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.-
Zanu-PF National Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda has exclusively revealed that the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was his uncle, saying despite political differences, they ensured that their relationship was never disturbed.
Speaking at the funeral of Tsvangirai’s daughter, Vimbai who died yesterday in Harare, Matemadanda said it is sad that the Tsvangirai family has lost an educated and bright daughter in the Glenview South legislator.
Matemadanda, who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, urged other politicians to emulate the founding father of MDC, who was a mature politician.
A family representative, Mr Manasa Tsvangirai said the family has been robbed of a family unifier.
Hon Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java died on Monday due to injuries sustained in an accident that occurred last month while travelling from MDC Provincial Caucus in Bulawayo.
She is survived by her husband and burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
Mourners are gathered at House number 2, Lyndhurst lane, Strathaven in Harare.
CHIEF Binga of Binga District in Matabeleland North has died.
He was 74.
Born Siakateya Siakulya Gasita, Chief Binga died at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo on Wednesday last week after a long illness that had kept him away from public life.
A sombre atmosphere engulfed the Bulawayo Kraal community on Monday as the late Chief was laid to rest at his homestead. He was buried at 5PM in line with Tonga culture where a traditional leader is only buried in the morning or after 3PM.
Ordinary people from the community were also not allowed to the grave to witness the burial in line with the Tonga culture and they left before burial after speeches had been made.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo, who was present, described the late Chief Binga as an industrious leader who fought for the development of his people and community.
“We are gathered here to pay our last respects to one of the respected traditional leaders in the country. The late Chief Binga was an educated person who wanted the best for his people,” said Minister Moyo. He urged the family and community to follow laid down succession procedures in terms of their culture and the country’s laws.
“In terms of succession, when the time comes, local chiefs will meet the clan and family. They will listen to what the family wants in line with tradition and if there are succession squabbles, the Minister will not sign,” Minister Moyo said.
The president of the Chief’s Council, Chief Charumbira, said Chief Binga’s death was a loss not only to Binga but to the whole nation. He thanked Government for supporting traditional leaders.
The late Chief Binga was born on June 20, 1945. He worked for Government in Hwange and Lupane as well as for the Bulawayo City Council. He also worked for Rhodesia Railways, now National Railways of Zimbabwe and retired in December 1999 when he was appointed to succeed Chief Binga Chinkonkolole.
Chief Binga is credited for facilitating the establishment of the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme which is in his area of jurisdiction.
He also worked hard to ensure that Bulawayo Kraal Secondary School and Manjolo Abattoir were opened.
The late chief also played a pivotal role in the development of Chibondo, Cheenga, Masibinta, Lubu and Masenya schools as well as Manjolo Clinic and the erection of a powerline from Manjolo to his community.
He also started a water project in Lubu area, spearheaded the development of Kamakubi Dip Tank and other projects. Chief Binga is survived by three wives, 17 children and 40 grandchildren.
Celine Dion’s fan have spoken out after her latest Instagram post.
Celine Dion’s latest post has fans concerned for the star’s health.
The 51-year-old singer’s team took to Instagram to share a photo of the chanteuse taking a time-out in a black leather miniskirt, prompting red flags over the star’s noticeably slim frame.
“F.O.M.O,” the caption read. “It means Fear of Missing Out, or does it?”
The playful snap, posted just days before Dion wrapped her Las Vegas residency, set off a firestorm of criticism over the My Heart Will Go On singer’s weight.
“I love you Celine. Please take care,” one fan wrote. “You look very unhealthy.”
“I’ve never seen her look this skinny,” another said of the photo.
While many defended the star saying Dion has always been thin, others theorised that there could be another reason behind her altered appearance.
“I know Celine has always been a thin gal, but today she is too thin,” a fan concluded.
Despite the attention given to her body, the singer has been adamant that there is no cause for concern.
“It’s true that I’m a little thinner,” Dion told reporters in April of this year. “Everything’s fine, nothing’s wrong.”
The L’Oreal Paris ambassador attributes her recent weight loss to her newfound love of ballet.
“Dancing has been in my DNA all of my life,” she previously told PEOPLE.
“It’s a dream. And so hard! I do this four times a week. People say, ‘She’s a lot thinner’ but I’m working hard. I like to move and [weight loss] comes with it.”
ZIMBABWE’S local currency, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar, has plunged by 140% to trade at US$1:ZWL$6 on the official interbank market, nearly four months after its introduction in February this year.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) introduced the currency after scrapping the discredited 1:1 dollar peg for the surrogate bond notes and electronic dollars, merging them into a lower-value transitional currency called the RTGS dollar as part of monetary policy measures to address the country’s currency challenges.
The RTGS$ debuted at ZWL$2,5 to the greenback, while on the parallel market the rate was as high as US$1:ZWL$4 back in February. As of Wednesday the black market rate averaged US$1:ZWL$8,70.
Monetary authorities insist that the two markets will eventually converge stressing that there isn’t enough RTGS dollars in circulation to sustain the continued run of the parallel market rate.
Recently, Delta Beverages, which had previously complained of failing to access currency on the interbank market, said the platform had become more liquid and open.
Last Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the country will have a new currency by year end, adding uncertainty to an already unnerved market.
Most businesses are now pegging their prices in US dollars and use black market rates to calculate RTGS dollar prices.
Mnangagwa’s comments echo Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube’s position who has stressed that the southern African economy needs to regain its monetary policy as a means of dealing with the country’s macro-economic problems.
Following a devastating bout of record-setting hyper-inflation which rendered the country’s currency worthless,in 2009, Zimbabwe adapted the United States dollar and other currencies such as sterling and the South African rand.
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 A Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary yesterday spoke to ZimEye assuring Zimbabweans that her husband is “okay.”
All this happened just as a flight tracking website revealed that the same private jet that has been carrying the former general had by yesterday landed in Dubai from Harare.
Some journalists have claimed Mary is struggling for health, but an audibly articulate, 2nd Lady, spoke confidently. On the phone, Mary’s vocal elasticity did not ring any signs of illness or struggling.
She then afterwards said her husband “has been okay.”
Below were some of her responses to questions in the brief convo. (ZimEye will today avail the audio clip to our monthly supporters – under our Facebook page)
HELLO. IS THIS THE FIRST LADY, MRS MARY? COULD I PLEASE TALK TO THE VP?
Oh, he is not here now,
Who is calling? …
NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT HE HAS FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
He has left the country? Vachienda kupi?…
Okay….
PAUSE…INTERJECTION
I don’t know. Ndiani arikuphona?
Aaah, if you phone him tomorrow.
BUT HOW IS FEELING NOW?
He’s ok. I said, he has been okay.
OH OK, THANK YOU, I SHALL CALL TOMORROW. GOD BLESS YOU.
Zanu-PF Lupane East by election candidate Mbongeni Dube has a pending criminal case over violence after engaging in a fist fight with a police officer, it has emerged.
Dube was controversially selected by Zanu-PF Matabeleland North on 8 June to represent the party in the by election set for August.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Sithembile Gumbo.
According to Zanu-PF officials from the province, Dube bit the police officer during the fight.
“It should be known that the decision to chose Mbongeni was a divisive one. Some members were totally against his selection. Just recently, he was involved in a fight with a police officer that he bit in the process. The matter is being handled by the police,” said the official.
They said members argued that Dube was not a strong candidate to stand against an MDC candidate and former Senator Dalumuzi Khumalo.
Khumalo landed the senatorial seat on the ticket of the then Professor Arthur Mutambara led MDC.
“Besides the pending criminal case, Dube does not stand a chance against Khumalo who has so much political clout. The party has donated the seat to the opposition,” said the official.
The Zanu-PF officials said efforts to have a primary election were rejected by the provincial leadership.
“As it turned out, the provincial leadership came to the meeting with the intention of declaring Mbongeni the candidate and they used their muscle to ensure that he sailed through.”
The price of Blend Petrol has gone up with immediate effect from $4.90 per litre to $5.26 per litre while the price of Diesel has gone up from $4.80 to $5.07 according to reports from social media circulations.
A notice which social media users have confirmed to be genuine, indicates that the increase is a result of the increase in the price of ethanol which is used to blend local fuel.
Government this week increased the ethanol blending on petrol from 15% to 20% in a move which was executed to reduce the cost of petrol.
According to the reports, the price increase has been attributed to an increase in the price of Ethanol from $2.98 per litre to $4.60 per litre. Ironically, diesel is not blended with ethanol and the ethanol is not imported but is locally produced.
