Farai Dziva |A picture of students at a high school in Masvingo- having tea with boiled dry maize has gone viral on social media.

Commenting on the picture, prominent journalist and filmmaker, Hopewell said :”
This broke my heart. This is … High School.

I went to Fletcher High School in Gweru, a Government school where we had pudding, fruits, tea at 10.

What we are seeing here is a direct result of corruption and theft of public funds by political elites to fund their lifestyles.”

By A Correspondent| A Maphisa woman has shocked villagers in the area after her two male lovers settled to stay with her in the same house for two months since neither of them could let her go.

At first Pretty Mangwende and her two lovers, Simbarashe Mukupe and the other only identified as Oliver seemed to be living peacefully in a section of the growth point, commonly known as Garikai.

However, it is reported that trouble began when Mangwende got a job at Velakuhle Bar. What had seemed to be a mutual arrangement between the two men turned to a battle ground.

Oliver and Mukupe reportedly quarrelled incessantly over who should continue to stay with Mangwende until Oliver decided to go and report at Mangwende’s workplace that she was staying with him and Mukupe and this resulted in Mangwende being fired.

When B-Metro contacted Mangwende she opened up about the issue before dropping the phone.

“Yes, I was dating the two men and I was living with both of them. The thing is they had different rooms but we lived in the same house and so I don’t see anything wrong with that”, raged Mangwende.

She added: “What I can tell you is that at the moment I am no longer living with them because things did not just work out. It is not true that we had any misunderstandings or quarrelling. I was not even fired at work because of that issue. I cannot tell you more because I have never seen you and you have no business asking about my life”.

Efforts to get a comment from Oliver and Mukupe were fruitless. However, residents of the area are still shocked at Mangwende’s guts.

“We just cannot believe that a woman can stay with two men in the same house. It is our first time to hear about it and we do not know how she managed to do that, maybe she used juju”, said a bewildered man who only identified himself as Sibanda.

A source close to this issue spoke on condition of anonymity: “I used to live close to them and it was just weird to witness Mangwende staying with the two men. I cannot even say they were desperate for shelter because they both work.”

The Maphisa woman’s case comes hot on the heels of another similar case in which a woman from Lupane left her community shocked last month after it emerged she was married to two men and had children with both of them.

Ms Siphathisiwe Mkandla (48) of Manansa Village in Malunku ward cohabited with Mr John Mpala (55) and Mr Dolete Mlotshwa for the past three years.

Mr Mpala collapsed and died at their matrimonial home in June after complaining of chest pains and was buried at his uncle’s homestead in Sindombe area in the same ward. Mr Mlotshwa is a gold panner in Inyathi.-BMetro

Today, on the first anniversary of the tragic death of civilians following the 2018 harmonised elections, @CanEmbZimbabwe calls on GoZ to fully implement recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry and continue implementation of political and economic reforms.

— Canada in Zimbabwe (@CanEmbZimbabwe) August 1, 2019

By A Correspondent| Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, son to former President Robert Mugabe, said that he is not the bad guy as some people want to make him appear to be.

Chatunga was recently implicated in a bar brawl with an upcoming female musician. He is accused of having sent assailants to assault Shashl last weekend.

In an interview with Harare tabloid, H-Metro, Chatunga claimed that people are framing him.

He said:

Even if someone says to me ndakauraya munhu its fine. If you go on Internet, I used to spend a day and see nyaya dzinobuda ipapo.

Pane dzimwe nyaya dzinobuda ipapo but I can’t go one by one spending my day, you end up depressed, it’s now a thing I am used to.

You can’t tell everyone, one by one to say no this happened and this didn’t happen.

If people like me, they like me and if they don’t like me, I can’t force them.

I’m not trying to be impressed.

How sad it is. Today, if you were to be my friend, whatever you do you get to be scrutinised, now your family gets scrutinised because you are my friend, that’s a bit unacceptable

That’s is why I got few friends, less than five because no one knows …even if I have a party, they are the only people invited, you can check on the guest list because I don’t have friends.

Those were the only people, I had invited, there were people who were relatives, even if I am in South Africa.

By A Correspondent| The ongoing National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) public hearings have been characterised by victims of the Gukurahundi genocide expressing their grief and anger over what they experienced and witnessed.

The NPRC was in Entumbane this week, a suburb that witnessed ferocious fighting between Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) and Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (Zanla) guerrillas.

The two liberations armies clashed on February 11, 1981, while authorities were in the process of integrating the fighters into the regular army.

Speaking during the NPRC public hearings in Entumbane, this week one of the participants reportedly said:

You are playing and wasting time. For how long must we continue talking about this while you keep on investigating? Is there anyone with doubts that Gukurahundi occurred or anyone who doesn’t know?

The NPRC commissioner responsible for Victim Support, Gender and Diversity, Netty Mushanhu, conceded that people were extremely emotional and angry.

She said:

From our meetings, people have shown that they are extremely emotional and are angry. The meetings taught me that we have left it too long but I think we have an opportunity to engage.

If we don’t do anything about this, we may create a very difficult future for ourselves.

… The stories I heard here are heart-breaking, no one deserves to go through what women went through. A lot of women are afraid to talk about what they have gone through; they fear the unknown and also fear what is known.

I think as a nation; we owe it to our children and ourselves to make sure we have safe spaces for truth-telling. We need to engage with our violent and emotional past.-DailyNews

Health minister Obadiah Moyo’s daughter, Ashleigh, was recently assaulted and left unconscious at a popular Harare night club, Pabloz, by her friend and a South African woman believed to be the girlfriend of former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga.

The friend, Godfrey Utsiwegota (21), appeared before magistrate Learnmore Mapiye yesterday charged with assault. Utsiwegota’s lawyer, Cathew Manyani, filed a complaint against the court officials and police, saying his client was detained at the holding police cells for no apparent reason.

Manyani said it appeared as if there was interference in the matter after his client was released by court officials on Monday at Harare Magistrates Court, only to be called to come to court. The magistrate released Utsiwegota on free bail and remanded the matter to August 15.

It is the State’s case that on July 26 this year at around 11pm, Ashleigh was at Pabloz Night Club recording her music. After recording, she left the club and walked towards her car, but was allegedly punched by Ovio Mgijima, a South African national.

Utsiwegota allegedly joined in and assaulted Moyo until she fell unconscious. A medical report was obtained and will be produced in court as exhibit.

SOME Hwange residents and villagers have called for the erection of a Marvelous Nakamba statue at his rural home Dinde in Hwange district along Victoria Falls road as an honor of becoming the first player from the district to play in the English Premier League.

Nakamba penned a five year old deal with EPL returnees Aston Villa this week, joining other iconic stars like Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu and Benjan Mwaruwari, ironically all with roots to Bulawayo giants Highlanders.

