Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has posted his picture with Foreign Affairs minister, Sibusiso Moyo and British Ambassador at a function currently underway at a place he did not disclose.
Earlier on, the picture had made rounds prompting some to think something was cooking in the background.
By Takent Gondo- Herentals College FC players made a surprise visit to Zimbabwean football legend George Shaya and presented groceries and food stuffs worth $2000.
The surprise call left Mama Shaya and her husband beaming with joy.
Own Correspondent| Ailing former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, whose passport was recently seized by a State security agent at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as he sought to fly to South Africa for a medical review, has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel a Harare Magistrates’ Courts clerk to release his travel document, to enable him to proceed with his travel arrangements.
In his affidavit through his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, Chombo said his earlier application to the High Court was dismissed by Justice Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa despite the fact that she did not make a determination that his travel document was unlawfully taken away from him.
Justice Munangati-Manongwa ordered Chombo to go back to the lower court and exhaust all alternative remedies, including filing for contempt of court charges against the clerk of court who is alleged to have refused to release his passport despite an extant order.
“As the judgment of the court aquo (High Court) makes it clear, there is no factual dispute regarding the following; that the passport was unlawfully taken away from me (Chombo) by a State agent; that it was handed back to the first respondent (clerk of court) and that the first respondent is refusing to release it to me in accordance with the order of May 10, 2019,” he said.
The former minister further said he was now worried that if the passport was not released on time, he would miss his medical review dates and above all, the date upon which the court ordered the return of the same passport would be due with him not having utilised it.
“If my appeal is heard urgently before June 21, 2019 and it succeeds, I will be able to utilise the remaining days before June 21, 2019 and have very useful medical reviews. My failure to travel for medical treatment is causing me a great deal of mental and physical pain,” Chombo said.
“I fear for my health. I feel it every day that is passing that my health is deteriorating. At my age, these routine medical reviews are a source of strength.” The matter is pending.
By Tongai Mnangagwa|Hello Harare South Constituency once again.
First and foremost I would like to extend my hearty felt gratitude over your steadfast love and everlasting support that you keep on giving me.
My heart is overwhelmed that words cannot express how grateful I am. His Execellency was also moved by your endless support for the bible says where there is unity God always commands his blessings.
I feel so humbled to be a MP of such a loving constituency. On another note His Excellency promised to address all of our griviencies as a constituency and I assure you that as your MP I won’t rest until all of His promises are fulfilled.
Once again I thank you Harare South Constituency for making this day possible. Last but not least I would like to thank the Almighty for making this day a success
Harare South you give me peace at heart and it makes me roar like a lion??
Hon mnangagwa
With a small ‘m’
Farai Dziva|In the picture below Auxillia Mnangagwa is seen playing nhodo with a young girl.
Is this genuine humility or pretence?
-ORIGINAL ARTCLE BELOW –
By Own Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has accused opposition political parties backed by their “foreign hand” in attempting to unseat a constitutionally elected government through protests.
Muchinguri Kashiri applauded ‘peace-loving’ Zimbabweans for ignoring the recent demonstration calls by some civil society groups.
She was speaking at a graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course (JSC) number 71 at Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare recently.
She said:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for remaining peaceful and ignoring recent frantic efforts by our detractors to foment mayhem and unnecessary loss of life and damage to property.
It is apparent that these violent demonstrations, advocated by some opposition political parties and civic organisations that are backed by foreign forces to unconstitutionally unseat a democratically-elected Government and subvert our country’s electoral process.
She claimed that ‘enemy’ was using modern methods of distabilising the state hence the need to find matching solutions.
The minister added:
In our country we have seen the use of violent demonstrations against the Government purportedly over the poor performance of the economy or to display disapproval of the national electoral process.
By Own Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has accused opposition political parties backed by their “foreign hand” in attempting to unseat a constitutionally elected government through protests.
Muchinguri Kashiri applauded ‘peace-loving’ Zimbabweans for ignoring the recent demonstration calls by some civil society groups.
She was speaking at a graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course (JSC) number 71 at Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare recently.
She said:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for remaining peaceful and ignoring recent frantic efforts by our detractors to foment mayhem and unnecessary loss of life and damage to property.
It is apparent that these violent demonstrations, advocated by some opposition political parties and civic organisations that are backed by foreign forces to unconstitutionally unseat a democratically-elected Government and subvert our country’s electoral process.
She claimed that ‘enemy’ was using modern methods of distabilising the state hence the need to find matching solutions.
The minister added:
In our country we have seen the use of violent demonstrations against the Government purportedly over the poor performance of the economy or to display disapproval of the national electoral process.
The remaining 2! At Africa University 25th graduation today! Sitabile Dewa is in Chikurubi maximum for subverting a constitutionally elected prison bail hearing on Monday. She should be graduating with a Masters in Peace Human rights and governance. She is in prison! Mr government get your act together! You are a shame to Africa and it’s dream!!
By Talent Gondo| When the post-mortem results were read to them on Thursday, the family cried.
Said one family member who is an uncle to the deceased Richard Masendeke:
“It was a horrific experience for us the family. He had three bullets, which were removed from the body. They just read the results to us, but the High Court ruled that we should be given copies of the post–mortem report.
“Another post-mortem is going to be carried out Friday. This one is being facilitated by our lawyers. It’s an independent post-mortem. From there, we are hoping that the body will be carried to Mutare General Hospital as we organise for his burial in Buhera.”
The report came after the family last week took Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema and Commissioner-General of police Godwin Matanga to the High Court, demanding an urgent autopsy and release of the body for burial. Police had earlier indicated that the post-mortem would only be conducted on June 25 due to the shortage of pathologists at public hospitals.
The family expressed fears that further delays in carrying out the post-mortem would compromise evidence. According to the court papers, Masendeke was fatally shot on May 15 by ex-policeman Dulula Chinamano, in full view of his colleagues.
By Own Correspondent- War veterans in Bulawayo have expressed concern over “respected” Zanu Pf cadres and senior government officials who own most businesses accusing them of increasing prices despite government calls to stop the practice.
The war veterans urged government to quickly address the wanton increases in prices of commodities as this portrayed government in bad light among citizens.
Speaking during a meeting at Entumbane suburb on Tuesday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo province chairperson Cephas Ncube applauded Government for introducing Silo shops that sell basic commodities at affordable prices across the country.
He, however, said there is a need to guard against hoarding of commodities sold in those shops.
“Regarding basic commodity prices, it has been noted with concern that there are some supermarkets and individuals that have started selling commodities at exorbitant prices. This unabated price hike of basic commodities, especially in the past two weeks, is affecting our people in a negative way and we call upon the Government to put measures to control this,” Ncube said.
“I’m glad that our Government’s initiative to cushion consumers against high prices is being implemented as silo food shops established by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) are now operational throughout the country.”
He said war veterans or Government officials operating shops must not join the price hike madness.
Ncube said it is difficult to give hope to the general public if the same people expected to come up with measures to address the situation are directly involved in wantonly increasing prices.
“We are tired of seeing our Government officials who are also respected members of the party increasing prices three-fold and at the same time telling people that things will be normal. It doesn’t make sense,” he said. —
A victim of cyclone Idai has alleged that whites have taken over their land following the discovery of gold in cyclone Idai hit areas of Chimanimani.
Cephas Maipa from Chewechewe, Chimanimani East at the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe said the gold rush has invited “escavators” run by unidentified white people who are now denying the locals access to their land.
He said:
“Cyclone Idai destroyed our livelihoods. We are surviving from donations. There is a lot of gold. Whites are here with their escavators and they have taken over our land. They are mining gold as we speak. They have told us that we are no longer allowed access to our land because they are saying they want to mine.
Our crops were destroyed by the cyclone and now they are here taking over our land for gold. Nothing has been communicated to us by the village head, the chief or even government.
The escavators are here and they are already mining. My wife’s farm has been reduced to holes as they just mine and leave. They come with their people who work with them. They have taken over our sources of drinking water and now they are going after the only river that we have left. We do not know how we are going to survive. The whole setting clearly excludes us as local. We are suffering and only relying on donor aid, but it is not enough. We need our land back so that we are able to look after our families.”
By Own Correspondent- Morgan Tsvangirai’s estate faces a US$205,000 claim from a political consultant for work he says he carried out for the late Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader in the run-up to the 2013 national elections.
Moreprecision Muzadzi claims in a High Court filing that he was awarded US$84,800 by Justice Owen Tagu on October 4, 2017, after Tsvangirai – who died in February 2018 – failed to pay him for his services.
Following Tsvangirai’s death, Muzadzi says he approached his brother Manasa who undertook to settle the award amount as well as give him a Nissan NP200. He claims as part of his agreement with Manasa on April 9 this year, Tsvangirai’s brother had also promised to settle a further claim of US$120,000 for “breach of contract, perjury and libel.”
“Manasa, after failing to get anything from his sources, insisted that the estate has money but there were underhand efforts to hide property that should be on the inventory and prejudice the children,” Muzadzi says in an affidavit.
Muzadzi, citing Tsvangirai’s estate executors Innocent Chagonda and Charles Maunga together with Morgan Komichi, is now seeking an order to execute the 2017 judgment.
He has identified Tsvangirai’s Strathaven house in Harare as the property to execute the judgement against.
He pleads: “Section 85 of the Zimbabwe Constitution says the court, while observing the rules of natural justice, must not be unreasonably restricted by procedural technicalities. Plaintiff (Muzadzi) therefore asks the court to grant judgment according to offer and according to rule 148.”
Initially, Muzadzi filed the summons on May 3, 2018, citing Tsvangirai and Komichi as respondents and claiming $204,800 for his services from the two men. In the current application, Muzadzi cited the late Tsvangirai’s estate executors Innocent Chagonda and Charles Maunga.
The matter is pending.
Muzadzi said he successfully represented Tsvangirai in the coalition negotiations with opposition leaders Simba Makoni (MKD), the late Dumiso Dabengwa (ZAPU), Margret Dongo (ZUD) and 15 others to support him as the opposition candidate.
He further said he together with his partner, Kisinote Mukwazhe, organised meetings and during the course of their assignment met a diplomat from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, First Secretary Henrik Lunden, Australian Ambassador Mathew Nuehaus and his first secretary, Shane Flanagan, US Embassy officials, EU head of delegation Aldo Dell’Ariccia and EU political counsellor Giles Anticknap.
In alleged breach of the said agreement, however, Tsvangirai and his colleagues are said to have reneged on their promise to pay but instead unleashed some people who then attacked Muzadzi and Mukwazhe when they visited Tsvangirai’s residence in Highlands to collect their dues.
By Own Correspondent- Ailing former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, whose passport was recently seized by a State security agent at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as he sought to fly to South Africa for a medical review, has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel a Harare Magistrates’ Courts clerk to release his travel document, to enable him to proceed with his travel arrangements.
In his affidavit through his lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, Chombo said his earlier application to the High Court was dismissed by Justice Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa despite the fact that she did not make a determination that his travel document was unlawfully taken away from him.
Justice Munangati-Manongwa ordered Chombo to go back to the lower court and exhaust all alternative remedies, including filing for contempt of court charges against the clerk of court who is alleged to have refused to release his passport despite an extant order.
“As the judgment of the court aquo (High Court) makes it clear, there is no factual dispute regarding the following; that the passport was unlawfully taken away from me (Chombo) by a State agent; that it was handed back to the first respondent (clerk of court) and that the first respondent is refusing to release it to me in accordance with the order of May 10, 2019,” he said.
