Farai Dziva|MDC Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole has been summoned by the ZRP Law and Order section.
The police are yet to disclose the reason for summoning him.Sithole will report at Harare Central Police Station in the company of his lawyers.
See the MDC Youth Assembly statement below:
Youth Assembly National Chairman leader Obey Luther Sithole has been summoned by ZRP’s Law and Order section.
He will report at Harare Central Police Station today in company of his lawyers.
The move by ZRP comes hotly after the Youth Assembly this week held a press conferences at MRT House where we bemoaned the debilitating economic situation presided over by the ZANU PF regime.
It is our conviction that our youth commander did everything within the confines of the law.
As the MDC Youth Assembly we are not going to be moved or gravitate away from our position that the current crisis is directly linked to corruption and the legitimacy question.
We stood where we stand and we stand where we stood!
Aluta!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Controversial Member of Parliament for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba (ZANU PF) has sensationally claimed the MDC is dead and buried.
Chinotimbaade the remarks on Wednesday.
He blasted the MDC-led Harare City council for “dismally failing torun the affairs of the city.”
Chinotimba was commenting on the absence of water in the Parliament building -affecting ablution facilities.
“Parliament has no water. The stench from the toilets is just so bad. We cannot just sit as Parliament whilst things go bad to such an extent.
How are we expected to carry out parliamentary business without water?
It is the council that has failed. The MDC party is dead and has failed.
If they have failed then I want to be the Mayor of Harare. I will contest for the position so that I fix the problem.”
Farai Dziva| The brother-in-law of the late MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday said an inclusive government will resolve the country’s political crisis.
He urged Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to resort to dialogue and come up with an inclusive government to address the country’s economic woes.
Isaac Mhundwa, brother to Tsvangirai’s wife, the late Susan said :”
My sister died in an accident on her way to celebrate the inclusive government that later stabilised the economy for the betterment of people’s lives.
My niece died in an accident as well and I hope this challenges the political leaders to negotiate and come up with another inclusive government.”
He made remarks at the funeral of Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, the eldest daughter of Morgan and Susan who died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident she was involved in outside Kwekwe on May 14.
Farai Dziva|A Harare based church leader has been accused of snatching a congregant’s wife.
The bishop of VaEfeso Apostolic Faith Church is reportedly mired in an adultery scandal.
Shadreck Tennis, a member of the VaEfeso Apostolic Faith Church claims that his wife Melody Tennis has been involved in a relationship with Bishop Jabulani Munyanyi for over a year.
He told H-Metro, that at one stage the church leader had been helping the couple fix their marriage.
”Bishop Jabulani Munyanyi had been helping us with marital affairs whenever we had complications and I trusted him, only to find out that he had been cheating with my wife,” he said.
”I found out that my wife was cheating on me after I discovered some facebook messages and consulted Bishop Munyanyi’s wife who also confirmed that she was aware of the relationship.”
However the bishop said :
”He (Shadreck) hacked his wife’s Facebook account and started chatting with me as if it was the wife.
That’s where the whole drama started. I was only trying to help because his wife’s mother was once my high school teacher and then Tennis started accusing me of being in a relationship with his wife.”
Farai Dziva|Flamboyant and controversial Zanu PF MP (Gokwe – Nembudziya) Justice Mayor Wadyajena has accused Norton MP Temba Mliswa of being jealous of his new acquisition.
Yesterday in Parliament, Mliswa wanted to know whether Wadyajena managed to import his luxurious vehicle using tax rebates enjoyed by legislators.
“While MPs enjoy tax rebates on vehicles, it is important to understand what kind of vehicles MPs are entitled to,” Mliswa said.
“Are MPs entitled to vehicles that can get to their constituencies and not Lamborghinis, because a Lamborghini doesn’t get to rural constituencies? The public are now asking questions about the vehicle and your guidance, Mr Speaker, is sought on the types of vehicles we must get as MPs.”
Wadyajena responded : “You are an embarrassment. Why are you so jealous?”
Farai Dziva|Masvingo based NGO, COTRAD has launched a programme meant to eradicate violence and Intimidation in rural and urban communities.
“COTRAD is working with BUSTOP TV to encourage people to report cases of human rights violations to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and other relevant institutions without fear.
Every Zimbabwean has the right to walk into a police station or Public Enquiry Counter (PEC) and make a report if he/she feels his/her rights have been infringed upon by some other person.
Members of the public have the right to contact the police through telephone, or various police hotline around the country. The people can also use various suggestion boxes to present complains to the police,” said COTRAD in statement.
A COTRAD official also said: “The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is national human rights institution established under section 242 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, whose main mandate is to Protect, Promote and Enforce human rights.
The Commission deals with complaints of abuses and violations of rights and freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and in any international human rights agreements that the country has agreed to sign and any complaints arising from abuse of power or maladministration by the State and public institutions.”
By A Correspondent| Fears for ZANU PF’s former National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Rugeje rose early Friday afternoon when his phone remained switched off, just after rumours floated claiming that he has been involved in a car accident. A church Facebook account first flighted the reports which claim he has been admitted at Silveira Hospital near Masvingo.
The fears have continued from the time Rugeje was removed from his National Commissar post last week. The NPC post “burns everyone” and even the former NPC (Mugabe days), Saviour Kasukuwere is still lurking in fear 2 years after his removal on 2017.
But his Personal Assistant, Everisto Dika told ZimEye there is no truth at all in the accident rumours.
He said, “Lies, true lies, there is nothing like that there are a lot of people who have phoned me. There is nothing like that. He is safe,” he told ZimEye.
When asked about Rugeje’s whereabouts, he refused to be drawn into disclosing his exact location only saying, “he is out of Harare, but not in Masvingo.
“It is his home area of course, but he is not anywhere near that place. Usually, stories of this nature involving our leaders they(people) want to cause confusion and panic, to throw unnecessary confusion and panic,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fears for Rugeje are not new, they stem from the fact that since independence, every political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
Saviour Kasukuwere,
Engelbert Rugeje.
2001 Border Gezi
BORDER GEZI: Gezi had been a rising star in Zanu PF, rising to governor and then Youth minister before his death in a car crash on April 28 2001. Gezi died when his driver lost control of his ministerial vehicle, although an inquest later blamed two senior officials from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department for negligence in fitting a defective tyre to his car.
2001 Moven Mahachi
MOVEN MAHACHI: The Defence minister died barely a month after the death of Gezi, raising questions whether the accident that claimed his life had been a genuine one. Mahachi was killed on May 26, 2001 when his Range Rover collided with a small car along the Mutare –
Nyanga Road.
Apostle Batsirai Java|”We laid you my wife yesterday at Glen Forest, but i did not lay you inside of me.You were and you are still part of my life, church and GlenView constituency that God has given you to lead as MP.”
A true wife and best friend.A true leader in all areas, a mother to many people.
Rest in eternal peace my wife, best friend and partner in everything. I am happy because you are with the Lord.
Newsday|Police officers who man the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) urban buses have petitioned government and the bus company over unpaid overtime.
In the petition, seen by Southern Eye, the police officers said they were working more than 18-hour shifts, which they alleged begin at 3:45am and end at 10pm.
“When those duties started, we had two shifts, one starting at 3:45am to 1pm and the other at 1:01pm to 10pm. But the command said one shift was enough,” read the petition.
The officers further said they spend many hours in the buses plying different routes, which they felt was unhealthy.
“For 18 hours, we are given only lunch, which is not enough,” the petition read.
They said Zupco was supposed to pay them an allowance of ZWL$30 daily, which should through their command, but they had never received the allowance.
“We hear news that Zupco pays travelling and subsistence allowances at RTGS$30, but it does not reach us. Many have fallen sick due to this strenuous duty,” the petition read.
The police officers alleged that the Zimbabwe Republic Police was engulfed by so much panic such that even those at police stations were doing 12 hour-shifts.
“Security wise, we have so much fatigue. At Bulawayo Central, they have 12 hour-shift again and there is panic all of a sudden. You greed (sic) pay us our allowances.”
Contacted for comment, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said there was a period when officers manning Zupco buses had to work for longer hours due to logistical problems that the force’s Bulawayo province command was working on.
“I admit that we had a period when our officers had to work longer hours on the buses. This was due to logistical issues we had, but we managed to solve that within three days,” he said.
However, Nyathi said if members of the police force had any problems, they knew the communication channel within the force, adding that their grievances would never be ignored.
“Our position as the Zimbabwe Republic Police is, we are fully aware of the communication channels that we use in the event that we have grievances. Right now,
members are doing a two shift system, and I believe some of the allegations are exaggerated,” he said.
The police officers in their petition also complained over lack of winter uniforms.
“We do not have enough winter uniforms. Is our police commander aware of this?” the petition read.
Responding to the complaint, Nyathi said: “I am not aware of that, even the issue of ZWL$30 a day is new to me. Like I said, if police members have a problem,they should use the proper communication channel, and desist from running to the Press.”
Zupco acting chief executive Everisto Madangwe distanced the company from any responsibility to police officers on duty aboard their fleet.
“I am not in a position to comment about the police welfare, I can only talk about the welfare of the Zupco employees, which happens to be my dispensation,” Madangwe said.
ZRP officers have been on duty, maintaing security, ever since the threat of violent demonstrations by angry citizens, particularly in Harare, following fuel hikes in January.
The late Secretary General of the US black American organisation December 12 Movement, Coltran Chimurenga, will be given a state-assisted burial.
Chimurenga passed away a month ago; his body arrived yesterday evening and was received by the Zanu PF party officials at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. His two sons, Camilo and Amilcar Chimurenga expressed gratitude to have their father buried in Zimbabwe as per his wish.
The late Chimurenga was described as a person who would defend Zimbabwe against all forms of attacks. This was revealed by Zanu PF Secretary for External Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi who said that he used to work with Chimurenga very closely when the former was Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United Nations and the United Kingdom.
Viola Plummer, the chairperson of the December 12 Movement revealed that together with the late Chimurenga, the movement has attended a lot of conferences in Zimbabwe to support the liberation movement party, Zanu PF.
Chimurenga was commonly known for standing against sanctions which Western countries including the USA and the UK imposed on Zimbabwe.
State Media|THE Warriors are set to have a drama-free run-up to the African Cup of Nations tournament after the fundraising committee tasked to mobilise resources for their campaign got off to a good start when they managed to raise half the target during their initial fundraising dinner on Wednesday in Harare.
The Warriors are already in Egypt where they are bracing for the tournament opener against the hosts next Friday night.
They are in Group A along with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before their departure, the players had made a passionate plea to the Government and the private sector to help their cause by raising up to US$500 000 to cater for their accommodation, allowances, bonuses and other expenses in the run-up to and during the tournament.
The players said they would want to focus on playing football in their quest to go past the group stages for the first time without having to worry about money issues and camping glitches like what transpired in previous campaigns.
The Special Warriors Fundraising Committee spokesperson, Eve Gadzikwa, believes the target is achievable after they got overwhelming responses during their maiden fundraising dinner at Cresta Lodge in Harare.
The event was over-subscribed and they managed to pull together US$218 000 and close to $3.5 million.
An air of patriotism filled the packed arena as the Government contributed the biggest chunk through the Guest of Honour, President Mnangagwa, who announced a package of US$200 000 and an additional $300 000.
There was also an auction of replicas and souvenirs. Harare businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei was the highest bidder for the President’s famous scarf which went for $250 000.
A soccer ball and a jersey signed by President Mnangagwa were also auctioned to the tune of US$10 000 to Mutare businessman Tino Machakaire.
The second set was snapped up by Zimplats for US$3 500. The third was sold for US$1 500 to Beautie Makiya-Masibanda.
South Africa-based Zimbabwean business concern Zororo-Phumulani pledged R15 000 for every goal scored by the Warriors during the AFCON campaign, among many other pledges made on the night. Gadzikwa yesterday said the members of her committee were overwhelmed by the responses and revealed plans to spread their efforts to other parts of the country and to the Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.