FORMER Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanayi Chipanga says Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (pictured) should be charged with treason over his utterances on November 13, 2017 where he threatened army intervention to stop former President Robert Mugabe from firing him as the head of the army.
Chipanga made the remarks in his founding affidavit which he filed alongside his application at the High Court, where he is seeking a review of the ruling by Harare magistrate Edwin Marecha dismissing a demand for further particulars, including a statement made by Chiwenga on the eve of the coup that toppled army toppled Mugabe.
The former Makoni West MP is being charged with communicating falsehoods, causing dissatisfaction in the army and undermining public confidence in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
The charges emanated from a Press conference he gave at the Zanu PF headquarters where he was responding to Chiwenga’s threats.
Chiwenga was the commander of the defence forces on November 13, 2017 when he issued a written statement criticising Mugabe, a week after the then President had fired Mnangagwa as his deputy.
“The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern for us in the defence forces,” Chiwenga said at a Press conference held at the army’s KG IV (renamed Josiah Magama Tongogara) headquarters in Harare at the time.
“We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in. The current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith.”
Chiwenga said the army could step in to “stop reckless utterances by politicians from the ruling party denigrating the military which is causing alarm and despondency within the rank and file; that the current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith; that the known counter-revolutionary elements who have fomented the current instability in the party must be exposed and fished out; and as the party goes for the extraordinary congress, members must go with equal opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.”
He was flanked by the Zimbabwe National Army leadership.
Chipanga held a Press conference the following day responding to Chiwenga’s threats, daring the army and vowed that the youths would die for Mugabe, statements now constituting the criminal charges against him.
Chipanga was abducted by the military during the coup and assaulted before being forced to apologise live on television.
Chipanga and his co-accused, Innocent Hamandishe and Rodney Dangarembizi, made an application before Marecha seeking an order to compel the State to avail to them a statement by Chiwenga which the State alleges was used by Chipanga to castigate the Vice-President.
However, Marecha is said to have dismissed Chipanga’s application on the basis that what the State had provided him and his colleagues was enough for them to draft their defence.
“For instance, the indictment alleged that I (Chipanga) gave a statement at a Press conference referring to an earlier statement by Commander, Defence Forces, Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga. The statement by Chiwenga becomes self-evidently important to us. If for instance, the statement by Chiwenga was seditious, which it was, what Chiwenga then said was
criminal,” Chipanga said.
“That aspect would then absolve me of any wrong doing. This is because contrary to what the State alleges. It is in fact Chiwenga who is the complainant in this case. He cannot benefit from his own wrong-doing. The same argument goes to the rest of the requested particulars. Once provided, they absolve us.
“The particulars then become necessary for our defences. The respondents (State and Marecha) must not be allowed to dictate how we conduct our defences or to decide for us which information is necessary for our defences.”
In his application, Chipanga said on April, 1 2019, his lawyers wrote a letter to the Prosecutor-General (PG) requesting certain particulars to enable him to prepare for the trial but the State failed to do so.
He said the investigating officer was called to give evidence and he told the court he was in a position to supply Chipanga with the information he needed but only if he was directed by the court to do so.
Apparently, the magistrate did not do as such, arguing the requested particulars were not necessary.
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.
BORDER GEZI: Gezi had been a rising star in Zanu PF, rising to governor and then Youth minister before his death in a car crash on April 28 2001. Gezi died when his driver lost control of his ministerial vehicle, although an inquest later blamed two senior officials from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department for negligence in fitting a defective tyre to his car.
2001 Moven Mahachi
MOVEN MAHACHI: The Defence minister died barely a month after the death of Gezi, raising questions whether the accident that claimed his life had been a genuine one. Mahachi was killed on May 26, 2001 when his Range Rover collided with a small car along the Mutare –
Nyanga Road. (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.
A High Court in Botswana has ruled to scrap anti-gay laws that threatened offenders with a jail sentence of up to seven years.
The court has therefore, decriminalised consensual same sex conduct in Botswana.
Botswana has joined another neighbour to Zimbabwe, South Africa to legalise the act which is regarded as highly taboo and illegal in Zimbabwe. However, sporadic reports of this happening in Zimbabwe even amongst top government officials keep appearing in the local media.
A radical organisation, Girls and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe, GALZ , has for years been in the forefront pushing for the laws in Zimbabwe to be amended to allow their practice.
“Denying the applicant the right to sexual intercourse in the only way natural to him even though it is done to all is in our view discriminatory…. Any discrimination to the minority in a society is a discrimination to all,” the court said.
“Discrimination has no place in this world, all humans are born equal.”
Homosexual acts were outlawed in Botswana, a country that is one of Arica’s most stable, democratic nations under the country’s penal code of 1965.
Botswana could decriminalize gay sex in a landmark case that is getting attention from all over Africa. Last month Kenya’s high court declined to cancel laws criminalizing homosexuality, continuing to uphold its own anti-homosexuality laws, dealing a tough hand to the country’s gay community that rippled across the continent where homophobia is common.
Gay rights organizations in Kenya were hoping the ruling meant the country would follow in the footsteps of African countries like Angola, or the likes of India by ending decade old laws which decriminalize gay sex.
Neela Ghoshal, a specialist in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender law at the Human Rights Watch group said: “After an effort by activists to decriminalize same-sex relations through Kenya’s High Court met a bitter defeat last month, all eyes are on Botswana.
“A positive ruling would give hope to an embattled but resilient African LGBT rights movement.”It would also demonstrate that Botswana takes seriously its commitments to equality and non-discrimination.” Twenty-eight out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have laws penalizing same-sex relationship.” said Ghoshal.
In March this year, lawyers presented a statement from the applicant at the Botswana high court hearing. The laws “limit me to interact with others who identify in the same way for fear of imprisonment.”We are not looking for people to agree with homosexuality but to be tolerant.” said the applicant identified only by the initials LM.
The state argued that the society in Botswana was not ready to change its attitude towards homosexuality.
However, on the contrary, Botswana with a population of around 2 million people has shown signs of increasing tolerance of sexual orientation in recent years.
Activists had launched a legal battle after the Home Affairs Ministry rejected an application to register Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) organization; this as the country’s appeal court ruled that the government was wrong for refusing to register the organization.
Last year, President Mokgweetsi Masisi addressed a gender-based gathering and said that there are “many people of same-sex relationships in this country who have been violated and have also suffered in silence”.
“Just like other citizens, they deserve to have their rights protected,” Masisi said.
Botswana, in southern Africa, is famed for its abundant wildlife and its diamond mines, being one of the countries most affected by HIV in the world with a 22.8 percent of adult infection rate, despite providing the free universal antiretroviral treatment.
THE first episode of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League flagship clash is on this Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium where Highlanders host Dynamos.
Never mind that the fading giants face off at a time when they are at their weakest, with Highlanders floating in the relegation waters while Dynamos are just four points above the red zone, expectations are that the clash will be a thriller.
Highlanders sit in 15th position on the league table with 11 points after 11 games and have had a bizarre campaign, averaging a point a game. So much had been expected from Highlanders after creating a false dawn by winning two consecutive games, only to suffer a shock 1-0 defeat away to Yadah.
Losing to Yadah was not the best way Highlanders wanted to build-up to the DeMbare clash, but their coach Madinda Ndlovu thinks otherwise.
He believes the sentimental value associated with the Bosso and DeMbare clash self-motivates players.
“We will go on with our game plan. It’s a different ball game altogether – ‘El Clasico’ is not like this game we played (Saturday against Yadah). Every player will probably lift (their game) and the fact that we are playing at home will probably motivate the players to want to play this game. So I think it’s one of the easiest games to prepare for because every player is geared for such kind of a game,” Ndlovu told the club’s official website.
Competition for places in the final squad is likely to be high at the Highlanders training ground. The worry that the coach is likely to have is his strike force’s impotence. How he deals with his team’s failure to convert chances will be key to Highlanders’ success against Dynamos.
Last season Bosso beat Dynamos home and away, with Ozias Zibande scoring for Bosso in the team’s 1-0 victory at Rufaro Stadium.State media
Zimbabweans are facing travel disruptions; this follows the only airplane that is operating at Air Zimbabwe was sent for repairs.
Air Zimbabwe released a statement and said their Boeing 767-200ER is undergoing a mandatory maintenance check from the 6th until the 19th of June.
“Management is working on alternative equipment arrangements in order to ensure normal service is resumed as from Tuesday, June 11,” the statement read.
The airline further said passengers already booked would be contacted and put on other airlines.
“Once the maintenance requirement is accomplished, the aircraft will be released back into service,” the statement added.