The former minister further said he was now worried that if the passport was not released on time, he would miss his medical review dates and above all, the date upon which the court ordered the return of the same passport would be due with him not having utilised it.
“If my appeal is heard urgently before June 21, 2019 and it succeeds, I will be able to utilise the remaining days before June 21, 2019 and have very useful medical reviews. My failure to travel for medical treatment is causing me a great deal of mental and physical pain,” Chombo said.
“I fear for my health. I feel it every day that is passing that my health is deteriorating. At my age, these routine medical reviews are a source of strength.” The matter is pending.
By Own Correspondent- Francis Mawindi, the former Telecel who now serves as part of the Telecel Zimbabwe board has said that the company’s board chairman, James Makamba, has no right to fire him from the Telecel board.
Mawindi said in a statement posted on a local online publication that only the appointing authority, Telecel International, has the right to remove him.
Telecel international is controlled by the government.
Here’s the full text of his statement:
My response is that the resolution that has been passed is false and therefore null and void due to the fact that I never communicated with the press on any matters concerning the company and never in any way, shape or form misrepresented confidential company information. I believe that the chairman seized an opportunity to cover up the shenanigans happening in the company and I’m sure the truth will soon come out.
It’s important to note that I was appointed to the board of directors of Telecel Zimbabwe by the principal and majority shareholder of the company, Telecel International and not by the chairman of the company and as such the purported resolution of the board is null and void. There are supposed to be a minimum of 3 board directors from TI and 2 from EC as per the existing shareholder’s agreement and since the resignation of Barbara Rwodzi from the Board late last year (who represented TI) there has not been a replacement and so to date the board is still not fully represented.
The appointment to the board can only be rescinded by the appointing authority, which in this case is Telecel International, the majority shareholder
By Talent Gondo- The ruling Zanu PF and the opposition MDC Alliance will next month clash in local authorities by-elections for Bikita and Nyanga.
Moses Maposa, Thomas Matanga and Peter Mavenga, in that order, will be representing the MDC Alliance, Zanu PF and the National Constitutional Assembly in the Bikita Rural District Council Ward 31 by-election slated for July 1.
The council seat was left vacant following the death of Zanu PF councillor Patrick Marozhe in April.
MDC-A’s Vincent Bopoto is expected to clash with Zanu PF’s Bisset Mapeta in the Nyanga Ward 26 by-election. The seat fell vacant after the death of MDC councillor Elias Mashumba in April after a short illness
By Own Correspondent- Eight street kids have appeared in court for taking turns to sodomise a 12-year-old boy whom they had drugged for more than a week after he ran away from home in Bulawayo.
Thembinkosi Siziba (22), Elton Ndlovu (19), Tafadzwa Zvou (19) and five other minors who cannot be named for ethical reasons yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi facing charges of aggravated indecent assault.
The magistrate remanded them in custody to June 20 and advised them to apply for bail at the High Court.
Magistrate Mkhwananzi said he was remanding them in custody because they were of no fixed abode as they live on the streets.
The court heard that the boy who was sodomised ran away from home after his grandmother had said she wanted to beat him up as a way of disciplining him.
Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on May 24 this year, the 12-year-old boy ran away from home after being reprimanded by his grandmother.
“The complainant met one of the accused persons who took him to a disused building at Corner 11th Avenue and JMN Nkomo Street, Bulawayo where they met the rest of the accused persons.
“While at the building they made the complainant sniff drugs resulting in him passing out,” said Mr Dlodlo.
He said the accused persons took turns to sodomise him until he passed out.
Mr Dlodlo said the complainant woke up on the following day feeling pain in his anus.
“The 12-year-old boy spent a week staying with the accused persons and would be given drugs to knock him out everyday so they would take turns to sodomise him. He always woke up undressed and his anus would be painful and soiled,” he said.
Mr Dlodlo said the complainant was picked up by some well-wishers who took him back home on June 1. The complainant told his mother about what had happened and the matter was reported to the police.
The boy was medically examined and the medical report was produced in court as an exhibit.
By Talent Gondo- Police here have launched a manhunt for a 20 year old man from Bulawayo who allegedly stole US$24 000 and R120 000.
The money has since been recovered after the suspect phoned police from a hiding place to reveal where he had stashed it.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the case.
He said after realising that the law was about to catch up with him, the suspect phoned the police and told them where he had hidden the money.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police will not release more details so as not to expose the complainant to other criminals.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has recovered US$24 000 and R120 000 cash which had been stolen from a complainant in Bulawayo by a 20-year-old man who is currently on the run,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the suspect revealed to cops where he had stashed the money when it became clear that the net was closing in on him.
“It’s the police who during the course of investigations had suspected that the man could have been the one who stole the money. During the course of investigations, he discovered that the net was certainly closing on him so he just decided to go into hiding and reveal where the money was hidden. He used a cellphone to reveal where he had hidden the money and police recovered the stolen money,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said police will not release details of the complainant to protect his or her identity.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police were also investigating where the complainant got the money.
He said police were concerned about members of the public and business proprietors keeping large sums of money as this exposes them to criminals.
“We have said this time and time again that it’s not safe to keep large sums of money at a business premise or at home. We are also concerned about those who travel with large sums of money in their vehicles because there is a likelihood of one losing that money due to attacks by criminals.
“Also there is a possibility of information leaking resulting in the person being traced. It’s very risky to be in possession of such huge amounts of money be it in business or residential premises,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.-StateMedia
By Talent Gondo- War veterans in Bulawayo have expressed concern over wanton increases in prices of commodities, saying the issue needs to be urgently addressed.
Speaking during a meeting at Entumbane suburb on Tuesday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo province chairperson Cephas Ncube applauded Government for introducing Silo shops that sell basic commodities at affordable prices across the country.
He, however, said there is a need to guard against hoarding of commodities sold in those shops.
“Regarding basic commodity prices, it has been noted with concern that there are some supermarkets and individuals that have started selling commodities at exorbitant prices. This unabated price hike of basic commodities, especially in the past two weeks, is affecting our people in a negative way and we call upon the Government to put measures to control this.
“I’m glad that our Government’s initiative to cushion consumers against high prices is being implemented as silo food shops established by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) are now operational throughout the country.”
He said war veterans or Government officials operating shops must not join the price hike madness.
Ncube said it is difficult to give hope to the general public if the same people expected to come up with measures to address the situation are directly involved in wantonly increasing prices.
“We are tired of seeing our Government officials who are also respected members of the party increasing prices three-fold and at the same time telling people that things will be normal. It doesn’t make sense,” he said. -StateMedia
Jane Mlambo| Forget about the Herald story on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s approval ratings, ZimEye followers have overwhelmingly made voted that the current administration is not taking the country anywhere.
Of the 1868 votes at the close of the poll, 76 percent said NO while a paltry 20 percent said YES.
By Talent Gondo- RUSSIAN billionaire and owner of The London Evening Standard, The Independent (UK) and television channel London Live, Evgeny Lebedev, has met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and appreciated the new dispensation for implementing reforms .
The state media reported that Lebedev said this soon after meeting President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare Friday.
Lebedev said there are vast economic opportunities in the country’s economy that are yet to be tapped.
He said:
“There are some positive reforms taking place in the country and these send a positive message to the rest of the world to come and invest in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has vast opportunities especially in the tourism sector hence there is a need to market Zimbabwe extensively as a safe tourism destination.
There is plenty of wildlife, waterfalls, rivers and mountainous areas that can attract tourists which can boost the country’s economy.”
Own Correspondent|Former ZBC anchor and Robert Mugabe’s blue eyed boy, Oscar Pambuka appears not to be having it his way on his newly established church, Oscar Pambuka Ministries.
Zimbabweans have taken to the social media to blast him calling him all sorts of names for waking up as a prophet of God.
Defiant Pambuka however turns a deaf ear to all the connects comments insisting that he is moving ahead as a prophet and is opening social media platforms for his cause. He wrote on his latest Facebook page:
“By public demand and request, please note that from today I will be opening a new page wholly dedicated to the Prophetic Ministry.
The page will be called Prophet Oscar Pambuka.Here you will find all the information about the Ministry, daily devotions, prayer line platform, testimonies, live broadcasts and many more.
However this current page Oscar Pambuka will continue to be there unraveling all those issues you hear and talk about daily.
God bless you.
Below are comments put through by ZimEye.com readers on a publication that Pambuka said his church tolerates mbanje smokers and drunkards.
Own Correspondent|The African Union has announced it will honor Zambia’s former President Kenneth Kaunda and his significant support in a fight for independent Africa, the organisation’s representatives said in a statement on Thursday.
This comes after the Zambian authorities emphasised the fact that 95-year-old Kaunda was the only African leader, whose contribution to the liberation of the continent had not been recognized by the AU.
In response to these claims, the AU stated that the Zambian ex-president’s role was never in dispute.
According to AU Commission Chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat, it won’t be the last initiative implemented in Kaunda’s honour and the Union will continue these practices in the future.
By Talent Gondo- Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has applauded ‘peace-loving’ Zimbabweans for ignoring the recent demonstration calls by some civil society groups.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking at a graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course (JSC) number 71 at Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare yesterday. She said:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for remaining peaceful and ignoring recent frantic efforts by our detractors to foment mayhem and unnecessary loss of life and damage to property.
It is apparent that these violent demonstrations, advocated by some opposition political parties and civic organisations that are backed by foreign forces to unconstitutionally unseat a democratically-elected Government and subvert our country’s electoral process.
She claimed that ‘enemy’ was using modern methods of distabilising the state hence the need to find matching solutions.
The minister added:
In our country we have seen the use of violent demonstrations against the Government purportedly over the poor performance of the economy or to display disapproval of the national electoral process.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- A MAN from Bulawayo’s Parklands suburb went berserk and beat a man and his wife with a knobkerrie after they accused him of switching off electricity.
A court heard that Victor Ndlovu is the son of the owner of the house Velile Ndlovu while Olga Marandu and Christopher Mwashitu are tenants.
It is said at around 8pm last week on Monday, Victor switched off electricity from the main switch after he had accused Olga of misusing electricity.
After that things turned nasty. Olga approached Victor’s father who stays a few houses away and informed him about the problem.
The accused’s father quickly came and knocked at the accused’s door. Victor opened the door armed with a knobkerrie. It is said upon opening the door he sternly warned Olga to go away.
As Olga was trying to take to her heels he hit her twice on the buttocks and once on the back with a knobkerrie.
Olga’s husband Christopher tried to save his wife but Victor seemed to be too powerful and beat him several times all over the body with the knobkerrie.
The couple made a report at Khumalo police post leading to the arrest of Victor.
Olga and Christopher were referred to a hospital and a medical report was produced in court as exhibit.
In cross-examination before magistrate Ulukile Mlea-Ndlovu at Tredgold Magistrates Courts Victor pleaded not guilty.
He took to the stand and said:
“I didn’t beat them, they are just cooking up a story so that I get convicted and sentenced. But I only had a minor misunderstanding with Olga.”
A medical report was produced in court and it nailed him.
He was found guilty and was sentenced to five months imprisonment, two months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.
For the remaining three months he was ordered to do community service commencing on 3 June.
Nathan Marime represented the State.-StateMedia
Zimbabwe have finished third at the 2019 Cosafa Cup after beating Lesotho 5-4 on penalties on Friday night.
