GWANDA RURAL District Council is seeking to dispose of 11 lions to augment its finances.

In a recent notice to prospective buyers and wildlife lovers, the local authority called for expression of interest to buy the lions, indicating that site visit will be conducted at a day yet to be announced.

“Gwanda RDC is in possession of 11 lions currently being kept in captivity at Doddieburn Ranch in Gwanda District. The council holds a valid permit for such activities, issued in terms of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:14,” the council notice read.

“Council wishes to dispose of the lions and thus seeks interested parties to lodge an expression of interest for the purchase of same.”

The local authority indicated that interested parties are advised to submit written letters, expressing interest to buy all or some of the lions.

“Furthermore, the interested party must make a commitment to abide by all the laws of the land governing such sales. The group consists of six-adult male lions, three-adult female lions, one sub-adult male and one female cub,” the council said.

The local authority advised interested parties to file their papers at council offices in Gwanda direct to the chief executive, Ronney Sibanda, before July 19.

Meanwhile, Gwanda municipality is also seeking land developers to service 337 medium density and 331 high density houses set for constructiont on a rocky mountainous area.

Gwanda town clerk Priscilla Nkala, in a notice, said the council was inviting eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in servicing the stands.

“Interested consultants should provide information, demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications, finances and relevant experiences to perform the services,” Nkala said.

She said the shortlisted consultants would be invited to submit detailed technical and financial proposals.

“A compulsory site inspection will be conducted on July 15 and interested bidders should meet at the Municipality of Gwanda boardroom, after which a tour will be done,” Nkala said.

ANTI-CORRUPTION Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has written a letter of complaint to Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi alleging lack of progress and interference by senior Zanu PF officials in a fraud case involving a Gokwe Zanu PF councillor.

The councillor, Samson Chigaba, is accused of using a fake Gokwe Rural Council rates receipt book to dupe unsuspecting villagers.

Chigaba, who is also a headmaster at Dzvuke Primary School, Mateta in Gokwe South, was arrested early 2017 and the matter was, however, removed from remand under unclear circumstances after trial had commenced.

Act-SA director Obert Chinhamo, in his letter addressed to Hodzi and copied to chairperson of the complainants dated June 19, 2019, stated that community members from Gokwe South were alleging interference in Chigaba’s case.

Chigaba’s ward falls under Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima’s constituency and villagers are suspecting that the accused could have used his Zanu PF connections to escape the charges.

“We have learnt through concerned community members from Gokwe South that there is alleged interference in the prosecution of Samson Chigaba who is a councillor at Gokwe South Rural District Council. It is alleged that the prosecution has been stopped due to interference by some high profile individuals,” Chinhamo’s letter reads.

“That being the case, we are kindly asking for your intervention to ensure that the matter is prosecuted to its logical conclusion.”

Chigaba appeared at Gokwe Magistrates’ Court and was granted ZW$100 bail. His case was remanded to November 9, 2017. Chinhamo said the matter was never prosecuted due to alleged interference and hence the outcry from villagers.

Allegations against Chigaba are that between December 6, 2015 and December 21, 2016 he used counterfeit Gokwe South Rural District Council receipt books to collect levies from unsuspecting villagers and converted the money to his own use.

Standard|President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his party, Zanu PF, have a ticking bomb on their lap. And they look quite cozy with that.

The so-called “mabhemba” wars — a group reference to violence involving militias who use all manner of weapons that include machetes, guns, swords, spears, bows and arrows, knives, as well as clubs — are festering in Midlands province. They are spreading to other parts of the country too.

Most of the violence has tended to mostly centre on the illegal extraction and sale of gold. Rival groups raid and fight each other for the gold. They maim and kill without remorse. And they do it with impunity too. The Midlands city of Kwekwe is the epicentre of the violence, but it’s happening in numerous other places that include rural areas.

In the rural areas, the militias fight for control of land, minerals while also settling family, ethnic and community disputes in a bloody way.

At the best, the police is helpless because the gangs are controlled by influential politicians with vested interests in illegal gold mining. At worst, the cops are getting bribes and conniving with the militias. As a result, most of the cases of murder and grievous harm to rival militias are being swept under the carpet. The judiciary is not helping matters either. Its officers are taking bribes to throw the crimes, but there is also a chance that, like the police, they are enmeshed in the “mabhemba” or machete wars and take home some rich pickings.

It’s not as though the goons behind these wars are unknown. The gang leaders walk around town and elsewhere with a spring in their step because they know that nothing will happen to them. They are the foot soldiers of the powerful politicians-cum-businesspeople. They pay their godfathers with gold and foreign currency and thus acquire immunity from arrests and prosecution. The militias talk about who their godfathers are with much ease, and have repeatedly named one Cabinet minister and senior Zanu PF members as the real warlords in Midlands.

There are two ominous aspects to these militia wars. One, as already averred, they have a political dimension. The gangsters are controlled by Zanu PF politicians. That’s why they have been attacking and, in some cases, killing opposition supporters in the past. They have, of late, also been targeting musicians who they regard as being anti-Zanu PF.

Two, the militias mostly have their origins in the illegal exploitation of natural resources — mainly gold in this case.

Now, that combination is worrying. Look around Africa for starters. The more than one hundred militias that have operated on the continent are or have been led by individuals with political ambitions. It’s been like that wherever you find militias. DRC, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, you name it. The lead warlords are always gunning for a share of political power. As they do that, they control regions or areas that are rich in natural resources that they use to launder money and fund their activities.

It would always be unfair and naïve to assume that the Midlands machete wars will remain as the ad hoc waves of violence targeting rival groups whose members go about wearing tattered clothes smeared with brown mud and looking like scarecrows. The truth is, they now pose a real national security threat. The wars are spreading unchecked. The militias are sponsored. They are busy creating a culture of violence that will repeat itself in all places where illegal, artisanal and established mining is taking place.

After that, they will spread to fights for the control of land, factories and ethnic groups.

But most worryingly, they are likely to degenerate into political militias. All you need are crazy and ambitious politicians who will see an opportunity to gain relevance through the use of organised violence. In their present form, the militia wars are centralised around Zanu PF. They are being led by a few individuals whose ultimate loyalty is to the ruling party.

Things may not stay the same, though. In the aftermath of the 2017 coup, Zanu PF looks fragile. Mnangagwa has not been able to sew the party together as much as his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, did. Current factional fissures can lead to splits. Once you have well-defined splits, opportunists will merge to lead various political groups.