The airline recently received a new aeroplane, Embraer ERJ145 which is expected to ease the pressure on the current one.
Air Zimbabwe spokesperson told the media that the plane’s registration was completed last Friday.
“We are waiting to complete a few line items then we fly.”
Air Zimbabwe flies daily between Harare and Johannesburg and Harare and Bulawayo via Victoria Falls.
The airline’s troubles had been good for business for rivals like FastJet and South African Airways, who now move the bulk of passengers between those destinations.
Farai Dziva|Zim Dancehall artist Ras Caleb has produced a song that denounces political violence and victimization of youths and women.
The song was produced in collaboration with COTRAD, a Masvingo based NGO.
See the COTRAD statement below :
Ras Caleb Featuring Ti-Gonzi in collaboration with Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) produced a video titled “Peace and Justice”.
The video encourages all Zimbabweans (Elders, Youth and women) to desist from all sorts violence.
The song reminds people that, it is everyone’s responsibility to guard against the disease of violence so that Zimbabwe will remain a peaceful country.
The video shows and explains the negativity of all forms violence and human rights violations and abuse.
The Artists urged people to unite and peacefully work together in building the Zimbabwe we want.
The Artists insisted that as a people we should not be rivals, we don’t need to waste time fighting each other.
As a country we want peace, we want unity, we want one love we want equal rights and justice. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
A WOMAN from Bulawayo brought court proceedings to a standstill as she partially undressed and held on to a window after being exposed for lying that her husband had beaten her up.
Silibaziso Mathonsi (29) of Pumula South suburb shocked the gallery when she became dramatic, forcing the magistrate Mr Urgent Vundla to adjourn the case.
The drama began when Mathonsi appeared in court to testify against her husband Mr Tichapondiwa Munjodzi whom she alleged had physically abused her.
When the prosecutor Ms Sithembikosi Moyo asked Mathonsi to confirm she was the complainant, she said she never reported her husband to the police.
“I never reported this case. The people I was with are the ones who filed a report. I only signed a statement and I signed to the things l understood,” she said, giggling.
When the magistrate ruled that she had made a false report to the police and should be arrested for contempt of court, Mathonsi started screaming.
She held on to the window and carelessly raised her skirt showing off her underwear.
Initially, people in the gallery laughed.
However, as Mathonsi continued with her bizarre behaviour, a hush fell over the courtroom.
I think we all know what would turn round the economy, literally in 3 months:
1. Disolve parliament and call for 100% free elections, handled and monitored by an TOTALLY independent organisation;
2. Put the white commercial farmers back on the land and let them do what they know best – farm the land commercially.
Whether we like it or not, these are the two things that will sort the mess in the country. Otherwise, the feeble attempts to get the economy kick started, will take us NOWHERE – and we’ll be forever chasing our tails.
Is it not time the wonderful, hardworking, patient people of Zimbabwe ENJOYED THEIR FREEDOM and THEIR LIVES?
Surely to God, the few who have had their snouts in the trough for 30 years (YES, 30 TEARFUL YEARS near God) must now come to an end, for the betterment of the people and the nation?
NEWLY-appointed Zanu-PF Secretary for the Commissariat Victor Matemadanda has taken over his new task in the ruling party with a loud bag threatening his colleagues in government and party of tough times ahead with him.
In an interview with state media after being appointed to the tricky party position that has claimed many scalps, Matemadanda said top Government officials and party bigwigs implicated in corrupt activities should clear their names first before assuming public office.
The firebrand Matemadanda, who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans’ Affairs, said there was need for image building among public office bearers to gain public trust.
He said it was critical that leaders shun all forms of corruption.
“Those implicated in corrupt activities be it a Politburo member or minister should clear their names before the courts before taking public office,” said Cde Matemadanda.
“For those in influential positions, they should resign and clear their names, they should not wait for President Mnangagwa to nail them in public.
“They should not wait for the President to force them to resign, they should do the honourable thing. Let them clear their names to retain confidence to the people.”
Matemadanda added that everyone has an obligation to fight corruption wherever it rears its ugly head, be it in Parliament, party level or Government.
“We want things to be fair. There is need to increase the push for the fight against corruption. Corruption should never be tolerated. If a leader is said to be corrupt he or she should be given time to clear him or herself.
“There are means to find out if it is true or not that someone is a corrupt person. You should have moral obligation that what I am doing is wrong and you will be given time to clear yourself so that you retain confidence of the people.
“When we are defending a person, it must be systematic, it must not be like hypothesis, let it be proved factually that this person is not corrupt and that leader will be accepted when people gain confidence in you,” he said.
Matemadanda said a ruthless fight against corruption was crucial as the “new dispensation” under President Mnangagwa seeks to rebuild the country’s image and attract both local and foreign investment.
He added that the President has previously indicated that Government will not consider “friendship or kinship” in its fight against corruption, as no one was above the law.
It remains to be seen how long Matemadanda will last in the position after such a heavy take off.
President Mnangagwa has appointed Professor Paul Mapfumo as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), replacing the long-serving Prof Levi Nyagura who left the institution under a cloud in April.
Prof Mapfumo had been Acting Vice Chancellor since August 17, 2018.
In a statement released yesterday, UZ Council chairman Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka said the appointment by the UZ Chancellor is for a period of five years and is effective from June 10.
“The appointment is for a period of five years effective 10 June, 2019. A distinguished academic, administrator and researcher par excellence, Prof Mapfumo brings with him a wealth of experience, evidence of strong vision and leadership, and a clear commitment to the University of Zimbabwe’s founding principles of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and strength of community in discovering and applying knowledge for public good, anchored by the highest academic and professional standards,” Dr Masuka said.
“Prof Mapfumo has served and continues to serve on several national and international boards where he plays critical roles in strategic and policy advisory.
“For example, at national level, he is currently chairperson of the National Manpower Advisory Council, board member Zimbabwe Staff College Control Board, board member Zimbabwe National Army Schools Welfare Trust, lead expert Zimbabwe National Geospatial Agency, and delegate Zimbabwe Climate Change Negotiation Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2014-16, 2018).”
Prof Mapfumo also serves as a member of the United Nations High Level Panel of Experts of the Committee on World Food Security and convener for the UN international report on agroecology, among a host of distinguished posts.
The UZ begun its search for a substantive Vice-Chancellor to replace Professor Levi Nyagura, who left the institution amid allegations of abuse of office, in April.
Prof Nyagura faces allegations of facilitating the unprocedural conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy degree on former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe.
The new Vice Chancellor is expected to foster strategic partnerships and harmonious working relationships between and among various university stakeholders, staff, students, public and private organisations.
BULAWAYO textile manufacturing firm, National Blankets (Pvt) Limited, has been liquidated following years of poor performance and failure to find a good investment suitor in yet another blow to the city’s industrial revival drive.
Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo issued an interim order directing National Blankets to be placed under liquidation after she was satisfied that the company could not continue operating normally due to serious financial constraints it is facing.
“It is ordered that the applicant National Blankets (Pvt) Limited is provisionally wound up, pending the grant of an order referred to or the discharge of this order. Subject to subsection 27 (1) of the Companies Act, Phillip Ndlovu of PNA Chartered Accountants is appointed provisional liquidator,” ruled the judge.
Justice Moyo ordered any interested parties to appear before the court sitting tomorrow (Thursday) to prove why the granting of a final order to place the company under full liquidation should not proceed.
The company’s products have been experiencing a drastic fall in demand as the market for woven blankets declined. The liquidator is expecting to facilitate the purchase of the company by a potential investor or the disposal of assets.
In papers before the court, National Blankets said it resolved to seek an equity investor, Triumphant Enterprises, to partner as a potential investor.
After an agreement was reached, Triumphant Enterprises purchased modern machinery from Europe, providing access to foreign currency with which to acquire raw materials.
“Following the acquisition of new machinery and access to foreign currency, production improved with capacity utilisation rising from about seven percent to 65 percent,” read court papers.
However, the company later faced challenges associated with loan repayments, prohibitive borrowing costs, labour costs and the general decline in market due to competition from foreign products.
The company said a loan of US$1,2 million, which was long term, was recalled with the result that capital, which would have been available to retool and purchase raw materials, was used to retire the loan, depleting working capital.
National Blankets said the slow uptake of its products also resulted in the company failing to service loans advanced to it by financial institutions and the major shareholder, Triumphant Enterprises.
“The company’s business has failed and it is insolvent with its liabilities exceeding its assets by an appreciable margin such that it would be reckless not to contain the downward slide,” said the company.
During its peak, National Blankets was arguably a market leader in the blanket manufacturing business enjoying a 70 percent domestic market share.