The match had ended in a 2-2 stalemate and was decided by the shootout.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Zambia-based striker Tafadzwa Rusike, connecting Rodwell Chinyengetere’s cross. Lesotho restored parity on minute 33 courtesy of Jane Thaba- Ntso’s effort to go to the break 1-1.
A brilliant solo run by Leeroy Mavunga on the hour saw Zimbabwe getting into the lead for the second time in the game, but the advantage, however, shortlived as Tshwarelo Bereng equalised through a deflected shot seven minutes later.
The game finished in a deadlock with no further changes on the scoresheet.
Talbert Shumba, who had come on as second-half substitute managed to save one penalty while Rusike, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Denis Dauda all converted their kicks as Zimbabwe won 5-4.
Warriors XI: E. Chipezeze (T. Shumba 63′), R. Hachiro, R. Pfumbidzai, L. Mavunga, T. Kutinyu, B. Ncube, D. Dauda, L. Mhlanga, B. Madzokere, R. Chinyengetere, T. Rusike.
Substitutes: T. Kamusoko, T. Shumba, A. Muskwe.
By Own Correspondent- A victim of cyclone Idai has alleged that whites have taken over their land following the discovery of gold in cyclone Idai hit areas of Chimanimani.
Cephas Maipa from Chewechewe, Chimanimani East at the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe said the gold rush has invited “escavators” run by unidentified white people who are now denying the locals access to their land.
He said:
“Cyclone Idai destroyed our livelihoods. We are surviving from donations. There is a lot of gold. Whites are here with their escavators and they have taken over our land. They are mining gold as we speak. They have told us that we are no longer allowed access to our land because they are saying they want to mine.
Our crops were destroyed by the cyclone and now they are here taking over our land for gold. Nothing has been communicated to us by the village head, the chief or even government.
The escavators are here and they are already mining. My wife’s farm has been reduced to holes as they just mine and leave. They come with their people who work with them. They have taken over our sources of drinking water and now they are going after the only river that we have left. We do not know how we are going to survive. The whole setting clearly excludes us as local. We are suffering and only relying on donor aid, but it is not enough. We need our land back so that we are able to look after our families.”
By Mbonisi Gumbo| Good morning good people.
Yesterday, 7 June 2019 we were contacted by the police at Southerton pertaining the letter we wrote to Econet Bulawayo regarding the bizzare decision of importing artists from Harare to come and perform at a Bulawayo event .
We are proud to announce that the dialogue between Econet and us with the police as mediators went very well and they agreed to add 3 Bulawayo artists into the program for the Ziyawa draw today 8 June 2019 at City Hall ko Bulawayo and that in future they will consider the local artists first.
However we are humbled to learn that Econet as a business, does have people at heart. We urge people to go out in numbers to support Ecocash Ziyawa draw and we wish the very best to all artist who will be performing today.
BULAWAYO GIGS FOR BULAWAYO ARTISTS. Phambili siyaya, emuva asibuyeli!
Amavikelambuso Association
A police officer in Uruguay is under internal investigation after issuing a bizarre citation that chastises a woman for driving with “excessive beauty” and confessing his love for the offender, reports ABC.
The incident happened just before 3 p.m. on May 25 in Paysandú when an officer performed a traffic stop on a female driver. When issuing the ticket, the officer cited the woman for “imprudence while driving (excessive beauty on public roads),” a seemingly flirtatious message which quickly made its way to social media.
In order to make his advances obvious, at the bottom of the citation the officer wrote “te amo,” or “I love you” in Spanish.
Some users on Facebook applauded the officer’s attempt at playful advances, while others condemned his actions that towed the line of being creepy. Of course, this also raised a public forum with one question in mind: did the officer abuse his position of power when issuing the ticket?
The citation is actually complete gibberish. In fact, when the details of the officer’s actions reached his superiors, they were quite unenthusiastic to learn of the department’s new-found popularity. An investigation was launched to comb through the details of the incident and determine if the officer broke policy by issuing an official document for an unauthorized purpose.
Should the officer be found liable for his actions, he could face a suspension or demotion. Should the actions be deemed too despotic, he could even be dismissed from the police force.
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya’s personal bodyguard James Dzamu was yesterday acquitted of making death threats to a popular actress, Charity Dhlodhlo.
Dzamu was accused of threatening to kill Dhlodhlo, who was reportedly revealing sordid details about Magaya’s business and private life.
However, Mbare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje cleared him of any wrongdoing at the end of the prosecution’s case.
The court found that Dhlodhlo’s evidence was not credible enough and that it was riddled with inconsistencies.
To that end, the court held that the State had failed to prove its case.
According to the magistrate, Dhlodhlo failed to state the exact words that the prosecution deemed threatening.
Instead, she gave three different versions before she made a concession that she had forgotten the exact statement.
“What the complainant did was to reconstruct her own statements and this distorts the exact words that were uttered on the day in question,” said Mr Mambanje.
He said Dhlodhlo’s statement does not require a professor in languages to prove they are indeed different.
Mr Mambanje blasted Dhlodhlo for taking the court for a ride by exhibiting her theatrical skills.
She would weep and make noise in a bid to draw the court’s sympathy.
The magistrate said the case was just like any other cases, hence the decision by Dhlodhlo to report it to the President’s Office was unwarranted.
Dzamu’s lawyers Messrs Everson Macharaga and Stephen Chikotora had applied for the discharge of their client at the close of the State’s case arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.
The lawyers told the court that the facts which the State was relying on did not constitute an offence.
It was the State’s case that on December 12, 2018 Dhlodhlo, who appeared in Studio 263 as Mai Madziva, arrived at her Waterfalls home only to find Dzamu waiting for her.
Dzamu approached Dhlodhlo and issued the chilling death threats.
“Charity if you want to die keep on doing what you are doing talking about Magaya,” he reportedly said.
The court heard that after uttering these threats, Dzamu left and Dhlodhlo proceeded to Waterfalls Police Station and reported the matter.
Own Correspondent|HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema who is under Gender Commission investigations on corruption has said there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption and even other Cabinet Ministers found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested.
Mathema was recently sucked into a row about sexual abuse at the Department of Immigration which is now at the centre of investigations by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
The commission is investigating reports of sexual abuse where Mathema was pointed as having used his authority to cover up sexual abuse claims where Registrar-General Clemence Masango is fingered.
One of the complainants revealed that she had requested a meeting with Mathema over the issue but the minister’s response had left her stunned.
“The minister (Mathema) agreed to my request, but just dismissed me off-hand, arguing I should not have resigned because of ‘mere sexual abuse’. It seems the minister wanted me to suffer in silence. This is why women are suffering because we have leaders who are not empathetic to their cause,” Nyamuremba said accusing permanent secretary in the ministry, Melusi Matshiya, of protecting those accused of misdemeanours.
Nyamuremba resigned her job citing the sexual harassment that Mathema allegedly covered up.
Speaking in Bulawayo yesterday after taking part in the provincial clean-up exercise in areas around Ross Camp and at Ross Camp Police Station, Mathema said Government is intolerant of corruption and will arrest anyone involved in destroying the country’s economy.
Minister Mathema said even Ministers or chief executives of private companies found to be corrupt will be arrested.
“If you look at the papers, a lot of people are being arrested on corruption charges every week. This is done by police and other systems, the Anti-Corruption Commission; people are appearing in courts. We are doing all we can to fight corruption as the New Dispensation. Nobody should earn what they didn’t work for. I’m a Minister and as Minister it’s easy for me to use my position in order to access what I’m not supposed to have. Whether I’m a Minister or chief executive, if I’m found to be corrupt the law has to take its course. Corruption is not only in Government but it is right across the spectrum even in the private sector,” said Minister Mathema.
He said no one will be spared in the fight against corruption.
“As you push your broom (clean up) it should also click in your mind that this is how we want to clean corruption. We need to remove corruption because corruption makes our country dirty and makes other people fail to achieve what they want to achieve. So let us all be clean and smart and all our streets must be clean,” said Minister Mathema.
He said as scores of people and organisations take to the streets on the first Friday of every month to embark on the national clean-up exercise, the same attitude should be employed in fighting corruption.
Itai Mushekwe/Nancy Mabaya/Mary-Kate Kahari
COLOGNE/VANCOUVER/HARARE– Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga’s perennial health problems are reportedly linked to the ruling Zanu PF’s thickening internal assassination and counter-assassination plots among it’s key triune factions, amid claims that the VP has suffered at least two poisoning attacks from his foes since 2017, but doctors are allegedly failing to identify the nature of the poisons involved, Spotlight Zimbabwe, has been told.
The ruling party is said to be split among confederacies backing Chiwenga who have a heavy military background, President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself, and remnants of the G40 circle who are loyal to former leader, Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace.
A senior Zanu PF Politburo member this week said there are fears of imminent bloodbath in the party, as the two key factions supporting Chiwenga and Mnangagwa are now locked in an ultimate political war to control the party, and ensure that Mnangagwa’s successor is a candidate from their camp.
We have since exclusively revealed that Mnangagwa is due to resign as the country’s president inside 12 months over his failure to fix the economy and open Zimbabwe for business, and that a military campaign to force him out code-named “Operation Restore Economy” is on the cards should he resist, and will now depend on Chiwenga’s recovery, so it might seem.
Chiwenga has not been to work since last month, and has been receiving medical treatment mostly in South Africa and more recently in India for an undisclosed ailment, as he battles to recover good health.
In February this year, government sources who spoke to private Zimbabwe online media, said the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, at one time was unable to speak and had gone for a whole weak without eating, resulting in serious weight loss to his body. While in South Africa, Chiwenga reportedly underwent esophageal manometry, according to ZimLive.com.
The procedure involves, an examination to test the strength and muscle coordination of one’s esophagus when they swallow.
Military intelligence sources said, there was indication that Chiwenga had been poisoned at least twice since the November 2017 coup, and is lucky to be alive after initially receiving emergency treatment in China to clean out his system.
“The vice president’s security has been tripled, and he no longer eats and drinks at public gatherings (especially Zanu PF),” the sources said. “We have established that his health problems could be linked to increasing assassination and counter- assassination plots inside the ruling party. He (Chiwenga) is lucky to be alive right now because Chinese doctors were quick to detect poisoning in his system. However he is still not out of danger, as we suspect he was poisoned again recently. Investigations are taking place, that’s why you see he has been in and out of the country to South Africa and India for further examination and treatment, but all the doctors are failing to establish the exact nature of the poison he might have ingested with his food.”
Chiwenga himself has suggested that, he was paying the price for removing Mugabe from power, triggering speculation that he was indeed poisoned.
Early this year army officials said they were not taking chances with Chiwenga’s health, following suspicion he could have been made to ingest the deadly Polonium -210 by his enemies using food. The poison is very difficult to trace in the human body and only nuclear scientists have the expertise needed to trace it.
The Politburo member said Zanu PF was likely to witness “a terrible series of assassinations” as the fight to dislodge Mnangagwa was going to wind up bad, but the military would prevail with Chiwenga as the winner.
“The internal rifts are severe, and unlike the exit of Mugabe, we are likely to witness a terrible series of assassinations in the party. Off course the military will emerge victorious, but people from the president’s side are scheming to have his wife to take over, because he himself is also a victim of poisoning and has no clean bill of health. Ko zvingataurwe here? (They cannot openly talk about it). I don’t she her (Firstlady) succeeding because of Oppah Muchinguri, who is very senior in the party hierarchy. Muchinguri can only become VP at best, and the number one spot is for the military. Zanu PF is on the verge of military configuration.”
