Farai Dziva|After rigging the 2018 polls, it is now crystal clear that Emmerson Mnangagwa is clueless about transforming the country’s economy, the MDC has said.

See the MDC full statement on the state of affairs in the country.

It is now a year since Zimbabweans voted in the last harmonized elections on 30th July 2018.

We reiterate that the results of the Presidential election as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and as endorsed by the Constitutional Court; were not a true reflection of the will of the people. We further maintain that according to our computation, our candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa emerged as a clear winner in the contest.

One year later, the MDC re-affirms its stance NOT to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa as the duly elected President of Zimbabwe. Further, the MDC notes with serious concern the ever worsening socio-economic and human rights situation in the country during the past year.

Indeed Zimbabweans have had to endure ever increasing prices of basic commodities, endless queues, fuel shortages, water rationing, electricity load shedding and massive unemployment, among other challenges. The shortages and the spiraling prices are just but a symptom of an underlying political crisis of legitimacy.

It is our strong view that the current regime has no capacity to resolve the ever worsening crisis in Zimbabwe and as a way forward, the MDC recommends a clear roadmap as encapsulated in the recently launched RELOAD strategy document.

As part of addressing the deeper political crisis, RELOAD recommends the following five steps as a prerequisite for a return to legitimacy, confidence and normalcy in Zimbabwe:

1. Pressure (Political and Diplomatic)
   Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives ordinary Zimbabweans the right to petition and pressure their government on any issue of concern. The MDC will thus mobilize Zimbabweans across the spectrum for purposes of attaining national consensus and convergence. Attendant to the political pressure is diplomatic pressure in which the region, Africa and the broader international community will be sensitized so that international pressure can be brought to bear for the regime in Harare to realize that there has to be sincere dialogue for the nation to agree on a way out of this mammoth national crisis.
2. National Dialogue
   We envisage sincere and honest dialogue among Zimbabweans to locate a prudent exit point out of this monumental national crisis. As such a credible, bankable, legitimate process of dialogue fully guaranteed by the international community with specific deliverables benchmarks and timelines through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator is a must.
3. National Transitional Mechanism
   The sincere dialogue must yield an agreed framework and agreed positions that must spur this country from the current political and economic gridlock arising out of a pilfered plebiscite. The terms and details around this National Transitional Mechanism must be agreed at the dialogue table.
4. Comprehensive Reform Agenda
   Zimbabwe requires comprehensive reforms that include political, economic, security, legal, media and electoral reforms. A robust reform agenda will have to be implemented as a prelude to poising the country towards a genuinely free, fair and credible electoral process.
5. Free and Fair Elections

The holding of a truly free, fair and credible election is paramount to Zimbabwe. It is only such an election that will return the confidence and legitimacy that the country sorely needs so that it takes its rightful place among the family of nations. It thus answers to the legitimacy question that has dogged Zimbabwe since 2000.

The MDC firmly believes that this roadmap will address the deeper crisis of legitimacy that has brought the country and its citizens to the despicable plumbing depths of penury, starvation and suffering

MDC: Change that delivers

Farai Dziva|After rigging the 2018 polls, it is now crystal clear that Emmerson Mnangagwa is clueless about transforming the country’s economy, the MDC has said.

See the MDC full statement on the state of affairs in the country.

It is now a year since Zimbabweans voted in the last harmonized elections on 30th July 2018.

We reiterate that the results of the Presidential election as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and as endorsed by the Constitutional Court; were not a true reflection of the will of the people. We further maintain that according to our computation, our candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa emerged as a clear winner in the contest.

One year later, the MDC re-affirms its stance NOT to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa as the duly elected President of Zimbabwe. Further, the MDC notes with serious concern the ever worsening socio-economic and human rights situation in the country during the past year.

Indeed Zimbabweans have had to endure ever increasing prices of basic commodities, endless queues, fuel shortages, water rationing, electricity load shedding and massive unemployment, among other challenges. The shortages and the spiraling prices are just but a symptom of an underlying political crisis of legitimacy.

It is our strong view that the current regime has no capacity to resolve the ever worsening crisis in Zimbabwe and as a way forward, the MDC recommends a clear roadmap as encapsulated in the recently launched RELOAD strategy document.

As part of addressing the deeper political crisis, RELOAD recommends the following five steps as a prerequisite for a return to legitimacy, confidence and normalcy in Zimbabwe:

1. Pressure (Political and Diplomatic)
   Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives ordinary Zimbabweans the right to petition and pressure their government on any issue of concern. The MDC will thus mobilize Zimbabweans across the spectrum for purposes of attaining national consensus and convergence. Attendant to the political pressure is diplomatic pressure in which the region, Africa and the broader international community will be sensitized so that international pressure can be brought to bear for the regime in Harare to realize that there has to be sincere dialogue for the nation to agree on a way out of this mammoth national crisis.
2. National Dialogue
   We envisage sincere and honest dialogue among Zimbabweans to locate a prudent exit point out of this monumental national crisis. As such a credible, bankable, legitimate process of dialogue fully guaranteed by the international community with specific deliverables benchmarks and timelines through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator is a must.
3. National Transitional Mechanism
   The sincere dialogue must yield an agreed framework and agreed positions that must spur this country from the current political and economic gridlock arising out of a pilfered plebiscite. The terms and details around this National Transitional Mechanism must be agreed at the dialogue table.
4. Comprehensive Reform Agenda
   Zimbabwe requires comprehensive reforms that include political, economic, security, legal, media and electoral reforms. A robust reform agenda will have to be implemented as a prelude to poising the country towards a genuinely free, fair and credible electoral process.
5. Free and Fair Elections

The holding of a truly free, fair and credible election is paramount to Zimbabwe. It is only such an election that will return the confidence and legitimacy that the country sorely needs so that it takes its rightful place among the family of nations. It thus answers to the legitimacy question that has dogged Zimbabwe since 2000.

The MDC firmly believes that this roadmap will address the deeper crisis of legitimacy that has brought the country and its citizens to the despicable plumbing depths of penury, starvation and suffering

MDC: Change that delivers

The grace of the Lord of my father saved me from the jaws of the crocodile. I thank the Lord for my life. #MwariAnonzwa #PropheticProtection pic.twitter.com/vA8JSqNDio

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) July 31, 2019

By A Correspondent| Former Cabinet Minister Ignatius Chombo has never owned shares at MetBank, it has emerged.

This was revealed by his lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku who dismissed as false reports alleging that Chombo was a shareholder at MetBank.

Said Prof Madhuku:

“I am Dr Ignatius Chombo’s lawyer. I am instructed to inform the world as follows: my client does not own and has never owned shares in MetBank. Accordingly, a statement claiming that my client is a MetBank shareholder is wholly false.”

I am Dr Ignatius Chombo 's lawyer. I am instructed to inform the world as follows: my client does not own, and has never owned, shares in Metbank. Accordingly, a statement claiming that my client is a Metbank shareholder is wholly false.

— Prof Lovemore Madhuku (@ProfMadhuku) July 31, 2019

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf’s Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana has told the opposition MDC to wait for 2023 to contest the election adding that contestation for legitimacy ended in July 2018 where his party’s leader got the mandate to rule the country.

Mangwana said this at a discussion hosted by ZimPapers TV Network in Harare Wednesday.

He said:

“2023…That is when we will have another contestation as to who has the right to rule the country. So that issue is not on the negotiating table and will not be on the negotiation table.

We can talk about many other issues but not who has the right to run this country until the next election. That right was given to Zanu Pf through the ballot box.

Let noone kid themselves that Zanu Pf is prepared to negotiate its right to rule. It will not.”

By A Correspondent- Former Director of State Residences, Douglas Tapfuma has been denied bail.

Tapfuma, was arrested Tuesday on allegations of abuse of office after he fraudulently imported personal vehicles using a government privilege.

He has been remanded in custody to the 15th of August 2019. He is the second top government official to be nabbed for corruption after Tourism and hospitality minister Prisca Mupfumira who is also suffering the same fate after she was denied bail and remanded in custody for 21 days..

The attempted abduction alert was raised by the Deputy National Youth Chairperson, Cecilia Chimbiri.

She posted an alert on the attempted abduction of MDC youth wing leader by six armed men adding that they wanted to drag Teererai Obey Sithole into a kombi.

Posted Chimbiri:

“Six men wanted to abduct Obey. One is holding an AK47. We are stuck at the venue like hostages. Please contact the police.

Please rescue us, the men outside are armed call the police. The venue is Avondale.They were closing Obey’s mouth wanting to drag him into the kombi.

Jacob Mafume, we can’t find him as people were shouting for Obey’s rescue. I last saw him running.”

Watch the video below for this and more.

The attempted abduction happened shortly after the MDC members had finished a live discussion dubbed The Chase, organised by ZimPapers Television Network, Zimbabwe Council of Churches and Voice Of America.

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

By A Correspondent- A freedom bid by a jailed Chipinge white commercial farmer who shot his employee hit a brick wall after he was denied bail.

Joubert Francois Johannes (36) of Lushon Farm was jailed for 2 years last week over the shooting incident.

He recently appeared before senior Chipinge magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware seeking bail.

In denying him bail the magistrate said the accused person was sentenced to an effective 18 months jail term and if released on bail he was likely to abscond.

Mr Nembaware also noted that the accused did not have prospects of success on appeal.

He added that even though the State had consented to bail, the discretion still lies with the court since it is not bound by the consent order.

Defence lawyer Mr Langton Mhungu of Kwirira and Associates told the court that he would appeal against the court’s decision at the Masvingo High Court.-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent| LEGENDARY film director Davies Guzha said they are just creative artists who have no intentions to fight the State and Government.

He said they have been in the industry for more than 30 years and are well versed with the statutes that guide the industry.

Guzha was speaking at a press briefing following his arrest along with three of his colleagues over the weekend.

Guzha, the owner of the Theatre in the Park, Peter Churu, Kudakwashe Bwititi, and Tendai Maduwa were arraigned before Harare Magistrates’ court for allegedly releasing the film Lord of Kush without the approval of the censorship board.

“Our arrest represents an unfortunate low in the relationship between the creative sector and state governance systems in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe Republic Police were clumsy in the way that they carried out their mandate in this instance and it is our belief that this was an abuse of their constitutional powers and a blatant violation of our artistic and constitutional freedoms.

