By A Correspondent| SEVEN Chiweshe men have allegedly been fingered in a black magic (mubobobo) syndicate by a Bulawayo prophet at Chief Makope’s traditional court.

This followed the recent discovery of 63 women’s undergarments at a graveyard in Nzvimbo village.

“We hired a prophet from Bulawayo (Madzibaba Sejiby) to assist us in identifying the culprits of the black magic.

Fortunately, the prophet managed to identify a syndicate of seven elderly men who are set to appear before me on Sunday,” Chief Makope told NewsDay Weekender.

Village head Doubt Chawawa said the first accused fled from the village after he was convicted by Chief Makope and was yet to be sentenced.

“Villagers were baying for his blood, so in shame, he just disappeared to an unknown destination,” he said.

Chief Makope said those found guilty would be judged harshly since it was a serious violation of hunhu/ubuntu.

“Such people are not welcome in my area, so we should be seen to be punishing them,” he said.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- The government’s decision to reintroduce the local currency faces a serious test after a third person filed a High Court application challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s use of presidential powers to ban the multi-currency regime.

On June 24, the government renamed the RTGS dollar the Zimbabwe dollar and declared it as the sole legal tender to end a decade of dollarisation.

An opposition leader, Joseph Busha, and a human rights lawyer, Godfrey Mupanga, approached the High Court challenging the use of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) to issue the currency decree soon after the move was announced.

They have since been joined by prominent lawyer and businessman Tawanda Nyambirai, who accused the government of “governing the country by decree”.

Nyambirai is seeking a court order to stop Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya from introducing any policies, regulations or decisions that may affect the value of the foreign currencies held by banks before June 24.

He argued that he was representing his own interests and account holders who held foreign currency when Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 was gazetted.

Nyambirai accused Ncube and Mangudya of “churning out half-baked statutory instruments”.

He said the two “have themselves become the executive, Parliament and the public in these matters”.

Nyambirai wants the court to compel all the banks in Zimbabwe to preserve the records of the RTGS balances held by account holders before June 24.

“As holders of RTGS balances that were converted to RTGS dollars, we are the public, we are being deprived!

“We are aggrieved by the deprivation. In a democracy, such far-reaching laws are supposed to be taken to Parliament at least, or be subjected to a referendum,” he said in his founding affidavit,” he said.

“The rate at which the first and second respondents (Ncube and Mangudya) are churning out half-baked statutory instruments gives me the feeling that the first and second respondents are now ruling us by decree.

“They have themselves become the executive, Parliament and the public in these matters.” He said the fiscal reforms could not be said to be in the public interest.

“Although it may be said to be in the public interest to reduce the domestic debt that was going to result from the payment of compensation on the conversion of RTGS balances and bond notes and coins to RTGS dollar, it is undemocratic and unfair to simply avoid domestic debt by impoverishing the very public that first and second respondents are supposed to serve,” he argued.

“There are other options available to the first and second respondents to reduce domestic debts. Such options include, among others, reducing government expenditure, eliminating corruption, stimulating productivity through lowering taxes and thus boosting consumer purchasing power and spend.”

Nyambirai is also challenging section 44C of the RBZ Act, which he said violated the constitution.

“I also contend that the following restrictions imposed by the second respondent’s Exchange Control Directive RU102/2019 dated June 25, 2019 constitute a compulsory deprivation of property in contravention of section 71(3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe and must therefore be nullified,” he said.

The businessman argued that the new measures were discriminatory because they gave the nod to airlines to continue charging in foreign currency.

“SI 142 allows the use of foreign currencies in Zimbabwe to pay some duties and to pay for international airline services,” he argued.

“The discriminatory treatment of these services disqualifies SI 142 as a law of general application.”

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has also weighed in saying the banning of the use of foreign currency violated the law.

“It must be noted that while section 44A provides for the designation of other currencies to be legal tender in Zimbabwe, it does not expressly provide for the inverse process; that is the revocation of the designation of a currency other than the Zimbabwean dollar,” the lawyers said in a statement.

“The minister acted beyond the powers conferred on him by the Act and so for that reason SI 142 should be considered ultra vires the enabling Act.

“Our view is further supported by the fact that section 17 of the Finance (No.2) Act No. 5 of 2009, which introduced the multi-currencies through section 44A (2), remains extant in our statute books.

“This section has not been repealed. The section cannot be repealed by inference.

“The Act has to be properly amended by the legislature and not by the minister.”

Veritas, a legal think-tank, also argues that the government cannot ban the use of foreign currency in local transactions.

Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. (Psalm 119:165)

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) July 7, 2019

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZANUPF is just a big joke this is the new dispensation they are talking about. Even this sorry excuse for a bread you can’t find it in the shops pic.twitter.com/HHd6fxCuyE

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) July 7, 2019

We have received with sorrow and sadness the news of the passing on Saujadi Phiri a National Darts Team player. Last year Sawujadi won a silver medal in the open doubles and a gold medal in the Ladies open at the AUSC Region 5 Darts Championship in Malawi MHSRIP pic.twitter.com/KxJ2LQeR6V

— SRC Zimbabwe (@ZimbabweSrc) July 7, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa has recused himself from hearing the 19-year-old legal wrangle between former PG Industries (Zimbabwe) Limited marketing director Nkululeko Mabhena and his ex-employers over terminal benefits of over $73 million.

Mabhikwa, who was the sixth judge to deal with the case, recused himself from hearing it after he discovered that he knew one of the parties to the matter.

“I recuse myself from dealing with this matter because I know one of the parties personally. The matter has to be set down before another judge. The matter is hereby removed from the roll,” he said.

The matter had been set down for hearing after it had been off the roll for the past four years when Mabhena skipped the border in 2015 claiming his life was in danger.

Mabhena only returned in December last year and was scheduled to meet Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Virginia Mabhiza, to whom he had sent his complaint about the conduct of two judges that previously handled the case. The letter was copied to Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

However, Mabhena was advised to take the legal route and approached the High Court again demanding that his case be set down for hearing.

The protracted legal battle has seen a number of applications and counter-applications filed at the Bulawayo High Court over terminal benefits and salary arrears amounting to $73 million.

The saga started when Mabhena fell ill and was believed to have died — with doctors at United Bulawayo Hospitals certifying him dead.

PG went on to pay off his funeral expenses. At some point he was put in a morgue.

Mabhena was eventually discharged from hospital and went back to work, where he was asked to produce a certificate of existence as he was now believed to be dead.

After meeting the employer’s demand, PG Industries, however, refused to take him back, but dismissed him with a payoff of 64 cents.