Assassination plots are not new in Zanu PF.
In June 2018 Mnangagwa escaped injury after a bomb explosion at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, where he was addressing a presidential election campaign rally, in what state media described as an assassination attempt.
The bombing resulted in at least 49 injured, including Chiwenga and his counterpart, VP Kembo Mohadi, together with other high ranking government officials. Mnangagwa blamed the attack on former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s G40 faction.
A few months earlier before becoming president, Mnangagwa had accused Mugabe’s administration of plotting to eliminate him from his bolthole in South Africa.
“I told the President that I would not return home now until I am satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and treatment given to me upon being fired,” said Mnangagwa at the time, citing a sinister plot against him.
“Security personnel, who are friendly to me, warned me that plans were underfoot to eliminate me once arrested and taken to a police station. It was in my security interest to leave the country immediately.”
Also in April this year, former Bulawayo South legislator, Eddie Cross, alleged that members of G40 expelled from Zanu PF in 2017 are buying arms to instigate a war in the country and topple Mnangagwa.
Addressing the Cape Town Press Club Cross said: “Mnangagwa is committed to reform but he has not received sufficient recognition for what he has done. Daily he has to deal with recalcitrant elements in his party. Intelligence sources informing me suggest that the G40 are buying weapons.”
Prior to her demise, G40 vice presidential aspirant Grace reportedly launched the Empowerment Bank a month before the November 2017 putsch, as a vehicle to facilitate laundering huge sums of money to be used in her bid for power.
According to a Zanu PF central committee report some $10 million had been put aside to fund G40’s fight to control Zanu PF. Grace fronted the G40 group and would have been appointed the party and State Vice President.
Our contact in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) yesterday confirmed that all was not well in the presidium, adding that Mnangagwa’s supporters want him to fight to the bitter end, and stay as president, but it was now a matter of time before there was a new regime in Harare.
“Political tensions are high, to such an extent that Mnangagwa is not staying in Harare regularly, opting to be at his Kwekwe farm, where he has a mini-command center to run some government affairs that do not require him to be in Harare. He has been using the presidential helicopter to be airlifted between Sherwood Farm and State House. Once the VP recuperates, he’s likely to usher in a new government sooner than people expect. ”
Controversial radio and television personality cum prophet Oscar Pambuka has indicated that he has no problem with marijuana smokers and drunkards attending church services at his newly found Oscar Pambuka Ministries.
Pambuka made the remarks in an interview on PowerFM yesterday where he stated that the word of God liberalises people’s food and liquor consumption.
“The word of God says there is no problem with what your mouth consumes. What comes out of it after taking whatever you would have taken is what becomes a problem. So I do not have a problem with those who smoke or drink whatever they want,” he said.
The 34-year-old also justified his gross social media clap-backs saying they are responses best suited for vampires on the platforms who think they can just attack anyone and get away with it.
Meanwhile, Pambuka went all the way out to defend the way he has dealt with ‘vampires’ on social media.
“Social media is a fountain of vampires who think they can just attack you and get away with it. They think that because I am popular, I will censor words in my responses or may not even answer back at all.
“But no, if someone comments on my wall the vampire way I will just follow the same route when I respond,” he said.
Pambuka hogged the limelight last week with an announcement that people should start referring to him as Prophet Pambuka and that he had founded the Oscar Pambuka Ministries which had its first service last Sunday.
Speaking on PowerFM, Pambuka said he had a decent turn out at his first service although it had a lot of spies.
“There was quite an impressive turnout, over 50 people showed up for the first service although I could notice a lot of moles and observers,” said Pambuka.
The former television presenter became popular with his unique news reading art and the programme ‘Melting Pot’ where he would grill leaders in different sectors of the economy.
By A Correspondent| US President Donald Trump has struck a deal with Mexico which has seen the planned tarrifs against the smaller country being suspended.
Trump announced this development in the below short statement: “I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico.
“The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended. Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border.
“This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States. Details of the agreement will be released shortly by the State Department. Thank you! ”
Own Correspondent|Ruling ZANU PF aligned war veterans in Bulawayo have blamed senior government and ZANU PF officials for wantonly increasing prices of basic commodities in their businesses saying the issue needs to be urgently addressed.
Speaking during a meeting at Entumbane suburb on Tuesday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo province chairperson Cephas Ncube said war veterans, ZANU PF members or Government officials operating shops must not increase prices at their shops.
Ncube said it is difficult to give hope to the general public if the same people expected to come up with measures to address the situation are directly involved in wantonly increasing prices.
“We are tired of seeing our Government officials who are also respected members of the party increasing prices three-fold and at the same time telling people that things will be normal. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
“I’m glad that our Government’s initiative to cushion consumers against high prices is being implemented as silo food shops established by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) are now operational throughout the country.”
Own Correspondent|The Midlands State University has put up very tight security measures at their graduation ceremony set to be presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on July 12.
In a notice on the graduation ceremony published on their website, the college warns that lipstick and perfume contains will not be allowed into the venue as a security measure.
“Please note that the following items will not be allowed into the graduation venue:
Lipstick and perfume containers, sharp objects, knives, ball point pens and cameras,” said the university.
At the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in 2016, then president Robert Mugabe faced open resistance. Former Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) president Tonderai Dombo stood on a chair and faced the head of state with a placard screaming about the high unemployment rate. He was whisked away before others joined him.
A source from MSU said if that happened to Mnangagwa, it would end badly.
“We don’t want chancers to take advantage of our event. If it happens the state could react in an angry manner. We have seen how the army operates and it’s not good,” said the source.
By A Correspondent| The cyclone idai was terrible, it killed people and made many homeless. But the same catastrophe, has allegedly caused gold to gush out of the ground in a part of Manicaland bordering with Mozambique, which is Vhimba, Rusitu. A complainant calls on government to assist locals because foreigners have since moved into the area to loot the minerals while displacing the locals.
ZimEye hears this story from Mr Cephas Maiba who speaks to citizen journalist Pardon Maguta. VIDEO LOADING BELOW –
Government has, with immediate effect, increased the mandatory ethanol blending of unleaded petrol from 10 percent to 20 percent.
The increase in the ethanol to unleaded petrol ratio is expected to reduce the import bill and make the fuel available since ethanol is locally produced.
The announcement was made by Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi in an Extraordinary Government Gazette published yesterday in terms of the Petroleum Act (Chapter 13:22): (Excepting from Levels of Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Notice 2019.
“It is hereby notified in terms of Section 4(1) of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013, that the Minister of Energy and Power Development approves the current level of mandatory blending to 20 per centum,” read the notice.
“The consequence of this approval is that all licensed operators shall from the date of publication of this notice, be mandated to sell unleaded petrol which is blended at E20.”
Until January this year, fuel was blended by 15 percent ethanol, but was reduced to 5 percent between February and March because of a shortage of ethanol.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) cited low ethanol supply which saw it reducing the blending level to 5 percent.
The level was subsequently raised to 10 percent owing to improved availability of ethanol from Green Fuel in Chisumbanje.
The Government introduced fuel blending in 2008 following the licensing of Green Fuel’s Chisumbanje ethanol plant.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
An affair between a village head and his neighbour’s wife took an ugly turn after the village head failed to deliver two goats that he had promised his neighbour’s wife.
Tonderai Jari, the village head of Madhekwana Village in Mberengwa shocked the villagers after it emerged that he solicited for sex from his neighbour’s wife Esnat Mataruse promising her two goats.
The affair, however, took an ugly twist after Jari failed to deliver on his promises causing Mataruse to disclose the matter to her husband Raymond Chakawira.
Out of anger, Mataruse spilled the beans to her husband after realising that she had been played by Jari.
B-Metro managed to track down Mataruse and she confirmed the matter.
“Some time in February, Jari proposed me and we started dating. After some time he asked for sex and l refused but he promised to give me two goats and l gave in. However, after discovering that he lied to me l was angry and l ended up telling my husband about the matter. He was going to find out about the matter either way, so it was best that he heard about it from me,” said Mataruse.
“It was a wise move for me to confess because l wanted to save my marriage,” she said.
Jari, however, could not be drawn to comment on the issue as he professed ignorance about the matter.
“I do not know the matter that you are talking about,” he said.B-Metro
Farai Dziva| The chairperson of the war veterans association(Bulawayo Province) Cephas Ncube has accused unscrupulous business owners of deliberately sabotaging the government.
“Regarding basic commodity prices, it has been noted with concern that there are some supermarkets and individuals that have started selling commodities at exorbitant prices.
This unabated price hike of basic commodities, especially in the past two weeks, is affecting our people in a negative way and we call upon the Government to put measures to control this,” Ncube said.
“I’m glad that our Government’s initiative to cushion consumers against high prices is being implemented as silo food shops established by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) are now operational throughout the country.”
TWO taxi drivers were attacked by robbers who boarded their vehicles under the pretext that they were passengers in separate incidences which occurred in Matabeleland South Province.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incidences which occurred in Guyu and Fort Rixon on Wednesday.
Chief Insp Ndebele said investigations were underway and appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects to contact any police station near them.
“We recorded two robbery cases which occurred in Guyu and Fort Rixon on Wednesday where the targets were taxi drivers. In the first incident which occurred at around 6AM, the driver was travelling along the Harare-Bulawayo Road when he was stopped by three unknown men who asked for a lift.
“The men indicated that their car had broken down. When they reached the 339 kilometre peg in Fort Rixon, one of the accused persons pulled the hand brake. They harassed the driver until he fled from the car leaving behind two cellphones and US$50. The robbers fled with the car, a Honda Fit, registration number AEU 2149. The value of the stolen property is US$4 270,” he said.State media
The country should expect the re-introduction of a local currency before the end of the year, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Addressing Southlea Park residents in Harare after taking part in this month’s clean-up campaign at Candy Shopping Centre, President Mnangagwa said no country can develop without it’s own currency.
“A currency is only printed by its owners and the only way to get it is through exports, diaspora remittances or foreign investments but as a country we should have our own currency and we have started that journey,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the absence of a local currency was also causing the surge in prices of basic commodities.
“This is happening because we do not have our own currency. The time will come soon when it will no longer be permissible to transact using the US dollar or the pound. You will be required to use our local currency. You will be informed about that currency and that will be the currency you will be using,” he said.
The President said this, among other various Government initiatives aimed at turning around the economy, would be realised by year-end.
“We adopted austerity measures to turn around the economy and create jobs that is why we said Zimbabwe is open for business but not for abuse. No one, foreign or local, should expect to get rich at our expense,” he said.
“As Government we expect that by the end of the year most of the things I have talked about will be in place.”
President Mnangagwa had earlier said no country can develop without its own currency.
“There is no country that can develop without its own currency. South Africa has its own currency and when you go there with the US dollar or Euro you will have to convert it to the Rand before you can transact,” he said.
“The same applies to Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and the United Kingdom. A country cannot develop using another nation’s currency.”
The President said the multi-currency regime had been adopted as a temporary measure to deal with the hyper-inflationary environment experienced between 2008 and 2009.
“Between 2008 and 2009, our country’s currency lost value and some people became billionaires or trillionaires due to high inflation,” President Mnangagwa said.
“At the time Government decided to adopt the multi-currency regime where we started using the US dollar, rand, the British pound or pula for transacting. It was a policy measure to address the challenges that were being faced then. We, however, cannot not continue going forward, without our own currency.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is on record as saying the absence of a local currency has removed the capacity of the country to craft its monetary policy impacting negatively in the fight against inflation.
