President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa says Zimbabwe has been able “to pay up the debt they owe to Eskom” which is quite confusing when a few weeks ago we were being told that Zimbabwe had made a US$10 million payment which is a portion of what was said to be US$80 million owed to Eskom and not, in fact, the full amount.
Ramaphosa did mention however that Eskom supporting Zimbabwe (and other countries in the SADC) will be a balancing act as they have their own challenges.
Watch video below
MDC supporters have called on party leader Nelson Chamisa to remove party Deputy Luke Tamborinyoka from the position after he threw under the bus arrested Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala in an incriminating statement yesterday.
Tamborinyoka issued a press statement divorcing the party from an utterance made by Sikhala to the effect that the opposition party will make sure that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be removed from power before 2023.
His media statement has attracted a lot of anger from MDC supporters who have since called on Chamisa to deal with his spokesperson.
“I was temporary translator at Congress when the resolution to strive to remove ZANU PF from power prior to 2023 was taken,” said Youth National Executive member Discent Bajila.
“I therefore have a moral obligation to stand with Job Wiwa Sikhala on this particular matter. It’s not his personal opinion. It’s the collective opinion of congress,” he added.
Tamborinyoka’s full statement read as follows:
MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism
The MDC notes with deep worry and concern that Hon. Job Sikhala’s statements made during a rally in Bikita East over the weekend have caused uproar and the party wishes to clarify its position regarding the same.
It is the party’s view that Hon. Sikhala’s views as expressed at the rally and widely quoted in the press were his own personal opinions, which we believe have been misconstrued and misinterpreted.
For the record, the MDC believes in Constitutional, peaceful, democratic, non-violent and legal means of resolving the national crisis. We have never been perpetrators of illegality and non-violence. If anything, we have always been the victims.
The MDC is deeply worried about the escalating national crisis and to this end; the party will on Thursday this week launch the Roadmap to Economic Recovery, Legitimacy, Openness and Democracy (RELOAD) which is our blueprint to legitimacy and economic recovery in the country.
RELOAD does not in any way entail illegal and unconstitutional means of solving the national crisis.
Once again, the MDC wishes to state unequivocally that it has always submitted itself to the cardinal values of legality, constitutionalism and democracy. Any attempt to portray the MDC in any other way is disingenuous and unfortunate.
MDC: (1999 – 2019) Celebrating 20 Years of Tenacity and Courage
Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change
MDC deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala was yesterday arrested on allegations of subverting a constitutionally-elected Government and is expected to appear in court today.
Addressing a rally in Bikita over the weekend, Sikhala is alleged to have said his party would overthrow the Government before 2023.
“We are a committed leadership that will give Zanu-PF headaches and (Amos) Chibaya was not lying or joking about the war and fight we are going to take to the doorstep of Emmerson Mnangagwa. We are going to overthrow him before 2023, that is not a joke,” he said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest.
“We can confirm that Job Sikhala has been arrested for contravening Section 22 (2) (a) of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) and will be appearing in court tomorrow,” he said.
MDC also confirmed the development on their website.
“Hon vice chair Sikhala has been charged with contravening Section 22(2)(a) of the Criminal Code; Subverting a Constitutionally Elected Government. A warned and cautioned statement has been recorded from him and he will appear in court tomorrow,” the party said.
On Monday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said the undermining of a legitimate authority was a serious crime.
In a statement yesterday, MDC deputy national spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said they had “noted with deep worry and concern” that Sikhala’s statements made during the rally in Bikita East over the weekend had caused uproar and they wished to clarify their position regarding the same.
“It is the party’s view that Hon Sikhala’s views as expressed at the rally and widely quoted in the Press were his own personal opinions, which we believe have been misconstrued and misinterpreted.
“For the record, the MDC believes in constitutional, peaceful, democratic, non-violent and legal means of resolving the national crisis. We have never been perpetrators of illegality and non-violence. If anything, we have always been the victims,” he said.
A-53-YEAR-OLD Vumba man, who allegedly raped his teenage stepdaughter on three separate occasions, has appeared in court.
Stewart Nyare appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Loice Mukunyadzi yesterday.
The court heard how Nyare entered the minor’s room and started caressing her and raped her for the first time.
The prosecutor Mr Last Gore alleged that Nyare raped the girl again on another day, but she did not tell anyone. She only reported the abuse to a village health worker when Nyare raped her for the third time.
This was after she ran away from home because of the constant abuse.
The court also heard that before he allegedly raped his stepdaughter for the third time, Nyare promised to buy her books. The minor was examined by a doctor who confirmed the abuse.
In his defence, Nyare claimed his stepdaughter was a problem and he had reported her to her school headmaster.State media
Thousands of Zanu-PF supporters in Matabeleland North Province are expected to converge at Gomoza Shopping Centre today for the launch of the Lupane East by-election campaign rally, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has said.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF parliamentarian Sithembiso Gumbo on April 5 at United Bulawayo Hospitals from injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.
President Mnangagwa has set August 3 as the day for the by-election and the ruling party is keen to retain the seat.
Nine candidates are vying for the seat, with Mbongeni Dube of Zanu-PF and Dalumuzi Khumalo of MDC-Alliance seen as the major contenders.
Other parties participating in the poll are; ZAPU, National Action Party, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), National Patriotic Front, MDC-T and the Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) party.
Mpofu said the event will be graced by Zanu-PF Politburo members led by the party’s national Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda and some senior party members from Matabeleland North province.
“As Zanu-PF, we are going to launch the campaign for our Lupane East by-election which is at the heart of Matabeleland North province, following the passing on of our Member of Parliament Cde Gumbo,” said Mpofu.State media
Civil servants yesterday started receiving a cushioning allowance, while the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) convened a meeting to discuss an increment and other conditions of service for Government workers.
Members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) received salaries adjusted with the cushion allowance, while other members of the civil service are expected to get theirs on their scheduled pay dates.
Those who spoke to The Herald yesterday said they received an adjustment which ranged from around 40 percent of their usual salaries.
This dovetails with an assurance by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube that civil servants will have an increment with effect from this month.
The NJNC, which brings together representatives of Government workers under the Apex Council and those representing the Government, held a marathon meeting yesterday to discuss conditions of service.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said an agreement on the real salary increment should be reached by Wednesday.
“The NJNC will continue negotiations tomorrow (today). There should be an outcome by tomorrow or Wednesday,” she said.
In an interview, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said the meeting was aimed at affording them feedback following the proposal they submitted on conditions of service for civil servants could be improved.State media
As the Government presses full steam ahead with its engagement and re-engagement policy to restore broken ties with the wider world, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo will later this week embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom, the architect of the country’s international isolation, the Ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Sheppard Gwenzi said although the reason for the visit was to attend a Global Conference for Media Freedom, the Minister would hold talks with British and Irish government officials.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Dr Moyo will undertake an official visit to London in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 10 to 14 July 2019, to attend the Global Conference for Media Freedom.
“The conference will be co-hosted by the British and Canadian Governments. The UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Christina Alexandra Freeland will co-chair the conference,” he said.
Mr Gwenzi said the minister would use the visit to engage the United Kingdom government officials lined up.
“In addition to attending the Conference, the Minister would seek to engage with officials of Her Majesty’s Government with a view to further strengthen Zimbabwe’s bilateral relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” he said.State media
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi is in South Africa to finalise a power import deal with Eskom as the Government moves to reduce power shortages.
Minister Chasi’s trip to South Africa follows discussions between President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Niger from July 4 to 8.
Critically, the discussions came after Government paid US$10 million to Eskom, as part of efforts to address its obligations for imported power.
Minister Chasi is also expected to visit Mozambique on a similar mission.
President Mnangagwa met President Felipe Nyusi of Mozambique during the US-Africa Summit recently and discussed possibilities of increasing power imports to Zimbabwe, which is facing acute electricity challenges due to low water levels at Kariba Hydro Power Station, and aging equipment at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
Rolling power outages have seen most parts of the country going without electricity for over 12 hours.
Addressing a Press conference on the 24th Cabinet Meeting Decision Matrix yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Minister Chasi was expected to meet his counterpart Gwede Mantashe during his visit.
“Cabinet received the weekly brief on the Energy and Power Supply Situation by the Acting Minister of Energy and Power Development, Joel Biggie Matiza,” she said.State media
STILL reeling from falling out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals following their disastrous showing, Zimbabwe now have to deal with their star player Khama Billiat’s threats to quit international football.
The Warriors crashed out of the tournament in Egypt winless after two losses and a draw. They suffered an emphatic 4-0 thumping at the hands of DR Congo last week in their final match.
A storm has erupted after their elimination with the team having been accused of match-fixing.
Not only that, Zifa has been accused of owing players money and leaving them without tickets to fly back home.
This has apparently left Billiat pondering his future with the national team.
“Khama is not happy with what happened at Afcon and is even thinking about quitting the national team,” an insider said.
The Kaizer Chiefs’ star apparently had to pay for his teammates’ flight back home after Zifa failed to make bookings for the team.
Billiat’s agent Mike Ngobeni refuted the claims that his client wanted to quit.
“Khama is still going to serve his country and will play for the national team,” Ngobeni.State media
A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Mberengwa allegedly fatally axed his 72-year-old father and dumped the body in a disused mine shaft to save his marriage which his father was against.
Lonias Jojo (25) allegedly hatched a plan to kill his father, Luke Robert Jojo with his wife, Brenda Dube (18) of Village 4 Greenspan, Chief Bvute in Mberengwa last week Thursday.
It is alleged the elderly man did not like his daughter in law and always insisted that his son should divorce her.
Midlands Provincial Spokesperson, Inspector Goko confirmed the incident.
“On July 4 around 2PM Brenda came home drunk and had a misunderstanding with Luke who then instructed his son, Lonias to chase his wife away because he did not like her,” he said.
“This angered Lonias who took an axe from his bedroom and struck his father twice on the head. Luke died on the spot,” he said.
Insp Goko said the couple allegedly dumped Luke’s body in a mine shaft.
“Lonias and his wife Brenda allegedly ferried the deceased’s body in a wheelbarrow and threw it in a disused mine shaft about 400 meters away from their home,” he said.State media
By Rev TG Chivaviro | The building of a toilet and secondary school block is part of Gospel Artist, the Ebenezer hitmaker Rev T.T.Chivaviro’s social responsibility programme which he runs with full backing of his music fans.