Mabhena filed an appeal at the High Court demanding that the company pay him terminal benefits and salary arrears.-TheStandard

Those who allege conflict on my appointment to ZACC must have a gender bias. I was appointed a judge of the high court long before @MinisterSBMoyo was appointed to cabinet. No one alleged any conflict until my move to @ZACConline. Let’s fight corruption together, let’s focus.

— Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo (@matandamoyo) July 7, 2019

By Own Correspondent- The government’s decision to reintroduce the local currency faces a serious test after a third person filed a High Court application challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s use of presidential powers to ban the multi-currency regime.

On June 24, the government renamed the RTGS dollar the Zimbabwe dollar and declared it as the sole legal tender to end a decade of dollarisation.

An opposition leader, Joseph Busha, and a human rights lawyer, Godfrey Mupanga, approached the High Court challenging the use of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) to issue the currency decree soon after the move was announced.

They have since been joined by prominent lawyer and businessman Tawanda Nyambirai, who accused the government of “governing the country by decree”.

Nyambirai is seeking a court order to stop Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya from introducing any policies, regulations or decisions that may affect the value of the foreign currencies held by banks before June 24.

He argued that he was representing his own interests and account holders who held foreign currency when Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 was gazetted.

Nyambirai accused Ncube and Mangudya of “churning out half-baked statutory instruments”.

He said the two “have themselves become the executive, Parliament and the public in these matters”.

Nyambirai wants the court to compel all the banks in Zimbabwe to preserve the records of the RTGS balances held by account holders before June 24.

“As holders of RTGS balances that were converted to RTGS dollars, we are the public, we are being deprived!

“We are aggrieved by the deprivation. In a democracy, such far-reaching laws are supposed to be taken to Parliament at least, or be subjected to a referendum,” he said in his founding affidavit,” he said.

“The rate at which the first and second respondents (Ncube and Mangudya) are churning out half-baked statutory instruments gives me the feeling that the first and second respondents are now ruling us by decree.

“They have themselves become the executive, Parliament and the public in these matters.” He said the fiscal reforms could not be said to be in the public interest.

“Although it may be said to be in the public interest to reduce the domestic debt that was going to result from the payment of compensation on the conversion of RTGS balances and bond notes and coins to RTGS dollar, it is undemocratic and unfair to simply avoid domestic debt by impoverishing the very public that first and second respondents are supposed to serve,” he argued.

“There are other options available to the first and second respondents to reduce domestic debts. Such options include, among others, reducing government expenditure, eliminating corruption, stimulating productivity through lowering taxes and thus boosting consumer purchasing power and spend.”

Nyambirai is also challenging section 44C of the RBZ Act, which he said violated the constitution.

“I also contend that the following restrictions imposed by the second respondent’s Exchange Control Directive RU102/2019 dated June 25, 2019 constitute a compulsory deprivation of property in contravention of section 71(3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe and must therefore be nullified,” he said.

The businessman argued that the new measures were discriminatory because they gave the nod to airlines to continue charging in foreign currency.

“SI 142 allows the use of foreign currencies in Zimbabwe to pay some duties and to pay for international airline services,” he argued.

“The discriminatory treatment of these services disqualifies SI 142 as a law of general application.”

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has also weighed in saying the banning of the use of foreign currency violated the law.

“It must be noted that while section 44A provides for the designation of other currencies to be legal tender in Zimbabwe, it does not expressly provide for the inverse process; that is the revocation of the designation of a currency other than the Zimbabwean dollar,” the lawyers said in a statement.

“The minister acted beyond the powers conferred on him by the Act and so for that reason SI 142 should be considered ultra vires the enabling Act.

“Our view is further supported by the fact that section 17 of the Finance (No.2) Act No. 5 of 2009, which introduced the multi-currencies through section 44A (2), remains extant in our statute books.

“This section has not been repealed. The section cannot be repealed by inference.

“The Act has to be properly amended by the legislature and not by the minister.”

Veritas, a legal think-tank, also argues that the government cannot ban the use of foreign currency in local transactions.

By Own Correspondent- Villagers in Plumtree are living in fear of lions after over 10 cattle were killed last week.

The lions have wreaked havoc in the Makhulela and Ndolwane areas in the district.

The pride of lions was first noticed last week after it attacked and killed cattle grazing in the veld.

The petrified villagers informed Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC) which sent a team of hunters to track the lions. The team is being assisted by Zimparks rangers.

Bulilima RDC CEO John Brown Ncube on Saturday revealed that the ravenous lions are yet to be located while Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said their rangers were hunting for the lions.

The lions are thought to have escaped from Mabhongwane Game Park, which borders the two villages.-TheStandard

By Own Correspondent- Zesa will this week add 160 MW of electricity to the national grid following the successful refurbishment of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station (HPS), while a further 160MW from Unit 6 is expected within the next three months, it has been learnt.

Unit 6 has been down since March.

The addition of power from Unit 5, which is expected to ease the current heavy load-shedding, will take the total generation at HPS to 660MW.

In addition, President Mnangagwa is today expected to engage his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa to explore the possibilities of imports from Eskom.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the utility is currently engaging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to help raise the £3,3 million (US$4,1 million) needed to refurbish Unit 6.

“Hwange Unit 5 is expected to be back in service during the course of this weekend and it will inject 160MW. Thus Hwange will generate an average of 500MW,” said Mr Gwasira.

“Unit 6, which has been out from March 2019 owing to the generator earth fault, requires up to £3,3 million to be fixed. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance are making efforts to assist Zesa in raising this amount.”

However, he warned that generation at Kariba Power Station might be further reduced by the continued decline of water levels in Kariba Dam.

“Owing to the drought experienced in the upstream of the Kariba reservoir, the lake levels are now about 27 percent.

“Kariba South Hydropower Station is expected to further reduce the plant’s current average output from 580MW to the recommended 358MW.

“Failure to adhere to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA)-recommended 358MW may result in the plant shutting down by October 2019. This is a situation we have to avoid by taking the correct remedial action in line with the noble recommendations.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) chair has lambasted the current docket keeping system, which may result in loss of key information in criminal cases, and the institution is moving to modernise the records’ storage.

She bemoaned the critical lack of resources  , with 90 investigators sharing three vehicles, but insisted that these would not deter her from the bringing culprits to book. Already, she is studying the Auditor-General and NSSA audit reports,  with arrests expected soon.

In a no-holds-barred  interview with The Sunday Mail, Justice Matanda-Moyo  said Zacc was raring to go.

Parliament recently held public interviews for 38 prospective candidates and the names of the successful ones will be forwarded to President Mnangagwa, who will then appoint the 10 commissioners.

“My Commission will be functional. There is no room for corruption as any mishap will be dealt with severely. The new Zacc will not tolerate any corrupt officials,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

She was concerned about the shambolic record-keeping system, particularly for dockets at Zacc.

