1/ I’ve received an overwhelming number of complaints and incidents regarding the Chinese. I think their unpopularity has been grossly undervalued. Numerous requests for the biggest constitutional demo against the Chinese have been received. It’s a noble&just cause

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 28, 2019

2/ The demo would be against enviromental degradation, exploitation & abuse of workers rights, for better working conditions & strict adherence to Zim’s laws….. watch this space… @edmnangagwa @ChineseZimbabwe @Min_of_IC @MoFA_ZW @ZLHRLawyers @ZctuZimbabwe

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 28, 2019

Farai Dziva|The MDC youth assembly has accused ailing Constantino Chiwenga of being behind a massive diamond looting scam in Marange area.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital, the MDC youth assembly dismissed the Zanu PF initiated anti-corruption drive as a farce.

There is commotion in Zanu PF over the naming and shaming of party bigwigs behind corruption – by the party’s youth wing.

“This exercise is a window dressing move because the so called list of corrupt figures leaves out the real people behind corruption.

Guvheya is behind man the looting of Diamonds in Chiadzwa but the report is silent on his secret deals with Chinese mining companies,” the MDC youth assembly said in a statement.

Farai Dziva | The MDC youth assembly has said the ruling party Zanu PF does not have the capacity to eradicate corruption because of the glaring lack of transparency in the party.

See the MDC youth assembly full statement below:

Revolutionary greetings Comrades and friends

We have called this press briefing to express our thoughts and dismay at the recent events and statements by the not so youthful Zanu PF Youth League on corruption. As a party and as an Assembly, we have always maintained that Zanu PF is corrupt and so to begin with they have no locus standi to comment or let alone address issues to do with corruption.

The greatest form of corruption is denying the people the right to choose leaders of their choice through electoral fraud and rigging as has been the case with the institution where the Zanu PF Youth League belongs to.

A party whose officials stink with corruption scandals like the Willowgate scandal, NOCZIM scandal, Marange Diamonds scandal, has no moral probity to lead the anti-corruption crusade or let alone speak about it.

A party whose President enlisted more than 100 cash externalisers but with not even a single person getting arrested or convicted is not fit to talk about anti-corruption!

It is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe for Zanu PF Youth League to name and shame officials in the corruption laden party leaving a big in the house, for we all know that a fish rot from the head.

It is absurd and insufficient to talk of corruption without citing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shoddy mining cartels in the mineral rich areas along Kwekwe.

It is a public secret that Mr Mnangagwa owns virtually all gold mines in Kwekwe in what is infamously referred to as “mhuu” whereby his cartel collect 50% share from the illegal gold panners or amakorokoza.

Even one of Mnangagwa’s ministers, Owen Mudha Ncube was one of Mnangagwa frontman in extorting gold panners and was rewarded with a ministerial post.

Mr Mnangagwa in partnership with the Chinese nationals is also the sole exporter of chrome in Zimbabwe and as such it is mind boggling to blindly exempt him from a list of corrupt people.

Virtually everyone in Mr Mnangagwa’s presidium is stinking with corruption!

We all know about the clandestine operations of the military under the command of none other than Guveya Chiwenga in Marange area using a company called Anjin to sanitize diamond looting in that area.

Kembo Mohadi too is not a saint! Mohadi has multiple farms in the Beitbrdge-Mateke area yet the same people talk of one man, one farm. What of Mohadi’s abuse of ZRP in his nasty fall out with his estranged wife Tambudzani!

It is clear that the anti-corruption facade by Zanu PF is meant to achieve two things which are not in any way interlinked to the war against corruption.

Firstly, the attention seeking drama is bend on entertaining and diverting long suffering citizenry from focusing on scourging prices and stinking poverty authored by the very same party.

Secondly and more importantly to Zanu PF is that this is an internal detonation that is meant to purge remnants of G40 and those aligned to Constantine Chiwenga’s factional camp.

In short this is a factional battle at play which has nothing to do with the fight against corruption. If anything, the Zanu PF Youth League’s so called anti-corruption drive exposes and portray the corrupt nature of state institutions like ZACC and ZRP.

This is because normally the police force which is funded on tax payers’ money is supposed to be taking the lead in investigating and arresting the corrupt officials instead of a youth wing of a corrupt political ensemble.

That ZACC too is quiet exposes the personnel that constitute the commission and the appointing authority who in that case is Mr Mnangagwa.

It is our firm belief that only those that have been genuinely calling and speaking against corruption like the MDC have the probity to lead, speak and act against corruption. For Zanu PF to say they are against corruption, is a case of a mosquito wanting to cure malaria.

As an Assembly of genuine young leaders, it is our duty to serve, save and protect young people like Lewis Matutu from abuse. It is unfortunate that young people in Zanu PF as has always been the norm are used to settle political scores under the guise of fighting corruption.

“ZANU PF’s presidium is very uninspiring, the worst since formation of both ZAPU and ZANU in the 1960s. ZERO CHARISMA. One of them is a huge joke aka FERO citizens.” said academic Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya

ZANU PF's presidium is very uninspiring, the worst since formation of both ZAPU and ZANU in the 1960s. ZERO CHARISMA. One of them is a huge joke aka FERO citizens.

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) June 28, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ members have declared incapacitation to live and work.

In a letter to the Public Service Commission, PSC, dated 26 June 2019 ARTUZ stated that they can no longer afford food stuffs, to pay rentals, transport, water, medical bills, electricity bills and other essential services.

“Most teachers can not afford to send their children to boarding schools even if some teach at these schools.