“The last time we had a run in with the police was with the last dispensation.

“We are extremely familiar with the censorship act by being in business for the last 24 years and myself having been a producer for over 35 years, so I am pretty familiar with those acts.

“We had really hoped to move the country forward and paint a positive picture for our country which we really believed in.

“So we are very clear as Zimbabweans and we care about this country,” he said.

Added Guzha:

“We are just artists, tiri macreatives, taane makore tirimo musector umu, we are simply known as for this, as vanhu vaye vaye vemafirimu, vetheatre.

“But I am sure we will be having dialogue, we are here to create employment, to enable the cultural and creative industry kuti zviite.

“Asi dai tanga tichiita zviri untoward, tiri kungoita zvatangotaura kuti ndozvatiri kuita.”

Guzha said Rooftop Promotions has been in business since 1986.

“When you have been in business for many years you become very familiar with almost every other statutes that applies to our sector.

“Having survived during the time when it was difficult munguva yavaMugabe there is no way we can become clumsy in this era.

“We also know there are things exist in the constitution and as producers we are familiar

“Through the creative and cultural sector we need each other, if we have any hope of repairing the image of the country.

“The fastest way of repairing the image of this country is through this industry.

“The creativity and cultural industry has zero interface with the president’s office and we received a call from the embassy telling us that whatever we were about to show could be a security threat.

“We told them that they should be in touch with foreign affairs rather coming to us before they highlighted the concern.”

The veteran producer said they didn’t interface with the Censorship board.

“We will leave that for August 26 when the trial begins and we will get to the bottom of this.

“We want to view this incident and we will not allow anybody to come and destroy good sentiments.

“We will not censor our work, because if we didn’t censor it during the most difficult era of former president Robert Mugabe why now, we remain committed and resolute, we will still continue to express our self without limits.”

The film producer Tendai Muduwa said:

“Lord of Push is a work of fiction, it’s not a documentary film inspired by a real incident that happened in Pakistan.

“All the characters are fiction just like Black Panther and we have never in any way become a threat to the leadership, politics of either Zimbabwe or Pakistan but we are social commenters who can make films out of inspiration.

“Why this film in particular yet we have many films.

“We actually believe that arts industry is where other industries fits in and we have high opportunities to employ.

“This is the industry which be the enemy of the State but we are rather contributing and creating employment.”

Theatre in the Park manager Peter Churu said:

“We are not at war with our government and we have a respectful and mutual discussion with officers from cabinet and president’s office.

“They were satisfied with what we told them and they even said they would do their own reports before giving us a go ahead.

“They were understanding on the facts we laid on the table,” he said.

The film is centred on a diplomatic family in Kush and the family is Christian family in Muslim economy. In the running of the story there is a mother to the ambassador who is Christian but teaches the children in the Islamic region which created a conflict with the Islamic religion leading to the fight of the extremists groups.-HMetro

By A Correspondent- The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Perrance Shiri reportedly 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.

Commenting on Shiri’s remarks, former spokesperson of the Robert Mugabe-linked National Patriotic Front, Jealousy Mawarire wrote on Twitter:

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?

A city woman allegedly caught her co-tenant coming from her bedroom semi-n_aked whilst her husband was home.

Temptation Chitewe was seeking a protection order against Christina Kudambo, whom she accused of being a prostitute

Chitewe told the court that she was not comfortable with Kudambo’s efforts to seduce her husband by wearing risque outfits when he was around.

”We stay in the same house, and she is in the habit of walking around wearing exposing clothes when my husband is there. This last month I saw her coming from my bedroom clad in a nightdress and she said she was looking for her shoes. Her husband passed away six months ago and she is taking advantage of that to walk around semi-n_ude,” said Chitewe.

In response, Kudambo told the court that she entered Chitewe’s bedroom looking for her shoe, which had been stolen by her son.

”She is accusing me of being a prostitute but I am not. Your Worship, I used to walk around the house in a nightdress when my husband was still alive and I cannot change that because he is no more.”

Presiding magistrate Tafadzwa Miti granted the peace and protection order in favour of Chitewe. 

Kudambo was then ordered not to walk around dressed in a nightdress.-HMetro

It is now a year since Zimbabweans voted in the last harmonized elections on 30th July 2018.

We reiterate that the results of the Presidential election as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and as endorsed by the Constitutional Court; were not a true reflection of the will of the people.

We further maintain that according to our computation, our candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa emerged as a clear winner in the contest.

One year later, the MDC re-affirms its stance NOT to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa as the duly elected President of Zimbabwe.

Further, the MDC notes with serious concern the ever-worsening socio-economic and human rights situation in the country during the past year.

Indeed Zimbabweans have had to endure ever-increasing prices of basic commodities, endless queues, fuel shortages, water rationing, electricity load shedding and massive unemployment, among other challenges.

The shortages and the spiralling prices are just but a symptom of an underlying political crisis of legitimacy.

It is our strong view that the current regime has no capacity to resolve the ever-worsening crisis in Zimbabwe and as a way forward, the MDC recommends a clear roadmap as encapsulated in the recently launched RELOAD strategy document.

As part of addressing the deeper political crisis, RELOAD recommends the following five steps as a prerequisite for a return to legitimacy, confidence and normalcy in Zimbabwe:

1. Pressure (Political and Diplomatic)
Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives ordinary Zimbabweans the right to petition and pressure their government on any issue of concern.

The MDC will thus mobilize Zimbabweans across the spectrum for purposes of attaining national consensus and convergence.

Attendant to the political pressure is diplomatic pressure in which the region, Africa and the broader international community will be sensitized so that international pressure can be brought to bear for the regime in Harare to realize that there has to be sincere dialogue for the nation to agree on a way out of this mammoth national crisis.

2. National Dialogue
We envisage sincere and honest dialogue among Zimbabweans to locate a prudent exit point out of this monumental national crisis.

As such a credible, bankable, legitimate process of dialogue fully guaranteed by the international community with specific deliverables benchmarks and timelines through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator is a must.

3. National Transitional Mechanism
The sincere dialogue must yield an agreed framework and agreed positions that must spur this country from the current political and economic gridlock arising out of a pilfered plebiscite.

The terms and details around this National Transitional Mechanism must be agreed at the dialogue table.

4. Comprehensive Reform Agenda
Zimbabwe requires comprehensive reforms that include political, economic, security, legal, media and electoral reforms. A robust reform agenda will have to be implemented as a prelude to poising the country towards a genuinely free, fair and credible electoral process.

5. Free and Fair Elections

The holding of a truly free, fair and credible election is paramount to Zimbabwe. It is only such an election that will return the confidence and legitimacy that the country sorely needs so that it takes its rightful place among the family of nations. It thus answers to the legitimacy question that has dogged Zimbabwe since 2000.

The MDC firmly believes that this roadmap will address the deeper crisis of legitimacy that has brought the country and its citizens to the despicable plumbing depths of penury, starvation and suffering

MDC: Change that delivers

By A Correspondent- MDC VP Tendai Biti has queried why government has continuously been overspending since 2014 urging the Finance minister Prof Mthuli Mthuli to present to parliament a Bill of Condonation.

Biti said this at parliament Tuesday:

“…The second issue that concerned us were budget deficits.  The Government has been running budget deficits since 2014, starting with a modest budget deficit of $380 million in 2014 to $2.8 billion in 2018.  

Mr. Speaker, when Parliament sits to approve a Budget, we approve proposals that come from the Minister of Finance in disposing of its constitutional functions defined in Section 304/305 of the Constitution.  It is Government itself which says we want to spend $2 billion or $4 billion.  

It is an abuse of this Parliament when Government then proceeds to spend money outside that approved Budget but that can happen.  Mr. Speaker Sir, that is allowed in our law but when that happens, the Minister of Finance must come up with a bill of condonation to ask for forgiveness from this Hon. House for spending outside the limit that is given in the Appropriation Act, also known as the Budget.  

We are disturbed as a Committee that since 2014, the Government has been spending outside the Budget, running a budget deficit which at times has run up to more than 100% but has not come to this august House for condonation.  There are two things that must happen Mr. Speaker Sir.”

By A Correspondent- Doug Coltart, a human rights lawyer and son to the former Education Minister and current MDC Treasurer, David Coltart, says that he does not regret representing ZANU PF bigwigs who were under the cosh during the Robert Mugabe-era.

Coltart represented the controversial ZANU PF MP for Goromonzi West, Energy Mutodi and War ZANU PF MP for Gokwe Central, Victor Matemadanda in 2017.

Writing on microblogging site Twitter on Wednesday, Coltart said:

I was part of the legal team who represented Energy Mutodi and Victor Matemadanda when they were being persecuted by G40 in 2017. We did so because their rights were being violated. Now they’re in power they turn around and threaten to kill citizens for exercising their rights.

When Mutodi was detained at Harare Central, I asked him: “If things go your way and you come to power, will this experience change the way you do things?” He responded “Yes, we have to do things differently. People shouldn’t be persecuted for exercising their rights.”

While I was sitting with Matemadanda when he was detained at Harare Central, he told me and the police officers: “This is what we went to war to fight against, the violation of human rights. What is being done by this Government is the same as what was done by the Rhodesians.”

I don’t regret representing either of them. Human rights violations are human rights violations, and we have to fight against them no matter who the victims and perpetrators are. I’m just sad they’ve forgotten so quickly what it’s like to be on the receiving end.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said that it has secured the release of one Tinashe Dembo who had been in detention for more than a month.

Dembo was arrested for allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he said that he had failed to fix the economy.

In a statement, ZLHR said:

“In Mutare, ZLHR Lawyers rescues Tinashe Dembo by securing his release from prison, where he had been detained for more than one month after he was arrested and charged with insulting President Mnangagwa for stating that he had failed to fix the economy and that the price of beer had gone up.”

Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eng Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa is still receiving her salary and full benefits a year after being suspended, ZINARA board chair Michael Madanha has confirmed.

Speaking before a public accounts committee, Madanha said Chamisa resisted a handsome payout which had been offered to her as a way of bringing the matter to conclusion.