A digital docket management system is now reportedly in the works.

“The Commission’s records should be very secure and independent, hence we will be improving in that regard. I am just waiting for the commissioners to be appointed so that we make decisions on those aspects.

“You struggle to find dockets. One can ask for a particular docket and officers will go in circles searching for it. In one instance, a docket was finally found at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). That is undesirable. A docket management system should be done in a press of a button.”

The Zacc chair said a list of the graft-fighting body’s requirements will soon be forwarded to the Office of the President and Cabinet, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

“Zacc is not well-resourced. We have 19 teams of investigators sharing three vehicles. When they investigate, a team is made up of three or four investigators, so we have 19 teams sharing three vehicles. These cars are all we have nationwide,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

“In terms of investigators, we do not have the adequate numbers as we are currently riding on secondment from the police and other State institutions.

“There is less than half of what we are looking for, thus we have 90 — that’s in Harare.”

Justice Matanda-Moyo — a seasoned High Court judge — said Zacc will sign an agreement with the University of Zimbabwe to train investigators in forensic accounting, financial intelligence and cyber-crimes to enhance skills in fighting white-collar crimes.

There are also plans to introduce a new law to protect whistleblowers.

“We urgently require a piece of legislation to protect witnesses. It is a problem to invite whistleblowers to testify in court without that piece of legislation. They are open to abuse by their superiors,” she said.

The former Dr Job Wabhira-led Zacc, she added, was dysfunctional.

She also rubbished claims of conflict of interest in her appointment as Zacc chair at a time when her husband — Dr Sibusiso Moyo — is Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

“Why didn’t you raise the issue of conflict (of interest) when he was appointed Minister since I was already a High Court Judge?

“My marriage and job are two different things. I have been married to him for a long time. I am not marrying him today that I should be influenced by him. He is not the one who has mandated me to lead Zacc.”

Standard|A coalition of civil society groups from Matabeleland that struck a deal with President Emmerson Mnangagwa that paved the way for a government intervention on the Gukurahundi killings is disintegrating amid allegations that it has been hijacked.

The government in March announced plans to address concerns surrounding the killing of over 20 000 civilians in Midlands and Matabeleland by the North Korean trained Fifth Brigade in the 1980s after Mnangagwa met the groups coalescing under the Matabeleland Collective banner.

Mnangagwa pledged that the government will facilitate reburials of victims of the atrocities and access to national identity documents for survivors, but the initiative is already facing collapse.

One of the founders of the Matabeleland Collective, Dumisani Nkomo resigned a fortnight ago citing frustration over the direction the initiative was taking.

Nkomo, who was the head of the secretariat, co-founded the Matabeleland Collective alongside Women of Zimbabwe Arise leader Jenni Williams.

According to insiders, the coalition has in the past few weeks been rocked by disputes fuelled by suspicions that it has been heavily infiltrated by State security agents and ruling Zanu PF moles.

Nkomo confirmed that he had resigned from the Matabeleland Collective and hinted that all was not well.

“I felt I had done my part and no individual should privatise the institution,” he said. “I was also worried about our increasing propensity for silence in the face of injustice.

“The Collective as we envisaged it was a good idea because it brought together civil society from Matabeleland for the first time in order to have a common position among players in the region.”

There were several efforts dating back to 2010 to unite civil society groups in Matabeleland, which culminated in the formation of the Matabeleland Consortium.

It included organisations such as Habakkuk Trust, Radio Dialogue, Christian Legal Society and the National Development Trust, among others, which pushed for solutions to problems facing the region.

In 2012, the consortium pushed for the implementation of devolution ahead of elections the following year and the Matabeleland Collective was viewed as a significant leap in efforts to advance regional issues.

“[The Matabeleland Collective] is a key player that must be protected and preserved,” Nkomo said. “It is critical for the Collective to continue to fight against infiltration, state capture, personal ambitions and avarice.

“I pray for the success of the Collective and deliverance from circling wolves, vultures and other political predators.”

The Matabeleland Collective is made up of over 50 civil society groups and some members complained that the alleged infiltration by the state showed that the government was not sincere in addressing the Gukurahundi issue.

Manangagwa last month met chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands in Bulawayo where Gukurahundi topped the agenda.

The chiefs submitted a document to the president where they advised him to apologise for the atrocities before seeking solutions to a number of issues that arose after the killings.

Mnangagwa was also told that he could not be a neutral arbiter in the matter because of his involvement in the atrocities. The president was the State Security minister at the time.

By Own Correspondent- Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi, said that the government feels let down by Wicknell Chivayo’s Intratek Zimbabwe Private Limited’s failure to deliver on the Gwanda Solar Project.

Chasi revealed that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has incurred losses of up to US$50 million because of the delays in implementing the project.

Speaking to State media after visiting the site on Friday, Chasi said:

“I can’t explain the level of depression that I’m experiencing right now given the power situation in the country, my expectation was to see some magnificent amount of work.

As a ministry and Government we feel let down and we are now going back to look at this situation.

I know that there has been mitigation and the project owner has won but what I need are megawatts.

I’m also focusing on Zesa itself to understand why there was a delay.

This project started a long time ago and we can’t afford the luxury of taking extended periods of time in project implementation. I need to see a project here generating 100 megawatts as we were promised.

That’s a significant amount of power, right now all I see is firewood and we can’t put firewood in the transmission system of Zesa.

Chasi said the country is exploring opportunities of importing power from other countries.

Girls who fall pregnant during the course of their studies are set to enjoy ‘maternity vacation’ before returning to continue with their education after giving birth.

The privileges are provided in the Education Bill that is currently under debate in the National Assembly, where legislators are showing support for the clause.

Advocates of girl child rights have also hailed the proposals they describe as positive in affording the girls a chance to continue with studies.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima recently told legislators that allowing the girls to take a vacation and continue with studies was in line with the National Constitution that advocates non-discrimination.

“There is an issue that has generated a lot of interest among the parliamentarians; and this is the issue of exclusion on account of pregnancy, and the fundamental basis of the inclusion of this issue is premised on Section 75 of the Constitution, which speaks against discrimination,” said Minister Mavima.

“The current practice in our education system has it that if two form four learners have an affair and end up impregnating each other — the male student can continue with his education, but the female student cannot, yet section 75 of our Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of gender or sex and it is the basis upon which this item was included in our Bill.”

A number of pregnant girls drop out of school because of current policies that bar them from studies whilst expecting.

Parliament instituted public hearings on the Education Amendment Bill with various stakeholders seconding the provision to allow pregnant learners to take a break and resume studies after birth.

