As the opposition MDC demonstration against the economic downfall in the country gathers momentum, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told church leaders that he has never refused to talk to MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.

Terrified by the prospects off the demonstration, Mnangagwa said that his doors for national dialogue are still open, and claims to have taken several steps to ensure inclusivity and engagement.

And in response to a pastoral letter from church leaders dated August 9, Mnangagwa assured the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and heads of denominations that he had taken steps to entrench the spirit of dialogue in the country.

‘‘As the ZHOCD (Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations) would be aware, the National Dialogue of all political parties in our country was called and initiated on the 6th February 2019.

“Before then, on 2nd August 2018 soon after the historic July, 2018 harmonised elections and the unfortunate violence that followed, I, as leader of ZANU-PF, and as the President-elect, called for harmony and dialogue in our nation including pointedly calling on, and inviting the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Advocate Nelson Chamisa, to come on board in amity and brotherhood, to rebuild our broken peace and to re-unite our people in order to take our nation forward. Specifically, and pointedly, I called upon the two of us to ‘lead by example and show Zimbabweans that peace is paramount’.

‘‘Beyond that particular call, I also offered to take steps towards officially recognising Advocate Chamisa as the Leader of the Opposition, the first ever such move and in conformity with Commonwealth practice. Sadly, both my personal calls to him, and all political leaders and parties of our nation regardless of status, went unheeded, and are still to be reciprocated by the MDC leader.

‘‘To date, eight meetings on National Political Dialogue involving 19 political parties and leaders have taken place with the Inaugural Dialogue Summit having been launched in Harare on 17th May, 2019. Significantly on 8th March, 2019, just a day before your pastoral call, thematic committees of the National Dialogue had met at State House, again without the participation of the MDC and its leadership.

“Since then, the National Dialogue has consensually appointed two convenors, one who is a retired judge and the other who is a chairperson of the Gender Commission which is appointed through Parliament. The two’s stature as impartial convenors of the National Dialogue can hardly be gainsaid,’’ Mnangagwa said.

‘’At commemorations of Heroes and Defence Forces Day, I again made a passionate call for national dialogue and national unity for the sake of peace and progress of our nation. The MDC leader is still to requite my goodwill, so repeatedly and unconditionally expressed and extended. Much worse, he is still to respect the legitimate will of the Zimbabwean people, as expressed in the results of the 2018 Harmonised Elections, which the MDC unsuccessfully contested through the Constitutional Court. Repeatedly, the rhetoric from the MDC is one of threatening to overturn the constitutional order ushered in by these internationally observed Harmonised Elections,” President Mnangagwa said.

He is calling for unconditional dialogue.

‘‘The doors of National Dialogue are still open to all political leaders including to the leader of the MDC, which dialogue must proceed without preconditions or any sense of preferential entitlement or recognition on any one’s part, including myself. We are all equal, important and useful in finding solutions to challenges facing our nation,’’ President Mnangagwa said

Turning to constitutional rights, President Mnangagwa noted that Section 59 of the Zimbabwe Constitution guarantees every person the right to demonstrate and present petitions to the governing authorities but these rights must be exercised peacefully.

“This right, which your pastoral letter correctly highlights, has a particular bearing on the MDC as they prepare and embark on their demonstration tomorrow,” he said.

The opposition party is planning a demonstration tomorrow.

State Media| In a move that may jeopardise investigations into the corruption case against ex-Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Prisca Mupfumira, a detective who arrested the politician has been transferred to Karoi Police Station, hundreds of kilometres away from the investigations.

Detective Assistant Inspector Naison Ndlovu, who was seconded to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) as an investigator, has since been moved to Karoi Police Station under unclear circumstances.

Being one of the key witnesses in Mupfumira’s cases, Asst Inspector Ndlovu is billed to give evidence in the case and to assist in the polishing up of the investigations.

Sources confirmed the transfer with others questioning the motive.

“We heard Ndlovu has been transferred to Karoi but the reason is not yet clear to us. It sounds strange considering that he is part of the investigations of a high-profile corruption case involving Mupfumira,” a source said.

“He was one of the arresting details and sending him to Karoi will not help the investigations,” the source said.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the redeployment of Ass Insp Ndlovu and said it was part of routine transfers in the police service.

“Yes, he has been transferred together with several other officers. It is not a unique case. Police officers are regularly transferred as a way of rotating and sharing experiences.

“There is nothing sinister or unique about his transfer,” said Asst Commissioner Nyathi.

At least 22 police officers are on secondment at ZACC but Ndlovu was the only one who was transferred despite having a high-profile case to investigate.

Mupfumira, who is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million, now faces fresh charges of fraud and money laundering.

Government has called on Zimbabweans to shun violence and refuse to be used by negative elements that want to destabilise the country.

This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while presenting the 29th Cabinet Decision Matrix yesterday ahead of demonstrations planned by the opposition MDC-Alliance from tomorrow.

“In the light of planned demonstrations by the opposition MDC-Alliance, Cabinet implores all Zimbabweans to completely reject the culture of violence and intimidation which is counter-productive and inimical to the full enjoyment of freedom by peace-loving Zimbabweans, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.

“Government calls on all progressive Zimbabweans to desist from being used by negative forces to destabilise their own country, as this will only prolong the hardships which Government is tirelessly working to address in a more sustainable manner. As Zimbabweans, let us shun the culture of violence which brings about the loss of livelihoods, and undermines our peace and unity.”

She said it was imperative that Zimbabweans engage in dialogue to resolve any differences they might have.

“I wish to reiterate the call by His Excellency the President Cde E D Mnangagwa for all patriotic Zimbabweans to resort to dialogue and other constructive forms of engagement as means for resolving the challenges we face as a nation.
“Government will nonetheless, ensure that law and order prevails in the country,” she added.-State media

A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo waded through a pond of raw sewage in a bid to escape an angry mob after he was caught red handed trying to rape a 60-year-old woman.

Thabani Ncube of Entumbane suburb met the victim in a bushy area in their neighbourhood and beat her up with a stick, bit and choked her before attempting to rape her.

The woman fainted but Ncube continued the sex attack, trying to undress her.
She was rescued by a passerby who called out to residents to come and witness imihlolo (cultural taboo) that he was seeing.

Ncube jumped into a pond of untreated human waste but angry residents fished him out, meted out mob justice and handed him over to the police.