The company was also a major exporter of textile products to the Sadc region. The company, among the second city’s most iconic and oldest, still uses equipment that was first installed in 1940, early into the Second World War and can only manufacture woven blankets.
National Blankets appeared to be on its way out of the woods when in 2014, creditors agreed that all debt be converted to equity at a rate of $0,50 per ordinary share.
The creditors, however, were not keen on putting new money into the company, which had a history of borrowing heavily. National Blankets has been under judicial management since 2012 due to viability concerns.
It received a $500 000 loan facility from the Central African Building Society (CABS) under the Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) in 2013 but the money failed to change its fortunes.
Also in 2013, the firm sold off some of its property to pension fund, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and settled its debt to the bank and service providers such as Bulawayo City Council, paying a combined total of $2.6 million.
By Prosper Dembedza | Financial statements retrieved from Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries’ computers by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) are admissible evidence in the $28 million tax evasion case and the church has to stand trial, a Harare court has ruled.
Regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya ruled in favour of the State saying the documents can be produced in court as evidence. Magaya’s church stands accused of failing to declare tax of more than $28 million revenue accrued from 2013 to 2018.
Mr Mujaya said the full reasons for his ruling would be made available on June 14. He dismissed the church lawyers’ arguments due to lack of merit and postponed the matter to June 26 for commencement of trial.
The church’s lawyers Mr Admire Rubaya and Mr Oliver Marwa were objecting to the tendering of the documents as evidence. This culminated in the conduction of a trial within a trial to ascertain the origin of the financial statements. During this trial, the lawyers objected the financial statements saying they were forged and fabricated.
Prophet Walter Magaya’s church is being charged for breaching Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations on over $28 million realised from sale of church wares since 2013.
According to the State, the church raises revenue from selling church regalia, anointing oil, holy water and from its guest house.
It is alleged that sometime in October last year, ZIMRA conducted tax investigations and recovered financial statements from PHD for the period extending from 2013 to 2017.
The court heard that ZIMRA recovered financial statements from the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe which were submitted by PHD for a loan application.
The statements showed that the church realised sales amounting to $28 706 040 between 2013 and 2017. -The Herald
The ZANU PF youth league has disowned four party members who were arrested for using President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name to extort money from members of the public.
A group of ZANU PF youths is alleged to have extorted a significant amount of money from a miner after claiming to be attached to the President’s Office.
In a statement, the ZANU PF youth league deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu said, “indiscipline, extortionist tendencies and unruly behaviour have no place in the Zanu-PF Youth League.
“We are busy transforming our organisation into a modern political organisation that is acceptable in our generation.
“We are actively participating in the economic recovery of our country guided by vision 2030 under the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
“Corruption and violence are things of the past. We should never allow ourselves to be drawn back into the old way of doing things.
“We condemn in the strongest terms such behaviour and those involved must stop forthwith.
“Our responsibility as young people is to promote and participate in production towards economic development because we have the energy.”
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has said that Zimbabwe is waiting to get funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) next year as it moves to clear its US$605 million debt with the institution.
He waa speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing 54th Meeting of Boards of Governors of the AfDB and the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Ncube 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 (IMF) 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, will finally access the monies.”
He urged Zimbabweans to be patient as the positive results of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme will take time to be felt. He said,
“my message to the people of Zimbabwe is that; please be patient. We cannot have a silver bullet with these things, the positive impact of the reforms takes time and we are in the right path and again we should be patient.”
Highlanders’ head coach Madinda Ndlovu has reportedly agreed terms with ambitious Botswana outfit Gaborone United and is set to join them in August in time for the 2019/2020 Botswana Be Mobile League season kick-off.
According to sources from the six-time Botswana champions, Ndlovu, who is in his second year of a three-year deal with the struggling Bulawayo side, put pen to paper on Monday, taking over from Phillimon Makwengwe.
He has since given a one month’s notice to resign from Bosso, who are in the midst of their worst campaign in which they have been in the relegation zone from Matchday 1.
“From my understanding, the club has reached an agreement with a much respected coach from Bulawayo, but I am not responsible for giving such information to the media. Maybe you can get in touch with our secretary who has been handling the matter,” said the source.
“Get back to us on Tuesday next week,” said Gaborone United secretary-general Lenyeletse Tamocha when contacted for comment.
“Look contract issues are confidential and done by our finance guys. It may be true or not, but at this moment I am not in a position to answer your questions authoritatively. What I can confirm though is that our coach’s contract expired at the end of May and no decision has been reached yet on whether we retain him or not”.
Ndlovu denied the reports, saying he can’t respond to “everything that is written or said about me”.
He said there were too many things said and written about him which he has no say or control over.
“People will write all sorts of things about me and surely I cannot respond to all those things,” said Ndlovu.
Sources said the pull of money was too much for Ndlovu, who is highly regarded in Botswana, having won three league titles in a row.
His first of the two league titles were with the now relegated Mochudi Centre Chiefs before dumping them to join Township Rollers, whom he led to the championship in 2014.
He quit in a huff the following year 48 hours after a 1-2 loss to Gaborone United, then coached by Rahman Gumbo, in the P1 million Mascom Top 8 final.
“Those guys (Gaborone United) are nicknamed Money Machine in Botswana because of the huge financial resources that were injected into the club and the salary they offered him (Madinda) is almost eight times what he is earning at Highlanders. Who in his right senses would reject such an offer? It’s a financial windfall for him,” said a source.
Gaborone United finished sixth last season, 25 points behind title winners Township Rollers. The team was rocked by serious administrative wrangles that saw its leadership roles being taken over by what they called a council of elders before elections ushered in the new executive in September 2018.
Highlanders take on fellow strugglers Dynamos this weekend in a duel that ordinarily would be Zimbabwe’s own version of El Classico, but has since been dubbed “El Relegeto”.- State Media
By Farai D Hove| Since independence 1980, every ZANU PF political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list includes:
Emmerson Mnangagwa has assigned the substantive Vice Chancellor post of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), to Professor Paul Mapfumo.
Mapfumo had been acting since August 17, 2018.
He replaces long-serving Prof Levi Nyagura who left UZ in acrimonious circumstances in April.
A statement issued on Tuesday by UZ Council chairman Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka reads in part:
The appointment is for a period of five years effective 10 June 2019.
A distinguished academic, administrator and researcher par excellence, Prof Mapfumo brings with him a wealth of experience, evidence of strong vision and leadership, and a clear commitment to the University of Zimbabwe’s founding principles of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and strength of community in discovering and applying knowledge for public good, anchored by the highest academic and professional standards.
He is currently chairperson of the National Manpower Advisory Council, board member Zimbabwe Staff College Control Board, board member Zimbabwe National Army Schools Welfare Trust, lead expert Zimbabwe National Geospatial Agency, and delegate Zimbabwe Climate Change Negotiation Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2014-16, 2018).
Mapfumo replaces Nyagura who is facing charges of abuse of office after he allegedly conferred former First Lady Grace Mugabe with a Doctor of Philosophy degree without following due process. – State Media
Barely a day after coming into office, ZANU PF Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda has said senior Government officials and party bigwigs who are implicated in corrupt activities should clear their names before they hold public office.
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.
Meanwhile, analysts revealed that since independence, every political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list includes:
I can’t pay $1 500 child support: Wadyajena – DailyNews Live so gladly his fortunes have changed so positively in the last 5 years. Chipo Dendere
This is the guy that could not pay maintained for his child. He could not afford RTGS 1500 he swore this b4 a judge. Simon Chiruka 1
@fortunechasi The bicycle deal is off, handingaiti bhasikoro I have worked so hard I have hard earned money, ndatengawo mota yangu Aaah vamwe voDriver supercharged cars with 5-litre engines isu totenga mabhasikoro? @JusticeMayorW which Zimra Office do I go to for free duty? Cde Setfree Mafukidze
By A Correspondent- VICE President Kembo Mohadi has said the country’s economy is on the verge of recovery as the Government has stepped up its re-engagement efforts in line with its economic trajectory of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle income nation by 2030.
In an interview recently, VP Mohadi said the austerity measures, which Zimbabweans were undergoing, were part of a painful reform process to achieve transformation and modernisation of the economy.
He said last week’s meeting between the Government and the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Harare marked the beginning of a formal dialogue process for re-engagement which seeks to reintegrate Zimbabwe into the global family of nations.
The meeting was based on Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which governs relations between member states of the African-Caribbean-Pacific regions and the EU.
“These are temporary austerity measures and soon it will come to pass and the economy will soon stabilise as long as we are getting foreign investors trooping into the country.
