WARRIORS legend Agent “Ajira” Sawu says Sunday Chidzambwa’s men should brace for a hostile and intimidating reception in their 2019 AFCON opener against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on June 21.
However, Sawu — a goalscorer of note during the Warriors’ Dream Team era under German coach Reinhard Fabisch — believes with the right frame of mind, the current crop of players could post a famous result against the record seven-time African champions.
Sawu yesterday went down memory lane to that unforgettable visit to Egypt before a 120 000-strong crowd in 1993, where he scored the match opener inside the first five minutes in an ill-fated encounter.
The result of the match, a 2-1 win for the hosts, was later nullified by FIFA after ugly scenes of crowd trouble. The Warriors made the most of the replay and knocked the Egyptians out of the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a 0-0 stalemate at a new neutral venue in Lyon, France.
Captain Knowledge Musona and his men, Sawu said, should not be intimidated by the Pharaohs’ history, but rather draw inspiration from the fact that the Warriors — in the Dream Team era — once erected a barrier which the Egyptians found too high to scale.State media
Economist and former MDC official Mr Eddie Cross says Zimbabwe’s economic fundamentals are now sound and there is no need for speculators to continue with their wayward behaviour on the foreign currency parallel market which is affecting the poor.
In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Mr Cross urged the Government to take stern measures to contain the forex parallel market that has brought anguish to the majority.
The prevailing volatility of the parallel market is blamed on speculators for influencing the exchange rate without economic justification.
Mr Cross said if macro-economic fundamentals were constant, as the situation on the ground shows, the rates should not exceed RTGS$4 to US$1.
“The currency speculators are manipulating the exchange rate and are using the opportunity created by these activities to make millions at the expense of all Zimbabweans.State media
Newly-appointed Zanu-PF secretary for War Veterans Affairs Douglas Mahiya has said the United Nations (UN) should play an integral part in influencing the removal of illegal sanctions in Zimbabwe.
In an interview in Harare yesterday, Mahiya said the UN should intervene in the removal of the embargo as it has adversely affected the country’s economy.
“There is need for the UN to be a player in calling for the removal of sanctions in Zimbabwe, which have a detriment to its economy.
“As war veterans, we are calling upon the UN to influence the removal of sanctions in Zimbabwe, since it is affecting the generality of the people,” he said.
He described sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries as a weapon of mass destruction.
“During my tenure in office, we are going to petition the UN so that they can influence the removal of sanctions in Zimbabwe.
“As war veterans we are going to call the UN to act in the same manner they have acted on weapons of mass destruction.
“Weapons of mass destruction have caused havoc in the Western world. The West and the Eastern world used weapons of mass destruction during wars. They are not accepted according to the Charter of the United Nations, hence they should be treated as equal to sanctions,” he said.State media
Government says national political dialogue recently launched by President Mnangagwa was not a power sharing negotiation or an initiative towards the creation of Government of National Unity (GNU), but a platform to engender a culture of unity and working together in the country.
The State is also regretting the actions of certain political actors who seek to project Zimbabwe as beset by “unresolved political questions” when last year’s elections and a Constitutional Court ruling on the Presidential put to bed the issue of the country’s leadership.
Zanu-PF, led by President Mnangagwa won the harmonised elections, beating the opposition MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa who has, however, continued politicking and electioneering on the basis of what he calls “crisis of legitimacy”.
In a meeting with local media editors yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said challenges confronting the country require collective efforts and a unity of purpose at all levels, which was the basis of national dialogue.
“It is for this noble cause that His Excellency, the President, called for national dialogue across all political parties so we put our minds together to confront our challenges and work as a nation to move the country forward.
“I want to take this opportunity to clarify that dialogue is not the same thing with power sharing negotiations. Every time we go for elections to elect a government, losers selectively choose components of the election results to accept and reject,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.State media
FOUR Hwange men who allegedly teamed up and fatally assaulted a man they suspected to be a thief have appeared in court facing a murder charge.
Twin brothers Ashford and Joseph Nasilele (34), Greatjoy Nyoni (25) and Brian Ndlovu (23) were arrested on Friday after they used switches to assault Justice Tshuma.
The four, who all reside at house No20 Lothian Road, Raylton in Hwange were not asked to plead when they appeared before Hwange magistrate, Ms Barbara Phiri. They were remanded in custody to June 25.
Initially police investigators were told that Tshuma went to number 20 Lothian Road intending to seek services of a hooker and found another man in the room, leading to a fight. The house is allegedly used as a brothel by commercial sex workers.
Further investigations, however, showed that Tshuma was new in the suburb where he intended to see a pastor from an unnamed church and was attacked while trying to locate the pastor’s house.
Prosecuting, Mr Vumindaba Mangena said the accused used switches to assault Tshuma all over the body until he became unconscious.
“On June 7 around 3AM, a woman identified as Sitali Nasilele was awakened by noise of the now deceased who was screaming for help outside her yard. She went to check and found Ashford Nasilele holding the now deceased by the hand questioning him about what he was doing in the yard,” said the prosecutor.
Nyoni came out of his room and accused the now deceased of being a thief, the court was told.
Joseph and Ndlovu also came out of their rooms and the four plucked switches from a mango tree and started assaulting a helpless Tshuma before letting him go.
The court was told that Tshuma later returned to the house and begged his four attackers to take him to hospital as he was in deep pain.
Instead, the four allegedly further assaulted him until he became unconscious. They allegedly dragged him out of the yard and dumped his body at a nearby dumpsite.
Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday paid her condolences to the Tsvangirai and Java families following the death of MDC-T founder Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s daughter, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java.
Mrs Tsvangirai-Java died this week at the age of 36 from injuries sustained in a car crash last month.
Speaking from the late MDC-T leader’s residence where mourners were gathered and paying their last respects, the First Lady said she was pained by the passing on of Mrs Tsvangirai-Java.
“I am pained by the passing on of Vimbai, who died at 36,” she said. “She was too young to die, I am pained. Whenever a person dies, it’s painful. But I say to the family, be strong.
“To all the women, I say Vimbai is gone, she had a role to play in society, as you know women have multiple tasks in a society which include among others, looking after their families, preaching love and unifying people, all which comes from women. As women of this nation, we have lost one of our own and to Vimbai we say, go well.”
The First Lady said death knows no political party and when one dies, a new register is opened in heaven which is apolitical.State media
Government says national political dialogue recently launched by President Mnangagwa was not a power sharing negotiation or an initiative towards the creation of Government of National Unity (GNU) but a platform to engender a culture of unity and working together in the country.
The State is also regretting the actions of certain political actors who seek to project Zimbabwe as beset by “unresolved political questions” when last year’s elections and a Constitutional Court ruling on the Presidential election put to bed the issue of the country’s leadership.
In a meeting with editors from diffferent media houses yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said challenges confronting the country require collective effort and unity of purpose at all levels, which was the basis of national dialogue.
“It is for this noble cause that His Excellency, the President, called for national dialogue across all political parties so we put our minds together to confront our challenges and work as a nation to move the country forward.State media
A 39-year-old Botswana man has been jailed for an effective 12 years in South Africa for killing his Zimbabwean girlfriend whom he accused of terminating the pregnancy of their unborn baby without his consent.
Joseph Mafifi of Moletemane area in Botswana is accused of committing the murder in Lephalale area in Limpopo Province last year.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the man was convicted on one count of murder when he appeared at the Polokwane High Court on Monday morning.
He identified the Zimbabwean woman as Simangele Sibanda, who died due to multiple stab wounds at the hands of Mafifi.State media
THE Attorney-General’s Office is in the process of drafting a Bill to reform the Zimbabwe Republic Police whose name will change to the Zimbabwe Police Service in line with its rebranding thrust, as reforms of State institutions under the New Dispensation continue to gather momentum.
Government’s decision to reform the police force has also seen it implementing recommendations made by the commission of inquiry that was chaired by former South Africa president Kgalema Motlanthe.
The seven-member Commission that looked into the 2018 post-election violence recommended equipping the police with the necessary skills and capacity to deal with rioters, further training in order to be professional and non-partisan in the interest of national cohesion, the protection of all citizens, as well as preventing corporal failings in the future.
In its First Quarter Treasury Bulletin Highlights, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said the country has made progress in implementing institutional and political reforms.
“In February 2019, the Police Act amendments became effective and finally being in line with the Constitution,” it said.
“This will see the country’s Police Force — the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) being rebranded to the Zimbabwe Police Service (ZPS) as a professional police responsible to the needs of the society.
“The Bill is being drafted by the Attorney-General.” ZRP has started retraining its officers so that they conduct their duties in a professional manner.State media
Wadyajena Boasts That “Yellow Machine” Costs More Than US $ 210k
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy Justice Mayor Wadyajena(Gokwe- Nembudziya MP) has boasted of the fact that the posh vehicle he bought costs more than US $ 210 000.
“Great work on the investigative journalism Cde …
… delivered with lightning speed.
You’re every bit as good as they say you are.
1 correction on $210k, you’d have to double that! I became a Milli in my early 20s, that yellow super machine is hard earned, legitimately too!” Wadyajena boasted.