Writing in The Chronicle this week, Prof Ncube said: “We must regain control of our monetary and fiscal policy. Indeed, what we did on the first of October last year was to begin the process of restoring monetary policy as an additional tool to deal with macro-economic issues.
“It is a complicated matter, but crucial to understand. As long as we were pegged to the (US) dollar, we could not respond, or manage our monetary policy; inflation was out of our control. It is quite clear that we need to move towards having our own domestic unit account (currency) and the RTGS$ is the beginning of that”.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans to remain peaceful and to desist from violence.
“What we want as Zimbabweans is unity and cordial relations among ourselves,” he said while addressing Southlea Park residents .
“What we do not want in the country is violence that causes destruction of property and deaths of people like what happened last year and in January this year. We do not want violent demonstrations.
“If there is any misguided individuals planning to engage in violent demonstrations let them know that we are ready to deal with them. We want peace, we want unity, we want love among our people, we must be united, we are one people. We must face our challenges as a people. We must a legacy, a heritage of peace to the coming generations not a heritage of violence.” – State Media
THIRTEEN years after his strike caused heartbreak to Zimbabwe at the AFCON tournament in Egypt, Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel is expected to line up against the Warriors again this afternoon in an international friendly set for the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
The former Chelsea midfielder has been absent from national team assignments for the past year, but is back in the team’s fold.
Although the current crop of Warriors were not part of that squad which was booted out of the 2006 AFCON at the group stages, memories are still fresh in the fans’ mind as two quick goals in the second-half from Christian Obodo and then a youthful Mikel won it for Nigeria.
Zimbabwe were in the same group with Senegal and Ghana.
Interestingly, the two teams meet again as they fine-tune preparations for the tournament to be hosted in Egypt again. After the game, the two teams will leave together on Sunday for Egypt where they will be camped until the Nations Cup begin.
Zimbabwe travelled with a squad of 18 and the four players, who remained in Durban for the COSAFA Cup third place playoff, will fly straight to Egypt from South Africa tomorrow.
The national team arrived yesterday in the Delta State after flying into Lagos on Thursday and completed the one-hour journey to Asaba by road.State media
A Gweru City Council parking marshal has been arrested for prejudicing the local authority of $1 after he allegedly pocketed money for parking and did not issue out a receipt.
Issac Chingwende has since been arraigned before the court on theft charges.
He was not asked to plead and was not placed on remand to allow the State to gather substantial evidence.
The case will proceed by way of summons.
The State’s case is that on May 31, 2019, at around 8am, detectives received information to the effect that Chingwende, who was on duty along Main Street near Midlands Hotel, was collecting money from motorists, but was not issuing them with City of Gweru prepaid parking receipts.
The court heard that detectives proceeded to Main Street and saw him receiving $1 from a motorist, but did not issue a receipt.
The detectives arrested him and recovered the $1.
Mrs Wadzanai Shayanewako appeared before the State.State media
Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has applauded Zimbabweans for exhibiting maturity and discipline by ignoring the recent demonstration calls by some elements bent on destabilising the country under the guise of price hike protests.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course (JSC) number 71 at Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracksin Harare yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri hailed the masses for maintaining peace.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for remaining peaceful and ignoring recent frantic efforts by our detractors to foment mayhem and unnecessary loss of life and damage to property.
“It is apparent that these violent demonstrations, advocated by some opposition political parties and civic organisations that are backed by foreign forces to unconstitutionally unseat a democratically-elected Government and subvert our country’s electoral process,” she said.
She urged the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to counter the new strategies which are now being used by the enemy to cause instability.
“In our country we have seen the use of violent demonstrations against the Government purportedly over the poor performance of the economy or to display disapproval of the national electoral process,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.State media
By Farai D Hove| Some Zimbabweans have suggested that Energy Minister Fortune Chasi (who yesterday fired the entire Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority board) should recruit diasporans into the ZESA board.
This followed a suggestion by one user, Voen Strohm who wrote saying, “Quick question, are you allowed to employ foreign technocrats in the board? I feel they would deliver better coz appointing people loyal to your party, 6 months down the line they gel into a syndicate and run down ZESA again!” READ MORE
A man from Lupane has been arrested after he allegedly stole a cellphone and used it to pay for sexual services.
The incident happened last week on Wednesday at Lupane Business Centre.
A court heard that Thulani Moyo was relaxing while having beer with his drinking mate Dumisani Zikhali. Later on they were joined by a sex worker.
The court heard that Moyo stole Zikhali’s Hisense cellphone worth RTGS$120. It is alleged Moyo used it to pay the sex worker.
It is said on the following day, Zikhali saw the unsuspecting sex worker using his cellphone.
Zikhali made a report at Lupane Police Station leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Moyo appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku facing a theft charge.
He pleaded guilty.
“Your Worship, I had to steal his cellphone because he owes me RTGS$80.00. I have been asking for my money for the past four months but he has been making empty promises. As a result I decided to steal his cellphone and gave it to a friend of mine who is a sex worker,”he said.
Zikhali denied that he owed Moyo that much.
“He always asks me to buy him beer and we agreed that we will subtract from the amount I owe him. As far as I know I now owe him RTGS$20. In most instances I buy him supper before we drink beer,” he said.
Masuku remanded him out of custody to next week Wednesday.B-Metro
Farai Dziva|A Government spokesperson has claimed ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure’s bruises are self-inflicted.
In an interview yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangagwa claimed the wounds that Masaraure had were self-inflicted.
“We have checked with the security services including the police and they do not know anything about that. There is not even a police report that was made. We believe that this was stage-managed to put Zimbabwe in very bad light since Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU) have launched a formal political dialogue process,” Mangwana told a state run publication.
“The police did not do it (abduct him), the intelligence did not do it. He inflicted the bruises on himself to give a bad picture about the Government after he had called for a strike that was not successful.
“It does not mean it’s the State that inflicted the bruises on him, the State does not have monopoly on bruises. This has nothing to do with the State, its self-inflicted.”
The pace setting newly elected MDC Youth Assembly National leadership today met vendors at the party’s headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in Harare.
Speaking at the event which was also attended by his predecessor, Hon Happymore Chidziva, Youth Assembly National Chairman Obey Luther Sithole took the congregants down the memory when the country used to outsource labour from neighboring countries due to abundance of job opportunities.
Cde Luther, as Sithole is affectionately known bemoaned the escalating unemployment rate and the debilitating economic situation which he attributed to the corrupt,clueless and extravagant ZANU PF regime.
The supersonic MDC youth commander also highlighted the importance of the informal sector if the country is to reclaim its status as the breadbasket of the region.
Sithole said it is very critical that a pro-people and all inclusive party with sound economic policies like the MDC should steer the country going forward.
The maverick youth leader also reiterated the party’s position that the Emmerson Mnangangwa regime is illegitimate.
“We are not going to wait for 2023 and let Mnangagwa ruin our future and that of generations to come while we stand in akimbo”, charged Cde Luther.
The event was also attended by Youth Assembly National members, Vice Chair Cecelia Chimbiri, Secretary General Gift Siziba, Spokesperson Stephen Chuma, Deputy Spokesperson, Womberai Nhende and Deputy Organ Netsai Marova.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Police have acquired an assortment of weapons — including 3 343 AK-47 assault rifles and about 600 sniper rifles — as they prepare to quell looming street protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government over the fast deteriorating political and socio-economic conditions.
The arms acquisitions and police paramilitary retraining activities demonstrate government’s growing fears of looming civil unrest and riots which could rock the Mnangagwa regime to its foundations and throw the country into turmoil. Security forces are on high alert to guard against a potential popular uprising due to government’s failures to fix the economy and social service delivery.
Official documents seen by the Zimbabwe Independent — which first reported the story of government fears of an uprising and secret plans to combat unrest — show that the weapons acquired by the police include 3 343 AK-47 rifles, 2 000 CZ pistols, 500 P1 pistols, 500 223 Steyrs, 500 UZI, 500 mossbergs, 500 riot guns, 300 mortar tubes, 500 MAG, 300 SSG sniper rifles, 300 Dragnov, 100 RPG7, 1 500 tokarev and 22 948 AK magazines.
This comes as the Independent last week uncovered that police had also acquired water cannons and teargas canisters to suppress protests that could explode over a wave of price increases and skyrocketing cost of living amid plunging incomes.
Besides purchasing arms, a large number of police officers have been undergoing rigorous para-military-style training, as government prepares to face riots, amid swelling public discontent over the rising cost of living and general economic collapse.
The security manoeuvres come as the country is engulfed in a tense and explosive mood due to worsening economic problems. People are now generally worse off since President Emmerson Mnangagwa seized power through a military coup, ousting his mentor Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
Salaries are now eight times lower in real terms than they were when Mugabe, who drove the country into ruins working with the core of the current leadership, was ousted.
Among the arms is the deadly AK-47, which is considered to be some of the most lethal guns on earth.
The AK rifle has killed more people than any other gun. It is the weapon of choice for guerrillas, rebels and terrorists — and 75 million are reportedly in circulation around the world. It fires a 7.62 by 39mm bullet and although it travels slower than most modern assault rifles, its power is undisputed. The reason for its massive damage is the weight of the bullet. Modern assault rifles bullets are less than half the weight of the AK bullet and even though modern assault rifle bullets travel faster its weight makes it super powerful.
The police also ordered sniper rifles which are high-precision weapons designed for killing missions. They serve to fulfil the tactical need for long range surveillance, with a high hit probability. The Dragnov is considered the world’s best army self-loading sniper rifle. The 7.62mm Dragunov SVD and 7.62mm Dragunov SVDS sniper rifles with folding stock are designed to engage various fleeting, moving, open and masked single targets. The SSG are produced for high accuracy, with the SSG 69 being the first ever sniper rifle with compound stock produced especially for the needs of a modern army. It has set standards for sniper rifles for decades. Among the arms is also the Uzi, which is a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns. The Tokarev is a semi-automatic Russian rifle, while the CZ is a semi-automatic pistol.
The P1 pistol is one of the model guns that were used by the German military during the World War.
The police will also be using the mortar tubes, which, according to online content, are huge tubes, closed on the bottom side and mounted on a base plate that allows for some adjustment. At the bottom of the barrel there is a fixed firing pin. If a mortar shell is dropped into the barrel and hits the pin, the propelling charge is ignited.
They launch explosive shells in high-arching ballistic trajectories. Mortars are typically used as indirect fire weapons for close fire support with a variety of ammunition. Security sources said last week three batches of police officers numbering 350 had so far undergone gruelling para-military training at Shamva Battle Camp as part of the programme to capacitate the police and prepare them to combat riots.
The fourth group is scheduled to start training today.
“This means about 1 050 regular police officers have received the training so far. In the event of civil unrest, they will be deployed alongside officers from the Support Unit which specialises in crowd control. There is a plan to extend the programme to other provinces because most of the trainees have been from Harare,” a senior security officer said.
“The officers are receiving month-long para-military training, which is gruelling in nature and has a lot of emphasis on physical fitness. They are being trained in the use of baton sticks, shields and helmets as well as crowd control and crowd dispersal. They are also being trained to use new weaponry which has been acquired, including Mossberg shot guns, which can be used even within a range of 10 metres unlike the previous ones which could only be used at a range of 75 metres and above, for fear of causing fatalities.”
