THE Bulawayo City Council is considering coming up with a second supplementary budget to increase rates by up to 1 000 percent arguing the city is in a crisis as it is failing to provide services.

The proposal comes at a time when Government is yet to approve the city’s first supplementary budget which sought to increase rates by 42 percent.

In May, the city council proposed to increase rates by 42 percent after residents rejected a 56 percent increment to finance its supplementary budget.

Speaking during a full council meeting on Wednesday, chairperson of the environmental management and engineering services committee Councillor Norman Hlabani said the 42 percent increment had been overtaken by events and would not assist council in any way.

“We’re in crisis and we’re failing to deliver the required services to the residents. We have no money because what the residents are paying is not enough to sustain council operations. We have decided that next week, all the 29 wards will inform the residents that we’re increasing by 1 000 percent,” said Cllr Hlabani.

He said council was struggling to attend to faulty sewer and water pipes due to lack of funding, adding that residents should pay more for council services.State media

THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) executive has thrown its weight behind the Zanu PF youth league’s anti-corruption drive by calling on party and government officials implicated in corrupt activities to resign.

Zanu PF secretary for war veterans Douglas Mahiya said those named in corrupt activities must do the “honourable thing and resign” instead of using the courts to try and clear their names.

“If you are in government or holding a senior party position, you should resign when your name is fingered in corrupt activities,” Mahiya told ex-combatants
on Tuesday during a meeting held at the ZNLWVA Entumbane offices in Bulawayo.

“There is nothing absolute with the law. Some of the accused are able to evade the justice system through the courts. So if your name has been fingered in
corruption allegations; do the honourable thing and resign.
Mahiya added: “We should speak against corruption. Some people will use legal technicalities to escape being jailed despite it being a fact that they stole
money.”

This comes at a time when the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has been given arresting powers.NewsDay

Farai Dziva|MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe has claimed that protests will not resolve the country’s economic challenges.

Khupe is part of the national dialogue under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

Khupe told a state run publication she was against the protests.

“My issue is that you can only resolve issues by sitting around the table and talking to each other.

You cannot resolve issues by throwing stones, by burning tyres and by going out there. But you can only resolve issues by sitting around and discussing issues like we are doing right now (in Polad).

If we sit down with them (Government) and they explain to us what is going on, we can also give our input. I’m pretty sure that Government and the President listen to some of the issues that we present to them,” said Khupe.

“The problem is the exchange rates. The prices are increasing because they are chasing the exchange rate. Once it goes up everything else increases. That is what we have told them that you must deal with the issue of prices because the cost of living does not match wages and salaries. Wages must match the cost of living,” she added.

Farai Dziva|MDC T leader Thokozani Khupe believes dialogue is the permanent solution to the country’s economic problems.

“We want to know for how long we are going to feel that pain before things change because we know that the economy has been down and under for a long time. We are looking for permanent solutions for our problems. We don’t want things that are not going to help us at the end of the day.

“We want permanent solutions to our problems. We want an economy that is going to be built on a strong foundation. While we don’t expect things to change overnight, there are things that need to be fixed like the cost of living which should match salaries and wages. That is exactly what we said to them. Look into prices which are rising everyday. Surely they must do something about that,” Khupe told a state run publication.

Khupe is part of the Emmerson Mnangagwa led POLAD discussion forum.

The Nelson Chamisa led MDC has distanced itself from POLAD arguing the whole thing lacks sincerity.

By A Correspondent- Disgruntled Zanu PF members in Kadoma this week dragged former Kadoma Central Member of Parliament Fani Fanuel Phiri to appear before the Justice Tendai Uchena-led Lands Commission to answer allegations of diverting more than 600 residential stands to his personal project.

The unhappy party members, led by Panyika Jack, are accusing the former legislator of diverting the stands to his Berina Housing Scheme after the party had donated 50 hectares, being part of Pixie Combie, to the party leadership in Kadoma’s 12 wards.

“Sir, we are here as disgruntled Zanu PF members to find out how Berina Housing Scheme is being run by former Kadoma Central Member of Parliament, Fani Phiri,” Panyika said.

“The government through the then Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, donated 50 hectares of land in Pixie Combie to be shared among Zanu PF leadership
in Kadoma, but the former legislator grabbed the land and formed Berina Housing Scheme with the stands that were meant for the people.”

Panyika added: “We want the Lands Commission to verify the ownership of the scheme; we feel that we were denied what was rightfully ours. What did Chombo see
in Phiri to give him 50 hectares? Phiri called for a meeting in Rimuka Hall sometime back and advised us to come with 50 names from the 12 wards of Kadoma Central constituency, but we discovered later that he had formed his own housing scheme.”

Phiri was then asked by the commission to leave the court room because some of the witnesses were not comfortable with him being in the room.

In an interview, Phiri, however, denied the allegations that he had diverted land that was meant for Zanu PF members, but actually applied for the 50 hectares through the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing in 2015 and his application was successful.

“The land in question does not and never belonged to Zanu PF. I actually applied for the land in 2015 and land was availed to me and then I formed Berina Housing Scheme to parcel out stands for residential stands,” Phiri said.

“I have all the documents to verify the ownership of that land in part of Pixie Combie. Those disgruntled members of Zanu PF are barking at the wrong tree and are being misled by someone. The land that was donated to the party is there, but they are trying to protect the one who has it and pointing a finger at Berina Housing Scheme, shame on them.”-Newsday

Influencers on Ugandan social media and others with large, commercialised online followings must henceforth register their activities for monitoring by the state, the country’s communications regulator said on Thursday.

Authorities say the scheme, which also levies a $20 fee, is designed to clamp down on immoral or prejudiced content. Critics view it as part of an escalating campaign by President Yoweri Museveni to suppress online content disapproving of him and his government.

Last week, university lecturer and social researcher Stella Nyanzi was jailed for 18 months on cyber harassment charges stemming from a Facebook post criticising Museveni.

According to digital communications rights watchdog Unwanted Witness, between 2016 and 2018 at least 33 Ugandans have either been summoned and interrogated by police or charged with online communications offences.

The registration scheme is “not a positive move, it infringes on the rights to freedom of expression. People are able to express themselves well when they know that somebody is not watching over them,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Dorothy Mukasa.