That’s the time when some of them will look at the opportunity of turning the militias into more organised war gangs that will inevitably fight for control of territories that are rich in mineral and other natural resources.

There is another very present danger. In Africa, a coup almost always sires another coup. Zimbabwe is not an absolute exception. As it stands, there has been talk of fierce behind-the-scenes jostling for power in the post-coup period. The military, clearly, has a heavy presence in the current political dynamics here. Where the army has a say in where political power goes or doesn’t go, you know a coup is brewing on the horizon. It was like that during Mugabe’s time, and look at what happened in 2017.

More directly, there are reports — predictably refuted, of course — that Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, the former army boss — are not the best of friends despite ganging up to remove Mugabe.

Let’s say Chiwenga, a former general who would still enjoys strategic support in the army, gets really crazy and does a Mugabe on Mnangagwa.

That might present a very good chance for the militias to turn into a solid political militia.

It would be easy for the coup to be ethnicised. Mnangagwa is from the very cauldron of the machete violence, the Midlands, which is dominated by the Karanga ethnic community. Chiwenga is from Wedza in Mashonaland East, which is predominantly Zezuru.

Mnangagwa and/or his loyalists would then draw reinforcements from the Midlands-based militias to stage a war against Chiwenga in retaliation.

It’s easy for politicians from the Midlands who are loyal Mnangagwa to sell the hypothetical coup as a war against the Karanga.

Ethnic — pretty like religious conviction is a ready tool that warlords use.

It’s unflattering on the current president that he has in the past been accused of being the main godfather of some of the violent militia groups in the Midlands.

If that is true, then it would be easy to morph the gangs into an all-out rebel group backing Mnangagwa against Chiwenga and the Zezurus and whoever their other sympathisers might be.

And it’s also unflattering that the president has remained quiet as the militias spread mayhem in the Midlands and, now, other provinces.

Midlands is his home province and Kwekwe, his hometown.

Add to that, the fact that Owen Ncube, the man he made State Security minister last year, has repeatedly featured as a likely actor in this script of violence.

But things must done differently. The president and his government must get the police to act on this sweltering violence and stop the corruption related to it. And civil society, the opposition, human rights defenders, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the legislature must also play that part before the bomb explodes right in our faces.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma says there was a detailed plot to kill him in Durban during the recently held Fill up Moses Mabhida stadium show by Masikandi artist Khuzani Mpungose.

Khuzani became the second artist in the space of three months to fill up the stadium after South Afriiicas celebrated rapper, Cassper Nyovest, hosted a successful #FillUp concert in December.

Zuma who was giving his opening remarks at the Justice Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State capture said the plot to kill him involved people from outside South Africa who are suicide bombers.

Zuma said he has been quiet for a long time but has decided to speak out. “I find it important to tell this story before they kill me,” he said. Former South Africa’s strongman said he believed the commission was really created to have him coming and perhaps to find things to have on him.

Zuma on Monday asked to give his own address before he is asked questions by evidence leaders, following the testimony of nine witnesses, including current and former ministers Pravin Gordhan, Fikile Mbalula, Barbara Hogan and Ngoako Ramatlhodi, which the inquiry believes implicates him in alleged state capture.-wires

Auditor General (AG) Mildred Chiri has expressed concern over the disappearance of a donation of 600 000 litres of fuel by a South African company.

The fuel was meant to transport prisoners, but it cannot be properly accounted for by the Ministry of Justice.

Chiri revealed this in her 2018 audit report of the Justice ministry. She said the ministry entered into an arrangement with the South African company to donate four million litres of diesel to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

“The Ministry of Justice, on behalf of ZPCS, went on to obtain a duty-free certificate for the waiver of duty of $2 460 000, and it also entered into an arrangement with National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) for the storage of the fuel,” Chiri said.

But she said records provided by the Justice ministry showed that 39 010 litres were delivered on December 31, 2018.

“However, records for the same period provided by Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED), who are the official transporters of the diesel, indicate that the transporter had withdrawn a total of 672 500 litres from the facility storage at the NOIC depot,” Chiri said.

“Audit was not furnished with details of how 642 490 litres of the diesel withdrawn from the NOIC depot was used and accounted for. This was in violation of section 69 (i) and (ii) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.”

The AG said the risk was that the fuel might have been diverted to the commercial fuel market and government prejudiced of revenue in excess of $2 540 000 coming from various levies which were waived on the pretext that the products were for government use.

“The ministry should obtain all the relevant documentation and reconciliations of the deliveries made to date and the remaining balance of the facility. There should be proper accounting of the fuel receipt; issuance and running balance collaborated with adequate documentation and physical checks,” Chiri said.

The Justice ministry’s response to the audit observation was that in collaboration with the South African fuel donor Gloew Trading (Pvt) Ltd they were compiling relevant documentation and reconciliation of deliveries made to date.

Chiri also revealed that the Justice ministry, which oversees the ZPCS Fund, diverted $80 003 meant to meet medical expenses for prisoners without Treasury authority and instead used it for medical expenses for ZPCS employees.

She said it was wrong because the amount was used for expenses not covered by the fund’s constitution.

“Authority should always be obtained from Treasury before the Fund’s resources are used for expenses not covered by its constitution,” the AG said.

-The Standard

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has sensationally claimed that he always receive phone calls from teachers, soldiers and police among other civil servants begging him to return the United States dollars.

Addressing a rally in Masvingo yesterday, Chamisa said he is smelling power and would provide everything the country needs.

Said Chamisa:

“Teachers, soldiers, police and prison guards always phone me asking me to return the United States dollar. I have told them I am not in power right now although I am the winner of the elections. Once I am in power, which I am smelling, I would provide everything that you need.”

The Bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ are as follows:

USD = ZWL$8.7709
ZWL$ = RAND1.5901

More: Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe

On the parallel market, the USD is trading at between ZWL$900 to ZWL$940 per USD100 for transfer while cash is trading at between ZWL$660 and ZWL$720.

VIEW PICTURES BELOW…

MASVINGO High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo on Monday 15 July 2019 ended the detention of MDC National Vice-Chairperson Hon. Job Sikhala after granting him ZWL$5 000 bail.