MDC-T Bulawayo National Assembly proportional representation member Ms Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga told The Sunday Mail that; “All we are doing is to give a chance not only to the girl, but to the unborn child.

“Those who impregnate, are usually your older selfish predatory males who go scotfree and never help with anything.

She added that society must move away from entirely blaming and punishing the pregnant learners.

Shamwari Yemwanasikana executive director Mrs Ukenia Chifamba-Chidodo said education was key in fighting inequalities between girls and boys.

She welcomed the move to afford pregnant school girls a chance to education.

“With such high records in teen pregnancy, it means we are losing so many girls as they often drop out from school because of pregnancy,” said Mrs Chifamba-Chododo.

“We believe education is the most important right that should be a source of weapon to fight any form of inequality.

“Girls always bear the burden of carrying the pregnancy and dropping out of school while the boy child is safe and continues with education.”

According to a Ministry of Health and Child Care, United Nations Population Fund and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council latest report, 19 percent of female adolescents between 15-19 years are pregnant.

Lawyer and gender equality activist Ms Jessie Majome hailed the move of maternity leave for school girls.

“It is a positive development that goes beyond paying lip service to the constitutional guarantees to the rights to education, of the child, and to equality and protection from discrimination.

Zimbabwe has recorded the highest teen pregnancy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa with figures of between 500 000 and 700 000 annually in 2017 statistics.

After ZimEye.com ran a series of revelations of Prophet Walter Magaya’s continuous abuse of women in his church, State Media has also come into the fray revealing further extremely incriminating details on the PHD Ministries leader.

A week after ZimEye.com exclusively interviewed members of the Maenzanise alleging that their daughter had been raped, more women are coming out to make allegations of improper sexual behaviour against the man-of-cloth state media reported on Sunday.

The latest allegations come from Charity Dlodlo and Sarah Maruta, both former church members of Prophet Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD).

At the centre of the allegations by the Maenzanises were the insinuations that Prophet Magaya, the leader of PHD, might have had an improper sexual relationship with their daughter, which resulted in a child being born.

But as the nation digested the latest round of sexual allegations against Prophet Magaya, who is no newcomer to such allegations, the Maenzanise daughter poured water on the story.

In a video released on Facebook last weekend, she denied ever having been raped by the prophet.

But the Maenzanise interview opened the floodgates and by mid-week, a number of women were opening up on the several improper sexual encounters they have had with Prophet Magaya.

Two prominent politicians, whom we cannot name as they are still weighing their options — whether to go public or not, were also allegedly sexually abused and harassed. One of the politicians’ daughter was also sexually abused.

“I am coming out not because I have any scores to settle with Magaya, nor that I want his money but because I want justice to be done. I am doing this for the girl child, many of whom were sexually abused at the church and who might not be strong enough to stand up to him,” said Charity Dlodlo on Wednesday.

She travelled from Malawi, where she is currently based as a swimming coach, to file charges against the prophet.

“This is not the first time that I have been raising these allegations but previously no one would listen to me. The police were compromised and so were most of the journalists, but I am hoping that the opening up by the Maenzanises will go some way in bringing closure to the many sexual allegations against Magaya,” she said.

Dlodlo, who gained fame on Studio 263 as Mai Madziva, said she joined PHD Ministries on August 2, 2015, “a date that I remember so well because I manifested on that very day”.

Probably given her fame from the soap opera, her manifestation caught the eye of the prophet. And when she checked into the Marlborough guest house for a one-on-one session with the prophet, she was invited to the main church for further “deliverance”.

As someone who was witnessing the power of the prophet first-hand, she did not see anything amiss with the invite and the subsequent offer of ministry work. Later on, offers to financially help with her rent came.

“When the offer to pay my rent came, I saw nothing amiss as I thought this was the man of God living up to his word. I accepted the money and didn’t see any ulterior motive,” narrated Dlodlo.

Then a year into the church, rumours of the various allegations against the prophet started circulating. “Then I did not take the allegations seriously as someone who had witnessed the power of Magaya,” she said.

As part of her voluntary ministry work, for which she was paid just a stipend, Dlodlo would help a class with acting lessons. She would also vet testimonies that would later be aired on Yadah TV, the PHD Ministry’s television channel.

“Through the vetting exercise, I came face-to-face with the work of Prophet Magaya, and every testimony that I came across emboldened my faith and trust in him.

“Then the day Prophet Magaya went to Israel, Sarah Maruta, whom I had become close to during the acting lessons, phoned to say she wanted to talk to me. We met in town and after some lunch, when I was about to say my goodbyes, she opened up. She told me she had been raped by Prophet Magaya.”

Dlodlo’s initial reaction was to deny the allegations on behalf of the prophet, telling Maruta that a man of Magaya’s stature would not stoop so low.

“Earlier on, the prophet had told me to appraise him if any girl had opened up to me about any problems, whatever problem. So when the prophet came from Israel, I approached him with Sarah’s allegations, which he flatly denied and asked me to keep him in the loop of what Sarah was saying to me,” recounted Dlodlo.

So it was in keeping with that spirit that Dlodlo would forward to the prophet all the communication between her and Sarah.

In the meantime, it is said the prophet was keeping Dlodlo pampered, making sure she got all the financial help that she wanted.

But when she was asked to steal Maruta’s cellphone, that is when she realised she was playing for the wrong team.

Then her moment came.

She was asked to come to the Prospect offices where she knelt before the prophet, as per church tradition. When the man of cloth rose from his chair, she assumed he was coming to pray for her, possibly with his hand placed on her head.

But instead, he kissed her and touched her breasts. In response, Dlodlo cried out loud, possibly attracting the attention of those who were nearby.

This encounter came after several WhatsApp messages from the prophet to Dlodlo, some which included pornographic videos, she further alleges. She said after that encounter, the prophet made efforts to keep her close — as well as pampered, financially.

But Maruta was not as lucky as Charity, as she claims she was raped at a house in Borrowdale (address withheld), not once, but twice. The second rape incident resulted in her getting pregnant.

The pregnancy, she further alleges, was forcibly terminated at one of the biggest hospitals in Harare, again at the instigation of the prophet.

“Mai Chibhero (name changed by this publication) is at the centre of most of the sexual abuses happening at PHD, she acts more like a pimp for the prophet, and she is the one who accompanied me to hospital and made sure my pregnancy was terminated. She also accompanied me to a shopping trip to South Africa, a trip which I strongly believe was arranged to kill me,” further accused Maruta.

She claims that when she found out that she was pregnant, especially a pregnancy borne of a rape encounter, she could not stomach it and attempted suicide. When she was admitted at the said hospital due to the attempted suicide, she was drugged and chained to a hospital bed.

She claims that it was in that drugged stupor that her pregnancy was terminated.