He was responding to a question by committee chair, Harare East Member of Parliament, Tendai Biti on the rampant corporate governance flaws within ZINARA.

“Chamisa is still receiving her salary and full benefits because we are yet to finalise her disciplinary proceedings. Furthermore, she is participating in a court case. We offered the former CEO a package which she turned down as she superintended over most of the issues that are now haunting ZINARA. We have since handed over the matter to our lawyers who are working on the matter which they have promised to bring to finality in the coming days. Unfortatley it has taken so long because due diligence has to be followed,” he said.

Chamisa was suspended in June 2018 after she allegedly instituted the suspension and disciplinary hearings of Simon Tanharika and former administration and human resources director, Precious Murove without the approval of then minister Joram Gumbo.

However, Chamisa claims Gumbo interfered with the disciplinary proceeding of ZINARA executives to protect them.

Chamisa also claims she was suspended as punishment for her refusal to payout a kick back to South African firm, Neo Africa. The payout of $5.2mln had been set as a prerequisite for ZINARA to be able to access a 150mln loan from ZB Bank.

Neo Africa was also implicated in a 2012 Corruption Watch report over a R3million bribe scam in a Johannesburg tender scandal. Chamisa said there was no justification for the involvement of a third party in a transaction between ZINARA and ZB bank.

Gumbo has since been moved and is now the minister of state in the president’s office in charge of implementation and monitoring.

Madanha said the parastatal is currently resolving its Human resource challenges starting by filling in vacant positions. ZINARA has since held 5 interviews for the positions of Corporate Secretary, Finance Director, Technical Director and Audit manager. He said the state entity has since put in place a robust human resources policy which has been approved by the board.

Business connect

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has warned of more shock arrests, declaring that nobody will be spared in the effort to root out endemic graft costing the country billions of dollars.

Speaking in a no-holds barred one-on-one interview on Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) platform In Conversations with Trevor, which will be broadcast this afternoon on HStv, Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said there would be more shock arrests, especially in connection with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) forensic audit report which has already claimed the scalp of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira.

“From the NSSA report, more people are going to be arrested. Of course, I am not going to tell you the names of the people because I am bound by ethics, but

arrest, we want to be sure that the persons are likely guilty. We don’t want to harass people who are innocent,” she said.

Mupfumira’s arrest came at a time Zimbabwe has witnessed top government officials being arrested and released, while their cases crumbled thereafter in what has been dubbed the “catch-and-release” season.

However, Matanda-Moyo said her team was doing things differently, promising that there will be no “catch-and-release” during her tenure because of tight investigations.

“No catch-and-release, and I promise the nation that. I have insisted in thorough investigations. The investigation department will investigate the matter. Before it goes anywhere, it’s vetted by our legal department here. Then the legal department looks at all the other elements of the case, whether they have been proven through the evidence in the docket,” she said.

“Once they are satisfied, that docket will be taken to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Again, at the NPA before the docket is taken to court, they also look at the evidence and if they feel that there is anything missing, they refer it back for investigation. That is the system we have put in place. That is the end of catch-and-release.”

Speaking tough, Matanda-Moyo said chances of getting a conviction against Mupfumira were high because Zacc was building a “rock-solid case”.

“According to us, the evidence that we are getting will be enough to secure a conviction, although we can’t go into details of the matter because the matter is sub judice,” she said.

The Zacc chairperson read the riot act against the Zanu PF youth league, warning them to stop grandstanding and holding Press conferences in the name of fighting corruption.

“That kind of behaviour doesn’t help anybody. As I have said in my Press statements, you cannot deal with corruption at a Press conference. Allegations of corruption must involve evidence,” Matanda-Moyo said.

“It’s not about tarnishing people’s names. People have got rights too. So, if you don’t have evidence against anyone, there is no reason (to hold) a Press statement and then list people as corrupt. As Zacc, we do not support that. We actually call upon everyone who has allegations of corruption to report the matters for proper investigation and not to go about at a press conference.”

She warned that Zacc would crack the whip if the Zanu PF youth league continued its “naming and shaming” of alleged corrupt people without providing evidence.

“We have called those people to come forward with the evidence they have. So, far they have not come forward with the evidence and if they continue, we will be forced to take action as Zacc,” the Zacc boss warned.

“We don’t want to look like we are following somebody’s script. To me, it looks like they are actually trying to frustrate our work as Zacc and I am not impressed by that at all.”

In Conversations with Trevor is a weekly show hosted by AMH chairman Trevor Ncube and currently running on HStv and all other AMH digital platforms.

One show, in a month, is recorded in front of a live audience. Three shows are recorded in studio or offices or homes of interviewees.

It is non-partisan and will cover all political views and opinions.

The next In Conversations with Trevor, to be recorded in front of a live audience, will be tomorrow, and the guest is Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi. There are going to be more shocks coming, yes. We are still investigating because before

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Perrance Shiri reportedly called opposition MD 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.

Commenting on Shiri’s remarks, former spokesperson of the Robert Mugabe-linked National Patriotic Front, Jealousy Mawarire wrote on Twitter: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?

Jane Mlambo|Former Director of State Residences, Douglas Tapfuma has been denied bail.

He has been remanded in custody to the 15th of August 2019.

Tapfuma was arrested yesterday on allegations of abuse of office after he fraudulently imported personal vehicles using a government privileges.

He is the second top government official to be nabbed for corruption after Tourism and hospitality minister Prisca Mupfumira.

More to follow…

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today spent valuable time commissioning public transport buses in Harare leaving many questioning if his desk did not have anything needing urgent attention.

Critics blasted the President who earlier this year commissioned another similar delivery of the same buses.

Mnangagwa was proud of the event in his social media postings.

“This morning we commissioned a further 47 new ZUPCO buses as we work to mitigate the transport challenges felt by our communities,” said Mnangagwa.

“We are building a modern public transport system, a key component of a growing economy, which enables citizens to travel cheaply and efficiently.”

Watch video of the event downloading below:

Jane Mlambo| Parliament has postponed the mid-term budget review session in what appears like a move to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa a chance to open a low note event in the Midlands city of Gweru.

Mnangagwa who this morning officially commissioned 47 ZUPCO buses has also left Harare for Gweru to officially open the 2019 National Youth Games.

The country is facing a myriad of challenges and the mid-term budget review is particularly important as it is expected to bring relief to the economy which is struggling due to inflation.

Part of the crowd eagerly waiting for the official opening of the @ZNYPGames the President @edmnangagwa @KirstyCoventry @TitanLaw1 #everyyoutheveryright @HeraldZimbabwe @StarfmZimbabwe @centralradio958 @ChronicleZim pic.twitter.com/AXhRWi5mEA

— SRC Zimbabwe (@ZimbabweSrc) July 31, 2019

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has said his government is in the process of building a modern public transport system.

Mnangagwa made the remarks after commissioning a fleet of 47 ZUPCO buses.

“This morning we commissioned a further 47 new ZUPCO buses as we work to mitigate the transport challenges felt by our communities.

We are building a modern public transport system, a key component of a growing economy, which enables citizens to travel cheaply and efficiently,”said Mnangagwa.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

Farai Dziva|After rigging the 2018 polls, it is now crystal clear that Emmerson Mnangagwa is clueless about transforming the country’s economy, the MDC has said.

See the MDC full statement on the state of affairs in the country.

It is now a year since Zimbabweans voted in the last harmonized elections on 30th July 2018.

We reiterate that the results of the Presidential election as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and as endorsed by the Constitutional Court; were not a true reflection of the will of the people. We further maintain that according to our computation, our candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa emerged as a clear winner in the contest.

One year later, the MDC re-affirms its stance NOT to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa as the duly elected President of Zimbabwe. Further, the MDC notes with serious concern the ever worsening socio-economic and human rights situation in the country during the past year.

Indeed Zimbabweans have had to endure ever increasing prices of basic commodities, endless queues, fuel shortages, water rationing, electricity load shedding and massive unemployment, among other challenges. The shortages and the spiraling prices are just but a symptom of an underlying political crisis of legitimacy.

It is our strong view that the current regime has no capacity to resolve the ever worsening crisis in Zimbabwe and as a way forward, the MDC recommends a clear roadmap as encapsulated in the recently launched RELOAD strategy document.

As part of addressing the deeper political crisis, RELOAD recommends the following five steps as a prerequisite for a return to legitimacy, confidence and normalcy in Zimbabwe:

1. Pressure (Political and Diplomatic)
   Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives ordinary Zimbabweans the right to petition and pressure their government on any issue of concern. The MDC will thus mobilize Zimbabweans across the spectrum for purposes of attaining national consensus and convergence. Attendant to the political pressure is diplomatic pressure in which the region, Africa and the broader international community will be sensitized so that international pressure can be brought to bear for the regime in Harare to realize that there has to be sincere dialogue for the nation to agree on a way out of this mammoth national crisis.
2. National Dialogue
   We envisage sincere and honest dialogue among Zimbabweans to locate a prudent exit point out of this monumental national crisis. As such a credible, bankable, legitimate process of dialogue fully guaranteed by the international community with specific deliverables benchmarks and timelines through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator is a must.
3. National Transitional Mechanism
   The sincere dialogue must yield an agreed framework and agreed positions that must spur this country from the current political and economic gridlock arising out of a pilfered plebiscite. The terms and details around this National Transitional Mechanism must be agreed at the dialogue table.
4. Comprehensive Reform Agenda
   Zimbabwe requires comprehensive reforms that include political, economic, security, legal, media and electoral reforms. A robust reform agenda will have to be implemented as a prelude to poising the country towards a genuinely free, fair and credible electoral process.
5. Free and Fair Elections

The holding of a truly free, fair and credible election is paramount to Zimbabwe. It is only such an election that will return the confidence and legitimacy that the country sorely needs so that it takes its rightful place among the family of nations. It thus answers to the legitimacy question that has dogged Zimbabwe since 2000.

The MDC firmly believes that this roadmap will address the deeper crisis of legitimacy that has brought the country and its citizens to the despicable plumbing depths of penury, starvation and suffering

MDC: Change that delivers

Farai Dziva|A Masvingo based political analyst, Jeffryson Chitando, has said Auxillia Mnangagwa should focus on fixing the economy instead of wasting energy on pushing for a national dress code.