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) spokesman Ibrahim Bbosa said the “data communicators” to be registered included individuals with heavily followed social media and other online accounts that carried ads alongside other content on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

That would include prominent musicians, journalists and socialites.

“As a data communicator… you’re pushing out content which could easily violate the known parameters of morality, of incitement, of ethnic prejudice or not be factual,” Bbosa said.

“We want online platforms to register with the commission so that we can monitor (them),” a process that the $20 fee was designed to fund.

Robert Ssempala, the national coordinator for Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, said that, for many, the fee was prohibitive.

“The spirit of the regulation is essential to make it extremely unaffordable, to make it extremely frightening for people to engage in sharing information on social media,” he added.

Last year the government introduced a tax on the use of popular social media platforms.

Museveni has repeatedly complained that Ugandan social media is a vehicle for “lying” and “gossip”, interpreted referring to information critical of the government.

In power since 1986, he is widely expected to stand again in the next presidential election in 2021.-News365

In a brazen act of political thuggery, the government has withheld the MDC grant entitled to the party under the Political Parties Finance Act while Zanu PF has already been paid their dues.

The past one week has seen top MDC officials being sent from pillar to post in their quest to get the grant entitled to the party under the laws of the country.

The government grant is the money that as a party we use to support parliamentary work and other administrative and political purposes that advance the agenda of the people who continue to support the MDC, as evidenced by the 2,6 million votes received by President nelson Chamisa in last year’s stolen election.

Now Zanu PF is engaging in cheap political games to deny the party its share entitled to it under the Political Parties Finance Act.

We place it on record that it was none other than the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Virginia Mabhiza, who confirmed to the MDC last week that the government had disbursed money to political parties.

She confirmed that she had already disbursed money to Zanu PF but upon being asked about the MDC share, she referred us to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who denied that they had received the money from Treasury.

On Tuesday, 6 August 2019, the MDC secretary General Hon. Chalton Hwende met with the Finance Minister Hon. Mthuli Ncube at Parliament in the presence of Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi. Minister Ncube insisted in the presence of Minister Ziyambi that he had since disbursed money to political parties.

Minister Ncube expressed shock that the MDC had not received its share of the money, to which minister Ziyambi then promised to disburse the money the following day but he did not do so.

The next thing we heard from the Ministry of Justice was that they were not releasing our money because they had received a letter from Lovemore Madhuku on behalf of Mrs Thokozani Khupe, the president of another party calling itself the MDC T, seeking to receive our share of the money. For that reason they said they could not disburse our money.

It is important to state that Madhuku was a presidential candidate who contested the last election. Mrs Khupe’s party also contested the last election and her party is represented in Parliament.

It is shocking that a party with representation in Parliament, which representation fails to meet the threshold for receiving money under the Political Parties Finance Act, would claim money due to another political party.

The MDC bemoans the conflation between the party and the State which Zanu PF is using to deny us the money due to us under the laws of the land. We have seen statements from the government saying we cannot receive our money because government has other priorities.

Yet this is the same government that is on record saying that they have a surplus. If they have a surplus on their budget as they claim, they should simply give the MDC its share.

We are tired of these cheap games. We are tired of being harassed, victimized and having our legitimate operations crippled for demanding that which is rightfully due to us.

MDC: Change that Delivers.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe has said protests will not resolve the country’s economic challenges, but dialogue, proffering solutions and unity of purpose are required to transform the country’s fortunes.

Dr Khupe, who is part of the national dialogue under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), said there is no quick fix to the economic problems bedevilling the country, but Government should ensure that prices match people’s salaries.

President Mnangagwa called for dialogue among leaders of political parties that participated in last year’s harmonised elections and almost all of them, except the MDC-Alliance, came on board.

In an interview with our Bulawayo Bureau, Dr Khupe said she was against protests as they did not bring solutions to economic challenges affecting the country.

Her sentiments follow an announcement by the MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa that they will unleash protests against Government next week.

“My issue is that you can only resolve issues by sitting around the table and talking to each other,” said Dr Khupe.

“You cannot resolve issues by throwing stones, by burning tyres and by going out there.

“But you can only resolve issues by sitting around and discussing issues like we are doing right now (in Polad). If we sit down with them (Government) and they explain to us what is going on, we can also give our input. I’m pretty sure that Government and the President listen to some of the issues that we present to them.”

Dr Khupe said last Friday that Polad members met Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya, among other senior Government officials, seeking an explanation on what is happening in the economy.

Dr Khupe said they had frank discussions with the senior Government officials who explained reforms being implemented.

In response, members of Polad urged Prof Ncube and Dr Mangudya to tame prices and foreign currency exchange rates.

“The problem is the exchange rates,” said Dr Khupe.

“The prices are increasing because they are chasing the exchange rate. Once it goes up everything else increases. That is what we have told them that you must deal with the issue of prices because the cost of living does not match wages and salaries. Wages must match the cost of living.”

Dr Khupe said confidence building, unity of purpose and increasing production were some of the issues that needed to be addressed in turning around the economy.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former Zimbabwean deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara has warned South Africa against implementing a chaotic approach in the expropriation of land calling on them to learn from their northern neighbours. 

Said Mutambara at a presentation at Rhodes University:

“There is a problem that you must watch out for as South Africans, land expropriation is a good idea but might be abused by the elite who take a good idea and use it as a political tool.”

He warned politicians against abusing the land expropriation process in order to gain votes without commitment to the idea. 

“The number one lesson is, don’t allow a good idea to be used by political elites for their self interests. They will talk about it because it’s a popular cause, because there is a historical basis but have no commitment to it,” said Mutambara.

He called on ANC and EFF to walk the talk on the land revolution. 

“Once the land is taken, it must not be distributed in a partisan manner, don’t allow the political elites to seize the land and distribute among themselves, that’s the lesson we learnt from Zimbabwe,” said Mutambara. 

By A Correspondent- Daggers have been drawn against Zanu PF Masvingo youth league boss Brian Munyoro who was last week confronted by a group of local and Harare-based youths who accused him of corruption, sexual abuse and personalising party property.