“We stated that with effect from today, 27th of June 2019 teachers based in rural areas that are members of ARTUZ will only attend work two days of the week.

“We feel for the children we teach but we are now at a precarious position where we are not able to meet our basics even to eat.

“We are appealing to our employer the Government to give us a living wage that will allow us to stand in a classroom fed and with dignity.”

THe Zanu PF youth league reportedly stood firm during an explosive politburo meeting in which secretary for administration Obert Mpofu reportedly tried to threaten them into silence, highly-placed sources have said.

Mpofu is alleged to have issued threats and warned the youths to respect party processes and procedures, saying their move to call for a Press conference to embarrass senior party members by labelling them as corrupt was uncalled for.

“He tried to threaten the youth league. He was angry and even issued threats, but he later retreated because he only had the support of two other politburo members while the rest could not speak out or supported (deputy youth secretary Lewis) Matutu and team,” the source said.

The three who supported Mpofu stayed clear of the issue of corruption, but instead wanted to hammer on the issue of procedure, arguing that the youths should have brought the names to the politburo instead.

“Matutu stood his ground, telling the politburo that there was no procedure and process in fighting corruption. He asked Mpofu if it would have made sense to bring a letter to him and say in the next politburo I want us to discuss that you are corrupt,” the source said.

After agreeing to investigate allegations of corruption by Zanu PF members, government officials and ministers named by the youths, the politburo then insisted on having members of the politburo probe the allegations.

Sources said the youth league rejected the suggestion, instead telling the meeting that they were going to name more party bigwigs and it would be impossible for them to properly investigate the allegations.

“The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) agreed and said he would name an independent commission. He is going to look for reputable individuals who have no links to the party because he insisted that he wants corruption dealt with,” the source said.

Matutu yesterday refused to comment on the matter, referring all the questions to party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo. He, however, reiterated that the youths were not scared of the lawsuits that were coming their way and were ready for the legal battle.

“I can comment on the lawsuits. We have seen the notices and we are unmoved. We can assure you that we did not just pull names from the hat; we know what we are talking about and at the grand stage we will weather the storm,” he said.

Moyo said his statement on the politburo meeting was sufficient to cover what had
transpired during the Wednesday politburo meeting and would not comment further.

Responding to the allegations, Mpofu said: “Whose party are they talking about? They can only do so on what they own, on what is theirs. I am in the office and there is nothing like that and it will never happen. I am just hearing it and they haven’t come to me directly, I am just reading about it.”

— NewsDay

Those convicted of corruption will have their wealth and assets forfeited to the State as part of restitution for their criminal deeds, President Mnangagwa has said. He said his administration will rapidly and more effectively respond to legitimate concerns of the general public with regard to tackling corruption head-on by holding the corrupt fully accountable for their misdeeds.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo at a two-day Fraud and Corruption Conference, which opened in Harare yesterday.

“In parallel with such restitution must, of course, come retribution,” he said.

“Those found guilty of such corruption must be sanctioned where they can reflect upon the consequences of their greed and the shame and misfortune that that greed has brought upon themselves and their families.”

President Mnangagwa said Government has made progress in strengthening existing legislation and introducing extra laws to boost the Second Republic’s anti-corruption drive.

Some of the significant amendments that have been made to tighten up mandatory reporting and oversight requirements feature in a number of laws such as the Public Finance Management; Insolvency; Audit; Public Entities Corporate Governance; Companies; Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets; and Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Acts among others.

The Government is also working on a Whistleblower’s Act to encourage and protect those who see evil being done and wish to stop it.

President Mnangagwa said Government is in the final stages of appointing commissioners to the Anti-Corruption Commission and strengthening the Office of the Prosecutor-General.

Government, he said, is also building capacity in key oversight agencies such as the Auditor-General’s, Accountant-General’s and Attorney-General’s offices.

“We are seeking assistance from international partners to build investigative capacity within key components of our law-enforcement agencies, those tasked with investigating and building solid evidence-based cases against the corrupt; cases which will hold up in court and lead to conviction and, where the court so-decides, incarceration and the forfeiture of assets,” he said.

The President said the fight against corruption was not one that Government can wage alone urging the participants to play their role and work towards a Plan of Action, identifying roles and responsibilities for the various sectors represented at the conference.

“Government and yourselves collectively, can intensify our common battle against the evil of corruption,” he said “Together, we can and must make a difference.”

President Mnangagwa said from the onset, the Second Republic’s moto has been ‘Zero Tolerance to Corruption,’ but progress has been slow.

He attributed the slow progress to resistance the State is facing which has tended to impede headway and undermine Government’s good intentions.

“That, in turn, is a reflection of how deep the rot has reached, how the beneficiaries of that rot are able to manoeuvre and manipulate the system to their advantage, to keep ahead of law enforcement, weaken the justice system and, in so doing, to continue their nefarious activities, cheating the Government and the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The slow pace of progress is also a reflection to some extent, of the level of sophistication and complexity which the corrupt amongst us have brought to bear, so as to mask their crimes, cover their tracks and confound our law enforcement officials.”

President Mnangagwa said corruption should be totally eradicated because it undermines Government efforts on economic reform and progress towards the national vision of a middle-income economy by 2030.

“Just as importantly, the scourge of fraud, the theft of public funds and the seeming impotence of our law-enforcement agencies and the justice system more broadly to effectively stop such practices serves to further erode public trust and confidence in Government and its institutions,” he said.

President Mnagagwa, however, hailed the conference saying its focus on fraud was not only welcome, but timely in that it coincided neatly with the enhanced efforts Government was making in the fight against corruption.