While Nakamba played organised junior football for Highlanders and later on Bantu Rovers, he was born in the coal mining town of Hwange 25 years ago when his father Anthony, was an assistant goalkeeper to Johannes Tshuma at Hwange FC.

His rural home is Dinde about 35km from Hwange town, under Chief Nekatambe.

More to follow…..

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned the Ambassador of the United States of America Brian Nichols to express Zimbabwe’s displeasure over the imposition of sanctions on the country’s Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Tanzania Lt General (Rtd) Anselem Sanyatwe.

In a statement issued on Friday the Ministry said, “The decision by Washington is regrettable as it comes at a time that government is intensifying the implementation of political and economic reforms including the Motlanthe Commission’s recommendations.”

Watch Video- "We need inclusive dialogue, where the army must explain to us why they took over Gvnt, Zanu Pf and imposed their candidate": Jealousy Mawarire pic.twitter.com/ZE7AFjlS5t

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 1, 2019

https://twitter.com/schikanza/status/1156621171099672576?s=19

 ‌

Former President Robert Mugabe’s last born son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe has opened up lamenting that he receives a lot of hate from people, most of whom, he has never met in person.

Chatunga who has a reputation as a party animal and bad boy said that he had very few friends as a result because people associated with him end up getting a lot of public scrutiny.

In an interview with Takawira “Photovet” Dapi of H-Metro, Chatunga said,

Even if someone says to me ndakauraya munhu its fine. If you go on the internet, I used to spend a whole day and reading nyaya dzinobuda ipapo.

Pane dzimwe nyaya dzinobuda ipapo but I can’t spend my day going through the stories, you end up depressed, it’s now a thing I am used to.

You can’t tell everyone, one by one to say no this happened and this didn’t happen. If people like me, they like me and if they don’t like me, I can’t force them…I’m not trying to impress.

How sad it is. Today, if you were to be my friend, whatever you do you are scrutinised, your family gets scrutinised because you are my friend, that’s a bit unacceptable.

That’s is why I have a few friends, less than five because no one knows…even if I have a party, they are the only people invited. You can check on the guest list because I don’t have friends.

Those were the only people, I had invited. Some people were relatives, even if I am in South Africa.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube in USD$ 500 million scam. Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has been sucked into a U SD$ 500 million scam involving Treasury Bills Professor Jonathan Moyo has alleged.

According to information from a multilateral; in July @MthuliNcube illegally issued USD 500m in TBs to buy shares at a bank & ZMDC to benefit himself, @edmnangagwa, @MinisterSBMoyo & Sakunda's Kuda Tagwirei, the fixer in the scheme assisted by @ReserveBankZIM. It stinks!#TBgate https://t.co/vccnnkbdeP

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 2, 2019

Zimbabwe welcomes foreign investors into the country but will not accept investments that come with conditions attached.

This was said by President Mnangagwa after taking part in the national clean-up campaign at Ashbrittle Shopping Centre today.

He said there must be unity and peace among Zimbabweans if the country was to develop.

“We want a better future we want the next generation to live a better life than ourselves and to do so the current generation, united as a country as a people we put our heads together and shoulders on the wheel to develop, to modernise, to industrialise our country,” President Mnangagwa said.

“We can do that and achieve that on our own depending on our resources but alas the pace at which we develop would be very slow that’s why we have said Zimbabwe is open for business in order to attract foreign direct investment into the country and assist us to develop the various sectors of the economy agriculture, mining tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure development and ICTs.

“But when FDIs come into the country it must come at the dictates of ourselves no political ties, no conditions. The conditions should only be those which ourselves want and this can only be achieved if we remain united, when we remain peaceful, when each one of us strives to do one’s best in whatever they are doing.”

He said Government had embarked on the re-engagement process so that the country re-joins the community of nations.

More to follow…

Zimbabwe’s finance minister has more than doubled the cost of power.

The country has been facing chronic power shortages since May and daily blackouts last for up to 18 hours in most areas.

In a mid-term budget review, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube hiked the price of power, from 10 cents per kilowatt hour to 27 cents.

That’s for farmers and ordinary households.

Miners and exporters will have to settle their electricity bills in US dollars, at a rate of between six and nine US cents per kilowatt hour.

The state power company had been pushing for an upward review of its prices to help it remain viable.

The higher power costs will have an impact on shop prices and the wallets of hard-pressed Zimbabweans.

Though it remains to be seen whether the adjustments will do anything to ease severe load shedding.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has ruled that parliament will not pay MDC parliamentarians for Thursday’s seating after they boycotted the presentation of the complementary budget which was attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ruling on a submission by ZANU PF parliamentarian Joseph Chinotimba, Mudenda condemned the opposition parliamentarians for continuously resisting Mnangagwa.

Chinotimba’s said:

“My point of privilege is that every time and then when the Zimbabwe President who resoundingly won the election in 2018 is coming into this august House, Members of the opposition walk out or abscond and yet the next day they will come here demanding cars from Parliament of which the money is being availed by the President of the country.”

“So, my point of  privilege is that there is supposed to be an order that says that if a Member of Parliament engages in a mass demonstration which is what they have done right now, it is a mass demonstration not coming into Parliament.  They should not absent themselves when the President is coming.  It does not pay for us to say we have a country and yet we are taking this country for granted.” 

“If they have a problem with the President, they should go to the courts.  When we are in Parliament, we should do our Parliamentary duties.”

Below is Mudenda’s full ruling on the matter:

“It is unfortunate that the Hon. Members of the main opposition party here in Parliament have decided to boycott this session in which His Excellency the President will be in attendance.  There are two issues that we need to put on record.  The first one is that His Excellency the President is Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Defence Forces.

Now, there is some lack of understanding when we say the President is Head of State.  The President is Head of State because he is an embodiment of the sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe without any exclusion or discrimination.  His uncontested position as Head of State has been recognised by the United Nations and the International Community, let alone the African Union.  We have not heard of any country under the sun that has not recognised His Excellency President Mnangagwa.  So therefore, there is misdirection in terms of the opposition in their unwarranted behaviour.

Secondly, in terms of section 116 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which I shall quote, the Legislature of Zimbabwe consists of Parliament and the President acting in accordance with the Constitution, which means His Excellency the President institutionally is part of this august House and that position has got to be respected and cannot be contested. 

Accordingly, as head of this institution, I rule that the Hon. Members from the opposition shall not be allowed to attend Parliament today, including after his Excellency has gone. Relatedly, their allowances for today shall not be paid accordingly, so I have ruled.

Farai Dziva |A picture of students at a high school in Masvingo- having tea with boiled dry maize has gone viral on social media.

Commenting on the picture, prominent journalist and filmmaker, Hopewell said :”
This broke my heart. This is … High School.

I went to Fletcher High School in Gweru, a Government school where we had pudding, fruits, tea at 10.