Zanu PF national youth league political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu led a group of Zanu PF youths from Harare for an outreach in Masvingo.
The outreach was met with little success after Munyoro reportedly snubbed the meetings in the wards and failed to mobilise party supporters to attend as a way of sabotaging Tsenengamu’s work.

Sources close to the developments alleged that during one of the meetings at Roger Howman Training Centre, some youths seized Munyoro’s car keys and cell phones while others beat him up. It has also been established that the some members of the Masvingo provincial youth league are unhappy with Munyoro’s leadership but no one had the guts to stand up to him until they formed an alliance with the visiting Harare youths to humiliate him.

When contacted for comment, Munyoro said the youths who demonstrated against him were just jealous and are fabricating stories to try and soil his name.

He said:

“It all happened in full glare of our leadership and they are all aware of what happened. I now wait to hear from them on the course of action to be taken against the culprits. They are just people who are jealous of my life and will do anything to soil my name. I have not done anything wrong but I have remained focused in supporting and building our party even during the time when we were vilified for being Lacoste members.”

Youths who spoke to a local publication accused Munyoro of being a sexual predator who abused women under his ranks.

Said one source:

“We want him to go and we will not rest until he is send packing. We want leadership which is exemplary not what we are seeing in Munyoro. He has bedded many women under his rank by abusing his powers and the car which the party gave him.

Last week in Chiredzi he tried the same tricks on one of the ladies but he was turned down. He then tried to force himself on the lady but he failed. He uses the party vehicle as his bedroom and that must stop. The vehicle he drives belongs to the party yet he personalises it. We heard a lot of reports about him and we decided to act because the youth here are afraid of him,” said one youth from Harare.

The youth league accused Munyoro of stealing over 3 000 litres of fuel which had been donated for party programmes.

“Masvingo got 4 000 litres of fuel to do party programmes and Munyoro converted 3 000 litres to personal use and declared only 1 000 litres,” claims one youth.

Other sources said Munyoro was dictatorial in his leadership approach, accusing him of stripping other league leaders of their powers.

“He does everything himself. He is now the chairperson, the treasurer, the spokesperson and the commissar of the whole province. He personalises power and all other elected members have been rendered irrelevant. He is also abusing his power to sleep with all the girls,” complained a source.

Another youth league member, however, defended Munyoro saying the fight was simply a manifestation of factionalism in the youth league.

“There are bigger divisions in the league and Munyoro is just a victim. They are jealousy of his success and the big car he is driving?” said the member.

Zanu PF national youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi could not be reached for comment as his mobile went unanswered.-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Opposition legislator Joanna Mamombe accused the Foreign Affairs minister of “never setting foot in parliament” adding that the minister was deliberately not apologising or giving an explanation regarding his whereabouts.

Said Mamombe:

“I rise Mr. Speaker. The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs has never stepped in this House.  We have questions in terms of our foreign affairs issues; we should get an apology or an explanation why the Hon. Minister is not coming to Parliament.”

The acting speaker however respondent and said the minister had apologised but the matter had been noted.

MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND ORDER BILL [H. B. 3, 2019]

Second Reading:  Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill [H. B. 3, 2019].

SECOND READING

MAINTAINANCE OF PEACE AND ORDER BILL [H. B. 3, 2019]

          THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ND CULTURAL HERITAGE (HON. MATHEMA): Thank you Hon. Speaker.  Section 117, of our Constitution exhorts the Legislature, among other things,  to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Zimbabwe.  It is not by chance that these three things, peace, order and good governance keep company with each other in the same sentence.  I will go further and say peace and order are the pre-conditions for enjoying all the other blessings we desire for ourselves – family, prosperity, community, the pursuit of knowledge and happiness, freedom, self determination and security to property. 

No matter what our differences maybe, peace and order afford us the time to think and urge among ourselves, how we may improve if we have gone wrong.  As Aristotle once said, “the use of rational speech is more distinctive of human beings than the use of their limbs”.  I will not rehearse for Hon. Members the history of how law and order legislation has been used and abused since colonial times in our country, how the Law and Order Maintenance Act was succeeded by the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and how it is now proposed to be replaced by this Bill before you.   Suffice to say that POSA itself under went several amendments to moderate its provisions since it was enacted in 2002. 

          Most notably, in 2007, the Public Order and Security Amendment Number 18 of 2007, which was partly the result of an inter-political party consultation process.  This Bill too has been subjected to searching cross-party scrutiny by the Parliamentary Legal Committee resulting in several amendments that are embodied in the Order Paper.  Some concessions were made by the Government with a view to strengthening the constitutionality of the Bill, others were made in the spirit of wanting to achieve consensus across political party lines.

          I will also not go into any detail about the particulars of the Bill; the Explanatory Memorandum appended to the Bill is sufficient for that, though I will highlight a couple of its salient features.  As a matter of general principle, no reasonable person can dispute the need for a well-regulated community to make some legal provisions for the orderly and dignified conduct of public assemblies and processions as long as the legal measures in question fairly respect the rights, freedoms and interest of participants and non-participants alike.

          Part of the inspiration for POSA was the Public Order Act of England and Wales, enacted in 1986 mostly on the basis of recommendations by the UK Law Commission.  That Act requires at least six clear days’ written notice to be given to the police before most public processions, including details of the intended time and route and giving the name and address of at least one person proposing to organise it.  It creates offences for the organisers of a procession if they do not give sufficient notice or if the procession diverges from the notified time or route.  It also empowers the police to impose conditions on processions to prevent serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of the community.  There are provisions also to prevent hate speech at public assemblies.

          If we were to consider these provisions in the light of our own Constitutional freedoms, a critic using an unreasonably strict interpretation might conclude that they offend against the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech but as will be pointed out below the rights and freedoms of demonstrators are not the only rights and freedoms at stake here.

          Another more direct inspiration for POSA and for its proposed replacement, the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill is the Regulation of Gatherings Act of South Africa.  we challenge any critic of our proposed law to compare our provisions with those of the South African Act and to point out to us in what particular way the South African Act better than ours with respect to the following matters:- the notification of public gatherings, police powers to prohibit and regulate public gatherings, the use of force by police to disperse unruly gatherings, the zone within which gatherings may not be allowed around certain public buildings and offences and penalties for non-compliance with the Act.  In every case, it will be found that our provisions are reasonable and comparable and in some cases even more favourable.