A Kudzai Mutisi also concurred with Wadyajena’s remarks:
“If, as Zimbabweans, we can’t celebrate wealth, then we ought to celebrate poverty.
This thing of demonizing those who have made it big in life should stop. What motivates all of us to work hard is our inherent desire to live in comfort.
Farai Dziva|Prominent MDC activist and musician Dred Field Marshall Rekless has urged Apostle B Java to remain strong – following the death of his wife, Vimbai Tsvangirai.
See Dred Reckless’ statement:
Apostle B. Java. I am happy that you belong to a Man who knew us when we were still in the wombs of our mothers.
This means you understand how He works. He gave you a friend, a flower that you looked at and admire every morning before you leave your house, the reason to rush back home before dark. Now that it is no longer in your possession, look up to the Heavens and say, “You’re still my God”.
There is still a reason to sing a song of praise. You are the chosen one, you have carried this cross for a month when your wife was struggling for her life in hospital. You carried the cross with faith and hope that Your Vimbai will be back home but God was dedicated otherwise. He will never give us a load too much to bear because He is our Father.
Be strong Apostle until your wife comes back to take you after preparing a place besides her in Heaven.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said that under the Second Republic, sport plays a critical role in uniting the people as well as being a vehicle for development.
He said this last night at the fundraising dinner for the national senior men’s football team, the Warriors, who are set for their fourth Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
Mnangagwa noted that there was a place for sport under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).
He challenged the Sports and Recreation Commission to put in place concrete strategies that will ensure the realisation of sport’s role within the country’s overall vision. Further, he called for corrupt-free administration of the sector.
“In line with the Transitional Stability Programme, my Government remains committed to availing more resources to all sporting disciplines. We recognise that the entire sports sector has immense potential to contribute to our attainment of Vision 2030.
“However, there is need to inculcate ethical and sound business practices if our sports sector is to grow and be a source of employment, and empowerment, for many of our young people.
“The integrity of the leaders of this sector is necessary. If the public have confidence in the integrity of the leaders in this sector, they will contribute generously.
“I challenge stakeholders in the sporting fraternity to embrace good governance in the administration of sport. May I reiterate once again that corruption of any kind in any sport is not acceptable, please resist the temptation of corruption. Let us build a modern, transparent sports sector.’’State media
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has hailed respected church leaders who attended Vimbai Tsvangirai’s emotional send off rally in Glen View, Harare today.
Said Chamisa:”Please respect the men and women of God who have come hear to mourn with us.
Do not call them all sorts of names.They are here for one purpose – to comfort us.”
He added:” I acknowledge the presence of respected people of God, Bishop Bismark, Prophet Freddy and others, thanks you for supporting us.”
Farai Dziva|They say disability is not inability- the adage sums up Greatman’s scenario.
Below is Sean Bwanya’s statement(he is the manager to Tongai Gwaze aka the Greatman)
This young man has a very special talent and it is this talent that changed my opinion on people with disabilities.
People tend to discriminate them due to their conditions but Greatman came with a light that shined in my eyes and made me realize that disability is not inability.
Now I have an understanding that anyone can do anything inspite of his or her physical ability.
Hence Greatman is a living example of greatness, so says his name and I love him for that.
I first met him three years ago at the genesis of his music carrier when he was recording his first album titled Chikara Muno.
I was thrilled by his confidence, lyrical content and his eagerness to succeed. So I decided to be part of his music carrier and try to help him to plant what i might call the seed of happiness, not only for him but for his audience as a whole.
As we all know, whenever something great happens opposition pops up out of the blue to try and discourage and cause misunderstandings but fortunately I overcame them by acting in a professional way and I gave a blind eye to all opposition.
My goal is to push Greatman forward till he reaches the top of Mount Everest.
I’m fully employed, which makes me a bread winner in my family. I’m a parent as well, and I have dedicated myself to Greatman’s work to such an extent that I have made him my responsibility just as much as my family. In other words he is like a son to me even though he is the boss when it comes to music.
So far he did a single collaboration with Sulumani Chimbetu and we never knew you might see a collaboration soon with a South African based artist, the lce n Roses boss.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said he will concentrate on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
Addressing party supporters at a send off rally for Vimbai Tsvangirai at Harvest House Chamisa said:”
Vimbai had a double calling.Her wish was to free Zimbabwe from tyranny.
Just like Vimbai, I have a double calling.I will concentrate on preaching the gospel of salvation after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
That is my calling,” said Chamisa.
“Vimbai was a pastor and she joined politics to fight for the emancipation of the people Zimbabwe.”
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said he will concentrate on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
Addressing party supporters at a send off rally for Vimbai Tsvangirai at Harvest House Chamisa said:”
Vimbai had a double calling.Her wish was to free Zimbabwe from tyranny.
Just like Vimbai, I have a double calling.I will concentrate on preaching the gospel of salvation after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
That is my calling,” said Chamisa.
“Vimbai was a pastor and she joined politics to fight for the emancipation of the people Zimbabwe.”
Farai Dziva| Masvingo State Minister Ezra Chadzamira has claimed that CSC will soon resume operations.
The closed its doors more than a decade ago.
Last year Emmerson Mnangagwa officially announced that CSC was ready resume operations but the company’s doors have remained closed.
“The contract has been signed between CSC and the investor, Bousted Beef (Pvt) Ltd and before the end of the year operations would resume,” Chadzamira told a state run publication.
He further claimed skeletal staff would be recruited soon for the purposes of maintenance of machinery while more than 600 employees would get back their jobs.
“So far most tenants have left the company buildings.
We are happy that the meat giant is going to retain its workforce and hire new personnel.
We expect at least 600 employees to be working at the local plant in the next six months while a few would first be hired for maintenance of the machinery before full operations,” he said.
By Talent Gondo- Zenzele Ndebele, a journalist has produced a documentary which spotlights the January fuel protests that rocked the country leaving a trail of destruction and subsequently a heavy crackdown by security agencies.
The documentary which is 45 minutes long dubbed “Zimbabwe shutdown the January protests” will be showcased at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel at 5pm.
Bulawayo was declared the most affected by the protests which saw over 800 people being arrested and dragged to court.
The producer of the documentary described it as a revisit of what exactly transpired.
He said:
In January, there were demonstrations that were serious in Bulawayo and Harare, people looting shops and there were riots. What followed after that massive looting was also a massive crackdown by the police and army.
The documentary is captivating and terrific, it summarises everything that happened since we followed events as they were happening.
We notified the police according to the law. We had a meeting with them and they didn’t have a problem. We don’t expect any disruption at the event because they gave us a go-ahead. But they actually promised that they will send their details to give us protection.
There were allegations that the army tortured and raped civilians during the shutdown and the documentary is expected to reveal what really transpired.
By A Correspondent- A seven-men gang of suspected armed robbers allegedly raided an illegal money changer at his home in Bulawayo before torturing him into revealing where he had hidden cash.
The suspects allegedly got away with US$5 930, RTGS $1 500, R33 800, two cell phones and two cars – a Honda Fit and Toyota Hiace.
Mkhululi Ndlovu (28) and Shepherd Ndlovu (29), whose five accomplices are still at large, allegedly wore balaclavas and gloves when they robbed Mr Tasara Muzvarigwa (38) from Pelandaba suburb.
The two pleaded not guilty to armed robbery when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Trynos Hutawashe, yesterday.
They were remanded to June 27 for trial.
The prosecutor, Mr Jethro Mada, said sometime in April 2019 at 7.30PM, the gang raided Mr Muzvarigwa whom they suspected to be a foreign currency dealer.
“The duo in the company of five others got inside Mr Muzvarigwa’s yard through the main gate. They gained entry into the house through an unlocked but closed door,” said Mr Mada.
He said Mr Muzvarigwa was sleeping while his children were watching television in the lounge when the gang stormed into his house and ordered everyone to lie down.
“The gang tied their hands with cable tiers and curtain cables at the same time threatening to shoot anyone who failed to comply,” said Mr Mada.
He said the suspects demanded money from Mr Muzvarigwa and indicated that they knew that he had a large sum of money kept in his house.
Mr Mada said Mr Muzvarigwa, who feared for his life and safety of his family, immediately showed the robbers a bag where he kept his money.
Upon seeing that it had bond notes, they kicked Mr Muzvarigwa demanding US dollars, the court heard.
Mr Mada said the gang ransacked the house, turning everything upside down and found a bunch of US dollars which was stashed inside a folded blanket on top of the wardrobe.
He said the gang tasered Mr Muzvarigwa with an electric shocker and threatened to harm his family as they demanded more cash.
“Having ransacked the whole house, the robbers demanded car keys and drove away in Mr Muzvarigwa’s two cars, which they later dumped along Masiyephambili Drive at Emakhandeni fly-over,” said Mr Mada.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the suspects.
A Buhera teacher has been arrested on suspicion that he is responsible for the death of well-known war veteran, Caston Mukurunge who was killed in a suspected hit and run road accident.
Mukurunge (51) from Gudo Village under Chief Nyashanu was found dead by the road side near Sosten Business Centre on Sunday and sources have told a local publication that Anisai Matienga, a teacher at Viriri High School has been arrested.
The deceased was found with a broken left leg, bruises on the back and a pair of shoes and a cap that were a few meters away.