What we are seeing here is a direct result of corruption and theft of public funds by political elites to fund their lifestyles.”

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Retired Air Chief Marshal Perence Shiri has issued an apology to parliament for his unbecoming behaviour on Wednesday’s seating.

PShiri called opposition MDC supporters baboons and monkeys in Parliament on Wednesday.

Shiri’s outburst came after Harare West MP, Joanna Mamombe (MDC Alliance) had asked him why the country continues to have food shortages if the government spent so much money on acquiring grain.

Mamombe was referring to the US$3 billion which Shiri said was spent by the government on buying grain from farmers such as wheat, soya etc, and some of the money being used to pay for Presidential Input Scheme, utilities such as electricity.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to unreservedly apologies for the remarks I made yesterday. I realise they must have caused some injury to the dignity of the Hon. Members. To that extent Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like to withdraw my statement. Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir,” said Shiri in his apology on Thursday.

Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube illegally issued USD 500 million to buy shares from a local bank.

Moyo further claimed that Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kuda Tagwirei and SB Moyo were involved in the alleged scam.

“According to information from a multilateral; in July @MthuliNcube
illegally issued USD 500m in TBs to buy shares at a bank and ZMDC to benefit himself, @edmnangagwa
@MinisterSBMoyo& Sakunda’s Kuda Tagwirei, the fixer in the scheme assisted by @ReserveBankZIM
. It stinks,”claimed Moyo.

Farai Dziva|MDC councillor, Gilbert Mutubuki has said threats from state security agents will not stop him from fighting for the rights of the majority.

Mutubuki is leading protests against multiple land owners in Chiredzi.

Zanu PF supporters and war veterans are illegally occupying land that should be allocated to Chiredzi residents -for business and residential purposes.

See Mutubuki’s statement:
Greetings to you.We are receiving sad news again that Walter Mangwenzi from section 13 Chitepo Triangle Chiredzi has been arrested by Triangle CID.

They want to arrest the whole Compound.

You can beat us, arrest us, intimidate us and kill us but you will never ever kill the spirit in us.

Land Justice!!

Yours truly!
Cllr G Mutubuki

VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi on Wednesday said the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) which had fallen into slumber over the years has been resuscitated, marking the awakening of an economic and social development giant in the country.

VP Mohadi said the revival follows the dissolving of the old board by President Mnangagwa, who subsequently appointed seasoned business people and experienced professionals, carefully selected from the country’s 10 provinces.

“Today marks a major milestone in the resuscitation of the DTZ since His Excellency, President Mnangagwa appointed me as chairperson,” he said.

“The provincial representation (of board members) is meant to ensure that Zimbabweans from all parts of Zimbabwe have a chance to benefit from work and output of DTZ which is a national asset with great economic and social development potential through its business entities whose flagship is Nuanetsi Ranch limited.

“Nuanetsi Ranch and other DTZ entities have suddenly come alive. I can confidentially inform the Zimbabwean nation that, DTZ which had fallen into slumber into over the years has been resuscitated. The economic and social development giant has awakened,” he said.

VP Mohadi also activated the work committees of the trust and ensured that they shared the trust’s objectives.

“DTZ sub-committees are entrusted in carrying out work of the trust in-between meetings of the trust and work towards achieving the objectives of the DTZ. These objectives will be shared among the three committees that we have set using the mandatory of each committee as reflected in the attached documents entitled implementation and achievement of DTZ objectives as articulated in the trust.

“The rational of sharing the objectives was the key functions of each committee which are executive, finance and human resources, and the business collaboration, legal and marketing functions.

“The executive committee will be chaired by Dr Sibonokhule Ndlovu, finance and human resources committee will be chaired by Mr Henry Nhemaire and business collaboration, legal and marketing functions by Advocate Sobuza Gula-Ndebele.

“The new structure of DTZ is now in place and the turnaround of DTZ and its business entities has commenced and it is all systems go and full throttle ahead,” he said.

VP Mohadi said DTZ has lined up vast life transforming projects.

MDC vice-chairman Job Sikhala, who was allegedly abducted from Harare Central Police Station after his arrest on charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected government, is now suing the police for acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally.

Sikhala, through his lawyers Koto and Company, has initiated a $3 million lawsuit against Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Superintendent Daniel Joseph of Harare Law and Order section.

“We write to you at the instance of our client (Sikhala) hereby providing you with notice of intention to institute legal proceedings against yourself, within 60 days from date of this letter as defined in terms of section 5 of the State Liabilities Act,” Sikhala’s lawyers wrote.

The lawyers said after Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi had granted his consent to have Sikhala appear before a Harare court, the police abducted him and locked his lawyers in police cells, thereby blocking them access to him.

“Despite the consent having been obtained, the police officers, including Superintendent Daniel Joseph, locked the team of lawyers who were in the company of our client, Tendai Biti and Innocent Gonese, inside cells of Harare Central (Police Station) and refused to give them access to our client, when Joseph dragged and smuggled our client out of Harare Central Police Station,” the lawyers said.

Sikhala alleged in his letter that he suffered insults, dehumanising treatment and a sense of shock from the actions of the police while he was blindfolded and suffering unbearable pain.

“Our client was tortured and experienced an aggravated and deliberate form of inhuman or degrading treatment. Severe pain, suffering both physically and
mentally, was intentionally inflicted upon him. He was insulted and threatened, which diminished his human dignity and aroused feelings of fear, anguish or inferiority capable of breaking his morale,” the letter read.

-Newsday

Power cuts have negatively affected operations at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital to such an extent that critically ill patients are now losing lives as they cannot be attended to expeditiously.

This was revealed by the hospital’s medical superintendent, Collet Mawire, in his 2019 half-year overview report.

Mawire urged the Health Services Board to find a permanent solution to end the power crisis at the Mashonaland West referral hospital.

He said: Currently, the hospital is facing critical problems in this aspect of electricity and water supply.

Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital operations are being hampered to the extent of losing patients as a result of load-shedding by ZESA.

… Power cuts are causing increased risk to lives of such patients and sometimes even loss of life.

Chinhoyi provincial hospital has 422 beds and relies on two standby generators. However, the generators often break down and require 300 litres of diesel daily to run them.

Mawire also revealed that the hospital is understaffed, having 79 nurses out of an ideal complement of 350, while there are five specialist doctors out of a possible 10.

-Newsday

State Media: Government has criticised the placement on sanctions of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-designate to Tanzania, Anselem Sanyatwe, and his wife Ms Chido Machona, by the United States on allegations that the former violated human rights.

Sanyatwe is a former Commander of the Presidential Guard.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, the establishment of the Motlante Commission showed that there was nothing to hide.

“The Motlanthe Commission worked in full of view of the public and had its hearings televised and run on different live platforms as the State showed it had nothing to hide. No one was made immune to its subpoena,” Mr Nick Mangwana, the Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, noted in a statement last night.