Ncube appeared before West Commonage magistrate, Ms Gladys Mushowani, facing attempted rape charges and was sentenced to four years in prison.

The magistrate suspended 12 months on condition that Ncube will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on July 4 this year at around 11AM, Ncube spotted the complainant who was alone fetching firewood in a bushy area in Entumbane suburb.

“Ncube chased the complainant and caught up with her. He struck her with a stick and she fell down. He bit the complainant’s left thumb and strangled her before attempting to rape her,” said Mr Solani.

The prosecutor said the woman screamed for help and Ncube tried to muffle her using a piece of cloth.
“The complainant tried to resist and the accused person assaulted her with a stick resulting in her losing consciousness,” said Mr Solani.

He said the complainant was rescued by a passerby who had responded to her screams.

Mr Solani said Ncube threw himself into an overflowing sewer between Emakhandeni and Entumbane suburbs in a desperate bid to evade apprehension.-State media

Farai Dziva|The MDC has dismissed a fake letter circulating on social media -claiming the August 16 demonstration has been cancelled.

“The People’s March is proceeding on Friday, 16 August 2019

Zimbabweans are hereby informed to ignore Zanu PF’s misinformation being peddled on social media platforms. The MDC wishes to state that the people’s march is proceeding on Friday as scheduled. Be there,”said the party in a statement.

Farai Dziva|The main opposition party, MDC has said the peaceful protests will spread to all major cities in the coming week- Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.

See the party’s full statement below:

On the 31st of July 2018, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for President Nelson Chamisa. That election was stolen in broad daylight and since then, the crisis of legitimacy has manifested itself through multi-layered challenges that have manifested themselves through power outages, water and fuel shortages, indecent wages, high prices and the erosion of the people’s dignity, among other challenges.

To express their displeasure at the serious challenges in the country, Zimbabweans will begin a series of peaceful demonstrations that will kick off in Harare on Friday, 16 August 2019. The preparations for the Free Zimbabwe march are at an advanced stage. All the necessary logistical preparations have been done and we are looking forward to a successful peaceful march by Zimbabweans on Friday.

The MDC is a peaceful and law-abiding party. To that end, we have complied with the requirements under both section 59 of the national Constitution and the Public Order and Security Act. There will be no party regalia as this is a peaceful march by the generality of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering under the current crisis.

Every Zimbabwean will be marching to end this suffering until we achieve a legitimate people’s government that will begin to address the serious challenges facing the country. Until that is achieved, we will not rest and we will continue to exercise our democratic right to demonstrate peacefully.

On Friday, we will be marching for jobs, for affordable health care facilities, for electricity, for affordable education, availability of fuel and water and decent salaries for our civil servants and the ordinary workers of Zimbabwe. We shall march for the restoration of the people’s dignity and for the return of functional industries, for democracy, accountability and the respect of human rights. We will be marching against the culture and ailment of corruption, impunity, abductions, and the erosion of the people’s dignity, looting and embezzlement that have afflicted the country’s entire body politic.

We say no to the killing and torturing of innocent Zimbabweans and civic and democracy activists.
We want to end illegitimacy and ensure that there is a people’s government.

We will be rolling out these peaceful and constitutional protests in all the towns. After Harare, the Zimbabweans citizens will be holding peaceful protests in Bulawayo next Monday, Gweru on Tuesday, Masvingo on Wednesday and Mutare on Thursday. The roll-out for other cities and towns will be announced later.

Our action will be peaceful and constitutional.

We urge everyone to be there and to be involved until we achieve a truly people’s government that will deliver change that delivers.

By A Correspondent- Responding to a question on whether government consents to the opposition MDC August 16 demonstration, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said because the Constitution allows for peaceful demonstrations, the government upheld citizens’ right to peaceful protest .

Said Mutsvangwa:

“First of all government recognises the supreme law of the land which is the Constitution. And the Constitution allows for citizens to demonstrate peacefully.

There are certain procedures to be followed and once those procedures are followed, government upholds the Constitution.”

Watch the video beow for this and more.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet has implored all Zimbabweans to completely reject the culture of violence and intimidation which is counter-productive and inimical to the full enjoyment of freedom by peace-loving Zimbabweans, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

In a post cabinet press statement issued Wednesday, cabinet described as retrogressive, the forthcoming demonstration organised by opposition MDC set to be held on August 16.

Said information minister Monica Mutsvangwa:

Government calls on all progressive Zimbabweans to desist from being used by negative forces to destabilise their own country. This will only prolong the hardships which Government is tirelessly working to address in a sustainable manner.

As Zimbabweans, let us shun the culture of violence which brings about the loss of livelihoods and undermines our peace and unity.

I wish to reiterate the call by His Excellency the President of the republic of Zimbabwe E.D. Mnangagwa for all patriotic Zimbabweans to resort to dialogue and other constructive forms of engagement as means for resolving the challenges we face as a nation.

The government will nonetheless, ensure that law and order prevail in the country. I thank you.”

Press Release:

Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi’s Statement, Confirmation of the State Duplicity on the Terrorist Attack at my House :

The Statement by one Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Nyathi, insinuating that the person responsible for the terrorist attack at my house on the 12th of August was assaulted on my instigation has clearly brought out the duplicity of the State security agents in a well planned stingy of an assassination attempt against my family.

The Statement misinformed the public that the attacker reported to the police first of his purported assault before I made the report about the deliberate terrorist attack at my house.

This is a statement betraying the state security agents’ involvement on the assassination attempt of my family on the day in question.

Firstly, the statement confirms our suspicion that the attack that destroyed my durawall angle near the sitting room was an attack on my family by agents of the regime who anticipated the assassination of my family members, failure of which might lead to the attack or murder of the assassination agent if he is apprehended by the public so as to find any best way to get at me.

Secondly, by giving their concocted and manufactured assault of the assassination agent, demonstrates the frustrations of the kingpins of the assassination plotters. I challenge Paul Nyathi to a Court of law to repeat his nonsense.

There are legal remedies I am tossing around especially the provisions of Section 50(9), of our constitution, that calls upon people who are alleged of falsehoods to go direct against the purveyors of such falsehoods.

I vow, that the false statement by Paul Nyathi to try and hide the truth behind the assassination attempt of my family and myself by alleging a false assault will be met with the full force of a dynamite.

Let it be known that the behavior of the State security agents as defined by Paul Nyathi’s Statement in the Herald today demonstrate that the victims of state plots and human rights abuses are always not protected by our state security agents.