Speaking at Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Monday, Mrs Mnangagwa said:
“What brings us together today is a subject of great national importance which should have been concluded over the past 39 years of our independence.

As the mother of the nation, I am convinced that all Zimbabweans regardless of colour, creed, sex, age or location will be willing and keen to contribute to this national project involving my full participation.
The dress should reflect a lot more on our traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations.

It should also be appropriate for social and religious gatherings.

It should give us our national identity that conveys a message that I am Zimbabwean without even saying a word.”

However, Chitando said:”The First Lady has to get her priorities right, at this juncture the nation desperately needs to come out of the economic crisis.

Mrs Mnangagwa must work on how to fix the economy.”

Chivhayo threatens to unleash Van Damme style 'flying kick' on anyone who ask about the ZESA money he squandered without delivering the project. ZACC where are you when criminals are bragging like this.. pic.twitter.com/WT8SYGcV4A

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 31, 2019

Tajamuka/ Sesjikile leader Promise Mkwananzi has revealed that he has engaged his lawyer Job Sikhala to establish why he is wanted by the police before presenting himself to clear his name.

He said:

I have asked my lawyer @JobWiwa to enquire and hear what it is that the police want of me. If required, he will accompany me to the police station to clear my name. I'm aware of attempts to criminalize and delegitimize the works of Human Rights Defenders by the GoZ. pic.twitter.com/vEL7sLqUm6

— Promise Mkwananzi (@pmkwananzi) July 31, 2019

Media Reports and Enquiries on the alleged arrest of Permanent Secretary Munesu Munodawafa refer:
These reports are incorrect. PS Munodawafa is assisting ZACC as a witness on a high profile case which is already before the courts. pic.twitter.com/ET0L0tgdk5

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) July 31, 2019

MDC vice president, Tendai Biti, says that the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw section 40 from the Marriages Bills is wrong and ill-advised.

Biti argues that the Zimbabwe public and the Parliament itself must debate the clause. Writing on Twitter, he said:

Surely the regime’s cabinet has no right to withdraw section 40 of the Marriages Bill from Parliament.

The Zimbabwe public and Parliament itself must debate the clause.

Civil partnerships are a hard reality and they can not be deleted from Zimbabwe’s geo-space. Law must deal with the same.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet resolved to withdraw the controversial clause from the Marriages Bill.

The clause would have, among a plethora of other things, licenced civil partnerships which are not classified as marriage under current laws.

By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said his government is in the process of building a modern transport system in order to ensure that citizens travel cheaply and efficiently.

Mnangagwa said this soon after commissioning 47 new ZUPCO buses in Harare.

This morning we commissioned a further 47 new ZUPCO buses as we work to mitigate the transport challenges felt by our communities.

We are building a modern public transport system, a key component of a growing economy, which enables citizens to travel cheaply and efficiently pic.twitter.com/MPlCfJxtFO

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) July 31, 2019

By A Correspondent| Residents of Alaska Township in Chinhoyi have gone for 20 years without tapped water, forcing households to fetch supplies from disused mine shafts.

Thousands of residents currently face the risk of contracting waterborne diseases, as Chinhoyi Municipality battles to provide water to the former mining settlements of Alaska and Sheckleton.

A pump station at Chidzuwi Dam, which used to provide water to the area, broke down and council has, for years, failed to resuscitate it.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, organised by Women Coalition in Zimbabwe, an Alaska resident, Evelyn Guvaza lamented the perennial water challenges that have seen residents drinking water from disused mine shafts.

Guvaza expressed fears that the water might also be contaminated with cyanide, mercury or other harmful substances used in mining operations.

“The last time we had water flowing out of our taps was in 1998, but it seems council has failed to solve this problem,” she said.

“Residents of Alaska have been left with no option but to draw water from mine shafts, but we are not sure if the water is safe because it might be
contaminated.”

Chinhoyi Municipality engineer Simon Marara said council needed to budget for the construction of a new water treatment and pump station dedicated for the two
suburbs, which are not connected to the town’s main water and sewer reticulation system.

“As council, we need to recast our finances to create another pump station for Alaska and Sheckleton, but unfortunately, the same people are not paying rates
to council, but expect service provision,” he said.

The engineer said the former owner of the mine settlements, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, was to blame for the residents’ woes becaucse the firm
failed to develop infrastructure to service the area.

Marara said council had since approached a German development partner, GIZ, which has pledged materials to revamp the dilapidated pump station at Chidzuwi Dam.-Newsday

THE opposition MDC has described as disappointing utterances by war veteran leaders threatening violence, claiming such recklessness ultimatums will only cause alarm and despondency.

Zanu PF politburo members —Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and her deputy Victor Matemadanda, whose ministry is responsible for war veterans affairs — have threatened that the army would be deployed to crush any uprising.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC said the war veterans must stop causing despondency and behave maturely.

This came as the opposition, labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), and other civic organisations were planning to mount pressure on the
government over the rising cost of living.

“As war heroes and senior citizens of this country, war veterans must always seek to promote peace and stability and they must conduct themselves in a very
peaceful and engaging manner,” party spokesperson Daniel Molokele said.

“They must avoid engaging themselves in such a way that causes alarm and despondency in this country. This applies to everyone whether they are in government
or not, whether they are in a position of public authority or not.

“We, as Zimbabweans, are a peace-loving country and we expect our senior citizens and war veterans to take a lead and ensure that there is peace and stability
in this country.”

Molokele said one of the ethos of the liberation struggle was to promote freedom of expression and, as such, they were not intimidated in any way and would
exercise their constitutional rights without any fear.

He said the Zanu PF regime has thrived on violence and the war veterans statements should be viewed as representing the bigger behaviour of the ruling party.

The MDC and the ZCTU, however, said they would not be cowed by threats from war veterans and Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema that the army would not fold
its arms while the country slides into anarchy.

“Obviously, as a party, we are very disappointed by the officials who issue those threats. We reserve our right to follow the Constitution and that is a right
that every Zimbabwean is entitled to,” Molokele said.

“As the MDC, we are not affected at all and we are going forward with our plans to freely express our concerns about the direction our country is going and the
need to change the political discourse of this country.”

The MDC spokesperson added: “We really urge everyone who is in a position of authority to refrain from such statements because they are a threat to stability
and peace in this country.”

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said it was “quite sad and an unfortunate confirmation” that the country has taken a wrong turn.

“There is no government that must celebrate the killing of its citizens. It is appalling,” Mutasa said.

“Workers grievances are legitimate and the government must focus on resolving them not on sharpening its arms against defenceless citizens.

“Workers and the majority of the citizens are suffering. Many are starving, failing to pay rentals and facing evictions. Many cannot access medical care and are dying in their homes.”

He also said workers should be allowed to peacefully air out their grievances, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Instead of opening the armoury, the government must open channels of genuine dialogue. Instead of killing citizens, it must kill poverty and hunger that is stalking the majority of citizens,” Mutasa said.

“We will go back to the workers and consult on this new brazen threat. We are, however, sure that workers will proceed with p
eaceful forms of protests. For history teaches us that no form of repression managed to stop people from raising their legitimate grievances and from attaining their freedom.”

-Newsday

Today marks exactly one year after the July 31 2018 harmonised elections which eventually declared President Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner.

Members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the general public have taken to Twitter to reminisce on the events of that day as the nation waited anxiously for the announcement of results.

Below are some of the Twitter messages;

Exactly a year ago we wuz robbed. A harmonized election was stolen through a harmonized effort in which a captured Judiciary played its part in pick-pocketing the people's will.The net result was illegitimacy.

— Luke Tamborinyoka (@luke_tambo) July 31, 2019

Exactly a year ago we wuz robbed. A harmonized election was stolen through a harmonized effort in which a captured Judiciary played its part in pick-pocketing the people's will.The net result was illegitimacy.

— Luke Tamborinyoka (@luke_tambo) July 31, 2019

At this time last year a brazen and massive rigging of the 2018 presidential election was fully underway at @ZECzim. The rigging precipitated the Harare Massacre on 1 August 2018. It is mandatory, in the interest of posterity and justice, to tell the full story of what happened! pic.twitter.com/POQEmgj3oY

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 31, 2019

By Luke Batsirai Tamborinyoka| The High Court ruled in a telling judgement last week that Zimbabwe’s public media were biased in favor of Zanu PF in the July 2018 elections and should strive to ensure that they comply with the Constitutional obligation that exhorts them to be impartial and to present divergent views.

It is trite to point out that in every election the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and the Zimbabwe Newspapers parrot the Zanu PF voice even though they are required by the Constitution to be impartial as they are funded by the taxpayer. 

Zimpapers and the ZBC are by far the biggest media houses in the country and are by the far the largest media concern in the country, owning several newspapers and electronic broadcasting stations respectively. The two media houses are publicly-owned and they have an obligation to reflect the diversity of the very public that owns them by being impartial so as to ensure that Zimbabweans make informed choices, especially during elections.

At the center of the demands by the MDC and the opposition in general over the years has been has been the implementation of a comprehensive reform agenda, including media reforms. Media reform must ensure that the public media do not embed themselves with Zanu PF but that they become impartial and reflect the diversity of Zimbabweans. 

The advent of a new Constitution in 2013, made and affirmed by the people in a referendum, came with clear and explicit provisions that exhorted the public media to conform to the cardinal obligation to impartiality and presentation of divergent views. While the Constitution is clear, the public media have fallen far short when it comes to compliance. 

The High Court last week ordered the public media to stick to the sacred strictures of Constitutionalism. In a landmark ruling, High Court judge Justice Joseph Mafusire ruled that Zimpapers and the Zimbabwe Newspapers had failed their Constitutional obligation for impartiality and presentation of divergent views in the election of 2018. He ordered the public media to exercise impartiality and independence in the editorial content of their broadcasts and other communication. He said they should ensure that their communication do not show bias in favour of one political party and its candidates against the other. 

Mafusire’s judgement has been the simple demand of the MDC since 2013; that the public media must remove themselves from the firm clutches of Zanu PF and must conform to the letter and spirit of Constitutionalism. Even the region, SADC, had given the same order at its summit in Maputo on 15 June 2013 that Zimbabwe must not rush into an election until a conducive environment has been created in the country. However, Zanu PF had contrived the much-vaunted Mawarire case to stampede the nation into a rushed election without the institution of the requisite reforms.