“The event was quite a big success. It was over-subscribed, the turnout was phenomenal and the venue was overflowing. It went beyond our expectations. We were humbled to have the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) in our midst and he led the way by announcing a hefty package from the Government. He even offered his famous scarf and we managed to raise quite a substantial amount from its auction.
“Considering that this was the first event by this committee, which was only put in place just over a month ago, we can only be positive that things will work out well. We are happy with what we got but we are not going to rest on our laurels. There is still more work to be done considering the economic environment we are working in,” said Gadzikwa.
The fundraising committee, which comprises captains of industry, Cabinet ministers and sports administrators, was put in place by President Mnangagwa last month.
To ensure transparency, they have engaged reputable multinational professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to audit all the funds contributed towards the Warriors cause.
Gadzikwa said prospective donors can send their contributions and pledges via all platforms which include bank transfers to a CBZ account dedicated solely for this venture and mobile money services offered by the country’s major three networks – NetOne, Econet and Telecel.
Chairman of the committee Kazembe Kazembe, who is also the Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, said they will account for every dollar raised.
“So far we have been working around the clock to ensure that we get the necessary resources for the Warriors. I want to assure the President and the entire Zimbabwe, on behalf of the Warriors 2019 AFCON Committee, that we will be very transparent.
We will fully account for all the resources that will be raise in order to maintain the cordial relations that we have with the corporates and all the individuals that are going to support us.
“To that end we have engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to ensure that there is hygiene in our finances and I am glad to say that they have pledged their services free of charge as a contribution to this national cause,” said Kazembe.
Warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare, said the Warriors are bracing themselves for the tournament as they seek to progress from the group stages for the first time. The Warriors were knocked out early in 2004, 2006 and 2017.
They arrived in Egypt last Sunday and are currently using the meagre resources from ZIFA for their transport and upkeep during the final preparations in the North African country. Participating teams will only move to the official CAF hotels five days before the tournament kicks-off.
Speaking to The Herald from Cairo yesterday, Mpandare said ZIFA had done their best to secure decent accommodation and food supplies, which are a bit expensive in Egypt. The team has also been paying around US$200 for bus hire every day and US$500 for the training pitch daily.
“Remember we can only get into the official hotel five days before the start of the tournament, which is on Sunday. So it was not going to be easy for ZIFA and the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) did something that we really never expected.
“There is no greater way of saying thank you Cde President, the fundraising committee and everyone who is playing a part. This is your team representing the country and we are the ambassadors of Zimbabwe here.
“We appreciate what the President (Mnangagwa) and the people of Zimbabwe are doing. The boys have promised to do their best and they want to do it for the President and for all the Zimbabweans. Like what the President said, we are Zimbabweans, he is Zimbabwean and you are Zimbabwean. They don’t have to look for a reason to support us and we also don’t have to look for reasons to represent Zimbabwe,” said Mpandare.
ZIFA president, Felton Kamambo, said the Warriors have made it clear they will go out of their way to bring back home positive results if their welfare and upkeep were taken care of.
“On behalf of ZIFA and the Warriors, I would like to profoundly thank the President of Zimbabwe His Excellency Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa for seeing it fit to appoint a committee to source funds for the cause of our senior national team.
“Like I said before we are not going there to make numbers but to compete and bring results back home. The Egypt 2019 AFCON tournament has presented a perfect opportunity to take our brand high up there to compete with the best in Africa.
‘‘I believe in our squad and I am positive that we are going to be a surprise package. Those who have already made the decision to partner us on this journey, I say thank you so much. Those who are still thinking about it don’t hesitate to be part of history,” said Kamambo.
It takes a clever wife to be able to chop twice from the same man, once as a wife and also as a side chick.
But a Kenyan woman has managed to accomplish this rare feat for one full year.
The lady, Nyakisumu Kelly, revealed in the Kenyan version of ‘Tell It All’ that her husband was on the verge of discovering her ruse and since she still wants to continue chopping his money as a side chick, she needs advice on what to do.
“I have dated my husband online for one year now but he doesn’t know it’s me. He knows am a Mombasa resident and so he has been sending me rent every month…He tells me his wife died in the Westgate terror attack…He trusts me such that every time I ask him to send me some cash, he sends without hesitating,” she revealed.
However, the husband is now ready to meet the ‘sidechick’ and definitely chop her down but since Kelly cannot meet him without her deception being discovered, she’s seeking advice.
Defunct Steel manufacturer Ziscosteel, is set to get a new board of directors after Government retired the entire old board that had been in office for more than a decade. Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, confirmed that the board led by Mr Nyasha Makuvise had overstayed its term of office and has been retired, paving way for the appointment of a new board.
“We have retired the entire old board. The new one is expected anytime soon. In fact, I already have the names and am awaiting approval by President Emerson Mnangagwa,” said Minister Ndlovu.
“The board has been there for long, more than 10 years. Under normal circumstances, the board was supposed to be in office for two terms of four years, that is a total of eight years in office. We are actually celebrating their tenure and appreciating their hard work in trying to turn around the fortunes of our great national asset.”
The board leaves office at time when there are allegations of looting of assets within the giant steel manufacturer. During the commissioning of ZimCoke plant that is within the Ziscosteel plant recently, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima decried alleged theft within the parastatal.
“We all know that Zisco has been closed for a long period now. While it appears that everything is intact there are, however, there are incidences of cannibalism and removal of assets from this particular public enterprise. However, I should mention that management to an extent has tried to protect these assets,” said Minister Mavima.
Minister Ndlovu also confirmed having received such information, saying the coming in of ZimCoke will put a stop to such shenanigans.
“I have heard about those allegations. We, however, cannot say the retiring of the board is part of the solution but I know for sure the coming in of ZimCoke, which is set to resume operations in the near future, will improve sanity at the parastatal,” he said.
“I understand they are bringing in top notch security that will be manning not only ZimCoke but the entire Ziscosteel plant.”
Minister Ndlovu said an investigation will also be conducted in the near future to ascertain which assets were missing.
The coming in of new board is expected to bring renewed hope towards the revitalization of the giant steel company, which is considered one of the biggest in the region.
With capacity to employ more than 5 000 workers and supply the whole region with steel, the company is a strategic player in the country’ economic turnaround.
Daily Mail|A South African man who was pictured throwing his baby off a roof during a protest has walked free from court.
The 38-year-old man, who’s name has not been revealed to protect the identity of the child, was charged with attempted murder after throwing his daughter off the top of a shack in an illegal township to stop it being demolished.
He had taken the baby and climbed on top of their home in protest against dozens of shacks at a township in Kwadwesi, near Port Elizabeth on South Africa ‘s eastern cape coast being lined up for destruction.
A South African man who was pictured throwing his baby off a roof during a protest has walked free from court
Today he received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to child abuse in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court after the state dropped charges of attempted murder.
He was fined 5,000 rand and handed a sentence of one year in jail, suspended for five years.
Footage taken during the protest shows township locals egging the agitated dad on with chants of: ‘Throw, throw, throw’.
Images show the police officer on the roof rushing forward to grab the father but not before he threw the baby.
Fortunately, the girl was caught by the policemen standing below, and did not suffer any injuries.
The father was arrested and handcuffed and was officially charged by police with attempted murder.
The drama happened after 90 shacks built illegally at the Joe Slovo township in Kwadwesi were ordered to be demolished.
The South African Police Service had been sent in to ensure the safety of the demolition team as 150 protesters began serious rioting throwing bricks and closing off roads with burning tyres.
As calm was being restored this man climbed onto the roof of his shack with his child and threatened to throw her to her death if the demolishers did not back off and leave his home alone.
The 38-year-old man, who’s name has not been revealed to protect the identity of the child, was charged with attempted murder after throwing his daughter off the top of a shack in an illegal township to stop it being demolishedBad parenting: The man gestures to a police officer to stand back, as he stand on the roof holding his six-month-old baby daughter
When negotiators failed to talk him down a rescue plan was launched by police which ended successfully with the fathers’ arrest and the safe recovery of the toddler who was thrown off the shack.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge told local media: ‘At about 10.40am a 38-year-old man climbed onto the roof of one of the structures and held a one-year-old girl in his hands.
‘This was done to force the team not to demolish the structure.
Shock drop: After dangling and swinging the baby over the end of the shack, he dropped her – fortunate the baby was caught by police
‘Due to the dangerous threat to the safety of the child police set out a plan to rescue the little girl and arrest the male and one of our officers successfully caught the girl as she was flung.
‘The 38-year-old father has been charged with the attempted murder of his daughter and the case is being handled by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit’.
Captain Beetge said the baby has been handed back to the 35-year-old mother and their case is being overseen by local social services to ensure the child is in a place of safety.
Down: Seconds after the man dropped the baby off the roof, he was tackled by a police officer and arrested, to later be charged with attempted murder
The Motherwell Cluster Commander Major General Dawie Rabie praised the police actions.
He said: ‘It is shocking that a father would attempt to sacrifice his own child for the sake of delaying the demolishing of an illegal shack structure but thankfully the girl was saved.
‘The father will face the full force of the Law for his actions’ he said.
The demolition team then moved in and successfully destroyed 90 structures that had been built illegally on unowned land.
Africa Cup of Nations hosts Egypt rested star Mohamed Salah as they defeated Tanzania 1-0 Thursday in the first of two warm-up matches before the June 21 tournament kick-off.
With the prolific Liverpool scorer sitting on the bench in Alexandria, it was left to full-back Ahmed Elmohamady to break the deadlock on 65 minutes with a back-post header off a cross.
Elmohamady is a long-serving Pharaoh and could face Salah in the English Premier League next season as his Aston Villa club won promotion.
Record seven-time Cup of Nations champions Egypt dominated possession but lacked cohesion against Tanzania, who are back at the Cup of Nations after a 39-year absence.
Title favourites Egypt face Zimbabwe in the tournament opener in Cairo and also play the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in Group A.
They return to Mediterranean city Alexandria this Sunday to tackle Guinea in another friendly ahead of the 24-team African football showpiece.
Tanzania are coached by Emmanuel Amunike, a 1994 Cup of Nations winner as a player with Nigeria, and meet Algeria, Senegal and Kenya in Group C.
News Agencies|A businessman has been jailed for life for a mid-air stunt in which he faked a hijacking threat that forced the plane to make an emergency landing.
Birju Kishor Salla, from Mumbai, was arrested and charged for posing a threat to the safety of passengers and crew on board the 2017 flight from Mumbai to New Delhi on now defunct Jet Airways.
A court in India heard Salla left a note in a tissue box warning of non-existent explosives on the aircraft, the country’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in a statement.
A female flight attendant “found a threat note in the washroom of the business class of the plane which stated that, ‘There are hijackers on board and explosives on the plane’,” the NIA said.
“Flight No. 9W 339 is covered by hijackers and aircraft should not be land and flown straight to POK,” Salla wrote in the note. POK referred to the disputed Pakistan-occupied region in Kashmir.
After being shown the note, the captain’s “face tightened”, but he quickly worked towards a safe emergency landing “without causing panic among passengers”, the Mumbai Mirror reported.
“An incident of this kind had never happened to me,” the captain, Jay Jariwala, said.
The Jet Airways flight made an emergency landing in response to the threat, which was later revealed to be a hoax.
“There are guidelines we have to follow when there is any incident involving the safety of the aircraft, the passengers and the crew. We just followed procedures.
“We couldn’t let the passengers know about the specific threat, We only announced that for security reasons we were diverting the fight to Ahmedabad.”
Salla, a diamond trader, initially walked free from the flight, but authorities traced the note to him last year, and he was charged with attempting to seize control of an aircraft and for making threats.
As well as being sentenced to life in prison, Salla was fined 50 million rupees ($A1 million), which a special court ruled would be given as compensation to crew and passengers for their “misery”, the NIA said.
“Even though Salla did not actually commit the act of hijacking, that he intentionally planted a letter threatening that 12 hijackers, one of them being himself, were on board and that there were explosives in the cargo area, qualifies as a hijack threat and attempt,” an NIA official told the Times of India.