The participants were drawn from all stakeholders representing both public and private sectors, academia, civil society, the media, law enforcement agencies and the legal fraternity.

The objective of the conference is creating greater awareness and a deeper understanding of fraud in all its sinister forms and to appreciate the negative impact it has on the national economy.

-State Media

 By A Correspondent- A 21-YEAR-OLD mentally challenged man from Muzarabani last week allegedly beheaded a 79-year-old man from the same village following a misunderstanding.

Taison Lice (21) of Kandi village, Chief Kasekete in Muzarabani, was arrested after he allegedly axed and beheaded Michael Kapfume last Tuesday.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm a Muzarabani murder case where a mentally-challenged person killed a male adult aged 79 after a misunderstanding with the now deceased’s son Pleasure Kapfume (39) hours before the fatal incident,” Mundembe said.

Allegations are that on Monday last week, around 7pm, Lice met Pleasure and had a misunderstanding before parting ways.

The assailant then came back around 3am the following day armed with an axe and started destroying a scotch cart outside Kapfume’s homestead.

Kapfume rushed out with his wife, Stella Robson (61) to investigate.

The deceased’s wife ran to seek assistance from a neighbour, but upon return, she saw Lice leaving the homestead holding Kapfume’s head.

Lice allegedly later dumped the head and axe in a nearby field.

-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC youths have castigated the ruling Zanu PF over its recent move to name and shame party officials involved in corrupt activities saying they have no locus standi to address issues to do with corruption.

Addressing a press briefing this morning, the MDC youth leader Obey Tererai Sithole said Zanu PF’s greatest form of corruption was denying the people the right to chose leaders of their choice through alleged electoral fraud.

“As a party and as an Assembly, we have always maintained that ZANU PF is corrupt and so to begin with they have no locus standi to comment or let alone address issues to do with corruption.

“The greatest form of corruption is denying the people the right to choose leaders of their choice through electoral fraud and rigging as has been the case with the institution where the ZANU PF Youth League belongs to.

“A party whose officials stink with corruption scandals like the Willogate Scandal, NOCZIM scandal, Marange Diamonds scandal etc has no moral probity to lead the anti-corruption crusade or let alone speak about it,” said Sithole.

He added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s much publicized list of cash externalizers had not bore fruits as no single person getting arrested.

“A party whose President enlisted more than 100 cash externalizers but with not even a single person getting arrested or convicted is not fit to talk about anti-corruption,” added Sithole.

By A Correspondent- MDC vice-president Tendai Biti has won a ZWL$15 180 claim against former Mwenezi East MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who had reneged to fulfil a legal fee agreement signed between the parties over four years ago.

According to court papers, Biti in 2015 and 2016, provided legal services to Bhasikiti which consisted of High Court, Supreme Court and Constitutional Court applications and later presented to him an invoice for the rendered services, but the former Zanu-PF legislator failed to pay.

“Pursuant to this, the plaintiff (Tendai Biti) and the defendant (Kudakwashe Bhasikiti) agreed on a fee of US$12 000, excluding posts, petties and VAT,” Biti said in his declaration.

“On December 13, 2016, the plaintiff levied a fee note to the defendant…despite demand and despite numerous promises defendant has failed and neglected to pay the outstanding amount.”

However, the matter was taken before High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero in his chambers on June 7, 2019 whereupon he ruled in favour of Biti and slapped Bhasikiti with an order to pay including costs of suit.

“After reading documents filed of record it is ordered that: The defendant (Bhasikiti) shall pay to the plaintiff (Biti) the sum of ZWL$15 180; the defendant shall pay interest on the above amount at the rate of 5% from the date of judgment to the date of full and final payment plus costs of suit,” the judge said.-Newsday

There was drama in the latest Zanu-PF Politburo meeting as angry Zanu-PF politicians who had been named on the list of corrupt politicians and businesspeople threatened to manhandle the leaders of the Zanu-PF Youth League over the allegations.

A source who spoke to NewsDay said. He tried to threaten the youth league. He was angry and even issued threats, but he later retreated because he only had the support of two other Politburo members while the rest could not speak out or supported (deputy youth secretary Lewis) Matutu and team.

Another source added that Mpofu was seething with anger and he threatened to beat up Lewis Matutu in particular.

He accused Matutu of being very young and too small to be pointing fingers at him.

Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira is also reported to have been furious with the Youth League. She was also very angry and shouted at Matutu as well as (youth league politburo secretary (Pupurai) Togarepi. They stood accused of pushing a factional agenda.

The only person who seemed to have been ready to defend himself and calmly so was (Minister in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office) Joram Gumbo. He seemed to have been happy that the accusations have been made public and wants to cleanse his name.

However, the Youth League are reported to have stood their ground and received backing from President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself who said that he would appoint a Commission of Inquiry to look into the allegations.

The source who spoke to NewsDay said. Matutu stood his ground, telling the politburo that there was no procedure and process in fighting corruption. He asked Mpofu if it would have made sense to bring a letter to him and say in the next politburo I want us to discuss what you are corrupt.

The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) agreed and said he would name an independent commission. He is going to look for reputable individuals who have no links to the party because he insisted that he wants corruption dealt with.

When reached for comment, Mpofu said. Whose party are they talking about? They can only do so on what they own, on what is theirs. I am in the office and there is nothing like that and it will never happen. I am just hearing it and they haven’t come to me directly, I am just reading about it.

Revolutionary greetings cdes and friends and the esteemed members of the Fourth Estate.