Having been raised in the same Village of Gwehava, in Gokwe, Chivaviro realizes the challenges young boys and girls from that area face after completing primary school. The closet secondary school is some 6.5km away and eventually some kids who are not physically strong enough to walk 13km daily to and from school end up dropping out of school.
Therefore to give back to the same community that raised him, Chivaviro has secured and 10 hectare piece of land , fenced 4 hectares ,dug a deep water well inside and now intends to first build a toilet then the first classroom block with the help of well wishers. While the government has told him they don’t have resources at the moment to support the venture, the musician is prepared to go it alone with the help of all those that have been blessed by his music! The government has passed his venture .
The plan is to get the toilet and first block ready for forms 1&2 in Jan 2020, then proceed to higher classes after the take off.
About US$15000 is needed to get the project proceeding with the community offering most of the general labour needed. His fundraiser is running from 1st June to July 31st.
For the past 2 years ,under his social responsibility program, Rev Chivaviro has also been donating to various causes annually.He donated 500 books to 1 disadvantaged rural school in each of the 10 Provinces in Zim, then also paid School fees for about 21 rural kids last year for the whole year.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF political commissar Victor Mademadanda left the city of Bulawayo in frustration after his planned demonstrations against price hikes did not materialize.
Mademadanda had organised demonstrations against prices in Bulawayo on Monday.
Only a handful of party supporters turned up for the demonstrations.
A crestfallen Matemadanda then went around the city interacting with residents.
“Go back and put your house in order, we have had enough of your propaganda,” an angry Bulawayo resident told Mademadanda.
Farai Dziva|Concerned Zimbabweans have launched an initiative called #IStandWithJob in support of opposition MDC vice chairperson, Job Sikhala.
Yesterday the MDC said the remarks made by Sikhala did not represent the position of the party.
Posting on Facebook, party deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka wrote:
“The MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism
The MDC notes with deep worry and concern that Hon.
Job Sikhala’s statements made during a rally in Bikita East over the weekend have caused uproar and the party wishes to clarify its position regarding the same.
It is the party’s view that Hon. Sikhala’s views as expressed at the rally and widely quoted in the press were his own personal opinions, which we believe have been misconstrued and misinterpreted.”
Concerned Zimbabweans have however vowed to support the ” under siege” Sikhala.
Farai Dziva|The late MDC cadre Dusty Zivhave will be buried tomorrow in Chiredzi.
“MDC National leaders will join us in mourning the gallant son of the soil,”said an MDC official.
Advocate Tongai Matutu described Zivhave as a dedicated party member:
“We have lost one of the dedicated cadres.
He fought many battles in Chiredzi. May his soul rest in peace,” said Matutu.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has said Job Sikhala’ s statement merely reflects public anger.
See the MDC youth assembly statement below:
The MDC Youth Assembly is riled by the state and ZANU PF’s overtures to flagrantly and wantonly disregard the right to freedom of expression through the ill thought move to charge MDC National Vice Chair, Job Sikhala with treason.
Having listened and re-listened to Honorable Sikhala’s Bikita rally statements, we found it shocking that the panic stricken military junta intends to slap our National Vice Chair with treason charges.
It is not a secret that as a party our end game which is in sync with the people’s agenda is to remove a failed ZANU PF government from power.
While MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism as has already been buttressed by our deputy National spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, the party is also deeply anchored in values and ethos of social democracy.
Solidarity with the downtrodden is one of those values!
As such, the Assembly and the party in general has an obligation to stand in solidarity with long suffering masses whose nervous conditions we all know is a direct result of a bastion of governance failure by ZANU PF.
That Honorable Sikhala chose the words “overthrow of Emmerson Mnangagwa” instead of subtle adjectives is an issue of semantics.
The bottom line is that people are sick and tired of the whole ZANU PF system and henceforth its removal or “overthrow” through constitutional means is long overdue!
What Honorable Sikhala said is just a mirror reflection of the sentiments of the ordinary people in the country.
People are groaning under the ZANU PF yoke and their loud cries have one thing in common- “ZANU PF is corrupt and must go!”.
Honorable Job Sikhala only amplified the people’s position that ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa should be overthrown albeit through constitutional means if the country to move forward.
As an Assembly we would like to warn Simon Khaya Moyo and his sinking ZANU PF ship that any reckless overtures to decimate opposition figures like Sikhala on flimsy treason charges will be repelled by equal force.
If anything, a Sikhala illegal arrest will be our own Sarajevo moment that the country desperately awaits.
Mr Khaya Moyo should be reminded that another November 2017 is possible in our life time!
The voice of people is the voice of God!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala will appear in court tomorrow.
“Hon. Vice Chair Sikhala has been charged with contravening section 22(2)(a)iii of the Criminal Code… Subverting a Constitutionally Elected Government.
A warned and cautioned statement has been recorded from him and he will appear in court tomorrow…
Our legal affairs dept tried to get him to be released today but it was in vain as they seemed to be acting on instructions,” the MDC has said in a statement.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Farai Dziva|Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa lost lost US$ 25 000 cash to her housemaid.
Mutsvangwa’s maid Tracy Manase (59) allegedly stole the money- which had been given to the Minister “for safekeeping.”
Manase appeared before Magistrate Nortilda Muchineripi.
She pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court heard that Joyce Mukono (49) from Zimre Park in Harare, who is Mutsvangwa’s sister, gave the Minister the money for safekeeping.
In June Mutsvangwa’s sister asked for her money and was told that it was missing.
“After carrying out investigations, she found out that the former maid was hiring workers and paying them in US dollars at her rural home.”
“Mukono reported the matter to Mutare Central Police leading to the recovery of US$3 200 cash and groceries worth US$6 200 from Manase.”
Ironically this comes at a time government has banned the use of foreign currency as legal tender in Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent| Former permanent secretary in the Mines ministry Francis Gudyanga yesterday threatened to expose State secrets which involved a subsidiary of Nikuv International Projects Limited, Pedstock.
Nikuv was widely and wildly accused of having electronically manipulated 2013 elections in favour of former president Robert Mugabe.
Gudyanga, a former Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) board chairperson, stands accused of paying US$1 629 500 from the parastatal’s coffers to a foreign firm through a local agricultural company, Pedstock.
He earlier requested to have his trial held away from the public and press but only made seconds thoughts. He said that despite the damaging nature of the secrets he is being forced to reveal in public, he is ready to testify.
Through his lawyer Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, Gudyanga told the court that he will no longer be lodging the application. He said:
There is no need to protect the State if it does not need to be protected. We are prepared to unpack the realities of this case.
Prosecutor Venerandah Munyoro, who has taken over prosecution, said the State has set trial for August 5 and 6, respectively.
Munyoro also accounted for Gudyanga’s docket, which Mugiya had feared was missing after it was seconded to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.DailyNews
One of the Netball Team players was injured yesterday at a time when the whole team has run for days without a penny of their allowances since touching down in Manchester last week. Another worry is that a lump sum $39,000 is missing from the team’s donated funds. The money is meant for food and medicines.
The below was an update by the Netball President Leticia Chipandu:
By Own Correspondent- Since January 2019 21 people have been charged with treason with the MDC Vice Chairman Job Sikhala being the latest addition to the list.
These 13 people were charged with treason in 2019:
This has prompted critics to draw parallels between the president and his predecessor Robert Mugabe. During his time Mugabe charged the following people with treason.
By A Correspondent- MDC secretary for Education, advocate Fadzayi Mahere, has said that Job Sikhala’s statement is not clear and cannot warrant an arrest since it could have meant anything.
Mahere said that it is not a crime for one to state that they want to overthrow the government.
Posting on Twitter, Mahere said:
2. The overthrow has to be unconstitutional. Sikhala could have meant impeachment. #FreeJobSikhala
Meanwhile, some are saying that although Skhala could have meant impeachment, he was understood by both his party and the ruling Zanu PF to mean a coup d’tat!
Others are arguing that there is no constitutional government in Zimbabwe to speak of.
By A Correspondent- Officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) put an end to the life of crime of two bogus police officers who had preyed on an illegal changer.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ZRP said.
Two men Shadreck Mapango (31) and Tatenda Founder (29) were arrested for impersonating police officers in Southlea Park, Harare.
The duo approached a 31-year-old female adult posing as police officers and claimed that they were making follow-ups on money changers.
They searched her vehicle and took cash, US$310.00, RTGS$200.00, ZAR720 and 300 pula, which was all later recovered. They purportedly arrested the complainant but later released her on the way. The accused persons were arrested soon after they released the complainant who then made a follow-up with her uncle.
Members of the public are urged to ask for police identity cards to verify the identity of, all purported law enforcement agents. If in doubt, they should call the nearest police station or proceed there for verification.
The two bogus officers are expected to appear in court soon.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers on Saturday discovered seven carcasses of elephants that were in an advanced state of decomposition.
It is suspected that the elephants may have been poisoned with cyanide. A ZBC News report claimed that the elephants could have succumbed to anthrax as they were found with their tusks intact.
The incident was confirmed by Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo. He said: It is true that some elephants were found dead and a team is already on the ground taking samples as we are yet to ascertain the cause of death.
All I can say for now is that all departments that make up the anti-poaching unit are on the ground as investigations are being done. SEVEN elephants were found dead in Hwange National Park on Saturday in a suspected case of cyanide poisoning.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers conducting routine patrols found elephant carcasses in the Mukona area of the game park. The Chronicle was told that the carcasses were in an advanced state of decomposition raising fears of cyanide poisoning.
Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway. “It is true that some elephants were found dead and a team is already on the ground taking samples as we are yet to ascertain the cause of death.
All I can say for now is that all departments that make up the anti-poaching unit are on the ground as investigations are being done,” said Mr Farawo. He could not confirm if the jumbos still had their tusks and said finer details would be availed in due course after investigations are concluded.
Hundreds of elephants have died at Hwange National Park since 2013 due to cyanide poisoning. In some cases, rangers have recovered oranges laced with cyanide placed strategically on trees where they can be eaten by elephants.
In January last year, rangers discovered several sites laced with cyanide at Sinanga in Hwange National Park. Cyanide, which is mainly used in the mining industry, is dangerous to humans, animals and the environment.
During a recent Africa Union-United Nations Wildlife Economy Summit held in Victoria Falls, President Mnangagwa said Government is working on a number of measures aimed at fighting poaching which is rampant in the country.