At the center of any truly free and fair election is a neutral and impartial public media that presents all the divergent political views to enable the electorate to make informed choices. However, in Zimbabwe, the public media have thrown best international practice out of then window and have embarrassingly been mere propaganda wings of Zanu PF—in flagrant and brazen violation of the supreme law of the land.

The Constitutional stipulations for impartiality
The Zimbabwe Constitution (2013) is clear that the public media ie. Zimpapers and the ZBC must be impartial and must present divergent views. The ZBC is the country’s biggest broadcaster with a television channel and several radio stations. ZImpapers is the biggest print media house with two daily newspapers and several weekly titles, including provincial newspapers. 

Section 61 makes it clear that all broadcasting and other electronic media of communication have to be independent of control by government or any political or commercial interests. Section 61 (4) (b) and (c) of the Constitution are explicit that publicly-owned media of communication, such as the ZBC and Zimpapers, must be impartial and must present divergent views. 

However, despite these clear and explicit provisions, the ZBC and Zimpapers have parroted the ZANU PF voice ad nauseam, ad infinitum, as if the sacred law of the land did not even exist. It is pertinent to point out that the 2018 election, to which Justice Mafusire’s judgment makes reference, was held under the so-called new dispensation that has tried to mislead Zimbabweans and the world that government has now adopted a new culture.

Added to the provisions under section 61 is yet another provision under section 155 (2) (d) that specifically urges the State to:

provide all all political parties and candidates contesting an election or participating in a referendum with fair and equal access to electronic and print media.

Thus, the behaviour and deportment of Zimpapers and the ZBC is steeped in clear, explicit and unambiguous Constitutional provisions. What we have seen over the years is a nauseating Zanufication of public media houses funded by the taxpayer despite clear provisions that they must be fair, impartial and must present divergent views. 

Justice Mafusire’s ruling has simply echoed these cardinal provisions and going forward, there has to be robust political pressure to ensure compliance with the exhortations of the sacred charter of the land. Any half-hearted, scarfed attempt will not wash. That is the sole reason why the MDC is now calling for peaceful political pressure to ensure the full implementation of a comprehensive reform agenda that, among other things, complies strictly with the supreme law of the land. 

The dictates of regional and international protocols
Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations, the African Union and SADC. As such, this makes the country a party to protocols such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Windhoek Declaration, the African Charter on Broadcasting and the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport. These declarations and protocols require that member States and public institutions respect human rights especially freedom of expression, impartiality and reflection of divergent views. 

The protocols also call for member States to create an enabling environment for media freedom, impartiality, pluralism and diversity. More importantly, most of the above  protocols and declarations set minimum standards for the transformation of State broadcasters into genuine public service broadcasters (PSBs) that are protected against partiality and political interference and whose programming serve not the State but the public interest in its diversified sense. 

It is important to state that there is a world of difference between a State broadcaster and a public service broadcaster. A State broadcaster is owned and controlled by the State while a public broadcaster is owned and controlled by the tax-paying public. In other countries such as South Africa, the board and senior  management of a public broadcaster are employed through a public process that involves Parliament while in Zimbabwe, the State has taken over what in essence should be public as opposed to State institutions. 

The MDC’s tenuous experience with the public media
The MDC’s experience with the public media has been grueling and tortuous. They have overtly and brazenly supported Zanu PF while excoriating and denigrating other political parties, even after the advent of a new Constitution in 2013 with its clear and explicit provisions urging them to be impartial and to present divergent views. 

For example, in its survey of the 2018 elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network revealed that 91 percent of the stories in the public media gave positive coverage to Zanu PF, 9 percent of the coverage was neutral while negative coverage was zero. Of the stories that covered the MDC, 89 percent were negative, 11 percent represented neutral coverage while positive coverage of the MDC stood at zero percent. 

This represents unadulterated and embarrassing partiality.

During the 2013 election, some of the MDC’s paid adverts were never flighted for no apparent reason. We engaged in running arguments with the ZBC after the adverts we had developed and submitted to the ZBC through our advertising were never flighted. Even though we had paid, they were not flighted and to date, the court case we filed against the ZBC has not been heard!

In some cases, the adverts we wanted flighted on specific days were delayed by several days. I was to learn through my moles at ZBC that the adverts were first submitted to a Zanu PF team then led by Jonathan Moyo to enable them to first develop counter-adverts before our own electronic adverts could be flighted. When they were eventually flighted, the ZBC would then immediately flight a counter  Zanu PF advert admonishing the content in our advert , even in instances where our advert was appearing on radio or television for the very first time.

On 5 July 2013, the ZBC covered live Zanu PF’s election launch at Gwanzura stadium in Highfield, Harare. On 6 July 2013, in my capacity as the presidential spokesperson of the MDC and in the spirit of fair and equal coverage, I wrote to the ZBC requesting the same live coverage for our party’s election campaign launch at Rudhaka stadium. The ZBC turned down the request before later agreeing to grant us live coverage provided we paid US$165 000, even though Zanu PF’s campaign launch had been covered for free. 

We refused to pay. And we did not receive the live coverage, in blatant violation of the Constitution that calls for fair and equal coverage to all contesting parties and candidates. 

Ironically, in its verdict after the 2013 polls, the African Union Election Observer Mission report curiously deemed the poll free, fair and credible even after it had made the following damning assessment in its report: 

The AUEM’s emphasis was on the function of the public broadcaster which has a central role in elections in terms of of the AU Charter (2007), to provide a platform for airing political messages or news coverage emanating from all political contestants. Further, the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent political views and opinions. In this regard, the AUEM noted that the national broadcaster tended to provide live and in-depth coverage largely to s single political party.

The public media’s bias had been a long-drawn story even in previous elections. Justice Mafusire’s ruling is a clarion call that the public media has to be stampeded into abiding by the supreme law of the land. 

In 2018, even after the advent of a newConstitution with explicit provisions calling for impartiality, the ZBC and Zimpapers operated simply as Zanu PF megaphones. The MDC Alliance and President Nelson Chamisa were given scant coverage, if any at all while all prime time viewing on ZBC and acres of space in the Zimpapers titles were accorded to  Mr Emerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.

This must stop now.

The public media’s embededness in Zanu PF
Not only did the ZBC and Zimpapers give more than ample coverage to Zanu PF and the ZBC. We even had the embarrassing situation in 2018 where journalists on these stables submitted their CVs expressing their wish to contest as candidates in Zanu PF primary elections against the ethics of journalism and in flagrant violation of the Constitution. Journalists Tendai  Munengwa and Andrew Neshamba both of the ZBC and Garikai Mazara of The Sunday Mail submitted their CVs and ran as candidates in Zanu PF primary elections.  How could practising journalists claim neutrality in cases where they seek to run as candidates of political parties? 

Once you decide to join a political party, you must leave this sacred profession, as I did on 28 October 2005 to join the MDC. That is what ethical and self-respecting journalists do.

The Way forward
The way forward is that we will be doing all it takes to ensure the public media complies with the Constitution. In recent weeks following our appointment as MDC spokespersons, Hon. Fortune Daniel Molokele and I have been moving around various media houses on a familiarization tour. We shall soon be visiting Zimpapers editors and the ZBC management and surely, the Constitutional dictates and Justice Mafusire’s judgment will come up for discussion. 

The public media must serve the public in its diversity, without fear or favor. They must not only provide fair and equal coverage but must ensure the expression of divergent views.

Twelve years ago, even before the advent of a new Constitution, the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe chapter exhorted our public media to present divergent views in line with international best practice:

Zimbabwe is a country with many voices and these must be allowed to  express themselves as part of a holistic nation-building project that does not hold one view as better than the rest. The basic principle of election coverage or political reporting is that all contesting parties and candidates must be given equal opportunities to spell out their programmers to the electorate. In line with this principle, we recommend that in the coverage of plebiscites, the ZBC must give reasonable and equal opportunities to all political parties contesting the elections (MISA 2007:7).

Indeed, this is as it should be.

Conclusion
The next few days are going to be decisive in Zimbabwe. The citizens shall be taking robust practical steps to clamour for their rights. 

Indeed, we shall be peacefully and constitutionally instituting various methods of political pressure to encourage dialogue on a host of issues, including a comprehensive reform agenda in the country. We want genuine reforms, not a half-hearted scarfed attempt to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the international community.

Mugabe may have gone into the political sunset but has Mugabeism as a political culture has remained! 

They lied to the world that they were reforming POSA but the Maintenance of Public Order Bill is just but a POSA in a scarf!

Scarfed reforms will not wash.  

Justice Mafusire’s ruling exhorting Zimpapers and the ZBC to bury their habit and to comply with the Constitution is a breath of fresh air.

There used to be great men of the pen in the public media, great journalists such as Geoff  Nyarota and the late Willie Dzawanda Musarurwa who understood the true role of the public media. 

In one of his stinging editorials, Musarurwa wrote in a Sunday Mail editorial:

A psychophantic press, which showers government leaders with undeserved and worshipful adulation, is as good as Judas Iscariot. It eventually betrays those that it flatters and lulls them into a stupor of complacence and a false sense of infallibility.  

Rest in peace, gallant warrior of the pen! 

Luke Batsirai Tamborinyoka is the deputy national spokesperson of the MDC. He writes here in his official capacity. You can interact with him on his facebook page or on the twitter handle @luke-tambo.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mr Munesu Munodawafa has been picked up by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) as part of government’s fight against corruption.

A senior ZACC official has confirmed the development and said further details will be availed soon.

Mr Munodawafa becomes the third high profile figure to be questioned by ZACC after Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira and former principal director state residences Douglas Tapfuma.

ZACC was recently given arresting powers to help curb rampant corruption in the country.-StateMedia

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

• USD to ZWL$: 9.1856
• ZWL$ to RAND: 1.5442

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Parallel market rates are as follows

USD to ZWL$: 10.40 (Ecocash/Transfer)

USD to ZWL$: 7.50 (Cash)

ZAR to ZWL$: 70 (Ecocash/Transfer)

ZAR to ZWL$: 50 (Cash)

By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF has said that they look forward to re-engaging Western economies including the United States of America and Europe.