We have called this press briefing to express our thoughts and dismay at the recent events and statements by the not so youthful ZANU PF Youth League on corruption.

As a party and as an Assembly, we have always maintained that ZANU PF is corrupt and so to begin with they have no locus standi to comment or let alone address issues to do with corruption.

The greatest form of corruption is denying the people the right to choose leaders of their choice through electoral fraud and rigging as has been the case with the institution where the ZANU PF Youth League belongs to.

A party whose officials stink with corruption scandals like the Willogate Scandal, NOCZIM scandal, Marange Diamonds scandal etc has no moral probity to lead the anti-corruption crusade or let alone speak about it.

A party whose President enlisted more than 100 cash externalizers but with not even a single person getting arrested or convicted is not fit to talk about anti-corruption!

It is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe for ZANU PF Youth League to name and shame officials in the corruption laden party leaving a big in the house, for we all know that a fish rot from the head.

It is absurd and insufficient to talk of corruption without citing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shoddy mining cartels in the mineral rich areas along Kwekwe.

It is a public secret that Mr Mnangagwa owns virtually all gold mines in Kwekwe in what is infamously referred to as “mhuu” whereby his cartel collect 50% share from the illegal gold panners or amakorokoza.

Even one of Mnangagwa’s ministers, Owen Mudha Ncube was one of Mnangagwa frontman in extorting gold panners and was rewarded with a ministerial post.

Mr Mnangagwa in partnership with the Chinese nationals is also the sole exporter of chrome in Zimbabwe and as such it is mind boggling to blindly exempt him from a list of corrupt people.

Virtually everyone in Mr Mnangagwa’s presidium is stinking with corruption!

We all know about the clandestine operations of the military under the command of none other than Guveya Chiwenga in Marange area using a company called Anjin to sanitize diamond looting in that area.

Kembo Mohadi too is not a saint! Mohadi has multiple farms in the Beitbrdge-Mateke area yet the same people talk of one man, one farm.

What of Mohadi’s abuse of ZRP in his nasty fall out with his estranged wife Tambudzani!

It is clear that the anti-corruption facade by ZANU PF is meant to achieve two things which are not in any way interlinked to the war against corruption.

Firstly, the attention seeking drama is bend on entertaining and diverting long suffering citizenry from focussing on scourging prices and stinking poverty authored by the very same party.

Secondly and more importantly to ZANU PF is that this is an internal detonation that is meant to purge remnants of G40 and those aligned to Constantine Chiwenga’s factional camp.

In short this is a factional battle at play which has nothing to do with the fight against corruption.

If anything, the ZANU PF Youth League’s so called anti-corruption drive exposes and portray the corrupt nature of state institutions like ZACC and ZRP.

This is because normally the police force which is funded on tax payers’ money is supposed to be taking the lead in investigating and arresting the corrupt officials instead of a youth wing of a corrupt political ensemble.

That ZACC too is quiet exposes the personnel that constitute the commission and the appointing authority who in that case is Mr Mnangagwa.

It is our firm belief that only those that have been genuinely calling and speaking against corruption like the MDC have the probity to lead, speak and act against corruption.

For ZANU PF to say they are against corruption, is a case of a mosquito wanting to cure malaria.

As an Assembly of genuine young leaders, it is our duty to serve, save and protect young people like Lewis Matutu from abuse.

It is unfortunate that young people in ZANU PF as has always been the norm are used to settle political scores under the guise of fighting corruption.

ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa.

The presser will be held at the party headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in Harare.

Refresh this page for latest updates.

By Own Correspondent- A toddler’s grave was yesterday found opened with the late child’s body mutilated.

The body of the late Ryan Zinyemba, 4, had its legs as well as one hand cut off in a case of suspected rituals at Granville Cemetery.

Family spokesperson Artwell Makombe was quick to suspect foul play saying the bizarre incident had to do with evil spirits and rituals.

“The situation was very strange and we can only say it was the work of the devil, I can’t even explain what really happened, I’m still in shock. We never experienced anything like this in our family but I can just say is zvinhu zvemweya zvinonetsa kutsanangura.

“We have heard of such scenarios but we didn’t think this could happen to us and we are yet to find out what really happened hopefully we will find the answers,” Makombe said. 

He narrated the child’s death. 

“It was only a matter of seconds leading to his death. We suspected that he had flu and we rushed him to the nearest clinic but when we got there we were told that the child’s temperature was very high and there was need for us to go to Harare Central Hospital; a few minutes later he died. All I can say is mweya yetsvina iyi,” he said. 

Makombe suspected that the person who was behind the incident attended the funeral. 

“This was odd and I think whoever did this is not human. I suspect that the person who did this had all the details and it wasn’t the first time to do this; the person seemed very experienced. We don’t know who is behind this but it’s unexplainable and there are so many theories behind this incident,” he said.

Zinyemba family were delayed to arrive at the cemetery when two of their vehicles developed mechanical faults. They suspected that the faults had something to do with the bizarre incident they witnessed at the cemetery.

“We were supposed to arrive at the grave as early as 6am but our vehicle had a breakdown twice,” said Makombe. 

“We called for another vehicle and it developed a fault as well that some of the relatives failed to get to the grave. While we were faced with the exhumed body, father of the child received a call from his neighbour saying his tuck shop in Glen View had been broken into by thieves. This left us wondering if there is something behind all this mishap and I want to believe that something traditional needs to be addressed. Parents of the late son separated and the father never paid lobola and at one time he denied paternity of the child only to admit him when he had grown up. All this left us guessing especially when we face such an incident when never met in our family,” said Makombe in tears. 