The measures, he said, include introducing new technology such as use of drones for patrols. During the conference, African nations were challenged to ensure that communities living near game parks are included in wildlife management so as to reduce human-wildlife conflict and poaching.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- The country is in serious trouble with unemployment a nauseating 90%; basic services such sheath and education all but collapse; facing fuel, cash and medicine shortages; 19-hour power cuts; 5.7 million people needed food aid; etc.
Instead of those in power coming up with solutions to the many teething problems they are wasting time in their own macabre sabre-rattling contest!
“We are a committed leadership that will give Zanu PF headaches and [Amos] Chibaya was not lying or joking about the war and fight we are going to take to the doorsteps of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
We are going to overthrow him before 2023 that is not a joke,” said Job Sikhala, MDC Vice Chairperson at a Rally in Bikita.
“When a person says they want to overthrow a constitutionally-elected President, they are committing an offence and they are threatening a coup, this will not be allowed in this
country. We love our peace and it will be protected,” came the reply from the Zanu PF Youth League leader, Lewis Matutu.
The irony is that Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime are NOT constitutionally elected because last year’s elections were NOT free and fair as MDC leaders have readily admitted.
ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake! It is MDC who have given Zanu PF the modicum of legitimacy by participating in the flawed and illegal elections. Even with all the evidence that Zanu PF had indeed rigged the elections, MDC has nonetheless remain ambivalent in their condemnation of the elections.
“Legitimacy is an issue – last year’s elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that,” commented David Coltart, MDC Treasurer General.
MDC has been calling for political dialogue to resolve the legitimacy issue. The party is demand a power sharing transition authority (TA) in which Nelson Chamisa and a few other MDC members are to be given cabinet positions complete with the ministerial limo, generous salary, etc.
MDC claim the TA will revive the economy and implement the reforms to stop Zanu PF rigged future elections. All nonsense, of course! MDC failed to get even one reform implemented in the 2008 GNU when the party had the majority in cabinet and parliament and the backing of SADC leaders. It is hard to see how the party can achieve anything in this TA when Zanu PF hold all the trump cards.
MDC leaders are selling-out the cause for free, fair and credible elections as the only basis for political legitimacy for selfish person gain.
It is laughable that MDC sold-out to give the illegitimate Zanu PF regime legitimacy is now talking of using violence to force the latter to share the spoils of power. Whilst Zanu PF, for its part, blatantly rigged the elections and will now use brute force to retain its corrupt and tyrannical rule.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is getting worse and worse and the nation is being pushed deeper and deeper into this hell-on-earth we find ourselves in.
The only way out is for this illegitimate Zanu PF regime to step down so we can appoint an interim administration or transition authority, call it what you wish, composed of individuals who can be trusted to implemented the democratic reforms and thus end the curse of rigged elections.
The opportunity to pressure Zanu PF to step down is there; most of the international community accept that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and the regime is therefore is illegal. The fly in the ointment is MDC who want to sell legitimacy and will even drag the nation into violent street protests to push their selfish demands.
By A Correspondent- There was drama in Tynwald South after some residents temporarily evacuated their homes when an angry mob stormed the neighbourhood, demanding justice for their deceased relative who was murdered after being caught in a botched housebreaking attempt.
As part of the ritual, the group chanted songs and danced for more than 30 minutes before they carried the deceased to his final resting place.
Sachikumbi’s friend Wiseman Chaboka, furnished the publication with information on the events that led to Sachikumbi’s death.
Sachikumbi is reported to have broken into three houses stealing cellphones and television sets but was unfortunate when he barged into the fourth house. Upon his entry, he bumped into a woman who was on her way to the toilet.
”He took a out a knife and tried to scare away the woman, but she screamed until the husband woke up and a fight broke out. That’s when he was caught.
”He was thoroughly beaten from around 3am until 7am when the police came and took his body,” he said.
Sachikumbi’s wife Loina January said that it was unjust for her husband to meet his end in such a manner.
”Yes, I know he was a thief. But how can they kill him like that? ”They tied his hands with wire and started beating him up with stones and bricks. They then took a bolt cutter and started squeezing his private parts, while cutting his hair and sprinkling ashes all over his face,” she said.-H-Metro
By Own Correspondent- Gospel supremo Mechanic Manyeruke has collaborated with his son Guspy Warrior for the first time.
The song, titled Shungu Dzangu, is expected to hit the market soon.
In an interview, Baba Manyeruke said the song is the first project with his Zim dancehall son.
“It’s my first ever collaboration with Guspy and he is the one who came up with the idea that we should have a collaboration.
“I did not turn down his proposal because we both attract people in our genres and I took it as a chance for me to educate the young generation.
“People have been asking us to do a duet so we are giving them a song which they have been waiting for years,” he said.
He added:
“Another reason why I did not turn the offer down is that he goes to church and it’s very easy to relate with him.
“I am putting my voice on Wednesday and Guspy has already put his.
“The song is simply titled Shungu Dzangu and it’s a must-listen.”
Baba Manyeruke also hinted on another collaboration with Guspy Warrior where he will be remembering Cyclone Idai Victims.
“We are yet to do another collaboration where we will be remembering Cyclone Idai victims.
“There are many people who have lost their lives and it brings sorrow whenever I think about it.”
The Makanaka Jesu singer stated that he wants to record a family album where his two sons Guspy and Alexander will be featuring.
“I have nine children and only two have followed my footsteps.
“Guspy has chosen the Zim dancehall genre and Alexander chose gospel.
“We will soon record a family album which will strengthen hearts of believers in these trying times.”-H.Metro
Said the Afrobarometer: The bad and good news comes in almost daily.
Increasingly authoritarian regimes clamp down on dissent in Tanzania and Zambia, and Togo’s Gnassingbe dynasty teeters as its opponents are bloodied in the streets. But democratic elections carried the day in the Gambia, where strongman Yahya Jammeh was forced to cede power without a shot being fired — and in Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf respected term limits and passed the torch.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, Afro-beat pop star Bobi Wine has become a symbol for popular resistance and could threaten Yoweri Museveni’s three-decade rule.
In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appears to be leading change with breathtaking speed, while Zimbabweans still wait — and demonstrate — for the democracy they were promised after Robert Mugabe was forced to step down.
What’s going on with democracy in Africa?
The research network Afrobarometer finds some answers in its latest analysis, based on face-to-face interviews with more than 45,000 Africans in 34 countries.
The wide-ranging interviews, conducted with nationally representative samples between late 2016 and late 2018, covered more than two dozen questions on democracy, elections and political freedoms.
Most Africans still say they want democracy. Fewer are getting the democracy they want. And even fewer insist enough on improving their democracies that they’re likely to help their nations guard against authoritarian backsliding.
Let’s look more closely at the numbers. A strong majority of Africans — fully 68 percent — think democracy is the best system of government.
Even larger majorities object to various forms of authoritarianism: 78 percent oppose presidential dictatorships, 74 percent oppose one-party rule and 72 percent object to military rule.
About four out of 10 Africans, or 42 percent, “demand democracy,” meaning they hold all four of these pro-democratic views at the same time.
These committed democrats are most likely to be found among urban residents, men, and people who have middle-class jobs, a university education, a strong interest in politics, and a habit of reading newspapers and using the Internet.
By A Correspondent- Newly-elected vice president of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has urged her fellow African First Ladies to continue working hard for the development of their countries and the continent.
In an interview on the sidelines of the closing” ceremony of the OAFLAD 23rd General Assembly here yesterday, the First Lady said she also learnt a lot from the discussions she had with her counterparts.
She also pledged to continue with her developmental programmes and initiatives in Zimbabwe for the benefit of every citizen.
“This conference has been an eye-opener to all of us,” she said.
“I, therefore, encourage other First Ladies to continue working hard for betterment their countries and the continent.
“I have learnt a lot through OAFLAD and will use that knowledge for the benefit of the nation and the continent.
“From the discussions we had, I noticed that some of the work I have done so far through my charity organisation Angel of Hope Foundation, most of the First Ladies are yet to start such while some are still in the process of implementing them.”
She said OAFLAD gave them a platform to share ideas and encouraging each other as mothers of nations.
Amai Mnangagwa thanked Angel of Hope’s partners and sponsors who have been assisting her in her philanthropic projects.
“Whenever we get sponsorship we try as much as possible to be accountable so as to retain trust.
“I have come a long way and the plans I came up with, most of them I have implemented.
“I have been dealing mostly with health issues that include cancer and HIV and Aids and other related ailments.
“I have also been going around the country assisting the less privileged,” Amai Mnangagwa said.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president, Denford Mutashu, has appealed to government to shut down small businesses operating in the downtown area for refusing electronic money.
Mutashu accused the business owners of rejecting electronic forms of payment such as mobile money transfer and bank cards insisting to be paid in hard cash.
Mutashu said that it was necessary for those businesses to prove that they do not smuggle in their commodities.
Mutashu said:
We recommend that area must be shut down and every shop owner… account for what they have done in terms of satisfying authorities on how much they have been banking per day, what are the sort of activities in their accounts and if they have been paying taxes.
There is also need to prove sources of where they are purchasing their goods because a lot of their goods are smuggled.
His remarks were reiterated by Harare Residents Trust (HRT) chairperson, Precious Shumba, who called for the downtown businesses to reveal how they purchase and import their commodities.
Posting on Facebook, Shumba said:
People who are going downtown to buy are being denied opportunities to use mobile money, swipe and EcoCash, as shop owners are demanding cash only payments.
What type of management systems or accounting systems are they using that do not allow them to accept mobile transfers?
This raises a lot of questions such as where are they getting their goods to the extent that they are demanding cash only payments?
Several businesses have been accused of either tax evasion or tax avoidance or both.-DailyNews
The Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament Soliman Wahdan has requested to not settle for the Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) resignation but to investigate them over corruption and favouritism accusations.
Egypt were knocked out of the 2019 AFCON following an astounding 1-0 defeat against South Africa. The Pharaohs’ exit from the tournament represents their worst AFCON result when the competition is hosted by Egypt.
South Africa will now face Nigeria in the quarter finals after the Super Eagles edged Cameroon in a 3-2 win on Sunday.
“I warned before from sports corruption and especially in EFA after the underwhelming results and scandal that happened in the 2018 World Cup and I requested in the Parliament their resignation, the thing which didn’t happen,” Wahdan said.