Since his ascendancy to power in 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been pushing his diplomatic offensive agenda meant to reengage Zimbabwe with the international community, particularly Western states whose relationship with Zimbabwe had been sour.

Party Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo said that re-engagement was fundamental since it enables the party to deliver on its election promises. Moyo said:

We are looking of course at engaging the international community. We are trying to open the nation for business, we are trying to generate foreign currency, we are trying to create jobs and we are going to achieve what we set in our manifesto, it could take time.

We hope that America and Europe open doors for us, we want to negotiate with them so that we move the country forward.

The party’s manifesto promised “jobs, jobs, jobs”, houses for the citizenry, and the refurbishment of the country’s dilapidated infrastructure.

So far, the results are disappointing. To worsen matters, some challenges which were better before the elections have worsened. The country nor has an acute deficit in fuel, electricity, medicines and food. These in addition to the soaring inflation are mounting pressure on the government.

The opposition MDC blames the government for all ills whilst the ruling ZANU PF is, as usual, blaming sanctions. Moyo said:

We have done so much with a limited budget, sanctions are still with us and natural disasters have also affected us.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mr Munesu Munodawafa has been picked up by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) as part of government’s fight against corruption.

A senior ZACC official has confirmed the development and said further details will be availed soon.

Mr Munodawafa becomes the third high profile figure to be questioned by ZACC after Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira and former principal director state residences Douglas Tapfuma.

ZACC was recently given arresting powers to help curb rampant corruption in the country.

-State Media

From Nelson Chamisa Facebook Update|DAY 3/7 SEEKING THE LORD (WHO PERFORMS WONDERS & MIRACLES) WITH ALL HEART & SOUL …Day 2 successful. Thank you Zimbabwe. We march around Jericho for 7 days and the walls will surely come tumbling down.We first seek God and His righteousness all things will be added unto us. The One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David is faithful. What He opens, no one will shut; and what He shuts, no one will open. God rewards those who diligently and earnestly seek him. Glory be unto God!
Acts 17:27
Job 5:8-9
Matt 7:7-8
Luke 11:9-10
Deut 4 :29-31
Heb 11:6
Matt 6:33
Rev 3:7

Watch video downloading below of Chamisa calling for national prayer.

Zimbabwe’s former freedom fighters, who received gratuities of up to $50,000 each in 1997, are now pressing the government to give them vehicles, specifically Ford Rangers and houses.

They also want President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to increase their 240 Zimbabwe dollar monthly allowances to the prevailing inter-market bank rates.

The fuming war veterans, who have in the past demanded diamond mining concessions and an increases in their allowances, said the government should act urgently to avert a political crisis in the southern Africa nation devastated by poverty exacerbated by a declining economy.

Speaking at a meeting in the Matabeleland South provincial capital, Gwanda, convened by the parliamentary committee on security, the former freedom fighters said they have been reduced to beggars due to the current harsh economic situation in the country.

An irate Witness Sebata, like his colleagues, said they want to live like war veterans in South Africa and Namibia.

“We want all war veterans to get houses in towns, cities and rural areas. We should also get vehicles. Can you (parliamentary committee and government) discuss this issue because as far as I’m concerned last time we had the Third Chimurenga … Sit down and seriously think about our everyday struggles and other issues affecting us. We want action now.”

His views were echoed by several other war veterans, including former Zipra combatant Thuso Maphala, who was drafted into the Zimbabwe National Army soon after the end of the liberation war in 1980.

Maphala said all former freedom fighters are struggling to make ends meet as they are getting an allowance of only 240 Zimbabwe dollars per month.

“Following the introduction of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 (phasing out the use of multiple currency) our allowances was eroded by inter-market bank rates. We were getting $240 which was said to be equal to the American dollar. The money is supposed to be multiplied by nine as currently RTGS$9 is only one dollar when exchanged using inter-market rates. This is the only way out. We are suffering right now.”

Another war veteran, Rido Mpofu, demanded that the government should set a health fund for former freedom fighters so they can seek medical care in neighboring nations.

“I propose that there be a special fund in the Ministry of Health to cater for special illnesses or treatments in case we need to get medical care in neighboring countries. When I go to local hospitals I’m told that we are now only (70-75 years) and therefore we should take it as it is … On the other hand, some people aged 80 or 90 years get special treatment overseas.”

A war veteran, who is now facing eyesight problems, said disabled people who fought in the liberation struggle need to be well-looked after by the government.

“Can the government take care of all the people who are disabled like me? We are failing to take care of ourselves right now. War veterans are suffering and to some of us who are disabled, it’s worse. We get a small allowance which we are supposed to use for buying food, clothes, taking care of our medical needs and other issues. It’s not good enough to cover all these things. We deserve better treatment by the government than what we are going through right now. We fought for this country and therefore we deserve to be treated in a respectful way.”

Some women, who fought alongside their male counterparts in the liberation war, said they are currently unable to take care of their families, get land and enjoy a fair life.

Luckstar Gumbi said, “We are worse off than our male counterparts because we have even lost the A1 farms we were given by the government. Personally, I don’t even have a piece of land to stay with my children. We suffered in the bush (war of liberation) fighting for land which were are now being denied by the authorities because we are women.”

Responding to some of the issues raised by war veterans, Albert Nguluvhe of the parliamentary security committee said he will inform the government about their concerns.

“We have heard what you are saying … We will raise these issues with the relevant authorities. We were all in the bush together but indications are that some people are superior than others. We should all be the same as we fought for this nation.”

The former freedom fighters want to meet with Mnangagwa in an effort to resolve some of the issues they are facing.

The unbudgeted payouts in 1997 resulted in the Zimbabwe dollar losing its value by 70 percent in one day and analysts say the move signaled Zimbabwe’s economic downfall.

VOA

THREE former Zanu PF top politicians have made it into opposition MDC’s national executive council list of people appointed by party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Former Ministers of State for Masvingo Province Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, former Energy Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tracy Mutinhiri have been incorporated into the opposition party’s decision making body between congresses.

Mavhaire and Bhasikiti were kicked out of Zanu PF in 2014 together with former Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Mutinhiri was expelled in 2011 for “engaging in activities that are not in line with Zanu PF” before she joined the MDC.

The full list of the national executive as published by the party is as follows:

National Standing Committee Members

1) President- Advocate Nelson Chamisa
2) Vice President-Prof Welshman Ncube
3) Vice President –Hon Tendai Biti
4) Vice President-Hon Lynnette Karenyi
5) Chairperson- Hon Thabitha Khumalo
6) Deputy Chairperson-Hon Job Sikhala
7) Secretary General- Hon Charlton Hwende
8) Deputy Secretary General- Hon Jameson Timba
9) Deputy Secretary General-Hon Concilia Chinanzvavana
10) Treasurer General- Sen. David Coltart
11) Deputy Treasurer-Sen. Lilian Timveos
12) Organising Secretary- Hon Amos Chibaya
13) Deputy Organising Secretary-Hon Budha Masara
14) Deputy Organising –Hon. Happymore Chidziva
15) Secretary for Communication- Hon Daniel Molokele
16) Deputy secretary for Communication-Hon luke Tamborinyoka
17) Women Chairperson- Hon. Paurina Mpariwa
18) Youth Assembly Chairperson- Hon. Obey Sithole
19) Secretary for Elections- Hon Jacob Mafume
20) Deputy Secretary for Elections-Hon Ellen Shiriyedenga
21) Secretary for Local Government and Devolution-Sen Elias Mudzuri
22) Deputy Secretary for Local Government and Devolution-Hon Clifford Hlatswayo
23) Secretary for International Relations-Hon Gladys Hlatswayo
24) Dep. Secretary for International Relations- Sen. Douglas Mwonzora
25) Secretary for Research and Policy Coordination- Dr Tapiwa Mashakada
26) Deputy Secretary for Research and Policy Coordination- Hon Miriam Mushayi
27) Secretary for Presidential Affairs(Planning and Strategies)- Sen Morgan Komichi
28) Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs(Planning and Strategies)- Hon Murisi Zwizwai