Rather they desperately turn to manufacturing lies. Not to people like me. I challenge Paul Nyathi today to come to court and lay before it the evidence of the purported assault, failure of which I will take legal action.

The time to temper with the people’s lives is over. Some of us will enforce the protection of our fundamental rights by exhausting all available remedies both in terms of our domestic laws and available international bodies which Zimbabwe is part to.

I demand the full prosecution of the State instigated terrorist attack at my house and the culprits must pay for the restoration of my durawall to its status quo ante.

Job Wiwa Sikhala
MDC National Vice Chairman.

It’s all systems go for the people’s march on Friday

Zimbabwe is at a crossroads.

On the 31st of July 2018, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for President Nelson Chamisa. That election was stolen in broad daylight and since then, the crisis of legitimacy has manifested itself through multi-layered challenges that have manifested themselves through power outages, water and fuel shortages, indecent wages, high prices and the erosion of the people’s dignity, among other challenges.

To express their displeasure at the serious challenges in the country, Zimbabweans will begin a series of peaceful demonstrations that will kick off in Harare on Friday, 16 August 2019. The preparations for the Free Zimbabwe march are at an advanced stage.

All the necessary logistical preparations have been done and we are looking forward to a successful peaceful march by Zimbabweans on Friday.

The MDC is a peaceful and law-abiding party. To that end, we have complied with the requirements under both section 59 of the national Constitution and the Public Order and Security Act.

There will be no party regalia as this is a peaceful march by the generality of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering under the current crisis.

Every Zimbabwean will be marching to end this suffering until we achieve a legitimate people’s government that will begin to address the serious challenges facing the country.

Until that is achieved, we will not rest and we will continue to exercise our democratic right to demonstrate peacefully.

On Friday, we will be marching for jobs, for affordable health care facilities, for electricity, for affordable education, availability of fuel and water and decent salaries for our civil servants and the ordinary workers of Zimbabwe.

We shall march for the restoration of the people’s dignity and for the return of functional industries, for democracy, accountability and the respect of human rights.

We will be marching against the culture and ailment of corruption, impunity, abductions, and the erosion of the people’s dignity, looting and embezzlement that have afflicted the country’s entire body politic.

We say no to the killing and torturing of innocent Zimbabweans and civic and democracy activists. We want to end illegitimacy and ensure that there is a people’s government.

We will be rolling out these peaceful and constitutional protests in all the towns. After Harare, the Zimbabweans citizens will be holding peaceful protests in Bulawayo next Monday, Gweru on Tuesday, Masvingo on Wednesday and Mutare on Thursday. The roll-out for other cities and towns will be announced later.

Our action will be peaceful and constitutional.

We urge everyone to be there and to be involved until we achieve a truly people’s government that will deliver change that delivers.

By A Correspondent- In a development which has raised questions regarding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “New Dispensation” mantra, Tatenda Mombeyarara, a pro-democracy campaigner has been hospitalised after he was abducted on Wednesday 14 August 2019 and tortured by some unidentified men, who seized him from his residence in Chitungwiza.

The 37 year-old Mombeyarara was abducted by six heavily armed men who assaulted and severely tortured him after they seized him from his Chitungwiza residence on Wednesday morning before dumping him at a quarry mine near Hatfield suburb in Harare.

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights:

Mombeyarara’s tormentors wanted him to furnish them with details pertaining to an anti-government protest organised by the opposition MDC party and scheduled for Friday 16 August 2019.

During interrogation, the unidentified men asked Mombeyarara, a well-known Human Rights Defender (HRD), about the number of people expected to attend the demonstration and other details such as how the protest had been organised.

The unidentified men also interrogated Mombeyarara about the training which he allegedly received in Maldives in May.

Although Mombeyarara denied any involvement about organising the anti-government protest and any knowledge of the details of the demonstration, his tormentors continued torturing him using a torture method commonly referred to as Falanga, which entails beating the HRD under his feet.

Over the years, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has documented several cases, where state security agents used the Falanga torture method against HRDs in a desperate bid to extract confessions during interrogations.

Mombeyarara is one of several people arrested in May and charged with subverting a constitutional government: allegedly plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

He is currently out of custody on remand and his trial is yet to commence on charges on contravening section 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.”

By A Correspondent- A Gweru businessman, James Brain Zijena was arrested for shooting and deflating the tyres of his wife’s vehicle after suspecting that she had left the car to see her lover.

Police documents show that Zijena (60), of Lundi Park Gweru, suspected his wife Lucia Tendai Zijena of having an extra marital affair and followed her to the nearby mining town of Shurugwi.

Read the police statement:

“On 8 August 2019 and at around 11 am, the accused person (Zijena) followed his wife, Lucia Tendai Zijena from Gweru to Shurugwi after he suspected her of having extra marital activities.

“While in Shurugwi, Mrs Zijena who was driving a white Toyota Corolla, parked her car at Zimasco Shurugwi parking bay before she locked the doors and went to a nearby bus stop.”

Police said after a few minutes, Mrs Zijena was then picked up by a black Audi vehicle, which was being driven by an unknown man.

The two are said to have driven towards Gweru.

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

-StateMedia

MDC-T Vice President, Obert Gutu says they will never be part of protests that are meant to topple a constitutionally elected government.

Speaking to the ZBC News, Gutu said while the constitution guarantees the right to a peaceful demonstration, history has taught him that the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC’s organised protests will degenerate into mayhem.

He said his party is therefore opposed to the planned protests, adding that they believe in dialogue.

ZIMBABWE is indeed not only going through painful times, but an extra-ordinary period as the southern African nation grapples with very difficult socio-economic and political circumstances.

Last week the troubled nation was afforded a rare peek into the belly of the country’s public finances when the Finance ministry’s Accountant-General Daniel Muchemwa appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by Tendai Biti to answer to allegations of unauthorised allocations of funds to the Command

Agriculture programme, the centre of a trending controversy involving some US$3,2 billion.

Through Biti, PAC asked the following to Muchema: “How do you feel when you offend the Public Finance and Management Act 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?”

To which Muchemwa replied: “I think we have accepted that for three years, we did not comply with the law. Lack of respect of the law will be consistent

throughout your questions.” If this issue is not fit to immediately land in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)’s in-tray, and marked “extremely

urgent”, then the country’s fight against corruption may as well be called off before the country’s money is wasted on wild goose chases.