Manicaland Police Spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident and said that investigations are still underway to establish the cause of death.
The deceased’s body was found by Simbarashe Viriri at around 10pm who then informed the deceased’s uncle and a report was made at Murambinda Police Station. His body was taken to Murambinda Hospital mortuary and waits to go for post-mortem at Rusape General Hospital.
Sources said Matienga was driving from Sosten Business Centre at around 11pm when he saw the deceased lying along the road and it is suspected that it is then that he ran into him and proceeded home without stopping. Villagers and some teachers became suspicious of Matienga’s actions and alerted the Police. It is also said that Matienga was the last person to leave the business centre.
Efforts to get a comment from Matienga were futile as he was still in custody by the time of writing.
Mukurunge is survived by his wife Primrose Munduka and 6 children. He was a vice chairperson for Zanu PF Ward 17 Buhera North constituency.
He joined the liberation struggle in 1977 and trained at Muchenedzi in Mozambique and operated in the then Gaza province.
Pictures of Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s car which was involved in a fatal crash today killing his wife and two others leaving him seriously injured have emerged.
The Paraiwa family sadly announce the passing on of Farai Dennis Paraiwa. Farai Mark and Emily Paraiwa’s second born son, passed away in Canada recently. Farai’s wish was to lie in the warm sun once his life’s journey had come to an end.
Farai 42 was single and passed away alone in his apartment in Edmonton, AB Canada; far away from his family.
We would therefore like to appeal to your good hearts to help us bring our Farai back home, so he can rest in his land of birth and be close to his parents and extended family.
Lets send our brother home and help him live out his adopted mantra as a Liverpool supporter back to Zimbabwe so Farai, “Will Never Walk Alone.”
We appeal to the Zimbabwean community and each and every person that Farai touched with his genuine goodness and warm personalty to help us help him finish his journey.
A month after former president Ian Khama declared that he is no longer a member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), due to a fall out with its leadership particularly President Mokgweetsi Masisi, confusion reigns supreme at Tsholetsa House.
Nobody seems to have a definite answer about whether Khama has relinquished his membership or not, even though his name still appears in the records of the party registered as a member of Serowe North West constituency. Khama is the former MP for the same constituency under the BDP ticket.
The uncertainty over Khama’s status stems from ambiguities in the BDP constitution over resignations and how membership terminates. Article 9 of the BDP Constitution on termination of membership reads: “Once a person has become a member of the party, and duly pays subscriptions, s/he shall retain membership for life, save when terminated as provided in this constitution or in the Disciplinary Rules of the party”.
The Patriot on Sunday put some questions to the BDP leadership seeking to establish; if Khama has submitted a resignation letter to the party? If not, is he still a member of the BDP? Does an announcement by a member in good standing that they are no longer part of an organisation (BDP) amount to a formal resignation?
After mumbling some incoherent answer BDP Acting Executive Secretary Lesedi Dintwe referred questions on Khama’s alleged resignation to party spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse, Chairman of the Communications sub-committee.
He too was not helpful; instead trying to craft a long winded answer that ended with a defensive “a jaanong waa mpolotikisa rra, ijakg”, as a response to a barrage of questions on Khama’s status in the BDP. “I can only answer one part of your question. No, the BDP has not received any resignation letter from the former president (Ian Khama),” said Kentse, repeating what Dintwe had already confirmed.
Asked to explain, according to the provisions of the BDP constitution, the attitude of the party towards a member who has never submitted a resignation letter Kentse was non-committal and at best clutching at straws.
In an attempt to hazard an answer, Kentse responded with a rhetorical question about an interpretation of a scenario where a member goes around declaring that he is no longer a member of BDP in different fora.
He, however, failed to explain if what he was suggesting applies to all BDP members who wish to resign or if such is the procedure and culture at Domkrag. It is common knowledge that Khama declared that he is no longer a BDP member at a meeting in Serowe last month, and recently during interviews on radio and television stations in South Africa.
Pressed further to elaborate on what he meant by saying Khama has defined his status by announcing that he is no longer a member of BDP in three different platforms, Kentse ducked claiming that only the Secretary General, Mpho Balopi and party Chairman, Slumber Tsogwane are qualified to answer the question. “Nnyaa eo e mphitile rra. Go na le bagolo ba o ka ba botsang bo SG le Chairman,” was all Kentse could say.
The Patriot on Sunday has it on good authority that on Wednesday Tsogwane was at pains trying to explain Khama’s status to democrats at a BDP internal meeting (NSCIR workshop) held in Palapye.
The Khama dilemma has caused major division of opinion among democrats. A prominent regional chairman, who also led the BDP youth league in the past, said if Khama does not tender his resignation he remains a member in good standing.
Speaking off the record he said: “We cannot convincingly argue that he is not our member when we do not have a resignation from him. If it was there, it would have long been leaked. Khama is doing this deliberately to put us (BDP) in a state of limbo. It allows him the ability to negotiate and if he gets his way he will simply say I never left”.
The BDP leader even suggests that legally speaking Khama can attend any party meeting he chooses to and if anyone claimed he is not a democrat he would have to produce that resignation letter. He observes that the quandary is that there is no precedent of a former president behaving like Khama, and if the party takes action against him they will be placing the matter to be questioned by every elderly person in any meeting the party will have all over the country. “Bagolo ba ka seke ba tlhaloganya gore gatwe ngwana wa ga Seretse o kobetsweng mo phathing ya ga rraaagwe,” he said.
To put the Khama scenario into context examples given include that of a Branch Secretary in Mmopane-Lentsweletau constituency who dumped the BDP when the then MP Moeng Pheto resigned to contest as an independent candidate after losing Bulela Ditswe in 2013. He crossed to the BMD and even became the campaign manager for a BMD candidate for a while. When they fell out he quietly returned to the BDP and became a branch secretary. He later contested Bulela Ditswe and won but his opponent tried to have him disqualified by raising an objection that he had resigned from the party and joined another. The case was dismissed because the prodigal son had never been expunged from BDP data base, despite that he openly wore the trademark orange BMD regalia and chanted their message.
One cabinet minister sees the issue differently. He said while some members choose to write resignation letters others choose to just walk away and join other parties because there is no real laid down procedure. He explained: “For example, when BMD was formed people decided to just walk away to join the new formation thereby automatically terminating their membership through their action. Some who become mekoko (independent candidates) just leave without writing and it is through their action which is against the party principles that their membership automatically terminates. There is a clause in the constitution that talks to that. That is, if you join another organisation that is opposed to the party principles and values, through your action of joining such, you automatically terminate your membership to the party even if you have not written formally hence the party can go ahead and delete your membership from its database”.
“If you join an organisation that is opposed to the principles, values and ethos of the party by so doing you have terminated your membership through your actions,” he reiterated.
Asked specifically about Khama, who has not joined any party or organisation, the former executive secretary insists that his actions contravene the party principle, and therefore it is assumed that by so doing he has walked away from the party and the party recognises this fact and no longer regards him as a member. His membership automatically terminates, he argued.
“The issue here is the party administratively should have deleted the membership of those who walked away to join other parties from the BDP database so that when they come back they re-apply. But if the party did not, they can slip through and find their way in. So in this case, with such a prominent member like Khama it is easy to just delete him from the system but for ordinary members it is possible they may slip through. Under normal circumstances the branch committees should submit the names of such people formally so that their membership can be deleted”.
The latter argument seems premised on the BDP Constitution Article 14 -Discipline in the Party. Sub-section 14.2 reads; “a member of the party has the obligation to adhere to its object, aim and to party policy and to behave in consonance therewith, and with dignity and property in order to propagate the good image of the party and not to embarrass the party by any misconduct”.
Lusaka Times|A senior Zambian government official has confirmed that the University of Zambia will go ahead and confer Honorary Doctorates in Good Governance to President Edgar Lungu and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The official who preferred to remain anonymous confirmed that the ceremony will go ahead at the next UNZA graduation ceremony.
“Yes the ceremony is on and invitations have been sent to Zimbabwe and both Presidents have accepted to be honoured, so we are just preparing to host President Mnangagwa here,” the official said.
Frantic efforts to get a comment from UNZA Council Caretaker Committee Chairperson Namucana Musiwa proved futile as she referred all queries to the Public Relations Manager Damaseke Chibale who refused to comment.
But some UNZA insiders have also confirmed that Presidents Lungu and Mnangagwa will be honoured at next week’s ceremony.
And some Zambians have taken to social media to denounce UNZA’s plans to confer Honorary Doctorates on President Lungu and the Zimbabwean Leader.
Zambians took to social media to express displeasure on the decision by UNZA after it was revealed that President Lungu might be changing titles from Mr Lungu will be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree as he officiates at the next graduation ceremony slated for June 21.
Both President Lungu and Mnangagwa graduated from UNZA with LLB.
“The initial plan was to simply confer an honorary doctorate degree on President Lungu alone, but some expressed concern that the public and even the members of the university may question the move, so it was decided that the best thing would be to find a cover-up. After much deliberation, it was agreed that another honorary doctorate degree be given to Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa so that he can be used as a decoy to legitimise the award. As you probably know the Zimbabwean President, like President Lungu, has an LLB degree from UNZA,” said the source who spoke to the News Diggers.
