By Victor Bhoroma| The Zimbabwean government has indicated that the country will be launching a new currency before the end of 2019. The announcement has caused some confusion amongst businesses and the transacting public who operated with an understanding that the RTGS Dollar was now the local currency.

The key question that arises is on the difference between the RTGS Dollar (Inclusive of Bond Notes & Coins) and the upcoming local currency.

The introduction of the impending currency is largely necessitated by the fact that the legal instrument used to introduce the RTGS Dollar is temporary with a specific timeline of 6 months from the day of proclamation by the office of the president. In principle therefore, Zimbabwe would need to have a local currency before the end of September 2019.

In March 2019, Zimbabwe gazetted two legal instruments; The Exchange Control Regulations (Amendment) of 2019 (SI 32) and the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) for (Amendment) of the RBZ Act and RTGS Electronic Dollars Regulations of 2019 (SI 33). The statutory instruments meant that the RTGS dollar shall be legal tender in Zimbabwe though they do not prohibit the use of multiple currencies adopted in 2009.

Therefore multi-tier pricing in the local market can be considered legal. Statutory Instrument 33 of 2019 was made under the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act, which gives the President Powers to make regulations: If situations arise that need to be dealt with urgently, the President is empowered to make regulations providing for “any matter or thing for which Parliament can also make provision in an Act”. 

In other words, under this Act, the President has the same law-making power as Parliament.  His/her regulations however only last for 6 months.

Back in 2009, the government was forced to dump the Zimbabwean dollar due to record hyperinflation and economic decline which had wiped off 50% of the economic value. The country adopted the multi-currency regime to stabilize prices. In November 2016, The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduced the Bond Note as an export incentive scheme at a rate of 1:1 to the US Dollar.

Soon after the Bond note introduction, the parallel (black) market found its feet again by exchanging RTGS bank balances with the US dollar at premiums of at least 10-15%. The parity position was dropped with the introduction of the interbank market when the central bank put the value of the US Dollar to the new RTGS Dollar at 2.5 in February 2019. The RTGS Dollar has however lost more than 132% of its value in less than 4 months with the official Interbank Exchange rate now over 5.80 to the US Dollar. Inflation rate was last recorded at 76% in April 2019 with fears that the figure is now over 100%.

The main headache for the central bank is on how to blend the proposed new currency with RTGS balances that are circulating in the economy while ring-fencing savings and dealing with runaway inflation. Excessive government borrowing to plug budget deficits on the local market has been the major driver for money supply growth since 2014.

The central bank may have limited control on government expenditure but the task to raise funds through Bonds and Treasury Bills falls back on it. Government has been financing its deficit through borrowing from the bank, while going over the RBZ Act statutory limit which caps borrowing from the central bank at 20% of the previous year’s revenues.

As of December 2018, total lending by the bank to the government was more than $3 billion, representing 75% of 2017 revenues.

The government also had its sights on joining the Common Monitory Area (CMA), also referred to as the Rand Monitory Union (RMU) so as to use the Rand officially but that plan falls on the preconditions front. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is concerned about Zimbabwe’s economic instability, recurring budget deficits, high debt levels and monitory policy system which might impact on its inflation targeting program.

Zimbabwe would also need to have reserves equal to its issued local currency, backed by prescribed assets in Rand or US dollar so as conform to the fixed exchange rate of 1:1 with the Rand. Those reserves have been hard to come by as foreign funders are not willing to extend credit lines to Zimbabwe because of poor credit ratings and failure to settle foreign debts.

The country owes over $8 billion to foreign lenders, with $2.6 billion of that amount in arrears to the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank. The government has been making frantic efforts to borrow and plug the arrears hole through bridge loans.

The IMF has backed Zimbabwe’ Staff Monitored Program (SMP) where the government pledged to cut its civil service expenditure bill to 67% of the budget, down from 80% attained in 2018 and slash the budget deficit to 4% of GDP. Therefore any civil service salary adjustment which is not backed by increases in tax collections will throw that program into disarray.

The government is now faced with a currency reform dilemma.  Questions remain on whether any currency can save the Zimbabwean economy without addressing key macro-economic fundamentals.

The fundamentals that need urgent attention include; Efforts to build confidence in the economy and in RBZ as a monitory authority, dealing with high government expenditure (Average budget deficit of $2.3 billion from 2016 to 2018), dealing with rampant corruption, low agricultural and industrial production capacity which leads to recurring trade deficits and clearing foreign debt arrears through adhering to payment plans.

Other limitations for the government include command policies that crowd out private sector investment, weak institutions (rule of law, respect for property rights and poor governance culture), non-performing State Enterprises and minerals smuggling cartels that cost the country billion of revenue.

The Bond Note and RTGS Dollar served in almost the same capacity as the Zimbabwean Dollar only that they could not be traded on the international money market. The economic challenges that bedevil Zimbabwe since 2014 have largely remained the same. They are centered on the government’s insatiable appetite to spend beyond its tax collections and the culture of governance in government. The government has largely chosen to act on symptoms such as pricing mechanisms by retailers, cash shortages, labour demands and commodity shortages without addressing the real fundamentals that lead to hyperinflation. Any currency introduced by the government will not sustain as long as key economic fundamentals that support economic growth are ignored. Sound expenditure management by the treasury department from 2009 to 2013 provides the foundation upon which the current government needs to start on so as sustain any local currency in the economy. Furthermore, the prevailing lack of confidence by local economic players and foreign investors does not do any favors to the impending new currency. The new currency will meet the same fate faced by the Zimbabwean Dollar, Bearer’s Cheques, Bond Note and the RTGS Dollar. A fiat currency is sustained by a healthy economy and market confidence in government institutions including its policy framework.

Victor Bhoroma is business and economic analyst. He is a marketer by profession and holds an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). For feedback, mail him on [email protected] or alternatively follow him on Twitter @VictorBhoroma1.

Farai Dziva|Masvingo Minister of State For Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira has declared that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe.

Addressing Zanu PF supporters in Chivi at the weekend, Chadzamira claimed that since Chamisa’ s mentor, Morgan Tsvangirai, failed to rule the country, the youthful MDC leader would not succeed just like the former Prime Minister.