“Last week we had a historic meeting with EU ambassadors in Harare, something which was never heard of before. It took 20 years to destroy this economy and it will take a few years to get it back on track,” VP Mohadi said.
VP Mohadi said the raft of measures that Government had adopted had seen the economy showing signs of improvement, with growth forecasts revised upwards.
He said Zimbabwe is seeking partners in the global community to help its upward leap and urged the generality of Zimbabweans to be patient with the economy.
Mohadi said the Government was working on measures to fight corruption including cartels and monopolies, which have been blamed for arbitrary price hikes and distortions in the market.-StateMedia
By Talent Gondo- Three Kwekwe men have been arrested for allegedly masquerading as officers from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) sent by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over a mine in Shangani.
Gostaff Gomo (37), Isaac Makore (37) and Tichaona Chinosengwa (35) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi facing charges of impersonating a public officer in violation of section 179 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The trio, which is being represented by Mr Boswell Chideme of Mavhunga and Associates, was remanded in custody to Tuesday for bail application.
By Talent Gondo- Police in Bulawayo on Tuesday afternoon conducted a drug raid at one of the city’s Central Business District’s residential flats and recovered hard drugs including marijuana and the addictive Broncho.
The raid occurred just after midday.
Scores of Bulawayo residents converged outside the flat situated at the corner of 1STAvenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street as they watched heavily armed police guarding the premises while their colleagues conducted the operation.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.
By Own Correspondent- Parirenyatwa Group Of Hospital staff members have expressed concern over controversial preacher Walter Magaya’s claim that he has healed a man who had a troublesome tumor.
The church 2 days ago published the man’s pictures before and after a surgical operation as they made their claim that it was Magaya who performed the healing using his so called anointing oil.
Below is the full report:
Paritenyatwa Group Of Hospitals does not ordinarily respond to false media reports which involve issues to do with patient confidentially, a cardinal rule for clinicians.
However, as a socially responsible institution and acting in the best interest of the public, there are times the institution is compelled to clarify issues of public interest.
It has come to our attention that there is a false media article on one of our patients, Mr Peter Manganda who had a severe scalp tumor on the head and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals from 22 April 2019 to 7 May 2019, a period during which he underwent neurosurgery as well as plastic surgery by our Specialist Doctors.
Both surgical operations were very successful and doctors discharged the patient on 7 May 2019 after concluding that the patient was stable enough to go home.
The pictures posted as having been taken after the anointed healing are actually in keeping with his state of discharge on 7 May 2019 . We therefore find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health seeking behaviors among fellow Zimbabweans.
This demoralizes clinical staff who go out of their way to give their best of knowledge and skill in serving their patients. Such deceptive articles are likely to cause unnecessary public despondence in the health delivery system and may cause unnecessary loss of life.
We wish to give credit to the hospital staff and to the neurosurgical and plastics teams for the job well-done.
It is evidently clear that the patient went to the prophet after the specialist doctors had successfully done the surgical operations.
The hospital is actually in custody of Mr Peter Manganda’s medical records and he is expected to be reviewed by the same specialists who are still determined to see their valued patient to full recovery.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals would like to advise members of the public that, while it is important to uphold one’s religious beliefs, it is also very important to acknowledge the great work being done by our esteemed medical staff.
A BULAWAYO woman has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for forging an Ordinary Level certificate she used to train and practice as a nurse at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Rutendo Matope applied to be trained as a nurse in 2014 and graduated before being employed at the UBH where she started to work as a general nurse in April this year.
Matope pleaded guilty to charges of presenting a forged certificate to a prospective employer when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lesigo Ngwenya.
She was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in jail.
“You have been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, two months suspended on condition that you do not commit a similar offence in the next three years, 10 months suspended on condition that you serve 350 hours of community service,” said the magistrate.
When she was asked by Magistrate Ngwenya why she forged the certificate, Matope said she wanted a job to fend for her family.
“I just wanted to get a job so I could take care of my family, please forgive me,” she said.
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said sometime in September 2014, Matope produced a fake Ordinary Level certificate at Chitungwiza Central Hospital and got admitted to train as a nurse for three years.
“She was deployed to UBH to work as a general nurse on April 25 this year. On May 27, the complainant, Ms Pauline Mahureva, a security officer at ZIMSEC, was approached by members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) advising her to check Matope’s certificate in the system,” said Mr Chile.
He said Matope’s name did not appear in the system.
Ms Mahureva was advised by the PSC that Matope was working at UBH. On June 4 she reported the matter leading to Matope’s arrest.
The certificate was recovered and produced in court as an exhibit.
By A Correspondent- Government has set aside $70 million for provision of people’s shops in a move aimed at curtailing wanton increases in prices of basic commodities, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Addressing Zanu-PF Manicaland’s Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting yesterday, she castigated unjustified price increases by companies such as the giant sugar producer – Tongaat Hulett.
Mutsvangwa said Government is already in the process of sourcing more funds to speed up the establishment of people’s shops across the country.
“We are fully aware of acts of economic sabotage that are going on which however do not come as a surprise because some elements in the political arena openly declared that they would spoil the broth.
“We are wondering what is really happening in the country that justifies a 100 percent increase in prices of basics within a week. It is clear sabotage. What is Tongaat Hulett importing in its production of sugar that justifies the current prices? What currency are they using in paying their workers that warrants these increases?
“We will soon see the introduction of people’s shops in all corners of the countries from cities, towns to villages. Silo products will be sold at affordable prices in these shops. As Government, we have already set aside $70 million to fund the provision of people’s shops and more funds are already being sourced to ensure that we compete at the same level with these unscrupulous elements in business,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said the people’s shops would be wholly owned by Government.
“We are aware that there are people who want to prove that Zanu-PF has failed through unjustified price increases in supermarkets. However, the people’s shops will be 100 percent owned by Government operating on a non-profit basis so that our people can afford.
“This is meant to deal with triple price mark ups that we are witnessing in this country. Rice, mealie-meal, sugar, stock feeds, school uniforms, detergents and other basics will be sold in these shops. Government will soon find partners to see to it that this idea comes to fruition,” she said.
Speaking during the same event, ruling Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman Mike Madiro, who is also Home Affairs Deputy Minister, said the idea to have people’s shops was a better option than implementing price controls.
“We have gone the price controls way before and we all know the consequences. We have learnt from our past. The idea to have people’s shops was a better option for Government than implementing price controls.
“In fact, this is supply side management by Government and it is meant to give competition to those increasing prices unjustifiably. As a political party these are the things that we are supposed to explain to our membership and citizens in general,” said Madiro.-StateMedia
By Talent Gondo- President Mnangagwa has expressed sadness at the death of Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, daughter to former MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, from injuries she sustained in a head on collision near Truckers Inn in Kwekwe last month.
In a message on his Twitter handle, President Mnangagwa said he was saddened by Tsvangirai-Java’s death.
“Very sad to learn of the tragic passing of Honourable Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java. May her memory be a blessing and a comfort to all that knew her, and may she rest in eternal peace.”
By A Correspondent- Former Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga says Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga should be charged with treason over his utterances on November 13, 2017 where he threatened army intervention to stop former President Robert Mugabe from firing him as the head of the forces.
The former Makoni West MP is being charged with communicating falsehoods, causing dissatisfaction in the army and undermining public confidence in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
The charges emanated from a Press conference he gave at the Zanu PF headquarters where he was responding to Chiwenga’s threats.
Chipanga made the remarks in his founding affidavit which he filed alongside his application at the High Court, where he is seeking a review of the ruling by Harare magistrate Edwin Marecha dismissing a demand for further particulars, including a statement made by Chiwenga on the eve of the coup that toppled Mugabe.
Chiwenga was the commander of the defence forces on November 13, 2017 when he issued a written statement criticising Mugabe, a week after the then President had fired Mnangagwa as his deputy.
“The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern for us in the defence forces,” Chiwenga said at a Press conference held at the army’s KG IV (renamed Josiah Magama Tongogara) headquarters in Harare at the time.
“We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in. The current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith.”
Chiwenga said the army could step in to “stop reckless utterances by politicians from the ruling party denigrating the military which is causing alarm and despondency within the rank and file; that the current purging of which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background must stop forthwith; that the known counter-revolutionary elements who have fomented the current instability in the party must be exposed and fished out; and as the party goes for the extraordinary congress, members must go with equal opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.”
He was flanked by the Zimbabwe National Army leadership.
Chipanga held a Press conference the following day responding to Chiwenga’s threats, daring the army and vowed that the youths would die for Mugabe, statements now constituting the criminal charges against him.