National Executive Members

1) Hon. Takanai Mureyi -Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs
2) Hon. Sesel Zvidzai-Secretary for Projects, Livelihood Entrepreneurship
3) Hon. Morgan Ncube- Secretary for Recruitment and Mobilisation
4) Hon. Roland Bend- Secretary for Minority and Special Needs
5) Hon. -Secretary for War Veterans and Liberation Heroes Affairs
6) Hon. Fadzayi Mahere- Secretary for Education, Sports, Arts & Culture
7) Hon Gideon Shoko- Secretary for Labour & Social Security
8) Dr Henry Madzorera- Secretary for Health & Child Welfare
9) Hon Rusty Norman Mackham- Secretary for Lands & Agriculture
10) Hon George Nkiwane- Secretary for Cadre ship Development & Training
11) Hon Lovemore Chinoputsa- Deputy Secretary for Cadre ship Development
12) Hon Costa Machingauta – Secretary for Intelligence
13) Hon Emmanuel Chimwanda- Secretary for Defence & Security
14) Hon Settlement Chikwinya- Secretary for Transport & Logistics
15) Hon Kucaca Phulu- Secretary for Constitutional & Parliamentary Affairs
16) Hon Innocent Gonese- Secretary for Justice Legal Affairs
17) Hon Brian Dube – Deputy Secretary for Justice Legal Affairs
18) Hon. Rita Ndlovu- Secretary for Domestic (Home) Affairs
19) Hon. Edwin Mushoriwa -Secretary for Industry, Commerce and Trade
20) Hon. Gilbert Kagodora -Secretary for Information, Communication Technology Development
21) Hon. Theresa Makone- Secretary for Tourism & Hospitality
22) Hon. Miriam Matinenga- Secretary for SMEs
23) Hon Joel Gabhuza- Secretary for Mines & Mineral Resources
24) Hon. Maurine Kademaunga- Secretary for Public Service & Social Welfare
25) Hon. Denias Mudzingwa- Secretary for Special Needs, People living with Disabilities and the Disadvantaged
26) Hon. Nicola Watson -Secretary for Environment & Climate Change
27) Hon. Nqobizita Mlilo- Secretary for Ideology
28) Hon. Matewu Mlambo- Secretary for Water, Development & Management
29) Hon Jasmine Toffa- Secretary for Energy & Power Development
30) Sen. Misheck Marava -Secreatry for Tradition and Culture
31) Hon. Blessing Chebundo- Secretary for National Healing and Reconciliation
32) Hon Stewart Mukoyi- Committee Member
33) Hon. Memory Mbondia – Committee Member
34) Hon. Paddington Japajapa- Committee Member
35) Hon. Gift Chimanikire- Committee Member
36) Hon. David Chimhini- Committee Member
37) Hon. Dorcas Sibanda – Committee Member
38) Hon. Kudakwashe Bhasikiti- Committee Member
39) Hon. Gift Banda- Committee Member
40) Hon. Spiwe Ncube- Committee Member
41) Hon. Spiwe Banda- Committee Member
42) Hon. Innocent Zvaipa- Committee Member
43) Hon. Manasa Tsvangirai- Committee Member
44) Hon. Benhilda Zhantali- Committee Member
45) Hon. Mthokozisi Bhebhe- Committee Member
46) Hon. Susan Machuma- Committee Member
47) Hon. Patson Dzamara- Committee Member
48) Hon. Evelyn Masaiti- Committee Member
49) Hon. Sipho Dube- Committee Member
50) Hon. Mark Valley- Committee Member
51) Hon Tendeukai Matara- Committee Member
52) Hon. Miriam Chakabuda- Committee Member
53) Hon. Edmore Marima- Committee Member
54) Dr Oliver Kapepa- Committee Member
55) Hon. Faith Kamutsunga- Committee Member
56) Hon. Mary Gwature- Committee Member
57) Hon. Tonderai Samhu- Committee Member
58) Hon. Sekai Mungani- Committee Member
59) Hon. Sophia Gwasira-Committee Member
60) Hon. Earthrage Kureva- Committee Member
61) Hon. Fradreck Makombe-Committee Member
62) Hon. Herbert Zinyama- Committee Member
63) Hon. Tracy Mutinhiri- Committee Member
64) Hon. Wunganai Tapfumanei- Committee Member
65) Hon. Violet Moeketsi- Committee Member
66) Hon. Voice Chinake- Committee Member
67) Hon. Fidelis Mugari- Committee Member
68) Hon. Fidelis Karambamuchero- Committee Member
69) Hon. Emma Muzvondiwa- Committee Member
70) Hon. Cephas Zimuti- Committee Member
71) Hon. Beatina Majoni- Committee Member
72) Hon Francisco Masendeke- Committee Member
73) Hon. Anna Mpofu- Committee Member
74) Hon. Revai Muguti- Committee Member
75) Hon. Morgan Femai- Committee Member
76) Hon. Rangarirai Mutingwende- Committee Member
77) Hon. Eric Murai- Committee Member
78) Dr. Ruth Labode- Committee Member
79) Hon. Jealous Sansole- Committee Member
80) Hon. Ishmael Dube- Committee Member
81) Hon. Eslina Phiri- Committee Member
82) Hon. Mqabuko Ndlovu- Committee Member
83) Hon. Velisiwe Nkomo- Committee Member
84) Hon. Nohlanhla Mlotshwa- Committee Member
85) Hon. Akin Moyo-Committee Member
86) Hon. Kunashe Muchemwa-Committee Member
87) Hon. Grace Mathe- Committee Member
88) Hon. Desmond Makaza- Committee Member
89) Hon. Editor Matamisa- Committee member
90) Hon. Piniel Denga-Committee Member
91) Hon. Graham Nish-Committee Member
92) Hon. Agnes Mloyi- Committee Member
93) Hon. Felix Mafa- Committee Member
94) Hon. Giles Mutsekwa- Committee Member
95) Hon. Cephas Makuyana- Committee Member
96) Hon. James Chidhakwa- Committee Member
97) Hon. James Makore- Committee Member
98) Hon. Gilbert Marembo- Committee Member
99) Hon. Rosewitta Madzivire- Committee Member
100) Hon. Dzikamai Mavhaire- Committee Member
101) Hon. Gladys Masuku- Committee Member
102) Hon. Valentine Ziswa- Committee Member
103) Dr. Bekithemba Mpofu- Committee Member
104) Hon. Melphine Gwabani- Committee Member
Assembly of Women Representatives
105) Hon.Bascilia Majaya
106) Hon. Virginia Muradzikwa
107) Hon Barbra Tanyanyiwa
Assembly of Youth Representatives
108) Hon. Vimbai Mavherudze
109) Hon. Godfrey Kurauone
110) Hon. Gift Siziba
111) Hon. Stephen Chuma
Guardian Council Representatives
112) Hon. Beki Sibanda
113) Hon. Mungofa
Disability Council Representatives
114) Hon. Henry Chivhanga

Notes;
• 50 members nominated from the Provinces
• 10 appointments as per constitutional obligations (6.4.4.4.)
• 12 Appointments as per constitutional requirements on (6.4.4.4)
• 28 members from the NSC
• 2 Reps from the Guardian Council
• 2 Reps from the Disability Council
• 5 Reps from the Women Assembly
• 5 Reps from the Youth Assembly
• NEC members(142)
• There is a total number of 50 women in the NEC (35.21%)
• There is a total number of 10 youths in the NEC (7%)

Police in Mutoko intercepted 300 bags of charcoal stashed in an unmarked Iveco truck heading for Harare before arresting five suspects.

The current massive load-shedding has seen people destroying indigenous hardwood forests in Mutawatawa and Mudzi to make charcoal for resale mainly in Harare.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the arrests of five suspects, among them a 38-year-old woman Chipo Chibadu of

Rusi village, under Chief Chikwizo in Mudzi.

The other four are from Harare and they include Ephraim Mbuse (40), Macdonald Ndovha (19), Clivet Karimbika (20) and Norest Yanule (18).

“I confirm the arrest of five suspects who were nabbed while transporting 300 bags of charcoal along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway. The suspects were charged

for contravening section 29 of the Forestry Act Chapter 19:05. We urge members of the public to report any case of people transporting charcoal to alert the police,” Mwanza said.

On Saturday at around midday, the police were tipped off that the suspects were transporting charcoal to Harare using a truck.

Police officers mounted a roadblock and intercepted the red Iveco truck at the 138km peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway and recovered the 300 bags of

charcoal.

The truck driver, Mbuse, was arrested along with his accomplices and the truck was taken to Mutoko Police Station.

Two weeks ago, six men were arrested after they were caught with three truckloads of charcoal in Mutawatawa.

Cabinet has withdrawn a clause in the Marriages Amendment Bill that provides for “civil partnership,” saying such a union was alien and not consistent with the country’s cultural and Christian values.

The proposed new marriage law has courted controversy, with various interpretations of it and questions as to whether it would not undermine the family unit and traditional marriage institution.

It was also construed that the new law would empower “small houses”, a colloquial term for extra-marital or unrecognised unions.

Commenting on the implications of the Clause, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo said Cabinet resolved that it should not be seen as if it was condoning illegal activities.

“People who decide to have a commercial contractual arrangement which will be determined other than the laws of contract will be judged along those lines. I do not think it should be brought into the Marriages Act. Secondly Cabinet in its wisdom resolved that we must remain principled and in line so that we will not necessarily encourage illegal activities to take place by appearing as if we are legislating them,” said Minister Moyo.

He said the removal of the Clause would not affect rural communities where couples had lived together as husband and wife for several years without having their marriage registered.

Attorney General Advocate Prince Machaya said when two people decide to live together outside the law and expectation of society they should not expect protection from authorities because they did not accrue additional rights such as legitimately married persons.

He said it was only people who were legally married whose status at law should change and could enforce against each other upon dissolution of such union.

“There is nothing that the authorities or the State can do to protect them from what I can term the deliberateness of their own actions, they are aware of what they are doing and what those type of relationships are viewed by society, so people should not cry foul that they are not being protected,” said Adv Machaya.

He said the clause was being misunderstood and misinterpreted to create the impression that the law was recognising civil unions.

“It is not a recognised marriage, it was merely out of consideration of fairness that when these people move apart the one who is more economically empowered should not use that power to the detriment of another part, that was the sole purpose of referring it as a civil partnership,” said Adv Machaya.

POLICE have arrested a 32-year-old man on charges of stealing tar worth $94 000 that was meant for the Harare-Masvingo Highway dualisation.

National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the accused, Artwell Mahakwa, was arrested in Bulawayo following a tip-off.

It is alleged that between March 4 and 6 this year, the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry received 250×200-litre drums of tar in Chivhu.

The accused then teamed up with his accomplice, who is still at large, and stole 115 drums and hid them in Bulawayo.

“Acting on a tip-off which was received recently, police in Chivhu proceeded to Bulawayo, where they arrested the accused and recovered tar valued at $24521,71. Total value of tar that was stolen is $94 000,” Nyathi said.

There was uproar in the country when the tar went missing and questions were raised over government’s seriousness in working on the road, which has become a death trap.

There has been pandemonium in the country regarding the import of the Marriages Bill which was approved by the Cabinet in 2017.

After spirited efforts by every person in Zimbabwe cabinet ordered the offending section 40 to be scrapped.

“In light of our own Cultural and Christian values Cabinet resolved that it be removed.” – Attorney General, Prince Machaya said after the cabinet sitting yesterday.

While the bill as a whole carried good intentions it introduced section  40 which was pervasive.

It allowed partnership outside marriage by both parties. It went further to give the side kick rights into the property which was acquired during the subsistence of the marriage. This meant that prostitute who had one night stint could claim benefits from the matrimonial properties. This was repulsive and the Zimbabwean populace was shocked.

Its main objectives are highlighted in the preamble but protest has been raised regarding this particular object – the recognition of civilpartnerships.

Sentiments expressed in the mainstream and social media suggest that the Bill is a threat to the very existence of the marriage institution, particularly the rights flowing from the civil marriage sanctioned under the Marriage Act [ Chapter 5:11], which is monogamous.

Further argument has been suggested that it affords rights and protection to “concubines” or “small houses”thereby eroding the monogamous nature of the civil marriage and would result in ladies or men targeting rich spouses for personal enrichment. It again eroded the significance of Marriage on the country.