Hon. Sikhala had been detained at Masvingo Remand Prison after he appeared before Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa at Bikita Magistrates Court on Thursday 11 July 2019 and remanded in custody after he was arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

As part of his bail conditions, Justice Wawambo also ordered Hon. Sikhala to report once per week on Fridays at St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza until the matter is finalised and to surrender his passport to the Clerk of Court at Bikita Magistrates Court.

The Zengeza West legislator, who was represented by Jeremiah Bamu, Tinomuda Shoko and Alec Muchadehama of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and investigations and to continue residing at his residence in St Mary’s high-density suburb in Chitungwiza until the matter is finalised.

Hon. Sikhala was detained on Tuesday 9 July 2019 and charged with subverting constitutional government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Sikhala advocated for the overthrowing of government through unconstitutional means during his address to some MDC party supporters at a political rally held on Saturday 6 July 2019 at Mandadzaka Primary School in Bikita in Masvingo province.

He returns to Bikita Magistrates Court on Wednesday 24 July 2019.

By A Correspondent- A gang of five notorious armed robbers, who were arrested in Chipinge after terrorising business people in the district through their criminal activities, were this week hauled before the courts and locked up in remand prison.

The five — Michael Chimukuze (45), of 2386 Chinzanga Township, Mutoko, Paidamoyo Nemusasa (28), of 4774 Unit J Seke, Chitungwiza, Tsvuura Tsvuura (36), of Newlands, Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza and William Mazambani (33), of Mutekede Village, under Chief Rusambo, Rushinga appeared before magistrate Mr Farai Gwitima, facing an assortment of armed robbery and unlawful entry charges.

The gang, which had become notorious for its blunt use of firearms and other deadly weapons, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Mr Gift Bikita successfully opposed bail arguing that the suspects would interfere with investigations and skip the country, among other transgressions.

“The court should deny all the accused persons bail because they may jeopardise investigations. There are also chances that the accused may skip the country once freed from prison custody, therefore bail is opposed,” he said.

Mr Gwitima concurred with the State, and remanded the matter to July 18 for trial.

Mr Bikita said on May 28, the gang, which was armed with two pistols, iron bars and knives, pounced at a Mapuranga homestead posing as police officers.

“They posed as police officers and demanded to see Jacob Mapuranga. During the commotion they pointed the firearms at the victims and demanded cash. They assaulted everyone at the homestead and ransacked the house in search of cash. The gang took a bag containing various clothing items worth about $750,” he said.

Mr Bikita said pursuant to their mission, the gang organised another robbery on June 10, 2019.

“The gang approached the Zivachako homestead at Kondo Business Centre. They jumped over the precast wall and manhandled two male adults who were sleeping on the veranda. The gang then manhandled the premise proprietor Pamela Penyakufa and force marched her into her bedroom. They took US$24 000, R44 200 and RTGS$2 859 from her and vanished from the scene,” he said.

Mr Bikita said the gang went on to commit another robbery the following week at Chibuwe Business Centre.

“On June 28, the suspects pounced on Samuel Maadza’s homestead stole R186, 000 and RTGS$17, 000,” he said.

Mr Bikita said the detectives intercepted one of the culprits William Mazambani, who was driving a Toyota Chaser which was used to commit some of the crimes.

“A manhunt was carried resulting in the arrest of the criminals following a violent exchange of gunfire with detectives. The ring leader Tsvuura was shot on the left leg during the gun exchange. Their arrest led to the recovery of a Toyota Harrier, a pistol charged with seven rounds of live ammunition and a toy pistol,” he said.-ManicaPost

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has described the “entire” Zanu PF system as evil.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at Mucheke Stadium on Sunday, Chamisa said Emmerson Mnangagwa and the whole Zanu PF system must go.

“Let me tell you that I am facing a difficult time as your leader.

It’s not easy to battle against an evil system.

Yes Mnangagwa must go but the whole system has to go.

Remember this is not about individuals -so we are saying Mnangagwa and the whole system must go,” said Chamisa.

“These people are evil. They denied us an opportunity to see Hon Job Sikhala.

Sometimes they act like possessed people.We are saying enough is enough.”

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

The opposition MDC has claimed that the recently held by-elections for Nyanga South Constituency, Ward 26 and Bikita East Constituency, Ward 32 were not held in a level play field.

The party claims that there was intimidation of voters and vote buying. ZANU PF won in both wards.

Speaking to New Zimbabwe, MDC Secretary for elections, advocate Jacob Mafume, said:

We want to place it on record that the election environment is still characterised by closure of democratic space and abuse of State entities to the benefit Zanu PF.

Our vice national chairman was arrested for statements made on the campaign trial. This creates barriers for free campaigns but more importantly the episode was meant to intimidate the people of Bikita.

Mafume also cited the example of reports that Zanu PF’s national commissar Victor Matemadanda had requested for medicines to be delivered to clinics in Lupane East as part of a by-election campaign.

In May this year, MDC Alliance won the Mutasa constituency ward 10 by-elections but had lost the Cowdray Park, Bulawayo by-elections.

The Bikita ward by-election is held when MDC deputy national chairman, Job Sikhala, is in remand prison, charged with subversion of a constitutionally elected government. He had remarked that his party would overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa before scheduled elections in 2023.

The High Court of Zimbabwe has delayed the judgment for more than 10 months, allegedly without reason the case of former Information and Communications Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira, who is being sued US$350 000 by former Rainbow Airline founder Frank Humbe for failing to pay after he acquired the business.

The matter, which is being handled by High Court Judge Justice Clement Phiri started in 2016, but the trial only started in September and finished in October last year. More than 10 months later both parties are still waiting for the judgment to bring the matter to finality, sources close to the matter noted.

After the completion of the trial in October last year Justice Phiri set aside the ruling saying he needed time to prepare and both parties have been waiting without any communication.

Humbe and Mandiwanzira reached a deal for the former minister to buy Rainbow airline in 2015, but the latter failed to honour his side of the deal leading to Humbe cancelling the agreement on February 12, 2017. Mandiwanzira then offered to pay US$50 000 upfront as a compromise.

It is also alleged that Mandiwanzira further offered to pay monthly payments of US$10 000 until the US$355 419 was fully extinguished and Humbe accepted the offer.

However, Mandiwanzira allegedly failed to pay again and refused to honour the agreement, but still took over the business and is now running it solely.

In his defence, Mandiwanzira said he never breached the terms of contract, but that they were still to reach an agreement on the terms of payment.