          As regards Clause 14, (Persons to carry identity documents) of the Bill, we  have concluded in the Notice of Amendments to be presented before you at the Committee Stage that no police officer ought to demand the production of an identity document from anyone except upon reasonable suspicion that that person has committed some offence.  Very often, the mere production of such an ID will dissolve suspicions of criminality and hence make an arrest unnecessary.  I wish also to draw your attention to Clause 18 which specifies the circumstances under which the Defence Forces may be summoned to assist the police.  This provision is included incompliance with Government’s obligations under Section 213 of the Constitution. Our Government has welcomed any criticism of the Bill made in an open and constructive spirit with aview to improving it but cannot do anything about vague and unspecific accusations made primarily with the object of discrediting our country, unjustifiably in the eyes of the international community.  As with any law, a balance must be struck between the rights and freedoms of individuals and the interests of the community at large. 

Many kinds of meetings have been put outside the scope of this Bill as you can tell by consulting the Schedule to the Bill.  The State is concerned only with those gatherings, processions and marches primarily but not exclusively of a political nature in which partisanship and bad feeling may get out of hand to the detriment of the rights and freedoms of others.  Considerations of public health may also make it incumbent upon Government to regulate gatherings.

In conclusion, the Government objects strongly to the characterisation of the Bill as ‘undemocratic’ without specifying in what specific respects the Bill is ‘undemocratic’ or how it violates the charter of rights and freedoms in any way not contemplated in a democratic society.  The rights and freedoms of demonstrators are not the only rights and freedoms to be considered when a gathering has the potential to become disorderly.  Other human beings have rights and freedoms too, in particular those who may be victimised in their persons and property by unruly demonstrators.  To quote in part from Section 87 of our Constitution:

“(2) The fundamental rights and freedoms set out in [the Declaration of Rights and Freedoms] this Chapter may be limited only in terms of a law of general application and to the extent that the limitation is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors including – (b) the purpose of the limitation, in particular whether it is necessary in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, regional or town planning or the general public interest; and (d) the need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and freedoms by any person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others.”

The same provision of the Constitution urges lawmakers to consider whether there are any less restrictive means of achieving the purpose of the limitation.  This we have striven to do in the amendments to the Bill that are embodied in the Order Paper.

I therefore urge Members on both sides of this House to support this very necessary measure to secure peace and order in our beloved country.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I move that the Bill be read for the Second time.

By A Correspondent- Government has concluded negotiations with South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, that will see the country receiving 400MW of electricity while paying US$890 000 weekly to service its legacy debt.

This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

“Cabinet was informed by the Minister of Energy and Power Development that an arrangement to unlock the supply of 400MW has been concluded with Eskom,” she said.

“In terms of this arrangement, Government through Treasury, has commenced the payment of an amount of US$890 000 per week towards the settlement of its debt to Eskom. Furthermore, similar discussions will soon commence with Hydro Cahorra Bassa of Mozambique.”

Zimbabwe owes Eskom and HCB about US$74 million in legacy debts.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had approved the National Renewable Energy Policy that was presented by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.

“Cabinet considered and approved the National Renewable Energy Policy which was presented by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Industrialisation and Export Development. The renewable energy sector in Zimbabwe comprises solar, hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass energy sources,” Mutsvangwa said.

She said the policy seeks to attain the following: “to establish market-oriented measures and regulatory instruments for the development of the renewable energy sector in Zimbabwe; to address the barriers to the uptake of renewable energy in the country; to achieve an installed renewable energy capacity consistent with the country’s projected energy requirements under Vision 2030; to promote investment in the renewable energy sector; to provide the necessary guidelines, incentives, standards, procurement and financing mechanisms for promoting the development of off-grid projects, which have the potential to increase electricity access in rural areas and to promote the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment in the country as well as local skills development in that regard.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema told parliament that he had nothing to say regarding the whereabouts of missing activist Itai Dzamara adding that investigations were still ongoing.

He was responding to a query from opposition legislator Willias Madzimure regarding the whereabouts of Dzamara.

The activist was allegedly abducted by state security agents on the 9th of March 2015 while having a haircut at a local barber shop in Harare.

Said Madzimure:

“Mr. Speaker, it is now seven weeks since I requested the Minister of Home Affairs to come to this House and clarify on the progress made so far to ascertain the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara.– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

Mr. Speaker Sir. We want to know whether he is still alive or not so that his family can get closure on this issue.  The whole country wants to know what happened to Itayi Dzamara because it is the right of Zimbabweans to be protected by the law. Can the Minister do that now so that the people of Zimbabwe know.

Responded the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cain Mathema:

“Thank you Hon. Speaker.  Like I said before, we are still continuing with the investigations so there is nothing I can say.  I thank you.”

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also Chancellor of the Zimbabwe National Defence University (NDU)  was on Thursday conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Defence and Security Studies by the NDU.

Mnangagwa was awarded the degree during a graduation held at the institution. 

In his speech Mnangagwa reminded Zimbabweans that building and developing a new Zimbabwe requires people who are loyal, patriotic, reliable and committed to defending and safeguarding the gains of our independence.

Said the Information ministry:

“President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Force, and Chancellor of the Zimbabwe National Defence University (NDU) @edmnangagwa was today conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Defence and Security Studies by the NDU.”

By A Correspondent| LEAD President Linda Tsungirirai Masarira has formally tied the knot with her love Gilbert Kaingidza.

Below is the duo’s marriage certificate.

By A Correspondent- VIMBAI CHAPUNGU was crowned Miss London 2019 in June and is noted to be the first black woman to hold the title. Currently studying a Masters in Geography at a top university in London, Vimbai has a passion for learning about the world and the people in it. She hopes to use her platform to raise awareness about development issues and hopes to empower communities.

Vimbai, aged 24, recently took part in the Miss England Final held in Newcastle where the contestants underwent everything from a Sports Round and Talent Round to an eco wear round and even a general knowledge quiz. She qualified as one of the 50 finalists out of other 20,000 women that entered this year’s competition.

The winner was Bhasha Mukherjee, a 23-year-old junior doctor from Derby, who will now go on to compete at Miss World which is this year being held in London on December 14th.