“He was masquerading as a hijacker. The conviction and life sentence should serve as a major deterrent to those who indulge in such hijack scares for the heck of it.”
The case was one of the first registered under India’s anti-hijacking law that was passed in 2016.
The law imposed stronger sentences, including the death penalty, for hijacking as well as attempts or threats to hijack.
The last hijacking of an Indian flight was in 1999 when a plane from Nepal was diverted to Afghanistan by five terrorists, CNN reported.
The 190 passengers and crew were released after the Indian government released three militants.
State Media|GOVERNMENT has said no Gukurahundi exhumations and reburials should be done until the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) completes consultations on how the process should be undertaken.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Mike Madiro said a policy, which is yet to be crafted, will guide the exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims.
Madiro said this while responding to Bulawayo MDC-T proportional representation MP Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga during Wednesday’s National Assembly Question-and-Answer Session.
Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga had asked whether it was permissible for families of individuals who died during the 1980s disturbances to conduct exhumations and reburials for the victims.
Madiro said the NPRC was conducting consultations on the issue and what will come out of that process would be used to map the way forward.
“Member should be informed that this is a matter which is being considered by the commission which has been put in place to come up with the programme and policy on reburials. So until such a time that the commission finishes its brief, then no one should be able to exhume and rebury — unless it is done according to the law. Otherwise at the moment, it cannot be done on private basis. It has to wait for the commission to do its work and upon reporting then reburials can be done. I want to inform the House that we do not have a specific policy on how it has to be done. That is a matter which is still under consultation,” said Madiro.
Last week, the NPRC said it would tackle Gukurahundi as a matter of priority.
NPRC Commissioner Leslie Ncube said in the commission’s engagement with the public, it observed that Gukurahundi was a topical issue that needed to be addressed.
Comm Ncube said the NPRC was working closely with stakeholders and communities.
“This is why we’ve created these multi-stakeholder committees because we know that this is a burning issue. We don’t want to be seen as if we’re hiding the truth. In terms of implementing our plans, we need support from the stakeholders because they know what happened and they also know where and when it happened and they will not hide anything,” said Comm Ncube.
State Media|BATTLE lines have been drawn between tenants in Victoria Falls town and property owners who are demanding outrageous United States dollar amounts for payment of rentals for their properties.
Concerned residents have approached the Victoria Falls Municipality and Government to intervene. Unscrupulous landlords are now demanding rentals in US$ and are refusing to accept RTGS and EcoCash payments thereby leaving many stranded.
A room is now pegged between $50 and $100, which translates to between RTGS$400 and RTGS$800 per room on the prevailing black market rate. The rentals exclude other charges such as rates and water bills.
The rent madness is not confined to households as office space owners are also demanding between US$400 and US$1 000 per month per office with effect from June 1.
A majority of tenants are vacating premises as they cannot afford to raise the US$ but have a challenge of getting new premises because Victoria Falls has limited office space. Those who spoke to Business Chronicle said more and more landlords were demanding US$ for rentals
They called upon Government to regulate the property sector.
“Something needs to be done. We need a regulation because people earn on average between RTGS$350 and RTGS$500 yet they are expected to pay rent in forex,” said a concerned resident who requested anonymity.
Many residents said they expected only foreigners to be asked to pay for services and other charges in forex and not locals.
“Employers are not paying workers in forex including those demanding payments in forex so where do they expect people to get the forex from?”
The residents said what has worsened their plight is that many of them do not own houses and as such were at the mercy of landlords demanding forex.
They said council was not helping the situation because it was giving priority to those seeking land for commercial use at the expense of homeseekers.
Most people are vacating offices and shops and securing a room to rent in the suburbs is now a nightmare. Another resident said some tenants have resorted to sharing office space thereby risking lowering standards given that Victorial Falls is a resort town. Residents said the US$ price madness was initiated by hardware owners who started demanding payment for building material in foreign currency.
This has resulted in most locals buying products from Zambia and Botswana where prices are reasonably cheaper. Zambians are cashing in on the situation as they overload bicycles with bags of cement to sell to Victoria Falls residents.
“Government has to intervene urgently before the situation gets out of hand. The commuting public has also not been spared by this price madness as taxis are charging exorbitant fares. We wish Government could also send us Zupco buses like in other towns where they are paying 50 cents for a distance of up to 20km while we pay RTGS$2.50 for a distance of 4km,” said another concerned resident.
The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) Victoria Falls chapter has described what is happening as contra bona mores (against good morals) and a violation of Statutory Instrument 33/2019, which prohibits such actions. The AAG has said this is causing a lot of anxiety in the community and promoting corruption and profiteering thereby negating Government’s vision 2030.
The chapter’s secretary, Mrs Mercy Mushangwe-Ncube, urged Government to quickly intervene.
“The situation is not confined to rent but also includes prices of other basics. This is not fair because people are earning RTGS. Government should come in because this is getting out of hand. We urgently need our own currency,” she said.
Victoria Falls mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini said council is overwhelmed by complaints from residents but there was nothing the local authority could do as the issue involves private property. He, however, appealed to landlords to be humane reminding them that they pay small amounts in RTGS to council.
“These are private properties where the agreement is between the landlord and tenant hence it’s not easy for the council to intervene.
“We have received a lot of complaints and landlords are saying they built the properties on their own but we would want to urge them to be considerate because this situation is affecting everyone,” he said.
State Media|President Mnangagwa has invited Chinese construction firm, Shanghai Construction Group, to establish offices in Zimbabwe in preparation for future infrastructure construction projects, as the country moves to fulfil Vision 2030 aimed at achieving an upper middle-income society.
The President was speaking after touring the new Parliament Building under construction in Mt Hampden yesterday, which he said was symbolic of the strategic relationship between Zimbabwe and China.
The 650-seater building is being constructed by Shanghai Construction Group using a grant of approximately US$98 million (RMB676,43 million) extended to Zimbabwe by the Chinese government.
Zimbabwe is targeting development and modernisation of roads, railways, airports and other related infrastructure to fulfil provisions of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and enhance the lives of ordinary people.
“This company (Shanghai Construction Group) which is building this Parliament for us has been on the continent for many years, possibly decades and has repute across the continent for constructing buildings or infrastructure of repute,” said the President.
“Now they are in Zimbabwe and they are building this one for us freely. We are grateful, but I would wish that they continue to remain in Zimbabwe. In the area of infrastructure development, Zimbabwe is still lagging behind and I am informed that this company has multiple skills in the area of construction of infrastructure.
“Even by the time we complete this project, there are other projects currently being discussed and seeking financing and I have no doubt that we will be able to select you to implement such projects in Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa said the construction of the Parliament building was as a result of a discussions he held with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, during the FOCAC summit in Beijing last year.
“There are issues which were discussed under the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) meeting in September last year and currently there are discussions which should be undertaken this month at ministerial level,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Under that programme, China-Africa programme, there is a $60 billion facility from China to Africa and I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will share part of that cake for infrastructure development.”
President Mnangagwa said under the new dispensation, business takes precedence over politics, citing that investors must shun corruption and focus on doing business using the correct channels.
“Now, business takes front seat and politics takes a back seat,” he said. “The cost of short-cuts and the disregard of local authority by-laws and architectural requirements have far reaching and dire implications to one’s investments
“Individuals and corporate property investors must, therefore, make sound and corrupt-free decisions.”
President Mnangagwa praised Shanghai Construction Group for the work it is doing at the New Parliament Building site, whose ground breaking ceremony was done in November last year.
“This edifice will be one of the most unique parliaments in our region,” he said. “Besides being unique, it’s demonstrative of our comprehensive, strategic relationship with the People’s Republic of China. There are many friends we have, but this is one symbolic stature which generations to come will know it is a demonstration of the cooperation between the people of Zimbabwe and the people of China.”
President Mnangagwa commended the construction firm for moving with speed, saying the project was likely to be completed before the scheduled three years.
“I am told that the period of construction is expected to span a period of three years, but I would speculate that with the pace the project is being implemented, there is a possibility that the construction of this parliament will be finished earlier than projected,” he said.
“The Chinese working culture is a culture I believe we should emulate. The Chinese are very hard-working and get focused on the project they would be doing. I have no doubt that our own Zimbabwean people; the craftsmen who are here, the engineers who are here, the architects that are here will benefit not only in terms of skills, but in terms of technology that has been brought here.”
HIGHLANDERS have dismissed messages circulating on social media that they’ve hiked gate charges for the blockbuster clash against Dynamos, saying they are sticking to the Premier Soccer League’s stipulated entry fees.
The rest of the ground ticket for the country’s biggest fixture to be played at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday will cost $10, with VIP fans paying $20, while the VVIPs will part with $50.
“It’s not true that we’ve raised the gate charges. We’re maintaining the PSL recommended charges because we want football fans to come in their numbers for the country’s biggest match. The good thing is that the PSL has introduced e-ticketing and we encourage football lovers to purchase their tickets in advance. All other forms of payments like mobile payments through One Wallet and other services, swipe and cash, will be available. We are waiting for the PSL to tell us which gates will be used for advance tickets, mobile payments and cash. Information related to gates for advance tickets will be relayed through Highlanders’ social media platforms,” said Ronald Moyo, the Highlanders’ spokesperson.
The PSL announced the introduction of an electronic ticketing system that will allow fans to purchase tickets in advance from anywhere in the country on Wednesday.
For now, the facility is available to Econet subscribers only, but the PSL said plans are underway to avail it on other mobile networks.
The epic game between Highlanders and Dynamos will be used as a trial run and yesterday PSL spokesperson, Kudzai Bare said fans have been steadily buying the tickets for Sunday’s encounter.
She said they will communicate through the league’s social media platforms.
“There will be specific gates for online tickets. People are still buying the tickets and before the game, we will see how the e-ticket sales are going and we will communicate through our interactive social media platforms which gates advance ticket holders can use. We will try to use as many gates as possible and the good thing with e-tickets is that we can monitor the number of prepaid tickets.
“Those that buy prepaid tickets will get a unique identity code which they will present at the gate. The unique identity code cannot be duplicated. Fans can write down their unique identity code and present it at the gate. Once that code is captured, the system will not scan for the second time,” said Bare.
She revealed that after the Highlanders and Dynamos game, the PSL will take e-ticketing to matches that will be played in Harare and Bulawayo, before spreading to other centres.
Castle Lager PSL Matchday 12 fixtures
Tomorrow: Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Platinum (Luveve), Chapungu v Yadah (Mandava), Black Rhinos v ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium), Harare City v Herentals (Rufaro)
Sunday: Caps United v TelOne (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Mushowani Stars v Hwange (Rufaro), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Vengere)
The Educators Union of South Africa said they are forced to be armed on school premises as the government is failing to protect them.
This statement comes after the killing of a teacher at the Masuku Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
Siphiwe Mpungose, who is the General-Secretary, said teachers don’t want to advocate for violence, but they have been left with no other choice.
“We are saying enough is enough; if they have to protect themselves, let it be. The teacher who was gunned down yesterday was shot at and tried to run. If he had a gun, he was going to shoot at them, and they were going to run away,” Mpungose said.
However, the department said if teachers armed themselves, violence in schools would only increase.
Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said: “It is important that parents took responsibility for their own children and talk to them and raise them up properly. Violence is not the way of resolving conflict; if there is an issue, talk about it and rather agree to disagree because if one of you dies, then the other goes to jail. That doesn’t resolve anything.”
Meanwhile, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said he was shocked that 13 learners are awaiting court appearances for various crimes they have committed in the province.
Lesufi said the department will at revising their rules for appropriate action to be taken against those who are charged by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Lesufi made these comments while speaking at the memorial service for murdered 16-year-old Daniel Bakwela on Tuesday.
Bakwela it turns out was facing an armed robbery charge, was fatally stabbed by a fellow pupil at Forest High in a apparent gang related fight.
The MEC said it was unacceptable that so many school pupils were facing serious criminal charges.