“Tsvangirai tried it and he failed. What more can a small boy like Chamisa do that his mentor failed to achieve? He is chewing more than he can swallow.

Zimbabwe is for Zanu PF and opposition supporters will find themselves voting for Zanu PF when they get into the voting booths. That is how good Zanu PF is.”

Chadzamira is a declared Emmerson Mnangagwa blue-eyed boy.

Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, has attacked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for “causing pain for the people of Zimbabwe.”

Chadzamira made the remarks at a Zanu PF meeting in Chivi at the weekend.

Chadzamira also declared the ruling party would remain in power forever.

“We are to keen to improve the lives of our people but this small boy, Chamisa, is the main problem.”

He added:”Let me tell Chamisa and his followers today that this country will never be run by an opposition.”

“Zanu PF will rule forever.
Those in the opposition should should come back and join the winning team.”

By A Correspondent- A self-confessed Chitungwiza con-artist Fiona Chihwata has confessed using juju to steal from her unsuspecting victims.

Chihwata expressed that no one knew her real name except for her husband who was also in the same line of work.

She added that she has earned a living from conning people since 2014. She also said that she lured her victims by convincing them that she needed help from them.

” I have been deceiving people that I need help to count my money and then dodge them so that I take someone important from them like cellphones. ”Even my husband knows that I am a con-artist and he is in support of my job,” said Fiona

Peace Nhare, who is Chihwata’s husband expressed his shock, how his wife’s juju had failed to work this time around.

”I know my wife is a con artist and she has been doing this for years.” ”I am surprised that she was even taken to the police station because she uses strong juju to confuse people.

By A Correspondent- FEAR has gripped Mpopoma high density suburb residents in Bulawayo following a suspected witchcraft expedition gone wrong after a guinea fowl dressed in red and black beads was found at a house, resting in a pool of blood and covered with a two-in-one blanket, on Tuesday morning.

The bizarre incident, which could easily pass for a Nollywood movie script, happened at 4AM and attracted scores of residents.

A prophet from the Transformation Centre International who was called to ‘rescue’ the occupants of the house where the guinea fowl was found said the bird could be a witch in disguise.

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

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has distanced itself from reports that it intends to meet with Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s daughter Zindzi over her Twitter remark in which she labelled white people as “land thieves.”

Zindzi Mandela’s Twitter comments on Friday prompted AfriForum to make a call to the International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor to fire Mandela as South Africa’s Ambassador to Denmark.

On Monday, AfriForum’s international liaison spokesperson Alana Bailey said Pandor had yet to respond to their call.

Nelson Mandela Foundation spokesperson Luzuko Koti denounced a report which went viral in which several Twitter users condemned the foundation.

Koti said the report was “not a true reflection of a comment” he gave to a journalist. “We were contacted by a journalist about our views on tweets by Zindzi Mandela. Our reaction was no comment. So the journalist turned our no comment reaction into a story with no factual basis.

“The tweets after the report were unfortunate. We never said we wanted to meet Zindzi Mandela to discuss her tweets,” Koti said.

While Koti was denying inviting Zindzi to a meeting, Twitter was ablaze with attacks in response.

Kim Heller, formerly an EFF member, wrote: “Land return does not need the consent of whites. The fact that black South Africans allow us to even discuss this issue is a sign of their humanity not ours. As whites we have shown no remorse for land theft. Perhaps we have no moral compass #ZindziMandela speaks truths.”

Former Cope youth leader Anele Mda said in her tweet: “Nelson Mandela Foundation has never called Helen Zille out, it has never called FF+ out, it has never done anything tangible in pursuit of a society where unjust, inhuman domination of black is a fashion.”

Zille’s fellow DA member Ghaleb Cachalia also came under attack for his tweet when he called for Zindzi to be held accountable. “Her comments were appalling,” said Cachalia.

This enraged M Tshabalala, who reacted to Cachalia, saying: “You were silent about Helen Zille when she praised colonial rule.”

In an apparent attack on the foundation, a Gauteng EFF leader Patrick Sindane said: “My people will go to a point of attacking #HandsOffZindziMandela for saying what is true. My people are protecting land thieves, trying to sound correct in the eyes of the world & wishing to change the historical fact that land was stolen. A colonised mind is a dangerous mind.”

Actress, presenter and producer Lebo Mashile wrote: “The kind of racist venom this woman has had to deal with in her life and on this app would drive anyone without a backbone to collapse. When she talks back, she is the problem? White supremacy is so typical.IOL

Injured Harare cleric Apostle Talent Chiwenga could not attend his wife wife’s burial at the Glen Forest cemetry as he is still in a critical condition, according to church spokesperson Apostle Baloyi.

We buried her (Regina Chiwenga) yesterday (Sunday 16 June) at the Glen Forest cemetery together with other church and family members, unfortunately, the apostle could not attend the burial due to injuries sustained during the accident.

Chiwenga is in a hospital recuperating from the wounds he sustained in a car crash last week just outside Masvingo while returning from South Africa.

The accident claimed the life of his wife, Regina Jerina Chiwenga, and two other church members.

Meanwhile, Apostle Baloyi also revealed that Chiwenga underwent a successful operation on Thursday afternoon.

Chiwenga is apparently loathed by most churchgoers in Zimbabwe because of his blunt criticism of their doctrines.

He has also rattled government officials by lambasting them in public and has reportedly received death threats from anonymous people.

-Zim Morning Post

By A Correspondent- Fake bonds notes being traded on the foreign currency black market by fraudsters have flooded the streets of Harare, it has emerged.

The state media reports that fraudsters are reportedly duping unsuspecting people of thousands of US dollars every day around the Eastgate Mall area in central Harare.

The report reveals how the syndicate operate:

Rarely spending more than five minutes at a particular place, these alleged masterminds have managed to covertly conduct their activities and outpace many victims who come back looking for them.

… Even then this investigation also found out that the alleged fraudsters follow their victims to nearby supermarkets and offer to buy their groceries using point of sale machines.

In this way, they retain the fake currency and await their next victim.

The source of the fake bond notes remains a mystery but there are hints that it’s an underground operation being conducted in the avenues area involving both local and foreign nationals.