And then the hush money started pouring in, with Mai Chibhero, Admire Mango and a prominent Harare lawyer involved in the negotiations for the settlement.

After a letter of demand was written to Prophet Magaya, a copy of which is in our possession, the prophet agreed to settle out-of-court so that Maruta would not press any charges against him.

“Financial help continued to come towards my rentals, general upkeep and he even advised me to start cross-border trading”, said Maruta.

The money that was advanced to Maruta comes close to $100 000.

“This money was paid at different stages and times, some of it in hard currency, some through bank transfers from his church account into my personal account and some of it as RTGS dollars,” claimed Maruta.

She said she is not surprised that Mrs Maenzanise’s daughter has denied that she had been raped, as possibly she could have been paid off.

“Everyone at PHD knew about her case and we are not surprised that she has turned against her mother, chances are she was paid off,” she said.

“In fact, there are many girls at the church who have been sexually abused. There is Teclar, Caroline, Petronellah, Precious and Diana, to name just a few of these girls. I know these girls because there came a time when we opened up to each other and we would openly discuss these issues.

“Besides, there came a time when we went to church and we knew every girl who was being handed an envelope, we knew what it meant — she would have slept with the prophet.”

She even alleges that some of the girls, on discovering these improper sexual liaisons with the prophet, would become jealous of each other.

“But the weird thing is, when we discussed our encounters with him, most of us professed of having had weird dreams. At times you would dream having sex with a snake, kissing a snake or something weird. And what made it even worse was that he would ask if we had dreamt about him,” narrated Maruta.

She also alleged that whenever an announcement was made in church that the prophet was looking for 17-year-olds or university student girls to employ, “we knew what it meant, he was looking for new girls”.

Efforts to talk to Prophet Magaya on Friday proved fruitless as he was said to be out of the country, together with his spokesperson, Admire Mango. Both were not reachable.

When reached for comment, Mai Chibhero said she could not speak on church issues and referred all questions to Mango.

The lawyer, who was involved in the hush money settlement, said he could not speak to the Press as he has a confidentiality clause with his client. He also could not speak on behalf of the church as he is not the church’s spokesperson.

State Media|In the next two weeks, legislators are expected to take delivery of new vehicles under the Parliamentary vehicle loan scheme amid reports that some of the lawmakers have been using public transport to carry out their duties.

Each lawmaker has been handed a US$50 000 cap from which they can purchase more than one vehicle.

Indications are that the bulk of the vehicles will be imported, a factor that has worried domestic automobile industry players who say they have the capacity to produce top of the range off-road vehicles.

In an interview clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said delivery of the vehicles is imminent.

“We are finalising the arrangements and we expect that within a week or so, the MPs will have their vehicles. We are in constant communication with Treasury over the matter and they have been giving us assurances.

“The scheme, as has been the norm, is a loan payable over a period of five years.”

Mr Chokuda said the MPs need the vehicles to service their constituencies in line with their roles of representing the people.

Asked if Parliament had struck a deal with local vehicle assemblers for the supply of the vehicles, Mr Chokuda said: “It is really up to the individual MPs and the types of vehicles they want. They are free to negotiate their contracts with the local industry players.”

MDC chief whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami said most Members of Parliament from his party were struggling to reach their constituencies due to lack of vehicles.

“There are some MPs who are using public transport to get to the people. This makes it very difficult for them to do their work,” he said.

“It also makes them lose their dignity if we have a situation where an Honourable Member of Parliament disembarks from a commuter omnibus to be received by the community,” he said.

Mr Mutseyami implored Parliament to also address other matters pertaining to the welfare of the legislators.

“It is not only about the vehicles, but other matters such as allowances and the Constituency Development Fund,” he said.

“We are not receiving our allowances on time and we are also worried that the ($50 000) CDF has been eroded by inflation. lt will not do much to uplift our constituencies.”

Zanu-PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi, who has been on record saying the party is prepared to do without the vehicles, advised his party’s MPs to take the vehicles only if they need them.

“We are glad that Treasury has managed to source the funds to purchase the vehicles for the MPs. We encourage those that need the vehicles to take advantage of the scheme, but if there are others that already have worthy vehicles, we encourage them not to take-up the vehicles if they do not need to,” he said.

Quest Motors managing director Mr Tariq Adam said he was disappointed that no firm deal had been struck with his company to supply the MPs with locally assembled vehicles.

“There has been nothing from them in terms of local production support,” he said

Newly appointed Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission chairperson Loice Mtanda Moyo has rubbished ongoing claims of conflict of interest in her appointment as Zacc chairperson at a time when her husband — Dr Sibusiso Moyo — is Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

“Why didn’t you raise the issue of conflict (of interest) when he was appointed Minister since I was already a High Court Judge?

“My marriage and job are two different things. I have been married to him for a long time. I am not marrying him today that I should be influenced by him. He is not the one who has mandated me to lead Zacc.”

Justice Matanda Moyo is a judge of the High Court of Zimbabwe. She was appointed by the former President Robert Mugabe in 2013 and was sworn in on the 14th of July 2014.

Before her appointment as a High Court judge, Justice Matanda Moyo was the president of the Labour Court. At one stage she was the Director of Public Prosecution in the Attorney General’s office.

Emmerson Mnangagwa disbanded the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) in February amid claims that it had become a white elephant, with some of the members allegedly involved in corrupt activities, while others were dabbling in factional politics.

State Media|Zesa will this week add 160 MW of electricity to the national grid following the successful refurbishment of Unit 5 at Hwange Power Station (HPS), while a further 160MW from Unit 6 is expected within the next three months, it has been learnt.

Unit 6 has been down since March.

The addition of power from Unit 5, which is expected to ease the current heavy load-shedding, will take the total generation at HPS to 660MW.

In addition, President Mnangagwa is today expected to engage his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa to explore the possibilities of imports from Eskom.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the utility is currently engaging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to help raise the £3,3 million (US$4,1 million) needed to refurbish Unit 6.

“Hwange Unit 5 is expected to be back in service during the course of this weekend and it will inject 160MW. Thus Hwange will generate an average of 500MW,” said Mr Gwasira.

“Unit 6, which has been out from March 2019 owing to the generator earth fault, requires up to £3,3 million to be fixed. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance are making efforts to assist Zesa in raising this amount.”

However, he warned that generation at Kariba Power Station might be further reduced by the continued decline of water levels in Kariba Dam.

“Owing to the drought experienced in the upstream of the Kariba reservoir, the lake levels are now about 27 percent.

“Kariba South Hydropower Station is expected to further reduce the plant’s current average output from 580MW to the recommended 358MW.