He said plans are in place to deal with ill-disciplined learners in the schools. .
“So, we are now moving with amendments in terms of learner discipline to include regulations that force all learners who appear in court to declare to the department if they are appearing in court so that the department can take appropriate steps against them.”
Lesufi said those who failed to declare their ongoing cases will be disciplined.
“If you appear in court and you don’t declare to the department, it must be an offence and we must institute a disciplinary hearing against you.”
Furthermore Lesufi added that the education sector needed help to deal with these issues before they became a crisis.
The billionaire’s lawyers said on Thursday they have received numerous requests to comment about ongoing allegations.
Patrice Motsepe. (Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix)
Citizen|In a statement from his lawyers on Thursday, billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe denied renewed allegations of trying to interfere with the politics of Botswana.
They said the magnate had not contributed a “single cent for political purposes” to influence the upcoming presidential elections in Botswana.
They repeated their position that reports in the Botswana press that Motsepe had allegedly pledged or smuggled in money or was involved in any way were defamatory and malicious.
Motsepe, they said, did not want to get involved, nor had any interest.
However, they did admit that a recent report in the Sunday Standard was accurate about the fact that Motsepe had met with former Botswana president Ian Khama, but claimed this was nothing more than a “courtesy meeting” at a hotel at OR Tambo International Airport, and that they had old family ties going back to a university friendship between Motsepe’s father and Khama’s father.
The Sunday Standard reported at the weekend that they were yet to be served with legal papers by Motsepe’s lawyers, but the statement added that Motsepe’s lawyers had travelled to Botswana this week to try to deal with the “disturbing and worrisome developments”.
Without mentioning Motsepe directly, EFF leader Julius Malema had on Sunday added weight to growing accusations against the family that they were involved in a “plot”.
He tweeted that he believed there was a “plot to remove the current Botswana government by some members of a powerful South African family” and promised to speak about it at his Youth Day rally next Sunday.
Botswana’s Sunday Standard last week faced threats of a multimillion-rand lawsuit against it from Motsepe after they had earlier published allegations that he was funding a faction in the Botswana Democratic Party to influence who would be the next president – allegations Motsepe strongly denied.
The newspaper had published an article on April 1 claiming that the billionaire and his sister, businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe, donated pledged to donate R22 million to Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi’s campaign.
Venson-Moitoi is an ally of former president Ian Khama, who is challenging Mokgweetsi Masisi for the party’s presidency.
Motsepe’s sister subsequently had restrictions placed on her passport by the Botswana government, and now needs a visa if she wants to visit her mining interests in the country.
After initially withdrawing their claims against the billionaire, the newspaper in its latest issue doubled down, with yet another front-page article alleging that Motsepe had pledged money to “oust Masisi”.
Motsepe last month secured a temporary interdict preventing Black First Land First (BLF) and its leader Andile Mngxitama from accusing him of involvement in plotting a “coup” in Botswana.
At a press conference last month, the BLF leader had accused Bridgette Radebe-Motsepe of attempting to influence the politics in Botswana’s ruling party.
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has said some husbands will not enter heaven because they ignore calls by their spouses to go to church but only think of “stonyeni.”
Stonyeni is a colloquial name that refers to a sex organ or broadly sexual int*rcourse.
Chamisa was addressing mourners at the funeral service of the late MDC Alliance Glenview MP Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java who died on Monday.
“Most of you here will not be saved because you ignore the wives when they say let’s go to church when you want to do other things and thinking of stonyeni,” said Chamisa to loud cheers.
The MDC Alliance leader who is also an ordained pastor said it was the role of religious leaders to tell the truth as it is.
“A pastor must tell it as it is, we know these things,” said Chamisa.
The term stonyeni was popularised by singer Jah Signal with his song Sweetie released in 2018. The singer has denied that the term refers to sex but instead to love.
However, the disclaimer came too late as Zimbabweans had already made their own conclusions on the meaning of the term.
Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe caught in a chat at Vimbai Tsvangirai funeral wake.
Besides being warmly welcome and acknowledged by the MDC President Nelson Chamisa at the burial of Vimbai Tsvangirai on Thursday, MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe claims that she was not treated well by the opposition party and its supporters.
Speaking to state media on the sidelines of the burial ceremony, Dr Khupe claimed that MDC supporters called her derogative names with some threatening to force her away from the burial proceedings.
The former MDC Deputy President condemned the behaviour and called on MDC supporters to stop what she called politicising funerals.
“As you can see today is a sad moment for all of us where we have come to mourn the passing on of Honourable Vimbai and also to celebrate her life. She was our founding president’s daughter and we had lived with her all our lives.
“But when people come to mourn, they must mourn. This culture of coming to funerals to hijack and turn them into political rallies must come to an end, and I mean this culture must come to a stop. It is unacceptable, it is uncultured, it is not Zimbabwean and I have never seen that,” she said.
“We have opportunities to go out there and do rallies, but to do that here is unacceptable, I have never seen such. Even the one who has departed, I don’t think she is happy, if they can indeed see I don’t think they are happy with what they see here today. When people come to funerals, they must do exactly what they have gone there for, I hope and trust that these people will learn and change their behaviour especially when we come to funerals, people should also respect the dead”.
Dr Khupe also spoke about the ongoing national political dialogue where she said the initiative is good for the people of Zimbabwe.
“When we are in dialogue, we are doing it for Zimbabweans, we are saying we want things to change but we cannot change things by going out there throwing stones, by burning tyres, by destroying people’s shops but we only resolve issues by discussing issues and this is what some of us are doing.
The MDC President, instead took the occasion of the burial proceedings to express his respect and honour for Khupe inviting her back into the party and calling on the party supporters to continue valuing her contributions to the party.
Said Chamisa, “I honour you Dr Khupe. Dr Khupe once more I salute. You were my Deputy Prime Minister while I was Minister, you were my Vice President while I was your Spokesperson.
“Yesterday I told Dr Khupe yesterday that we will unite one day. The Seniority of Dr Khupe is not defined by Congress and her seniority is not questionable.”
Parliament has denied buying fuel for parliamentarians at more than the Government-prescribed rates, saying an exchange note published by ZimEye.com on Tuesday implying that the institution bought the commodity at a higher price was for a private transaction involving an individual MP.
The fuel exchange note implied that Parliament was buying fuel at $10,50 per litre, which is way above set limits.
In a statement yesterday, Parliament said their investigations had shown that the particular transaction involved an unnamed MP who wanted to exchange expired fuel coupons.
“The fuel coupon exchange note in question involved a transaction between an individual Member of Parliament who was replacing expired coupons at Redan Pvt (Ltd) and not the institution of Parliament,” reads part of the statement.
“The only reason the exchange note reflects the name of the institution is primarily because the coupons are purchased by Parliament as an institution for all Members of Parliament and subsequently issued to individual members.
“The serial numbers of the coupons in Redan’s system thus reflect Parliament of Zimbabwe as the procuring entity and not the individual member. That notwithstanding, Parliament of Zimbabwe engaged Redan over the matter and was advised that the exchange note was generated and issued to the Member of Parliament for the sole reason of enabling him to collect the new coupons.
“The member in question was never charged for the transaction. In other words, the coupon exchange note is an internal Redan document whose esoteric figures are understood by Redan staff, but do not reflect the prevailing coupon prices and should thus not be used as a pricing reference point.”
Parliament said it was unfortunate that the MP in question decided to circulate the document on social media platforms without verifying with Redan or Parliament what the figures meant.
Manica Post|A HOT Springs businessman and his family endured 20 minutes of terror after five armed robbers pounced on their homestead, assaulted him and his wife while firing live ammunition before they made off with cash and smart phones during last Saturday night.
The terrifying armed robbery that saw Mr Divine Gamunorwa (33) losing US$2 100, R4 000, $150 RTGS and two smart phones, is one of a number of incidents now common in the diamond rich area.
When The Manica Post visited Hot Springs Business Centre on Tuesday, the incident was still the talk of the area.
Mr Gamunorwa, who runs a grocery shop as well as a night club at Hot Springs Business Centre, narrated his ordeal at the hands of the armed robbers.
He said the incident occurred around 9pm.
“It was around 9pm when I came back from the shops and saw my dogs barking. I suspected that something was wrong since this was not usual of them. I first thought thieves had tried to steal fuel from my truck parked just outside the fence.
“I disembarked from my vehicle went straight to the truck and everything was in order. I went to open the gate and when I was about to get back into my vehicle in order to drive inside the yard, all hell broke loose.
“Five men came out of a bush opposite our homestead and approached me. Two of them were holding pistols. They claimed to be officers from CID and asked for an unlicensed gun that they alleged to be in my possession. I told them I do not possess a gun and in any way that is not the way police officers operate.
“They started assaulting me and fired two shots perhaps as a way to scare me. I insisted that I do not have any gun in my possession. As I tried to wrestle them, they sprayed a substance that left my eyes itchy and unable to see properly,” he said.
Mr Gamunorwa said he eventually managed to open one of his eyes and found a way to run away and even though the robbers fired two more shots, he did not stop.
“I instantly ran away and even though the robbers fired two more shots, I did not stop. I had told myself that it was all the same, they would eventually kill me if they wanted to,” he said.
The businessman said the robbers proceeded to break the locks to their doors to gain entry into the house where his mother, wife, young brother and his wife were.
“Upon gaining entrance into our house they started assaulting my wife demanding the keys to our safe. She refused to give them. Realising that they did not have much time since I had already escaped, they went on to break the doors to our bedroom then stole two cell phones and US$800 which was in the house.
“On their way out, they ransacked my vehicle and took US$1 300 as well as $150 RTGS. They disappeared in the dark,” said Mr Gamunorwa.
Harare’s prime talk radio station, Capitalk 100.4FM, is set host its first live interview with President Mnangagwa tonight, with various issues confronting the economy such as price increases and currency reforms expected to be discussed. The interview starts at 7pm.
The station, which prides itself in “leading the conversation”, is advertising the interview on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.
Capitalk 100.4FM head of content Ms Nyaradzo Makombe told The Herald last night that the interview, dubbed “Catching up with ED (Live)”, is predicated upon President Mnangagwa’s declaration that he was a “listening President” and the interlocution it will be testimony of the Second Republic’s openness and transparency .
“We are picking it up from his inauguration speech where he said he is going to be a listening President. So we feel as a station that this is one of the platforms we have created for him,” said Ms Makombe.
“We are going to look at the introduction of a new currency; what it means, so we expect him to explain on that. We are going to review his days in office and we are going to review his team that he put on the job, how they have been fairing, and is he happy with it (the team)?”
Is the programme is going to be conducted in its usual way, President Mnangagwa will have to take live questions from members of the public who are normally given a slot to phone into the show and ask the panel questions.
Judging from the responses that Mnangagwa normally gets on his social media platforms, he may be in for a tough time on the live interaction with the citizens.
Speaking to state media, Ms Makombe however hinted the radio station has already started collecting questions from listeners suggesting that listeners might not be given the usual opportunity to call into the programme.
Without the live listeners plenary, it gives doubts that the programme might indeed be a live one or will be pre-recorded and questions heavily edited.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (PGH) has reversed the new prices for the private wards.
In a statement PGH said this comes after listening to the concerns of clients.
“Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals would like to inform members of the public that the fees adjustments for our private wards which we intended to implement with effect from 17 June, 2019 have been suspended forthwith to allow for further consultations.
“We have seriously reconsidered our position after listening to the concerns from our valued patients. We are therefore reverting to the charges before the announcement. Members of the public will be informed of any developments in due course, “read the statement.
The accommodation fees had been pegged at executive suite $ 1 500, big room $800, small room $600, ICU $800, HDU $600 and maternity $600 per day.
The decision to reverse the fees comes following a general public furore after ZimEye.com immediately revealed the high price increase moments after the hospital had sent out a circular of the new prices.