A law announced by the government early this year on illegal foreign currency trading appears to be losing in weeding out the illegal forex dealers whose numbers have ballooned over the last 2 months.

The fear now is that the fake currency rackets are triggering inflation and further weakening the bond note which is now trading at 1:9 on the parallel market.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- An unidentified Bulawayo man who is allegedly mentally challenged was arrested for hurling stones at motorists and also obstructing First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s motorcade during her visit to Zimbabwe’s second largest city.

The man’s stones, left motorists scurrying for cover as they tried to evade the stones and some ended up stopping.

This happened at a time when amai Mnangagwa’s motorcade was passing the area along Robert Mugabe Way.

The First Lady’s motorcade had to stop as the police calmed the man and pinned him to the ground before whisking him away.

Mnangagwa was in a surprise visit to the home of the late national hero Dumiso Dabengwa in Four Winds where she paid her condolences before visiting the wife to Zimbabwe’s former prime minister, Canaan Banana.

Contacted for comment, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Precious Simango said she was on leave hence could not comment on the issue referring all question to one Inspector Ncube whose mobile phone was not reachable.

Jane Mlambo| ZESA Public relations manager, Fullard Gwasira has responded to Bulawayo residents who have raised concern over plans by the power utility to destroy the two cooling towers that have become synonymous with the city of kings.

In his response, Gwasira said they are destroying two small towers in order to put up one big one as they move to increase power generation capacity from the current 18 to 90 megawatts.

“Zesa wants to upgrade Bulawayo power station from the current 18MW to 90MW by changing the chain grate technology to fluidized one. Upgrade requires a bigger cooling tower & becoz there is no space for a new cooling tower, 2 will have to be removed to make way for one big tower,” said Gwasira.

Jane Mlambo| Chief Chivero was reportedly assaulted by a Chinese national at Sunny Yi Fend Tiles Zimbabwe yesterday, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has revealed.

Posting on Twitter today, Mliswa said the Chinese nationals who are running the tile company are also in the habit of sexually harassing women for jobs.

“I was very angry and disappointed to learn that Chief Chivero was yesterday assaulted by a Chinese National at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Zimbabwe. This action is disrespect of the highest order & I’ll be following up on the police report made for more details

“Whilst making a follow up on the above I was shocked & appalled to receive reports of sexual harassment for jobs & cases of untreatable STIs being contracted by ladies from some of the Chinese nationals at the company. This too will be investigated

“I’m disappointed by the above allegations as they’re compounded by further reports that the company is able to charge low prices for their tiles because they underpay&mistreat their workers. This is a despicable practice which if proved won’t be tolerated at all,” said Mliswa.

The outspoken legislator has vowed to follow up on the police report made against the Chinese nationals.

A fake local currency racket is on the prowl in Harare with reports that the fraudsters behind these syndicates are duping unsuspecting clients thousands of US dollars daily.

It’s a syndicate well-orchestrated by the suspected fraudsters prowling the Eastgate area in Harare’s central business district.

They have become notorious for fake bond notes and US dollars extorting huge amounts of dollars as high as $10 000 on a daily basis.

For over 3 weeks this investigation tracked the suspected ring leaders of a fake bond note racket, after a tip off from a victim who lost US$200 to these suspects.

Rarely spending more than five minutes at a particular place, these alleged masterminds have managed to covertly conduct their activities and outpace many victims who come back looking for them. Covert recordings reveal a deep secret into this syndicate.

The fake bond notes in $5 and $2 denominations are hard to detect especially for those who sell their foreign currency on the illegal foreign exchange market.

The victims only realise their plight when attempting a purchase. Even then this investigation also found out that the alleged fraudsters follow their victims to nearby supermarkets and offer to buy their groceries using point of sale machines.

In this way they retain the fake currency and await their next victim. The source of the fake bond notes remains a mystery but there are hints that it’s an underground operation being conducted in the avenues area involving both local and foreign nationals.

A law announced by the government early this year on illegal foreign currency trading appears to be losing in weeding out the illegal forex dealers whose numbers have ballooned over the last 2 months.

The fear now is that the fake currency rackets are triggering inflation and further weakening the bond note which is now trading at to 1:9 on the parallel market.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has said he is investigating the cause of the accident that he escaped with minor injuries.

Mpofu’s Toyota Landcruiser pulling a trailer, veered off a dirt road and overturned in Muzarabani over the weekend.

Responding to questions on whether there was foul play, Mpofu said: “I will exhaust my investigations and take a position very soon.”

Jane Mlambo| Former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s bid to stop the State from disposing of his Nyanga holiday home hit a snug after the High Court threw away the application, citing that the ex-Zanu-PF heavyweight was a fugitive from justice.

Kasukuwere who is facing four charges of criminal abuse of office, had surrended the house as surety. The three charges against Kasukuwere rose when as Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, allegedly fraudulently parcelled out vast tracks of State land to former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s sister, Shuvai Gumbochuma. 

The other count was allegedly committed while he was the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, when he corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital.

Kasukuwere was issued with an arrest warrant in January by regional magistrate, Hoseah Mujaya, after he failed to appear in court for trial. He had traveled to South Africa for medical attention. Kasukuwere was supposed to return his passport on January 17. His failure to do so prompted the State to apply for an arrest warrant.

The State successfully applied to have Kasukuwere’s Nyanga mansion forfeited to the State. He made an undertaking that in the event the order sought was granted, the State would give Kasukuwere 90 days to appear in court before disposing the property. 

Jane Mlambo| Prominent academic Alex Magaisa has blasted people who fell victim to state media propaganda that carried a misleading story on what former South African President Thabo Mbeki said on the ongoing dialogue in the country.

Mbeki who appeared in a South African television interview said winning an election for President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not enough adding that conditions put forward by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa were valid.

But the state owned Herald said appeared to sing from a different hymn book saying Mbeki supported Mnangagwa’s move to call for dialogue.

The Herald went on to report that Mbeki had slated Chamisa for spurning Mnangagwa’s dialogue call.

Magaisa said some people had fallen victim to state media propaganda and in the processes attacking Mbeki.