“Failure to adhere to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA)-recommended 358MW may result in the plant shutting down by October 2019. This is a situation we have to avoid by taking the correct remedial action in line with the noble recommendations.”

According to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), load-shedding has increased outside the published schedule due to soaring demand in excess of 1800 MW against generation of about 1100 MW.

Zesa is failing to compensate the shortfall with imports as it owes significant amounts to suppliers in South Africa and Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi has said all Government ministries will be metered to ensure responsible use of electricity.

At national level, Mr Fullard Gwasira said 656 000 prepaid meters have been installed in domestic premises so far.

“The installation of prepaid electricity meters is ongoing, although the rate of connection was affected by the current shortage of foreign currency.

“Since the inception of the programme in 2012, ZETDC has connected 656 000 prepaid electricity meters in domestic premises and small institutions countrywide.”

Mr Gwasira says the development has greatly empowered customers to manage their own consumption as well as guarantee the power utility’s revenue collection.

Private players were licensed to supply meters to speed up the process, which resulted in 48 000 additional consumers being connected to the grid. Zesa expects to connect a further 135 000 customers to the grid once the foreign currency supplies improve.

THE Government has with immediate effect directed all non-governmental organisations operating in the country who were giving aid in the form of foreign currency to either buy food using the money and donate to the beneficiaries or give out local currency.

This comes after Government outlawed the multi-currency regime and restricted domestic transactions to local currency through Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019, in an effort to enhance the affordability of goods and services by the majority.

The Government recently had a meeting with the World Bank and United Nations representatives as well as embassies in the country through which humanitarian aid comes to deliberate on the matter and ensure that SI 142 is fully implemented.

In an interview, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the Government had a meeting with the World Bank and United Nations representatives as well as embassies in the country to discuss the matter.

“As you are aware I am the chairperson of the inter-Cabinet Committee that deals with disaster and climate change, recently we had a meeting with World Bank and United Nations representatives as well as embassies.

The Minister of Finance (and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube) was there, the Minister of Public Service (Labour and Social Welfare Dr Sekai Nzenza) was there as well as other ministries.

“We discussed how best we can get help as a country. We told them that non-governmental organisations should stop giving beneficiaries US dollars or any other foreign currency. If they so wish to give them money, they should give them local currency.

The argument was we have removed the multi-currency regime and restricted domestic transactions to local currency and most people in rural areas to which most of the aid goes will not be able to use the money,” he said.State media

Dear @fortunechasi

Since your ministry can no longer supply electricity to the bulk of its consumers, can you kindly push for the removal of duty on solar panels and battery's. 17-19 hours load shedding is not sustainable for business and students studying for exams. Zvanyanya!

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) July 4, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Former President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special advisor Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa told Former South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Mhlanganyelwa  Zuma that if Grace Mugabe took over as the President of Zimbabwe she might lead the army to invade South Africa. 

Mutsvangwa told the information to Zuma at the height of the bloody coup that ended 37 years of President Robert Mugabe’s iron rule. 

Mutsvangwa said Grace and the former G40 members were close to Julius Sello Malema and hence they might unite in invading South Africa. 

The revelations are contained in a book called Two weeks November written by Douglas Rogers. 

Read paragraphs containing the incident below:

Well, consider that Wednesday morning, suspecting a coup has taken place in Zimbabwe, Zuma, in his capacity as SADC chair, dispatches an envoy to Harare to meet with the beleaguered Mugabe. Zuma has phoned Mugabe, who has told him he is fine, but confined to his home. The envoy – South Africa’s Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula  is going to see for herself. 

Meanwhile, Alpha Condé, the AU Chairman, has also said that what has happened “looks like a coup”.

So Mutsvangwa takes his pitch to Zuma’s aides into overdrive. He appeals to the liberation war blood bond between the ANC, Zimbabwe’s military and war veterans such as himself and Zuma. (Zuma was head of the ANC’s military wing.) Grace and the G40 cabal are not part of that bond, he warns. They did not fight. They have a different ethos. They represent a corrupt “oligarchy capitalism”, which is dangerous to the region. You saw how she beat that poor South African girl Gabriella in that hotel, he tells them. You know of the ties between G40 and Julius Malema, the usurper who is a threat to you here? For good measure he adds that old staple: that Jonathan Moyo, the brains behind G40, is a CIA asset. You don’t want these people in charge of the country and its military to the north of you, do you?

Warming to his theme, he spells out what he says would be the dire consequences for South Africa’s security if Mugabe’s wife were to gain power.

“You maybe have a situation where Grace is in command, Kasukuwere is in command, Jonathan Moyo is in command and then the Zimbabwean army comes to the Limpopo River,” Mutsvangwa warns. “Then your [South African] army will be on the other side of the Limpopo River. This would happen because these people, they do not have the same ethos [as us] and you can’t allow that.”

It sounds absurd – he’s saying there may be a regional war – but he has a way with words, Mutsvangwa. They flow like mercury off his tongue. And he has credentials too. He’s educated, an intellectual, a blue blood, a liberation fighter, an ambassador. He’s persuasive.

Does it work?

To a point. Mostly it buys them time. When Zuma makes the public announcement on Wednesday that he is sending his envoys to Harare to meet with Mugabe, he adds that he has “managed to get the briefing about the situation”, and “given the seriousness, I have taken the decision to send an envoy to contact the leader of the Defence Forces, and to meet with President Mugabe to get a more clear picture.”

It’s the opening Mutsvangwa needs. Indeed, when the envoy lands in Harare she will be met not by government officials loyal to Mugabe, but by military officers. And instead of meeting with Mugabe and Grace privately at the Blue Roof, to hear their sad tale, the meetings will now take place at State House, the President’s official residence, with Chiwenga and the representatives of the military present.

The driver of the haulage truck involved in an accident now known as the Featherstone Disaster has been charged with 19 counts of culpable homicide.

Jeremiah Haisoswi (30) of Epworth appeared before Magistrate Rufaro Panavanhu and was charged with having caused the death of 19 passengers in a commuter omnibus travelling from Murambinda to Harare.

The haulage truck that Haisoswi was driving encroached onto the lane of the kombi, resulting in the accident which killed 16 people on the sport, while the other three died on admission at Chivhu hospital.

He was remanded out of custody on free bail to the 16^th of this month for trial.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf heavyweight and cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has blasted finance minister Mthuli Ncube and AMH Owner, Trevor Ncube for charging their “chit chat” on the economy.

Prof Moyo described Trevor Ncube as PAC’s chief lier, saying their move to charge zw$400 for their exclusive conversation as the “whole pfeee thing gone to the dogs”.