“Not holding the EFA accountable for their deeds back in that time is what made us achieve these results in AFCON 2019. Now failure and corruption is repeated from the association’s members. They have to be accounted for the failure and the state of sadness they caused the Egyptian people.”
“They failed in everything whether in choosing the coach who was the highest earner in the tournament and in favouring certain players as well as Amr Warda’s incident which saw him excluded from the squad before he was brought back in.”
President Yoweri Museveni has summoned Uganda Cranes team at State House, Entebbe following their exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt on Friday.
Senior Presidential Press Secretary Don Wanyama confirmed that the President will meet the team this evening.
“Yoweri Museveni will this evening meet and welcome the Uganda Cranes squad at State House Entebbe as they return from Egypt, where they put up a formidable show at the AFCON 2019 tournament, making it to Group of 16,” Wanyama tweeted.
The Uganda Cranes have returned to the country after being knocked out of the round of 16 by Senegal in a game that ended 1 to nil.
The Cranes who arrived a few minutes to 4:00 am will later on be hosted by President Kaguta Museveni for a luncheon at State House.
While in Egypt, the Uganda Cranes proceeded to the round of 16 after beating DR Congo 2-0, drawing 1-1 with Zimbabwe and suffering a 2-0 loss to Egypt.
The Cranes had last moved out of the group stages in 1978.
Their exit has also been followed by the exit of their coach Sebastien Desabre who has since been linked to Egyptian side Al Ahly and Tunisian top side, Etoile Sportive du Sahel.
This after he (Desabre) reached a mutual understanding with FUFA to terminate his contract for reasons yet to be known.
The team that arrived at Entebbe International Airport today at about 4am is expected to head to State House for a scheduled meeting with Museveni.
Before flying to Cairo, Egypt ahead of the tournament, Museveni had met the Uganda Cranes squad in a meeting that was meant to morale boast them which eventually paid off with Uganda’s first win in their first game against Dr Congo. The Cranes later booked a place in the last 16 after a one-all draw against Zimbabwe despite losing to the host- Egypt in their last game of the group.
It is the first team the Cranes went past the Group stages since 1978 when the national team reached the final, losing to Ghana by 2 goals.
Uganda Cranes on Friday were eliminated in the last 16 following their 1-0 loss to Senegal. Liverpool star Sadio Mane scored the only goal.
Despite a diminutive sit-down strike before the game against Senegal, Uganda Cranes will be given a heroic welcome for such a wonderful performance.
By Ndaba Nhuku| If you are not politically tuned up, you will always allow someone to set the agenda.
This is what the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa did with Job “Wiwa” Sikhala’s rally speech.
It allowed Zanu to interpret it and use it the way it wants. As usual, MDC A waited to react.
Zanu is always setting the national agenda because the MDC A is not assertive, is slow at defending its own folks, waits to see how Zanu will react to issues.
MDC A, as the Opposition, must be setting the agenda. It must have visible people in Wiwa’s mould who are out there, assertively and forcefully challenging the government, challenging government policies, challenging government leaders’ conduct.
There is nothing as bad as having government setting the national agenda and Opposition reacting to it because this renders the Opposition useless.
It means the Opposition is the one being assessed, observed and corrected by the government instead of the opposite!!! It is the Opposition that should keep the government on its toes and not government keeping the Opposition defensive!!
In this case, the Opposition should have come out supporting Wiwa strongly, in unison.
For the Opposition to issue a statement alienating itself from Wiwa’s speech was a big blunder that actually silences its members from saying anything against government.
This is one of the reasons l am against the MDC A behaving like they are in power by demanding dialogue!! MDC A is an Opposition party that should be thirsty to replace Zanu, and not work with Zanu!! MDC A has no business calling for dialogue.
It is the government that is facing a crisis that should call for dialogue. MDC A is not in power and should not be there to rescue Zanu Pf.
By asking for dialogue, MDC A compromises itself as has now been seen! How can it oppose the government it wants to work with? How it can behave any different from MDC T led by Thokozani Khupe when it’s also dying to be included in government?
This issue is at the core of MDC A failure and especially those people who have been around Chamisa as unofficial advisors.
If MDC A longs to be in power, it must not allow itself to be turned into a reactionary party. Zanu has succeeded to turn MDC A into a reactionary party because it made it lack political substance, direction, agenda and focus.
A party can have a good vision but without a solid strategy to achieve its goals, it’s all myopic.
Zimbabwe is in trouble because MDC A has for too long given Zanu Pf the opportunity to survive in its chaos.
MDC A forcibly doesn’t challenge Zanu Pf on specific issues and doesn’t appeal to its huge support base when challenging Zanu Pf.
Wiwa did very well to challenge Zanu Pf in the midst of MDC A masses. That is what MDC A must be doing to set the agenda, to make the masses be with its leadership, to keep the masses mood opposed to Zanu Pf.
MDC A leadership need to be seen to be frustrated and angry with what is going on in the country, and that has to be done at rallies!! It is the masses that will overthrow a government!
Mnangagwa and Lacoste and Zimbabwe Defence Forces uses the masses’, anger to overthrow the former president Robert Mugabe and termed the illegal coup a “smart coup!”
That is how you use the masses to your advantage and not going meek when you want to be in power.
On the other hand it is ironic, ignorance if not downright stupid and divisive for some MDC A members who rightly support Wiwa, to turn against Luke Tamborinyoka, the party spokesman for issuing that statement distancing the party from Wiwa.
Luke is a mere party spokesperson whose job is to issue such statements whether he agrees with them or not!
Members should not abuse him for doing what he was appointed for. He doesn’t issue his own statements not sanctioned by party leadership.
If anyone at their point in time was to be criticised by such party members… for assertive and action oriented leadership, it is not Luke but Chamisa, the NEC and shadow cabinet!!
The Youth Assembly should also have forcefully come out defending Wiwa and asking the party to withdraw it’s statement. No point taking frustration on individual party appointees doing their job!
This is what destroys parties when people can’t do their tasks because praise singers won’t hold leadership accountable and instead target innocent party appointees.
The party mast be assertive enough to make Zanu Pf fear it instead of being a reactionary party existing on fear of being hounded by the government. MDCA must be holding the government accountable and not the other way round. This doesn’t however call for unnecessary recklessness on the part of leadership.
MDC-A must use advisors who don’t only have political vision, but are able to interpret national mood and frustration and use it to the advantage of the party.
An Opposition party must have attack dogs like Wiwa and calm faces who stabilise emotions. It must not be seen as a gentry club!! Wiwa’s case leaves it appearing as an elite party eager to go and work with government without causing and tension. Wiwa comes out as the only winner forcefully challenging a chaotic inept and corrupt regime using the language it survives on!!! The party alienated itself from the national anger against Zanu Pf failures, when Wiwa was trying to use that anger to its advantages.
I therefore stand with both Wiwa assertively speaking against Zanu Pf as a failed party, and Tamborinyoka for doing his job as a party spokesperson!
One of the Netball Team players was injured yesterday at a time when the whole team has run for days without a penny of their allowances since touching down in Manchester last week. Another worry is that a lump sum $39,000 is missing from the team’s donated funds. The money is meant for food and medicines.
The below was an update by the Netball President Leticia Chipandu:
PHYSICAL assaults and stabbings perpetrated by police officers, people sleeping on human excrement, and inmates being denied their life-saving chronic medication.
These are the alleged “inhumane and hazardous” conditions which inmates, who are awaiting deportation, said they had to contend with at Pretoria Central police station after being sent there on June 24, after their release from Tshwane’s Kgosi Mampuru Prison.
The Daily News has seen videos and pictures depicting the harrowing environment in which Zimbabweans and other foreigners are forced to live before being deported, and spoke to several inmates on condition of anonymity.
Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, spokesperson for the Gauteng SAPS, confirmed yesterday that the police were aware of “these concerns”, and that an internal investigation had been initiated.
According to the inmates, things came to a head on Thursday when they revolted against Pretoria Central officers, who they claimed had denied a prisoner his vital ARV medication.
Further allegations are that the “abused” inmate had been repeatedly assaulted every night since his arrival at Pretoria Central “only because he asked to take his life-saving medication”.
“On the day we stood up and fought the police, they had missed our brother’s medication time by 45 minutes. When they came to take him to reception where his medication was stored, they went down beating him, they came back beating him and beat him up some more in the cells,” said one observer.
“Some of us intervened, and the officers started fighting us as well. One officer – a white man – took out a knife and stabbed a brother on his arm. Another officer – a Mr Baloyi – took the knife away from the white cop. When both of them realised that we were fighting for the brother who wanted his ARVs, they left us alone.”
“They are treating us very badly,” another detained inmate said. “They even denied us a shower; the one in our cell is not working. Cells are not cleaned and when we ask for cleaning materials, the officers refuse.”
Putrid-looking excrement and filthy ablution and shower facilities inside the cells are visible from visuals sent to the Daily News.
Colonel Dlamini said Pretoria Central police station management viewed these allegations seriously and were investigating.
“However, the cleaning materials may not be provided to the inmates for safety reasons. The police cells are cleaned by our cleaners every day. It’s unfortunate that during the hourly cell inspections, these concerns were not raised with our officers. Community members are encouraged to come forward with any cases alleging police brutality so that they can be properly investigated,” Dlamini said.
– DailySun
Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Apollonia Munzverengwi, however, claimed that perhaps the picture was leaked after her phone was hacked and insisted that the picture should not have left her phone’s gallery.
Zimetro|In a rather embarrassing development, a Zanu-PF Minister has apologised to her party and its supporters after her semi-nu_de pictures leaked onto social media.
The photo was first shared in a Zanu-PF group before being circulated in other Whatsapp groups. Speaking to the Daily News, Munzverengwi said. Vanhu ngavandinzwire tsitsi handizivi kuti chii chakaitika kuti phone yakahakwa here … pawandiudza nyaya iyi hana yangu yarova ndabva ndatokanganisika.
(I don’t know what happened maybe my phone was hacked, the moment you enquired about this, I got disturbed).
In November 2018, former South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Knowledge Nkanyezi Gigaba was forced to resign from his post after his s.e.x tape went viral on social media
South African and other travellers will be able to use their own currency in cash or through credit and debit cards in Zimbabwe after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe clarified that tourism operators will be allowed to accept settlement for goods and services from tourists in foreign currency.