” You allowed yourselves to be victims of the propaganda machine and to be instruments of it as well. Mbeki made huge errors during his tenure but he wasn’t wrong in this particular instance. Listen to him carefully, not what state media is telling you,” said Magaisa.

By A Correspondent| The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and development partners to submit their budgets in relation to Cyclone Idai aid to improve transparency.

Represented by the Director for Civil Protection, Mr Nathan Nkomo, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said Government had specified areas that needed urgent aid, which include water, sanitation, education, roads, infrastructure and power.

He said:

“NGOs, development partners and the Government need to work as a team in distributing and indicating who is operating in a certain area so that we record the developments in fixing the damage caused by Cyclone Idai.

There is also need for transparency on the selection of beneficiaries who are getting food and non-food items because there are reports that those who are getting aid do not need the aid or they are relatives of the suppliers.”

BULAWAYO residents are up in arms with power utility Zesa’s plans to demolish some of the old cooling towers at the Bulawayo Power Station.

The iconic power station historically got the second capital city the nickname “Kontuthu Ziyathunqa” (a place of smoke) from the first day the power station was switched on in 1955.

The station has through the years developed into being one of the proud heritage sites of the city. Residents of the city identify so much with the towers that even after it was decommissioned and stopped producing the smoke, they have been calling on the city to preserve the towers.

The residents of Bulawayo have been lobbying for the towers to be turned into a tourism site as was done in South Africa to the Orlando Towers which have been through the years called twins to the Bulawayo towers as they were built and commissioned exactly at the same time.

Originally the site of a coal fired power station, the Orlando Towers have become one of the most distinctive landmarks in the neighbourhood of Soweto and the site of the world’s first bungee jump between two cooling towers, as well as other thrilling adventure sports such as abseiling and SCAD (suspended catch air device) falling.

As with the Bulawayo Power Station, construction of the Orlando Power Station began in 1935 and was only completed in 1955, due to delays caused by the Second World War. After 56 years of service, the power station was shut down in 1998 and was transformed into an entertainment and business centre of huge repute in 2008.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association co-ordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu said nothing should be done without the involvement and approval of the council and residents, who were the erstwhile owners of the power station.

“There is a legal battle for the ownership of that power station, with ZPC having endorsed tittle deeds over it. We want that mess sorted first. We demand a permanent space on the bargaining table as residents,” he said.

The Bulawayo Power Station was commissioned as an undertaking by the municipality of Bulawayo.

Council spokesperson Bongiwe Ngwenya, however, said the local authority was not “aware of Zesa’s intentions as they had not been consulted on the matter”.

Historical and archaeological consultant Rob Burrett, who is also an associate researcher with the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, reiterated that the towers should be painted and transformed into a tourist attraction.

“They are an essential part of the Bulawayo landscape; they relate to the traditional name from the city (koNtuthuziyathunqa), and I really cannot see why they are being taken down. In Johannesburg, the old cooling towers have been painted and transformed into a tourist attraction. This would be significant if it were done in Bulawayo,” he said.

Zesa spokesperson Fullard Gwasira, however, said they were upgrading the cooling towers, not demolishing it, but making them big and more efficient.

“It’s not demolishing. When you say demolishing, it’s a wrong word. It’s upgrading. When you demolish one or two to make for a bigger one, that’s not demolishing. It makes way for a modern one because the generating capacity increases, then you need a bigger unit,” he said.

POLICE in Plumtree have smashed a cattle rustling syndicate operating in Bulilima and Mangwe districts that reportedly stole over 200 beasts.

This follows the arrest last week of alleged gang leader Bernard Moyo, leading to the recovery of 61 beasts.

The recovered cattle are being held at Plumtree veterinary department holding pens under police guard.

Most of the stolen cattle are from Matole, Izimnyama, Macingwana, Silima, Tekwane, Diba and Tjankwa areas.

Moyo, who is believed to be the ringleader of the apparently well-oiled syndicate, once worked for a renowned butchery in Plumtree.

The gang reportedly targeted cattle belonging to resettled farmers and transported them to abattoirs around Plumtree for slaughter and some to as far as Bulawayo.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday confirmed the arrest and recovery of the beasts.

“I confirm that we have busted a cattle rustling syndicate operating in Plumtree after the arrest of a suspect, leading to the recovery of 61 beasts. Police investigations are still underway and more beasts are expected to be recovered. However, we intend to travel to Plumtree tomorrow (today) and will furnish you with a detailed report,” Ndebele said.

A source close to the matter said the gang had wreaked havoc with many villagers losing their cattle despite numerous reports being made at Plumtree police.

“The gang had been a headache for farmers. Most of their victims are resettlement farmers on the outskirts of Plumtree town. The gang had been under police surveillance for some time now. We are happy a breakthrough has finally been found,” he said.

The arrest of the suspect comes two weeks after livestock farmers in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South, who had reportedly lost about 100 beasts in the past few months, called on the police to increase patrols in the area to curb cases of stocktheft.

Most of the affected farmers, whose cattle graze at Mashura Ranch, suspect their beasts were being sold to abattoirs in Bulawayo.

-Newsday

EIGHT members of the Zimbabwe National Army reportedly stormed Ceola Mine in Concession, Mashonaland Central province, last week and tried to disarm security guards before stealing gold ore valued at US$150 and fleeing in a military-issue vehicle.

The matter came to light at Concession District Hospital on Friday, where one of the soldiers was admitted after being mauled by guard dogs after failing to jump into their escape vehicle.

Shelton Marerwa (52) was remanded in custody to June 28 while on his hospital bed by Concession resident magistrate Ruth Moyo.

The State alleges that Marerwa, who holds the rank of captain, together with his seven accomplices, stormed at Ceola Mine and identified themselves as being from the President’s Office.

The soldiers, who were armed with three loaded pistols, demanded storeroom keys, alleging that the mine firearms had no licences and, therefore, ordered the security guards to surrender their firearms.

The guards resisted and fought back, before unleashing vicious dogs on the soldiers. The military men fled and left their captain behind, who had been injured in the tussle.

The accused stole a cellphone and some gold ore, before driving away in the military truck.