What has been happening at the Finance ministry is more than a cause for concern. What has been allowed to happen there does not need Zacc to look too far for

More in Home

juicier corruption cases. Zimbabwe ill affords to have people at the Finance ministry who tell us — without even batting an eyelid, that “we did not comply

with the law”.

Honestly, here are people who are admitting, and not before the courts, but before the nation that they broke the law. And in the process of breaking the law

US$3,2 billion simply vanished into thin air, and these blocs at the Finance ministry are still sitting comfortably in their jobs; swinging lazily in their

office armchairs, while exuding an abundance of confidence that nothing will ever happen to them.

If the country is indeed serious about stabbing corruption at its very heart, it should zero in at the Finance ministry because what has been happening there,

and probably still taking place, makes the National Social Security Authority scandal involving fired and incarcerated Environment, Tourism and Hospitality

Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira kids’ play.

At the Finance ministry, we are talking of the equivalent of the entire 2017 National Budget allocation vanishing in the twinkling of an eye.

It would be very disconcerting if Zacc does not refocus all its energies into this matter because this issue has all the potential and ingredients of exposing the real big fish in Zimbabwe’s massive corruption lake.

Opposition MDC has called on its supporters not to wear their party regalia at the demonstration set for Harare on Friday.

Party National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya told reporters on the sidelines of the party leadership press conference in Harare on Wednesday that the party is discouraging the wearing of party regalia as the demonstration is not limited to the MDC but it’s for all Zimbabweans.

Party insiders told ZimEye.com that the stance by the party is also meant to counter efforts by rival ZANU PF to tarnish the MDC by ddressing thugs in the opposition party regalia and get them to destabilise the demonstration.

ZANU PF has been accused of printing MDC t-shirts meant to be supplied to hired thugs who would cause mayhem in the demonstration and incite violence which will eventually be blamed on the MDC.

Chibaya urged party members to remain peaceful throughout the demonstration and guard against any elements trying to disrupt the peaceful march.

The United States Embassy in Harare has slammed the abductions and torture of MDC youth leader Blessing Kanotunga and human rights activist Tatenda Mombeyarara which occured on Wednesday morning.

Heavily armed men broke into their houses and abducted them in unmarked vehicles. The two were tortured before being dumped.

Writing on social media, the US Embassy said,

The U.S. government is concerned about renewed reports of abductions and assault of civil society members and opposition party members. Harassment and intimidation have no place in a democratic and pluralistic society. #RespecttheConstitution #humanrights

We will be visiting victims of the latest violence against civil society and opposition activists to hear their stories and document their injuries. We call on the GOZ(Goverment of Zimbabwe) to condemn these attacks and hold those responsible to account.

Watch MDC Press Conference as it unfolded on video downloading below:

GOVERNMENT has exempted 12 food and beverages companies from paying duty in foreign currency when importing certain raw materials quantities necessary for their production processes.

Also on the list of the companies is Medent Private Limited that is in the business of protective clothing as well as clothing accessories of leather or composition leather.

This is expected to boost production and consumption of locally manufactured goods, at a time Government is pushing for the industrialisation agenda under the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, made the announcement on the amendment of the Customs and Excise (Designation of foreign Currency Dutiable Goods) that exempts dairies, beverages, protective clothing and baking companies from paying duty for some imports in foreign currency.

The changes are contained in Statutory Instrument 170 of 2019 published in the Government Gazette on Friday.

“With effect from date of gazetting, the persons designated in the second schedule to this notice shall be allowed to import goods with the listed commodity codes being imported entirely for use in their production process in quantities not exceeding the quantities specified against each person listed in the second schedule, and pay for the duty in any currency acceptable in Zimbabwe as legal tender,” reads part of the Statutory Instrument.

Among the companies Schweppes Zimbabwe is exempt from paying duty in foreign currency when importing fruit mixes, orange juice, juice of any other citrus fruits, juice of other single fruit or vegetable, unfermented and not containing added spirit, all in varying quantities.

Dairibord’s list of products include fresh unripened cheese, raw groundnuts, sugar cones or waffles and wafers, other fruit as well as fruit mixes.

Spirits and wines maker, Afdis, has on its list other wine of alcoholic strength by volume not exceeding 14 percent alcohol.

Other companies to benefit from the development include Kefalos, Cairns Foods, Associated Foods, Kershelmar Dairies, Dendairy, Alpha and Omega, Machiareer Investments and Lobels Biscuits.

Among other imported goods needed by the listed companies for their production include raw groundnuts and coating chocolate.

Last year, Minister Ncube invoked the Customs and Exercise Act and imposed duty in foreign currency on an array of goods that include vehicles and meat, in line with his 2019 National Budget Statement.

The other affected products include horticultural products, cosmetics and selected fruits.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has written to the Health Services Board informing them that they are incapacitated from offering their services with immediate effect.

In a letter in possession of this publication the doctors said:

•    Our living conditions have become a health hazard and mental condition to both us and the patients
•    We request the employer to adjust our earnings to the inter-bank bank rate which currently sits at 8.7.
•    We hereby give notice of total incapacitation with immediate effect giving the employer a grace period of 3 weeks upon receiving this letter to present practical solutions to our financial crisis.

Read the full letter below:

Farai Dziva|The main opposition party, MDC has said the peaceful protests will spread to all major cities in the coming week- Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.

See the party’s full statement below:

On the 31st of July 2018, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for President Nelson Chamisa. That election was stolen in broad daylight and since then, the crisis of legitimacy has manifested itself through multi-layered challenges that have manifested themselves through power outages, water and fuel shortages, indecent wages, high prices and the erosion of the people’s dignity, among other challenges.

To express their displeasure at the serious challenges in the country, Zimbabweans will begin a series of peaceful demonstrations that will kick off in Harare on Friday, 16 August 2019. The preparations for the Free Zimbabwe march are at an advanced stage. All the necessary logistical preparations have been done and we are looking forward to a successful peaceful march by Zimbabweans on Friday.

The MDC is a peaceful and law-abiding party. To that end, we have complied with the requirements under both section 59 of the national Constitution and the Public Order and Security Act. There will be no party regalia as this is a peaceful march by the generality of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering under the current crisis.

Every Zimbabwean will be marching to end this suffering until we achieve a legitimate people’s government that will begin to address the serious challenges facing the country. Until that is achieved, we will not rest and we will continue to exercise our democratic right to demonstrate peacefully.

