wives, nine of whom do not have children with him.-StateMedia

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an acute shortage of family planning pills with pharmacies and private institutions also affected.

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Matabeleland regional officer Blessed Gumbi said the shortage of the contraceptives has become a crisis.

He said:
We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain.

We have nothing in our stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as they normally buy from us.

However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation.

We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible. However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the challenge.

Gumbi suggested that members of the public should approach health institutions and access alternative methods while waiting for the pills.

He further recommended using condoms as a viable birth control measure.State media

By Own Correspondent| On 23 August 2019, members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, arrested ten (10) people who include Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members, their lawyer Doug Coltart and a journalist Leopold Munhende outside a government complex in Harare.

The ARTUZ members were arrested as they engaged in a peaceful protest dubbed “PAY FUNERAL”

Those arrested include ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure, Shepherd Tazvivinga, Gerald Tinashe Taruvinga, Tryvine Musokeri, Andrew Mungure, Nation Mudzitirwa, Simon Drury, Godfery Chanda, Doug Coltart and Munhende.

They were apprehended outside the Ministry of Finance Offices in Harare, where they intended to hand over a petition highlighting their grievances as teachers whose salaries have been severely eroded by inflation and the changes in monetary policy resulting in most teachers taking home a salary of less than an equivalent of thirty-eight United States Dollars every month.

Nine (9) of those arrested excluding Munhende (who is a journalist arrested during the course of his work) have since been charged with committing ‘Criminal Nuisance’ as provided in section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and are detained at Harare Central Police Station.

The nine are represented by Blessing Nyamaropa, Tinomuda Shoko and Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

Meanwhile, Munhende has since been released.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe is currently experiencing an acute shortage of family planning pills with pharmacies and private institutions also affected.

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Matabeleland regional officer Blessed Gumbi said the shortage of the contraceptives has become a crisis.

He said:

“We are running dry on contraceptives and it’s a countrywide crisis that we are struggling to contain.

We have nothing in our stocks and at Zimbabwe National Pharmaceuticals which affects pharmacies as they normally buy from us.

However, we are expecting a shipment at the beginning of September and we are hopeful that will improve the situation.

We are short of the Control pills, the most used by women but we still have low supplies of the Secure pills which are accessible. However, Secure pills are on demand compared to the Control hence the challenge.2

Gumbi suggested that members of the public should approach health institutions and access alternative methods while waiting for the pills.

He further recommended using condoms as a viable birth control measure.-StateMedia

By Tariro Moyo| Jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura’s wives have vowed to remain loyal to their husband and united despite negative coverage by some sections of the media.

Even from prison, Gumbura still ensures all his wives are catered for and will do little things to ensure they are happy.

When they visited him on Thursday during the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week, his wives and children wore similar red and white hats bought by the incarcerated clergyman.

They said Gumbura parted with 3kg of sugar as payment for the hats sewn by a fellow inmate.

In an interview with The Herald, Gumbura denied reports that he had allowed his wives to look for love elsewhere since he would be in jail for a long time.

“Look at all my wives as they sit there, which one do you think I will divorce, which one?” he said as the wives burst into laughter.

“You can ask them, they are all here, all the mothers are here,” he added.

As part of the Prison and Correctional Services Family Week facility, the wives and children had visited Gumbura at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

Gumbura is serving a 40-year jail term and has been behind bars for the past five years.

Sitting around their husband, all the wives nodded in agreement that in the five years Gumbura has been away, they have been and will remain faithful to him.

They said previous reports in some sections of the media that they had deserted him were false.

“It was a lie. We know that media will be looking at selling their newspapers, so we just ignore it. We will remain loyal to our husband,” said spokesperson Queen Bunga, who is Gumbura’s second wife.

Asked how many of his wives had visited him, Gumbura insisted that all the mothers of his children had come. He added that his children would visit later that day and start feasting as a family.

Gumbura applauded the Prison and Correctional Services department for providing such an opportunity for those incarcerated to meet their families.

He said without such a provision, it would mean for people like him serving sentences of up to 40 years would never recognise their children when they were eventually released.

“With this current arrangement, you can relate with developments happening back home. You can trace the growth of your children. Very soon, my children will be coming here, you will see them.

“They are not very difficult to spot. You will see them in their numbers with their hats similar to those of their mothers,” said Gumbura.