The soldiers dumped their getaway vehicle after it broke down only a few kilometres from the crime scene.

Police officers towed it to Mazowe Police Station, where it is currently held as exhibit.

-Newsday

The Zanu PF youth league has demanded that government repossesses at least 15 farms allegedly owned by former First Lady Grace Mugabe and redistribute them to youths.

This follows claims by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the former First Family owns a staggering 16 commercial farms in a revelation that could reignite the public spat between the Zanu PF leader and his predecessor Robert Mugabe.

Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu, who is also a member of the party’s politburo, said the ex-Zanu PF women’s league boss should be left with one farm and the rest subdivided and distributed to landless youths.

“Now that it has been revealed that Grace Mugabe owns 16 farms, we are demanding that she chooses one and the other 15 be sub-divided into 10-hectare plots for youths within two weeks,” Matutu tweeted.

Matutu’s boss, Pupurai Togarepi said the farms should be repossessed.

“We want the farms back!” Togarepi stated.

Mugabe, who was toppled in a coup in November 2017 to pave way for Mnangagwa, has repeatedly accused the new administration of hounding his family.

At some point, Mugabe claimed that the Mnangagwa regime was harassing workers at his Blue Roof mansion.
In the build-up to the July 2018 elections, Mnangagwa said he suspected that Grace was behind the White City Stadium bomb explosion that claimed two lives and left many Zanu PF officials injured, including Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and his counterpart Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry.

Mnangagwa was lucky to escape unscathed.

Last year, war veterans petitioned government, demanding that the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, named after the former leader, be changed as the ex-Zanu PF boss no longer deserved to be honoured because he was now dining with the main opposition, MDC.

The two appeared to have mended their relationship after the government hired an expensive private jet for Grace to come home and bury her mother last year, but Mnangagwa’s revelation that the former First Lady is one of the bigwigs set to lose some farms after the conclusion of the land audit could create tension.

Taking questions on his first radio interview hosted by the State-controlled CapitalkFM on Friday, Mnangagwa disclosed that Grace had 16 farms although he did not mention her by name, but used a pseudonym, “Dr Stop it”.

“The (land audit) is still on-going and results will be made public. The briefing I have received is that only two provinces are left to complete the process. The main issue we have identified is the issue of multiple farm ownership, especially among people in higher offices. For example, I know of one lady who has 16 farms — Dr Stop It,” disclosed Mnangagwa.

Grace became known as “Dr Stop It” at the height of Zanu PF factional wars where she used rallies to admonish Mugabe’s then deputies — Joice Mujuru and Mnangagwa.

She accused the two of trying to usurp Mugabe’s power to enrich themselves. Mujuru was eventually kicked out of government in 2014, while Mnangagwa was fired in November 2017 before he bounced back a few days after the military coup.

Attempts to get a comment from the Mugabes were fruitless, but Jealousy Mawarire, the spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front, a party that was linked to the ex-leader said Mnangagwa had lied.

“That could have been possible had your so-called President not been hallucinating. You are better off sharing his 700 gold mines than non-existent farms,” Mawarire said.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the youth league was better placed to comment on the matter.
“Let their spokesperson deal with that, we shall deal with it when it is escalated to us,” Khaya Moyo said.

The Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare is crumbling at the seams, assailed by overcrowding and a critical shortage of medicines, food and other basics as the economically-crippled country battles to care for its inmates.

Convicts and wardens alike bemoan packed cells where running water is erratic and shortages of food, clothes and bedding prevail.

Basic painkillers and antibiotics are impossible to come by, meaning prisoners risk dying from easily-treatable conditions.

“We don’t have drugs for… ailments like pneumonia and meningitis. We need a functioning X-ray machine. As of now, our machine is down and yet this is a basic tool required for diagnosis,” Blessing Dhoropa, a doctor at the prison hospital, said as lawmakers visited Chikurubi last week.

AFP correspondents saw prisoners wearing threadbare uniforms in the prison’s male and female sections.

Inside the cells, paint flaked off some walls and for bedding, prisoners had thin blankets on bare cement floors.

One complained the cells were infested with lice and other vermin.

Such conditions are common in Zimbabwe’s 46 prisons. They were built to collectively incarcerate 14,000 prisoners, but hold more than 20,000 today.

Chikurubi’s men’s section houses 2,508 inmates instead of the 1,360 it was designed for.

“Our population is much higher than we should hold,” conceded Senior Assistant Commissioner Alvord Gapare, who oversees jails in the Harare province.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has condemned such “deplorable” conditions which it said “exposes inmates to illnesses and psychological trauma.”

In 2013, the body said, more than 100 prisoners died of malnutrition-related illnesses.

At Chikurubi, donors provide life-saving anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for inmates who need it.

“I am HIV positive. Drugs for HIV are available. But other medicines, antibiotics… even the painkiller paracetamol, are not there,” 18-year-old prisoner Chiedza Chiwashira told members of parliament’s child welfare and justice committee on a fact-finding mission.

Another inmate complained there was “no medicine for epilepsy.”

And according to Gapare, Chikurubi’s only ambulance “is down”.

At Chikurubi, prisoners grumble about the staple diet of maize porridge without salt or sugar for breakfast, followed by the same, served with boiled kale, cabbage or beans, for lunch and dinner.

“Our diet is not suitable for people with ailments like diabetes and hypertension,” an inmate of the female section told the official visitors.

Gapare conceded the prison food has little nutritional value.

“We have challenges preparing the food that’s suitable for our prisoners. We cannot follow the dietary scale that we should follow. We serve mostly beans and vegetables,” he said.

In a bid to decongest the country’s jails, President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted amnesty to at least 3,000 prisoners in March last year.

But overcrowding persists as Zimbabwe’s convicts, like the general population, suffer the consequences of a moribund economy that has been in ruins since hyperinflation peaked at 500 billion percent and wiped out savings under former president Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwe is undergoing another bout of price rises and shortages of fuel and daily essentials. Inflation is at more than 75 percent, putting basic goods beyond the reach of many.

The government is struggling to provide relief for citizens, let alone the prison population.

And the harshness of daily life continues feeding Zimbabwe’s already over-full prisons as many turn to crime to survive.