“When the report of the Commission came out, President Mnangagwa made it public and constituted a Cabinet Committee on Reform to see through the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission as well as other reforms such as Election Observers Missions’ reports,” reads the statement.

Government says this was done in the interest of transparency and justice.

The process of the hearings at the Commission had an important role as a truth-telling exercise.

“It is no doubt that President Mnangagwa marshalled the country through this tragic but fleeting phase, with long-term benefits of peace that no one today can deny.

“We, therefore, take serious umbrage at the posturing of some foreign powers who have taken it upon themselves to invoke actions that are clearly out of sync with the spirit and letter of the Commission whose work was public and credible,” Mr Mangwana said in reference to the US.

-State Media

Knives are out against Zanu PF Masvingo youth league boss Brian Munyoro who was last week beaten up 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 said 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.

TellZim News 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.

“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,” said Munyoro.

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

“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 accuses 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

A 73-year-old woman died on the spot on Monday near Birchenough Bridge when a bus she was travelling on was involved in an accident.

At least 19 other passengers were injured and rushed to Murambinda Hospital.

Police have identified the deceased as Esiteri Dzingirai of Chikaka Village.

“Esiteri Dzingirai of Chikaka Village died on the spot after Bernard Murozvi (52), the driver of the bus, lost control of the vehicle,” said Manicaland spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa.

The bus belonged to Mashoko Travellers Company and was on its way to Birchenough from Murambinda, Buhera.

Murizvo is alleged to have been speeding. “The other 19 passengers were injured and were taken to Murambinda Hospital for treatment and the body of the deceased was taken to Murambinda Hospital mortuary,” said Insp Kakohwa.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old commuter omnibus driver lost control of his vehicle and fatally struck a herdsman in Nyanga on Monday.  “Fungai Norest Mateta (24) was driving a commuter omnibus with registration numbers ACL 4417 along Nyarukohwa-Nyarubvure Road with seven passengers,” said Insp Kakohwa. “Upon reaching the 35km peg near Nyarukohwa Bridge in Nyanga, Mateta saw a herd of cattle coming his way. He tried to avoid hitting the cattle and lost control of the vehicle and hit the herdsman instead.”

-State Media

Disgruntled parents of children at Goldridge College, an upmarket private college in Kwekwe, are suing the school for allegedly demanding tuition fees and outstanding balances in United State Dollars (USD) despite Government abolishing the use of the multi-currency regime.

In their application to the High Court, the parents Stanley Makunde, Tichafa Chiwanza and Livious Mukwiri, accused the school and its Board of Governors of defying a Government directive by continuing to demand payment in United States dollars.

The college is allegedly asking parents whose children have been offered Form One places next year to pay US$500 in Development levies.

The parents alleged that the children whose parents were defaulting were being sent home by the school authorities.

-State Media

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today head for Ashbrittle Shopping Centre in Mt Pleasant for this month’s clean up exercise, as Government intensifies efforts to build sustainable environmental management and waste disposal systems.

The President last year declared the first Friday of each month as the National Environment Cleaning Day when all citizens are supposed to clean their surroundings between 8am and 10am.

Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba confirmed the President’s event for today.

“The President is heading for Ashbrittle Shopping Centre in Mt Pleasant tomorrow (today) for this month’s clean-up exercise which will start in the morning,” he said.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi will be in Beitbridge for the same exercise.

Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said the clean-up exercise was a noble and brilliant vision by President Mnangagwa.

He called on Zimbabweans from all walks of life to join hands in the initiative.

“I urge the nation to rally behind this brilliant and noble vision by the President of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“We should all embrace it and join hands in this exercise.

“Let us all clean-up our environs wherever we are. A clean environment is a healthy environment for everyone. As you all know, the President launched this brilliant initiative last year in December and this is the 9th month into it and already our country is getting cleaner by each day, this is commendable.”

Launching the campaign on December 5 last year, President Mnangagwa stressed the importance of unity and harmony to keep the environment clean.

“The world we live in is deteriorating rapidly due to the dire consequences of climate change which manifest as floods, heat waves, diseases, water and air pollution, land degradation and desertification, among other challenges,” he  said.

“These developments require us to take bold and decisive action with regards to the management of our environment of ensuring a clean environment. We need to keep our villages, towns and cities clean and hygienic, both for this generation and generations to come.

“We must, therefore, be re-oriented to practice good environmental and waste management through increased advocacy, education, training and awareness. We must do this from a place of pride not just a necessity.”

-State Media

GOVERNMENT has criticised the placement on sanctions of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-designate to Tanzania, Anselem Sanyatwe, and his wife Ms Chido Machona, by the United States on allegations that the former violated human rights.

Ambassador Sanyatwe is a former Commander of the Presidential Guard.

The US seeks to apportion blame on Government security forces for the death of six people during opposition-instigated violence on August 1 last year, which was orchestrated to delegitimise the outcome of the harmonised elections which President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF party won favourably.

The polls had won lots of praise from observer missions and other stakeholders for their peaceful and orderly conduct before opposition MDC-Alliance supporters unleashed mayhem following threats by the party’s leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, and others that they would not accept defeat.

However, President Mnangagwa instituted an international panel of experts to inquire into the incident and has since been implementing its recommendations, including reform, retraining and upskilling of the police service, the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Government said while it was pursuing a policy of re-engagement and rapprochement with some members of the international community, this should not be construed as appeasement.

“The Motlanthe Commission worked in full of view of the public and had its hearings televised and run on different live platforms as the State showed it had nothing to hide. No one was made immune to its subpoena,” Mr Nick Mangwana, the Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, noted in a statement last night.

“When the report of the Commission came out, President Mnangagwa made it public and constituted a Cabinet Committee on Reform to see through the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission as well as other reforms such as Election Observers Missions’ reports,” reads the statement.

Government says this was done in the interest of transparency and justice.

The process of the hearings at the Commission had an important role as a truth-telling exercise.

“It is no doubt that President Mnangagwa marshalled the country through this tragic but fleeting phase, with long-term benefits of peace that no one today can deny.

“We, therefore, take serious umbrage at the posturing of some foreign powers who have taken it upon themselves to invoke actions that are clearly out of sync with the spirit and letter of the Commission whose work was public

and credible,” Mr Mangwana said in reference to the US.

“These powers have arrogated themselves power beyond our processes and in this context a Zimbabwean diplomat and his family has been placed under sanctions for ostensibly violating human rights in relation to the events of August 1, 2018,” said Government.

Government says its position is that sanctions imposed on the country are illegal and “any escalation of the same is counterproductive”.

President Mnangagwa has adopted a policy of rapprochement towards countries with whom Zimbabwe has endured bad relations over the past two decades.

However, Government said the rapprochement policy was not “a policy of appeasement”, saying the principles of equality, sovereignty and self-determination in statecraft should be respected.