On Friday, we will be marching for jobs, for affordable health care facilities, for electricity, for affordable education, availability of fuel and water and decent salaries for our civil servants and the ordinary workers of Zimbabwe. We shall march for the restoration of the people’s dignity and for the return of functional industries, for democracy, accountability and the respect of human rights. We will be marching against the culture and ailment of corruption, impunity, abductions, and the erosion of the people’s dignity, looting and embezzlement that have afflicted the country’s entire body politic.

We say no to the killing and torturing of innocent Zimbabweans and civic and democracy activists.
We want to end illegitimacy and ensure that there is a people’s government.

We will be rolling out these peaceful and constitutional protests in all the towns. After Harare, the Zimbabweans citizens will be holding peaceful protests in Bulawayo next Monday, Gweru on Tuesday, Masvingo on Wednesday and Mutare on Thursday. The roll-out for other cities and towns will be announced later.

Our action will be peaceful and constitutional.

We urge everyone to be there and to be involved until we achieve a truly people’s government that will deliver change that delivers.

Zimbabwe is at a crossroads.

On the 31st of July 2018, Zimbabweans overwhelmingly voted for President Nelson Chamisa. That election was stolen in broad daylight and since then, the crisis of legitimacy has manifested itself through multi-layered challenges that have manifested themselves through power outages, water and fuel shortages, indecent wages, high prices and the erosion of the people’s dignity, among other challenges.

To express their displeasure at the serious challenges in the country, Zimbabweans will begin a series of peaceful demonstrations that will kick off in Harare on Friday, 16 August 2019.

The preparations for the Free Zimbabwe march are at an advanced stage.

All the necessary logistical preparations have been done and we are looking forward to a successful peaceful march by Zimbabweans on Friday.

The MDC is a peaceful and law-abiding party. To that end, we have complied with the requirements under both section 59 of the national Constitution and the Public Order and Security Act.

There will be no party regalia as this is a peaceful march by the generality of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering under the current crisis.

Every Zimbabwean will be marching to end this suffering until we achieve a legitimate people’s government that will begin to address the serious challenges facing the country.

Until that is achieved, we will not rest and we will continue to exercise our democratic right to demonstrate peacefully.

On Friday, we will be marching for jobs, for affordable health care facilities, for electricity, for affordable education, availability of fuel and water and decent salaries for our civil servants and the ordinary workers of Zimbabwe.

We shall march for the restoration of the people’s dignity and for the return of functional industries, for democracy, accountability and the respect of human rights.

We will be marching against the culture and ailment of corruption, impunity, abductions, and the erosion of the people’s dignity, looting and embezzlement that have afflicted the country’s entire body politic.

We say no to the killing and torturing of innocent Zimbabweans and civic and democracy activists.

We want to end illegitimacy and ensure that there is a people’s government.

We will be rolling out these peaceful and constitutional protests in all the towns. After Harare, the Zimbabweans citizens will be holding peaceful protests in Bulawayo next Monday, Gweru on Tuesday, Masvingo on Wednesday and Mutare on Thursday. The roll-out for other cities and towns will be announced later.

Our action will be peaceful and constitutional.

We urge everyone to be there and to be involved until we achieve a truly people’s government that will deliver change that delivers.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Farai Dziva|MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Obey Sithole has described Zanu PF agents as cowards who are afraid of the people of Zimbabwe.

“They are cowards, they abduct because they’re afraid of people.

Last night, pro-democracy activist Tatenda Mombeyarara and MDC Mufakose Youth Chair Blessing Kanotunga were abducted from their homes in Chitungwiza and Mufakose respectively.

They were badly beaten and later dumped. This barbarism is meant to intimidate the suffering masses as we build up towards the August 16 Freedom march.

We will not stop, if anything this strengthens us more so that our future will not record this again.
Never again,” said Sithole in a statement.

By Cindy Ncube| I do not normally write articles but the impending demonstration on the 16th has reinvigorated my political juices in a manner I have not experienced in my life. I really think the Zimbabwean people are on the verge of real change.

But I have been reading various social media posts by people calling this demo ‘the final push’. Even the Minister of Home Affairs (some old dufus with the title of Ambassador) has even quoted the ‘the final push’ in his anti demonstration dossier for the police. My view is that this demo is not the final push but the first push. Zanu pf and Mnangagwa will not go after one demonstration. The demonstrations need to happen country wide, continuously and indefinitely. If people expect change to happen after carrying out a single demonstration then they will be making a big mistake.

The MDC and civic leaders need to keep the energy up. The demos have to happen indefinitely until change comes. When I say change I mean until Mnangagwa and Zanu pf step down from government. Here in the diaspora, we will be demonstrating regularly and we will continue to raise awareness about the dire situation in Zimbabwe. Oh, and rest assured, whichever Zanu juntarist that arrives in the UK will receive a warm welcome from us democrats, ask SB Moyo.

Cindy Ncube is an MDC member in the UK and a staunch campaigner of LGBTQ rights in Zimbabwe.

Farai Dziva|The MDC has dismissed a fake letter circulating on social media -claiming the August 16 demonstration has been cancelled.

“The People’s March is proceeding on Friday, 16 August 2019

Zimbabweans are hereby informed to ignore Zanu PF’s misinformation being peddled on social media platforms. The MDC wishes to state that the people’s march is proceeding on Friday as scheduled. Be there,”said the party in a statement.Below is the fake letter:

Dar es Salaam regional commissioner, Paul Makonda, says he and the provincial top administration are mulling over an idea of publishing the identities of all married men to a website run by a State agency in a bid to stop deceitful married men from sexually preying on unsuspecting single women.

Makonda says the proposal, if adopted, will save many young women in Dar es Salaam from “unnecessary heartbreaks”.

“I have received a lot of complaints from young women. Many women from Dar es Salaam region have been deceived many times, and they have had enough. Men have been promising to marry them, then later, they [men] ditch the ladies. This is something that is humiliating,” Mr Makonda said on Monday, August 12 at his office in the commercial capital.

“These cunning men have left many women nursing heartbreaks and emotional bruises. You’ll find a young man successfully wooing a woman, making her leave every other thing that she does, hoping that the man will marry her, not knowing that he is, indeed, conning her.

“If you look at the laws that we have in the country, there is a clause that protects women, who were promised marriages, only to be used and dumped. We want to use that clause to bring sanity in relationships.

“I cannot say I am a leader, when the people I look after are hurting.