And the UNZA Alumni association has advertised an alumni dinner slated for June 22 at Mulungushi International Centre to be graced by President Lungu and President Mnangagwa.
Tickets are going for K950 per person.
Meanwhile civil rights activist Laura Miti said President Lungu must decline the good governance honorary doctorate if indeed the university is planning to confer him.
“If there is ever a time one hopes a rumour making the rounds is fake news, it this story that the University of Zambia plans to award President Lungu with an honorary doctorate in good governance. Good governance Even he would refuse it, kaleza. They should give him one for encouraging health and fitness pela, if they must. These things must ring true” Miti said.
Some have also used social media to circulate a mock Honorary Doctorate to be conferred to President Lungu for apparently promoting corruption.
VOA|A non-governmental organization in Zimbabwe claims that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is cracking down on civil society leaders in the same manner former President Robert Mugabe used to torment his opponents.
In its May monthly report, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) said, “The Government of Zimbabwe has reverted to its systematic and coordinated Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and human rights activists attack modus operandi; a path they always take when under pressure.”
The organization cited the arrest of several human rights activists by the government as an example of allegedly brutalizing local people amid reports of looming street protests over the current harsh economic situation in the country.
The civil society leaders were arrested two weeks ago when they landed at the Robert Mugabe International Airport after attending a workshop in the Maldives hosted by the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies.
They include George Makoni, an Advocacy Officer for Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe; Tatenda Mombeyarara (Co-ordinator for lobby group Citizens Manifesto); Gamuchirai Mukura (executive director of the Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development); Nyasha Mpahlo; Farirai Gumbonzvanda of the Rozaria Memorial Trust, Sitabile Dewah (Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence and Director of the Female Prisoners Support Trust) and Dr. Rita Nyamupinga.
ZPP said, “Government recently on different occasions accused CSOs of regime change endeavours through coordinated demonstrations throughout the country despite Section 59 of the Zimbabwean Constitution clearly providing for the right to demonstrate and petition. It is now apparent that these intimations were orchestrated to herald and justify the persecution of CSOs.
“The activists’ arrest is a clear sign of criminalisation of human rights activism, which flies in the face of democratic society ideals. Government’s targeting of activists who attended a workshop whose scope is ‘non-violence’, is nothing short of chasing mirages and stifling clearly provided-for rights.”
The organization said the continued deferment of bail rulings and detention of the activists at Chikurubi Female and Maximum security prison “deprives the activists of their freedom and is a form of continued violation and victimisation. We implore the justice system to speedily follow due process so that these Human Rights Defenders are treated fairly.”
ZPP accused state-leaning media entities of supporting what it called a “concerted smear campaign” by the ruling Zanu PF government.
“This clearly exposes that the Mnangagwa administration will not stand down in allowing Zimbabweans’ enjoyment of their rights and freedoms. Other organisations mentioned in the malicious (press) article include, the Counselling Services Unit, the Research and Advocacy Unit, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and the umbrella body the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum to which all the organisations listed are members.”
State officials were not reachable for comment.
Zimbabweans went on the rampage early this year following fuel increases of up to 150 percent, which were announced by President Mnangagwa. At least 12 people were shot dead by state security agents and others were injured in running battles with the police and national army.
By Sindiso Mazibisa|This is it. The wait is over. While I do not have a legal duty to issue this personal and political announcement I know that a moral and political duty reposes upon me to do so. Deliberately I am doing so on my personal Facebook wall and personal spaces because I cannot send individual messages to all my friends and concerned parties concerning the decision I have made.
I am given to brevity. I have decided with immediate effect to abandon Party Politics. Effectively I am no longer a member of any Political Party or Movement including the MDC (or MDC Alliance).
The motivation is not driven by any differences whatsoever with the party membership or leadership including MDC President Nelson Chamisa who evidently has a brilliant future ahead of him and hopefully for our country.
I have a cordial and progressive relationship with most party cadres from the cells, district, provincial and presidium structures.
I salute my former president, President Professor Welshman Ncube of the then MDC (Green) for his wisdom and guidance and Vice President of the new MDC advocate TendaiBiti for the various progressive interactions we had and President Nelson Chamisa for the conversations we had and he assured me that #Godisinit.
Those memories are forever indelible in my heart. I treasure the team I worked with in Magwegwe during the 2013 campaign. With limited time before the election we pulled one of the major campaigns and every detail of it is captured in videos for posterity sake.
We meet to part and part to meet as the adage goes. I have over the past years dedicated my life, my efforts, my resources to the party and to the community for the democratisation of our country and liberation of our region and our communities. What a great experience it was and it has been.
My conscience and God’s instructions have always guided me and any defiance has resulted in dire consequences. Obedience is the only way to go.
The call to serve my constituency, my family, my city (of Bulawayo), the region is a life time one. I cannot renege from this duty for posterity.
The clarion call has gotten louder and louder by the day.
Having said that, I know within any political party structures as currently configured I cannot fulfil my personal God given mandate to serve my community and my country.
I have come of age.
It is time to directly contribute to the development of my community and to our people.
It is time that I have my own voice.
It is time to give our people their voice.
It is time for the voice of the people.
It is time for alternative leadership.
I remain ready and willing in this regard personally and through various structures and instruments that are in place to serve my family, my constituency, my city, my region and country. Whatever it takes, even if it means my life, I am ready and prepared for it.
As was said of the blind man in John 9 vs 23 “He is of age, ask him”. Equally I have come of age. Ask me.
Current party politics has evidently failed me, our city and our country and it is time for alternative leadership and I remain willing and already to serve in that regard.
Parties and party politics takes away individual initiatives and creates parrots out of party supporters and faithfuls.
I am confident that the MDC movement has enough cadres to pursue the vision and aspirations of the party.
Equally our society and community demands and deserves grassroots leadership that talks to issues relating to bread and butter issues and this is the time for such a leadership.
The current political matrix is not permissive of realisation of certain aspirations hence this well thought out personal decision to achieve a better Bulawayo, Matabeleland and Zimbabwe through alternative means.
I will remain politically active and support most initiatives including my former party the MDC and for the record I will work under the auspices of my affiliate organisations with other progressive political parties to deliver a free fair and better Zimbabwe but more importantly to deliver real devolution of power to the regions and hopefully a federal system of government.
Every vote counts and for what it is worth I will dedicate my life and the remainder of my life to defend every vote by every citizen. One lesson I have learnt from the demise and promotion of our hero comrade Dr DumisoDabengwa is that living for principle is the best gift that you can give to the world and exiting to the next dimension knowing that your conscience is clear is the best state of being one can have. This is it.
BULAWAYO House musician Novuyo Seagirl was forced to abort her act after she was booed and pelted off-stage during an Econet Wireless Ziyawa KuEcocash monthly draw at the City Hall car park in Bulawayo on Saturday.
The songbird opened her set with her new song, Bambelela, and when she launched into the award-winning hit, A.E.I.O.U, insults from fans grew louder, forcing the master of ceremonies to intervene and ask the fans to give her time.
Fans calmed down for just a moment before they resumed their rowdy behaviour, leading to Seagirl prematurely ending her act.
This was the second time the musician suffered such a fate in just two months.
“It’s very unfortunate that this is always happening to me, I won’t give up and will keep doing what I love doing. One day, the fans will accept me and also accept our music in Bulawayo. For now, I will stay hopeful and determined. One day, we will strike the right chord,” she told NewsDay Life & Style after the show.
Seagirl was introduced before Jah Prayzah’s act, but from the very moment she stepped onto the stage, irate fans started shouting unprintable words, calling the singer to leave the stage.
Her slot came after performances by Winky D, Mzoe 7 and IYASA.
The last time she was pelted off the stage was at the ZITF shutdown gig at Queens Sports Club, resulting in her angrily insulting the fans and accusing them of not supporting their own local artistes.
Some fans blamed one of the female MCs for hyping up and enticing fans after she said the stage was set for Winky D’s appearrance, yet they were bringing in Seagirl.
“I think one of the female MCs might have misled fans into thinking that they were bringing in Winky D, when they were bringing in Seagirl.
“She (the MC) was heard shouting are you ready for Winky D, sending fans into wild cheers, but thereafter brought in Seagirl, something I think angered the fans, who were expecting the Harare-based artiste,” one of the fans said.
The organisers had to add more Bulawayo acts after the Mthwakazi Republic party wrote to the telecommunications giants, ordering them to call off their gig if Winky D and Jah Prazyah – both of who are from Harare – were going to be the headline acts, without local representation.
Parirenyatwa group of hospitals have announced a huge increase in private award fees with immediate effect.
In a memorandum circulated on Wednesday, the hospital increased the minimum admission fee to RTGS$ 600 per day, just more than what the average civil servant including nurses at the hospital earns in a month.
FROM: GUTU TRAFFIC TO:DISPOL MASVINGO EAST MITSUBISHI SHOGUN STATION WAGON
TALENT FARAI CHIWENGA, SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND COMPLAINING OF GENERAL BODY PAINS, CONDITION IS SERIOUS AND IS ADMITTED AT MASVINGO PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.