Chipanga was abducted by the military during the coup and assaulted before being forced to apologise live on television.
Chipanga and his co-accused, Innocent Hamandishe and Rodney Dangarembizi, made an application before Marecha seeking an order to compel the State to avail to them a statement by Chiwenga which the State alleges was used by Chipanga to castigate the Vice-President.
However, Marecha is said to have dismissed Chipanga’s application on the basis that what the State had provided him and his colleagues was enough for them to draft their defence.
“For instance, the indictment alleged that I (Chipanga) gave a statement at a Press conference referring to an earlier statement by Commander, Defence Forces, Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga. The statement by Chiwenga becomes self-evidently important to us. If for instance, the statement by Chiwenga was seditious, which it was, what Chiwenga then said was criminal,” Chipanga said.
“That aspect would then absolve me of any wrongdoing. This is because contrary to what the State alleges. It is, in fact, Chiwenga who is the complainant in this case. He cannot benefit from his own wrong-doing. The same argument goes to the rest of the requested particulars. Once provided, they absolve us.
“The particulars then become necessary for our defences. The respondents (State and Marecha) must not be allowed to dictate how we conduct our defences or to decide for us which information is necessary for our defences.”
In his application, Chipanga said on April, 1 2019, his lawyers wrote a letter to the Prosecutor-General (PG) requesting certain particulars to enable him to prepare for the trial but the State failed to do so.
He said the investigating officer was called to give evidence and he told the court he was in a position to supply Chipanga with the information he needed but only if he was directed by the court to do so.
Apparently, the magistrate did not do as such, arguing the requested particulars were not necessary.
By Talent Gondo- Government has okayed the establishment of gold service centres in a move expected to increase gold inflows to Fidelity Printers.
Addressing the media following a cabinet meeting in Harare today, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said government had received and approved the establishment of the gold services centres as a way of bringing closer to the miners gold buying services.
Said Mutsvangwa:
“… these centres will be in Silobela (Midlands) Mt Darwin, Shamva (Mashonaland Central) and Penhalonga (Manicaland).
The gold services centers will be operational by 1st October. Fidelity printers will provide the initial capital for the establishment of these gold buying centres.
Fidelity printers will also fund capacitation of miners and it is hoped that this will improve and better their mining methods.”
By Talent Gondo- Addressing journalists in Harare Tuesday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa revealed cabinet’s resolution to pay maize farmers US$242 per tonne at the prevailing interbank rate.
Mutsvangwa however implored millers not to increase the price of meal meal.
2nd scenarion – What if that dog suddenly fattens its flesh before our eyes. What if ED performs a 2008/9 comeback in your face @ProfJNMoyo ? For instance, he could strike a thin NTA contract with @nelsonchamisa and bang, all misery is history, and you are now a croc Prof!
Just as 4,000 guns and rocket launchers are purchased, a loud rambler rises up to drive people very angry. Analyst says "a dictator has sent them to keep people enraged/engaged while commiting mass murders." In the 2000s we had @ProfJNMoyo, this year we have….?
Parirenyatwa Group Of Hospital staff members are enraged after the controversial preacher Walter Magaya laid claim that he has healed a man of a troublesome tumor. The church 2 days ago published the man’s pictures before and after a surgical operation as they made their claim that it was Magaya who performed the healing using his so called anointing oil.
Below is the full report:
Paritenyatwa Group Of Hospitals does not ordinarily respond to false media reports which involve issues to do with patient confidentially, a cardinal rule for clinicians.
However, as a socially responsible institution and acting in the best interest of the public, there are times the institution is compelled to clarify issues of public interest.
It has come to our attention that there is a false media article on one of our patients, Mr Peter Manganda who had a severe scalp tumor on the head and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals from 22 April 2019 to 7 May 2019, a period during which he underwent neurosurgery as well as plastic surgery by our Specialist Doctors.
Both surgical operations were very successful and doctors discharged the patient on 7 May 2019 after concluding that the patient was stable enough to go home.
The pictures posted as having been taken after the anointed healing are actually in keeping with his state of discharge on 7 May 2019 . We therefore find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health seeking behaviors among fellow Zimbabweans. This demoralizes clinical staff who go out of their way to give their best of knowledge and skill in serving their patients. Such deceptive articles are likely to cause unnecessary public despondence in the health delivery system and may cause unnecessary loss of life.
We wish to give credit to the hospital staff and to the neurosurgical and plastics teams
for the job well-done.
It is evidently clear that the patient went to the prophet after the specialist doctors had successfully done the surgical operations.
The hospital is actually in custody of Mr Peter Manganda’s medical records and he is expected to be reviewed by the same specialists who are still determined to see their valued patient to full recovery.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals would like to advise members of the public that, while it is important to uphold one’s religious beliefs, it is also very important to acknowledge the great work being done by our esteemed medical staff.
By Own Correspondent| A Gokwe school teacher has been hauled to appear before a disciplinary hearing to answer to misconduct charges after he was accused of denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU PF party and criticising one of his allies for causing untold suffering among citizens.
Stephen Mangoma, a teacher at Mateta (Rujeko) High School in Gokwe, Midlands province will on Wednesday 12 June 2019 appear before a disciplinary committee chaired by Douglas Chibvongodze, the school headmaster after he was accused of unbecoming behaviour or indecorous behaviour in breach of section 44(2)(a) of the Public Service Regulations.
According to an outline of the charge sheet, Mangoma on 1 March 2019 allegedly acted in a manner likely to bring the Public Service into disrespect or disrepute by scolding Primary and Secondary Education Minister and Gokwe-Sengwa constituency legislator Hon. Paul Mavima, whom he encountered in bottle store at Mateta 2 Business Centre known as Gazaland in Gokwe and whom he confronted after accusing him of causing the suffering he was enduring together with other people in the country.
Mangoma allegedly told Hon. Mavima that he loathed the legislator’s ZANU PF party and was refrained from further confronting him by the Primary and Secondary Education Minister’s aides, who assaulted him before leaving the bottle store.
The school teacher was later arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on 2 March 2019 on the basis that he had scolded Hon. Mavima and was detained at Gokwe Police Station until he was released on 4 March 2019 after he paid an admission of guilty fine amounting to $20.
A blow to us all…Us being the family, people’s revolutionary party-MDC, nation and especially the young people, the next generation.A solid and visionary leader! pic.twitter.com/3xGvhLRRGO
Farai Dziva| Warriors Defender Tendayi Darikwa says his club Nottingham Forest has been supportive since joining the Warriors camp last month.
The 27-year old is part of the final 23-man squad that will do duty at the 2019 Afcon tournament in Egypt from June 21.
In an interview with the Herald, Darikwa said he was confident that everyone at Nottingham would rally behind Zimbabwe at the tournament.
“My club has been really supportive of me since l arrived in camp,’’ he said. “I am sure everyone back in Nottingham is fully supporting Zimbabwe to do well in this tournament.
“Of course, this is a big opportunity for me, personally, to show my club and show everyone that I can do well at the stage against some of the best players in the world.
The defender, who was born in England, will be making his Nations Cup debut in Egypt.
“With this being my first opportunity to represent Zimbabwe in such a major tournament, I am very excited and it’s an honour to be part of this squad.
“I am really looking forward to playing in the first game against Egypt. I think, as a team, we are all very confident in ourselves and we have got the belief that we can do very well in this tournament.”
Farai Dziva|Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara has announced his 23-man final squad for the Afcon tournament.
The selection has many big names that include Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha, Nicolas Pepe of Lille and Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa.
Former Swansea and Manchester City striker, Wilfried Bonny is on the list despite being unattached to any club.
The West Africans are in Group D and will play South Africa in their opening match on 24 June before facing Morocco four days later and Namibia on 1 July.
Ivory Coast final squad:
Goalkeepers: Sylvain Gbohouo (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Ali Badra (Free State Stars, South Africa), Tape Ira (FC San Pedro).
Farai Dziva|Ghana head coach, Kwasi Appiah, has named his final 23-man squad for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Fernabahce midfielder, André Ayew, will captain the team at the tournament while Asomoah Giyan will take the role of a general skipper.
Ghana will play South Africa on June 15 in Dubai in a warmup match before leaving for Egypt on June 20, 2019.
The Black Stars are in Group F alongside Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Benin.
The squad :
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United, South Africa, Lawrence Ati- Zigi (Sochaux, Montbeliard, France), and Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).
Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), Abdul Baba Rahman (Reims, France), Lumor Agbenyenu (Goztepe A.S, Turkey), Kassim Nuhu, (Hoffeinham, Germany,) John Boye ( Metz France), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC, USA), Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belguim), Joseph Attamah (Basaksehir, Turkey)
Midfielders: Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Internazionle, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Empoli, Italy), Andre Ayew ( Fenerbache, Turkey), Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Samuel Owusu (Cukaricki, Serbia), Thomas Agyepong (Hibernian, Scotland)
Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor, Turkey and Kwabena Owusu (Leganes, Spain).
By Own Correspondent- The court said Section 164 of Botswana’s Penal Code interferes with the applicant’s right to privacy and that S.e.xual orientation is innate to human beings and is not a fashion statement.
The court added that sodomy laws deserve a place in the museum or archives and not in the world.
Former president Robert Mugabe is on record describing homos-exuals as “worse than pigs and dogs”.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates
Farai Dziva| Apostle B Java, Vimbai Tsvangirai’s husband has a released a touching message on his wife’s death.
He said his wife has gone too soon.
Below is the full statement:
Apostle B Java Ministries
Vimbayi my dear wife, you have gone too soon.
I don’t know what to say, the words that I have for you darling is that I still say I LOVE YOU but now there is no reply.
I always feel your presence as if you never left my side.I thank God for giving you as a gift in my life.
You were a wife, best friend, a pastor, leader with authority.
You made my life complete.
Thank you God for this wonderful wife you gave me.I will forever miss you darling.
Farai Dziva| Former Zanu PF youth leader Kudzai Chipanga wants Constantino Chiwenga to be charged with treason because of the remarks he made on the eve of the “military coup.”
Chipanga expressed the sentiments in his founding affidavit – which he filed alongside his application at the High Court- where he is seeking a review of the ruling by Harare magistrate Edwin Marecha dismissing a demand for further particulars, including a statement made by Chiwenga.
“For instance, the indictment alleged that I (Chipanga) gave a statement at a Press conference referring to an earlier statement by Commander, Defence Forces, Constantino Guvheya
Chiwenga. The statement by Chiwenga becomes self-evidently important to us. If for instance, the statement by Chiwenga was seditious, which it was, what Chiwenga then said was
criminal,” argued Chipanga.
“That aspect would then absolve me of any wrong doing. This is because contrary to what the State alleges. It is in fact Chiwenga who is the complainant in this case. He cannot benefit
from his own wrong-doing. The same argument goes to the rest of the requested particulars. Once provided, they absolve us.
The particulars then become necessary for our defences. The respondents (State and Marecha) must not be allowed to dictate how we conduct our defences or to decide for us which
information is necessary for our defences.”
Farai Dziva|Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa stunned all and sundry when she blamed the opposition MDC for initiating price hikes to sabotage government operations.
Mutsvangwa made the remarks at a Zanu PF meeting in Manicaland.
” We are fully aware of acts of economic sabotage that are going on which however do not come as a surprise because some elements in the political arena openly declared that they would spoil the broth.
We are wondering what is really happening in the country that justifies a 100 percent increase in prices of basics within a week. It is clear sabotage.
What is Tongaat Hulett importing in its production of sugar that justifies the current prices?
What currency are they using in paying their workers that warrants these increases?
We will soon see the introduction of people’s shops in all corners of the countries from cities, towns to villages. Silo products will be sold at affordable prices in these shops.
As Government, we have already set aside $70 million to fund the provision of people’s shops and more funds are already being sourced to ensure that we compete at the same level with these unscrupulous elements in business,” said Mutsvangwa.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has declared the death of Vimbai Tsvangirai as a terrible blow to the MDC family.
Said Chamisa: ” The passing on of the recently elected Women Assembly Sec Gen Hon Vimbai Tsvangirai -Java comes as a sad blow to us all.
This comes at a time when the MDC family is yet to fully recover upon the passing on of Our Icon Dr MT. Vimbai was a rising and risen star whose value, historical role and revolutionary task is without debate.
It’s been a blow after blow and a horrible experience for the MDC and Tsvangirai-Java families.
May the good Lord comfort and strengthen us all never to depart from HIS true WILL and ETERNAL purposes!”
Farai Dziva|A Mudzi man went berserk and axed four villagers in a shocking incident.
Police in Mudzi, Mashonaland East Province, are looking for the man who axed the four villagers after allegedly breaking into their homes and demanding money.
The 4 villagers were hospitalised after the suspect, Simbarashe Chinyamwaka (25) axed them.
“The suspect was not located and is believed to have crossed over to neighbouring Mozambique. Police are appealing to anyone with any information on his whereabouts to report to any nearest police station,” police said.
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo businessman yesterday appeared in court on allegations of defrauding an unsuspecting land seeker of US$1,4 million in a botched property deal.
Ismail Moosa Lunat (age not supplied) allegedly sold a property that he had already sold to someone else some three years back.
He was not asked to plead to the fraud charge when he was hauled before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.
Due to the gravity of the offence, Lunat was advised to seek bail at the High Court.
It is alleged that sometime in August 2018, Lunat phoned Mr Mahomed Zakanya Patel, who is a managing director of Toppers Uniform, advising that he was selling a stand in Bulawayo for US$1,5 million.
The court heard that Mr Patel, who was in Harare at that time, travelled to Bulawayo to view the property.
He showed interest in purchasing the property before the parties signed an agreement of sale on September 4, last year.
After negotiations, the purchase price was reduced to US$1,4 million.
According to the documents signed, Lunat stated that he was selling the property on behalf of one of his companies called Converging Investments (Pvt) Limited.
It is alleged that Lunat showed Mr Patel an original copy of the title deeds and form CR14 before the agreement was signed.
Upon signing the agreement, Mr Patel made a down payment of US$1 million in cash.
Lunat allegedly advised Mr Patel to settle the balance of US$400 000 on or before December 15, 2018.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Patel paid the balance on December 14, 2018 before being given the original copy of the title deeds to the property.
A follow up with the Registrar of Deeds revealed that the property was in fact registered in the name of Timothy Mafuka Nkomo.
Investigations revealed that Nkomo had purchased the said property from Lunat in 2015, hence he became the legitimate owner of the property.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- A local daily has reported that the new Politburo appointments that were made by president Emmerson Mnangagwa were meant to elevate his allies at the expense of those of vice president Constantino Chiwenga.
The new appointees are as follows:
Victor Matemadanda – Secretary for the Commissariat
Douglas Mahiya – Secretary for War Veterans
Headman Moyo – Deputy secretary of War Veterans
Zenzo Ncube – Deputy Director for War Veterans Affairs
Patrick Chinamasa – Air Zimbabwe board chairman
The “trusted lieutenant” Victor Matemadanda was replacing Engelbert Rugeje. The Dailly News further describes the changes as surprising and Mnangagwa’s elaborate plan to dilute the military’s influence in the ruling party and government.
However, Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said there was nothing sinister about Rugeje’s “re-assignment”.
He said:
“The changes are meant to strengthen the party.”
Rugeje is one of those believed to be topping the list of Chiwenga allies who have been removed from positions of influence and reassigned elsewhere. In February this year, Mnangagwa retired four senior army commanders including Major-general Anselem Nhamo Sangatwe whose section is believed to have conducted the August 1, 2018 shootings.
The retired officials have been reassigned to new portfolios completely detached from military operations to diplomatic service.
Since coming to power in 2017 and particularly after surviving a bomb attack at a rally in Bulawayo during the run-up to the July 2018 elections, Mnangagwa has made wholesale changes to the police, retiring top cops formerly linked to Mugabe.
By Talent Gondo- Police in Hwange has arrested four people, two of them twin brothers, for allegedly fatally assaulting an unidentified man at a brothel in Hwange.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese was not reachable on her mobile phone to confirm the incident which happened on Saturday.
The murder took place at a house used as a brothel by commercial s.e.x workers in Raylton. A police source said the suspects were in police cells assisting with investigations.
The source said while a report made to the police alleged that the now deceased was suspected to be a thief, those closer to the goings on had said he had visited one of the hookers but found another man in the room leading to a fight.
Other occupants of the house allegedly joined in to assault the deceased. According to the source, the now deceased begged to be taken to hospital after the assault but his attackers dragged him out of the yard and dumped his body at a nearby dumpsite.
“On June 7, a woman was awakened by noise of the now deceased who was screaming for help outside her yard. She went to check and found Ashford holding the now deceased by the hand questioning him about what he was doing in the yard,” said the source. The suspects allegedly started assaulting him before letting him go.