Previously, other media houses reported that his wives had stopped visiting him in prison while others reported that he had given them his blessings to look for love   elsewhere.

The Gumbura family remains a centre of attraction at all Family Weeks. During each visit, a huge crowd comprising his wives, children and a few parishioners visit him.

Gumbura was convicted in 2014 on four counts of rape.

He has 21 wives, nine of whom do not have children with him.

-Online

By a Correspondent- The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), is concerned that jailed Ntabazinduna traditional leader, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, could be killed while he is in prison.

Chief Ndiweni was sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison after he was convicted alongside 23 of his subjects of malicious damage to property involving a fellow villager.

ZAPU deputy organising secretary Ndodana Moyo told a crowd attending a prayer meeting in Bulawayo on Friday that their prayer was that the Chief’s life will be spared, unlike what happened to Lookout Masuku. He said:

We are praying that God intervenes in the life of our chief. They must not kill our chief.

We know they hate him with a passion and they are willing to end his life by any possible means.

But we know with God’s power nothing is going to happen.

… Mphoko, who knows Zanu PF more than us, says he is afraid of being killed. So, we are praying that they must not kill our chief like what they did to Lookout Masuku.

Recently, former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s lawyer told Voice of America’s Studio 7 that his client was afraid of lethal injection if he was taken into custody.

Mphoko is out on bail on charges of criminal abuse of office dating back to the time he was the Vice President.-DailyNews

Prices have been going up every day for virtually all commodities. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of these changes.

We publish below some of the prices of meat in various supermarkets:

Beef	OK	Food World	Choppies	Pick N Pay
Mince	31.50		29.95	32.99
Brisket	31.90		28.65	38.99
Economy	31.10			24.99
Commercial	34.50
T bone			29.95
Liver				38.00
Matumbu	12.50		14.99	13.99
Super blade	38.90		32.99	42.99
Guru	24.50		18.95	19.99
Bones			10.99	8.49
Sausage	28.90		28.75
Country Style/Shop
Country Style Colcom 500g		26.30		25.99
Country Style Garfunkel’s 500g		20.50		16.99

Showing 1 to 14 of 14 entries

Things to note

• Different supermarkets use different labels for different beef cuts, what is economy in what shop can be commercial or beef on steak in another
• To avoid this we tried hard to make sure we compared to like products only.
• There are different types of guru here we were generally looking at rough tripe
• Matumbu refers to casings

By Talent Gondo- Landlords in Masvingo have escalated boarding houses charges by up to 100 percent in a move that borders both on profiteering and a fair attempt to keep up with inflation.

Accommodation prices have been raised from last semester’s RTGS$600 per head to RTGS$1200 per head. The rise in private boarding fees is said to be a response to Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’s decision to hike on-campus accommodation fees from RTGS$300 for a room for two and RTGS$350 for a room for one to RTGS$500 for two and RTGS$600 for one at some campuses.

A landlord with a boarding house in Rhodene said he hiked charges to cushion himself against increases in the cost of electricity, Wi-Fi and water.

“The rentals per semester seem unreasonable to you but it is not that greedy but a fair response to the increase in the cost of everything else. We have to see to it that students have uninterrupted power, water and WI-Fi so there is no other way I can manage.

It is also even difficult for landlords to come up with a cost structure for our services because the market is not stable. The fee might be fine for us this week but it may not be the same the following week due to inflation.Things are now expensive in the shops and it’s becoming worse every day.

We need the money to renovate the walls, beds and everything so that the students can enjoy their stay,” he said.Some landlords of other boarding houses are said to be charging their houses at US$120 per head per semester.2-TellZim

THE Minister of Energy and Power Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi, has said the prolonged load shedding hours experienced in some parts of the country over the past few days were due to unexpected technical challenges at Hwange Power Station.

In an interview with Zimpapers Television Network on Thursday, Adv Chasi said there had been faults at Hwange Power Station and as a result the electricity supply situation in the country has been erratic in the past few days.

The Minister assured the nation that the power situation was set to improve as his Ministry was making frantic efforts to address the matter.

“I must admit that there was a bit of regression over the past few days. This not a permanent situation. It’s really arising from the challenges that we faced from a number of units in Hwange but its actively being sorted out so I am confident that they will come on board pretty soon,” said Adv Chasi.

He, however, said the load shedding programme would continue for domestic consumption as Government prioritises the productive sector in the country.