Said Professor Moyo:

In what must be a first of its kind, Zimbabwe's embattled finance minister, @MthuliNcube, is charging $400 for people to listen to him chit chat with Trevor Ncube, #PAC's chief liar, about Mnangagwa's doomed economic & currency policies. The whole pfee thing has gone to the dogs! pic.twitter.com/vxYrL4tqtT

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 6, 2019

'The issue of Gukurahundi if left unresolved it is going to be a sad & difficult issue for young people that did not see what exactly happened in particular those whose parents & relatives were victims of Gukurahundi. It must be resolved. It should be resolved' – Dr Dabengwa pic.twitter.com/DfNy80ycm5

— Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation (@DDabengwaFdn) July 6, 2019

Watch video- President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives in Niger for the AU Extraordinary Summit pic.twitter.com/IxnTR7KYBF

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 6, 2019

By A Correspondent- Analysts here have blasted General Sibusiso Busi Moyo’s wife Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo for wading into Zanu Pf factional fights and being used to support the move by the ZANU PF Youth League who are accusing senior government and party officials of corruption.

During a press conference last week Matanda-Moyo said as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the ZACC is ready to investigate the corruption allegations brought by the Youth League against senior party heavy weights including Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu, Tourism minister Prisca Mupfumira and Jorum Gumbo among others.

Professor Jonathan Moyo said it is wrong for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to use Matanda-Moyo for the hatchet job.

“It’s wrong for Mnangagwa to capture a state organ like ZACC by appointing a wife of a top ally to head it, and for the appointee to start her assignment by using ZACC to purge Mnangagwa’s political rivals. Society must not allow a corrupt process to be used to fight corruption!”

“The politicization of the state and its organs is not an infant story. What may be interesting is the connection between Temba Mliswa and the idea that ED is surrounded by corrupt people. This idea is premised on isolating ED as the only clean guy. This is not new at all.”

Busisness tycoon Mutumwa Mawere said this is not the first time that state institutions have been politicized.

The Youth had initially banned Politburo member Obert Mpofu from setting foot at Jongwe house. The decision was overturned by Mnangagwa who said he will set up a Commission of inquiry.

By A Correspondent- City of Harare has warned people buying stands in the suburb of Westlea, Harare that they are being cheated.

The council said the land that was being sold belonged to the local authority and no-one had the mandate to allocate it to anyone.

The City of Harare advised those who had already paid land barons for the land in Westlea to demand their money back or report the land barons to the police.

Said the city fathers:

People buying residential land along Kirkman Road in Westlea are being cheated. The land belongs to council and will be properly allocated by council. Anyone who has bought land from land barons should claim their money back and even report to police.

FORMER Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa’s vehicle and generator will go under the hammer next week to settle US$26 000 in legal fees owed to lawyers Nyakutombwa and Mugabe Legal Counsel.

The legal firm represented him in a 2015 court case in which he challenged his expulsion from Zanu-PF, together with Temba Mliswa and Rugare Gumbo.

A notice of seizure and attachment of property from the High Court dated July 3, detailed that Mutasa’s property that will go under judicial attachment will include a Toyota Fortuner registration number ADV 4142, worth US$25 000, and a yellow Kipor generator, worth AUS$5 000, in order to settle legal costs which have now accumulated to US$26 919,25.

Tafadzwa Mugabe, one of the lawyers that represented Mutasa, yesterday confirmed to NewsDay that Mutasa’s property would be removed on Monday July 7, so that it is auctioned to pay for the legal costs owing.

“In 2015, we represented Mutasa, Gumbo and Mliswa after their expulsion in Zanu-PF and since then, we have not been paid US$26 000 legal costs, which have also accumulated interest,” Mugabe said.

“We first attached his property in 2017 and he stopped the execution at the High Court and succeeded, but in May this year, the Supreme Court then threw away his appeal and so his
property will be auctioned to cover for our legal costs.”

Mugabe said it is Mutasa’s property that is going to be auctioned because he sued on behalf of Gumbo and Mliswa and, therefore, was the one at default as he said he was also representing them.

The three were expelled from Zanu-PF in February 2015 during former President Robert Mugabe’s tenure on various charges, including undermining the party and its leadership.

The decision to expel Mutasa, his nephew Mliswa and Gumbo was made by the Zanu-PF national disciplinary committee, which was then chaired by former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, and announced by Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo.

Mutasa was accused of making disparaging remarks against Zanu-PF and its leadership, and described as unrepentant and plotting to illegally unseat and/or assassinate Mugabe.

Mliswa and Gumbo were also chucked out of the party on accusations of disloyalty, denigrating leaders, insubordination and several other crimes.

The youthful leader took to his twitter account to openly attack the ‘untouchable’ giant service provider for using the mobile financial service platform Ecocash. The Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary Lewis Matutu has gone guns blazing on giant network provider Econet for allegedly using its Ecocash platform to sabotage the economy.

“@econetzimbabwe please stop what you are doing to our economy through the abuse of your Ecocash facility,” read his tweet.

The attack also comes at a time when this publication reported that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) moved in to thwart Econet’s suspected default aid in money laundering which was acting as a conduit for promotion of illegal foreign currency dealings through Ecocash.

The RBZ Financial Intelligence Inspectorate and Evaluation Unit (FIIE Unit) last month ordered Ecocash to suspend some agent lines which they dictated to have irregular transaction patterns with some trading as much as RTGS$200 000 to RTGS$1million in a single day. Hundreds of forex dealers had their agents lines suspended and they battled to recover their money running into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The RBZ governor John Mangudya reiterated that “Ecocash like any other financial institution was supposed to be accountable hence the FIIEU cracked a whip on Ecocash.”

The attack comes after the youthful leader led in a crusade against corrupt individuals, naming and shaming them at a press conference. Big names that were lined up for the guillotine include Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu who has been accused to have played an instrumental role in the looting of diamonds in Manicaland during his tenure as Minister of Mines and Minerals.

The list ripped apart top government officials among them, minister of Tourism Prisca Mupfumira, minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram Gumbo, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and youthful transport and logistics mogul Tinoda Machakaire.

General Sibusiso Busi Moyo’s wife Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has come under fire from political analysts after she came out supporting the move by the ZANU PF Youth League who are accusing Senior government and Party officials of corruption.

During a press conference last week Matanda-Moyo said as the Anti-Corruption Commission they are ready to investigate the allegations brought by the Youth League.

Professor Jonathan Moyo said it is wrong for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to use Matanda-Moyo for the hatchet job.

“It’s wrong for Mnangagwa to capture a state organ like ZACC by appointing a wife of a top ally to head it, and for the appointee to start her assignment by using ZACC to purge Mnangagwa’s political rivals. Society must not allow a corrupt process to be used to fight corruption!”