“One of the ideas that we have is to have all the married people register their marital statuses with the region’s database agency. This will help young women promised marriages. It would be easy for them to access the database and find out whether the men who have promised to marry them are people’s husbands or not. In that database, all the marriages, including Christian, customary, Muslim, those filed at the registrar of marriages, will be registered.

“We want to reduce the cases of men conning women in the name of love and marriages.

“We are planning to meet the State agency in charge of the citizens’ database. Once that meeting is done, you, who lied to a woman that you will marry her, but ended up using and dumping her, be prepared, we are coming for you.”

-K24TV

Renowned author Tsitsi Dangarembga has attacked President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for recent attacks on human rights activist Tatenda Mombeyarara.

Mombeyarara was abducted by heavily armed men and was tortured for allegedly being part of organisers of the planned August 16 demonstrations by the MDC Alliance.
“Unknown men took Tatenda Mombeyarara from his house last night, put a bag over his head, beat him with a metal object and the butt of a gun and pouring a caustic liquid over his body, accusing him of organising the August 16 demonstration. That is an act of aggression, not peace,” said Dangarembga.

She was rebutting Mnangagwa’s Defence Forces Day speech when he said, “let me appeal to all Zimbabweans to cherish the peace that our country enjoys today.

We should be vigilant & reject those amongst us who wish to perpetuate the suffering of the masses through violence disunity divisions and unrest.”
Source – Byo24news

ZANU PF legislator Kindness Paradza (Makonde) has accused his MDC counterparts’ snub of diplomatic passports offered by President Emmerson Mnangagwa government as a cheap publicity stunt as some of them were issued with the travel document last year.

Paradza, who is also the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, announced in Parliament early this month that Mnangagwa had given a nod for all parliamentarians to be issued with diplomatic passports, but MDC MPs said they would not accept the offer.

The Makonde MP told NewsDay yesterday that it was unfair for the opposition leadership to deny other MPs passports yet they were beneficiaries of Mnangagwa’s generosity.

“Yes, it’s very true. He (MDC secretary-general Charlton Hwende) is a holder of a diplomatic passport. Not only him, but they are many. Hwende is denouncing the issuance of diplomatic passports to his fellow MPs, yet he is a holder of a diplomatic passport which he was issued by the same President. Actually, the same passport assisted him to get temporary refuge in Namibia after the January disturbances,” he said.

“(Other MPs who have diplomatic passports include) Dorcas Sibanda, Tendai Biti, Prosper Mutseyami, Paurina Mpariwa, Daniel Molokele, Concilia Chinanzvavana, Prince Sibanda, Anele Ndebele, Willis Madzimure, Gabbuza Gabuza, Murisi Zwizwai, Tapiwa Mashakada, Jasmine Tofa and Ruth Labode. They were given these passports last year, now they want to pretend to be holier than thou.”

Some of the MPs named MPs confirmed to NewsDay yesterday that they received the diplomatic passports.

Paradza said the issue of diplomatic passports was already fanning tensions among the opposition MPs.

“This is hypocrisy of the highest order. Hwende is just grandstanding. Most of the ordinary MDC MPs are against Hwende. A lot of them have been flocking to get these diplomatic passports since the announcement,” he said.

But Hwende yesterday said they had resolved as a party not to accept the privilege offered by Mnangagwa considering that many Zimbabweans were currently not being issued passports by the Registrar-General (RG) due to shortages of passport paper and printing machine problems.

“The party position is clear, as a party, we must always put the people first. This is non-negotiable. There is a current shortage of printing materials used to produce passports that has resulted in many Zimbabweans failing to access specialists treatment abroad, others have failed to go to school. The party position is based on this reality should the situation in future improves and Zimbabweans who want passports can access them without any hindrance then those MPs who want passports can then access them,” he said.

Most Zimbabweans are struggling to get the travel document with 340 000 applicants reportedly on the waiting list.

-Newsday

A GOOD Samaritan, who was assisting police officers to arrest an assault suspect in rural Marondera, was stabbed to death after manhandling the suspect.

Kennedy Nyandoro (38) of Mudzimukunzi village, under Chief Svosve was pronounced dead on arrival at Marondera Provincial Hospital after he was allegedly
stabbed on the throat by Jaison Chinakidza (26), who is currently at large.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the incident.

“I confirm the death of a man who was stabbed by a sharp object before the suspect fled from the scene. We appeal to members of the public to notify the police
if they have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect. The public should also be careful because the suspect is dangerous,” he said.

According to the police, on August 8, two police officers from Marondera rural were following up on a suspect who was being sought over an assault case.

It is reported that the now deceased who knew the suspect offered to lead police officers to where he was.

Nyandoro, who was at a distance from the police officers, identified Chinakidza and grabbed him and called for back-up from the police officers.

During the scuffle, it is alleged that Chinakidza stabbed Nyandoro on the throat and fled from the scene with police officers in pursuit, but they lost track of him in the darkness.

Nyandoro died on his way to hospital.

-Newsday

ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial political commissar Simon Solomon has accused Jimayi Muduvuri of causing chaos in the Chegutu housing projects

Appearing before the Tendai Uchena-led Lands Commission, Solomon last week claimed that Muduvuri, through his McSherp Holdings, was behind all the chaos at the project.

Muduvuri, who is a member of the Zanu PF national consultative assembly, did not attend the hearings and could not be reached for comment.

“All the allegations that Solomon had double-allocated stands to beneficiaries, misappropriated their contributions and repossessed and later sold the stands
are baseless and are the machinations of Muduvuri. He has some interests in the project,” Solomon charged.

“My executive has been running the affairs of the project since 2008 and Muduvuri just surfaced (out of the blues) and sent a memo to council to the effect that the Solomon-led executive had been booted out and there was now his executive. When we were carrying out roads clearance, he instructed ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) to erect electricity lines along the roads, thereby derailing development.

“There are political wars in Zanu PF at play here. All these people who have submitted affidavits before you are not genuine beneficiaries at Pixie Combie, but
have been bussed by Muduvuri to come and cause confusion and chaos and the offer letters they are holding were produced by Muduvuri. No one has an offer letter
given by the council in 2006.”

He further alleged that Muduvuri’s appetite for chaos had now shifted to another project in Kadoma, where he allegedly grabbed 70 hectares of land set aside for women and youths by the government.