As the first Black woman to have the Miss London title, Vimbai took advantage of this by wearing her natural hair during the Miss England finals to highlight natural beauty to the audience, where she was placed in the top 3 of 55 for the bare faced model title. In fact, her Masters thesis is about the Natural Hair Movement, which is a social phenomenon that seeks to empower Black women to wear their hair in its natural state, as opposed to chemically processing/relaxing their hair which has adverse health issues. 

She also highlights in her dissertation, the negative connotations regarding natural hair in institutions, stating “Black hair is still being policed in today’s society, and it is only now that people are talking about it, thanks to the few women who have fought for the normalisation of natural hair”.

Vimbai is also a co-director of a charity known as Blessed to ReachOut – which is currently working on a school-feeding programme and dormitory building project here in Zimbabwe. She hopes the children around the world have better access to education as “the most important thing is to provide a better chance for every child to make a difference in the world in his or her own way”.

Vimbai will be supporting various charities and NGOs and she asks for everyone’s support during her time as Miss London. “This title is not just my own, but it is for everyone who shares the same vision. London boasts approximately 8 million inhabitants, 270 nationalities and 300 languages. Therefore the vision is to better represent and empower people to be the best they can be,” she states.

Away from the catwalk, Vimbai worked with classical music during her time in high school and sixth form and achieved grades 3 and 5 in singing. She decided to pursue a different path and was discovered by a music manager and mentor, where they created music together of a jazz / pop nature. -Agencies

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will remain apolitical, but is keen to see the nation united and not allow politics to divide them, the Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Edzai Chanyuka Chimonyo said

He said this in an interview with the state media ahead of this year’s Heroes and Defence Forces Day commemorations.

He implored Zimbabweans to remain patient, saying the current economic challenges are temporary, normal and not unique to the country as those that are now developed went through the same in the past.

“People of Zimbabwe should know that we (ZDF) are pillars of Zimbabwe to ensure that there is peace,” said Lt Gen Chimonyo.

“One thing that I always ask myself is ‘when we went to the liberation struggle at that young age we were so united, why is it today we are not united as a country in an independent Zimbabwe?’ Yes, perhaps it can be politics here and there; we in our Constitution, we are apolitical, that is why in our Constitution multiparty (politics) in Zimbabwe is allowed; we observe what would be taking place.

“We can never move while divided, unity of purpose, that is what we want . . . we want politicians do their own work and ourselves doing our work.”

Turning to economic challenges, Lt Gen Chimonyo said many countries, including the United States, went through some turbulent times.

He added that before the First World War, Europe had problems too, while China has also navigated even worse problems to become one of the world’s economic giants.

“As I speak on behalf of the ZNA, I see light at the end of the tunnel. We are saying that there is nothing that can defeat us as long as we are united and together, these are difficulties we must overcome. But there are not difficulties that other countries have not gone through.

“As your ZDF, I stand here and beg you let us be united and stand together under these difficult circumstances; we will prevail,” he said.

He said unity would attract the much-needed investment for the country, adding that the ZNA’s role in the new dispensation is to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The role of the ZNA in the new dispensation is to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest of Zimbabwe, at the same time contributing to international peace and stability. In the new dispensation the ZNA has a role to play which is to create a peaceful environment which is conducive to the investment as espoused by the mantra that is spoken about by President Mnangagwa that ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’”.

“One of the most important things we should always keep in our minds is peace, so that investment comes our way as a nation. There is unemployment (and) we can only create that employment if there is investment and this happens when we are united just like those liberation guys, men and women, who went out to be together as Zimbabweans,” said Lt Gen Chimonyo.

He said the ZNA will continue undertaking training programmes for its troops in order to move in line with advancing technology, and to equip them with skills of countering threats that come with globalisation.

“There is no doubt that the enemy we fought yesterday is the same enemy we are fighting today and what is there is that it has only changed its tactics and we are faced with asymmetrical warfare, which is to do with media, cyber (wars) and these are elements that are very important aspects that men and women in the ZNA needs to understand and know what implications they have to the nation,” said Lt Gen Chimonyo.-StateMedia

Former Zimbabwean deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has warned South Africa against the chaotic approach in the expropriation of land calling on them to learn from their northern neighbours.

“There is a problem that you must watch out for as South Africans, land expropriation is a good idea but might be abused by the elite who take a good idea and use it as a political tool,” he said in a presentation at Rhodes University.

He said the politicians abuse the land expropriation subject to gain votes without commitment to the idea.

“The number one lesson is, don’t allow a good idea to be used by political elites for their self interests. They will talk about it because it’s a popular cause, because there is a historical basis but have no commitment to it,” said Mutambara.

He called on ANC and EFF to walk the talk on the land revolution.

“Once the land is taken, it must not be distributed in a partisan manner, don’t allow the political elites to seize the land and distribute among themselves, that’s the lesson we learnt from Zimbabwe,” said Mutambara.

He warned those opposed to the land expropriation that there are some arguments advocating for South Africa not to compensate white farmers when it expropriates land but instead the whites should actually compensate the State for using land for free over years.

A 31-YEAR-OLD Harare man is in trouble after allegedly impersonating Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri’s son to ostensibly defraud and extort gold from a miner in the Manzou area, Mazowe.

The matter came to light at Bindura Magistrates’ Court, where Tendai Daka of Mainway Meadows, Waterfalls, appeared yesterday before provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera.

The State, led by Tariro Janhi, alleges that sometime in July, Daka unlawfully represented himself as Shiri’s son to the Elton 20 Mine owner and demanded US$2 000 and gold ore, which he was given after claiming that it was for the minister and he had just been sent to collect.

The State opposed bail, saying he was facing a serious offence and was a flight risk, adding he was likely to interfere with witnesses and that he will be safer in custody than outside.

However, the magistrate granted him $200 bail, saying it was his constitutional right and that he should surrender his travelling documents, report every Monday and Friday at Waterfalls Police Station and that he should not interfere with witnesses.

Chitungwiza residents, who own boreholes and wells, have resorted to selling water for at least $1 for two buckets as the water situation continues to deteriorate in the dormitory town.