The now deceased allegedly returned to the yard at around 3AM begging the four attackers to take him to hospital as he was in deep pain. It is alleged that the suspects further assaulted him until he became unconscious. Ashford dragged and dumped him at a dumpsite.
The man’s body was discovered by passers-by in the morning and a report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the quartet. The deceased body was taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
By Talent Gondo- ZANU PF youths in Mashonaland East have resolved to fully throw their weight behind “embattled” President Emmerson Mnangagwa as they seek to shield him from criticism over the deepening economic crisis.
The youths held a rally recently in Seke constituency where the league boss Kelvin Mutsvairo blamed “saboteurs” for the economic problems.
He said:
As the youths, we are behind President Mnangagwa and we are aware of all the machinations by saboteurs who are currently behind the price hikes of basic commodities.
From the interactions we have had with the youths, we are happy that they are now aware of all government efforts to deal with the current crisis.
We have embarked on a tour of each constituency, meeting the youths, identifying projects suitable for their areas for their benefit as we move on.
Provincial chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza, who also spoke at the rally said that Mnangagwa will soon descend heavily on the economic saboteurs and promised the crowd that things will get back to normal.
By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo was last week involved in a movie-style high-speed chase with robbers who had broken into a parked car and snatched a purse.
Reports indicate that when the break-in occurred, several motorists (using three cars, a BMW, a white Honda Fit and grey VW Golf GTI) joined the chase and cornered the robbers who then abandoned the ‘getaway’ unregistered Honda Fit and fled in another car.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed to Newsday on Monday that he had received a report on the incident.
He said:
A lady had parked a vehicle. On return, she saw a person standing next to her car and was holding a purse which she identified as hers.
She screamed, drawing the attention of the public. The person got into a red Honda Fit which had no number plates.
The victim of the robbery, Thobekile Sithole had parked her Toyota Hilux and entered a shop.
She said:
While I was in the shop, one of the criminals broke into my car and when I came out of the shop after 10 minutes, I saw the car door open and he was still inside searching.
I had left my car locked using the central locking system, which they managed to bypass.
When I saw him, I shouted and the man came out of the car carrying my purse, which contained my driver’s licence, bank cards, US$20 and ZWL$15.
The woman’s screams alerted the robbers who sped off in the getaway car which they abandoned in Makokoba suburb.
The robbers then jumped into a Honda Fit which they later abandoned in Mzilikazi.
The police finally arrested a suspicious-looking man in Mzilikazi who was said to be helping police with investigations over the robbery.
By Own Correspondent- CHURCHES and the civic society say Zimbabwe risks falling into anarchy if the leaders of major political parties fail to dialogue and address pressing issues without resorting to violence.
The Civil Society and Church Joint Forum (CSCJF) issued the warning while addressing journalists in Mutare recently, noting that the economic situation was becoming untenable.
CSCJF national co-ordinator Abigail Mupambi said if politicians fail to sober up, the country could soon become ungovernable and take the route of Sudan, which is now under military lock-down after popular uprising toppled former leader Omar al-Bashir two months ago.
She called for genuine dialogue, saying demonstrations should be the last resort for political parties and civic organisations.
“Demonstrations have not given us any result because people end up being killed during peaceful protests,” Mupambi said.
“Go and ask Sudan, the country is now ungovernable. It is no longer a country. If our politicians don’t sober up, then Zimbabwe will follow the same path.”
The warning comes at a time government is facing the possibility of a fresh round of protests over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.
Earlier protests in January over a 150% fuel price hike saw security agents kill 17 protesters according to human rights groups, while hundreds sustained gunshots wounds.
According to a report by our sister publication, The Standard, health workers including doctors and nurses plan to go on strike in two weeks, saying they have had enough of government’s austerity measures that have left them living in penury.
The opposition MDC has also warned that it plans street protests to force the Mnangagwa administration to the negotiating table.
Government has since beefed up police and military presence in suburbs and on highways across the country.
Our sister paper, the Zimbabwe Independent, reported last Friday that the police have purchased an assortment of weapons that include more than 4 000 AK-47 assault rifles in preparation for possible protests.
But the churches and civic organisations insist that only dialogue could serve the country from taking a turn for the worst, saying demonstrations have failed to resolve the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
“We are here to call for peace. All the people in the country need to be responsible. We don’t need to repeat the same formula of conducting demonstrations.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month launched a dialogue process with losing fringe presidential candidates in last year’s elections which observers say was pointless without the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC party.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches has tried to bring the two parties together for talks, but says political gamesmanship and inflated egos have stood in the way.
MDC last week accused Mnangagwa of trying to bring a state of emergency through the back door.
A pastor, Edmore Nyatoti, urged political players, particularly the MDC and Zanu PF, to set aside their egos.
“For Zimbabweans, we are Christians and let’s get united. Let’s show the world that we are capable of building our country. We need to think about one another. Zanu PF and the MDC should shun their egos,” he said
“There should be no more bloodshed in the country. We no longer need bloodshed in our country if we are to move away from the poverty we are facing.“-Newsday
Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe wishes to express concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the country which stands in sharp contrast to the government’s new dispensation mantra. What is particularly worrying to us as ROHR Zimbabwe is that Zimbabweans in their generality came out to celebrate the fall of former President Robert Mugabe whose 37 years in power was marked by wanton disregard of people’s freedoms and rights.
This not so new dispensation has continued to read from Mugabe’s script against its loud reformist claims.
Under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule, Zimbabwe has slowly receded to the old dispensation with state security agents arresting, detaining and assaulting civil society activists.
Just early this year, over one hundred people were bundled up in residential suburbs of Harare, Bulawayo and other smaller towns, assaulted and detained in connection with the violence January 14 shutdown.
Leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) who had called for the stay away were arrested and charged with treason for organising a stay away.
To this day, the state continues to hunt down those linked to the January 14 national shutdown despite clear evidence of the violence and destruction being an inside job within the ruling party.
In May, seven civil society leaders were arrested upon arrival at the Robert Mugabe International Airport from Maldives where they had gone to attend a workshop. They have since been charged with plotting to subvert a constitutional government.
Last week, the country woke up to the news that Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure had been abducted and dumped after being assaulted by suspected state security agents.
While Zimbabwe attempts to embark on international re-engagement, the human rights situation speaks of a country not ready to move away from its past.
ROHR Chairperson, Ephraim Tapa condemned the government saying the deteriorating human rights situation comes against a backdrop of high hopes and optimism created by the advent of the second Republic and President ED’s pronouncements.
“If anything, it would appear things have changed for the worse compared to Mugabe’s Zimbabwe,” said Tapa.
He called on President Mnangagwa to walk the talk and allow a culture of human rights and political tolerance to grow.
By Own Correspondent- Some parents in Bulawayo expressed dismay over the decision by some boarding schools to demand top-up fees in the middle of the second time.
Parents who spoke to the state media said that they understand schools are operating in an inhospitable environment but at the same time it is hard for them to raise the required amounts.
Mrs Rosemary Mhlanga from Pumula told the publication that she was struggling to clear arrears, let alone pay the top ups. She said:
It’s not easy because some of us are still struggling to clear the fees and we have other children back home who need to be fed and go to school.
Another Bulawayo resident Mr Edwin Ndebele from North End revealed that parents are now being driven into debt.
He said:
This situation is forcing us into debt and it’s not healthy at all. Education is a basic human right and as parents, we can’t deny our children access to school but the situation has become unbearable. I hope the Government finds a solution soon.
However, an official at one of the schools demanding top-up fees told the Chronicle that at the start of the term, the ZWL$1 200 parents were asked to pay was considered adequate.
But now since the situation in the country has reached another level, parents have been asked to pat ZWL$300 as top-up fees.-
AN outraged Rusape granny struck a fellow villager with an axe after he accused her of witchcraft.
Manicaland police spokesperson inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident yesterday.
According to Kakohwa, on June 6 around 4pm, Claris Bakare (66), who is being charged with attempted murder, was at her homestead in Musariri village under Chief Tandi.
The complainant in the matter, Edward Mutambira, who is from the same village, was on his way to see his brother, lan Musendo, and passed through Bakare’s homestead.
Mutambira reportedly shouted at Bakare claiming that she was a witch, accusing her of killing his son sometime in the past.
They started to exchange harsh words and Bakare, out of anger, went into her hut and took an axe, which she used to strike the complainant once on the head.
Bakare’s neighbour, Jesi Mugoneri, went to the scene and found the complainant bleeding profusely.
Mugoneri notified the complainant’s wife, Nyaradzo Maramba, who then took Mutambira to Rusape General Hospital before reporting the matter to local police, leading to Bakare’s arrest.