“We therefore wish to place on record our strong displeasure of actions to undermine Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and condemn posturing meant to fan divisions rather than initiate national healing and understanding,” said Government.

-State Media

JUDGMENT in a case in which MDC Alliance legislators, Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo) and Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), who are accused of public violence and inciting mayhem during the January fuel price hike protests, was on Wednesday deferred to August 9.

The legislators are on ZWL$300 bail each, which was handed by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese after Kwekwe magistrate Story Rushambwa denied them their liberty.

Rushambwa was yesterday expected to deliver judgment after both the State, led by prosecutor Yeukai Mugumba and the defence, led by Wellington Davira, closed
their cases last month.

MDC supporters from both Redcliff and Mbizo constituencies had thronged the courts to hear the much-awaited verdict.

“I still need more time to study the submissions by both the State and defence and so the matter is deferred to August 9, 2019,” the magistrate ruled.

MDC vice-chairman Job Sikhala, who was allegedly abducted from Harare Central Police Station after his arrest on charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected government, is now suing the police for acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally.

Sikhala, through his lawyers Koto and Company, has initiated a $3 million lawsuit against Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Superintendent Daniel Joseph of Harare Law and Order section.

“We write to you at the instance of our client (Sikhala) hereby providing you with notice of intention to institute legal proceedings against yourself, within 60 days from date of this letter as defined in terms of section 5 of the State Liabilities Act,” Sikhala’s lawyers wrote.

The lawyers said after Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi had granted his consent to have Sikhala appear before a Harare court, the police abducted him and locked his lawyers in police cells, thereby blocking them access to him.

“Despite the consent having been obtained, the police officers, including Superintendent Daniel Joseph, locked the team of lawyers who were in the company of our client, Tendai Biti and Innocent Gonese, inside cells of Harare Central (Police Station) and refused to give them access to our client, when Joseph dragged and smuggled our client out of Harare Central Police Station,” the lawyers said.

Sikhala alleged in his letter that he suffered insults, dehumanising treatment and a sense of shock from the actions of the police while he was blindfolded and suffering unbearable pain.

“Our client was tortured and experienced an aggravated and deliberate form of inhuman or degrading treatment. Severe pain, suffering both physically and
mentally, was intentionally inflicted upon him. He was insulted and threatened, which diminished his human dignity and aroused feelings of fear, anguish or inferiority capable of breaking his morale,” the letter read.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former President Robert Mugabe’s last born son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe has opened up lamenting that he receives a lot of hate from people, most of whom, he has never met in person.

In an interview with Takawira “Photovet” Dapi of H-Metro, Chatunga said, Even if someone says to me ndakauraya munhu its fine. If you go on the internet, I used to spend a whole day and reading nyaya dzinobuda ipapo.

Pane dzimwe nyaya dzinobuda ipapo but I can’t spend my day going through the stories, you end up depressed, it’s now a thing I am used to.

You can’t tell everyone, one by one to say no this happened and this didn’t happen. If people like me, they like me and if they don’t like me, I can’t force them…I’m not trying to impress.

How sad it is. Today, if you were to be my friend, whatever you do you are scrutinised, your family gets scrutinised because you are my friend, that’s a bit unacceptable.

That’s is why I have a few friends, less than five because no one knows…even if I have a party, they are the only people invited. You can check on the guest list because I don’t have friends.

Those were the only people, I had invited. Some people were relatives, even if I am in South Africa

JUDGMENT in a case in which MDC Alliance legislators, Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo) and Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), who are accused of public violence and inciting mayhem during the January fuel price hike protests, was on Wednesday deferred to August 9.

The legislators are on ZWL$300 bail each, which was handed by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese after Kwekwe magistrate Story Rushambwa denied them their liberty.

Rushambwa was yesterday expected to deliver judgment after both the State, led by prosecutor Yeukai Mugumba and the defence, led by Wellington Davira, closed

their cases last month.

MDC supporters from both Redcliff and Mbizo constituencies had thronged the courts to hear the much-awaited verdict.

“I still need more time to study the submissions by both the State and defence and so the matter is deferred to August 9, 2019,” the magistrate ruled.

Health minister Obadiah Moyo’s daughter, Ashleigh, was recently assaulted and left unconscious at a popular Harare night club, Pabloz, by her friend and a South African woman believed to be the girlfriend of former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga.

The friend, Godfrey Utsiwegota (21), appeared before magistrate Learnmore Mapiye yesterday charged with assault.

Utsiwegota’s lawyer, Cathew Manyani, filed a complaint against the court officials and police, saying his client was detained at the holding police cells for
no apparent reason.

Manyani said it appeared as if there was interference in the matter after his client was released by court officials on Monday at Harare Magistrates Court,
only to be called to come to court.

The magistrate released Utsiwegota on free bail and remanded the matter to August 15.

It is the State’s case that on July 26 this year at around 11pm, Ashleigh was at Pabloz Night Club recording her music.

After recording, she left the club and walked towards her car, but was allegedly punched by Ovio Mgijima, a South African national.

Utsiwegota allegedly joined in and assaulted Moyo until she fell unconscious. A medical report was obtained and will be produced in court as exhibit.

Yesterday the President commissioned 42 Zupco buses as part of the government’s plan to “develop an integrated and multi-model urban transport system”. Besides the cheap fares offered by these buses, there are some attractive add-ons that may urge you to habitually use the buses whenever you have journey.

The add-ons come in the form of WiFi and real time information.

With the onboard WiFi , you will obviously be able to ‘Google’/surf the internet in Zupco buses whilst you are on your way to work. We’d have to see when the buses get on the road to see if one has to pay to use the WiFi or it’s free of charge.

With real time information, you will…….. Wait, let’s first define real time information. Real-time information means any information available to transit providers or customers about the current status of vehicles, including approximate locations and predictive arrival times. So it follows that Zupco bus users will be able to access the schedule, stops and estimated arrival times of the buses. This information can be accessed through onboard screens, screens at bus stations, text messages or an app- though in Zupco’s case, I think it will be accessible on onboard screens.

Real time information seems like it’s not a big deal but hey, you can efficiently plan a journey if the information is reasonably accurate.

Combine the onboard WiFi, Real time information and on-board USB ports, using the Zupco bus is more likely to give you a better user experience than the one you get with kombies.

Safe journeys.

Zimbabwe authorities have remained silent about what transpired and how they are going to move forward in rescuing a mining engineer kidnapped by Congolese rebels over a week ago.

Gunmen kidnapped a South African and one Zimbabwean worker at Banro Corp’s gold mine in the east Congolese province of Maniema last week.

Dieudonne Kasereka, army spokesman for South Kivu province, gave few details.