In some areas such as Unit F, G, N, O,P, Zengeza and St Mary’s people are sleeping In queues at the few community boreholes available.

Currently, council is receiving an average of 30 to 35 mega litres of water per week.

The local authority recently said it had plans to drill 25 boreholes around the town and the tender will be flighted any day from now.

In an interview, one of the residents who identified herself as Mai Memory and sells water from her borehole said the she was making people pay in order to maintain the borehole.

“We hardly get tap water and as such the demand for water has increased,” she said. “I never used to charge, but I am now doing so to have some funds to maintain the borehole and hire people to fix it.”

Mrs Lorainne Mukanaya from Zengeza 4 said it was not fair to pay for water in the neighbourhood because council was failing to provide the tap water.

“At first I used to ask around for water and we would get it for free, but the challenge now is that most wells have also dried up,” she said.

“Those with wells now need money.

“It is costly to buy water every day because I need to use an average of 100 litres per day. The painful thing is that we still have to pay monthly water charges to council when we are not getting the precious commodity.”

Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA) director Mr Marvellous Khumalo urged Chitungwiza Municipality to buy bowsers as an urgent measure.

“It is sad that some people are taking advantage of the situation to make money,” he said. “Chitungwiza Municipality should offer stop-gap measures to temporarily cushion the residents by providing mobile water bowsers in the affected areas and then drill the promised boreholes before the onset of the rainy season.”

By A Correspondent- There was a near fist fight in Parliament on Thursday when MDC Alliance vice president Lynnette Karenyi accused Zanu-PF Mberengwa North MP Tafanana Zhou of proposing love to her and various other women in parliament. 

An angry Karenyi stood up and accused Zhou through gestures of being a sex pest whom most women were now afraid of. 

An angry Zhou had to be restrained by fellow MPs as he charged towards Karenyi in what could have degenerated into a physical fight.

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

8 August 2019

RE: REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF CABINET MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT MINISTER: PRISCAH MUPFUMIRA

Please be advised that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, E D Mnangagwa, has in terms of section 340, subsection (1), paragraph (f), as read with section 104, subsection (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe has removed you, Priscah Mupfumira from the office of Cabinet Minister and Minister of Government with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a Government Minister.

CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has with immediate effect fired incarcerated minister Prisca Mupfumira from government over her ‘inappropriate’ conduct, ZimEye can report.

Mupfumira was arrested last month on charges of corruption involving the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) funds.

She is currently in detention after Harare Magistrate denied her bail.

Mupfumira is due to appear in court tomorrow the 9th of August for routine remand.

Below is the official communication from Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda.

ACCOUNTANT-General in the Finance ministry, Daniel Muchemwa, has admitted before Parliament that his ministry had carried out financial transactions that were outside the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

Muchemwa was appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by Tendai Biti (Harare East MP) on Monday to answer to allegations of unauthorised allocations of funds to the Command Agriculture programme. Biti described the behaviour of the Finance ministry bureaucrats as “rogue”.

The committee expressed unhappiness that the ministry had failed to account for $3,2 billion allocated during 2017 to 2018 to Command Agriculture.

Acting secretary in the Finance ministry, Zvinechimwe Churu, said to correct the anomaly, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube would bring a Bill before Parliament for condonation because the ministry had failed to bring a supplementary budget in 2018 for the $3,2 billion which was paid through Treasury Bills.

Noting the extent of financial mismanagement by the Finance ministry, Biti spoke very strongly against it.

“How do you feel when you offend the PFMA and the Constitution and all laws? How does a country function when there are bureaucrats in the Ministry of Finance that do not respect the laws of the country? You are supposed to be the enforcers of good governance and how do we have a country where the enforcer is the one committing the bank robberies, and what is the point of a budget when the Ministry of Finance is at the forefront of derailing those allocations?” Biti asked.

“This is a savage, rogue attack on our Public Finance Management System, and this is not professional because if you were in the private sector, you would have been fired,” he said.

Muchemwa submitted that the 2017 and 2018 Auditor-General’s report would, indeed, reveal a lot of inconsistencies in the manner the Finance ministry handled its accounts.

“It is consistent with the rogue nature that we exhibited here. I think we have accepted that for three years, we did not complied with the law. Lack of respect of the law will be consistent throughout your questions,” Muchemwa said.

Some of the facts that were laid before Muchemwa by Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure (MDC Alliance) were that in 2016, when the Command Agriculture programme was introduced, it was funded through a private lender and Treasury did not give the details of the nature, procedures to be used for the programme and accounting records.

“Why were financial procedures not put in place for the Command Agriculture programme before it started and we need to see the list of beneficiaries,” Madzimure said.

Muchemwa then conceded that there was no accounting procedure put in place when the Command Agriculture programme was introduced in 2016.

“There was no accounting procedure because when Command Agriculture came into place, I was not yet aware of the process that would follow to achieve command agriculture. I confirm that the programme started without procedures, but they were later put in place,” Muchemwa said.

-Newsday

Farai Dziva|MDC T leader Thokozani Khupe believes dialogue is the permanent solution to the country’s economic problems.

“We want to know for how long we are going to feel that pain before things change because we know that the economy has been down and under for a long time. We are looking for permanent solutions for our problems. We don’t want things that are not going to help us at the end of the day.

“We want permanent solutions to our problems. We want an economy that is going to be built on a strong foundation. While we don’t expect things to change overnight, there are things that need to be fixed like the cost of living which should match salaries and wages. That is exactly what we said to them. Look into prices which are rising everyday. Surely they must do something about that,” Khupe told a state run publication.

Khupe is part of the Emmerson Mnangagwa led POLAD discussion forum.

The Nelson Chamisa led MDC has distanced itself from POLAD arguing the whole thing lacks sincerity.

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has welcomes the introduction of the tap and go payment system for ZUPCO since it brings convenience to the commuting public. However, they expressed concern with the fact that passengers are being made to buy the tap and go card for $10.

“This amount over-stretches the pockets of passengers, many of whom are not formally employed. PAZ is also concerned with the fact that ZUPCO is prioritising passengers with tap and go cards such that those who will be paying with cash either get left behind or are the last to board the bus. Some of the passengers who will be paying with cash, at times would have been the first ones on the queue.  The purchasing of tap and go cards should not be through this form of duress,” said PAZ President Tafadzwa George Goliati.