The airline has since been grounded after making only three flights. Its office at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International now houses Tanzania Airline offices.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Marange villagers have called on the government to halt new mining operations in Chiadzwa by Chinese diamond company Anjin claiming that it has a “dark past” including human rights abuses.

This comes after the government last week through Mines minister Winston Chitando announced the resumption of mining operations by Anjin Diamond Company in Chiadzwa.

Anjin operated in Chiadzwa from 2009 to 2016 before government revoked licences of diamond companies mining in Chiadzwa leading to the formation of the Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company (ZCDC).

At a Press conference yesterday in Mutare the Amalgamated Chiadzwa Development Communities Trust (ACDCT), Marange Chapter chairperson Jay Kasakara, who was flanked by Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi, said in the past Anjin flouted environmental laws.

“The (ACDCT) is deeply saddened by the decision by government to allow new diamond mining operations in Marange without following due process. In the past three months the ACDCT has observed in dismay the unregulated diamond mining activities taking place in Chiadzwa by Anjin Diamond Company, which has a dark past,” he said.

“This unfortunate decision was confirmed by minister Winston Chitando on a local radio station. Anjin was one of the mining companies that also started mining operations in Chiadzwa community in 2009 without the approved environmental assessment plan,” he said

“Their mining activities destroyed the community infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools, degraded farming land, sacred areas and contaminated sources of (drinking) water,” he said

“Over 4 000 cattle were lost after falling into mining pits, gullies and slime dams, around 450 families were relocated to Arda Transau without secured livelihoods and compensation for their losses,” he said

“ACDCT calls upon the government to immediately halt new mining developments in Marange and move with speed to implement some reforms such as undertaking a human rights due diligence process for the people of Marange to claim compensation for adverse impacts caused by Anjin Diamond mining,” he said

Mupfumi said the government should immediately stop secretive mining practices in Marange that are resulting in all sorts of human rights violations.

“The government has a constitutional obligation to protect human rights, the government is shielding opacity in Marange in order to maintain selfish interests,” he said.=Newsday

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga continues to miss key state events with the former army commander conspicuous by his absence at the State House today where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was swearing in the new Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Government has not explained why the powerful vice President has been absent from duty for more than two months with speculation rife that he could be in India where he is receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

By Own Correspondent- Zimbabwe has of late recorded an upsurge in incidents of abductions and intimidation of citizens by State security agents as government becomes increasingly intolerant of discontent, human rights watchdog, Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has indicated in its latest report.

“Opposition MDC activists, labour union representatives from Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and anyone suspected of planning protests against the worsening economic conditions that the country is facing have all been targeted,” the ZPP report reads.

“ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure was abducted from his home and tortured on June 6 by suspected State agents. The assailants, armed with rifles, broke into Masaraure’s home at midnight, confiscated his wife’s phone and force-marched him to the bushes where he was beaten and interrogated. The perpetrators accused Masaraure of encouraging teachers to revolt against government.”

ZPP said that cases recorded during the month show that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is getting increasingly intolerant to dissent.

“This could explain the 30% increase in violations from the month of May to June from 157 to 204. Mashonaland Central province proved to be the hotspot of intimidation and harassment violations accounting for 40% of cases followed by Harare at 14,9% and Mashonaland East at 12,4%,” the report reads.

“Discrimination most likely around food and other aid distribution also keeps increasing; from 27 cases in May to 33 in the month of June. The increase could be as a result of the worsening economic situation that has led to an increase in the number of vulnerable families. Food aid meant for such families is unfortunately manipulated at distribution points.”

ZPP noted that the Mnangagwa-led administration has resorted to the same tricks of ruling through intimidation and fear that former President Robert Mugabe’s government used to stamp out dissent in its citizens.

“ARTUZ representatives in Harare (Obert Masaraure), Gweru (Godfrey Chanda) and Masvingo (Lawrence Mapengo) have been victimised by State security agents for advocating for a strike protesting poor salaries for teachers. The union representatives are accused of being a destabilising force against the government,” ZPP said.

“This victimisation has degenerated to such (an extent) that Chanda is being hounded out of his job by the community together with headmaster Wapwanyika Blazio Mawire of Chiweshe Primary School where he teaches. Chanda received a signed and stamped letter addressed to the provincial education director on June 14 appealing for the removal of the teacher from the school. The letter listed nine different reasons why he must be removed, ‘Chanda has recently been too political . . . has shown that he cannot teach Zanu-PF children’.”

ZPP also noted that opposition political party members or anyone who dared criticise the current regime were being targeted.

It reported that on June 4 in Gutu North Wards 8, 12, 33, 34, and 37 unidentified members of the Criminal Investigation Department and the army went into suspected MDC supporters houses and harassed them at night in connection with planned MDC protests against the country’s deteriorating economic condition.

In Mazowe Central at Tsungubvi Old Clinic in Glendale Ward 17, Zanu-PF chairperson Jonathan Kudangirwa, Cain Mota and other party activists reportedly convened a residents meeting on June 7, threatening to deal with petitioners, it added.

“Kudangirwa and his colleagues warned residents not to participate in mass demonstrations. They alleged that the ruling party had acquired enough ammunition to deal with petitioners. They were quoted saying that-PFuti tinadzo dzokupfura mapenzi (We have enough guns to shoot fools). They also warned that those who will participate in demonstrations will live to regret it,” ZPP reported.

“The deteriorating economic situation in the country is most certainly an area of concern and may likely be a trigger for volatile reactions from citizens.” ZPP said cases of abductions and intimidation need be reported and acted upon.

“Therefore, ZPP will be actively working with key stakeholders to ensure that these violations are timely reported and where possible, acted upon to preserve lives,” the report read.

“Threats of aggressively confronting the government (MDC Youth Assembly) together with those of retaliatory responses (Zanu-PF) make for a tense and possibly a volatile confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition,” ZPP reported. “. . . .these threats and counter threats may breed a toxic ground for conflict, therefore, ZPP will closely follow unfolding events.”

During bail hearing proceedings at Masvingo High Court for the release of Hon. Job Sikhala represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the State has made a shock request that Hon. Job Sikhala be released on $50 000 bail&be barred from addressing any political gatherings.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe plans to set up at least one factory in each of the country’s 63 districts as authorities attempt to improve standards of living for people in economically backward areas.