THE SOLE PARTY WAS TRAVELING FROM MASVINGO TOWARDS HRE ALONG MASVINGO – HRE ROAD WITH 3 PASSENGERS ON BOARD, UPON REACHING 235KM, PEG THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE AND IT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF THEREBY KILLING 2 PEOPLE ON THE SPOT AND THE THIRD ONE DIED UPON ADMISSION AT MASVINGO HOSPITAL, THE NEXT OF KINS HAVE BEEN ADVISED. VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES AND WAS TOWED TO MASVINGO VID. THE SCENE WAS ATTENDED BY OFFICER COMMANDING MASVINGO CENTRAL DISTRICT, OFFICER IN CHARGE MASVINGO TRAFFIC AND GUTU TRAFFIC DETAILS, BODIES WERE FERRIED TO MASVINGO PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL MORTUARY AWAITING POSTMORTEM. GUTU TRAFFIC RRB REF 3849322 REFERS
263 Chat|Brother to the late MDC leader and founding father, Morgan Tsvangirai seems to be charming party supporters who even ululated applauding him before demanding that he should be given a chance to address people who had gathered to attend a rally at Glenview during introductions.
Mannase Tsvangirai, the current family spokesperson and young brother to the MDC founder who formed the party in 2009, seem to have gained support from the party support base nation wide.
Mourners who had gathered to attend the late Vimbai Tsvangirai’s farewell rally in Glen View today ululated after Mannase was called to the stage demanding him to do the party slogan with others shouting ‘Tsvangirai! Tsvangirai! Mudhara!’.
“Who can not give a position to such a person, he also looks like our father (Tsvangirai),” said Murisi Zwizwai who was the master of ceremony at the event.
The crowd cheered as Mannase grabbed the microphone to talk to the people.
“We have been shocked by Vimbai’s death as a family.
“The seat of Glen View will never be taken by any one but someone from MDC,” he said.
He also added that the MDCs should unite and support each other in electing who will represent Glen View South Constituency which was represented by Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java.
Vimbai died in Harare after having been involved in an accident along the Harare Bulawayo highway together with manager Paul Rukanda who died on the sport.
Could the MDC members be seeing another Tsvangirai rising in Mannase? Only Time will tell.
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu has denied links with Botswana top-flight club, Gaborone United.
This comes amid reports that Ndlovu had signed a contract to join the Botswana club at the start of that country’s 2019-20 season in August.
Yesterday in an interview, Ndlovu said he wasn’t aware where the reports were emanating from, although he did not want to comment much on the matter.
“I don’t want to comment on that matter. I don’t know where this is coming from,” he said.
Contacted for comment on the matter, Gaborone United secretary-general Lenyeletse Tamocha yesterday could neither confirm nor deny the club taking Ndlovu on board.
“I am going into a meeting now. I will get back to you or you can call me later in the day,” Tamocha said.
Late last year, Ndlovu, who was linked with a move to Ngezi Platinum Stars while at Highlanders, indicated that after his three-year contract with Highlanders, he would retire from club football.
He added he had no immediate plans of abandoning the Bulawayo giants, with whom he still has a year-and-a-half contract.
The former Warriors mentor has also coached Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Township Rollers and Orapa United in the same country.
Victory celebrations as Botswana gays celebrate court ruling.
Activists have called on other African countries to follow the inspiring example of Botswana after it legalised consensual same-sex relations on Tuesday.
The High Court in Botswana found in a unanimous decision that the nation’s “sodomy laws” violate privacy, liberty, and dignity; are discriminatory, and serve no public interest.
“Sexual orientation is not a fashion statement,” said the judges. “It’s an important attribute of one’s personality. All people are entitled to autonomy over their sexual expression.”
They noted that “Public opinion in cases like this is relevant but not decisive. This is about fundamental rights more than the public’s view.”
The court added that sodomy laws belong “in the museum or the archives,” and should not govern present-day life.
Botswana is the latest country in Africa to decriminalise same-sex relations, following Angola in January 2019, Seychelles in June 2016, Mozambique in June 2015 and São Tomé and Príncipe, and Lesotho in 2012.
However, another 29 countries in Africa retain laws criminalising same-sex relations, including Kenya, where a law banning gay sex was upheld by the Kenyan High Court in May.
“With this ruling, Botswana has said ‘no’ to intolerance and hate and ‘yes’ to hope and equality for all people,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa.
“For far too long, people entering same-sex relationships in Botswana were discriminated against by the very same laws that are supposed to protect them. This court decision marks an exciting new era of acceptance, which should inspire other African countries to follow suit.”
Said Neela Ghoshal, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch: “The court ruling is a victory both for LGBT people in Botswana and for LGBT people and their advocates throughout Africa.”
Prior to independence in 1966, Botswana was part of Bechuanaland, a British protectorate, and the country’s anti-homosexuality laws are a legacy of British imperialism. Many countries around the world retain similar colonial era provisions targeting LGBTQ people.
“Botswana’s High Court has provided a ray of hope to millions around the world who live in jurisdictions that still criminalise same-sex conduct,” said Ghoshal. “Botswana’s government should embrace this ruling and affirm the full personhood of its LGBT population.”
Quiet before the storm, the Young Warriors line up before a match.
The Egyptian national team’s assistant coach Hany Ramzy has revealed that the Pharaohs are approaching their game against the Warriors, which roars the AFCON 2019 into life, with extreme caution.
The Pharaohs play Sunday Chidzambwa’s charges in Cairo on the 21st of June at the 80 000-seater Cairo International Stadium and Hany Ramzy, the assistant coach said they are looking at the Warriors with extensive eyes.
“We are monitoring the Zimbabwe team very well. They are known for their solid defence, quick attacks and depending on long balls,” said Ramzy.
“It will be a strong start. We hope to get a positive result as it would be a good boost to continue our campaign successfully,” he added.
The Pharaohs are in Group A of Africa’s greatest soccer extravaganza, along with the Warriors, DRC and Uganda.
Farai Dziva| Masvingo State Minister Ezra Chadzamira has claimed that CSC will soon resume operations.
The closed its doors more than a decade ago.
Last year Emmerson Mnangagwa officially announced that CSC was ready resume operations but the company’s doors have remained closed.
“The contract has been signed between CSC and the investor, Bousted Beef (Pvt) Ltd and before the end of the year operations would resume,” Chadzamira told a state run publication.
He further claimed skeletal staff would be recruited soon for the purposes of maintenance of machinery while more than 600 employees would get back their jobs.
“So far most tenants have left the company buildings.
We are happy that the meat giant is going to retain its workforce and hire new personnel.
We expect at least 600 employees to be working at the local plant in the next six months while a few would first be hired for maintenance of the machinery before full operations,” he said.
The Warriors have secured an Afcon warm-up match against Tanzania on Sunday.
The encounter will be played in Egypt and will be the second practice match for the Warriors after playing the Super Eagles to a goalless in the in Asaba, Nigeria last weekend.
Tanzania who are in Group C along with Algeria, Senegal and Kenya will also play another warm-up game tomorrow against Egypt.
Zimbabwe were initially scheduled to play Ghana but the plans fell through and will now face the Taifa Stars. The national team start their Afcon campaign against the hosts, Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on June 21.
The Warriors arrived in North Africa on Monday morning after flying in the same chartered plane with Nigeria.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said he will concentrate on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
Addressing party supporters at a send off rally for Vimbai Tsvangirai at Harvest House Chamisa said:”
Vimbai had a double calling.Her wish was to free Zimbabwe from tyranny.
Just like Vimbai, I have a double calling.I will concentrate on preaching the gospel of salvation after leading Zimbabwe to prosperity.
That is my calling,” said Chamisa.
“Vimbai was a pastor and she joined politics to fight for the emancipation of the people Zimbabwe.”
Farai Dziva| Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has made a request to the club to sign Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, it has emerged.
According to Madrid based daily sports paper Marca, Zidane regards the French midfielder as an ideal player for Los Blancos for next season and beyond.
It is alleged that Pogba himself wants to move to Madrid and is willing to take a pay cut for that to happen.
The Madrid hierarchy reportedly wants to fulfil Zidane’s wishes and bring the World Cup winner to the club.
Zidane believes Pogba’s presence will increase competition in midfield but United will not accept anything less than €150m though Madrid will try to reduce the fee.
Farai Dziva| A picture of Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena enjoying himself with semi-naked girls has gone viral on social media.
Wadyajena was reportedly enjoying himself in the United States some years back when he visited New York.
Wadyajena has been under the spotlight in Zimbabwe after he imported a USD210 000 Lamborghini Urus at a time government is saying it is facing a critical shortage of foreign currency.
Justice Mayor Wadyajena picture is trending on social media
Farai Dziva|They say disability is not inability- the adage sums up Greatman’s scenario.
Below is Sean Bwanya’s statement(he is the manager to Tongai Gwaze aka the Greatman)
This young man has a very special talent and it is this talent that changed my opinion on people with disabilities.
People tend to discriminate them due to their conditions but Greatman came with a light that shined in my eyes and made me realize that disability is not inability.
Now I have an understanding that anyone can do anything inspite of his or her physical ability.
Hence Greatman is a living example of greatness, so says his name and I love him for that.