He called upon ZUPCO to have a timetable.

“Many people who rely on ZUPCO are often late to work, because they start operating later in the morning hours. Many people leave their work stations after seven in the evening and there will be no buses to transport them. The buses that ZUPCO is hiring must be roadworthy. There are many that are not fit to transport people,” Goliati added.

-Online

SEVEN police officers from Bulawayo have been arrested for storming into a resident of Njube suburb’s bedroom and assaulting him while threatening to shoot him as he lay naked for failing to pay a $1 500 fine at the Tredgold Magistrates courts.

Njube and Bulawayo Central police station officers identified as Samuel Marava, Leonard Mlezane, Kudakwashe Saungweme, Abious Munatsi, Edgar Muduva, Vincent Dube and Collen Zumo allegedly assaulted Mr Edmond Makonese (56) while threatening him with a gun.

The officers pleaded not guilty to assault charges before West Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu yesterday.

The magistrate remanded them out of custody to today for continuation of trial.

It is alleged that Mr Makonese defaulted paying a fine after he was found operating as an agent in the city centre without a licence.

It was not stated exactly what Mr Makonese was found operating without being registered but he was arrested and taken to court where a magistrate fined him $1 500.

He did not pay the money.

The seven police officers allegedly went to look for him at his home in connection with a warrant of arrest that was issued against him at Tredgold Courts for failing to pay the fine.

The court heard that the officers saw the complainant’s son, Tatenda, who was outside the house and assaulted him while asking him where his father was hiding.

They then stormed into the complainant’s bedroom and assaulted him while threatening him with a firearm.

Prosecuting, Ms Patience Sibanda said on March 6 this year at around 7:30AM, police officers stormed into Mr Makonese’s bedroom armed with a pistol and batons. They found him changing clothes and ordered him to lie down naked.

“The police officers assaulted the complainant by hitting him with hands, booted feet and baton sticks several times intending to cause bodily harm,” she said.

Ms Sibanda said one of the police officers threatened to shoot Mr Makonese who was now screaming in pain as he was being assaulted.

She said Mr Makonese sustained chest injuries, swollen eyes and a deep cut on his forehead and was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.The matter was reported to police leading to the officers’ arrest.

— Chronicle

Farai Dziva|Thomas Tafirenyika Mukanya Mapfumo is set to join the August 16 demostration in Harare, a social media platform for youths has reported.

The demo will be led by the Movement for Democratic Change.

“Mapfumo will touch down at 8.30 am on the same day at Harare International Airport and proceed straight to Africa Unity Square,” ZIMUCU reported.

“The time for every Zimbabwean to stand up and be counted is now.

We need to leave a legacy for our children’s children. The liberation struggle was not meant for a few but for us all.

That’s why I am going to Zimbabwe. I want to make a statement that it’s time we allow the young generation to carry the flame,”the Chimurenga music guru reportedly told ZIMUCU.

“Mapfumo urged everyone to participate on August 16 saying this day is a national event where everyone who wants a better Zimbabwe must join.
VivaZimucu.”

The announcement came at a time when however it was doubtful the singer would fly to Zimbabwe after his London feature show afterwhich he appeared needing a rest.

Mapfumo is now souring above the age of 74, and has enjoyed decades of music glory which have seen him becoming the grandpa of Chimurenga music.

Farai Dziva|The MDC has described the bail conditions for the party’s youth assembly secretary general Gift Siziba as unfair and stringent.

See the party’s full statement:

The MDC is unhappy about the new bail conditions that have been imposed on our Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba.

Siziba appeared at the Rotten Row Magistrates court this morning.

He was remanded to the 2nd of September 2019

However, the court today added more stringent terms to his bail conditions

Under the new tight conditions, Siziba is now expected to report to the police at least three times a week. His travel documents have also been taken away from him.

Siziba has since then instructed his lawyers to lodge an appeal urgently

The MDC suspects that there has been a high level of political interference in his case.

The MDC would like to thank all our party leaders and members who turned out in their large numbers today in solidarity with SG Siziba

Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

MDC: Change That Delivers

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has said that the recent increase in fuel prices was motivated by surging prices on the international market.

Appearing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on energy and power development in Harare, ZERA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Eddinton Mazambani, added that the delivery of fuel has been affected by the failure by oil companies to procure fuel through the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC).

Mazambani also noted that there is a standoff between NOIC and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority over new taxes articulated in the mid-term fiscal policy review statement.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters has announced that it will be join the main opposition MDC in the schedule anti-Mnangagwa mass Demonstrations set for 16 August 2019. 

In a statement on Thursday the party said,”the decision to participate in these mass demonstration is in solidarity with of our people who experience the consequences of 39 years of the Zanu PF government’s economic mismanagement on a daily basis.”

The party set out the demands that must be implemented for Zimbabwe to me forward.

The demands are as follows:

Parliament to be dissolved and a Government of National Unity (“GNU” be formed for a period of 5 years until the next General elections in 2023;

i)    For the military to return to the Barracks and the rule of law to be re-instated in our land;
ii)    For the GNU to make all essential and meaningful electoral changes to usher in the true will of the people;
iii)    An Independent Anti-Corruption Unit to be set up to investigate and bring to Justice all those who have looted our state resources over the period of Zanu PF rule;
iv)    An Independent Commission, led by internationally approved Commissioner(s) to be set up to address long standing Human Rights Abuses by Zanu PF;
v)    An Economic Revival Plan to be drawn up to address the severe economic challenges the country is facing;
vi)    Immediately embark on an expansive monetory policy backed by re-energising of industry and commerce to 
create conditions employment for our people;

Urging its members to participate in the protests the party said:

“We call upon all our ground forces from all our structures to join the people of Zimbabwe in the demonstrations on the 16th of August 2019. We further call upon our ground fighter to partake in the demonstrations peacefully and to resist responding to deliberate provocations by the Zanu PF blood thirst youths and mercenaries .

“It is time that we stand together as Zimbabweans to demand change and accountability from our political leaders. Doing nothing at this juncture is not an option. We cannot sit back and continue to live in perpetual misery and poverty.”