“After an overwhelming response at Pixie Combie, I approached the Minister of Local Government for extra land in 2014 and 70ha was availed, but Muduvuri grabbed the land and incorporated it into his project and during one of the party’s leadership (indabas), he said nothing in town is for free and Pixie Combie was not an exception,” Solomon said.

Zanu PF youths, under the banner of Youths Lodgers Association, also approached the Lands Commission with a complaint against Muduvuri, who they accused of grabbing 40ha allocated to them.

The commission’s probe has also exposed the rot at Kadoma Town House, with council failing to account for records of beneficiaries of Pixie Combie and tampering with minutes of a meeting with Pixie Combie executives.

Kadoma acting housing director Aaron Masembura also appeared before the commission and confirmed the rot.

“I can confirm that there was and is no master record of Pixie Combie project at council and our filing system in the housing department are in shambles. I could not find anything other than these boxes of offer letters and a few files which are not in order, hence this has brought double allocation and the allocation of stands for residential purposes on commercial and institutional stands,”Masembura said.

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

USD = ZWL$9.7955

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$11 zimrates
USD = ZWL$10.80 zwl365
USD to ZWL$10.80 bluemari
USD to BOND7.80 zimrates

More: Marketwatch

THE Bulawayo City Council has come up with water rationing limits and penalties for consumers using excess water as its reservoirs continue to be depleted.

In a statement yesterday, the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, said the water shedding programme remains suspended but consumers will pay for using excess water.

He said council has come up with an excess charge of $2,50 per kilolitre for residential flats as well as houses in low and high density suburbs.

“The Bulawayo City Council would like to advise consumers that the water shedding programme continues to be suspended until further notice. The city has been monitoring water consumption and service reservoir levels for the past weeks. The average water consumption level has been 143ml per day against a target of 130ml per day with a maximum of 173ml and a minimum of 129ml per day over the period,” said Mr Dube.

He said while water shedding remains suspended, residents are encouraged to conserve water.

“To promote conservation of water, the council has approved water rationing limits and penalties. For houses in the high density areas water allocation is 450 litres per day and they are allowed to use up to 13, 5 kilolitres per month.

“For houses in the low density suburbs, inclusive of cottages and servants’ quarters, the limit is 650 litres per day and 19,5 kilolitres per month,” said Mr Dube. 

He said residential flats with individual meters should use not more than 400 litres per day.

For industries, Mr Dube added, the allowed usage is per arrangement and excess charged is $1,50 per kilolitre. The city council suspended the 48-hour water shedding programme two weeks ago after major rehabilitation works at Criterion Water Works and the normalisation of the water distribution system. 

The local authority said the city was also losing water to evaporation due to high temperatures.

BCC once introduced a 72-hour water shedding programme in April when its reservoirs were critically low due to pumping problems.

The 72-hour schedule was later scrapped as the situation improved though daily consumption levels continued to rise above the 105 Mega Litres which the city can pump daily. 

At one point, the local authority indefinitely shutdown water supplies to the entire city to stabilise water levels at its reservoirs, which was followed by a 48-hour schedule. 

Bulawayo’s supply dams, just like many others in the country, did not receive significant inflows during the 2018/19 rainy season.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A good Samaritan, who was assisting police officers to arrest an assault suspect in rural Marondera, was stabbed to death after manhandling the suspect.

Kennedy Nyandoro (38) of Mudzimukunzi village, under Chief Svosve was pronounced dead on arrival at Marondera Provincial Hospital after he was allegedly stabbed on the throat by Jaison Chinakidza (26), who is currently at large.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the incident.

“I confirm the death of a man who was stabbed by a sharp object before the suspect fled from the scene. We appeal to members of the public to notify the police if they have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect. The public should also be careful because the suspect is dangerous,” he said.

According to the police, on August 8, two police officers from Marondera rural were following up on a suspect who was being sought over an assault case.

It is reported that the now deceased who knew the suspect offered to lead police officers to where he was.

Nyandoro, who was at a distance from the police officers, identified Chinakidza and grabbed him and called for back-up from the police officers.

During the scuffle, it is alleged that Chinakidza stabbed Nyandoro on the throat and fled from the scene with police officers in pursuit, but they lost track
of him in the darkness.

Nyandoro died on his way to hospital.

By A Correspondent- The government has called for suitable candidates to apply for various board membership positions vacant in the energy sector.

Posting on microblogging site, Twitter, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development strongly encouraged women and youths to apply for the board membership posts before the 24th of August.

Below is the full advert:

Hi Guys I know u have been hearing stories about me and Lorraine..

When I met Lorraine she did not have a proper skit template ..I asked her about her background and I took a closer look on her acting career…I realised that Lorraine was not a comedian but an actress if she gets proper direction..anga aita maskits Ekuti ndakazonyengwa neyekuchemera kupinda mugarden That’s when I decided to write scripts for her and also directed those skits.

So I sacrificed my time writing the skits and also the time to direct her and the team on how they should act..

I told her that she does not have to pay me until Zvatanga kubhadhara I would share the skits on social media.. making it work.. Her YouTube grew until it was monetized.

Takatanga kuwana masponsors.. But at that time the sponsors we got the amount was close to 700 usd in total.

Before that I would fund every shoot From transport cast and production She had one contract yaiwana and she would add also…on paying some of her expenses I had my car yakaita accident and sold it and got a loan from my bank to top that money

When the car came of the 700 Usd less expenses of paying cast for two weeks Ndakamuti may I have 150 to service the new car since it was second hand and she said its ok ndikati will give it back… She said no do not pay me back… But when I wanted to leave she wanted all the 700USD in total before I left..

I removed cast fees and other expenses and it got to about 375USD including the money to service the car..

I gave her 50USD cash at first and 25 usd on ecocash rate And I suggested that i would write and direct skits for her on the remainder….

But with the way she spoke to me I decided to look for the 300usd and she came kuzotora mari yacho kwandiri …zvobva zvapera

Its unfortunate that it has come to this and it must be clear that I did not leave in a bad way I even sent a goodbye note in our Whatsapp group..

Those who have followed the journey can see that I did my best for her in building, promoting and growing her brand. If there was anything that we did not do well, I sincerely believe it will be a lesson for the future..

When I left, I continued to wish Lorraine the best and I still do.. Thanx Tom

By A Correspondent- Six people have been reported dead whilst 20 more sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred at the 24km peg along Bulawayo-Nkayi Road in Bubi District on Tuesday.