I first met him three years ago at the genesis of his music carrier when he was recording his first album titled Chikara Muno.
I was thrilled by his confidence, lyrical content and his eagerness to succeed. So I decided to be part of his music carrier and try to help him to plant what i might call the seed of happiness, not only for him but for his audience as a whole.
As we all know, whenever something great happens opposition pops up out of the blue to try and discourage and cause misunderstandings but fortunately I overcame them by acting in a professional way and I gave a blind eye to all opposition.
My goal is to push Greatman forward till he reaches the top of Mount Everest.
I’m fully employed, which makes me a bread winner in my family. I’m a parent as well, and I have dedicated myself to Greatman’s work to such an extent that I have made him my responsibility just as much as my family. In other words he is like a son to me even though he is the boss when it comes to music.
So far he did a single collaboration with Sulumani Chimbetu and we never knew you might see a collaboration soon with a South African based artist, the lce n Roses boss.
Farai Dziva|Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s aide, only known as Pastor Marange earlier Wednesday afternoon dismissed as false a report revealing that the clergyman was involved in an accident.
Pastor Marange told ZimEye, “I saw the same rumour (on Facebook), we do not normally respond to such. It is not true.”
Farai Dziva|The Fundraising dinner to mobilize funds for the Warriors’ AFCON 2019 campaign will be held at a hotel in Harare in the evening.
The dinner will be hosted by a committee led by acting Sports Minister Kazembe Kazembe, and its target is to raise US$500 000.
The event will take place Cresta Lodge in Harare, and a table of 10 people has been pegged at $5 000.
Mnangagwa is expected to headline the dinner, as a guest of honour.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are already in Egypt ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals starts on June 21.
The national team will play the host nation on the opening match-day of the tournament before facing Uganda five days later and DRC on the 30th of June.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has hailed respected church leaders who attended Vimbai Tsvangirai’s emotional send off rally in Glen View, Harare today.
Said Chamisa:”Please respect the men and women of God who have come hear to mourn with us.
Do not call them all sorts of names.They are here for one purpose – to comfort us.”
He added:” I acknowledge the presence of respected people of God, Bishop Bismark, Prophet Freddy and others, thanks you for supporting us.”
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa prayed earnestly for Vimbai Tsvangirai in Kwekwe, speakers at a rally held in honour of the late former Prime Minister’s daughter in have said.
Vimbai succumbed to injuries she sustained in an accident that claimed the lives of two MDC activists on May 14.
“President Chamisa prayed earnestly for Vimbai in Kwekwe.
It was an emotional moment.President Chamisa was in pain when we visited Vimbai in hospital but he urged us to be strong,” said an MDC official at the rally in Glen View.
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blue-eyed boy Justice Mayor Wadyajena(Gokwe- Nembudziya MP) has boasted of the fact that the posh vehicle he bought costs more than US $ 210 000.
“Great work on the investigative journalism Cde …… delivered with lightning speed.
You’re every bit as good as they say you are. 1 correction on $210k, you’d have to double that! I became a Milli in my early 20s, that yellow super machine is hard earned, legitimately too!” Wadyajena boasted.
A Kudzai Mutisi also concurred with Wadyajena’s remarks:
“If, as Zimbabweans, we can’t celebrate wealth, then we ought to celebrate poverty.
This thing of demonizing those who have made it big in life should stop. What motivates all of us to work hard is our inherent desire to live in comfort.
Victor Matemadanda and Dr Masimba Mavaza in studio
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA | ZANU PF has seen a number of Political Commissars and then there were none. As of the appointment on Monday of Cde Victor Matemadanda to replace Cde Major General Rugeje, the ZANU PF commissariat is once again the most volatile position in the party.
Of the team who sat on this hot chair, not a single member has been spared. Some are rumoured to have disappeared, while others were kicked out, whole world watching.
It must however be noted that the NPCs (National Political Commissairs) serve at the pleasure of the president. This means that something is done or can be done because His Excellence wants it to be done. The commissar serves at the pleasure of the president, and will continue to serve as long as the president wants him to. His removal does not reflect his failure but simply shows that the pleasure has ended. The pleasure of the president has departed.
All things put together, General Rugeje was the most short lived PC in the position. But he pulled through one of the toughest elections in the history of Zanu pf. An election which came when the party was seriously divided. ZANU PF was divided into G40. Into People’s first into all sorts of divisions. Rugeje worked through the curves and indeed deserves a pat. Unfortunately for Rugeje he was surrounded by gossiping comrades and indeed it was just a matter of time before he was retired.
He gave his all but the lies and gossip around him was so electric and like a great tsunami it swept him aside. We only hope that Cde Victor will be quick to see those around him as they are and chose his friends wisely. If he is to be overtaken by pride he will be the one achatemwa nedanda. We wish cde Victor a victorious time at the helm of the party as the back born of the party.
Matemadanda’s appointment on Tuesday is a timely reminder to party supporters across the land that political survival rhymes with party unity.
There were presidents past whose pleasures, if more explicitly known, would make some of us cringe. , and no president cares to consider his pleasures any more than absolutely necessary.
And yet, serving at the pleasure of the president remains a consideration that any observer of politics must consider. Past administrations have removed The president has appointed Matemadanda and disappointed Rugeje It is his right to do so.
Look, by law and by Constitution, these political Commissars serve at the pleasure of the president and traditionally are given a term. The pleasure of the president does not have to wait for any time it is as he pleases and it has pleased the president to retire one and appoint the other.
Despite this acclimation of unfettered power, there must be some reason for a decision. Of course, “at the pleasure” does not require a reason to be justified. If the basis for a change in the is simply on a Presidential whim, then that is as scary, if not more so, than partisan politics.
But before jumping to the conclusion that gossip has played the key role in the relatively swift demise of the previous PC , it is worth considering that they all came to the fore in an age of ever-increasing electoral volatility.
Second terms in government used to be the norm in most provinces. But there have been eye-catching breaks in that pattern over the past few years.
In less than a decade, commissariat has been governed by four different commissars.
Rugeje was facing mounting hostility from his own party over poor public support, leading to a struggle for power that threatened the survival of the party.
What is it about Political Commissar that has led to so much instability in that position. So is there a chance it could happen again?
It’s not unlikely. Under the current system, this job security is linked to the size of the pleasure of his excellence. Since the elections in 2018 the position of the PC in recent months had been precarious.
The party is currently deeply divided between a hard-right faction, led by the unsuccessful leadership-challengers and a more moderate wing all in the corridors of power.
Rugeje’s leadership was more moderate, however he became increasingly unpopular amongst hardliners in the face of a looming national election in 2023 and good opinion polling for the party.
In a self-reinforcing cycle, the impasse in the party had led to slow progress on key policies like tax cuts, spending cuts and economic issues. In turn that frustrated party elders making progress even less likely. The internal fight came to a head on Monday when Rugeje was pleasured out. Would the ouster heal the divided party.
Matemadanda is expected to pilot the wishes of the war vets and to speed their inclusion in all party structures. The danger is that the non veterans will be sidelined by their own party and the war vets will elbow many out.
If Matemadanda becomes humble and remembers where he came from he might survive the hot seat.
The position of the NPC is not for the faint hearted. Cde Mayor Urimbo who was born Mamutse was the political Commisar in 1977 he was retired at independence. He was so charismatic that he was nicknamed Mutupo we ZANU. Cde Mayor Urimbo mixed so well with all ranks he was not a proud person. Because of his Humility he recruited thousands to the party and struggle. He was a great example of a National Political Commissar.
Maurice Tapfumanei Mhofu Nyagumbo had a short stint in the shoes of the Pc. He died of poisoning in 1989. Cde Moven Mahachi became the PC and his end is well documented. He was the NPC for thirty days. He had taken over from Border Gezi who died on duty. Manyika was pleasured in the frontline he was to die in another accident.
The position was taken by Cde Webster Shamu whose term ended unceremoniously and Xaviour Kasukuwere took over. Despite consulting several which doctors Kasukuwere left in a hurry. Then Matemadanda was appointed and he served for two days before General Rugeje took over. Rugeje was to oversee the elections and he won it for ZANU PF.
He was to be replaced by Matemadanda. Matemadanda made history by being appointed to the same position twice. Is it a come back or going back.
This is the most volatile unpredictable position in the party. Will Matemadanda survive? Time will tell.
Farai Dziva|Prominent social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has described the death of Vimbai Tsvangirai as yet another blow to the entire nation following the passing on of Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his wife Susan.
“The unfairness of life is a pain that we cannot wish away or avoid.
All gone too soon without the experience of real freedom and democracy. A life sacrificed and all spent in the trenches in an effort to deliver the people of Zimbabwe from the shackles of dictatorship.
To be honest enough, the dictator devoured them in different ways but the battle isn’t lost.
We are dragging forward till victory is realised,” said Taruvinga.
Farai Dziva|Social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has blasted Justice Mayor Wadyajena for feeding his ego at the expense of the suffering people in his constituency.
See Taruvinga’s statement below:
School in Gokwe and their MP Honourable Justice Mayor Wadyajena
US$210 000 in foreign currency
Where are they getting the money in a country characterized by abject poverty?