Captain Kasereka, spokesperson of the regional army of Congo confirmed the incident occurred on Friday, “they were ambushed by the armed bandits, their car was also burnt and we are hunting for them.” Kasereka added that “three suspects are already in custody for assisting the kidnappers.”

Amongst the Zimbabwean miner, was a South African and two Congolese miners who were also abducted, all working for Banro Corp, a Canadian mining firm based in Eastern DRC.

East Congolese militias such as the Mai Mai have preyed on the population and exploited mineral resources since the end in 2003 of a regional war that killed millions, most from hunger and disease.

But only in the last three years have such armed groups shown an interest in taking hostages for ransom.

The magistrates’ court for the district of Johannesburg in South Africa has issued a protection order against South African based Zimbabwean business tycoon, Joseph Makamba Busha at the instigation of the politician’s wife.

The court ordered Busha not to abuse his wife, Nomakwhezi Busha after being convinced that the couple is no longer upholding the peace expected of them in a normal marital set up.

According to court papers filed under record number 61/19, Busha ordered not to commit four types of abuses.

“Respondent is ordered not to physically and emotionally abuse the complainant, not to intimidate the complainant and not to economically abuse the complainant,” says the order.

The court also ordered the accused to pay 10 000 rands as emergency monetary relief on top of medical aid expenses.

A source privy to the politician’s family affairs also told NewZimbabwe.com that all has not been well back home.

“While he is concentrating on tackling socio-economic issues all has not been well in his marriage as his wife is not agreeing to endorse her signature on divorce papers served through his lawyers.

“His current marital problems are evident as seen by him not wearing his ring and his spouse never present in all his public appearances,” the source on condition of anonymity said.

The business tycoon’s behaviour is alleged to have dramatically changed and he is alleged to have fired 11 employees who manned one office in a period of eight months.

Busha is also alleged to have been very abusive to his wife of South African origin.

The wife accused him of thoroughly beating her up and more recently, withdrew the vehicle she was using on top of neglecting to support her and their three minor children.

Efforts to get a comment from Joseph Busha on the matter were fruitless as his phone went unanswered while several messages sent to him were not responded.

Busha, leader of the little known FreeZim Congress, contested the July 2018 elections as a presidential hopeful.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mthuli Ncube has announced that the government is going to suspend releasing the official figures of year-on-year inflation.

Presenting the Midterm Budget Review on Wednesday, the Minister announced that henceforth Zimstat will no longer be releasing the figures of year-on-year inflation.

Zimstat will suspend the publication of year on year inflation figures while it builds up the data of prices in the mono-currency system for a period of 12 months up to February 2020.

According to the Minister, this will ensure that we compare like for like in terms of currency regimes. The last official inflation figures showed that inflation was at 175 percent

The official inflation figures have often been criticised by some quarters for being watered down in order to not reflect the situation accurately.

Renowned global economist and currency expert Professor Steve Hanke has often dismissed official inflation figures released by the government for being as low as 25 percent of the actual figures.

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Zimbabwe government has introduced new power tariffs aimed at capacitating ZESA to mobilize requisite resources through appropriate and cost recovery tariffs implemented through a differentiated scale.

In the short term, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the power supply deficit can only be met through power imports.

Presenting his budget mid-term review, said the government approved the following electricity tariff measures for immediate implementation.

“The current electricity supply situation retards all our stabilisation gains and require urgent interventions to improve power supply to our productive sectors,” he said.

The electricity tariff for Non-Exporting businesses will be increased from an average of ZWL9.86c/kWh to an average of ZWL45c/kWh (approximately USc5/kWh). The electricity tariff for domestic consumers be increased from an average of ZWL9.86c/kWh to an average of ZWL27c/kWh (approximately USc3/kWh), which is subsidized.  

The electricity tariff for Agriculture consumers be increased from an average of ZWL9.86c/kWh to an average of ZWL27c/kWh (approximately USc3/kWh), which is subsidized.

Maintain the tariff for ferrochrome smelters and other miners at US$0.067/kWh and US$0.0986/kWh, respectively, and ensure that the resources are ring-fenced in a Special Account solely for purposes of importing electricity; and ZESA be allowed to bill all other exporters and foreign currency earners in foreign currency and ensure that the resources are ring-fenced in a Special Account solely for purposes of importing electricity.

The responsible ministry and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) will give the necessary implementation details.

In addition, other urgent measures for sustainable power supply evolve around management through rapid role out of pre-paid and smart meters and embracing energy saving technology, speeding up ongoing reforms including restructuring of ZESA to improve efficiency and management of the parastatal and implementation of planned medium to long term projects.

He said, drought has reduced hydro-electric generation at Kariba Dam, reducing power supply to unsustainable levels as reflected through severe load shedding.

Key Highlights

Revised fiscal framework
–    Total revenues for 2019 are projected at ZWL$14.06 billion, comprising:-
–    Tax revenue amounting ZWL$12.75 billion;
–    Non-tax revenues of ZWL$1.312 million; 
–    Total expenditures for 2019 are projected at ZWL$18.62 billion comprising: –
–    Employment Cost ZWL$5.56 billion;
–    Capital expenditure ZWL$7.08 billion;
–    The revised 2019 Budget Framework will result in a reduced budget deficit of just 4% of GDP

The 2019 Supplementary Budget proposes additional provisions and reforms mainly related to the following priority areas:

–    Stimulation of production, targeting agriculture, industry and other productive sectors;
–    Food security, including;
–    Grain procurement to mitigate the effect of drought conditions;
–    Funding for the 2019/20 Summer Cropping Programme
–    Welfare of civil servants and pensioners;
–    Social services delivery and social protection;
–    Infrastructure and utilities;
–    Constitutional requirements including transfers to provincial councils and local authorities under Governments devolution thrust and enhanced support for governance institutions;
–    Supporting ongoing structural and governance reforms; and
–    Support for Government operations.

FINANCE Minister Mthuli Ncube has increased Tollgate Fees and vehicle licence fees by 500% effective 1 September 2019

Presenting his 2019 Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review statement on Thursday, Ncube said Government Ministries and Departments should review of fees by 1 September 2019,” said Ncube.

“In order to have legal effect, approved fees, levies and charges fees should be published in the Government Gazette.

“In line with the ongoing review, Government Ministries and Departments should submit to Treasury, proposals for review of fees under their purview by 1 September 2019, guided by the principles that I have already outlined.

“Furthermore, fees, levies and charges will be subject to review in line with economic developments.”
Chaos hit the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) licensing offices in Harare yesterday as panicking motorists stampeded to beat the July 31 licensing deadline.

Motorists, responding to social media reports that Zinara was planning a massive hike in licence fees, besieged the road authority offices. But thousands returned home empty handed after the authority’s systems packed up.

At the Harare Main Post Office, the situation was near riotous as desperate motorists refused to leave the banking hall, demanding that they be allowed to pay their licences.