The state media reports that the Commuter Omnibus which was heading for Bulawayo from Nkayi swerved off the road before it overturned several times.

The accident was confirmed by national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who was quoted as having said:

The accident occurred at about 12PM at the 24km peg along the Bulawayo-Nkayi road. The Toyota Hiace hit a grid and the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in it overturning several times.

Five people died on the spot while the driver died on admission to Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. The vehicle had 26 passengers, including 11 children.

As of today, a total of 17 people have died compared to nine people during the same period last year. We have recorded a total number of 75 road traffic accidents as compared to 56 recorded at the same time last year. We’ve also recorded a total of 101 injured people compared to 47 during the same period last year.

Nyathi called upon motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads saying that most of the accidents were as a result of human error.-StateMedia

ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial political commissar Simon Solomon has come out guns blazing, accusing party bigwig, Jimayi Muduvuri, of coercing beneficiaries of Pixie Combie Housing Scheme in Kadoma to falsely testify before the Lands Commission that there was rampant corruption in the allocation of residential stands and misappropriation of funds as the battle for control of the scheme intensifies.

Appearing before the Tendai Uchena-led Lands Commission, Solomon last week claimed that Muduvuri, through his McSherp Holdings, was behind all the chaos at the project.

Muduvuri, who is a member of the Zanu PF national consultative assembly, did not attend the hearings and could not be reached for comment.

“All the allegations that Solomon had double-allocated stands to beneficiaries, misappropriated their contributions and repossessed and later sold the stands are baseless and are the machinations of Muduvuri. He has some interests in the project,” Solomon charged.

“My executive has been running the affairs of the project since 2008 and Muduvuri just surfaced (out of the blues) and sent a memo to council to the effect that the Solomon-led executive had been booted out and there was now his executive. When we were carrying out roads clearance, he instructed ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) to erect electricity lines along the roads, thereby derailing development.

“There are political wars in Zanu PF at play here. All these people who have submitted affidavits before you are not genuine beneficiaries at Pixie Combie, but have been bussed by Muduvuri to come and cause confusion and chaos and the offer letters they are holding were produced by Muduvuri. No one has an offer letter given by the council in 2006.”

He further alleged that Muduvuri’s appetite for chaos had now shifted to another project in Kadoma, where he allegedly grabbed 70 hectares of land set aside for women and youths by the government.

“After an overwhelming response at Pixie Combie, I approached the Minister of Local Government for extra land in 2014 and 70ha was availed, but Muduvuri grabbed the land and incorporated it into his project and during one of the party’s leadership (indabas), he said nothing in town is for free and Pixie Combie was not an exception,” Solomon said.

Zanu PF youths, under the banner of Youths Lodgers Association, also approached the Lands Commission with a complaint against Muduvuri, who they accused of grabbing 40ha allocated to them.

The commission’s probe has also exposed the rot at Kadoma Town House, with council failing to account for records of beneficiaries of Pixie Combie and tampering with minutes of a meeting with Pixie Combie executives.

Kadoma acting housing director Aaron Masembura also appeared before the commission and confirmed the rot.

“I can confirm that there was and is no master record of Pixie Combie project at council and our filing system in the housing department are in shambles. I could not find anything other than these boxes of offer letters and a few files which are not in order, hence this has brought double allocation and the allocation of stands for residential purposes on commercial and institutional stands,”Masembura said.

Two different minutes were produced for a meeting held on July 19, 2012 between council and the Pixie Combie executive.

Pixie Combie executive adviser, Alfred Motsi, who signed the minutes on behalf of the executive, however, disowned the minutes produced by the council.

“Your worship, I’m the only one who signed for the minutes of the meeting held on July 19, 2012. The minutes of the meeting produced by the council were doctored by someone. They have been tampered with. Someone has an ulterior motive over the Pixie Combie project,” Motsi charged.

Pixie Combie Housing Scheme is the brainchild of former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo who used it as a campaign tool after Zanu PF faced a stiff challenge from the MDC in the 2002 general elections. The land was to be parcelled out to ruling party supporters from the constituency’s 13 wards.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent| ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa at 2pm today.

According to a diary alert by the party’s communications department, the presser will be addressed by the MDC leadership at the Morgan Tsvangirai House.

Said the notice:

“You are cordially invited for a Press Conference at 1400hrs today (Wednesday, 14 August 2019) at Morgan Tsvangirai House.”

Refresh this page for latest updates.

AFTER months of a crippling power cuts that had seen domestic and industrial consumers going for 18hrs a day without power, State power supplier Zesa has announced it will be downgrading from stage two to stage one shedding.

Zesa according to officials who spoke to State media indicated that it will now be cutting off power during peak periods from 5am to 10am in the morning and 5pm and 10pm in the evening

The move comes following the resuscitation of power supplies from South Africa’s Eskom that reportedly began flowing in last Thursday. Government was forced to chip and help with paying off a US$38 million debt that Zesa owed Eskom. After US$10 million down-payment failed to trigger fresh supplies, Energy Minister Fortune Chasi was left with no choice but to tie Zesa to a punishing payment schedule that requires the parastatal to cough up to US$890 000 weekly.

Chasi is currently in negotiations with Mozambique’s Hydro-Cabora Bassa for fresh supplies.

Zesa owes the Mozambicans another US$40 million.

Said Zesa spokesperson Fullard Gwasira: “The electricity supply situation has improved significantly following interventions by both Government and the line ministry to access power from the region.

“I can confirm that we started receiving power from Eskom on Thursday after payment modalities were worked out by both utilities. This power supply situation gives predictability to load-shedding and largely puts all customers in Stage 1 load-shedding. So there is significant relief, but does not eliminate load- shedding.”

“Load-shedding is a function of demand and supply and when the demand is low and supply high we do not shed and vice versa. Our mandate is to supply power and not to implement load-shedding.”

According to Gwasira the Eskom arrangement is mainly aimed at making sure the country’s productive sectors have access to power.

“Eskom power allows the utility to prioritise the productive sectors to ensure the economy to function,” he said.

Power generation at Kariba has plummeted due to low water levels while dilapidated infrastructure at Hwange has not helped the situation.

Kariba lost generation from 1 050 MW to the current 277MW leaving a gap of 700 MW.

“Our plants are still old and still have a high frequency of break down. Kariba has lost 800MW and Eskom is providing 400MW. There is still a gap of about 400MW which will be managed by load shedding,” Gwasira was quoted as saying.