“Most of the patients are not supposed to be here,” Chikurubi’s deputy director for health services and a consultant psychiatrist, Patrick Mhaka told the lawmakers.

“Some are said to have stolen a loaf of bread and they end up here.”

Lawmaker Daniel Molokela asked prisoners and officials to draw up a list of needs, which he said the government would examine.-AFP

State Media|SIX suspected armed robbers pounced on a house in Bulawayo’s city centre and brutally attacked four people with machetes, leaving them for dead before getting away with US$6 687, RTGS$1 000, five grammes gold and three digital gold scales, police confirmed yesterday.

The incident happened at around 2AM on Sunday at a cottage along Herbert Chitepo Street and 1st Avenue.

Two of the victims who sustained deep cuts on their hands and legs are admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital while two have been discharged.

The suspects savagely cut them on the soles of their feet as they demanded to know where gold was kept.

The main house is used as an office by Mr Costa Lungisani Ncube where he buys and sells gold.

Mr Blessing Ncube (23), Evidence Ndlovu (17), Mthandazeli Sibanda (15) and Bruce Ncube (18) were sleeping when the armed robbers struck.

Bulawayo acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, said the suspects are still at large.

Insp Msebele said the suspects proceeded to the offices and opened the door, getting away with a safe with US$6 687, RTGS$1 000 and five grammes gold and three digital gold scales.

When this news crew visited the offices yesterday, the floors and walls were spattered with blood and blankets caked with blood were on a washing line. 

A man who identified himself as an uncle to the three males said the family was still in shock because of the incident and they hoped that the police would speed up investigations and apprehend the culprits.

 He said the empty safe was found dumped at the Shangani River. 

 Two guard dogs at the premises, the man said, did not bark at the gang, raising suspicion that they may have been drugged.

He said Bruce had seen one of the suspects in the afternoon at the office, driving a Mazda Familia with registration number ADM3201. 

The car is now parked outside Extra City Bus Company along Lobengula Street and it is said that the owner has not shown up to collect it.

 This newspaper visited the victims at the hospital and a nurse in charge of the ward where they were admitted said they were in a stable condition, waiting for blood tests and X-ray results.

A Bulawayo man yesterday broke records when he stood in the road and threw stones at First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s motorcade which was on its way out of the city to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport.

The man who witnesses claim to be mentally challenged is reported to have got into the centre of Robert Mugabe Way armed himself with stones and blocked the high security motorcade before hurling the stones towards the vehicles and security details.

He was however strongly pinned down by two police officers who were part of the motorcade before being whisked away in a police vehicle.

Auxilia Mnangagwa was in the second capital on Monday where she had gone to give her condolences to wife of the late National Hero Dumiso Dabengwa at the family home in Fourwinds.

She incidentally went on to visit the widow of former President Canaan Banana and other forgotten liberation war fighters in the city.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Precious Simango would not give media a comment on the issue claiming that she was on leave.

“I am on leave. Please phone Inspector Ncube,” said Simango.

Efforts to contact Inspector Ncube proved futile as his mobile was unreachable. The whereabouts of the man could also not immediately be ascertained.

Mrs Mnangagwa experienced a similar fate in Masvingo recently when she was booed and lampooned by residents of the town as she walked into an OK Supermarket with her huge entourage of security guards.

Mlondolozi Mpofu is the much talked about gentleman who helped injured security guards following an accident along Vic Falls Road has been blamed and ridiculed by so many people for recovering huge amount of money from the Cash In Transit Vehicle and handing it back, with others saying he should have disappeared with both the money and guns.

His colleagues and friends have come to his defence describing who this good hearted, honest and kind person is. Below is the statement from one Mark Ngalulu of Ingalulu transport who is a member of Bulawayo City Club, together with Mlondolozi Mpofu.

“The Good Samaritan, Mr Mpofu is the chairman of City Club Bulawayo which is next to Galen house Josiah Tongogara Str. It comes not as a surprise that he drove the injured to St Lukes hospital before speedily coming to secure cash boxes and their protective weaponry.

As a member of city club I’m very proud of this exemplary deed that very few can manage to execute infact he has been able to uphold Ubuntu be City Club that is made up of Men and Women of great integrity. These members who remain humble in the society include top legal minds such as ADV. Tshuma including Human rights lawyer Sipho Malunga and others attached to UN; labour issues consultants such as Mr Ndumiso Sibanda Top Academics from institutions of high & tertiary education including the pioneers of DNA related solutions in Zimbabwe led by Mr Zeph. Dhlamini (Nust) who recently made a breakthrough in Cattle DNA matching to curb livestock rustling.

Several members that attached to United Nations duties such as Dr Sizo Mhlanga; Current and Ex senior banking Executives including RBZ, Captains of Industry including PPC Zimbabwe top management; affiliates of Rotary club. Top medical practitioners both local and International in most areas of speciality, phamarcists including Dr Geshom Dube. Ambulance operaters; Renouned Farmers that including Nguni brahman breeder Dr Themba Dlodlo; Haulage expects including the ex NRZ MD. Mr A. Mabhena; property developers and plant equipment providers from Aggregate properties led by Bro. Themba Dube who is a member of trustees at this club.

The non exhaustive membership list also includes professionals from the construction industry such as Eng. N. Mlotshwa of Nemark construction; Town and City physical planners, consultants in civil Engineering including the likes of Eng. N DUBE (Scotch), well placed land surveyors that include E Mathe and G Thonye amongst others not forgetting the topical good Samaritan; Current and Ex Directors in Government ministries such as Dr Sikhosana while from our local Authority we have Directors of housing and community services, Engineering services etc, Miners including ex- Hwange colliery management bussiness people in the retail, IT & consultancy industry as well as various political leaders from most political fronts including religious backgrounds, form the diverse membership of City club.”

Its indeed a club of distinguished citizens!

Source Ezra Tshisa Sibanda

NewsDay|ZIMBABWE’S year-on-year inflation rate for the month of May rose to 97,85%, up 21,99 percentage points on the April rate of 75,86% as the country further plunges into economic turmoil.