For a person with conscience, that money could have been used to build a good classroom. It’s not his money, its stolen money, stolen from the people.
They talk of sanctions but are importing directly from those countries they claim to have imposed sanctions. And a fool heading the Ministry of Finance speaks of austerity measures.
Those measures seem to only affect negatively the ordinary man on the streets.
Zanu PF politicians are all safe as they can afford luxury.
Farai Dziva|MDC Parliamentarians have described the death of Vimbai Tsvangirai as a “devastating loss of a young and promising legislator.”
See the statement below :
MDC Parly caucus disheartened by Hon. Tsvangirai-Java’s death
The MDC
Parliamentary Caucus is disheartened by the untimely death of Hon. Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, a young and promising MP who had a good political future in the party that her father founded twenty years ago.
As a Parliamentary Caucus, we are distraught that we have lost one of our own at a crucial time when Parliament needed to unstintingly play its oversight role given the deteriorating situation in the country.
It is sad that at a time when we thought she was recovering, God had other plans.
The Parliamentary Caucus will remember her for her contributions which put the party enriched and put the party in good stead to play its role as the theatre of the people’s collective aspirations.
We miss the enriching presence and contributions that showed her upbringing in the Tsvangirai homestead, a rich political nursery that had once again given us one of its own following the death of our iconic leader last year.
Our sincerest and heartfelt condolences go to the Tsvangirai and Java families, the people of Glen View and the party’s parliamentary caucus for this loss.
Indeed, her void will be difficult to fill.
As a befitting tribute, we pledge that the MDC Parliamentary Caucus will continue to be the repository of the aspirations of the weather-beaten people of Zimbabwe who are struggling to survive under the current harsh economic climate.
Go well, patriotic daughter of Zimbabwe.
Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lillian Timveos
MDC Chief Whips
Farai Dziva|Prominent MDC activist and musician Dred Field Marshall Rekless has urged Apostle B Java to remain strong – following the death of his wife, Vimbai Tsvangirai.
See Dred Reckless’ statement:
Apostle B. Java. I am happy that you belong to a Man who knew us when we were still in the wombs of our mothers.
This means you understand how He works. He gave you a friend, a flower that you looked at and admire every morning before you leave your house, the reason to rush back home before dark. Now that it is no longer in your possession, look up to the Heavens and say, “You’re still my God”.
There is still a reason to sing a song of praise. You are the chosen one, you have carried this cross for a month when your wife was struggling for her life in hospital. You carried the cross with faith and hope that Your Vimbai will be back home but God was dedicated otherwise. He will never give us a load too much to bear because He is our Father.
Be strong Apostle until your wife comes back to take you after preparing a place besides her in Heaven.
I’ll just leave that there with the announcement that I’ll soon be introducing a mahewu supplementary meal scheme for schoolchildren at Primary Schools in Norton….watch this space… pic.twitter.com/IT58WH4rIk
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 11, 2019
??For the third time this year fuel has gone up. Absolutely EVERYTHING, ZVINHU ZVESE has gone up but our salaries remain the same. Saka Munoda kuti tiitesei?!?!? What exactly do you want us to do?!?!How on earth do we survive?!?! We complain you beat & jail us so what now!? pic.twitter.com/dpOPFKYV3x
By A Correspondent- The public yesterday expressed mixed views over the proposed Maintenance of Order and Peace Bill (MOPA), with the majority saying lawmakers should remove clause (18), which will allow the Home Affairs minister to request the President to deploy the army to quell protests.
Members said the army should be nowhere near demonstrators as their presence was tantamount to a declaration of war.
The views on MOPA were expressed during a live radio programme by joint sittings of Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Defence and Home Affairs and the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Peace and Security in conjunction with the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust (Sapst) and Star FM.
The majority of members were also against the use of said live ammunition to disperse crowds during protests because life was sacrosanct.
MOPA seeks to repeal the oppressive Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and chairperson of the Defence committee, Levi Mayihlome, said the MOPA Bill was brought before Parliament because POSA was found to be unconstitutional and needed to be aligned to the Constitution.
Some members of the public that participated in the phone-in public hearing said while demonstrations were a right enshrined in the Constitution, hooliganism must be curbed by police accompanying demonstrators from destroying people’s properties.
“Demonstrations are a right, but what we have noticed is that whenever the police come to disperse demonstrators, it becomes like a war zone,” one of the participants said.
“Live ammunition should never be used to disperse crowds, and if there is noise during demonstrations, the police must only deal with the hooligans and arrest them, and there is no need for soldiers to be deployed because people that are demonstrating are not enemies.
People suggested that it would be better for the MOPA Bill to stipulate that police should be equipped and trained to effectively deal with demonstrations, and that only teargas, rubber bullets or water cannons must be used to disperse crowds if the demonstration becomes nasty.
MOPA has retained some clauses in POSA, for example clause 8(3) of MOPA is the same as clause 26 of POSA which stipulates that conveners of public gatherings must give at least seven days’ notice to the regulating authority.
However, public gatherings that may be exempt from provisions of MOPA include weddings, funerals, musical shows, and agricultural shows among others.
POSA provisions that have been removed from MOPA include section 27 of POSA on temporary prohibition of public demonstrations after the Constitutional Court ruled that the section was unconstitutional.
By A Correspondent- Dairibord Zimbabwe has pledged to help former Zimbabwean football legend, George “Mastermind” Shaya, by buying him a vehicle and paying part of his medical expenses.
The Zimbabwe Football Legends recently paid a courtesy call to Dairibord Zimbabwe where they thanked the company for helping Shaya when his right leg was amputated.
“We have a role to play as a corporate and that is to remember our own people and it is something expected of all corporates and citizens that we rise to the occasion in order to alleviate the difficulties, especially related to our football legends,’’ said Mandiwanza.
“We know that we cannot give them all that they might need but we hope that the little we are giving (them) will help in transforming their lives.
George Shaya contributed to the transformation of our football as a country. But, after the amputation of his leg, we know it has been difficult for him to travel or move around town to even see his relatives and friends.
We are going to buy him a car that he can use to commute wherever he would want to go and we are also going to continue helping in paying part of his medical expenses. “We do not want to see him struggling, but we want him to continue enjoying his life without any hindrances.’’
He also said they need to set up a Trust Fund that will look after former footballers’ welfare.
“We are not doing enough to remember them and we would like to see, going forward, more sustainable institutions are put in place that will look into the welfare of our football legends.
“We appreciate the good job that Charlie Jones is doing on behalf of the other legends who are not present. “We will make a donation to the Legends Association that will help our legends who might be in the same fate,” said Mandiwanza.
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has chided the ruling political elites for their conspicuous consumption after it emerged that a ZANU PF official bought a Lamborghini worth US$210 000 from abroad.
In a statement, the labour body denounced the government’s austerity measures which only affect the downtrodden masses while the bigwigs live in opulence.
The ZCTU said:
“Austerity is definitely our misery and their prosperity.
We are not demanding luxuries but basic necessities, food, clothing, housing, decent jobs, decent salaries etc.”
Join the working class in fighting against such profligacy by. unconscionable conduct by the ruling class.”
Austerity is definitely our misery and their prosperity.
We are not demanding luxuries but basic necessities, food, clothing, housing, decent jobs, decent salaries etc.
Join the working class in fighting against such profligacy @ unconscionable conduct by the ruling class pic.twitter.com/0v9k1vn9KK
By Ben Manyenyeni| Across the political fence I have always considered him a most unwelcome opponent.
In November 2017 he was among the very first people to throw sand at what was going to be the new dispensation by privatizing Zimbabwe’s best hope and destroying hope.
As Minister of Finance, I found him sincere, committed, hard-working, user-friendly, easy to believe and to support – despite the failure.
There are very few politicians, across parties, who we find sincere enough to their real cause to be trusted.That his appointment is coming directly from ZanuPF party is poor display of governance and a pointer to the real Head Office for carrier coded UM, the effective reporting office for Air Zim executives is at Shake Shake HQ.
Air Zimbabwe is a mess traumatised by politics: the same abuse which municipalities suffered in ZanuPF leg-irons.
ZanuPF must learn to enjoy things run better FOR them than badly BY them. There are so many competent independent compatriots who will never get into politics but can happily serve national institutions with superior results.
The re-cycling machine is in over-drive.
The learned lawyer has seen enough stations of political deployments but is nowhere near being retired.
With 15 million population it is only between 200 and 500 people who are responsible for our entire collapse as a country.
Almaz Derese, 21, who is from Metu in western Ethiopia, had hoped to sit the tests before her baby was born, but the secondary school exams were postponed because of Ramadan.
She went into labour on Monday shortly before the first exam was due to start.
“Because I was rushing to sit the exam, my labour wasn’t difficult at all,” Ms Almaz told BBC Afaan Oromoo. Her husband, Tadese Tulu, said he had to persuade the school to allow her to take the exams at the hospital.
In Ethiopia, it is common for girls to drop out of secondary school and return later on to complete their studies. Ms Almaz now wants to take a two-year course that will prepare her for university. She said she was pleased with how the exams went and her baby son is doing well.
By Malvern Mkudu| Yesterday a Lamborghini broke the internet in Zimbabwe .