“This is madness! In a country where 3/4 of the people earn US$30 or less a month how can hospital fees be US$100 per day (at RTGS$ 6: 1 US$. For the 3/4 of the people health care is simply a luxury they cannot afford!” said Patrick Guramutunhu to ZimEye.com.
JOHANNESBURG. — South Africa’s rand slipped yesterday, as investors were unnerved by an investigation into a donation for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2017 campaign for leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) party.
Ramaphosa has said he will cooperate with the investigation into whether he misled parliament over the donation, made by the head of services company Bosasa, and analysts say is no immediate risk that he could be removed from office.
But the anti-corruption watchdog’s investigation increases political uncertainty at a time when the economy is performing poorly. At 0710 GMT, the rand traded at 14,90 versus the dollar, 0,2 percent weaker than its previous close.
Government bonds also fell, as the yield on the benchmark 2026 bond rose 3,5 basis points to 8,40 percent.
“The Bosasa scandal is the main factor driving a deterioration in risk sentiment,” said Lloyd Miller, an analyst at ETM Analytics. Nedbank CIB analysts also cited the Bosasa scandal among factors weighing on the rand.
Stocks on the Johannesburg bourse opened little changed, as the All-share index was flat in early trade. — Reuters Africa.
A POLICE officer on Wednesday fled for dear life as an angry mob bayed for his blood after an illegal money changer he was chasing was knocked down by a car near Tredgold Building in Bulawayo.
An operation to rid the city of illegal foreign dealers, especially around Tredgold Building and surrounding areas is underway.
A Chronicle news crew witnessed the incident which occurred at corner Leopold Takawira and Fort Street at around 11AM on Wednesday.
The siphatheleni who was identified only as, Portia, was outpacing the police officer from the Foundation College side of Herbert Chitepo Street. She was about halfway across Fort Street when she suddenly realised she was on a collision course with a black Lexus.
Portia fell on the road as she tried to avoid the car and the car ran over her arm.
Her colleagues who had disappeared suddenly re-appeared and together with members of the public ran after the police officer.
The officer sprinted towards Bulawayo Central Police Station and it could not be established what became of him.State media
PROPERTY worth thousands of dollars was reduced to ashes after a doctor’s residence was gutted by fire at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
It is suspected that the fire was caused by a heater which was left on. The incident occurred between 12AM and 1AM yesterday.
No one was injured in the inferno and the other cottages housing doctors in the vicinity were not affected by the fire.
The Bulawayo Fire Brigade suspects that the fire started in the lounge and spread to other rooms, but they managed to control it.
Acting Bulawayo chief fire Officer, Mr Edward Mpofu said that when they arrived at the scene, the sitting room had already been destroyed, with the fire spreading to other rooms.
“I confirm receiving a call at around midnight and rushed to the scene. When the firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the entire house engulfed by smoke. The roof had already collapsed and household contents were still burning. The lounge was already burnt down and the fire was starting to spread to other rooms,” he said.State media
The Judicial Service Commission(JSC) has received a total of 43 applications of people seeking to be employed as High Court judges, an official said on Thursday.
JSC deputy secretary, Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa said they had sent the list of qualified candidates to the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) for comments from its members.
The High Court of Zimbabwe is in the process of recruiting eight more judges to the bench whose complement currently stands at 35.
Government, through the JSC is placing the prospective candidates under a “professional microscope” to ensure recruitment of judges who would not engage in corruption and other malpractices.State media
THE Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has barred 10 lawyers from practicing this year for misconduct and a litany of other reasons.
The reasons which LSZ cites for de-registration of these lawyers range from non-payment of practising fees and subscriptions to cases of misconduct such as money laundering,forgery and abuse of trust funds.State media
Stinking reports of a ZANU PF legislator for Chiredzi West, Farai Musikavanhu’s misdemeanors at Chiredzi Polyclinic are not only disturbing and nauseating, but rather a micro of a macro detestable ZANU PF retrogressive culture of plunder and destruction.
Musikavanhu, who ideally is supposed to be a citadel of community development forcefully threw out medical equipment that was donated to Chiredzi Polyclinic by MDC shadow MP, John Mangange.
What is more saddening is that at a time when the country’s health sector is bleeding and in dire state, a person who ironically is supposed to be an oasis of people’s hope chose to thwart any efforts to alter the community’s nervous conditions.
Musikavanhu’s actions however are not alien and strange to the inhuman ZANU PF cult.
The not so honorable actions of Musikavanhu not only explicitly but aptly help to unpack the kind of demon that Zimbabweans have to confront and exorcise if the country has to move forward.
Musikavanhu is a paragon of an inhumane ZANU PF system who has gone through an apprenticeship of destruction and passed with a distinction.
He is an embodiment of a ZANU PF culture of intolerance, plunder and destruction – a ruthless anti people culture that pays no attention to the people’s needs!
That the powers at corner Rotten Row and Samora Machel found nothing wrong in Musikavanhu’s actions is a clear message that he did everything right according to ZANU PF leadership textbook.
Is it not astonishing that the Minister of Finance from the very same party that presided over destruction for the past 40 years want us to believe that things are going to change next month?
Simply put, ZANU PF is an antithesis of development!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
GOVERNMENT has said no Gukurahundi exhumations and reburials should be done until the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) completes consultations on how the process should be undertaken. Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Mike Madiro said a policy, which is yet to be crafted, will guide the exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims.
Madiro said this while responding to Bulawayo MDC-T proportional representation MP Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga during Wednesday’s National Assembly Question-and-Answer Session.
Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga had asked whether it was permissible for families of individuals who died during the 1980s disturbances to conduct exhumations and reburials for the victims.
Madiro said the NPRC was conducting consultations on the issue and what will come out of that process would be used to map the way forward.State media
By Sharon Buwerimwe | A police officer on Wednesday fled for dear life as an angry mob bayed for his blood after an illegal money changer he was chasing was knocked down by a car near Tredgold Building in Bulawayo.|
An operation to rid the city of illegal foreign dealers, especially around Tredgold Building and surrounding areas is underway.
A Chronicle news crew witnessed the incident which occurred at corner Leopold Takawira and Fort Street at around 11AM on Wednesday.
The siphatheleni who was identified only as, Portia, was outpacing the police officer from the Foundation College side of Herbert Chitepo Street.
She was about halfway across Fort Street when she suddenly realised she was on a collision course with a black Lexus.
Portia fell on the road as she tried to avoid the car and the car ran over her arm.
She was about halfway across Fort Street when she suddenly realised she was on a collision course with a black Lexus.
Portia fell on the road as she tried to avoid the car and the car ran over her arm.
Her colleagues who had disappeared suddenly re-appeared and together with members of the public ran after the police officer.
The officer sprinted towards Bulawayo Central Police Station and it could not be established what became of him.
Portia, whose left arm appeared broken, was rushed by ambulance to Mpilo Central Hospital. Some osiphatheleni, who spoke to The Chronicle, were fuming.
“These police officers are cruel! That woman is a mother of two and she is trying to fend for her family under these economic difficulties,” said a woman who declined to be named.
Another forex dealer said the Tredgold area was the epicentre of all money transactions and they were not prepared to leave the place despite the raids.
“There is a lot of traffic, we can’t move away because as people go to board taxis they pass through this place. We target people here so we can’t move anywhere else,” he said.
The illegal money changers are always playing hide and seek with the police at this place popularly known as the “World Bank” due to the availability of cash in different currencies.
Bulawayo acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, could not be reached for comment. The Chronicle
By A Correspondent| The Patriotic Front spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire has in the below tweet attacked the street preacher Talent Chiwenga saying he is a lunatic.
APOSTLE CHIWENGA'S ACCIDENT, REAL CAR CRASH, OR ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT?
He said the accident victim should not have gone on social media on Thursday afternoon a day after his accident in Masvingo.
Mawarire is a staunch supporter of the controversial contemporary, Emmanuel Makandiwa. Makandiwa and Chiwenga do not see eye to eye on religious issues.
2 years ago, Chiwenga revealed medical evidence that he was once allegedly poisoned by Makandiwa’s enployees, an allegation which Makandiwa’s church denied.
Further irony is drawn to how Mawarire is potentially on the edge against Chiwenga on the grounds that the preacher is a critic of the former first Lady Grace Mugabe.
Meanwhile, Mawarire was attacking the preacher for his video shot just before entering theatre on Thursday in which Chiwenga passed what appear like final instructions to his juniors, also saying he is not afraid of dying. Chiwenga said he has to speak out because his accident according to him, was an assassination attempt on his life which the world must know about.
To this Mawarire responded saying, “Ukaona uchiwana nguva yekuita zvesocial media mukadzi ari mumortuary utori murwere chaiye.” – If you find time to go on social media while your wife is in the mortuary, you are a real lunatic.”
Cde, I know the preacher is not your take, he is neither mine. But interviews to date strongly suggest foul play. This man is a Zimbabwean and you and I could have been in this accident. Dzorai mwoyo wenyu Cde
Farai Dziva| The Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has been heckled at the City Sports Centre while addressing mourners at Vimbai Tsvangirai’s funeral today.
Mudenda was booed as he went through greetings and salutations during his speech.
Mudenda was jeered at the moment he mentioned Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has literally rescued the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda from public ignominy at Vimbai Tsvangirai’s final farewell event at the City Sports Centre.
A perplexed Mudenda came face to face with the “rudiments of public anger” as his voice was drowned by loud protests from MDC supporters who heckled him for addressing Emmerson Mnangagwa as ” the President.”
Chamisa was quick to rescue the bemused Speaker of Parliament.
“Let us respect the office of the Speaker of Parliament and above let us give due respect to our departed sister.
We all know that Mr Mnangagwa is the Zanu PF President so let us not be too emotional,” said Chamisa.
Farai Dziva| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy Energy Mutodi has boasted of “his boss’ popularity” following activities at the Warriors fundraising dinner in Harare on Wednesday evening.
The Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting has claimed that the auctioning of Mnangagwa’s scarf for a “whopping” RTGS $250 000.00 proves his boss’ popularity.
“President ED Mnangagwa’s scarf was yesterday auctioned for a whopping RTGS$250 000.00 at the Warriors fund-raising dinner proving the President’s popularity.
A tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei wrestled the scarf away after out-bidding another businessman Tinoda Machakaire,” tweeted Mutodi.
Farai Dziva|A school head has categorically said load shedding will affect the pass rate of pupils and students across the country.
Speaking before a Parliamentary Committee on Post, Telecommunications and Courier Services investigating the contribution of Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), Sakubva High 2 School headmaster Clever Chiturumana said:
“Power cuts are disrupting our activities because besides having a high computer-pupil ratio for computer lessons, it’s also limiting access to those who would want to research on the Internet and if the situation persists, we will have problems with their preparedness with national examinations.”
A dejected Chiturumana added: The harsh economic climate is a hindrance to educators as a significant number of children are struggling financially.”
Farai Dziva|Gokwe -Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena has come under the spotlight after purchasing an expensive posh vehicle worth US $ 210 000.
Responding to Wadyajena’s claims that he worked extremely hard to purchase the vehicle, Zimbabweans described the MP as a “failure” in his constituency.
Milton Milly Dick said:Mxm tikunyanyo sekerera I think it’s high time we fight for our dignity as a nation
EDiotmustfall.
Tatenda Shadreck Makopa:Can you imagine, just after election a MP buys such a expensive Lamborghini.
Elisha Elbrook Daucey: And they keep saying ..ma sanctions kkk
Robson Madakutonga Mwalimu Chikwinya: Back in his Constituency the Mayor guy is a perennial failure. His Constituency resembles the backyard part of Mogadishu demolished by bombs. He is one of those MPs who after being elected they go back to Harare.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has dismissed claims that Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) ministries leader, Walter Magaya last month healed a man suffering from a severe scalp tumour.
The group claims the credit for the recovery of the 36-year-old Peter Manganda of Marondera purportedly healed by Magaya. Recently, pictures of Manganda were awash on social media amid claims that Magaya had miraculously healed him of a head tumour.