One of the security guards narrated how similar incidents happened saying their main question was why it is happening to families who come from Mbare.

“I want to believe that there is someone in Mbare who is opening graves because all the graves opened over the past year were from Mbare families. We are all shocked by this and we encourage bereaved families to use cement to protect the coffins and when the family asked for water we thought you wanted to mix it with cement,” he said

Former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board chairperson Albert Mugabe on Wednesday had his application challenging the acceptability of a letter he allegedly wrote to CBZ Bank guaranteeing a mortgage loan for the parastatal’s chief executive dismissed.

Mugabe is facing charges of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly wrote to CBZ Bank and lied that the Zinara board had agreed to set off a $300 000 mortgage for its CEO Nancy Chamisa-Masiyiwa.

His lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya had rejected the letter which Zinara’s corporate secretary Mathlene Mujokoro indicated was brought to her attention by then board chair Wilfred Ramwi.

In dismissing the application, Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube said the onus lies on the State to prove that the letter was indeed written by Mugabe. “Objection is overruled and the court hereby admits the letter as evidence,” he said.

As prosecutor Mr Beaven Murevanhema continued to lead evidence from Mujokoro, Mugabe objected to the State’s intention to admit another letter dated April 11, 2017.

In the letter, Mugabe allegedly committed that Zinara will undertake Chamisa-Masiyiwa’s loan in the event that she defaults payment.

In her testimony, Mujokoro stated that the letter was authored by Mugabe, adding that she was familiar with Mugabe’s signature as she had seen it in previous minutes.

State Media|POLICE in Bulawayo have released pictures of a man who allegedly killed a hooker at a lodge and inscribed 666, a number biblically known as the mark of the beast and a star associated with the occult on her belly.

Police are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspected satanic ritual killer.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said those with information should contact Seargent Ncube on 0773 629 244 or Chief Inspector Chibira on 0292 71568/77523.

Alternatively, he said they can use police suggestion boxes dotted around the country if they wished to remain anonymous.

The victim, Patience Ndlovu, from Cowdray Park suburb was found dead at Silver Sands Lodge situated at number 13 Connaught Avenue between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and Jason Moyo Street on June 3.

Insp Ncube said Ndlovu’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post mortem and it was discovered that she was strangled.

“Causes of death were concluded as to be asphyxia, strangulation and homicide,” said Insp Ncube.

“On June 3, 2019, at around 10AM, the body of the deceased was discovered by a general worker who was on duty cleaning the guest rooms. The body of the deceased was found lying lifeless facing upwards fully dressed underneath the bed in the bedroom. Investigations have shown that the deceased was last seen at a lodge in company of a male adult in the picture. Police are keen to interview that person appearing in the picture.”

Sources at the lodge said the woman checked into Silver Sands with the man who gave a false Pumula South address as his home at around 3AM on June 2.

“She appeared drunk and was carrying a bucket with ice and beer. Around 10AM on the same day, a staff member knocked on the door to tell them it was time to check out. The man partially opened the door and paid for an extra day saying his companion was still drunk,” said a source.

The source said around 2PM the man left the lodge saying he was going to buy food and never returned.

“On Monday June 3, at around 10AM a staff member went to clean the room and inform the occupants that it was time to check out. She knocked without a response and eventually opened the door. We heard her screaming saying someone was dead in the room,” said the source.

The police, added the source, were called and the full horror of the situation was revealed.

The source said there were no visible marks on the woman’s body but blood and a strange fluid were coming out of her mouth. “We think it was a satanic ritual killing. The number 666 is known as a mark of evil as shown in the Bible in Revelations 13. A police officer said the star that was painted on her tummy is used to summon evil spirits,” said the source. 

Ndlovu was buried at Luveve Cemetery on June 9.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested 15 illegal foreign currency dealers in Harare during an ongoing operation they launched this week.

The 15 are still assisting police with investigations.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrest.

“We have an ongoing operation targeting illegal foreign currency dealers in and around the city. Some of them are posing danger towards the smooth flow of movement of people,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the operation was continuing until there was sanity in Harare.

This is not the first time that the police has conducted such an operation.

In February this year, police intensified a crackdown on illegal foreign currency dealers under an operation code-named “Dzosai Mari” and 24 suspected dealers appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

They were arrested separately in Harare. Some of the suspects appeared before magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha.

The other group appeared before Mr Learnmore Mapiye on charges of contravening Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations, 2018 (No.5), which criminalises illegal trading in foreign currency.

Ten of the suspects were released on $150 bail each. The remainder remains in custody pending ruling on their bail applications.

Operation “Dzosai Mari” started last year. It was being conducted by the police and other stakeholders.

Foreign currency retention thresholds for exporters have not changed following the proclamation of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 that scrapped the multi-currency system and replaced it with a local currency, the Zimbabwe Dollar.

This was said by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya in response to enquiries on the fate of foreign currency retention thresholds for exporters such as tobacco farmers and gold producers, among others, following Monday’s proclamation.

“Nothing has changed on the foreign currency retentions for all exporters including for tobacco growers.

“The same is true for Diaspora remittances, which can still be paid in cash or through nostro accounts,” Dr Mangudya told state media in an interview.

Under an agreement between the RBZ and the Tobacco industry Marketing Board at the beginning of the marketing season, tobacco farmers are entitled to 50 percent of their earnings in foreign currency deposited in their Nostro accounts while the remainder would be deposited into RTGS dollar accounts.