According to the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (ZimStat), year-on-year food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation, prone to transitory shocks, stood at 126,43% while the non-food inflation rate was 85,94%.

On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in May was 7,02%, up 12,54% from the April rate of 5,52%.

“The month-on-month food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation rate stood at 17,63% in May 2019, gaining 9,78 percentage points on the April 2019 rate of 7,85%. The month-on-month non-food inflation rate stood at 10,12%, gaining 5,67 percentage points on the April 2019 rate of 4,45%,”Zimstat said in an update.

Authorities, however, maintain that by year-end the inflation rate will have been managed within a preferable range of less than 15%.

But chances of achieving that remain highly unlikely as retailers price goods and services in line with the parallel market rate for foreign currency, which remains highly inaccessible despite the introduction of an official interbank market in February.

Shortages of fuel and electricity are also adding to mounting pressures on the fragile southern African country’s economy which experienced a record inflation of 500 billion percent in 2008.

What followed was a sustained period of negative inflation, with the country eventually slipping out of deflation in February 2017.

State Media|Interviews for commissioners of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on Friday must be steered by a full Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) of Parliament and not subcommittees, the High Court has ruled.

The court also ruled that the interviews should be held non-stop until the last candidate has been interviewed.

This follows an application by Harare lawyer Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, a nominee to the position of Zacc commissioner, challenging the selection process set for June 21.

He was suing Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Senate president Mabel Chinomona, who were listed as respondents.

Justice Benjamin Chikowero granted the application by Chinyoka by consent of both parties’ lawyers — Advocate Lewis Uriri representing Mr Chinyoka and a Mr K. Tundu, acting for the respondents.

“Section 254 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 requires that interviews for the appointment of commissioners of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission be conducted by the entire Committee on Standing Rules and Orders of Parliament and not subcommittees thereof,” the judge said.

“The respondents shall ensure that all the interviews for shortlisted candidates for the Anti-Corruption Commission scheduled for 21 June 2019 or as may be rescheduled are conducted by a single quorate Committee on Standing Rules and Orders of Parliament of Zimbabwe starting from 8am on that date continuing without adjournment (save for meal breaks) until after the last interviewee has been interviewed.”

At least 38 candidates are set to be interviewed.

Parliament had split the candidates into two groups to be interviewed simultaneously in the National Assembly and Senate Chambers from 9am to 4.20pm.

Chinyoka had argued that the proposed format for the interviews was unconstitutional.

The format which CSRO proposed to use for the interviews meant that in being assessed for their suitability as commissioners, each candidate would only be seen by half of the CSRO.

“This proposed manner of proceeding is against the Constitution, namely that it is the entire CSRO that should send names of possible commissioners to the President, not a sub-committee thereof,” Chinyoka had argued.

It was also Chinyoka’s contention that no criteria had been disclosed as to how particular individuals ended up on either list to be interviewed.

Early this month, Parliament announced the names and dates for interviews of prospective Zacc commissioners who will be appointed by the President.

The development follows the resignation of the Zacc chairperson and commissioners in January this year.

The CSRO carried out an exhaustive analysis of the nominated candidates to ascertain their suitability for consideration to serve on the commission and shortlisted 38 candidates.

Some those to be interviewed are Ms Jessie Majome, Mr Tongai Matutu, Mr Gabriel Chaibva, Mr James Andrew Mushore, Mr Brian Kashangura, Mr Blessing Chebundo, Mr Frank Muchengwa, Retired Major Gibson Botomani, Mr Kennedy Mtombeni, Advocate Michael Majuru and Advocate Wilbert Pfungwadzashe Mandinde.

Members of the public are free to attend and witness the interviews.

President Mnangagwa has since sworn in High Court judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo as ZACC chairperson.

Newspaper publisher and member of Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), Trevor Ncube has showered President Emmerson Mnangagwa with praises claiming that the beleagured President has high intentions for the country.

Writing on his Twitter handle, Ncube said President Mnangagwa was the “man of the season”.

“Dear Zimbabwe long before I got into PAC l met ED at least twice, was convinced he was man for the season. The more l have interacted with the guy the more I have realised just how my intuition or gut feel was correct. He means to leave a positive legacy. Thank me later,” reads the tweet.

Ncube has through the years been a top critic of both ZANU PF and its leaders former President Robert Mugabe and his successor Mnangagwa before coming up with his new found love for ZANU PF.

Ncube’s dance with Mnangagwa started in January when he visited First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa at her alleged offices in Harare. Coming out of the meeting, Ncube torched a storm when he declared building bridges with the Mnangagwas.

After the visit, Ncube went on twitter and wrote, “Alpha Media Holdings COO Kangai Maukazuva and l paid First Lady Mrs  Auxillia Mnangagwa a courtesy call at her offices in Harare this afternoon. For a polarised nation like us I believe it is important to mend ,  build bridges and celebrate each other where possible.”

He was since drafted into the President’s advisory council and that appears to have cemented his change of heart on the ruling party and its leader.

MDC-T vice president Mr Obert Gutu on Saturday went on his usual rantings about the President Emmerson Mnangagwa initiated Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) claiming that party leaders who opted out of the one sided dialogue are ill advised.

Gutu a former opposition MDC spokesperson claimed that the dialogue launched by President Mnangagwa in February this year was making progress, progress which so far has not been visible to the ordinary Zimbabwean.

Since the dialogue started, the country’s economic and political conditions have been on a severe downfall exposing Zimbabweans to suffering worse than even during former President Robert Mugabe’s era.

Pictures of the dialogue partners feasting with the President at State House and sleeping at top hotels in the capital have been the only visible outcome from the dialogue so far.

Writing on his Twitter handle, Mr Gutu said only “ill-informed” people would not take the dialogue seriously

“We attended a POLAD meeting at State House with President ED on Friday, June 14, 2019. Misguided and ill-informed people think we went for the food. No! We can buy our own food. We raised extremely pertinent & relevant issues that we think ED should urgently attend to,” reads the tweet.

To date, 19 of 23 political parties that took part in the July 31 harmonised elections last year, have joined the dialogue.

Leader of the main opposition, MDC, Nelson Chamisa refused to join the dialogue, setting reasonable dialogue conditions amongst which is the demand for a neutral mediator to preside over the dialogue.