The recently launched Zimbabwe National Industrial Policy (ZNIDP), spanning 2019-2023, intends to promote decentralisation of industrialisation initiatives in line with devolution that recognises that the majority of Zimbabweans are domiciled in the rural areas.

“Government will promote industrialisation through provision of incentives and targeted financing, policy support and business development services for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large scale manufacturing industries in rural areas in line with available local resources. There shall be a deliberate thrust to develop factories in every district under the one district one factory concept. This will enhance the empowerment of marginalised rural communities,”partly reads the policy.

In the 2019 budget, Treasury allocated $310 million to facilitate the devolution of power to provincial councils following an outcry from marginalised communities.

The policy encourages youths, women and disadvantaged people to participate in projects in the rural areas targeting naturally available products.

Development of rural industries will be facilitated through linkages between higher education institutions and the private sector thereby encouraging research and development in processing and packaging of naturally available products.

According to the policy, provincial and district authorities will be required to come up with local industrialisation and incentive frameworks which are in line with the ZNIDP and the devolution agenda. This will bring government closer to local communities and enhance responsive, accountable and participatory industrial development.

“Industrialisation will also be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas. Processing of traditional agricultural products such as sorghum, rapoko, marula fruits and mopani worms can spur the creation of new factories in source areas. Local flora and fauna can also be used as raw materials in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and as such, also offer value addition opportunities,” the policy further reads.

Economist John Robertson, however, said only the right environment would attract manufacturers.

“In fact, any hint that the government believes in central planning and that it might try to make industrialists adapt their ideas to fit in with a central planning policy is enough to discourage most of the world’s industrialists. The Zimbabwe national industrial development policy needed is one that will promise investors that government will do its best to facilitate and assist investors, not dominate or regulate them,” said Robertson.
Zimbabwe once boasted of a well integrated and diversified industrial sector based on strong linkages with agriculture, mining, construction and commerce.

However over the past two decades, the economy has suffered massive de-industrialisation and rapid informalisation.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Government is crafting an incentive to promote investments into solar energy to reduce pressure on grid electricity, whose generation is currently depressed due to low water levels in Kariba Dam.

This was said by Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi in an interview with The Herald last week.

The move comes at a time when the country is contending with low power generation from Kariba South Hydro Plant due to low water levels, resulting in rolling power outages lasting up to 12 hours in some areas.

Similarly, Hwange Thermal Power Station’s generation units are now old and require regular maintenance to ensure steady power generation.

Minister Chasi believes the current challenges at both Kariba and Hwange Thermal power stations require incentivising solar energy investments so that the country takes advantage of the over 300 days of sunshine per year.

“We don’t make solar panels or any other solar equipment, so they have to be bought at those (obtaining) prices,” he said. “But what we are actively looking at now is how we can incentivise investments into solar.

“So, we are currently looking at that. Once we are clear on the incentive, we will then be able to communicate to the public.”

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube conceded last week that it was time Zimbabwe embraced renewable energy, especially solar.

“We have been too slow in embracing renewable energy sources, we have so much sunshine, why can’t we have solar farms,” he said.

Experts say Zimbabwe has an average radiation level of 2 100kw/m2 per year, compared to 1 400kw/m2 in most parts of Europe, but the country is not exploiting the sun for the benefit of industry and domestic consumers.

If fully exploited, solar could feed up to 10 000 gigawatt hours of electricity per annum into the grid.

Minister Chasi wants most institutions, including airports, to be powered by solar to reduce dependence on grid electricity.

“We also think that airports are good candidates for solar power,” he said. “So, I will be engaging the Ministry of Transport in that connection.

“This (drive to adopt solar) is not only confined to airports, but we would like to encourage all entities to invest in solar power to assure themselves of uninterrupted power supply and business continuity.”-StateMedia

Jane Mlambo| Former opposition MDC parliamentarian Jessie Majome will this morning be sworn in as one of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commissioners (ZACC) at a ceremony currently underway at the State House.

Majome previously tried her luck for the Prosecutor General which eventually went to Kumbirai Hodzi.

She later emerged on the shortlist of candidates that were interviewed for the ZACC commissioners where she made it.

More to follow…

Year on Year inflation for June 2019 measured has gone up from 97.85% in May to 175.66% in what signals that things are moving in the wrong direction for the country.

According to Zimstats, Month on Month inflation was 39.26% from 12.54% in the previous month. Food Basket Inflation measured at 251.94%.

More to follow….

Chiredzi Town Council is reportedly being defrauded of thousands of dollars by employees through underhand dealings, a source has revealed.

According to a source close to the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, two years ago council allegedly bought drums of tar for a road project carried out by Tensor Systems in the town’s low-density area.

Ten drums that were left after Tensor completed the project were kept in the warehouse. When council decided to patch up potholes around the town this year, the stores and engineering departments allegedly persuaded the procurement committee, chaired by town secretary Charles Muchatukwa, to buy the tar which they said belonged to Tensor.

The money for the tar was allegedly transferred into private accounts resulting in council losing money in the process.

In another case Tensor is alleged to have received $50 000 as advance payment from council to enable them to commence the construction of a 2,4km West Road when, in fact, the money was supposed to come from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration.

“The issue of 10 drums is just a tip of an iceberg. A lot has been happening, where council is made to buy its own goods.

“Right now, there are three drums in the warehouse, which were left by Clime Construction when they surfaced part of Lion Drive three years ago. Chances are high that council is going to buy them again. I do not know if the procurement committee is not aware of the scam or they share the proceeds.

“We are not sure if the $50 000 was paid to Tensor or it is just a way of siphoning council funds, because the whole thing does not add up,” said the source

Council chairperson referred all questions to the town secretary, saying he was not aware of the issue.

“You can get hold of the town secretary. I am not aware of such things,” Gibson Hwende said.

Contacted for comment, the stores manager James Sithole referred questions to the town engineer, Wesley Kauma.

“Who told you such information? I am away right now. Why don’t you ask the town engineer?” Sithole said.

Council road supervisor Derek Chisayino laughed at the allegations concerning his company and said he was not aware of the whole thing.

“I don’t understand it. How can council buy its own tar?” laughed Chisayino.

Town secretary Charles Muchatukwa could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered and he did not respond to questions texted to him.

United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (UCHIRRA) secretary Benard Dachi called for an urgent audit by external auditors.

“We are urging that an urgent audit be carried out to get to the bottom of the matter.

“We cannot allow such leakages to go unabated because our council is already cash-strapped and is failing to meet some of its financial obligations,” Dachi said.