This is despite the banning of payments for local goods and services using foreign currencies inside Zimbabwe, under new monetary policy measures aimed at addressing economic distortions.
South Africa’s struggling northern neighbour has introduced the Zimbabwe dollar for settling local payments.
“Players in the tourism sector are designated as tourism operators, which are permitted to receive foreign currency payments from non-residents (foreign tourists),” said the central bank’s deputy director for economic policy, William Kavilan, in a presentation to the Chartered Institute of Accountants Zimbabwe in Harare last week on the implications stemming from the new monetary policy measures.
Individual foreign currency account holders from Zimbabwe will also get access to their foreign currency through withdrawals, but companies and non-governmental organisations have to convert their foreign currency funds using the interbank exchange rate before use.
Although the Zimbabwean tourism operators have been given room to accept payments in foreign currency, they will not be allowed to pay local suppliers in foreign currency.
Local banks in Zimbabwe are battling to contain the fall-out with one of their service providers that wants to be paid in foreign currency, which the finance institutions says is not feasible after the new monetary measures.
The central bank, however, added that prior exchange control approval was required for the “operation of special foreign currency transitory accounts to facilitate downstream payments” in foreign currency.
Zimbabwe is battling acute foreign currency shortages while the central bank and treasury have been implementing policies to ensure that Zimbabwe does not re-dollarise.
Banks were also working on ATMs that will allow tourists and travellers from abroad to withdraw local notes from their foreign cards using the prevailing interbank exchange rate through platforms such as Visa and MasterCard. Banking sector managers said on Friday that banks were working on switching on this service.
– IOL
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe netball team players are yet to get their allowances, ZimEye has learnt.
The players, who are in their maiden appearance at the World Netball Cup arrived in the UK last week and they will play their first match against Sri Lanka this Friday.
The development also comes amid indications that the girls are not being given lunch food.
Recently, it emerged that there was an uproar inside the white walls at No 1 The Strand concerning the welfare of the Zimbabwe Netball team which is being starved after government officials blew their food money ($39 000).
However, President of the Zimbabwe Netball Association, Leticia Chipandu refused to answer questions when quizzed by this publication.
While responding to a question on whether the girls had been paid their allowances or not, Chipandu said:
“….Who says that? All those reports are untrue. We have our system of paying allowances and it is none of your business… I am only accountable to myself and my government.”
This is despite Chipandu promising as soon as the team landed at the airport that she was ready to furnish anyone interested in knowing the players’ contracts as soon as the team was settled.
She is on record saying:
“The girls were not paid 50RTGs bond and it is not true. I can show anyone who is interested the players’ contracts as soon as we are settled (at hotel Ibid).
By Ndaba Nhuku | If you are not politically tuned up, you will always allow someone to set the agenda. This is what MDCA did with Wiwa’s rally speech. It allowed Zanu to interpret it and use it the way it wants. As usual, MDC A waited to react. Zanu is always setting the national agenda because the MDCA is not assertive, is slow at defending its own folks, waits to see how Zanu will react to issues. MDCA, as the Opposition, must be setting the agenda. It must have visible people in Wiwa’s mould who are out there, assertively and forcefully challenging the govt, challenging govt policies, challenging govt leaders’ conduct.
There is nothing as bad as having govt setting national agenda and Opposition reacting to it because this renders the Opposition useless. It means the Opposition is the one being assessed, observed and corrected by the govt instead of the opposite!!! It is the Opposition that should keep the govt on its toes and not govt keeping the Opposition defensive!!
In this case, the Opposition should have come out supporting Wiwa strongly, in unison. For the Opposition to issue a statement alienating itself from Wiwa’s speech was a big blunder that actually silences its members from saying anything against govt. This is one of the reasons l am against the MDCA behaving like they are in power by demanding dialogue!! MDCA is an Opposition party that should be thirsty to replace Zanu, and not work with Zanu!! MDCA has no business calling for dialogue.
It is the govt that is facing a crisis that should call for dialogue. MDCA is not in power and should not the there to rescue Zanu. By asking for dialogue, MDCA compromises itself as has now been seen! How can it oppose the govt it wants to work with? How it can behave any different from MDCT when it’s also dying to be included in govt?
This issue is at the core of MDCA failure and especially those people who ha e been around Chamisa as unofficial advisors.
If MDCA longs to be in power it must not allow itself to be turned into a reactionary party. Zanu has succeeded to turn MDCA into a reactionary party because it made it lack political substance, direction, agenda and focus. A party can have a good vision but without a solid strategy to achieve its goals, it’s all myopic. Zim is in trouble because MDC has for too long given Zanu the opportunity to survive in its chaos. MDCA forcelly doesn’t challenge Zanu on specific issues and doesn’t appeal to its huge support base when challenging Zanu.
Wiwa did very well to challenge Zanu in the midst of MDCA masses. That is what MDCA must be doing to set the agenda, to make the masses be with its leadership, to keep the masses mood opposed to Zanu. MDCA leadership need to be seen to be frustrated and angry with what is going on in the country, and that has to be done at rallies!! It is the masses that will overthrow a govt!
Mnangagwa and Lacoste and ZDF uses the masses’, anger to overthrow Mugabe and termed the illegal coup a “smart coup!” That is how you use the masses to your advantage and not going meek when you want to be in power.
On the other hand it is ironic, ignorance if not downright stupid and divisive for some MDCA members who rightly support Wiwa, to turn against Luke the party spokesman for issuing that statement distancing the party from Wiwa. Luke is a mere party spokesperson whose job is to issue such statements whether he agrees with them or no! Members should not abuse him for doing what he was appointed for. He doesn’t issue his own statements not sanctioned by party leadership.
If anyone at their point in time was to be criticised by such party members… for assertive and action oriented leadership, it is not Luke but Chamisa, the NEC and shadow cabinet!!
The Youth Assembly should also have forcefully come out defending Wiwa and asking the party to withdraw it’s statement. No point taking frustration on individual party appointees doing their job!
This is what destroys parties when people can’t do their tasks because praise singers won’t hold leadership accountable and instead target innocent party appointees. MDC-A must use advisors who don’t only have political vision, but are able to interpret national mood and frustration and use it to the advantage of the party.
The party mast be assertive enough to make Zanu fear it instead of being a reactionary party existing on fear of being hounded by the govt. MDCA must be holding the govt accountable and not the other way round. This doesn’t however call for unnecessary recklessness on the part of leadership.
An Opposition party must have attack dogs like Wiwa and calm faces who stabilise emotions. It must not be seen as a gentry club!! Wiwa’s case leaves it appearing as an elite party eager to go and work with govt without causing and tension. Wiwa comes out as the only winner forcefully challenging a chaotic inept and corrupt regime using the language it survives on!!! The party alienated itself from the national anger against Zanu failures, when Wiwa was trying to use that anger to its advantages.
I therefore stand with both Wiwa assertively speaking against Zanu as a failed party, and Luke doing his job as a party spokesperson!
Ndaba Nhuku
MDC Deputy National Chairperson Job Sikhala has been charged with subverting constitutional government which is a crime against the state and is facing up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
Reports from Harare indicate that Sikhala has been detained and will appear at Harare Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Sikhala is accused of telling MDC supporters that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be overthrown before 2023.
Human Rights Lawyer Pedzisai Ruhanya said, “With respect, while my friend Hon Job Sikhala’s purported freedom of expression may be undesirable especially in authoritarian regimes such as Zimbabwe, it is definitely not TREASONOUS. Treason happened in November 2017. Even Smith was not overthrown but Mugabe was clear treason!”
The law of Zimbabwe described subversion in this manner:
(2) Any person who, whether inside or outside Zimbabwe
(a) organises or sets up, or advocates, urges or suggests the organisation or setting up of, any group or body with a view to that group or body
(i) overthrowing or attempting to overthrow the Government by unconstitutional means; or
(ii) taking over or attempting to take over the Government by unconstitutional means or usurping the functions of the Government; or
(iii) coercing or attempting to coerce the Government;
or
(b) supports or assists any group or body in doing or attempting to do any of the things
described in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (a);
shall be guilty of subverting the constitutional government and liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years without the option of a fine.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Revered Harare Prophet Sawana has issued an emergency prophecy calling for the nation to pray that ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga repents and find the Lord because he is about to die.
In a prophecy posted on Youtube on Monday Sawana said the Lord showed him a very important person in the country dying. He said he saw the Zimbabwean flag on top of the coffin and God also showed him a military uniform placed on top of the same coffin with flags flying half way.
Sawana added that no matter how much is spent on foreign doctors nothing will be done to save his life except prayer.
Watch the full video below:
Mutsvangwa’s housemaid was on Saturday taken to the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on allegations of stealing US$25 000 given to the Cabinet minister for safekeeping.
The issue comes hot on the heels of yet another foreign currency storm where Mutsvangwa’s son was involved in a deal where four police officers were arrested after taking a bribe from his partners, to only seize US$40,000, which later reduced to US$20,000 by the time the money was declared at the police station.
Tracy Manase (59) from Chizemo village, under Chief Mutambara, who appeared before magistrate Nortilda Muchineripi, pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced tomorrow.
The complainant in the matter is Joyce Mukono (49) from Zimre Park in Harare and is not employed.
According to the State, in March this year, the complainant gave her sister Mutsvangwa, who was the accused’s employer, US$25 000 for safekeeping.
Manase reportedly took the US$25 000, resigned from her workplace at the end of May and went to her rural home in Chimanimani.
On an unknown date in the month of June the complainant asked for her money back and Mutsvangwa informed her that the money had gone missing.
The complainant carried out her own investigations and found out that the accused was hiring workers at her rural home and paying them in United States dollars.
The complainant made a report at Mutare Central Police and proceeded to the accused’s rural home with police officers where they recovered US$3 200 cash and groceries worth US$6 200.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Zanu PF youth affiliates spokesperson Taurai Kandishaya has said that the party would prefer having opposition MDC’s Job Sikhala out of prison so that they go head on with him.
The remarks come after Sikhala said that the MDC was not joking about overthrowing the government before 2023. The MDC has since distanced itself from the remarks saying that they reflected Sikhala’s personal opinion.
Kandishaya called for a withdrawal of the statement by Sikhala saying that failure to do so, the party would hunt him down. Speaking to the Daily News, an emotional Kandishaya said:
We note with great concern that MDC Alliance is now mistaking democracy for lawlessness, they are now mistaking freedom of expression for insults inviting upon themselves law enforcement agents to react because such statements are treasonous.