In a statement yesterday, Parirenyatwa said Manganda had undergone successful surgery at the referral hospital and is still due for another check-up soon. The statement reads:
It has come to our attention that there is a false media article on one of our patients… Manganda who had a severe scalp tumour on the head and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals from April 22, 2019 to May 7, 2019 — a period during which he underwent neurosurgery as well as plastic surgery by our specialist doctors.
It is evidently clear that the patient went to the prophet after the specialist doctors had successfully done the surgical operations.
The hospital is actually in custody of … Manganda’s medical records and he is expected to be reviewed by the same specialists who are still determined to see their valued patient to full recovery.
The hospital said the claims were misleading and likely to discourage people from seeking medical help. Meanwhile, Manganda has since returned to the PHD Ministries to give a testimony of his recovery through Magaya’s anointing oil.Daily News
Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said that reforms which are being implemented by the government are starting to bear fruit and are going to result in the reduction of prices of commodities starting next month.
This was revealed in a pre-recorded Governors’ Statement released during the 54th Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund currently underway at the Sipopo Conference Centre. Ncube said:
The reforms being implemented by Government under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme of October 2018 to 2020, are beginning to show positive developments as the twin deficit challenge of the fiscal and the current account are coming under control.
Government has started realising a budget surplus. On the other hand, with regards to prices, fiscal consolidation measures, reinforced with a tight monetary stance together with liberalisation of the exchange rate are containing inflationary pressures which are expected to slow down in the third quarter of the year.
The minister said that the government restrained expenditure by reducing the wage bill. He also said that there were also measures to improve the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Tax Management Revenue System which was effective in minimising revenue leakages.
He also said that the tax enhancement measures such as the 2% contributed much to the likely reduction of prices.State media
The Global Boxing Union (GBU) and Universal Boxing Council (UBC) champion, Charles Manyuchi has been reported to have been admitted at Michael Gelfand Clinic where he has been receiving treatment since Monday morning.
The Zimbabwean boxer’s publicist and spokesperson, Gilbert Munetsi said that Manyuchi was not seriously ill although he is still complaining of severe chest pains, high blood pressure, and high body temperatures. Plans are also underway to send him to South Africa for further medical consultation tonight.
The illness is said to have disturbed Manyuchi’s preparations for his forthcoming August 3 World Boxing Federation world title match.State media
Farai Dziva|Apostle Talent Chiwenga is still alive and he is visibly in pain.
Chiwenga who was involved in a horrific accident that claimed the life of his wife yesterday said some vehicles were trailing his car from all the way as he was driving back to Harare.
“I was bleeding profusely and the people who were trailing our vehicle thought I was already dead.
I was trapped in the wreckage and when the people who were trailing our car arrived they did not shoot me because they assumed I was dead,” said Chiwenga.
He added:” The accident was not normal but I hope God will forgive those behind the accident.”
You are the most corrupt and stinking state-owned enterprise. Shame on you. You give tenders to criminals who do not their jobs because officials are involved in Stone Age corruption. Treasonous activities https://t.co/Tg3pF4wKm6
By Own Correspondent| NAMIBIA Defence Force member was arrested after he allegedly fatally shot a taxi driver during the early hours of Thursday.
The man has been identified as Talent Fambauone Black.
According to police spokesperson chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi, the soldier was in the company of a police officer during a ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ patrol.
Shikwambi said the taxi driver was shot after he allegedly tried to make a U-turn to avoid the police manning a roadblock that was set up in Monica Street at Greenwell Matongo informal settlement.
By Own Correspondent- Independent legislator for Norton, Temba Mliswa has accused parliament and the Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza of being equally guilty of failing to comply with the law regarding the presentation of the NSSA Audit report before the August House.
Mliswa said while this issue had been raised in parliament, the minister had deliberately failed to adhere and implement the dictates of the law by ensuring that the NSSA report is tabled before parliament within seven days.
Said Mliswa:
“….I rose on a point of privilege the last time, on Section 309 (3) on the Auditor General’s report to be tabled here. In fact, the Audit Office Act actually compels the report to be submitted in this Parliament within seven days. This is Section 12 (1) of the Audit Office Act.
The NSSA Audit Report. In fact, I do not know if I could read this, Mr. Speaker Sir, Section12 (1) Act of the Audit Office Act. I think it is very important.
So it compels the Minister within seven working days of Parliament to table the report. The report has not been tabled for four months. Not only that, Section 12 (2) compels the Auditor General herself to present the report to you and that was not done.
I know in your ruling you said that you gave her time but it is against these two and I do not know where Parliament Counsel was in picking this up because any report from the Auditor General’s Office, one is compelled within seven days of working.
Not only that, Section 12 (2) talks about the Auditor-General presenting before you which has not been done. So, in the absence of the Minister doing it, you equally have a copy and Parliament has a copy.
So these four months which the report has not been tabled, certainly a lot happens and they are seen on the wrong side of the law in the Act. I am upset that the Attorney General who sits in Cabinet and advises Cabinet on legal issues does not pick this in Cabinet.
The Leader of Government Business who is the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs does not equally pick this in Cabinet. So, what information are they giving to the President? So it means the President is being misinformed even on legal issues, which is quite alarming, quite dangerous.”
Nzenza recently came under fire from opposition MPs for taking the NSSA audit report to her lawyers before presenting it to Parliament as required by law.
By Talent Gondo- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trademark scarf was Wednesday night auctioned for RTGS$250 000 as part of fundraising efforts to cater for the welfare of the country’s national men’s football team, teh Warriors.
The Warriors are currently in Egypt for this year’s edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in which they will play the tournament opener against the hosts.
Mnangagwa who was guest of honour at the fundraising dinner in Harare availed his scarf that has become his trademark.
Zanu PF linked businessman and petroleum mogul Kuda Tagwirei outbid ruling party MP Tinoda Machakaire and bought the scarf.
By A Correspondent- A NAMIBIA Defence Force member was arrested after he allegedly fatally shot a taxi driver during the early hours of Thursday.
According to police spokesperson chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi, the soldier was in the company of a police officer during a ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ patrol.
Shikwambi said the taxi driver was shot after he allegedly tried to make a U-turn to avoid the police manning a roadblock that was set up in Monica Street at Greenwell Matongo informal settlement.
The deceased has not been identified but police investigations continue.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company (ZETDC) is experiencing increased power shortfalls i.e. demand and supply mismatch, due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station, generation constraints at Hwange Power Station and limited imports. The power shortfall is being managed through load shedding in order to balance the power supply available and the demand.
Every effort is being directed at improving the generation capacity to ensure that supply disruptions are kept at minimum levels. In order to assist in reducing the power demand, customers are encouraged to use the limited available power sparingly, by switching off all non-essential loads. Domestic geysers, swimming pool pumps, Jacuzzis and other related equipment should be switched off at peak times for more areas to have power.
Please be advised that ordinarily, load shedding will be within the morning and evening peak periods of 5am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm respectively. However, the durations may be longer in the event of increased power shortfall to avoid the collapse of the National Electric grid.
The load shedding cycles will be in two stages as follows;
Stage 1; the first group of customers as listed on the schedule will be switched off as the power shortfall will be within planned limits.
Stage 2; Please be advised that the power supply situation is dynamic, in the event that the power shortfall increases beyond the planned limits, load shedding will move into stage 2. These are additional areas that will be switched off as per schedule when the shortfall is higher for the particular time.
Customers will be informed as soon as the situation requires stage two implementation.
Large power users are being requested to reduce their power demand during the morning and evening peak periods of 5am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm respectively.
Loadshedding is the best alarm on earth though. You wake up at 4am, shower, make your coffee and get your life in order. By the time it’s 6am when the power goes, you’re ready to hit the office. https://t.co/kBRlINLsaJ
By Talent Gondo- Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba has implored parliament to fund at least 20 members of parliament to travel to South Africa for a “pricing investigations tour” which he said would help the country’s ailing economy.
He said during the National Assembly Wednesday adding that the 20 member team should comprise legislators from both Zanu Pf and opposition MDC including representation from independent parliamentarians.
Said Chinotimba:
” I rise on a point of privilege Hon. Speaker. I want to inform honorable Members, through you that I was in South Africa the whole of last week. What I witnessed there gave me an idea and if it is permissible for Hon. Members to be given a chance to go and make their investigations in terms of pricing in South Africa and that in Zimbabwe and how this operates.
We can take 10 members from the ruling party and 10 from the opposition just to have a tour and see how things are in South Africa.
I realise that our diesel is much cheaper than in South Africa. Their diesel is R16 yet their rand is 14:1US$. Here in Zimbabwe our US dollar is 8RTGs$ on the black market, while the interbank rate it is 5 RTGS$, which means that our diesel is cheaper than in South Africa by far.
What is needed here is cushion in terms of salaries for the people and workers. If Parliament is allowed to carry out investigations as to the hardships that we are facing – we send a delegation to do investigations and then come and report to this House without insulting each other. We are busy having misunderstandings and yet people are coming from South Africa to get diesel in Zimbabwe. Their bread is R15 which is a dollar plus whilst here bread is going for RTGS$3.50. So, we want to find out what the main challenge is, whether it is the black market or what.
This is my point of privilege – if it is possible through you Mr. Speaker, we should meet with the Head of State to enable us to go and conduct investigations and comparing with what happens in South Africa. I realised that our salaries should be in tandem with the cost of living.
When I consider our salaries, they are at the rate of 1:1 and that has not changed. So my request is that all Hon. Members understand me, even Hon. Mliswa, that if we were to send Hon. Mliswa and myself to go and tour, investigate and really find out what is happening, it will assist us to determine where we are as Zimbabwe. I think that would assist our economy a lot.”
By Own Correspondent- Payments to 200,000 retirees on Zimbabwe’s public pensions scheme could be delayed this month, the national social security agency said, after a foreign currency dispute erupted between local banks and a payments software vendor.
Zimbabwe is battling an extended foreign currency crisis which has affected key imports such as electricity, fuel and medicines. Many firms with foreign ownership are also struggling to repatriate dividends to non-resident shareholders.
Its National Social Security Authority, a mandatory public pension scheme, said on Thursday it could miss a June 13 deadline for paying its members because a software platform it uses to make the disbursements was demanding payment in foreign currency.
“Payouts that were due on (June 13) might be delayed as the provider of the payment platform used by the banks is demanding to be paid in foreign currency, failure of which it will suspend services to them,” the authority said in a statement.
An authority spokesman said the payment platform was run by London-listed investment company Cambria Africa. One of the company’s subsidiaries, Payserv Africa, provides payment solutions to banks and 5,000 corporate clients in Zimbabwe.
On Wednesday, it announced it had suspended services over non-payment of foreign currency fees.
“The Company lost U.S. $170,000 providing services to banks in March and April 2019. Banks collectively owe Payserv Africa over U.S. $470,000 for over 4 million transactions concluded since 1 May 2019. The company cannot allow further accumulation of possible losses,” Cambria said in a statement.
It said Zimbabwean banks had frustrated its attempts to maintain the U.S. dollar value of its services following the devaluation of its currency, the Real Time Gross Settlement Dollar (RTGS) dollar, on the interbank market.
The Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe, which represents the sector, was not immediately available to comment.
In February, Zimbabwe ditched a discredited 1:1 dollar peg for its dollar-surrogate bond notes and electronic dollars, merging them into the lower-value transitional currency called the RTGS dollar.
The central bank, which has tightly controlled foreign currency payments since May 2016, has moved to relax its hold, with most external payments now going through the banks and using a market-determined exchange rate.
The RTGS dollar has slid from a starting position of 2.5 RTGS dollars per U.S. dollar on Feb. 25 to 5.91 RTGS dollars to the dollar on Thursday on the official interbank market. It was trading significantly weaker, at 8.7 to the US dollar, on the black market on Thursday.-Reuters
By A Correspondent- Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said that reforms which are being implemented by the government are starting to bear fruit and are going to result in the reduction of prices of commodities starting next month.