-Newsday

Zimbabwe national Netball team, the Gems, are at 10 am (Zimbabwe time) set to face New Zealand in their first game in the Preliminaries Stage two.

The Gems advanced to this stage as second best from Group A. Each of the four groups (A-D) had to submit three teams to this level. Therefore, there are twelve teams in this stage which have been put into two groups.

These teams will fight for a semi-final slot which only need the top two teams in both groups. The remaining eight will play for overall positioning whilst the bottom finishers from the first stage, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Fiji and Samoa form Group E where they play for position 13 to 16.

ECONET Wireless has increased the tariffs for its data Bouquets. New prices for daily, weekly and monthly, in that order, are as follows:

By Own Correspondent- Cabinet has raised the age of criminal responsibility from seven years up to ten.

The decision is said to have been arrived at after considering that children acquire maturity at different stages.

The amendment means that law offenders who are under 10 years of age now have court and jail immunity. At the moment, minors from seven years upwards can be dragged to the courts or sent to young offenders’ prisons.

The development was confirmed by Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary, Mrs Virginia Mabhiza.

She said that Cabinet has approved principles of the Bill, which include a review of the age of criminal responsibly.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Mabhiza said:Cabinet approved principles stipulating 10 years as the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

The previous position in terms of Section 7 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), stipulating rebuttable culpability, would have seen a child as young as seven years facing the formal justice system.

Mabhiza added that the current position on the age of criminal responsibility is extreme and a remnant of the common law absorbed from the former colonial system hence the need to be amended in line with the new Constitution.

It would also be in resonance with recommendations by the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights. It notes that member States must fix the age of criminal responsibility for juveniles at a low age and must consider issues to do with emotional, mental and intellectual maturity.-StateMedia

State Media|The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill is expected to be resubmitted to Parliament by end of October, this time incorporating issues that President Mnangagwa expressed concern over.

The President sent the Bill back to Parliament in terms of Section 131(6)(b) of the Constitution, with reservations over some sections which he felt violated the national supreme law.

Parliament has set timelines guiding the law drafting division of the Attorney-General’s Office, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

The timelines will also see the Ministry of Mines submitting the amended Gold Trade Act and Precious Stones Trade Act to Parliament by October 30, 2019.

This was said by Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda while addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines in Kariba last Friday.

He said the strict timelines have been occasioned by the realisation that the mining sector plays a critical role in economic development, especially in relation with the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle income society.

“There we are, our law is not in place and that will defeat the aspirations of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) of achieving US$12 billion gross turnover from this sector by 2023,” said Adv Mudenda.

“So, there must be a sense of urgency and ensuring that not later than October, the Bill must be reconsidered and approved by Parliament and sent back to His Excellency, the President, for his assent and signature.

“It will mean a lot of hard work from all the stakeholders involved.”

President Mnangagwa had reservations over the farmer-miner relations, mining title and dispute resolution mechanisms, among others.

The President felt that some provisions of the original Bill had the potential to impinge on property rights.

“The reservations by His Excellency the President E.D. Mnangagwa will be incorporated into the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill by the Attorney General by 15 September 2019,” reads part of the resolutions.

Adv Mudenda added that the sticking points on the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill were that the list on strategic minerals in Section 5 was not exhaustive as it left out gold and diamonds.

“On the farmer-miner relationship, it was agreed that there is need to balance the interests of both groups noting that mining operations should not reverse the gains of the Zimbabwe land reform programme,” said Adv Mudenda.

The original Bill had no clear definition of artisanal and small-scale miners, only defining them as “a holder of a mining location who is not a large-scale miner”.

Also outstanding was the lack of clear timeframes for mining dispute resolution.

The committee resolved that a steering committee to work on the Draft Bill and report to the Parly Committee should be set up.

It shall be made up of the Portfolio Committee on Mines, the Attorney General’s office, senior staff in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela).

The steering committee expects to complete its work by September 30, 2019.

The committee also resolved that Zela’s petition be expeditiously dealt with.

Adv Mudenda hailed the increase in petitions submitted to Parliament in line with Section 149(1) of the Constitution, saying it showed greater involvement of the people in legislative and national governance processes.

The petition, among other things, implores Parliament to ensure the public and civil society play a major role in legislative processes relating to responsible investments.

Zela’s petition was submitted on May 6, 2019.

A 19-year-old man from Nkayi drowned in Bubi-Lupane Dam while his colleague was rescued by villagers after their makeshift boat capsized.

Mbekezeli Nkomo of Magasi Village in Nkayi and Mr Thembani Ncube (21) of New Stands in Lupane were herding cattle when they decided to row with a makeshift boat they found on the edge of the dam on Thursday afternoon.

Nkomo was employed as a herdboy in Mpofu Village.
His body was retrieved by the police sub-aqua unit on Sunday morning.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said Nkomo went with Mr Ncube and their two other friends Mr Cain Ncube (32) and Mr Mpumelelo Ncube (33) to herd cattle near Bubi-Lupane Dam.

Nkomo allegedly failed to swim to the edge of the dam and drowned while his friend Thembani survived by clinging onto the boat after it capsized.State media

A sixteen-YEAR-OLD Mutare Girls’ High pupils was found with mbanje — traceable to Ghana — and whisky at school last week in an incident that could underline the extent drug abuse has permeated the country’s education sector.

It is still a mystery how the girl (whose name cannot be published) sourced marijuana from the West African country.

It could not be established too how many times she had sneaked both the whisky-spiced drink and the drug into the school premises and the extent it had affected other pupils.

Mutare Girls High School head Mrs Tendai Patricia Matongera was tight-lipped when The Herald sought a comment over the incident.

She referred all questions on the matter to her superiors at the district education office in Mutare.

Mutare District Schools Inspector Mr Creezin Chofamba confirmed the incident.

“It is true there is a child who was withdrawn by a guardian from the school,” he said. “She will go to a day school where they will be able to monitor her.

“She was found with some items that include whisky-spiced drink and mbanje. The mbanje was well packaged and the labels on it showed it originated from Ghana.”

The pupil frequently visits her parents in South Africa and only enrolled at Mutare Girls High for Form One.

“The history of this girl is that her parents are in South Africa,” said Mr Chofamba. “She often visits them in South Africa. She did her primary school in South Africa and only came to Zimbabwe when she was doing Form One.