“What we are doing at the moment is to ensure that we give more power to the productive sector. We want to make sure that the mines are operating and that the farms, and particularly now that we have wheat, we want to ensure that the farms have power. So the domestic consumer will find that they will be load shed,” said Adv Chasi.

The Minister said he would ensure that Zesa sticks to its published schedule for the convenience of the public.

He said if the power utility is not able to stick to its schedule, it must communicate to its clients.

“The load shedding schedule must operate as it has been published and presented. I have emphasised to Zesa that they need to stick to the schedule and that in those situations where they are unable to do so, the public must be informed that there has been a change. Otherwise if there is a schedule that is not speaking to reality, it gives a false impression and we do not desire that at all,” said Adv Chasi.

— Chronicle

GOVERNMENT has awarded a 76% salary hike to its restive workers, a move which will see the lowest paid civil servant getting around $1 000 per month, but civil servants’ representative body, the Apex Council, yesterday described the increase as a drop in the ocean, given the rate of inflation in the country.

The increase comes after most civil servants had notified their employer of their incapacity to continue reporting for duty, with others threatening industrial action over the high cost of living.

In a statement, the Apex Council said the salary adjustment fell far short of their expectations of $4 750 (US$475) for the least paid worker.

“Following the rejection of a 10% government offer by the Apex Council, the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting convened today (August 23, 2019) saw government move their offer to 76% of the total package with effective from August 1, 2019,” part of the statement co-signed by Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander and vice-chairperson, Thomas Muzondo, read.

“The offer does not meet the stated position of the workers, which is pegged at $4 750 for the least paid civil servant. According to this development, the lowest paid worker is expected to take home $1 023 from $582.”

Apex Council leaders said they would soon consult their members again and update government of the outcome at their next meeting on Wednesday.

Earlier, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou had poured cold water on the government’s salary offer.

“Why has the government and Apex Council been quiet for all along? Government and Apex Council claim to be talking when civil servants threaten to go on strike. We certainly do not eat empty promises. The government already claims that a hefty salary is on its way, but we are aware that this is a tissue of misrepresentation,” he said.

“Let the teachers measure the deftness of the salary rather than the self-appraisal of a starvation salary being labelled hefty by an uncaring employer.”

“At any rate, the government is well known for peddling falsehoods. They promised duty-free cars to civil servants last year, but up to now, not even a single teacher has accessed that facility. The government has failed to provide stands for teachers’ accommodation purposes, let alone to exempt three children for every teacher from paying tuition fees,” Zhou said.

This comes as staff at State universities have declared that they are financially incapacitated to continue reporting for duty following the erosion of their salaries by inflation.

Zimbabwe State Universities’ Union of Academics president Alois Muzvuwe on Thursday gave notice that from September 8, their members would stop going to work until government reviewed their salaries.

“This decision comes after realising that efforts to seek redress on State universities have not yielded the desired outcome. The Higher Education ministry has failed to provide answers or solutions to low standards of living and hardships that are being experienced by State universities teaching staff,” Muzvuwe said in a statement.

This came after Midlands State University (MSU) staff on Wednesday registered the same concerns with their administration.

In a memorandum to vice-chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa, the MSU Lecturers’ Association said their salaries had dropped 10 times, adding they were now only able to report for duty on the first three days of the month.

MSU spokesperson Mirirai Mawere yesterday told NewsDay Weekender that the university management was now seized with the matter.

“We acknowledge receipt of the memorandum and we wish to assure our valued stakeholders that the university is seized with this matter. We are pursuing internal strategies to ensure that our students continue to learn and are not inconvenienced in any way,” she said.

— NewsDay

BOUT 300 people believed to be Zimbabweans were on Wednesday arrested around Musina, including the Beitbridge Border Post areas, for allegedly flouting South African immigration laws, officials in South Africa have said.

Among those arrested was a suspected human trafficker, caught with a two-year-old undocumented Zimbabwean toddler during a joint operation code-named “Basadi”, supervised by Mamane Dickson Masemola, a member of the executive committee (MEC) in charge of the affairs of the Limpopo province bordering Zimbabwe.

A joint statement from Masemola – who is the MEC for Transport and Safety and the Limpopo Province commander of South African Police Services (Saps), Lieutenant-General Nneke Ledwaba – issued on Wednesday evening said 295 people had been arrested under the Immigration Act .