By A Correspondent- Fresh details have emerged from the ongoing court case involving the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Prisca Mupfumira, showing that the Minister might have properties in Dubai, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The revelation of Mupfumira’s alleged properties could have a bearing on her bail application ruling, with the state raising fears that she might flee the country if released on bail.

High court judge, Justice Erica Ndewere on Monday reserved ruling on Mupfumira’s bail application, saying it will be announced at a later date.

The revelations by state prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza, alleged that Mupfumira has mansions in Dubai, South Africa and the United Kingdom that have become the subject of the contest on her bail application.

Mr Reza said the Minister should be denied bail on the basis that there is a great chance of her absconding.

The applicant’s defence council led by Advocate Lewis Uriri hoped for favourable responses from the judge after they had made their submissions but Justice Ndewere reserved the ruling application to a later date.

Mupfumira is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office, with the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) reportedly having completed investigations on three of the counts.

Below are today’s trading rates for various local banks.

PRESSURE group Tajamuka/Sesijikile leader Promise Mkwananzi has been arrested and is being detained at Harare Central police station, NewZimbabwe can reveal.

Mkwananzi, a prominent government critique has been on the police wanted list since the violent January protests that turned into an orgy of violence leading to the death of 17 people after the army opened fire on demonstrators.

Tajamuka/Sesijikile Coordinator Tineyi Munetsi confirmed the development.

“Promise has been taken in by the police and we have contacted Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

“They are yet to lay charges,” said Munetsi.

Mkwananzi fled to the UK after the protests while other activists connected to the opposition MDC scattered into different countries including South Africa after the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration launched a manhunt for what it claimed were the ring-leaders.

The protests had initially been called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) in response to a 150% fuel price hike announced by Mnangagwa before the Zanu PF leader flew out on a four nation tour of Euro-Asia.

Mnangagwa was to cut-short his trip as the country descended into anarchy and threatened his stay in power.

Since then hordes of activists including ZCTU secretary general Japhet Moyo as well as president Peter Mutasa were also arrested and charged with subversion.

However the stay-away was reportedly “hijacked” by militant anti-government groups leading to the deaths and destruction of property.

Mkwananzi a former MDC secretary youth secretary general has been holed up in South Africa after leaving the UK early a few months ago.

Last month Takamuka/Sesijikile called for another nationwide shutdown with Mkwananzi urging Zimbabweans to flood the streets from his base in South Africa. The cal, was largely ignored and failed given the little support from the grouyp’s usual partners including the opposition.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

-NewZimbabwe

By Own Correspondent| Gweru City Council (GCC) workers have given the city fathers a 14-day strike notice. They are demanding a cost of living adjustment and salary increase.

The notice was signed by the Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers’ Union’s (ZUCWU) Gweru branch secretary, Ambrose Hwande.

The notice reads:

Notice is hereby given that from August 13, 2019, City of Gweru employees will engage in a demonstration and picketing.

From August 22, it will be a total withdrawal of labour against the employer’s insensitivity to employees’ cost of living adjustment and allowances request.

ZUCWU secretary-general and Midlands chairperson of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Kudakwashe Munengiwa threw his weight behind the workers. He said:

What the workers are demanding is a cost of living adjustment of $500 across the board which should be immediately paid and then adjustment of the salaries to match the prevailing US dollar rate on the interbank market.

The employer is paying new prices that have been adjusted on every service rendered like fuel and hotel bills when officials travel. The only thing they have not adjusted are the salaries of their employees.

Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe urged workers to be patient and wait until the supplementary budget is approved.-Newsday

Disgruntled Zanu PF members in Kadoma this week dragged former Kadoma Central Member of Parliament Fani Fanuel Phiri to appear before the Justice Tendai Uchena-led Lands Commission to answer allegations of diverting more than 600 residential stands to his personal project.

The unhappy party members, led by Panyika Jack, are accusing the former legislator of diverting the stands to his Berina Housing Scheme after the party had donated 50 hectares, being part of Pixie Combie, to the party leadership in Kadoma’s 12 wards.

“Sir, we are here as disgruntled Zanu PF members to find out how Berina Housing Scheme is being run by former Kadoma Central Member of Parliament, Fani Phiri,” Panyika said.

“The government through the then Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, donated 50 hectares of land in Pixie Combie to be shared among Zanu PF leadership in Kadoma, but the former legislator grabbed the land and formed Berina Housing Scheme with the stands that were meant for the people.”

Panyika added: “We want the Lands Commission to verify the ownership of the scheme; we feel that we were denied what was rightfully ours. What did Chombo see in Phiri to give him 50 hectares? Phiri called for a meeting in Rimuka Hall sometime back and advised us to come with 50 names from the 12 wards of Kadoma Central constituency, but we discovered later that he had formed his own housing scheme.”

Phiri was then asked by the commission to leave the court room because some of the witnesses were not comfortable with him being in the room.

In an interview, Phiri, however, denied the allegations that he had diverted land that was meant for Zanu PF members, but actually applied for the 50 hectares through the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing in 2015 and his application was successful.

“The land in question does not and never belonged to Zanu PF. I actually applied for the land in 2015 and land was availed to me and then I formed Berina Housing Scheme to parcel out stands for residential stands,” Phiri said.

“I have all the documents to verify the ownership of that land in part of Pixie Combie. Those disgruntled members of Zanu PF are barking at the wrong tree and are being misled by someone. The land that was donated to the party is there, but they are trying to protect the one who has it and pointing a finger at Berina Housing Scheme, shame on them.”

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Following the clearance of the MDC demonstration on the 16th of August, the party is leaving no stone un-turned in mobilizing Zimbabweans to come out in numbers and protest against the deteriorating standard of living.

Social media has of late been awash with posters rallying Zimbabweans to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF government out.

Following yesterday’s drama filled events in which the controversial couple Tytan and Olinda Chapel paraded their disdain for each other with the musician husband telling the world that he has moved on, the wife has pleaded for dialogue to end the marriage amicably.

Posting on Instagram yesterday, Olinda who appeared to have the light in not parading her private life on social media, she pleaded with her ex-husband to dialogue and part ways amicably for the sake of their daughter Nandi.

Below is Olinda’s Instagram post targeted at Tytan.