The Mossberg 500 and 590 models are shotguns usually used in riot situations. Officers receiving training are from the rank of constable up to chief inspector.
Officials also told the Independent that government had acquired new teargas canisters which become too hot to handle on hitting the ground when the safety pin is released. This means protestors will not be able to pick up the canisters and return fire by throwing them back at the police. Apart from the Shamva Battle Camp, another programme concentrating on officers who were doing mostly office work is being done at the Police Updating Centre at Morris Depot in Harare, sources said. The officers are being taken through their paces by personnel trained in Russia — where they underwent a train-the-trainer programme.
Security officials revealed that as part of a strategy to ensure preparedness, a reaction team is stationed at Harare Central Police Station ready for deployment.
Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, in a speech this week read on his behalf this week by Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube during a ceremony to mark of the training courses for 64 officers from the Midlands and Masvingo provinces at Ntabazinduna Depot in Matabeleland North, said the courses were meant to empower police officers with skills that help to ensure peace and security in the country. He said the programme seeks to equip police officers with the latest policing trends and public order management systems that include crowd control skills.
“This, therefore, bids us to effectively complement this noble thrust by facilitating a safe and secure Zimbabwe where all citizens and visitors will be free to pursue their business activities of their choice without any hindrances,” Matanga said.
South Africa in March during the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Harare provided R55 million (US$3,7 million) to the local police to improve their capacity to deal with riots to avoid military deployment.
After soldiers shot six people during election-related protests on August 1 last year and 17 people were killed during the January demonstrations, there was global outrage against Mnangagwa’s regime. Many others were tortured, injured, and abducted or raped, triggering international condemnation.
Government then came under heavy pressure to retrain and equip the police to stop deploying the military to deal with civic unrest and protests.
Officials say government, still rattled by the January protests and concerned by the international condemnation in the aftermath of the deployment of the military in January and on August 1, 2018, as well as the attendant killings of civilians, had resolved to equip and capacitate the police to deal with demonstrations.
The move is meant to ensure government attracts less international scrutiny given the condemnation received after the previous deployment of the military. This is also in line with recommendations of the Kgalema Motlanthe commission of inquiry which was established after the August 2018 killings.
The Motlanthe commission recommended that the use of the military to assist police in maintaining public order “should only be resorted to as a last measure in extraordinary situations”.
“The commission recommends in the interests of national cohesion and the protection of all citizens, that the Police should be further trained to be professional and non-partisan,” it said. Zimbabwe Independent
Local Government minister July Moyo has been implicated in a massive tender scandal at the Harare City Council (HCC) after he allegedly directed the local authority to award a Netherlands-based company a €120 million (US$134 million) contract for the construction of a waste-to-energy plant at the Pomona dumpsite on the outskirts of the city without following tender procedures, it has emerged.
The company — Integrated Energy B.V (IEBV) — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with government, through the Local Government Ministry and council last month. This is despite the fact that the company did not participate in the tendering process, according to highly placed City of Harare sources. The sources said IEBV is not among three companies, which responded to a tender invitation for the project last year. Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent also showed that IEBV was only officially registered in 2016 as a Dutch postbox company. The company is owned by a Dutch national called Klodian Zoto.
The Independent tried to find contacts of the company, but realised there are no official contact details, web address or emails except for a physical address, given as Hoogoorddreef, 15 1101 BA, Amsterdam.
According to the Procurement Act, any contracts exceeding one million dollars have to be awarded through a public tender.
Highly placed City of Harare sources said council initially issued an invitation to tender for the project in 2016, but did not award a successful bid. Documents further show that another tender invitation was issued in November last year, but before it was awarded, an MOU was signed between HCC, government and IEBV. Sources say that IEBV approached Moyo when the second invitation was issued and offered to construct the plant on a build, operate and transfer arrangement for an as yet to be specified period.
Moyo then directed council to consider IEBV for the project, notwithstanding the ongoing tendering process.
The tender scope entailed construction of a waste processing plant with energy recovery by producing electricity, which would be fed into the national grid.
“The original tender was issued by the City of Harare on the 23rd of August 2016. Twelve bidders submitted their proposals, but no award was made. Another tender invitation was issued on the 2nd of November 2018. Three bidders submitted their proposals in line with the Procurement Regulatory authority stipulations. No award has yet been made from those three companies. We were therefore surprised when we learnt that on the 7th of May, government and HCC had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IEBV. All this came from the minister himself and we don’t know what his interests are,” the source said.
City of Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme confirmed that the tendering process was not completed.
“The 2016 tenders were adjudicated on and there was no winner. No company was successful. On the current tender, it is still under adjudication. There are investors which came through government and council management was mandated to speak to the investor regarding the proposals. Nothing has been awarded so far,” Chideme said.
Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango said he was unaware of what transpired in the deal, but would inquire with the local authority’s supply chain manager. “I am now waiting for our supply chain manager to look at the documents so that I am able to provide the correct information,” he said.
However, according to minutes of a recent Joint Environment Management and Finance and Development Committee, Chisango persuaded councillors to approve the deal. He indicated to them that IBEV had already secured the necessary financial requirements for the project.
“Company capital of around €120 million (US$135 million), €5 million (US$5,63 million) bank loan and the rest would be financed through suppliers’ contracts and periodic payments by government,” Chisango said, according to the minutes.
The joint committee then debated the matter and enquired whether council was going to enter into a separate MoU with the proposed partner, to which Chisango said a separate agreement would be signed. He also told the committee that he would ensure that the partner adhered strictly to specific timeframes stated in the MoU.
On the strength of his recommendations, an HCC full council meeting held three weeks ago resolved that the local authority should enter into negotiations with IEBV for the development of a waste to energy plant in Harare and report to council once the deal was finalised.
Moyo told the Independent he did not know the company, although he supports the deal in principle. He also said he was not involved in awarding the company the tender.
“I do not know anything about this company and I have never had any dealings with them, neither do I know of the arrangement they had with City of Harare. However, from an environmental point of view, we do actually encourage it because it is offering a renewable source of energy that is clean and easy to manage,” Moyo said.
“I will get in touch with my people, so that they brief me on this company because we encourage such sustainable development.”
Investigations showed that IEBV was also blacklisted in Albania, where it was controversially awarded a tender to construct a waste incinerator in the country’s capital city, Tirana, in 2017, in a deal in which it would have managed the project for 30 years. Again, the deal was entered into without following tender procedures.
According to the Albanian press, IEBV was the only company which that took part in the tender, making an offer of around €128 million (US$143,4 million). The Albanian press also reported that its proposal to build the incinerator in Tirana was sent to that country’s ministry of environment just three months before it officially existed as company.
After reviewing the unrequested offer, the council of ministers decided to open a tender procedure on December 7, 2016, making sure that IEBV received a bonus of 8%, basically guaranteeing that it would receive the concession.
The deal led to huge street protests in Verri, a suburb adjacent to the waste incinerator outside the Balkan nation’s capital Tirana in January last year. The protesters were brutally assaulted by police. Protesters wanted the deal to be cancelled, arguing that the company was being paid huge amounts of money despite doing a shoddy job, according to the Albanian Daily News.
Just on December 27 last year, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama sacked half his cabinet (14 ministers) in response to the massive protests. They included the country’s former finance minister Arben Ahmetaj, who was identified by the press as having influenced the deal because he was Zoto’s friend.
The deal has since become a huge political issue in the country, with its opposition party leader, Jorida Tabaku, releasing documents indicating that IEBV was paid 33 billion Albanian Lakes, an equivalent of US$291 million, despite the fact that the incinerator is yet to be completed. – Zimbabwe Independent
By Talent Gondo| NPF spokesperson Jelousy Mawarire has torn into Zanu Pf and President Emmerson Mnangagwa accusing him of failing to deal with fuel cartels.
Mawarire said Mnangagwa was such a failure as “citizens’ economic, social and political standing was now worse off than it was during the reign of the former president Robert Mugabe.
Said Mawarire:
“People are poorer than they were in November 2017. The cartels that Zanu Pf are talking about about are there.
You don’t have to be a critic of government to know that the cartels are there. When Zanu Pf talks about government doing away with cartels, you wonder what they are talking about.
As long as we have people that unconstitutionally took over power in order to protect their loot, we are not going anyway in this country.
People Are poorer than they were in November 2017 and the fact that the people of Zimbabwe are not taking to the streets is only because of the threats that are being given left, right and centre by the regime.”
Farai Dziva|Barely two days after the grisly incident in which a Masvingo taxi driver was killed, human remains were discovered at the populous Chitima Flea Market in the ancient city.
Prominent taxi driver Josiah Rimayi was brutally killed and the suspects Chakanetsa Kambarami and his girlfriend Caroline Banda are assisting police with investigations.
In another incident human remains were discovered by vendors at Chitima Flea Market.
“Human remains were discovered at Chitima Flea Market.Our preliminary investigations indicate that a female adult was murdered near the flea market,” police said yesterday.
South African police have arrested a man identified as Thapelo Makgosi who has worked as a soldier for many years even though he never had papers certifying him for a soldier.
Thapelo appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of falsely presenting himself as a soldier and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
He was not asked to plead to both charge.
The case was postponed to 5 July, when he is expected to apply for bail.
Thapelo appeared relaxed throughout his brief appearance.
Dressed in plain clothes, he smiled and had a lengthy chat with his lawyer, Riaan du Plessis.
He seemed not to be bothered by the attention he was getting from curious onlookers.
Thapelo was arrested on 25 May in Thaba Tshwane, an army base in Tshwane.
The 29-year-old from Kagiso, on the West Rand, allegedly wore an SANDF uniform and carried a firearm.
He also allegedly sent relatives and friends pictures of himself in army uniform.
He allegedly even went to his former school, where reportedly issued application forms for army vacancies.
SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Mafi Mgobozi alleged Thapelo had tried to join a group assigned to perform silent guarding.
“Other people are being investigated,” he said.
He said army intelligence and the police were investigating the matter.
Mgobozi would not be drawn on details of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a captain in the SANDF has been arrested for allegedly ordering a clerk to clear a suspect into the battalion.
The captain has since appeared in a military court.
By Talent Gondo- Newly-appointed Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi, has reportedly fired the entire ZESA board for incompetence.
A report by ZANU PF Patriots revealed that the energy minister was appalled by the board members who dwelled on trivialities while the nation was grappling with crippling power cuts.
Said Chasi:
“I looked at the minutes and discovered that the board spent much time on peripheral issues instead of dealing with real issues affecting Zesa.
There is evidence of no planning in carrying out their mandate and I found it fit to relieve the entire board of their duties.
We have a crisis and I expected the board to be handling such but instead, they dwell on none key issues.
The report added:
Chasi also said the entire board failed to deal with recommendations in the Zesa audit which exposed a lot of rot.
He reportedly added:
“The board sat on the audit and nothing was being done to implement the recommendations in the audit.
For Zesa to be transformed it requires men and women who are capable of thinking outside the box and the ministry is now busy looking for such people.”
An audit by the auditor general exposed the rot within the parastatal where senior managers milked huge allowances through shoddy procurement procedures.
The company is saddled with debt to foreign power suppliers and is not able to meet even half of the country’s electricity requirements.
By Talent Gondo- Newly-appointed Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi, has reportedly fired the entire ZESA board over incompetence.
A report by ZANU PF Patriots quoted Chasi saying:
“I looked at the minutes and discovered that the board spent much time on peripheral issues instead of dealing with real issues affecting Zesa.