“Her exposure is wide. The kind of drugs found in her possession were not home-made. The mbanje was packaged in Ghana and its labels showed it originated from Ghana. We will try to find out how widespread it (drug abuse) had gone.”-State media

Farai Dziva|Opposition party Transform Zimbabwe says the national clean- up day is the right solution to environmental pollution.

See the Transform Zimbabwe statement below :

There are so many ways the Government of Zimbabwe can adopt in improving its environmental performance other than setting aside a day for National cleaning which Transform Zimbabwe views as a reactive exercise.

The government must promote recycling of waste material. Business involved with recycling must be given tax incentives and government grants. The current scenario is that companies and individuals find it cheaper to dump waste than to recycle due to the absence of motivation from the Government.

Failure to enforce the Polluter Pays Principle(PPP) through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is what makes people care less about their environment. EMA must have arresting powers and it’s officials need further training on effecting an arrest as a way of putting the Environmental blueprints into action to deter would be offenders.

Municipalities must also encourage grading of waste as a way of reducing the tonnage of what landfills must receive. Some of the waste which is biodegradable must find its way to farmers as a way of promoting composting that will replace synthetic fertilisers that are leaching into river systems thereby degraging water bodies and making water purification very expensive.

The government must promote local industries and when they operate on full capacity they must then impose high taxes for second hand goods and counterfeit products finding their way into the the country rendering it a dumpsite. The Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) must man our points of entry and confisticate sub standard products that can harm our environment.

The business sector such as shops and manufacturers must be discouraged through policy for wasteful packaging and ensuring that plastic packaging is expensive as a way of promoting reuse.

Efilling must be prioritised in business starting from government departments. Paper must not be used as our main source of communication if it means our capacity to recycle or reuse is defunct.

The waste department in councils must have Community Liaison Officers(CLO) who link communities and the council as a way of promoting sound dumping techniques and also efficiency in refuse collection. They can also train the citizens on the importance of cleanliness and recycling.

Waste accumulation at areas such as Forbes boarder post which is a gateway between Zimbabwe and Mozambique shows lack of a Waste Management Plan at our border posts. Such things we take as minor can lead to conflict with our neighbours as this has led to the pollution of Munene river in the neighbouring country.

Government must not compromise or politicise policies that promote protection of wetlands or ecologically sensitive areas. Land for housing must be allocated far from catchment areas as tempering with wetlands would promote pollution and siltation thereby altering the quality of life of those who live in urban areas.

The situation in Harare where sensititive wetlands were sacrificed for human habitation in the case of Leong Chen Settlement and many others. Most urban centres preferred money over the protection of wetlands. The government of Zimbabwe ignored the dictates of the Ramsar Convection which aim to protect wetlands and it also acts in contempt of Section 73 of the Constitution which gives people the right to live in an unpolluted environment.

Industries and so called investors must commit themselves in the reduction of carbon emissions by investing in technological innovation that reduce carbon emissions. They must provide annual reports through National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of their target emissions so that we see which sectors are not environmentally friendly.

Lastly the government must ratify recommendations of all conventions that seek to protect the environment to ensure sustainable development.

These simple approaches would safeguard the country from wasteful expenditure and humiliation where the President of a country would abandon a fruitless trip in Rwanda to rush home and hold a broom for a few minutes then take off to Niger for yet another fruitless trip. Looking at the distance between the two countries it would have saved us thousands in revenue if he had connected the trip to Niger from Rwanda. The current efforts by the president must now move to sustainable initiatives and away from being photo ops for social media selfies.

We have sound policies that give us a good fight in 2023. For more information on our policy position, please visit our website http://www.tz.co.zw or send us an email on [email protected]

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu has sensationally claimed that everyone is a thief.

In a tweet that has gone viral on social media, Zivhu wrote:

“Everyone is a thief as long as there is nothing to steal u remain innocent when your time comes to be near what can be stolen- tichakuverengaiwo some of u the the only advantage u have is u are just Zimbabweans without names so no one bothers to write about what u have stolen.”

Zivhu would not elaborate whether he was referring to Zanu PF members or Zimbabweans in general.

Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando challenged Zivhu to qualify his assertion.

“That’s a sweeping statement and I hope that the MP will qualify his statement.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says “in 2030 I will still be here”. The statement has been taken to mean that he wants to be president well beyond the 2-terms presidential limit as his second term (if he’s elected) ends in 2028.

Said Mnangagwa during a speech on HIV and AIDs targets:

…We therefore need to work together for the attainment of global goal of zero new infections by 2030. 2030 I’ll still be here so I’ll see if we have attained that goal or not.

Mnangagwa has been criticised and accused of harbouring ambitions to be president beyond the current terms dictated by the constitution of Zimbabwe.

This is in resonance with what he said in June 2018. Back then, he said that he was confident he would still be the president of Zimbabwe in 2030, adding that his economic vision for the country is not a mistake. He said:

I chose 2030 and it’s not a magic year, but I believe I will still be there. I would want to command the Buy Zimbabwe team which has continued to work closely with both private and public sectors to drive the buy local message and encourage the purchase of local products and services so that local business can thrive, thereby, stimulating economic growth and creating decent jobs for us to be a middle-income country by 2030.ZIMUCU

By A Correspondent- Male sex workers are haunted by stigmatization that’s why they don’t want to come out in the open like their female counterparts.

Over the years the society has learnt to live and tolerate female sex workers but it looks like society may not be ready for their male counterparts.

The Standard spoke to the Zimbabwe Rainbow Community Director Mr Lawerence Phiri who said:

There are so many male sex workers in Zimbabwe, but most of them do not want to be called sex workers. They prefer to be referred to as dancers, Ben Ten or stress relievers depending on individuals

Most male sex workers do not really tell people what they do. The community has not yet embraced male sex workers. The stigma they face from female sex workers on its own is traumatising, what more someone who is not in the industry

Most male sex workers face violence and blackmail from the mainstream society and their clients. Most of the dangers they face are not reported or documented,

“There is a barrier between them and law enforcement agencies. One can never walk into a police station and report violations. The police themselves will start judging you because of the work you do.

Yes, male sex workers do get raped too, but how do you explain that to someone who’s not sensitised around marginalised groups?”-Standard

By A Correspondent- Addressing thousands of supporters at a Masvingo Thank You rally Sunday afternoon, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa revealed that the authorities denied him access to incarcerated MDC Deputy National Chairperson Job Sikhala before calling riot police to “assist” him to leave the prison premises.