However, … we are happy to announce … that we are against having Job Sikhala arrested for if he gets arrested we won’t be able to locate him since we will not be having access to the prisons or police cells.
As politicians we have decided to confront him. We are going head-on with him. … , we can’t fold our hands and relax when our government is under attack. When our president is under attack.
Sikhala was
summoned by the police over his remarks. Citizens who criticise the MDC’s stance on the remarks have since launched #IStandWithJob. Party youths have however openly pledged their support for Sikhala saying that it was very obvious that the
party’s main agenda was overthrowing ZANU PF .Daily News
Farai Dziva|Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa lost lost US$ 25 000 cash to her housemaid.
Mutsvangwa’s maid Tracy Manase (59) allegedly stole the money- which had been given to the Minister “for safekeeping.”
Manase appeared before Magistrate Nortilda Muchineripi.
She pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court heard that Joyce Mukono (49) from Zimre Park in Harare, who is Mutsvangwa’s sister, gave the Minister the money for safekeeping.
In June Mutsvangwa’s sister asked for her money and was told that it was missing.
“After carrying out investigations, she found out that the former maid was hiring workers and paying them in US dollars at her rural home.”
“Mukono reported the matter to Mutare Central Police leading to the recovery of US$3 200 cash and groceries worth US$6 200 from Manase.”
Ironically this comes at a time government has banned the use of foreign currency as legal tender in Zimbabwe.
Farai Dziva| Mighty Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca have reportedly made Khama Billiat their top target ahead of the new season.
According to reports in the North African country, Raja’s technical director Fathi Jamal is pushing for Billiat’s signature, and the Zimbabwean forward is seen as a perfect replacement for Zakaria Hadraf who moved to Saudi Arabia.
The Kaizer Chiefs winger has not only been linked with the Moroccan side, but a number of big teams in that region are also after his signature.
Michael Ngobeni who is Billiat’s agent recently revealed that teams like Zamalek, Esperance and Al Ahly have all enquired about the services of the player.
The 28-year-old, however, still has two more years left on his contract, and it will be up to Chiefs Chiefs to decide his fate.
Farai Dziva|The 2019 AFCON quarterfinals will begin on Wednesday with two matches lined-up.
Two COSAFA teams – South Africa and Madagascar – are among the quarter-finalists at the tournament.
Here are the fixtures in the round of the last 8:
Wednesday, July 10
Senegal vs Benin (30 June Stadium – 6 pm)
Nigeria vs South Africa (Cairo International Stadium – 9 pm)
Thursday, July 11
Ivory Coast vs Algeria (New Suez Stadium – 6 pm)
Madagascar vs Tunisia (Al-Salam Stadium – 9 pm.
Farai Dziva| The Castle Lager Premier Soccer round 14 will be played during the weekend of 13-14 July.
Below are the fixtures.
Saturday 13 July 2019
Black Rhinos vs Dynamos (NSS)
Harare City vs ZPC Kariba (Rufaro Stadium)
Chapungu vs Ngezi Platinum (Mandava Stadium)
Bulawayo Chiefs vs Manica Diamonds (Luveve Stadium)
Sunday 14 July 2019
Highlanders vs FC Platinum (Barbourfields Stadium)
Caps United vs Yadah (NSS)
Hwange vs Chicken Inn (Colliery Stadium)
Triangle United vs Telone (Gibbo Stadium)
Mushowani Stars vs Herentals (Trojan Stadium)
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Job Sikhala will appear in court tomorrow.
“Hon. Vice Chair Sikhala has been charged with contravening section 22(2)(a)iii of the Criminal Code… Subverting a Constitutionally Elected Government.
A warned and cautioned statement has been recorded from him and he will appear in court tomorrow…
Our legal affairs dept tried to get him to be released today but it was in vain as they seemed to be acting on instructions,” the MDC has said in a statement.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has said Job Sikhala’ s statement merely reflects public anger.
See the MDC youth assembly statement below:
The MDC Youth Assembly is riled by the state and ZANU PF’s overtures to flagrantly and wantonly disregard the right to freedom of expression through the ill thought move to charge MDC National Vice Chair, Job Sikhala with treason.
Having listened and re-listened to Honorable Sikhala’s Bikita rally statements, we found it shocking that the panic stricken military junta intends to slap our National Vice Chair with treason charges.
It is not a secret that as a party our end game which is in sync with the people’s agenda is to remove a failed ZANU PF government from power.
While MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism as has already been buttressed by our deputy National spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, the party is also deeply anchored in values and ethos of social democracy.
Solidarity with the downtrodden is one of those values!
As such, the Assembly and the party in general has an obligation to stand in solidarity with long suffering masses whose nervous conditions we all know is a direct result of a bastion of governance failure by ZANU PF.
That Honorable Sikhala chose the words “overthrow of Emmerson Mnangagwa” instead of subtle adjectives is an issue of semantics.
The bottom line is that people are sick and tired of the whole ZANU PF system and henceforth its removal or “overthrow” through constitutional means is long overdue!
What Honorable Sikhala said is just a mirror reflection of the sentiments of the ordinary people in the country.
People are groaning under the ZANU PF yoke and their loud cries have one thing in common- “ZANU PF is corrupt and must go!”.
Honorable Job Sikhala only amplified the people’s position that ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa should be overthrown albeit through constitutional means if the country to move forward.
As an Assembly we would like to warn Simon Khaya Moyo and his sinking ZANU PF ship that any reckless overtures to decimate opposition figures like Sikhala on flimsy treason charges will be repelled by equal force.
If anything, a Sikhala illegal arrest will be our own Sarajevo moment that the country desperately awaits.
Mr Khaya Moyo should be reminded that another November 2017 is possible in our life time!
The voice of people is the voice of God!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF political commissar Victor Mademadanda left the city of Bulawayo in frustration after his planned demonstrations against price hikes did not materialize.
Mademadanda had organised demonstrations against prices in Bulawayo on Monday.
Only a handful of party supporters turned up for the demonstrations.
A crestfallen Matemadanda then went around the city interacting with residents.
“Go back and put your house in order, we have had enough of your propaganda,” an angry Bulawayo resident told Mademadanda.
Farai Dziva|Concerned Zimbabweans have launched an initiative called #IStandWithJob in support of opposition MDC vice chairperson, Job Sikhala.
Yesterday the MDC said the remarks made by Sikhala did not represent the position of the party.
Posting on Facebook, party deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka wrote:
“The MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism
The MDC notes with deep worry and concern that Hon.
Job Sikhala’s statements made during a rally in Bikita East over the weekend have caused uproar and the party wishes to clarify its position regarding the same.
It is the party’s view that Hon. Sikhala’s views as expressed at the rally and widely quoted in the press were his own personal opinions, which we believe have been misconstrued and misinterpreted.”
Concerned Zimbabweans have however vowed to support the ” under siege” Sikhala.
Farai Dziva|MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka has said the party will use democratic means to pursue democracy.
” I have a constitutional responsibility to defend the party and its values. And yes, we shall use peaceful, democratic means to pursue struggle, ” said Tamborinyoka.
He added:” It is also true that protests, marches and demonstrations are very much constitutional means as they are in line with section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Tamborinyoka made the remarks following the controversy surrounding Job Sikhala’s comments at a rally in Bikita.
By A Correspondent- Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president, Denford Mutashu, has appealed to government to shut down small businesses operating in the downtown area.
Mutashu accuses them of rejecting electronic forms of payment such as mobile money transfer and bank cards.
Mutashu said that it was necessary for those businesses to prove that they do not smuggle in their commodities.
Mutashu said:
We recommend that area must be shut down and every shop owner… account for what they have done in terms of satisfying authorities on how much they have been banking per day, what are the sort of activities in their accounts and if they have been paying taxes.
There is also need to prove sources of where they are purchasing their goods because a lot of their goods are smuggled.
His remarks were reiterated by Harare Residents Trust (HRT) chairperson, Precious Shumba, who called for the downtown businesses to reveal how they purchase and import their commodities.
Posting on Facebook, Shumba said:
People who are going downtown to buy are being denied opportunities to use mobile money, swipe and EcoCash, as shop owners are demanding cash only payments.
What type of management systems or accounting systems are they using that do not allow them to accept mobile transfers?
This raises a lot of questions such as where are they getting their goods to the extent that they are demanding cash only payments?
Several businesses have been accused of either tax evasion or tax avoidance or both.-DailyNews
Farai Dziva|The late MDC cadre Dusty Zivhave will be buried tomorrow in Chiredzi.
“MDC National leaders will join us in mourning the gallant son of the soil,”said an MDC official.
Advocate Tongai Matutu described Zivhave as a dedicated party member:
“We have lost one of the dedicated cadres.
He fought many battles in Chiredzi. May his soul rest in peace,” said Matutu.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has said Job Sikhala’ s statement merely reflects public anger.
See the MDC youth assembly statement below:
The MDC Youth Assembly is riled by the state and ZANU PF’s overtures to flagrantly and wantonly disregard the right to freedom of expression through the ill thought move to charge MDC National Vice Chair, Job Sikhala with treason.
Having listened and re-listened to Honorable Sikhala’s Bikita rally statements, we found it shocking that the panic stricken military junta intends to slap our National Vice Chair with treason charges.
It is not a secret that as a party our end game which is in sync with the people’s agenda is to remove a failed ZANU PF government from power.
While MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism as has already been buttressed by our deputy National spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, the party is also deeply anchored in values and ethos of social democracy.
Solidarity with the downtrodden is one of those values!
As such, the Assembly and the party in general has an obligation to stand in solidarity with long suffering masses whose nervous conditions we all know is a direct result of a bastion of governance failure by ZANU PF.
That Honorable Sikhala chose the words “overthrow of Emmerson Mnangagwa” instead of subtle adjectives is an issue of semantics.
The bottom line is that people are sick and tired of the whole ZANU PF system and henceforth its removal or “overthrow” through constitutional means is long overdue!
What Honorable Sikhala said is just a mirror reflection of the sentiments of the ordinary people in the country.
People are groaning under the ZANU PF yoke and their loud cries have one thing in common- “ZANU PF is corrupt and must go!”.
Honorable Job Sikhala only amplified the people’s position that ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa should be overthrown albeit through constitutional means if the country to move forward.