Small-scale tobacco farmers growing tobacco on two hectares and below are entitled to retain sales proceeds in their Nostro FCA for an indefinite period as free funds.

Large-scale tobacco growers with more than two hectares of the crop, are entitled to retain sales proceeds in their Nostro FCA for a period of 180 days, after which it would be offloaded onto the market at the ruling interbank market exchange rate.

Mining houses are allowed to retain 55 percent of their foreign currency earnings while manufacturers retain 80 percent of their proceeds. Miners of “other minerals” retain 50 percent; tobacco and cotton merchants for input schemes (80 percent); cotton growers (30 percent) while horticulture, transport, and tourism retain 80 percent.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda on Tuesday stopped parliamentarians from debating Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 after concurring with leader of Government business in the House, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, saying the SI needed to first go through the Parliamentary Legal Committee for scrutiny.

“A Statutory Instrument is not referred to Parliament before it is published.  It takes effect the moment that it is published and it stands referred to Parliament and once the Parliamentary Legal Committee has sat and issued an adverse report, then it will be debated.  So, I submit that it is very premature for Hon. Members to start attacking it now before it has been scrutinised by the Parliamentary Legal Committee,” said Ziyambi.

MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti had raised a point of order arguing the SI was illegal since it sought to amend Section 44 (a) (ii) of the RBZ Act which established the multi-currency regime.

He argued that an SI could not amend a parent Act.

Earlier, Zanu PF’s Hwedza North legislator David Musabayana had commended Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube for repealing the use of multiple currencies.

Below is the full presentation by Biti to parliament on the issue of the Zimbabwean Dollar.

“Speaker Sir, I rise on a matter of privilege in line with Standing Order 68 (d) of the esteemed rules of this august House.  My point of privilege relates to the enactment by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) (Legal Tender Regulations) published as Statutory Instrument (SI) 142:2019.   The native fact of this SI is to officially de-dollarise and adopt in Zimbabwe as the sole legal tender, the Zimbabwean Dollar (Z$).  This is such a matter of public importance in that it touches on the political economy of our country; that is the politics of our country, the economics of our country and indeed the law of our country.

On the law, I want to bring your attention to the provision of Section 44 (2) of the Reserve Bank Act of Zimbabwe which introduced the regime of multiple currencies in 2009.  Section 44A (2) makes it clear that the tender in Zimbabwe of the British Pound, the Euro, the United States Dollar, the South African Rand and the Botswana Pula in any transaction shall be deemed to be legal tender.  That being so Hon. Speaker Sir, and Section 44A (2) being an Act of Parliament, the Minister of Finance cannot in a Statutory Instrument repeal an Act of Parliament.

So quite clearly Hon. Speaker Sir, Statutory Instrument 142:2019 is ultra vires the provisions of Section 44A (2) of the RBZ Act, so it is wrong on the law. 

On economics Hon. Speaker Sir, a currency is a relationship between your exports and your imports.  As long as you have got a deficit in your current account, I submit that we do not have the current account; we do not have the reserves that are necessary to support our own currency. 
Thirdly, more than anything else, a currency is subject to political confidence.  This country suffers from kwashiorkor of political confidence.  There is absolutely no confidence in this currency.  So, I submit Hon. Speaker, that SI 142:2019 is a disaster; that the attempt to de-dollarise this country is a disaster.  The Minister must as a matter of urgency repeal SI 142:2019.  I thank you Mr. Speaker.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today meet traditional chiefs from the Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province at Bulawayo State House.

The meeting will set a platform for a direct face to face dialogue between Mnangagwa and controversial Ntabazinduna Chief, Nhlanhla Ndiweni, that is if the chief will be allowed into the meeting.

Sources close to the arrangements of the meeting told ZimEye.com that Gukurahundi will be the major issue on discussion.

Ndiweni together with Chief Maduna of Insiza and Chief Mathema of Gwanda are likely to lead the chiefs in giving Mnangagwa a torrid time discussing the matter as they have been very vocal on the issue.

The three chiefs recently paid a courtesy call on opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to get his perspective on the Gukurahundi issue.

The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services posted a statement on Twitter yesterday announcing the President’s meeting with the chiefs scheduled for today.

“His Excellency President @edmnangagwa will meet Chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces on Friday 28 June 2019, at State House, Bulawayo,” reads the statement.

Today’s meeting comes hot on the heels of a similar engagement which the President had in March with the Matabeleland Collective, a grouping of non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, community-based organisations, trusts, savings clubs and social movements from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.

The Zanu-PF Youth League has stood its ground in the fight against corruption and revealed last night that a team of 17 lawyers had been lined up to defend lawsuits following the naming and shaming of allegedly corrupt Government officials, business leaders and individuals.

Addressing the media after the Zanu-Youth League executive meeting in Harare last night, deputy secretary Cde Lewis Matutu also said the youth were solidly behind Government’s removal of the multi-currency regime and restriction of domestic transactions to the local currency.

A bullish Matutu said: “Those who want to sue us are free to do so. We are going to expose more and we are not doing this for us, but for the people of Zimbabwe.

“So far, 17 lawyers are ready to defend us in courts. We are not going to be intimidated by law suits coming from certain individuals despite one’s influential position, be it at party level or Government.

“We will continue to expose them and we are prepared for more summons,” said Matutu.
“We are also in full support of Government on currency reforms as this will have a positive impact on the economy.”

He said the Youth League appreciates the intervention of the Politburo on introducing a commission of inquiry on certain individuals named and shamed over alleged corruption.