The Daniel Shumba-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) initially joined the dialogue, but later withdrew also indicating that it was not fair for Mnangagwa to be the one leading the engagement process.

Joice Mujuru (National People’s Party) and Noah Manyika (Build Zimbabwe) have also snubbed the dialogue claiming precisely the same stance that Chamisa has been raising on the talks.

By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, Gen SB Moyo allegedly hired another American lobbyst and this one for over $1 mln.

Zimbabwe which pays medical doctors a paltry $100 per month will be dishing out $90,000 per month.

While a comment from the Zimbabwean government was awaited at the time of writing, the US senator Todd Moss announced saying, “Zimbabwe’s foreign minister has signed not one but two US lobbyist contracts. Avenue Strategies for over US$1 million ($90,000/mo) in April 2019 Ballard Group for US$500,000 per year in March 2019 .” – MORE TO FOLLOW

PEOPLE in the gallery wept when an 8-year-old girl took to the stand to narrate how her father’s brutal butchering of her mother as she watched shattered her family.

She told Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Maxwell Takuva, who was on circuit in Hwange in 2017 that she watched her father, Pathukuthula Moyo callously axing her mother repeatedly over infidelity accusations.

She appeared to shudder each time she mentioned the blood that gushed out of her mother’s wounds as her father frenziedly struck her.

“I heard my mother screaming and when I rushed to check she was lying on her stomach in a pool of blood as he struck her. He then stood next to the body holding a blood stained axe. After that he dragged the body into the kitchen and left it,” narrated the emotional minor while trying to get composure.

She appeared traumatised. Moyo believed his wife was seeing another man, and this filled him with deep jealousy. He came up with a plan. The “plan” involved an axe. The murder was premeditated; he had brought the axe to the house with him earlier that morning.State media

Farai Dziva| In a hard-hitting statement fearless political analyst Antony Taruvinga has said Emmerson Mnangagwa is a ruthless man who can do anything to maintain his grip on power.

“If you think these accidents are ordinary, you are totally far from knowing ED.

He kills for power and is determined to wipe out a considerable number. We need to change our ways as a people, the struggle for a New Zimbabwe is not an MDC thing, it’s a generational mandate.

United, Zanu PF is actually nothing. United, we can catch Mnangagwa the way Gaddafi was pulled out a hole and paraded without clothes before he met his maker.

These people are nothing, they are only riding on the advantage of a docile divided population, which is our weakness.

The people must unite for the cause of removing Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.”

Farai Dziva|Mrs Auxillia Mnangagwa has said she is inspired by the former First Lady Janet Banana’s love and humility.

Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa made the remarks in Bulawayo today.

Mrs Mnangagwa visited former First Lady Janet Banana in Southwold and donated groceries before thanking her for the good work that she did for the country.

” I (have) learnt a lot from the former First Lady who has always been a humble and loving person who respected people,” she said.

She also visited war veteran David Moyo in Emganwini and donated groceries before thanking him for his immense contribution to the liberation struggle.

By Dorrothy Moyo| In the latest development of developments last week, the man who is tasked with overseeing Parliament affairs by ZANU PF’s  highest decision-making body, the politburo, has sounded calls for a government of national unity.

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He painted a picture of a Emmerson Mnangagwa Nelson Chamisa unity.

Jacob Mudenda was speaking during a special service for the late Vimbai Tsvangirai last week.

He made these comments while he was being booed down by MDC supporters.

He said, “we enjoyed serenity of politics during the GNU. That spirit must come back. It must come back. I pray to the church, that the church must be on their knees each day of their lives and pray for the unity for the people of Zimbabwe,

“I believe that the spirit of the late Dr Tsvangirai which we celebrate through his daughter today shall be reflected in our national politics.

“Don’t forget that when the Government of National Unity was formed, Dr Tsvangirai did not look at positional politics, he looked at national politics and what that brings to the people of Zimbabwe.”

By A Correspondent- Deputy Energy minister Magna Mudyiwa has trashed reports alleging that Zimbabwe is in darkness.

Responding to a question from Kwekwe central legislator Masango Matambanadzo, the energy minister said:

“…..The first thing that I would like to say is that, it is not true that Zimbabwe is in darkness, the nation is not in darkness but the challenge is that we do not have enough electricity to cater for our country for 24 hours a day and seven days a week or throughout the day.  

This has affected the domestic and industrial use of electricity and culminated to the introduction of load-shedding schedules, especially during peak hours, from 6am to 10pm and from 6pm to 10pm.  These are the time frames which require a lot of electricity.

Matambanadzo mentioned the reasons, yes, the Hon. Member knows that the water level or water table at Kariba Dam is critically low.  In Hwange, there are supposed to be six units at any given time, however, only five units are working.  

The other units are not working properly. They need to be refurbished; for example, today, there are only three units that are working at the Hwange Thermal Station.  For that reason, we have increased load-shedding in many places.  However, it does not mean that all these places are in darkness, it is not true that they are in darkness.  

We are trying our best to make sure that we utilise the energy that we have sustainably, especially in commercial farms, where producers of wheat are irrigating their crop right now.  What I wanted to clarify is that, the nation is not in darkness.”

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Apostle Chiwenga: “On what grounds does Nelson Chamisa open the Bible? We all know he belongs to another political party known as Apostolic Faith Mission. That is the political party that he belongs to. There is no Gospel in AFM. He doesn’t know the gospel.All of them, they are blaspheming our God”

By Own Correspondent| Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa has accused Zanu Pf hardliners and those surrounding President Emmerson Mnangagwa of working against him in a bid to see him fail as the country’s leader.

Mliswa said contrary to assertions that Zanu Pf had turned over a new leaf and the country was in a new dispensation, Mnangagwa’s enemies were still lurking within the rank and file of the party orchestrating his downfall.

Said Mliswa:

“Unfortunately, the new dispensation houses many who would like to see Emmerson Mnangagwa fail. The biggest enemies are within. Bureaucrats were not changed.

Zanu Pf official hardliners still remain. So to give national issues a chance for success, cleansing is needed in government and the party.”