Religious organisations had launched unrelated attacks on the bill there was no church service which ended without giving a scathing attack to the bill.

The cabinet considered that even some foreign cultures will frown at such obscene section. 

In a show of sanity and cultural awareness the cabinet shot down the offending sections steering the nation back to its cultural pride.

Cabinet has withdrawn a clause in the Marriages Amendment Bill that provides for “civil partnership,” saying such a union was alien and not consistent with the country’s cultural and Christian values.

The proposed new marriage law has courted controversy, with various interpretations of it and questions as to whether it would not undermine the family unit and traditional marriage institution.

It was also construed that the new law would empower “small houses”, a colloquial term for extra-marital or unrecognised unions.

“Cabinet members sought clarification from the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the import of Section 40 of the Marriages Amendment Bill currently before Parliament,” Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said while addressing journalists on the 27th Cabinet Decision Matrix.

“Following the explanation by the Minister, Cabinet observed that the concept of a “civil union” or “partnership” is foreign and not consistent with Zimbabwe’s cultural norms as well as its Christian values.

Accordingly, Cabinet directed that Section 40, which bears reference to “Civil Partnerships” be removed forthwith from the proposed Marriages Amendment Bill,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Section 40 of Marriages Amendment Bill provided as follows: “A relationship between a man and a woman who — (a) are both over the age of eighteen years; and (b) have lived together without legally being married to each other; and (c) are not within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity as provided in Section 7; and (d) having regard to all the circumstances of their relationship, have a relationship as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis; shall be regarded as being in a civil partnership for the purposes of determining the rights and obligations of the parties on dissolution of the relationship and, for this purpose, sections 7 to 11 of the Matrimonial Causes Act [Chapter 5:13] shall mutatis mutandis apply on the dissolution of any such relationship.”

The withdrawal of the clause means Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi who is expected to steer the Bill in Parliament will now propose the deletion of the contentious provision at Committee stage.

Dianna Games, Chief Executive of renowned corruption check group Africa At Work has highly commended the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission for arresting and detaining serving Minister Prisca Mupfumira.

Speaking in an interview on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 on Monday, Games said the move could be a very good lesson for South Africa and the whole of Africa to learn from.

“It’s a serving Cabinet Minister that has been arrested… it’s the first high-profile case… It’s important, symbolically… There’s talk that, finally, some head will start to roll…— ” she said.

Mupfumira became the first casualty of the newly formed Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Friday when she was charged with corruption involving more than R1 billion.

Charges against Mupfumira are for her alleged abuse of state pension fund money which she oversaw as Labour and Social Welfare Minister (2014 to 2018).

Zimbabwe’s state pension fund is often targeted for looting by politicians and public officials, despite this being the first-ever prosecution.

The new anti-corruption body is reportedly investigating 200 cases.

Games says it’s unusual to see Government heads roll in most of Africa, so this is a positive step.

She says that social media is rife with reports, so far denied, that Mugabe’s former mining minister is next.

Listen to the South African Talk Radio 702 interview with Games in the audio below.

Dianna Games is Chief Executive of Africa @ Work, a consultancy focusing on African business issues. She is a leading commentator on business issues, trends and developments in Africa and has travelled extensively around the continent over the past two decades, visiting nearly 30 African countries to date. 

She specialises in corporate engagements across Africa and has done research into regional economic developments, corporate and government investment trends, sector analysis for private clients and tracks business developments in Africa’s key markets. 

She is also a popular public speaker on issues related to business in Africa and speaks to many of South Africa’s biggest companies on business trends and strategy, helping them to understand how to operate on the continent. 

Zimbabwe’s government says it has struck a deal to pay R213.3m to Eskom to receive 400MW of power from SA’s power utility.

Eskom and Zimbabwe’s government had been locked in talks for weeks to strike a power deal, as Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a severe power shortage with load shedding of up to 18 hours a day.

The power crisis has forced some Zimbabwean companies to shut down, further worsening the country’s economic crisis.

Zimbabwe’s energy minister, Fortune Chasi, has been in SA to plead for urgent power supplies from Eskom.

Addressing journalists after a cabinet meeting, acting energy minister Sekai Nzenza said Eskom had come to Zimbabwe’s rescue.

“On the measures to plug power outages, I can report that the Zimbabwe Electricity and Tariff Distribution Company (ZETDC) has engaged a local bank to the tune of a $15m guarantee to unlock supply of 400MW of power from Eskom.”

Zimbabwe currently owes about R327m to Eskom. It recently paid R140.2m to service its total debt after action was taken to cut the supply. 

However, Zimbabwe has a bad record of servicing its debt, and its government was forced to provide a bank guarantee to Eskom for the deal to be done.

Nzenza said: “At the same time, the ZETDC and the RBZ have also agreed with Eskom on a payment plan. These initiatives that have been put in place will enable us to have more power.”

She also revealed that Zimbabwe’s overall power shortfall stands at 582MW, adding that mining companies can pay for electricity in foreign currency to guarantee supplies.

Electricity is critical for Zimbabwe’s mining sector, the nation’s biggest foreign currency earner.

Zimbabwe has previously imported up to 450MW from Eskom, but the SA power utility stopped the arrangement after Harare defaulted on its payments.

Earlier in July, President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to assist Zimbabwe to solve its power challenges after meeting his counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, on the sidelines of the African Continental Free Trade Area summit in Niger. After the meeting Ramaphosa told journalists he was willing to assist Zimbabwe but would engage Eskom.

State Media|THE anti- graft crusade by the Zanu-PF Youth League is being motivated by the desire to subject people to account and not political considerations, a party official has said.

The youth league’s deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu said the youth league is not motivated by a desire to tarnish other people’s images but to fight corruption, a cancer which has compromised the economy.

“The youth are the most vulnerable, hence there is need to speak with one voice to build the economy through fighting corruption. 

“We have had people that were trying to frighten us and use tribal cards in corruption cases, people trying to use issues of factionalism which do not exist but that has failed to work,” said Matutu. 

He applauded the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) saying those allegedly involved in corruption should clear themselves before the Commission and the courts.

 “If you are clean you will be proven so by the courts.

“We are also very happy about ZACC because for the first time President Mnangagwa has delivered in the fight against corruption.

“ZACC is very serious, they don’t care about individual opinion or interests, they care about public resources and their mandate is to deliver and we are very happy,” he said.

Matutu added: “Instead of clearing themselves they go for politicking but corruption issues have nothing to do with politics, corruption requires response, evidence and defence in court through prosecution,” he said.

He warned those fanning factionalism saying they will become unpopular. 

“The question is whose faction against whose? I assure you that under the leadership of President Mnangagwa you will be very unpopular to talk about factionalism and you actually isolate yourself. 

“There are people who do not want to be accountable and they would rather hide behind politics instead of clearing themselves from corruption allegations. 

“For people to think that what ZACC is doing is just political gimmick and perhaps they are just doing what the previous commission was doing, they will be fooling themselves. 

“People are going to be arrested if they were involved in corruption, because like the President said he has given ZACC teeth and they have big ones and they are biting so if people think that its politicking then they are misled,” he said.

He urged party members to desist from acquiring wealth through corrupt activities, but stand by the party’s ideology.

“As a party we should be able to say this is right, this is part of our ideology and this is in line with our norms and values and this is wrong, this must be corrected. 

“If you look at these cases, you will find out that these people were engaging in massive corruption. 

“So genuine people will genuinely support President Mnangagwa vision and are seen through their deeds not what they say.

“We must be an example as an organisation. If you look at the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) of Namibia and African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, if there is anything in the organisation that is linked to corruption or anything that affects their governance, they attend to it including the President for example in the case of former South Africa President Jacob Zuma, he appeared before the commission of inquiry to find out what was happening and that is what a modern organisation should do,” he said.

He hailed the President for remaining steadfast in fighting corruption.

State Media|Electricity supplies are expected to improve significantly following a payment plan that was agreed on by Zimbabwe and South African power utility, Eskom, coupled with a US$2 million import facility through a local financial institution.

This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing the media on the 27th Cabinet decision matrix in Harare yesterday.

She said Cabinet had agreed on a cocktail of measures that will see power supply improving.

“Modalities to operationalise the above resolutions are being worked out. Furthermore, ZESA is now accessing 300MW during off-peak hours. This additional power is availed through the Southern African Power Pool Day Ahead Market under a US$2 million facility which was mobilised by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company from its own resources. This additional power has reduced the duration of load shedding in most areas,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said negotiations between ZETDC and Eskom were still underway on the 400MW and a more definitive position will be made public once remaining loose ends were tied.

Acting Minister of Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza weighed in saying a payment plan had since been agreed between Zimbabwe and Eskom.

“We can report that ZETDC has engaged local bank to the tune of a $15 million guarantee to unlock supply of 400MW from Eskom. At the same time, ZETDC, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Eskom have also agreed on a payment plan so that these initiatives that have been put into place will enable us to have more power,” said Dr Nzenza, who is also Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Earlier on, Minister Mutsvangwa said following the decision by Cabinet to allow exporting mining companies to pay their electricity bills in foreign currency, the business community had embraced the adoption of renewable energy, including participation in net metering and smart metering technologies.

She said it was also agreed to escalate energy efficiency, taking note of the SADC Industrial Energy Efficiency Initiative and implementation of the cost-reflective tariffs proposal for their members through a ring-fenced power arrangement.

She said Cabinet received the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme report from Minister Nzenza where it emerged that a total of 189 042,52 tonnes of grain had been distributed to vulnerable households in both the country’s rural and urban provinces.

In Harare, the areas covered were Zengeza, Seke, Budiriro, Glen View, Kuwadzana, Dzivaresekwa, Kambuzuma, Rugare and Glen Norah. In Bulawayo, the areas covered were Njube, Magwegwe, Nketa, Tshabalala, Nkulumane and Silwane.

Minister Mutsvangwa said following President Mnangagwa’s interaction with Zimbabweans in Namibia, Cabinet resolved that invitations for appointments in commissions, boards of public enterprises and Government ministries and agencies be also extended to nationals in the Diaspora.

“Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage will actively engage its counterparts in the region in order to speedily resolve issues affecting Zimbabweans in those countries,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.