Chamisa revealed that the Emmerson Mnangagwa led Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services boss at Masvingo prison first lied that Sikhala was not jailed in Masvingo directing him to Mutimurefu prison.

He however said when he returned after hitting a dead end at Mutimurefu, the officer in charge refused him access arguing that “he was a big figure and hence he needed to seek authority from his superiors whose identity he refused to disclose.”

Said Chamisa:

“I was told that Sikhala is at Mutimurefu only to be later told that he was there (at Masvingo prison). But the officer in charge told me that they have to first seek authority from their superiors. I waited. Calls were made. And I was told that i was a big man…. but they refused me access to see Sikhala.

A few moments later, i saw riot police. They said they had been called by the officer in charge. The dispol, said they had come because they had been told that Chamisa “anokonzeresa” meaning i brew trouble.

But I want to warn you, nothing will last forever. Do not be used.”

Power utility ZESA has dismissed reports that it will soon embark on Stage 4 of Load shedding which will see residents experiencing a minimum of 4 straight days without any power at all.

We publish the statement from the power utility below in its entirety,

ZESA Holdings in conjunction with stakeholders which includes shareholders, among others, are engaging sister utilities to clear arrears arising from prior power imports and also augment local supplies to the nation.

It is very worrying that Tabitha Matenga the Features Editor from The Financial Gazzete deliberately chose not to seek clarification from ZESA on the power supply situation but went ahead to mass communicate an imagined and non-existent level 4 load shedding schedule, thereby causing unnecessary alarm and despondency to the nation.

The current load shedding schedule comprises 2 stages only, i.e Stage 1 and stage 2 – wherein stage 1 denotes power rationing scenario when the power supply gap is up to a deficient of 1000MW and stage 2 calls for rationing when the deficient is more than 1000MW

The power utility and its key stakeholders are currently seized with finding lasting solutions to the power supply challenges currently facing the nation.

ZESA also wants to dismiss the social media messages to the effect that the power utility has restricted electricity usage to 5 Watts per day. Customers should rely only on information from the official ZETDC social media sites and not forwarded messages on platforms such as WhatsApp.

Hardly 72 hours after appearing in an interview in which she accused Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya of indecent behaviour, actress Charity Dlodlo has backtracked on her statement and apologised, claiming she was “used by the devil”.

She becomes the third Magaya “sex victim” to renege on her confession after two other women, Sarah Maruta and Chenai Maenzanise — also turned around and recanted their earlier statements of rape and sexual abuse levelled against Magaya, who has been at the centre of several such accusations.

In a recorded video, a subdued Dlodlo said she would not fight Magaya anymore. Looking downcast and troubled, Dlodlo said she was now asking for Magaya’s forgiveness.

“I wish to apologise to the man of God, Prophet Magaya. It was the work of the devil in my life. From now on, I will not be fighting him. I realise it is no use fighting a man of God who was sent to help others. To the man of God Prophet Magaya, please forgive me for all that I have been doing via social media.

Please find it in your heart to forgive me,” she pleaded.

This is despite the fact that hardly a week back, an angry and bold Dlodlo had, in detail, narrated how Magaya lured her to his Prospect offices where she knelt before him and how he indecently assaulted her.

“Magaya rose from his chair, kissed and touched my breasts and I screamed loudly,” she said in her testimony that was watched by thousands across the country and the globe.

The actress claimed that following the incident, Magaya pampered her financially as a way to keep her quiet. She said then that she had decided to come clean and reveal the truth about Magaya.

She also confessed that she knew about Maruta’s alleged rape by Magaya, saying given her faith in the man of God, she had, however, refused to believe he could be a sexual pervert.

A week ago, Dlodlo and Maruta went to a local newspaper where they poured out their hearts about their alleged sexual encounters with Magaya. A few days later however, Maruta turned around and accused Dlodlo and the newspaper editorial team of coercing her into nailing Magaya.

She became the second alleged victim to do so after another alleged victim Maenzanise, denied audio reports by her parents that she was raped and impregnated by Magaya when she was only 17 years old.

Following this latest development, social media pundits took to the various platforms like Facebook, blasting Dlodlo for acting in a suspicious manner to pour cold water on a case that could have been a solid one for the courts.

Many accused her of having been offered money while some said she had been threatened. Others said as an actress, she had been fooling everyone and was just out to get money from Magaya.

Meanwhile, Nyaradzo Mashayamombe of Identities Media, who interviewed Dlodlo, fired salvos at the actress saying she had been deeply disappointed by her.

“When I saw the Facebook post I was not surprised, but disappointed. I realised that ‘my sister’ had bowed either to the money or to the pressure. Sarah Maruta, Chenai Maenzanise are all women with one common thread: a history of sexual abuse with Magaya,” she said.

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has told his party supporters to get ready to go into the streets to demonstrate against the failing government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Addressing thousands of MDC Supporters in a party rally held at Masvingo’s Mucheke Stadium, Chamisa said he had heard the calls from the majority of Zimbabweans to show discontent with the leadership of Mnangagwa and will soon be calling on Zimbabweans to join him to protest against Mnangagwa.

“We have heard your cries on the sufferings you are enduring under this government and want to tell you that we are ready to lead you into the streets to tell Mnangagwa how unhappy we are,” said Chamisa.

“This we will do in the most peaceful and most organised way within the confines of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” Chamisa added.

The opposition party passed a congress resolution in May this year that it will go through all possible avenues within the constitution to force Mnangagwa to resign before the 2023 elections.

Party Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala is currently in custody in Masvingo after he told party supporters that the party will not stop at anything to force Mnangagwa to resign.

Latest information presented to ZimEye.com indicates that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has included wife of the Public Service Commission Chairman into the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission.

Mrs Hungwe, the wife of Dr Vincent Hungwe, will join Judge Loice Matanda-Moyo, the wife of Foreign Affairs Minister S. B. Moyo on the Commission to complete a massive nepotism move on the very critical supposedly independent v commission.

Mrs Hungwe’s legitimately as a commissioner and how she could function impartially is brought into question based on the fact that the majority of the corruption is happening in the civil service where her husband is the Chairperson.

The commission is already being led by wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo. Her legitimacy has been an issue under challenge from all sectors of the country who also question how she will be independent in executing her duty.