“We are going to take heed from the Politburo to follow the party’s constitution and correct procedures when naming and shaming those allegedly involved in corruption.”

ZiMBABWE’S participation at the 2019 AFCON finals was hanging in the balance last night after a damaging stalemate between the Warriors and ZIFA over payments which the players are demanding.

After a number of meetings between the two parties which dragged into the night, ZIFA advised the players they were contemplating the possibility of withdrawing the team from the tournament.

The players were called in to be briefed about the decision to withdraw the team after they had threatened not to resume training tonight unless they were paid the remaining US$12 500 each by today.

In return, the Warriors said they were agreeable to being sent home as early as today, without playing their final game against DRC on Sunday.
They asked ZIFA leaders to sort out their travel arrangements as early as possible.

The Warriors had told the ZIFA officials, who promised them US$5 500 would be paid into their accounts today, that they would not train this evening until their full outstanding amount reflected in their banks.

That money included the US$2 500 ZIFA said they had secured for each of the players, and the US$3 000 for each of the Warriors, which was promised by the fundraising committee.

That would have left the Warriors needing US$5 000 appearance fees, and US$3 000 bonuses for the draw against Uganda ahead of the match against the DRC.

However, things deteriorated sharply during the night and the Warriors ended demanding their entire dues by today or they would not train.

ZIFA officials were then left scrambling to try and save the situation, and when it became apparent nothing would materialise, they sent spokesman Xolisani Gwesela to check with CAF the cost of withdrawing from the tournament.State media

Farai Dziva|Former director of protocol in the Prime Minister’ s office Dennis Murira has died.

The Movement for Democratic Change has described Murira’ s death as a terrible blow.

” The MDC has learnt with deep sadness the death of one of its founding technocrats, Dennis Murira late last night.

There are indications that Murira’s body may be moved to Mapanzure area in Masvingo tomorow evening.

Burial has been slotted for Saturday,” the party said.

Murira served as the director of protocol in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’ s office from 2009 to 2013.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s current laws on the issue of abortion are considered too harsh on pregnant teenagers and as a result, they fuel early marriages.

This was said by the Public Prosecutor in the Attorney General’s office, Kudzai Chigwedere while speaking at the just ended National Termination of Pregnancy roundtable meeting that was hosted by Katswe Sisterhood and Right Here Right Now Zimbabwe (RHRN). She said:

We also have cases of child marriages, I am of the view that the act indirectly promotes child marriages in the sense that while we are saying a girl who is a victim of sexual intercourse cannot terminate a pregnancy, are we not then saying the girl should go stay with the person responsible for the pregnancy.

What happens is we manage or maybe we prosecute such cases and at times maybe we give a non-custodial sentence and the next time we try to follow-up we hear they are already staying together, why because there is this pregnancy and that connection will last for life.

The Termination of Pregnancy Act (ToP) of 1977 only permits abortion if the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the unborn child or the mother or if the pregnancy is as a result of incest or rape.

The abortion can only be conducted at a designated institution, in this case, a public hospital.

The law further states that at least two medical practitioners must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the pregnancy indeed warrants a termination.-HealthTimes

State Media|THE Prosecutor-General, Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, has approached the High Court challenging the granting of bail pending trial to two Bulawayo men allegedly running a drug cartel that sold dagga and other dangerous substances.

Arkinmon Sarishongwa (41) and Blessing Muchenje (27) were arrested during a raid at their residential flat in Bulawayo’s Central Business District leading to the recovery of mbanje, “broncho”, sex enhancing pills all worth more than RTGS$10 000 and varying amounts of money in both local and foreign currency.

The flat was targeted after residents living nearby complained that the area was being turned into a haven for crime. Police units including CID Drugs and the Canine Unit pounced on the flat and recovered substantial quantities of mbanje and other drugs.

Sarishongwa and Muchenje residing at Eaglesham Flat situated at the corner of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 1st Avenue were last week released on RTGS$1 000 bail each by appeared Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi. 

They are facing charges of illegal possession of dagga and unregistered medicines in violation of the Medicine and Allied Substances Control Act.

The PG filed an appeal against the granting of bail by a magistrate in terms of section 121 (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, citing Sarishongwa and Muchenje as respondents.

He wants the High Court to revoke the respondents’ bail.

In his grounds of appeal, Mr Hodzi argued that the lower court erred in its findings that the quantity of the dagga was not a ground to deny respondents bail.

“The court a quo erred when it dismissed the strength of the State case against respondents as a ground to deny bail. The court a quo erred when it made a finding that a single conviction does not amount to propensity to commit similar offences,” argued Mr Hodzi.

“On the contrary, it is submitted that the quantity of dagga (10,4kg) is a very important factor in determining whether or not to grant bail. It is submitted that the granting of bail to accused persons found in possession of such a large quantity of dagga will undermine the public confidence in the criminal justice system.”

He said the magistrate failed to take into account the strength of the case for prosecution, arguing that the State case was strong, a factor which can induce the accused persons to abscond.

“The court a quo erred when it trivialised the first respondent’s previous conviction as not constituting a compelling reason to deny bail. It is clear that the first respondent (Sarishongwa) is not repentant at all since he has committed a similar offence when the period of suspension for the previous offence has not lapsed. The first respondent has a propensity to commit similar offences and as such is not a proper candidate for bail and prays that the respondents’ bail is revoked,” argued Mr Hodzi.

According to court papers, on June 11 this year, acting on a tip off, police went to Eaglesham Flat armed with a search warrant.