This was revealed in a pre-recorded Governors’ Statement released during the 54th Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund currently underway at the Sipopo Conference Centre. Ncube said:
The reforms being implemented by Government under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme of October 2018 to 2020, are beginning to show positive developments as the twin deficit challenge of the fiscal and the current account are coming under control.
Government has started realising a budget surplus. On the other hand, with regards to prices, fiscal consolidation measures, reinforced with a tight monetary stance together with liberalisation of the exchange rate are containing inflationary pressures which are expected to slow down in the third quarter of the year.
The minister said that the government restrained expenditure by reducing the wage bill. He also said that there were also measures to improve the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Tax Management Revenue System which was effective in minimising revenue leakages. He also said that the tax enhancement measures such as the 2% contributed much to the likely reduction of prices.
LIVE UPDATE: Gonyet's passengers say the driver of the gonyet which hit Apostle Chiwenga said loudly, I want to hit (ndoda kumudhuma uyo) that driver (coming from opposite direction), he appears sleeping on the wheel. –
Gonyet passengers wondered how on earth the truck driver had discovered that the oncoming driver (Chiwenga) was sleeping. The gonyet driver then deliberately drove the truck across the middle line, so to hit the oncoming vehicle driven by Talent Chiwenga. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW
LIVE UPDATE: Lady inside Honda Fit tells ZimEye- "The red gonyet carrying cement) which hit Apostle Chiwenga's car causing the accident coming from Chaka direction did not stop, the driver continued driving and only stopped in Masvingo, "
LIVE UPDATE – Honda Fit lady, knows the gonyet only stopped in Masvingo because her sibling was a passenger in the cement gonyet, the sibling revealed all via phone. Honda Fit lady stayed at the scene for more than 30min without any ambulance coming.A businessman later helped TC
A Harare man has dragged his one night stand for stealing $845 RTGS during the duo’s encounter.
This emerged as Ishemuneshu Gombe hauled Ananji Kampila, 26, before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda accusing her of theft.
The matter was remanded to June 25.
Allegations are that on June 8, this year and around midnight, Gombe was at Tinas Bar in Dzivarasekwa Extension drinking beer where he met Kampila.
It is alleged that they both agreed to have sexual intercourse.
Further allegations are that the two agreed that Gombe would pay $6 RTGS to Kampila before the act.
Allegations are that after the two had sexual intercourse, Kampila left before Gombe discovered that his cell phone Samsung Tizen and US$30 were missing.
Gombe tried to locate Kampila but she was nowhere to be seen.
The total value of stolen goods was $845 and nothing was recovered.
By Own Correspondent- A Chitungwiza council employee, Darlington Mungoni was reportedly run over as he was holding a bin that he wanted to empty in the truck.
The truck was already reversing when the mishap occurred with Mungoni being crushed in the head where he died on the spot.
There was a sombre atmosphere as residents tried to come to terms with the fatality as Mungoni’s body lay crushed by the wheel.
Council spokesperson Lovemore Meya said it was an unfortunate incident.
He said:
“It was an unfortunate incident that happened at around 6:15am.
“Council is going to meet all the funeral expenses. We are going to put measures such that we avoid the incident from occurring again.”
Recently, one of the overloaded garbage trucks hooked and tore through Zesa overhead cables along Herbert Chitepo Street which nearly injured people who reacted swiftly.
By Own Correspondent- Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube has said that reforms which are being implemented by the government are starting to bear fruit and are going to result in the reduction of prices of commodities starting next month.
This was revealed in a pre-recorded Governors’ Statement released during the 54th Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund currently underway at the Sipopo Conference Centre. Ncube said:
The reforms being implemented by Government under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme of October 2018 to 2020, are beginning to show positive developments as the twin deficit challenge of the fiscal and the current account are coming under control.
Government has started realising a budget surplus. On the other hand, with regards to prices, fiscal consolidation measures, reinforced with a tight monetary stance together with liberalisation of the exchange rate are containing inflationary pressures which are expected to slow down in the third quarter of the year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The minister said that the government restrained expenditure by reducing the wage bill. He also said that there were also measures to improve the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Tax Management Revenue System which was effective in minimising revenue leakages. He also said that the tax enhancement measures such as the 2% contributed much to the likely reduction of prices.
By Talent Gondo- Health and Child Care Parliamentary Committee Chairperson Ruth Labode has told parliament that the country is running out of stock of ARVs despite the Health minister’s assurances that the country had adequate stock to last till next year.
She attributed this to failure by government to service its Global Fund contribution which was now almost US$400 million.
Said Labode:
“Three months ago, I raised a point of privilege here in relation to the Global Fund to the effect that if we as Zimbabwe did not pay our contribution to the Global Fund, we would lose the money which was almost to the tune of $400 million. Right now, I am coming from a meeting with UNICEF where I learnt that the money has not been paid.
Secondly, we are running out of ARVS and there are some drugs that have totally run out and that is something that we really cannot afford. We urgently require $7 million to procure those drugs.
The unfortunate thing with ARVS is that if you do not take them for three months, you develop resistance, meaning that now you must go onto a more expensive drug. So we urgently need to make a move on this.
The team from Geneva came and met with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. He committed himself and they even went back and said that if Zimbabwe can deliver on what they have promised, we will increase their allocation to US$600 million.
There is also the other issue, the implication of the 2% tax. The Global Fund is exempted from all forms of taxes from every country that is part of the Global Fund which Zimbabwe is. This includes this new 2% tax, so the payment of this tax by Global Fund entails that they must stop funding Zimbabwe because when we signed and agreed, we said that it shall not be taxed; it is meant for drugs and for Zimbabweans. It is for everything else except to increase our revenue.
So I think that right now, a Statutory Instrument is required to give effect to this waiver on the Global Fund. They (Global Fund team) has met the minister who has committed himself to doing it but we need to do it like yesterday.”
Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo is on record revealing that the country has “adequate supplies of ARVs that could last until 2020”.
INFORMATION ministry deputy minister, Energy Mutodi’s struggling company National Housing Development Trust (NHDT), risks having its bank accounts garnished after failing to settle a RTGS$40 000 debt owed to its former employee, Reason Sibanda.
Sibanda has petitioned the High Court to order its Sheriff to execute his powers and attach one of NHDT’s properties after the company disobeyed a court order instructing the settling of the debt last month.
However, Sibanda has since realised the NHDT does not have an assets of value and the ex-employee now wants Mutodi’s company bank accounts garnished.
NHDT was cited as the first respondent while the Civil Service Commission is the second respondent.
The third respondent in the application is The Paymaster-Salary Service Bureau which is responsible for processing salaries and benefits for NHDT members while the High Court Sheriff was cited as the fourth respondent.
“I obtained a Labour Court order under case number LC/H/APP/789/18 against the first respondent in which it was ordered to pay me a total of RTGS$40 000
“However, the said judgment registering the arbitral award is still unsatisfied in the amount of RTGS$40 000. I now wish to instruct the first respondent’s property to raise the amount stated in the writ of execution and ensure that the judgment is satisfied,” Sibanda wrote.
“However, the first respondent has no known assets of value and no assets which are able to satisfy the amount stated in the writ of execution of RTGS$40 000.”
In light of this Sibanda suggested that NHDT’s bank account be garnished.
“It follows that any such funds as are held and to be held by the garnishee on behalf of the first respondent should be attached to ensure that the applicant is not prejudiced as the first respondent has no other known assets of value that can satisfy the registered arbitrary award.
“I am therefore left with no option but to approach this Honourable Court for relief and make an application for garnishee order against the first the first respondent’s money held in its bank accounts with the garnishee,” he said.
Owned by Mutodi, NHDT is a housing company which receives subscriptions from its members through the Civil Service Commission’s Salary Services Bureau each month.
The money is deposited direct into NHDT‘s bank accounts.
LIVE UPDATE: Gonyet's passengers say the driver of the gonyet which hit Apostle Chiwenga said loudly, I want to hit (ndoda kumudhuma uyo) that driver (coming from opposite direction), he appears sleeping on the wheel. –
Gonyet passengers wondered how on earth the truck driver had discovered that the oncoming driver (Chiwenga) was sleeping. The gonyet driver then deliberately drove the truck across the middle line, so to hit the oncoming vehicle driven by Talent Chiwenga. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW
LIVE UPDATE: Lady inside Honda Fit tells ZimEye- "The red gonyet carrying cement) which hit Apostle Chiwenga's car causing the accident coming from Chaka direction did not stop, the driver continued driving and only stopped in Masvingo, "
LIVE UPDATE – Honda Fit lady, knows the gonyet only stopped in Masvingo because her sibling was a passenger in the cement gonyet, the sibling revealed all via phone. Honda Fit lady stayed at the scene for more than 30min without any ambulance coming.A businessman later helped TC
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has extended an olive branch to MDC-T President Dr Thokozani Khupe and told her that she is wanted inside the MDC family.
Chamisa used the occasion of the funeral memorial of the late MDC MP for Glen View, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, to push for closing gaps with his rival Khupe.
Former MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora and former vice president Elias Mudzuri are very senior party members who ought to be respected, Chamisa said, raising suspicions that the two could be on the verge of being appointed to some posts in the party.
Chamisa was speaking at the funeral of the late Vimbai Tsvangirai Java at the City Sports Stadium.
Said Chamisa, “I honour you Dr Khupe. Dr Khupe once more I salute. You were my Deputy Prime Minister while I was Minister, you were my Vice President while I was your Spokesperson.
“Yesterday I told Dr Khupe yesterday that we will unite one day. The Seniority of Dr Khupe is not defined by Congress and her seniority is not questionable.”
Chamisa also invited on stage Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri and told the mourners that they are very senior in the party.
LIVE UPDATE: Gonyet's passengers say the driver of the gonyet which hit Apostle Chiwenga said loudly, I want to hit (ndoda kumudhuma uyo) that driver (coming from opposite direction), he appears sleeping on the wheel. –
Gonyet passengers wondered how on earth the truck driver had discovered that the oncoming driver (Chiwenga) was sleeping. The gonyet driver then deliberately drove the truck across the middle line, so to hit the oncoming vehicle driven by Talent Chiwenga. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW
LIVE UPDATE: Lady inside Honda Fit tells ZimEye- "The red gonyet carrying cement) which hit Apostle Chiwenga's car causing the accident coming from Chaka direction did not stop, the driver continued driving and only stopped in Masvingo, "
LIVE UPDATE – Honda Fit lady, knows the gonyet only stopped in Masvingo because her sibling was a passenger in the cement gonyet, the sibling revealed all via phone. Honda Fit lady stayed at the scene for more than 30min without any ambulance coming.A businessman later helped TC
263 chat|Former Rhumba musician and now Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has taken his praise and worshipping gear up by showering President Emmerson Mnangagwa with praises after his scarf was bought for a staggering RTGS$250 000 at a Warriors Fundraising Dinner last night.
Mnangagwa’s trademark scarf was bought by a fuel tycoon, Kudakwashe Tagwirei as part of efforts to raise funds for the Warriors who are in Egypt for the 2019 edition of the African Cup of Nations Finals.
Posting on his microblogging site, Twitter, Mutodi who is no stranger to controversial remarks, said the scarf’s asking price proved how Mnangagwa was popular.
“President ED Mnangagwa’s scarf was yesterday auctioned for a whopping RTGS$250 000.00 at the Warriors fundraising dinner proving the President’s popularity. A tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei wrestled the scarf away after out-bidding another businessman Tinoda Machakaire,” he said.
Mutodi’s statement, ironically, comes at a time when Mnangagwa’s popularity is waning due to a rapid economic collapse which has seen prices of basic commodities shooting up while inflation has also skyrocketed.
The RTGs currency has also continued to lose value against the US dollar which has given rise to exorbitant black market prices of the greenback.
Fuel prices have risen twice in the past month leaving the already struggling citizens languishing in poverty.
This has raised the ire of citizens as they accuse Mnangagwa of failing to proffer solutions to the ailing economy.
The opposition MDC has threatened to take to the streets to force Mnangagwa out of power if the situation does not improve.