It was clear from the discourse on social media that many people were not happy about this new acquisition.
The luxury vehicle came in on a day the government released data that imports had fallen and in particular car imports had fallen from $55 million per month to $38 million in last two months.
There is nothing criminal about buying a luxurious car in a sea of poverty as currently the case in Zimbabwe . Mr Tenderprenuer has the right to enjoy his income .
However Mr Tenderprenuers proximity to Mnangagwa presents a lot of problems for the president on so many levels. The citizens will need an explanation on why they can’t also import cars and have to use bicycles.
Questions such as did the RBZ allocate forex to buy this car? What happened to the forest priority list? Is it only applicable to those not politically connected? Is Mr Tenderprenuer stashing forex at home? How has he earned it? So are Mnangagwa and his hangers on the black market forex kingpins as alleged?
Mnangagwa is surrounded by a small clique of wealthy but unproductive primitive accumulators as opposed to productive capitalists. These are only good at accumulating and consuming .
What is clear from the acquisition of this car is that a lot of Mnangagwa’s allies and the elite have a stash of US dollars lying around somewhere. It is unlikely that the RBZ approved forex to buy a car ( did they?)
Those who surround Mnangagwa have no faith in the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra. The astronomical figures spent on racing cars that are meant to drive on potholed roads point towards failure by the elite to prioritise allocation of scarce resources.
Resources whether they are public or private are scarce. Why should Zimbabweans borrow expensive foreign capital to kickstart economic revival when the ruling elite have money in their suitcases?
Clearly Mr Tenderprenuer has no faith in the local system that it could grow his capital. Why must foreign investors be expected to invest in an economy where the current elite would rather invest in cars?
Why didn’t Mr Tenderprenuer invest in 11 centre pivots to improve productivity on the farm he got from government?
Has Mr Tenderprenuer made so much money that he doesn’t see any sense in growing the money he has now or he simply can’t see opportunities to grow his money locally?
Mr Tenderprenuer is a typical crony who has no capacity to create wealth beyond his current networks. They thrive in exploiting political networks to provide services and reap profits.
He will get more of these huge logistics tenders because of his proximity to power but none of the profits he makes will be useful to the country.
Government must impose a tax for idle capital and must punish misallocation of scarce resources. It is shocking that Mr Tenderprenuer may have brought in this vehicle duty free. This is a system that rewards and incentivises misallocation of resources.
Mnangagwa is likely to fail dismally in resuscitating the economy. It would seem Mnangagwa and those who surround him have no mindset required to rescue Zimbabwe.
By Talent Gondo- Zimbabwe is on course to clear its US$605 million debt to the African Development Bank (AfDB), which will allow the country to start accessing funds from the bank beginning early next year, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 54th Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the AfDB and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund being held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Prof Ncube said the country was complying with requirements that will pave way for it to access funds.
He said:
“We are expecting it (funding) end of January or February next year because the roadmap requires Staff Monitored Programmes from the International Monetary Fund and we signed up to go through test dates and the last test date is in December or January next year and at that moment, if all goes well, we will finally access the monies.”
By Talent Gondo- The government of Zimbabwe has expressed its sadness over the untimely death of MDC legislator and daughter to the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi said:
“The government is saddened by the untimely death of Hon Vimbai Tsvangirai.
We do hereby express our heartfelt condolences to the Tsvangirai and Java families as well as the MDC party.
The government stands ready to assist the bereaved in whatever means possible.”
Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java died on Monday afternoon from injuries she sustained in a car crash in Kwekwe last month.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has warned the public against moving around with large amounts of money as they may fall prey to robbers.
This follows the flagging of a Kadoma man recently who was found in possession of RTGS$23 949.00. Said the police in a statement:
“Police in Kadoma has interviewed Mukarobwa Nyasha Godblessing for possibly Contravening Section 46 (1)(a) of the Finance Act, 2018 after he was found in possession of RTGS$23 940, 00 in suspicious circumstances in his Toyota Altezza vehicle.
He failed to give a satisfactory explanation for possessing such large sums of money. We reiterate our warning to members of the public to avoid carrying/keeping large sums of money in their premises/vehicles as they may fall victim to robbers.”
The University of Zambia (UNZA) plans to confer Honorary Doctorates in Good Governance to its former students President Edgar Lungu and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
UNZA’s next graduation ceremony is scheduled for June 22 with both Lungu and Mnangagwa expected to be in attendance in addition to a K950 (US$72) alumni dinner that will be held the next day at the Mulungushi International Centre in Lusaka.
Lungu and Mnangagwa became friends whilst they were law students at the University of Zambia in the 1970’s almost 50 years later they will be reunited at their former university to get honorary PhD’s in Good Governance.
The question on everyone’s mind is do they deserve these PhD’s?
By A Correspondent- Mazowe River bridge is reported to be on the verge of collapsing if illegal mining continues along the river.
The state media reports that illegal miners are diverting the flow of water for their activities since the river is drying up. This is believed to be affecting the bridge.
In addition to the danger the illegal miners are exposing the bridge to, their activities are also said to have adversely affected farmers who have plots downstream.
This was revealed by the Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Province, Senator Monica Mavhunga who toured the bridge and the Bindura water treatment plant to assess the damage.
The minister said:
What we have seen shows that there is no more water in the river. There are illegal miners who have dug holes, thus diverting the course of the river.
The river is now drying up such that wheat farmers can no longer irrigate and their crops are in distress, so as the provincial leadership, we are here to see and put our heads together on what needs to be done to protect our infrastructure.
Our committee led by the Provincial Administrator will travel along the river and then we sit down and strategize on the way forward.
The state media further reports that a huge part of Mazowe River is subjected to illegal mining activities. It also reports that some miners are setting up alluvial mining operations near the Bindura water treatment plant.-StateMedia
Jane Mlambo| The opposition MDC will today hold a memorial rally for the late Vimbai Tsvangirai in her constituency in Glen View South.
According to the MDC President, Nelson Chamisa the rally will be an opportunity for his constituency to bid farewell to their legislator who will be buried tomorrow at the Glen Forest cemetery.
After the Glen View rally, her body will be taken to the party headquarters Harvest House now named after the founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Vimbai died on Monday afternoon at West End hospital where she had been admitted since her involvement in a road accident along Bulawayo-Harare highway while coming from a party function in Bulawayo.
The same accident claimed her campaign manager Paul Rukanda and relative Tafadzwa Mhundwa.
She had just been elected in absentia, the Secretary General of the party’s Women’s Assembly at the Gweru elective congress.
By A Correspondent| The new ZANU PF Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda, now possessing the powers of the Defence Ministry and also those of ZANU PF’s upper-room, the Political Commissariat, has become Zimbabwe’s new and only other Moven Mahachi.
Matemadanda has at the pleasure and sledger of the ZANU PF President, replaced a feared military general, Engelbert Rugeje. Is Rugeje happy with this?
GEN.ENGELBET RUGEJE
The late Mahachi (former Minister Of Defence) died a suspicious death through an accident in 2001, one of many in the party, in a repeating sequel officially serialised by state media editor, Tichaona Zindoga as The Death Of The Commissar (a book).
The first to die through a suspicious accident was the crocodile gang founder, William Ndangana who was Zimbabwe’s first Defence Minister from independence 1980.
Investigations by ZimEye.com show that both Ndangana and Mahachi had clashed with some party seniors, just before exiting this world, for good.
Victor Matemadanda
And yesterday, barely a day after coming into office, Matemadanda had already rushed to bash against senior Government officials and party bigwigs saying those who are implicated in corrupt activities should clear their names before they hold public office.
Matemadanda’s sudden volcanic behaviour is similar to that of another predecessor, Saviour Kasukuwere who was nearly killed during the thick dark night when former President Robert Mugabe was removed from power, on 15 November 2017.
Analysts have revealed that since independence, every political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
Saviour Kasukuwere,
Engelbert Rugeje.
2001 May – 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 May- 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. (Source – Timetoast.com)
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with the state media yesterday, Matemadanda who is the Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs said there is need for image building among public office bearers to gain trust from the public.
“Leaders should not be involved in corrupt activities. Those implicated in corrupt activities be it a Politburo member or minister should clear their names before the courts before taking public office.
“For those in influential positions should resign and clear their names. “They should not wait for the President to nail them in public. They should not wait for the President to force them to resign, they should do the honorary way. Let them clear their names to gain confidence from the people,” he said.
By Own Correspondent- Air Zimbabwe has revealed its intentions to auction old planes when the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development toured the airline premises.
The committee was also informed that a further US$12 million to service and maintain Air Zimbabwe fleet which is currently grounded was required.
The fleet includes two 120 seater airbuses which require about US$9 million for repairs and maintenance as well as the recently acquired 50-seater Embraer which is in its final stages of registration.
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Oscar Gorerino commended the efforts being done by the administrator, Mr. Reggie Saruchera in trying to resuscitate the national airline.
On Monday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Patrick Chinamasa as the chairman of the Air Zimbabwe board of directors. The move has attracted controversy with some expressing pessimism over his capacity to revive the airline. The move was however welcomed by Norton Legislator Temba Mliswa who said Chinamasa’s history makes him the best for the post.-