There is evidence of no planning in carrying out their mandate and I found it fit to relieve the entire board of their duties.
We have a crisis and I expected the board to be handling such but instead, they dwell on none key issues.
The report added:
Chasi also said the entire board failed to deal with recommendations in the Zesa audit which exposed a lot of rot.
He reportedly added:
“The board sat on the audit and nothing was being done to implement the recommendations in the audit.
For Zesa to be transformed it requires men and women who are capable of thinking outside the box and the ministry is now busy looking for such people.”
An audit by the auditor general exposed the rot within the parastatal where senior managers milked huge allowances through shoddy procurement procedures.
The company is saddled with debt to foreign power suppliers and is not able to meet even half of the country’s electricity requirements.
SUSPECTED security agents allegedly abducted and tortured Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leader Obert Masaraure for leading a teachers’ strike, dealing a blow to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to re-engage with the European Union (EU).
ARTUZ yesterday alleged that Masaraure was on Wednesday abducted and tortured by security agents, who told him to stop leading a strike by disaffected teachers.
Pictures of Masaraure with evidence of torture went viral yesterday and EU’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, tweeted that the kidnapping and torture was “unjust and unacceptable”.
“ARTUZ has been leading a just-ended three-day nationwide strike over low salaries and high cost of living. This was a legally protected strike and a 14-day notice had been given to the State,” the union said.
“At least six men with masked faces and heavily armed with AK-47s abducted him from his Waterfalls home in view of his wife and children.
“They took all cellphones in the house. He was taken to a remote area along Seke Road, where he was stripped naked, severely assaulted and interrogated for hours about ARTUZ’s industrial action and told to stop mobilising teachers to go on strike.
“They asked him why he was still working as a teacher when they had suspended his salary. The line of questioning shows a clear link between the persecution of teachers by the employer through withholding of salaries, intimidation and torture as punishment for legitimate union activities.”
The alleged abduction has brought into question the Mnangagwa administration’s sincerity to curbing human rights abuses, with activists saying attacks had become worse than during former President Robert Mugabe’s dark era.
Zimbabwe and the EU on Wednesday kicked off their first formal dialogue in 17 years to draw a line under Mugabe’s confrontational approach to diplomacy with the West, which Harare hopes would thaw frosty relations and lead to resumption of direct aid to its battered economy.
The talks zeroed in on the regime’s poor human rights record and the need for critical political and economic reforms and development cooperation.
The EU has not directly funded Zimbabwe since the turn of the millennium, and has said any direct resumption of aid would be predicated upon Harare’s willingness to reform.
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mnangagwa was shooting himself in the foot by allowing his security agents to abduct and torture Masaraure soon after opening a new chapter with the EU.
“He is a patriot who is demanding better public delivery of education services. It is quite clear that he is being targeted for his dissenting views,” Mafume said.
“The dark days are still with us. Even signs of goodwill from the EU are being washed down the drain by reckless and ruthless behaviour. The MDC demands an end to the terrorisation of civic society organisation’s and union leaders.”
“Abduction and torture of Obert Masaraure is strongly condemned. ZLHR [Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights] is very disturbed that suspected State agents continue to commit international crime of torture,” the rights lawyers said.
But police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was unaware of Masaraure’s abduction.
“Can I get back to you, say after 30 minutes. I need to check with Harare province if ever such a case was reported?” Nyathi said.
He was not answering his mobile, thereafter.
The attack on Masaraure comes as seven civil society activists are languishing in remand prison for allegedly plotting to unseat Mnangagwa after they attended a workshop in the Maldives funded by a Serbian non-governmental organisation, which authorities claim was aimed at equipping them with skills to topple the government.
The activists include George Makoni, Nyasha Mpahlo, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Stabile Dewa, and Rita Nyampinga.
They are in remand prison for attending a workshop organised by the Centre for Applied Non-Violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS) in Maldives.
In a statement issued yesterday, CANVAS said the arrest of the seven was illegal.
“CANVAS would like to inform Zimbabweans and the international community that the charges against these activists are blatantly false. The charges include: ‘Subversion’, ‘counterintelligence’ and ‘being trained in use of small arms’,” read the statement.
CANVAS said its mission was building strong societies through non-violence.
Zimbabwean will do away with the multiple currency regime – which includes the rand, US Dollar and other units – currently accepted as legal tender alongside the RTGS$ consisting of bond notes and electronic balances, President Emerson Mnangagwa said on Friday.
The state broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) also reported that Zimbabwe would introduce its own currency before the end of the year.
At an environment clean-up campaign in Harare South constituency Mnangagwa said: “We are getting to the point where we say even if you have US dollars or British pounds in your pocket it’s yours but when u want to buy you exchange it and use our currency, you will be informed more about that.”
He it was difficult for Zimbabwe to progress economically while using foreign currency as legal tender.
Zimbabwe was only getting forex earnings after export sales, diaspora remittances and from limited investments inflows. Companies and investors have been limiting exposure to Zimbabwe as the financial crisis in the country occasion challenges in remitting dividends and moving other funds from local markets.
“We have started that journey to have our own currency. We are seeing a lot of fluctuations in the local rate of forex. As a consequence of that, we are witnessing price increases,” Mnangagwa said.
The president, whose economic reform measures have been criticized and are now being monitored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), defended the country’s austerity measures, highlighting that these would help fix the ailing economy.
“I said we were instituting austerity measures to help our economy stabilise. That’s why we said Zimbabwe is open for business, but Zimbabwe is not open for abuse,” he said.
Analysts at IH Securities said in an economic note on Zimbabwe on Friday that Mnangagwa’s administration was faced with “an implementation risk of its austerity measures due to its traditional temperament for populism and tolerance towards corrupt interest groups”.
The analysts noted that subsidies for specific goods or sectors such as fuel or medicine had to be channeled through the fiscal budget. The IMF is supportive of Zimbabwe’s social safety nets measures aimed at ring-fencing the poor against inflation and the current austerity measures.
By Own Correspondent- South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape are investigating the murder of a Zimbabwean journalist, Mike Chimombe.
Chimombe lived in Cape Town, and though he was trained as a journalist at the Harare Polytechnic, he was working as a taxi driver at the time of his demise.
In an interview with a local publication, Western Cape provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said:
On Sunday at 20:10 a man, who is believed to be a taxi driver, was shot and killed in Tsaris Street, in Delft [Cape Town] by an unknown suspect who is yet to be arrested. His body was discovered next to his Toyota Corolla.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated. The motive is unknown, however, robbery is not ruled out.
Zimbabweans based in South Africa are dismayed over the murder of Chimombe, who was son to veteran journalist Emilia Zindi.
Secretary general of the Zimbabwe Migrant Support Network Shelton Chiyangwa said:
Here we have lost a renowned journo and a family man, one who has been adding value to the republic by providing a service to the people.
We call upon the SA Police Service to expedite their investigation and bring the murderers to book as this will deter many from doing such crimes.-ANA
HIGH Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi on Friday 7 June 2019 set
free four human rights campaigners, who had spent more than two weeks
in prison after they were arrested last month and charged with
subverting constitutional government.
The four human rights defenders namely George Makoni, Tatenda
Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura and Frank Nyasha Mpahlo had been
detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after they were arrested
on Monday 20 May 2019 and charged with subverting constitutional
government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors accused the quartet of travelling to Maldives on 13 May
2019, where they allegedly attended a training workshop organised by
Centre for Applied Non Violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), a
Serbian non-governmental organisation, with the intention of
subverting a constitutionally elected government.
The State claimed that during the training workshop, the four human
rights campaigners, who are represented by Jeremiah Bamu and Godfrey
Mupanga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were trained on how to
mobilise citizens to turn against the government and to engage in acts
of civil disobedience and or resistance to any law during some
anticipated national protests organised by some anti-government
movements.
The law enforcements agents charged that Makoni, Mombeyarara, Mukura
and Mpahlo were also trained on how to operate small arms and to evade
arrest during civil unrest and on counter-intelligence and acts of
terrorism.
But Justice Chitapi on Friday 7 June 2019 ordered that Makoni,
Mombeyarara, Mukura and Mpahlo be released from prison upon payment of
$1 000 RTGS as bail money after ruling that it is in the interest of
justice that the quartet be set free.
The High Court Judge also imposed some stringent bail conditions for
the four human rights campaigners after ordering them to report
everyday at various Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) stations including
continuing to reside at their given residential addresses until the
case is finalised and not to interfere with witnesses and police
investigations.
Justice Chitapi advised Makoni, Mombeyarara, Mukura and Mpahlo that
they could petition the High Court seeking a variation of their
stringent reporting conditions.
The Judge castigated the practice and conduct of some members of ZRP,
who apprehended the human rights defenders saying it was clear that
the law enforcement agents had arrested Makoni, Mombeyarara, Mukura
and Mpahlo in order to investigate and did not conduct investigations
first as should be the case.
Justice Chitapi implored Zimbabwean authorities to uphold the
provisions of the Bill of Rights outlined in Chapter 4 of the
Constitution, which provides for respect of citizens’ fundamental
rights and freedoms.
The Judge stated that during the bail hearing, the State did not show
that Makoni, Mombeyarara, Mpahlo and Mukura were involved in
organising or participating in any violent anti-government protests in
the past so as to warrant curtailment of their freedoms and that the
programme of activity for the workshop which they allegedly attended
does not show elements of subversion.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told stakeholders who attended the national clean-up campaign held in Southlea Park, Harare that Zimbabwe is working to introduce its own currency before the end of the year.
Mnangagwa said the country will never will have its currency before the end of the year adding that the country will not develop while using currencies of other countries.
“As a country, we are obligated to have our currency and we have started that journey (to having a currency) because the exchange rate (on the black market) is constantly changing and this is because we don’t have our own currency.
“We will get to a point where the US dollar will be there on the market, you will have it your pockets but when you want to then buy, you will have to change it. You will take our money Which we are in the process of making, you will be told about it,” Mnangagwa said.
He reiterated that Zimbabwe is open for business but is not open for abuse while warning those sabotaging the economy that the law will soon visit them.
This comes as the country is reeling from an unstable surrogate currency, the bond note, which has failed to ease the current cash crisis.
The announcement is likely to worsen the already high rate on the black market and will trigger panic to cash barons on the streets.
Already, prices of basic commodities have been spiralling on a daily basis as the black market rates continue to tumble.
Although the government introduced an interbank rate, it has failed to keep up with the black market.
To this end, Mnangagwa said the austerity measures introduced last year will stay and will bear the intended fruits.
“I said for us to be out of this economic crisis, we will have austerity measures which will help us to have a better economy which will create jobs and investment opportunities,” he said.
-263Chat
263chat|Police in Kadoma today arrested journalist Nunurai Jena for defying details who ordered him to stop taking pictures at a mounted roadblock.
He has been detained at Rimuka Police Station where the law enforcement agents are preferring charges of ‘disorderly conduct’.
This comes barely two months after police threw tear gas at 263Chat newsroom and injured a photojournalist after the police ordered him to stop taking pictures of them chasing vendors.
Journalists have also sought an audience with the police in the past over the continued ill-treatment of journalists and the law enforcement agents have agreed to uphold media freedoms.
However, the recent conduct by the police is a spat in the face of media freedom which is enshrined int he constitution and comes at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been promising reforms in the media sector.
In recent week, there has also been a crackdown on civil society leaders who have been arrested on subversion charges which further puts a dent on Mnangagwa’s reforms rhetoric.