A handful lucky ones managed to license their vehicles.

VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi on Wednesday said the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) which had fallen into slumber over the years has been resuscitated, marking the awakening of an economic and social development giant in the country.

VP Mohadi said the revival follows the dissolving of the old board by President Mnangagwa, who subsequently appointed seasoned business people and experienced professionals, carefully selected from the country’s 10 provinces.

“Today marks a major milestone in the resuscitation of the DTZ since His Excellency, President Mnangagwa appointed me as chairperson,” he said.

“The provincial representation (of board members) is meant to ensure that Zimbabweans from all parts of Zimbabwe have a chance to benefit from work and output of DTZ which is a national asset with great economic and social development potential through its business entities whose flagship is Nuanetsi Ranch limited.

“Nuanetsi Ranch and other DTZ entities have suddenly come alive. I can confidentially inform the Zimbabwean nation that, DTZ which had fallen into slumber into over the years has been resuscitated. The economic and social development giant has awakened,” he said.

VP Mohadi also activated the work committees of the trust and ensured that they shared the trust’s objectives.

“DTZ sub-committees are entrusted in carrying out work of the trust in-between meetings of the trust and work towards achieving the objectives of the DTZ. These objectives will be shared among the three committees that we have set using the mandatory of each committee as reflected in the attached documents entitled implementation and achievement of DTZ objectives as articulated in the trust.

“The rational of sharing the objectives was the key functions of each committee which are executive, finance and human resources, and the business collaboration, legal and marketing functions.

“The executive committee will be chaired by Dr Sibonokhule Ndlovu, finance and human resources committee will be chaired by Mr Henry Nhemaire and business collaboration, legal and marketing functions by Advocate Sobuza Gula-Ndebele.

“The new structure of DTZ is now in place and the turnaround of DTZ and its business entities has commenced and it is all systems go and full throttle ahead,” he said.

VP Mohadi said DTZ has lined up vast life transforming projects.

State Media|Government will repeal the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act as it moves to enhance the attractiveness of the minerals sector to foreign direct investment (FDI).

It will be replaced by a more “business-friendly” Economic Empowerment Act, but in the interim, the Indigenisation Act has been amended to remove the critical diamond and platinum sub-sectors from the reserve list.

It now means local shareholding will depend on agreed terms by investors, while foreign shareholding can reach up to 100 percent.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, announced the developments while presenting the Mid-term Fiscal Policy Review statement and Supplementary Budget in Parliament yesterday.

“Government, through the 2018 Finance Amendment Bill amended the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act and platinum and diamonds are now removed from the reserve list and shareholding will depend on negotiations with investors.

The rest of the minerals have already been removed from the list.

“Subsequently, the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act will be repealed and replaced by the Economic Empowerment Act, which will be consistent with the current thrust “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”.

The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act worked to discourage and alienate much-needed FDI and investment as the way it was implemented threatened business.

Around 2013, the indigenisation programme threatened a lawfully and morally binding agreement between the country’s largest platinum producer, Zimbabwe Platinum Holdings (Zimplats) and Government.

Such threats had a negative effect on the global investor community on Zimbabwe as breach of contracts is anathema to investors.

The mining sector remains a key driver of Zimbabwe’s economic development, typically contributing circa 10 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and around 60 percent to exports.

And true to form, during the first half of the year, the sector contributed US$1,3 billion, about 68 percent of the total exports of US$1,9 billion during the period.

The scrapping of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act is one of the measures that is expected to provide impetus to the economic contribution of the sector.

The Government has over the past several months secured a number of mining investment deals, with the latest being a joint venture agreement between State-owned diamond miner, the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company and Russian firm, Alrosa.

The new diamonds agreement will see about US$12 million being invested in exploration of diamond deposits over the next three years.

Minister Ncube yesterday said that Government will put in place a “comprehensive strategy” to see the coming into fruition of these deals.

“These investments will, however, take some time (up to 10 years of production) to give visible net benefits in view of long gestation periods for mining projects.

“Government will, therefore, in the second half of the year unveil a comprehensive strategy and roadmap towards a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023,” he said.

“The attainment of this milestone is not an event, but a process, which is well underway with concrete start-ups and expansion of projects in a number of minerals, which include platinum, gold, ferrochrome, coal and hydrocarbons, lithium, diamonds, iron ore, among others.” — Business Weekly.

TABLING OF NSSA FORENSIC AUDIT REPORT
          THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (HON. DR. KANHUTU-NZENZA):  Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you for the opportunity to be able to present to you today the NSSA forensic report.
          Mr. Speaker Sir, the National Social Security Authority is the statutory body governed by the NSSA Act.  It operates social security schemes for the benefit of employees, current or retired on a compulsory basis for the purpose of providing social protection and security upon retirement. The role of the minister, my role and that of the Board and management is to safeguard the interests of the contributors to the Pension Fund.  They have a responsibility as provided by the Act to be accountable, transparent and above all, to ensure good corporate governance of NSSA.
The NSSA forensic audit report was commissioned by the Auditor General, Mrs. Chiri.  It covers the period of 1stJanuary, 2015 and the 208thFebruary, 2018. The final report, Mr. Speaker Sir, was presented to me and the newly constituted board in February, 2019.  Thereafter, Mr. Speaker Sir, the board identified key issues emerging from the NSSA forensic audit.
These issues, Mr. Speaker Sir, relate to corporate governance, investments, properties, ICT and human resources.  In all these key issues that I have mentioned there are some significant irregularities.  In view of that, as Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in the spirit of maintaining transparency, I proceeded to engage a team of legal experts whose role was to provide council on each of the emerging issues from the forensic report.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the engagement of lawyers required a procurement process and due diligence.  This process of engaging lawyers took two months, hence the delay in tabling this report.  However, the findings of the legal experts will be absolutely material in assisting my Ministry and the board in ensuring that the issues raised in this forensic report are attended to in pursuit of good corporate governance, accountability and transparency.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the findings in this report and the annexure here presented will guide us in determining which issues are seen by the legal experts as criminal.  What is presented here would also help NSSA to determine issues that are purely management and may require disciplinary action.
Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ministry is working closely with the Anti-Corruption Unit.  They have the report.  Internally I shall ensure that we follow best practices within the labour legislative framework.  The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare remains absolutely committed to maintaining transparency in protecting the interests of the contributors to the pension fund.  The forensic audit report therefore provides us with a framework to review the operations of NSSA so that we remain accountable and transparent to the people who have entrusted us with the money.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I hereby table the NSSA forensic report as promised.  The report is being printed and members will be able to get the copies and the annexures that are bound here in three copies.  This report, Mr. Speaker Sir, is presented to you in full as requested.  Thank you.
HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Kubhadharwa $25 ini ndakacontributa 10 years.
THE HON. SPEAKER:  Hon. Chinotimba can you allow the Chair to speak.
HON. CHINOTIMBA:  Thank you Chair.
THE HON. SPEAKER:  Thank you, Hon. Minister for your exhaustive summary.  I want to believe that Members of Parliament will apply their minds to the report and contribute constructively on the way forward.  Thank you.