It also said Mamane, who sits on a committee of provincial ministers, participated in operation Basadi, which incorporated stop-and-search roadblocks, including patrol crime-beats.

“The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Namane Dickson Masemola, has today (August 21, 2019) visited Musina in support of the law enforcement operation, Basadi”, the statement said.

“The on-duty parade was held at the Musina South African National Defence Force (Sandf) military base and the integrated operation was conducted until 13:00hrs, covering Musina, the Beitbridge Border Post and surrounding areas.”

The stop-and-search operation was carried out along all the major roads, targetting police wanted persons and all unlicensed businesses.

“In total, 373 suspects were arrested for residence and business burglary, aggravated and common assaults, thefts of and from motor vehicles,” the statement read.

“Saps units from the lowest to the highest ranks, constituting female police officers within the environments of Crime Intelligence, Assets Management, Legal Services, Corporate Communication, Provincial Support, Vispol, Detectives, Stock Theft, FCS, VCIU, DPCI, CR & SCM, POCC, ORS, K9, Mounted Unit, the Public Order Police Unit, Beitbridge Border Gate and cluster commanders of Tzaneen, Seshego, Mahwelereng, Polokwane, Makhado, Giyani, Modimolle, Lephalale and Thohoyandou, joined forces as they embarked on law enforcement activities around the border area. During this operation, Saps women were also joined by other law enforcement partners from the Provincial and Municipal Traffic and the Sandf.”

Operation Basadi (women), which is ongoing, has a bias to acknowledge police women and has in some occasions involved Zimbabwean female cops in operations within the border areas.

Thousands of Zimbabweans are arrested in South Africa on a daily basis as they flee a free-falling economy which government blames on illegal sanctions.

The main opposition MDC party, however, points at misrule and poor management of the economy — coupled with corruption — as the main undoing of an otherwise promising nation whose citizens now flock to South Africa where they settle for poorly-paid second-class jobs.

Of late, most cross-border travellers have found themselves having to jump the border, risking robberies and attacks by wild animals since Zimbabwe currently does not have enough material to produce passports, with government only able to produce 800 travel documents per day.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Mutare City Council has teamed up with Forestry Commission and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to stop rampant deforestation at Mutare’s top tourist attraction, the Christmas Pass.

The rate of deforestation at the aesthetic mountain has escalated to 80 percent throughout the year and this is attributed to increased load shedding.

Council spokesperson, Mr  Spren Mutiwi said they have put tight security in the woodlands to monitor people.

“We have been policing people around the Christmas Pass and so far these efforts have yielded a good result. We have recovered 36 tonnes of wood.

“However we are still scaling up our operations to ensure that there is no more environmental devastation because most of the deforestation is now happening during the night when our patrollers are not in the forest,” he added.

Mr Mutiwi also urged citizens to play their part in reducing deforestation.

“We are slowly losing our identity as a people by destroying our environment. This is not council’s role alone, every stakeholder should take a proactive role and play their part to sustain  our scenic Christmas Pass,” he said.

The National Tree Ambassador Mr Never Bonde, said he was concerned with the decimation of Christmas Pass vegetation and suggested other measures that could be done.

“I have been to Rwanda recently and they put beehives in such mountains with trees to prevent people from cutting down trees. Our government should take this initiative of using beehives to prevent tree cutters,” he said.

The environmental activist said they have started promoting whistle blowing to avoid further destruction of the woodland.

“We have since started promoting snitching among  citizens if a person reports on the act we give them a tip off. We have tried this to ensure the sustainability of the forest.

“We will also continue to raise awareness on the alternatives that can be used and dangers of deforestation. Starting next week we will be having campaigns at household level in all suburbs,” Mr Bonde said.-ManicaPost

By Talent Gondo- An infant was on Monday morning found dumped in Sakubva River, in an incident that left residents in the sprawling high-density suburb of Sakubva shell shocked.

The lifeless body was found floating in the river on Monday around 10 am.

Police said they were yet to ascertain further details, particularly the mother of the child. Eye witnesses told The Manica Post that the body was found floating in the river Monday morning.

“I was heading to where I stay in St Joseph’s when I saw the body floating in the river. We were shocked and in a few minutes people were gathered jostling to see it. We have no idea who the mother of the infant is but we were all shocked,” said one eye witness.

Police arrived at the scene and covered the infant with a plastic wrapper.-ManicaPost