The MDC comemorates the passing of 427 compatriots who passed in the “Wankie Disaster” of 1972.
Gas explosions which resulted in the loss of lives resulted in what remains the biggest mining disaster in the history of our country.
Rescue efforts were abandoned after further explosions in the tunnels.
5000 citizens gathered at a nearby stadium for a mass memorial.
Forty seven years later mining disasters are still happening and lives are lost.
Half the times there is no disaster preparedness, rescue efforts are messy, the State is disinterested and lives are lost.
Beyond the recent disasters no relief funds are set up to at least take care of the families of those who died.
As we commemorate the Wankie Disaster, the MDC urges authorities to prioritize safety of miners including artisanal miners, look into the welfare of those who lost loved ones in recent mining disasters and more importantly strengthen disaster response capacity.
MDC: Defining A New Course in Zimbabwe!
MDC COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
By Talent Gondo| Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, MDC led by Nelson Chamisa is increasingly becoming wary of the safety of its members after it emerged that members of the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) are looking for details of their newly-elected leadership in every province throughout the country.
The director in the MDC’s organising department, Farai Chinobva has since written to all party provincial chairpersons warning them of the ongoing exercise being carried out by PISI.
Part of the internal circular dated June 4, 2019, gleaned by a local publicationreads:
Reference: confidentiality of party information
“It has come to our attention that members of the police force specifically from PISI are moving around requesting details of our elected leadership and party structures.
“Kindly be advised that no such information must be given to anyone, except if only requested by the national organising department. Be guided accordingly.”
MDC national organiser, Amos Chibaya admitted that the circular sent to all provincial chairpersons was generated from MDC, saying it was meant to keep their party members alert.
“Yes, that circular was generated from our office, but what they (police) are doing is very wrong. They want to harass our members because of fear of the unknown.
“Obviously the situation in the country is unmanageable, especially when you talk of the economy itself yet, it is not about the MDC, but it is about the people of Zimbabwe.
“If the people of Zimbabwe are not happy about how the country is being run, they have the right to demonstrate peacefully. That right is actually enshrined in the Constitution.
“I am sure you are aware that Section 59 of the Constitution allows the people to demonstrate peacefully, and also gives them the right to petition. So, there is no need for the police to actually target MDC members.
“Prices have been rising on a daily basis and are now beyond the reach of every Zimbabwean and now they fear that people might demonstrate. So, by taking the details of our structures they want to harass them,” Chibaya said.
However, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyati, said he could not comment on another organisation’s internal communication.
“I haven’t seen the circular. I am sure it was their internal communication. So, I cannot comment on another organisation’s internal communication,” Nyathi said.-Newsday
HIGHLANDERS will rest key players carrying two yellow cards each for tomorrow’s away Castle Lager Premier Soccer League game against Yadah for next week’s blockbuster clash against Dynamos.
Bosso coach, Madinda Ndlovu said he will not compromise the strength of his team for tomorrow’s encounter even though he wants a strong unit for the DeMbare game.
Speaking at the club’s weekly press conference yesterday, Ndlovu indicated that he will make changes to have a full strength side for domestic football’s top-drawer clash against Dynamos.
Players likely to miss the trip to Yadah tomorrow include defensive midfielders, Nqobizitha Masuku and Adrian Silla, who picked up their first yellow cards on the opening match of the season against Black Rhinos.
Silla collected his second yellow card in the 0-0 draw against Hwange, while Masuku was booked for the second time this season last weekend when Highlanders beat ZPC Kariba 2-0.
Striker Prince Dube also sits on two yellow cards, picked from the 1-3 defeat by Harare City and the 0-0 against Hwange.
“We’re going to look for that important win against Yadah. We’re not going to weaken our team, but we’re going to make changes. We’re going to play Dynamos after Yadah and if we have key players sitting on two yellow cards, we cannot sacrifice them because we really need to be as strong as possible. I’m not saying Yadah is less important, but the sentimental values that are there when you play Dynamos have to be kept. The traditional kind of war that is there between the two teams has to be kept and therefore we will try and save our key players for the Dynamos game, should need be,” said Ndlovu.
Yadah are reeling in the relegation zone and will be searching for their second win of the season.
Bosso have not been good travellers this season, only managing two points from a possible nine in their three visits to Harare. They drew 1-1 against Black Rhinos in Harare, lost 3-1 to Harare City at Rufaro Stadium and drew 0-0 with Mushowani Stars.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn welcome Harare City at Luveve Stadium tomorrow, with defending champions, FC Platinum, facing Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab.
President Emmerson Emmerson Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe will have its own currency by the end of this year.
President Mnangagwa said this while addressing Southlea Park residents in Harare after taking part in this month’s clean-up campaign at Candy Shopping Centre.
He said the multi-currency regime had been adopted to deal with the hyper-inflation experienced between 2008 and 2009 but should not be maintained going into the future.
“Between 2008 and 2009 our country’s currency lost value and some people became billionaires or trillionaires due to high inflation,” President Mnangagwa said.
“At the time Government decided to adopt the multi-currency regime where we started using, the US dollar, Rand, the British Pound or Pula for transacting. It was a policy measure to address the challenges that were being faced then. We however, cannot not continue going forward without our own currency. South Africa has its own currency and when you go there with the US dollar or Euro you would have to convert it to the Rand before you can transact.
“The same applies to Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and the UK. A country cannot develop using other nations’ currency. A currency is only printed by its owners and the only way to get it is through exports, Diaspora remittances or foreign investments but as a country we should have our own currency and we have embarked on that journey (to have a local currency).
He added that when the local currency is re-introduced it would no longer be possible to use foreign currency while transacting locally
He added that the multi-currency regime is problematic in that it causes the value of the local RTGS Dollar to collapse as people chase the greenback. He said:
South Africa has its own currency and when you go there with the US dollar or Euro you would have to convert it to the Rand before you can transact.
Farai Dziva|ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure says he will continue to fight the fundamental rights of civil servants in spite of being brutalized by suspected state security agents.
Masaraure was abducted by men in masks and (he) was brutally assaulted and left for dead.
He saluted all Zimbweans who supported him during the time of persecution and harassment.
“I was abducted and brutalized by state security agents but I am saying there is no going back.
We will not rest until our grievances are addressed,”said Masaraure.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has stunned all and sundry after claiming ARTUZ leader Obert Masaraure is a school dropout.
Surprisingly Mutodi chose to ignore the state brutality unleashed on a hapless Masaraure – for merely expressing the views of thousands of hard-pressed civil servants.
“This morning I was going through the CV of ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure and I was shocked realising he is a school dropout yet he wants to earn the salary of a chartered accountant,” claimed Mutodi.
Masaraure was brutally assaulted by suspected state security agents for allegedly inciting teachers to protest against the government.
Farai Dziva|Political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa of using Sealous Scouts tactics to brutalize citizens:
ZANU PF President Emmerson Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that Zimbabwe will have its own currency by the end of 2019.
Mnangagwa was speaking in Southlea Park on Friday morning where he was leading a national Clean Up campaign, Mnangagwa said the country cannot develop economically whilst using other countries’ currencies.
He added that the multi-currency regime is problematic in that it causes the value of the local RTGS Dollar to collapse as people chase the greenback. He said:
Between 2008 and 2009 our country’s currency lost value and some people became billionaires or trillionaires due to high inflation.
At the time Government decided to adopt the multi-currency regime where we started using, the US dollar, Rand, the British Pound or Pula for transacting.
It was a policy measure to address the challenges that were being faced then. We, however, cannot continue going forward without our own currency.
South Africa has its own currency and when you go there with the US dollar or Euro you would have to convert it to the Rand before you can transact.
The same applies to Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and the UK. A country cannot develop using other nations’ currency.
A currency is only printed by its owners and the only way to get it is through exports, Diaspora remittances or foreign investments but as a country, we should have our own currency and we have embarked on that journey (to have a local currency).
Mnangagwa revealed that the introduction of the new currency will mean that foreign currency will no longer be used in local transactions.
By Rumbidzai Madhibha| Government in partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have named Zimbabwe-born Springbok star Tendai Mtawarira as the new Tourism Ambassador for Zimbabwe.
The rugby player well known as ‘The Beast’, received the tourism ambassador honorary role at a Harare hotel at an event graced by the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Priscah Mupfumira.
In his acceptance speech, Mtawarira who has been on the spotlight as one of the best rugby players internationally said as the new tourism ambassador it will be easier for him to take Zimbabwean tourism to greater heights considering he has always been on the spotlight in promoting brand Zimbabwe through rugby.
“When I am done with my games out there I am going to talk and bring my friends and their families here. I think a lot of people out there, a lot of young men who have left the country should also come back and be hands-on in building brand Zimbabwe.
And I am so excited to be part and parcel of the country’s tourism and I promise I am going to get involved in any tourism initiative be it on social media because I am prepared to give 110 percent effort on this job. “
By Talent Gondo| A correspondent for a local media house, Nunurai Jena has been arrested.
Jena was arrested by police details in Kadoma for taking pictures.
The journalist was reportedly arrested for allegedly defying orders by police details to stop taking pictures at the mounted roadblock.
At the time of writing, Jena was detained at Rimuka Police Station where the law enforcement agents are yet to charge him.
There are however indications that he will be charged “with disorderly conduct.”
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
Farai Dziva|Former Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe is likely to return to football management anytime soon as he is linked with a Zifa Central Region Division One side.
According to the Herald, Chigowe is a hot favourite to take over Real BVM, and his arrival could be announced in the next few days as they are still working on their budget before hiring the former Dynamos gaffer.
“The president wants Chigowe to take over this week. He has been committed with other businesses, and it was difficult for the deal to be negotiated, but very soon negotiations will start with Chigowe,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.
Chigowe was sacked at Dynamos in April after taking charge of just four league games of which three were defeats.
Farai Dziva|CAF President Ahmad Ahmad was released by French investigators on Thursday evening without charge against him.
Ahmad was picked by the police at the Berri Hotel in Paris on Thursday morning for questioning following accusations corruption which rose from a contract dispute with Puma.
CAF terminated their contract with the German sportswear manufacturer in favour of Technical Steel. Ahmad is accused of having influenced this decision, standing to be rewarded with up to $830,000.
FIFA confirmed the detention but refused to comment further on the issues saying they were still waiting to get more information.
Farai Dziva| The human rights activists who were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government have been granted bail.
The activists will pay RTGS $ 1000 as part of their bail conditions and they will reside at their given addresses.
In addition they have been ordered not to interfere with state witnesses and they will report to police stations near their respective residential areas.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Seven activists who have been languishing behind bars over charges of planning to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa have been granted bail.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi released the 7 granting them $1 000 bail each.
This is a developing story.Refresh this page for latest updates.
Farai Dziva|The seven human rights activists who were arrested for allegedly plotting to topple Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government have been granted bail by High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi.
The activists are George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura Nyasha Mpahlo, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Rita Nyamupinga, and Stabile Dewa.
The seven were charged with allegedly violating section 22 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].More to follow. ..
Jane Mlambo| High court Judge Tawanda Chitapi has granted bail to five of the seven activists arrested in connection with attempting to subvert a constitutional government.
In passing his ruling Chitapi said the state had erred in arresting them without investigations.
He added that they were not informed of their crimes when they were arrested which is against their rights.
Chitapi also said there was no compelling evidence that they will interfere with state witness considering that the state had told the court its evidence was in their confiscated gadgets.
More to follow…