As an Assembly we would like to warn Simon Khaya Moyo and his sinking ZANU PF ship that any reckless overtures to decimate opposition figures like Sikhala on flimsy treason charges will be repelled by equal force.
If anything, a Sikhala illegal arrest will be our own Sarajevo moment that the country desperately awaits.
Mr Khaya Moyo should be reminded that another November 2017 is possible in our life time!
The voice of people is the voice of God!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Jane Mlambo| When Luke Tamborinyoka, the MDC Deputy Spokesperson issued a statement yesterday distancing the party from Job Sikhala’s remarks at a Bikita rally, he never thought things would turn south.
The party had to act quickly as statements from both government and Zanu PF were clear, the issue was getting out of control and Tamborinyoka as per his job, he had to communicate a party position.
But despite it being perhaps a party position that they sanitize the mess Sikhala had created, Tamborinyoka is now under-fire from both party members and the general public who feel he did not protect the combative deputy chairperson from state security and Zanu PF.
Twitter users descended on Tamborinyoka’s handle blasting him and calling him all sorts of names.
By A Correspondent- AGRICULTURE permanent secretary Ringson Chitsiko was yesterday quizzed by the Tendai Biti-led Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over shambolic 2017 accounts, which revealed that the ministry consumed a $2 billion budget with no supporting vouchers to show how it was spent.
Chitsiko appeared before PAC together with his ministry’s finance director, Peter Mudzamiri, to respond to the anomalies in the Lands ministry’s books picked up by Auditor-General Mildred Chiri’s 2017 audit report.
A member of the committee, Wesley Sansole (Hwange East), asked Chitsiko to explain the ministry’s expenditure of $1,5 billion and $515 000 which has no supporting vouchers, which could end up in the appropriation account being misstated.
Biti added: “That unsupported expenditure of $2 billion is actually six times your 2017 budget allocation of $292 million, and we need to know what the money was used for — whether it was for command agriculture.”
Mudzamiri said the money was mainly paid to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), but Biti said it was too much money to pay for grain procurement.
“It cannot be for grain because that is a huge amount. What did GMB do with $1,5 billion? Where are the supporting documents because as at April 2019, there are still no supporting documents,” Biti said.
Mudzamiri explained that accounting anomalies arose because the ministry’s accounts were separate from GMB’s accounts, where receipt of the money could have been recorded.
Another anomaly picked up by the AG was that the ministry had a liability of US$65 million which had to do with equipment procured from China through Farmers’ World and the beneficiaries failed to pay.
Chitsiko responded: “This farm mechanisation project was thrust upon my ministry when it was realised it had no home.”
But the committee said after the US$65 million liability was thrust on the Agriculture ministry, Chitsiko should have sought for Parliament condonation because now, it will be a debt to be paid back by the Zimbabwean public.
Biti said the committee was disappointed by the ministry’s poor governance, adding MPs were disappointed that the mistakes keep recurring and that the ministry’s 2018 accounts were even more shocking.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa could have blown in excess of US$200 million in travelling expenses since he came into power in November 2017, former Finance minister Tendai Biti has said.
Mnangagwa, who has been in power for a little over a year, has made close to 38 foreign trips aboard a chartered plane which, according to internet research, charges no less than US$4 million a trip.
Biti, who is also the MDC deputy president, said the President gallivants, while the country was in continuous darkness because of load-shedding, which has seen most of the country without power for up to 18 hours daily.
Zimbabwe owes US$68 million in debt to South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa.
“Mnangagwa hires a plane at the cost of US$4 million, just to travel to Bulawayo. Since he was sworn in as President in August of 2018, Mnangagwa has made 36 trips. In all the trips, his transport is $4 million. Do the maths, 36 multiply by $4 million. That is over $120 million in travelling costs alone,” Biti said.
“What kind of a President are you? Have you no shame? He is a thief because a real President will respect his people. Even [former President Robert] Mugabe used to use Air Zimbabwe, but this President we have has failed to deal with (corruption).”
Biti was addressing a rally in Harare on Sunday.
The cost estimations by Biti did not include the recent trips to Rwanda and the ongoing Africa Union trip to Niger.
He also said travel allowances were also not factored into the tally, pushing the travel and substance costs outside the country by Mnangagwa to over $200 million in under a year.
“Why are you stealing people’s money? Why have you removed the US dollar? We refuse an economic agenda; we refuse an economic policy whose function is to destroy the values of people’s wealth. You have stolen people’s salaries, to fund your own luxury lifestyles while bankrupting the nation,” Biti said.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube has described as “misguided” litigations against the reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar and ban on the use of foreign currencies.
Currently, there are three cases at the High Court challenging Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 as unconstitutional and overstepping the powers of government ministers.
Said Ncube at a breakfast meeting in Harare Monday:
“The litigations are misguided. All the actions we have taken are within the law. We consulted with the legal profession both within government and outside, verified that we were within the law. So I am not too sure if it is warranted to be heading for the courts to deal with SI 142, but if people want to do, then it’s their legal right.
If it is being challenged because certain members feel aggrieved, that is how they feel. They should challenge and they have done, by the way, so I don’t need to convince them. But what I am saying is that we consulted, acted within the law and it is the right thing to do to move Zimbabwe forward. It needs its own domestic currency and I believe this is the right way to go.”
According to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya, who also attended the meeting, since the SI was introduced a week ago, between US$8 million and US$9 million has been traded on the interbank market and bureaux de change.
Mangudya added that since February 22, to the end of June, US$644 million had been traded on the interbank forex platform.
The market continues to be sceptical about the Zimbabwean dollar leading to it increasingly losing value. Since June, the currency has lost about 40% of its value to trade at US$1:ZWL$8,94.
In his lawsuit against Ncube, Harare lawyer and businessman Tawanda Nyambirai last week said the law, plus SI 33 of 2019 that introduced the RTGS dollar (now Zimbabwe dollar), eroded the values of people’s monies.
Ncube said government was working on a cushioning allowance for civil servants and on reviewing upwards the tax monthly threshold from its current ZWL$350.
“You want to benchmark the salary against the basket of currencies. So what are we doing about that? We are going to have a cushioning allowance and here I encourage business to follow suit and cushion their employees. We have not concluded (discussions), but we are working on it,” Ncube said.
“We are going to also increase the threshold on taxation as well to give further relief. That is what we are assimilating right now, but I think it will be a visible increase.
“SI 142 is very clear. It is also legal and binding and you are complying. I don’t think, going forward, we have any big macro policy to make. I think we have done enough for now and covered a lot of ground. There is really no need to bring any policies going forward.”-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- In a rather embarrassing development, a Zanu-PF Minister has apologised to her party and its supporters after her semi-nu_de pictures leaked onto social media.
The photo was first shared in a Zanu-PF group before being circulated in other Whatsapp groups.
Speaking to the Daily News, Munzverengwi said:
“Vanhu ngavandinzwire tsitsi handizivi kuti chii chakaitika kuti phone yakahakwa here … pawandiudza nyaya iyi hana yangu yarova ndabva ndatokanganisika meaning I don’t know what happened maybe my phone was hacked, the moment you enquired about this, I got disturbed.
In November 2018, former South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Knowledge Nkanyezi Gigaba was forced to resign from his post after his s.e.x tape went viral on social media.
By A Correspondent- Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s housemaid was on Saturday hauled to Mutare Magistrates’ Court on allegations of stealing US$25 000 given to the Cabinet minister for safekeeping.
The complainant in the matter is Joyce Mukono (49) from Zimre Park in Harare and is not employed.
According to the State, in March this year, the complainant gave her sister Mutsvangwa, who was the accused’s employer, US$25 000 for safekeeping.
Manase reportedly took the US$25 000, resigned from her workplace at the end of May and went to her rural home in Chimanimani. On an unknown date in the month of June the complainant asked for her money back and Mutsvangwa informed her that the money had gone missing.
The complainant carried out her own investigations and found out that the accused was hiring workers at her rural home and paying them in United States dollars.
The complainant made a report at Mutare Central Police and proceeded to the accused’s rural home with police officers where they recovered US$3 200 cash and groceries worth US$6 200.
The Department of Immigration has in the first half of this year arrested 614 foreigners for illegally staying in the country, as it intensifies efforts to curb breaches of immigration laws.
About 562 of the illegal immigrants have since been deported to their respective countries.
Newly-appointed chief immigration officer Ms Respect Gono said the department formulated compliance teams nationwide to enforce national migration laws.
“The department carries out spontaneous and sporadic operations countrywide,” she said.
“The department has strengthened stakeholder engagement with other security departments. The department publishes cases of those in breach of national migration laws to deter future offenders.
“This has also resulted in citizens giving tip-offs leading to successful arrests. We have ensured offenders are prosecuted for deterrence. To date, a total of 614 have been prosecuted, while 562 illegal immigrants have been deported from the country.”
Ms Gono said the department, being an arm of the Government, has also joined hands in fighting corruption in society.
She said the department maintains an unwavering intolerance policy on corruption.
“We have a sound code of conduct that we ensure is made aware to officers apart from the in-house training sessions that we periodically do from time to time,” said Ms Gono.
“The department is guided by the Public Service Regulations of 2000 and all officers are aware that any violations of its provisions are dealt with accordingly. We have on record officers who have been reprimanded, penalised and discharged.”
Ms Gono said digitalisation of work processes was an ongoing exercise in the department and this was meant to eliminate human interface, thus plugging all forms of revenue leakages that would emanate from manual processes. “The department introduced an online visa application and payment platform,” she said. “The department is also working towards an e-permit platform which totally eliminates physical interface between officers and clients.
“There is a staff transfer policy in place to ensure that officers do not enjoy prolonged stays at one station where they will over familiarise themselves with clients who use respective borders.”
State Media
By Own Correspondent- A 49 year old Harare woman, who grew up being moved around from one mother to another, has obtained a court order compelling two women to undergo a DNA test to establish who her real mother is.
Silence Matanhire (nee Chisema), recently approached the High Court seeking a compelling order after the two women, Selina Mutema of Bikita and Esther Mutambara of Sengere Farm in Bindura, declined to shed light on who Matanhire’s mother was, claiming the issue was too complicated for her to comprehend.