“The politicization of the state and its organs is not an infant story. What may be interesting is the connection between Temba Mliswa and the idea that ED is surrounded by corrupt people. This idea is premised on isolating ED as the only clean guy. This is not new at all.”

Busisness tycoon Mutumwa Mawere said this is not the first time that state institutions have been politicized.

The Youth had initially banned Politburo member Obert Mpofu from setting foot at Jongwe house. The decision was overturned by Mnangagwa who said he will set up a Commission of inquiry.

 By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu is a victim of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s insecurities about an impending coup that might remove him from power it has emerged.

A highly placed source in the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation stationed at the Bulawayo State House revealed that Mnangagwa was jittery about the power that Mpofu was wielding at Jongwe house.

“The current incidents happening in the party should not shock any student of politics and history, “the source said on Friday.

“What you are having now is a situation where Number  1 is occupying that position due to the work done by two key people namely  Number 2 (Vice President Chiwenga) and Dr Mpofu. If you commit to memory you will remember that Mpofu chaired all the political proceedings including the Central Committee that fired RG and installed Number 1 as Party President. While the military was engaging RG through mediated government processes under the leadership of Number 2, Mpofu led the political process.

“You will also be aware that Mpofu is a godfather in Matabeleland North hence the speaker of Parliament is credited for chairing a joint sitting that almost impeached RG.

Being a student of politics Number 1 is moving swiftly to remove and isolate all those people who implemented the transition to the second republic. He wants to make sure that they pose no threat to him.

The mistake that he did at the beginning of his reign was to push the all-powerful Mpofu to HQ. Now he has realized that Mpofu wields more power in the party and he is moving in to pacify that.

“What I assure is that the youths are playing a well-written script meant to deal with perceived enemies on Number 1. The interesting part is that the wife of Cde Sibusiso has been activated via the Anti-Corruption Commission and she will be very instrumental in the operation as it is being unrolled.”

Secretary-General of Ibhetshu lika Zulu Mbuso Fuzwayo said the decision by the ZANU PF Youth League to single out Obert Mpofu shows that there is a hidden hand behind their actions.

“The Youth League can not single out Mpofu as the most corrupt ZANU PF official. Yes, there are allegations but those are just allegations. What the youths should have done is to concede that the whole top hierarchy of their party is corrupt and they submit evidence to ZACC so that the whole top leadership is investigated. Their press conference and ZACC response clearly show that this is not about corruption but some other agendas being pushed.”

Wezhira Munya| Hundreds of MDC Masvingo Province invades Bikita East ward 31. There will be a by election next week 13th July 2019.

MDC will be represented by Mr Moses Maposa who will battle it out with candidates from ZANU PF and National National Constitutional Assembly.

Mr Dangazela said: “MDC is ready to win. All systems are in place. MDC will win this ward.”

National Organiser Amos Chibaya: “Encouraged Bikita East residence to vote for MDC candidate in the forthcoming by election.”

Masvingo MDC Provincial chairperson Mr James Chafungamoyo Gumbi said: “He was impressed by the preparations they have done so far. The MDC cadres has done 3 rallies. National Chairperson Hn Thabitha Khumalo and hn Chibaya were guests at our first rally. The second rally was addressed by National youth chair Mr Obey Sithole, other National youth leaders and vice national organiser Hn Happymore ‘Bvondo’ Chidziva few days ago. Today, hn vice chairperson hn Job ‘Wiwa’ Sikhala and Hn national organiser Chibaya are key note speakers. We also had door to door campaigns. Masvingo has great team work.”

Masvingo provincial deputy Treasure Mr Chidaushe said: “Our Masvingo provincial chairperson Mr James Gumbi has given us $1000 to pay Bikita East polling agents, many provincial members gave different amounts of money, fuel and food. Our provincial youth and women also financiallt assisted. Its a collective work. We thank them.”

MDC Masvingo provincial deputy information and publicity Ms Lee Mahachi said: “Masvingo MDC dedicated cadres are not afraid of Zanu PF. Bikita East MDC cadres are ready to defend their votes. We are going to vote and protect our vote. Victory is certain.”

Currently, hn Job Sikhala is giving a keynote speech, encouraging MDC cadres to come out in numbers and vote for MDC candidate Mr Moses Maphosa. He said, President Nelson Chamisa trust Bikita East cadres to win this by election.

Masvingo MDC is facing four by elections, Zanu PF Zaka East member of parliament passed away early this month, Masvingo North Zanu PF member of parliament died last month, Bikita East Zanu PF also died in April 2019. In Chiredzi North, Zanu PF councillor is critically ill and failed to attend council meeting, Mr Mtubuki said: “There will be by election in Chiredzi North soon, because the councillor is incapacitated.

Jane Mlambo| Outspoken Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has offered to pay tea for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa if they happen to meet for dialogue.

Mliswa was responding to top cleric and a member of the Presidential Advisory Council Shingi Munyeza who urged the two political leaders to meet and have a cup of tea at a mutually convenient venue with each one bringing own tea and cookery and exchange niceties which are not political.

Great tweet coming from a member of PAC. Let it be at Mugg n Bean n I’ll swipe lol https://t.co/ynMt9IKqmh

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 6, 2019

GOVERNMENT has suspended Mashonaland Central provincial mining director Mr Malcolm Mazemo and nine Ministry of Mines and Mining Development officials on allegations of corruption.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando announced the suspensions at a news conference in Harare yesterday.

He said eight of the 10 suspended officers were based at the Mashonaland Central provincial office. This has resulted in Government temporarily suspending all services as investigations continue.

Services will only begin after pooling human resources from other stations. Two other suspended officials are surveyors from Mashonaland West.

Minister Chitando declined to shed more light, save to say the officials were facing allegations related to the administration and allocation of mining claims.

“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has been seized with a lot of complaints from stakeholders over service delivery, especially from its provincial offices,” he said.

“As a result, and in line with the ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra and in line with the thrust for zero tolerance for corruption by His Excellency, the President . . . the ministry had been and will be investigating all complaints of malpractices by its staff.

“Such investigations have resulted in the suspension of surveyors at its Mashonaland West provincial mining office. Similar investigations have resulted in the simultaneous suspension of duty today (yesterday) 5th of July, 2019 of most of the technical staff at the Mashonaland Central provincial office including the provincial mining director.”

He said due to the suspension of several of the technical staff at the Mashonaland Central provincial office, it became necessary to temporarily suspend all services offered by that office from lunchtime yesterday until July 10, 2019 to allow the ministry to put in place measures to enable sound service delivery while investigations are in progress.

Minister Chitando added that Government will be following up and investigating all allegations of malpractice by stakeholders against its officials as it seeks deliver the best service.

-State Media