When police arrived at the flat, they knocked on the door and identified themselves before ordering the accused persons to open but they did not comply.

The police officers then force-opened the door and found Sarishongwa and Muchenje seated in a room where there was loose and prepared dagga in plastic bags.

Police also recovered US$801, Pula 3 820, R50 and RTGS$21 and the money was realised from drug dealings.

A further search led to the recovery of 58 bottles of Bron Cleer cough syrup, 61 bottles of Alcophyllex cough syrup, packets of Diazepam tablets and sex enhancing pills branded Sildenafil all valued at $1 312.

Flamboyant controversial businessman and socialite Wicknell Chivayo says he has had enough of constant harassment by people put in authority in the country.

In a Twitter post on Thursday morning a day after ZANU PF youth league accused him of being part of the corrupt people in the country, Chivayo called on people who have evidence of any corrupt dealings by him to report that to the police.

Ndaneta neku shungurudzwa. Munhu wese aita Chigaro anotanga nekuti WICKNELL CHIVAYO. Enough is enough…I'm a CITIZEN of this country and I'm equally protected by the constitution. If you have evidence implicating me please deliver it to the nearest police station ASAP

— sir_wicknell. (@wicknellchivayo) June 27, 2019

Chivayo further blasted the youth league for not believing that another young man can strike riches without being corrupt.

The future belongs to us youths and this primitive mentality that every rich man acquired his wealth through criminal and corrupt means is just baseless and nonsensical to say the least with utmost due respect.

— sir_wicknell. (@wicknellchivayo) June 27, 2019

ZimEye.com

POLICE have arrested more than 21 000 people for touting for passengers countrywide since the beginning of the year, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi has said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said police are intensifying the campaign against touting to bring sanity on the roads.

“Since the beginning of this year we have arrested more than 21 000 touts who have appeared in court and some have since paid fines. The operation will continue until there is sanity on the roads,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi warned members of the public against clinging onto moving vehicles saying they were putting their lives and those of other motorists at risk.

He said there are reports of farmers who cling at the back of trucks after loading their tobacco bales.

“Let’s consider the safety of all the farmers before they start embarking on journeys. We have heard of some farmers getting injured afer falling from moving trucks,” he said.

Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) Acting Director of Operations Mr Ernest Muchena described clinging onto a moving vehicle as suicidal.

“Section 58 of the road traffic Act makes it an offence to hold onto a vehicle that is moving .The danger is that when the vehicle stops without any warning, the individual may fall or can be hit by a vehicle following behind,” he said.

Economist and former opposition MDC top official Eddie Cross says that he met Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube for two hours just a day before he unceremoniously announced the return of the Zimbabwean dollar and the Minister never at all hinted to him on the policy he announced few hours after their meeting.

Cross told South African Broadcasting Corporation in an interview that the announcement took him by complete surprise.

“I personally had a meeting with the minister (of finance) yesterday, in fact I met him for about two hours. Mthuli Ncube is a highly intelligent guy, and an outstanding economist with an international reputation. He knows what to do, but the problem is he doesn’t have any political constituency here so he’s very much at the mercy of the political structures within which he has to work for approval to do this or that. It seems to me the governor of the Reserve Bank has taken this measure a little bit out of context, and I think he would have to put that right. I would not be surprised if this measure is put on hold while we sort out the other issues which are involved at this moment in time.

The currency is changing value on a daily basis, some will say hourly basis. This has to be stopped. There’s no fundamental economic reason for this because our macro-economic fundamentals are now sound – we’ve a balance of payments surplus, we’ve a fiscal surplus. So this is real nonsense, this has been driven by speculation, and there’s no economic basis for that. So what we’ve to do is get the interbank market working properly. We’ve to put all our foreign exchange through the interbank market and make foreign exchange available at a market rate in our banks very quickly.

The reality on the ground is that a majority of the people are still using United States dollars. Frankly, there’s not enough paper currency in the country, our own currency, to really replace the United States dollar. Whatever we do, the market ultimately will be supreme and will make its own decisions. We’re foolish if we think we can buck the market.

If the rate stays at 17, 18 or even 20:1, we’re looking at 200 percent inflation within days. That simply has got to be stopped because incomes in Zimbabwe are not rising and people literally can’t afford to buy their basics and this simply has to be brought under control. If the government doesn’t do that, I fear for the stability of the state in every way.”

“It came as a complete bolt out of the blue, nobody was expecting this. For those of us who’re in the game, we think its premature. We think that a move like this shouldn’t have been taken outside the context of a wide range of other measures designed to stabilise the economy and the rate of exchange at this moment in time. This measure taken in what sees to be an awful hurry will simply add to our woes and maybe destabilise the country.

People are uncertain about what exactly is going to happen to the local currency. We have two forms of currency, an electronic currency which governs 90 percent of all transactions (RTGS) and then we have a local paper currency, the bond note, which is only available in $5 and $2 denominations. The problem with this situation is that a great deal of our trade is now done in hard currencies, for example there are some service stations that are only serving fuel in hard currency. They buy their fuel in hard currency, they sell their fuel in hard currency. Many firms I think tomorrow will be closed because they simply don’t know what basis in which to trade or price anything in their shops.

The other problem is that the RTGS dollar has been devaluing very rapidly in the last few weeks. Over the weekend it was reported to have reached 17:1 and when you think that the same currency last year was trading 1:1 or in the parallel market 3:1 against the US dollar, you will understand that has a dramatic impact on domestic pricing. Most people today can’t afford bread, they can’t afford the basics.

Watch video below:

ZimEye.com