ALL is set for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) Golf Day at the Harry Allen Golf Club tomorrow.

The amateur tournament, dubbed “Let’s Trade Guns for Golf Clubs in the City of Kings” is expected to draw a variety of golfers from across the country.

The tournament presents an opportunity for war veterans to interact with captains of industry, politicians and golfers.

Tournament public relations officer, Charles Chiponda, said everything was in place ahead of the tournament.

“The fairway is at its best at the moment and we expect good scores. Captains of industry, security top brass, both active and retired and politicians from different political parties are set to trade their ties for golf clubs,” said Chiponda.

He said the winner of the tournament will get a two return tickets to Johannesburg, South Africa, while the runner-up will get two return tickets to Harare. The third place prize is dinner for two at a top Bulawayo hotel.State media

ZANU-PF National Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda, said yesterday the revolutionary party is certain that it will retain the Lupane East seat as its opponents are without vision.

The party launched its campaign drive last month and has been holding rallies and also doing door-to-door campaigns ahead of the by-election set for tomorrow.

Matemadanda, who was accompanied by his deputy Omega Hungwe and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor, Paul Mavhima, held two other rallies at St Paul’s and Mhlangamlambo School on Wednesday.

Addressing scores of party supporters at a campaign rally at Daluka in Lupane yesterday, Matemadanda said voting Zanu-PF is a fulfilment of Matabeleland region’s vision pioneered by King Lobengula and Dr Joshua Nkomo.

He challenged party supporters to advance the same vision which he said is rooted in development and denial of colonial rule.

“Other candidates contesting in this election are like bulls without trackers. You can’t even locate them. So, you must be careful when you vote as people of Lupane and Matabeleland North.

“This vote is for King Lobengula who strongly opposed white rule. He passed through this place and died here, but today 100 years later you get someone including some Chiefs saying they cannot vote for this party.

If we were talking about Chaminuka or Nehanda we would understand because they were from Mashonaland, but this is your own King.

“So when you vote Zanu-PF you are fulfilling King Lobengula’s vision because besides him, only PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF resisted white rule which is why the two united unlike other parties. You should have partnership with Zanu-PF which is King Lobengula and the late Vice President Nkomo’s party,” said Matemadanda.State media

By A Correspondent| Zanu Pf Secretary for legal affairs Muntaradzi Paul Mangwana turned pale blue after being quizzed by NPF Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire over why his party had been taken over by the army in a development which had seen Zimbabwe become a military state.

Mawarire said this at a discussion hosted by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, ZimPapers TV Network and the Voice of America dubbed The Chase on Tuesday.

Said Mawarire:

“,,,, we need inclusive dialogue where the army must be present..to tell the nation why they took over power.

We need VP Chiwenga in his full military combat, forget the VP status, he is military, Sibusiso Moyo in his full army combat.

Zanu Pf must tell us why they let the army take control of government, of the party and imposed their candidate.

Zimbabwe is another Sudan, the only difference is its people are not in the streets but in their homes.”

Watch the video below for this and more…

Watch Video- "We need inclusive dialogue, where the army must explain to us why they took over Gvnt, Zanu Pf and imposed their candidate": Jealousy Mawarire pic.twitter.com/ZE7AFjlS5t

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) August 1, 2019

GOVERNMENT has urged the police to intensify deployments and patrols to ensure prevalence of peace and tranquillity in the country.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema said the police should redouble its efforts in fighting crime.

Minister Mathema made the remarks while presenting a Sports Award to the reigning police Sportsperson of the Year and Kobudo World Champion Assistant Inspector Wilfred Mashaya in Harare on Wednesday.

“Notwithstanding the importance of sport, it can only be enjoyed in a peaceful and tranquil society. Policing should promptly respond and adapt to changes in society as well as the ever-increasing public expectations.

“As police, you should redouble your efforts in rooting out the malady of crime and the fear of crime itself. I note with satisfaction that incidences of violent clashes between soccer fans after matches have significantly reduced.

“As a matter of fact, I have it on good authority that the year 2018 has been very peaceful in the sporting arena,” Minister Mathema said.State media

GOVERNMENT has criticised the placement on sanctions of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-designate to Tanzania, Anselem Sanyatwe, and his wife Ms Chido Machona, by the United States on allegations that the former violated human rights.

Ambassador Sanyatwe is a former Commander of the Presidential Guard.
The US seeks to apportion blame on Government security forces for the death of six people during opposition-instigated violence on August 1 last year, which was orchestrated to delegitimise the outcome of the harmonised elections which President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF party won favourably.

The polls had won lots of praise from observer missions and other stakeholders for their peaceful and orderly conduct before opposition MDC-Alliance supporters unleashed mayhem following threats by the party’s leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, and others that they would not accept defeat.

However, President Mnangagwa instituted an international panel of experts to inquire into the incident and has since been implementing its recommendations, including reform, retraining and upskilling of the police service, the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Government said while it was pursuing a policy of re-engagement and rapprochement with some members of the international community, this should not be construed as appeasement.

“The Motlanthe Commission worked in full of view of the public and had its hearings televised and run on different live platforms as the State showed it had nothing to hide. No one was made immune to its subpoena,” Mr Nick Mangwana, the Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, noted in a statement last night.

“When the report of the Commission came out, President Mnangagwa made it public and constituted a Cabinet Committee on Reform to see through the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission as well as other reforms such as Election Observers Missions’ reports,” reads the statement.

Government says this was done in the interest of transparency and justice.
The process of the hearings at the Commission had an important role as a truth-telling exercise.

“It is no doubt that President Mnangagwa marshalled the country through this tragic but fleeting phase, with long-term benefits of peace that no one today can deny.

“We, therefore, take serious umbrage at the posturing of some foreign powers who have taken it upon themselves to invoke actions that are clearly out of sync with the spirit and letter of the Commission whose work was public
and credible,” Mr Mangwana said in reference to the US.

“These powers have arrogated themselves power beyond our processes and in this context a Zimbabwean diplomat and his family has been placed under sanctions for ostensibly violating human rights in relation to the events of August 1, 2018,” said Government.State media

Farai Dziva|Jealousy Mawarire has castigated Lands Minister Perence Shiri for describing MDC MPs as “monkeys.”

There was chaos in Parliament yesterday following Shiri’s remarks.

Commenting on Shiri’s remarks, Mawarire said :
“Characters like Perence Shiri should never have been made ministers.

They need proper rehabilitation from a sordid past before anyone puts them near public office. For the avoidance of sounding exactly like him, I will not ask who is closer to a monkey, the accuser or his targets?”