“…we want to remove Mnangagwa and his government, not the civil servants. We want to remove those that use the country, not those used by the politicians,” MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was quoted saying yesterday at the funeral of the late Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java.
CITE|People in Matabeleland want corporal punishment to be included in the proposed Education Bill, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education has revealed.
The Education Act [Chapter 25:04] is being amended and the Education Amendment Bill [H.B. 1, 2019] went through the 2nd reading in the Nation Assembly yesterday.
Addressing the National Assembly, Tuesday, Committee member MP Marian Chombo said people in Matabeleland would be disappointed if corporal punishment is not included in the bill.
“Generally, in so far as the people of Matabeleland are concerned, we are going to pass the Bill and remove corporal punishment as per the Constitution, but they are going to be extremely disappointed if we should exclude corporal punishment from the Bill,” she said.
She highlighted parents were concerned with the deteriorating behaviour among children if corporal punishment is to be banned.
“On the issue of corporal punishment, they said, ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’.
“They gave us examples in the Unites States where corporal punishment was abolished and right now they are clamouring to get back corporal punishment into the system”.
She said church organisations were also against removing corporal punishment.
Chombo said people were also concerned with the issue of Shona speaking teachers deployed in Matabeleland.
“They were very bitter about having the Shona speaking teachers especially in ECD classes,” she said.
“They were complaining that they have local universities and they have trained Matabeleland students but when it comes to deployment, they said they were deployed with Shona speaking teachers and how do you expect a Shona speaking teacher to be able to teach an ECD child?”
Chombo said they also were not tolerant of pregnant girls attending classes as they would be a bad example to other pupils.
“We went to Insiza, on the issue of pregnant children, a woman came and demonstrated, and she said you parliamentarians, you expect a pregnant child to be sitting next to somebody who is not pregnant. What if she starts throwing up?
“They saw it as a way of even encouraging other pupils to get pregnant, so it was disheartening that it was coming from women. They were saying they do not support girls to continue school when they get pregnant”.
The Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga-led committee held public hearings on the Bill last month.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has issued a statement advising members of the public that the message currently circulating on social media purporting that there is a People’s Wholesale and Retail market at 80 Samora Machel Avenue, is fake and misleading.
The Central Bank clarified that 80 Samora Machel Avenue is the Headquarters of the Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would like to advise members of the public that the message currently circulating on social media purporting that there is a People’s Wholesale and Retail market at 80 Samora Machel Avenue, is fake and misleading.
— Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (@ReserveBankZIM) June 13, 2019
“The RBZ wishes to take this opportunity to advise the public to disregard the fake message as it creates unnecessary anxiety to unsuspecting members of the public. This is unwarranted cyber abuse of social media.” The Bank said.
Zimbabwean government recently announced that it will be implementing People’s Wholesale and Retail markets all over the country.
LIVE UPDATE: Gonyet's passengers say the driver of the gonyet which hit Apostle Chiwenga said loudly, I want to hit (ndoda kumudhuma uyo) that driver (coming from opposite direction), he appears sleeping on the wheel. –
Gonyet passengers wondered how on earth the truck driver had discovered that the oncoming driver (Chiwenga) was sleeping. The gonyet driver then deliberately drove the truck across the middle line, so to hit the oncoming vehicle driven by Talent Chiwenga. HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW
LIVE UPDATE: Lady inside Honda Fit tells ZimEye- "The red gonyet carrying cement) which hit Apostle Chiwenga's car causing the accident coming from Chaka direction did not stop, the driver continued driving and only stopped in Masvingo, "
LIVE UPDATE – Honda Fit lady, knows the gonyet only stopped in Masvingo because her sibling was a passenger in the cement gonyet, the sibling revealed all via phone. Honda Fit lady stayed at the scene for more than 30min without any ambulance coming.A businessman later helped TC
Thoroughly Bashed: Former Bindura mayor, Innocent Zvigumbu
There was drama at a council meeting in Bindura after two council officials pounced on Former Bindura mayor, Innocent Zvigumbu, after he had made threats to expose the duo’s shenanigans.
According to the Newsday, the two officials Lovemore Warurama (39) and Naison Machingauta (57), appeared allegedly assaulted Zvigumbu last year in January after he had threatened to spill the beans on them.
Appearing before Bindura magistrate Maria Msika, facing charges of assault, Warurama and Machingauta were granted free bail.
Prosecuting, Edward Katsvairo alleged that on January 8 last year, around 4pm, Zvigumbu was chairing a full council meeting in the presence of the two officials.
While the meeting was in progress, Zvigumbu said he had an audit report exposing Warurama and Machingauta’s shenanigans.
An argument arose when Warurama denied the allegations and Zvigumbu decided to cancel the meeting and stormed out.
After leaving the chambers, Warurama followed Zvigumbu, tripped him and sat on him. Machingauta allegedly tried to hit Zvigumbu with a chair, but was restrained by another councillor.
WOMEN across Mzansi were left disappointed when gospel star Dumi Mkokstad got married.
And they soon took to social media to ask people’s bae Mbuyiseni Ndlozi not to disappoint them too.
After the EFF spokesman posted a photo of himself on Instagram, a number of women commented on how handsome he looked and pleaded with him not to get married.
A woman called Nokwazi said she always attended Dumi’s events in the hope she’d get to talk to him.
“That would have been our chance to start a relationship, but now he’s off the market and my hope is Mbuyiseni,” she said.
She said she would attend EFF events in the hopes of meeting him.
“I just wish for eye contact. I know the connection will develop from there,” she said.
Mazah Dlamini wrote: “You know this guy, he has that thing, that hot sauce.” Mbuyiseni could not be reached at the time of going to print. His phone went to voicemail and he didn’t reply to SMSes.
In Mike Tyson’s 2013 memoir Undisputed Truth, the famed boxer gives a brutally honest retelling of his life. In one section, he talks about his highly publicized relationship with Robin Givens, sharing a story of the model’s alleged involvement with Brad Pitt.
In the memoir, the now-52-year-old fighter claimed to have gone to Givens’ house after their 1989 divorce, catching her and actor Pitt in the driveway—and in bed together.
On a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, Givens refuted some of Iron Mike’s claims. “Pulling up in the driveway, that part is true,” Givens told host Andy Cohen. “I didn’t read the book, but I was told he says he caught us in bed, which never happened. Never, ever, ever happened.”
What exactly were Pitt and Givens doing in the driveway? She said that the two were “coming from like a screening or something.” Pitt once made a guest appearance on her ’80s sitcom Head of the Class, so it is entirely plausible the two were acquainted.
Cohen brings up Tyson’s claims that the Ad Astra star exclaimed “Don’t hit me, don’t hit me,” when confronted. “No,” she answered. “Does that sound like Brad? I mean, Brad’s got some swag, you know what I mean?”
Tyson’s short-lived union with Givens ended after she revealed she was the victim of domestic violence for months. Givens spoke to Wendy Williams about why it took her time to file for divorce, despite the multitude of threats she received.
“I think sometimes as people, women—perhaps men experience the same thing—you have a hard time sticking up for yourself, but it’s easier to stick up for people you love,” she explained. “I remember being at our house in New Jersey in a closet off the kitchen, and we were all in the closet, four of us hiding [from Tyson]. And I remember my sister bawling saying, ‘How long are you gonna put us all through this?'”
The Warriors fan travelling to Egypt by road, Alvin Zhakata, has reportedly been denied entry into Ethiopia.
Zhakata and his South African counterpart Botha Msila are taking a road adventure across Africa from Cape Town and hopes to reach Cairo before the Afcon tournament.
They are currently on the Kenyan border with Ethiopia, and according to Star FM journalist Yvonne Mangunda, the duo has been denied entry into Ethiopia because of visa issues.
Mangunda says she has been in contact with Zhakata who informed her that they are stuck at the border as the Ethiopian immigration laws now require visas for Zimbabweans and South Africans travelling by road.
Besides the visa issue, Botha also revealed on Twitter that the other challenge they have faced in their Cape to Cairo road adventure is communication with the locals, especially in East Africa where Swahili is widely spoken.
By Talent Gondo- Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said that reforms which are being implemented by the government are starting to bear fruit and are going to result in the reduction of prices of commodities starting next month.
This was revealed in a pre-recorded Governors’ Statement released during the 54th Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund currently underway at the Sipopo Conference Centre. Ncube said:
The reforms being implemented by Government under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme of October 2018 to 2020, are beginning to show positive developments as the twin deficit challenge of the fiscal and the current account are coming under control.
Government has started realising a budget surplus. On the other hand, with regards to prices, fiscal consolidation measures, reinforced with a tight monetary stance together with liberalisation of the exchange rate are containing inflationary pressures which are expected to slow down in the third quarter of the year.
The minister said that the government restrained expenditure by reducing the wage bill. He also said that there were also measures to improve the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Tax Management Revenue System which was effective in minimising revenue leakages. He also said that the tax enhancement measures such as the 2% contributed much to the likely reduction of prices.
Mali risk disqualification from the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals which are set to start on June 21 in Egypt.
This follows after the government interfered in the running of football in that country in 2017. The then sports minister dissolved the Mali Football Federation executive committee and replaced it with a provisional board.
FIFA disowned the new board and appointed a standardization committee to run the federation’s affairs.
A general meeting slated for 15 June will take place to approve committee orders and elect a new president of the federation.
Should there be no consensus after the meeting, FIFA will suspend Mali, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in AFCON.
The Premier Soccer League has released names of players on suspension this weekend and non of them are from either Highlanders or Dynamos ahead of their crunch battle of Zimbabwe this weekend.
Five players will be on suspension when the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action continues in Match-day12 this weekend.
The players accumulated three yellow cards and will not be eligible to feature for their teams in the coming round.
Here is the list of suspended players in Match-day 12.
Praise Tonha (Triangle United) Wilmore Chimbetu (Herentals) Nelson Ketala (Ngezi Platinum Stars) Guide Goddard (Chicken Inn) Gift Saunyama (Black Rhinos)
Highlanders and Dynamos lock horns at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. The two teams are not at their best this season but none of that is expected to take the intrigue of the tie.
Senegal have announced a star-studded final squad for the 2019 Afcon.
The selection has several big names including Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueya, highly rated Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Keita Balde of Inter Milan.
The Teranga Lions are in Group C along with Tanzania, Kenya and Algeria.
Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Rennes,France), Alfred Gomis (Spal,Italy) and Edouard Mendy (Reims, France).
Midfielders: Alfred Ndiaye (Malaga, Spain), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England), Keprin Diatta (Club Brugge,Belgium), Pape Alioune Ndiaye (Galatasaray, Turkey) and Henri Saivet (Bursaspor, Turkey).
Farai Dziva|Algeria national team player Haris Belkebla has been dropped from the Afcon squad after he made an inappropriate gesture during a live stream.
The 25-year pulled down his trousers and showed off his backside.
Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi then took disciplinary measures and dropped the midfielder who had gotten his first national team call-up.
“The national team coach Djamel Belmadi has decided to exclude Algeria midfielder Haris Belkebla from the Africa Cup of Nations training camp,” the Algerian Football Federation said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The coach’s decision was to maintain discipline within the group, which he considers paramount.”
Belkebla has since apologised and wished his teammates a great campaign at the 2019 Afcon tournament.
Meanwhile, USM Alger midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa expected to serve as his replacement.
Farai Dziva|Apostle Talent Chiwenga is still alive and he is visibly in pain.
Chiwenga who was involved in a horrific accident that claimed the life of his wife yesterday said some vehicles were trailing his car from all the way as he was driving back to Harare.
“I was bleeding profusely and the people who were trailing our vehicle thought I was already dead.
APOSTLE CHIWENGA'S ACCIDENT, REAL CAR CRASH, OR ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT?
I was trapped in the wreckage and when the people who were trailing our car arrived they did not shoot me because they assumed I was dead,” said Chiwenga.
He added:” The accident was not normal but I hope God will forgive those behind the accident.”