“According to my birth certificate, I was born on January 1, 1970 to Jacob Mapfumo and Esther Chimedza. However, during his lifetime, Mapfumo clearly told me that he was not my father, but that his identity documents were used by one Farai Mutema to secure my birth certificate. The reason behind this is unclear. The person stated as my mother, Esther Chimedza, is to me unknown,” Matanhire said in her affidavit.
“I grew up regarding first respondent (Mutema) as my mother. Her husband was Farai Mutema, I regarded him as my father, and later she was married to Agrippah Mutambara, who became my stepfather. Later on in life, I was then taken to second respondent (Mutambara), who is a sister to first respondent.”
Matanhire said Mutambara was introduced to her as her real mother and later grew up treating her as such until she got married to Machingura Elvis Matanhire.
She further said a traditional lobola ceremony was conducted at the instance of her husband and was held at Mutema’s homestead who accepted her lobola share as the mother, but when she was handed over a blanket, in terms of the African custom, she declined to accept it, saying it should be given to Matanhire’s real mother.
“When it came to the issue of the blanket, she (Mutema) vehemently refused to accept it stating that the blanket needed to be taken to the actual mother, that being the second respondent,” she said.
“To date, I have three women namely Ester Chimedza, Ester Mutambara and Selina Mutema, all claiming in one way or the other to be my real mother. I have never met Ester Chimedza in my life and every time I ask the respondents about her, they become angry and they have since stopped talking to me. I believe it is my right as a human being to have proper identity.
“This is confusion of the biggest order and it makes me shiver day and night. The birth record, unfortunately, was forcefully taken away from me by my brother, who is now late when I asked him about its content. It appears a lot of people know about my story, except myself.”
High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore granted the order on July 3, 2019.-Newsday
Att: Kadoma Town Clerk
P.O Box Kadoma
Re: Concerned Residents Petition
We petition your municipality to keep the current rates as they are.
Our petition is premised on the following prevailing socio-economic circumstances:
We call upon the City to engage the residents so as to bring about meaningful progress.
As residents we are against the development of Waverley Bus Terminus, given that we have 2 old bus terminus in Rimuka that need rehabilitation and as residents we want to use these.
By Own Correspondent- The two-day public interviews for the eight posts of judges of the High Court opened in Harare yesterday with the first batch of 10 aspiring candidates being interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission’s nine-member panel.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba led the interviews asking a set of four standard questions.
The questions included naming three types of jurisdiction the High Court has in criminal matters and in what circumstances does the Prosecutor-General have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against a judgment of the High Court in a criminal matter.
Interviewees were also required to explain the principles governing the exercise by the High Court of jurisdiction in respect of arbitral awards brought to the court for review.
Chief Justice Malaba said speedy disposition of cases is a constitutional obligation on every judicial officer, and asked how do the interviewees intended to ensure, if appointed, speedy disposition of cases while at the same time ensuring a fair hearing to those appearing before them.
Advocate Webster Chinamora, who was the first to be grilled, acquitted himself well applying his mind with aplomb of a veteran lawyer, as he was comfortable fielding questions from the panel.
When asked to tell the commissioners his greatest strength and weakness, he said he was an avid researcher who loved analytical thinking and writing.
“You have before you my curriculum vitae and a sample of some of the work I have done which demonstrates my aptitude for research and analytical thinking which I think is an essential asset of a judge,” he said.
He also referred to his impressive record of academic publications, which includes three-book chapters, one of which is in the Encyclopaedia of International and Comparative Private Law.
However, Zvishavane-based lawyer Mr Tichaona Chivasa had a bad day in office as he struggled with questions, some of which were elementary.
He had a nightmare in answering the first standard question on the jurisdiction of the High Court on criminal matters.
Mr Chivasa came for the interviews despite the fact that he failed the test on the writing of a judgment. He was, however, allowed to exercise his right to participate in the public interviews.
Bulawayo-based lawyer Mr Christopher Dube-Banda put up a sterling performance in the manner he answered questions.
He said he was a man fit for the job given the fact that he had garnered sufficient layers of experience throughout his 25 years in private practice.
“If appointed I will take it upon myself deal with the cases before me as expeditiously as possible,” he said with a voice booming with authority.
“I will not sit on cases placed before me. I can say that am a diligent person and consider myself a hard working person. I am not that kind of person who leaves things for tomorrow. I deal with things as they come and am conscious of the Constitution on this requirement and the rights of people appearing before courts.”
Not to be out done was Labour Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa, left the panelists unanimously content with her work and judicial intelligence.
The other six interviewees are Sheila Kanyangarara, Cemis Madembo, Benhilda Manyowa, Simba Mawere, Emilia Muchawa and Richard Mufuka.
By A Correspondent- A haulage truck transporting 30 000 litres of diesel from Beira to the Democratic Republic of Congo overturned along the Christmas Pass in Mutare yesterday morning.
When the state media visited the accident scene, diesel was still oozing from the tanker and police had to act swiftly to secure the area.
Mutare City Council acting director of engineering and technical services engineer Tinashe Mutetwa said officials had visited the accident site and were ensuring that the road was not slippery.
“Diesel is very slippery,” he said. “It is risky for vehicles with poor braking systems and worn out tyres. As an immediate measure, the City of Mutare will mobilise sand and cover the affected area.”
Eng Mutetwa implored the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to visit the site and make its own assessment.-StateMedia
“There is need for detergents to clean the area covered with diesel, which might damage the road,” he said. “The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, as the responsible authority, has to look into this.”
The MDC Youth Assembly is riled by the state and ZANU PF’s overtures to flagrantly and wantonly disregard the right to freedom of expression through the ill thought move to charge MDC National Vice Chair, Job Sikhala with treason.
Having listened and re-listened to Honorable Sikhala’s Bikita rally statements, we found it shocking that the panic stricken military junta intends to slap our National Vice Chair with treason charges.
It is not a secret that as a party our end game which is in sync with the people’s agenda is to remove a failed ZANU PF government from power.
While MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism as has already been buttressed by our deputy National spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, the party is also deeply anchored in values and ethos of social democracy.
Solidarity with the downtrodden is one of those values!
As such, the Assembly and the party in general has an obligation to stand in solidarity with long suffering masses whose nervous conditions we all know is a direct result of a bastion of governance failure by ZANU PF.
That Honorable Sikhala chose the words “overthrow of Emmerson Mnangagwa” instead of subtle adjectives is an issue of semantics.
The bottom line is that people are sick and tired of the whole ZANU PF system and henceforth its removal or “overthrow” through constitutional means is long overdue!
What Honorable Sikhala said is just a mirror reflection of the sentiments of the ordinary people in the country.
People are groaning under the ZANU PF yoke and their loud cries have one thing in common- “ZANU PF is corrupt and must go!”.
Honorable Job Sikhala only amplified the people’s position that ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa should be overthrown albeit through constitutional means if the country to move forward.
As an Assembly we would like to warn Simon Khaya Moyo and his sinking ZANU PF ship that any reckless overtures to decimate opposition figures like Sikhala on flimsy treason charges will be repelled by equal force.
If anything, a Sikhala illegal arrest will be our own Sarajevo moment that the country desperately awaits.
Mr Khaya Moyo should be reminded that another November 2017 is possible in our life time!
The voice of people is the voice of God!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- A KLM airlines cargo plane yesterday dropped a flap mid-air in Chitungwiza, but landed safely at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) public relations and communications manager Mrs Anna Julia Hungwe confirmed the incident last night.
“The aeroplane dropped a flap in Chitungwiza, but landed safely at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
“Investigations into the incident are ongoing,” she said.
According to website www.howthingsfly.si.edu <http://www.howthingsfly.si.edu>, “the purpose of the flaps is to generate more lift at slower airspeed, which enables the airplane to fly at a greatly reduced speed with a lower risk of stalling.
“This is especially useful during take-off and landing.
“When extended further, flaps also generate more drag which slows the airplane down much faster than just reducing throttle.”
There were no reports of any casualties from the incident.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Government has set annual targets for high-level minerals as it moves to maximise production in the mining sector.
The gold sector is expected to produce 40 tonnes per year, diamond sector 10 million carats and 50 tonnes of refined platinum as the drive towards a mining contribution of US$12 billion by 2023 gathers momentum.
Further, Government wants all holders of claims to use them for the nation’s benefit or risk losing them.
This was said by Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura during the launch of the Environmental Management Plan for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in Patchway, Kadoma, last week.
He said to achieve the US$12 billion contribution by the mining sector, Government would review its policies, legislation and regulations governing the sector.
Besides establishing gold centres, Government would replace aged maps indicating where the country’s minerals are located through the cadastre system, guarantee bank loans for small-scale miners and financing gold buyers to curtail leakages.
“As the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, we sat down and agreed that the industry should contribute at least US$12 billion by the year 2023.
“In this endeavour, we identified each mineral that could contribute to the attainment of that goal, for example, producing 10 million carats of diamonds, 50 tonnes of refined platinum and 40 tonnes of gold,” said Deputy Minister Kambamura.
Already, the country is on course to achieving the 40 tonnes target for gold after producing 33,3 tonnes last year driven by artisanal miners who outperformed large-scale producers.
However, there has been a marked decline in gold production this year with 1,77 tonnes produced in January, February (2,1 tonnes), March (2,6 tonnes) and April (2,1 tonnes).
The output represents a decline from an average of 2,5 tonnes per month last year.-StateMedia
Jane Mlambo| Binga Rural District Council has taken to Twitter to raise alarm on baboons which are terrorizing women and children, vandalizing property and snatching anything they suspect to be food from hospital patients and villagers.
Posting on Twitter, Binga RDC said their area has been experiencing an influx of baboons which target women and children.
“Binga town residents have been experiencing a heavy influx of baboons. The baboons are snatching food or anything they suspect to be food, targeting mainly women and school children.
“Several incidences of baboon snatching pots, satchels and paper bags they suspect to contain food have been witnessed. They have smashed rooftops, vehicle mirrors and wind screens.
“The worst hit areas are hospital compound, the hospital itself, expecting mothers’ residents and houses along the hospital – Rest Camp road.
“Baboons fall into the hospital surgery through the roof! Education houses, D.A’s compound, Army barracks, and many govt houses are being destroyed by baboons,” said Binga RDC.
The baboons have even vandalised hospital roof in search of food while the Binga RDC posted a picture of a pregnant women who had her 5kg of mealie-meal snatched from her in broad daylight.
Binga is one of the areas hard hit by drought this season.
