FULL TEXT: 5 Electric Cable “Thieves” Finally Arrested https://t.co/3w8OVLafrT via @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/DibF5xuWxA
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 6, 2019
ZRP Releases Names Of Alleged Arrested Electric-Cable Thieves
NPRC Still Consulting On How To Handle Gukurahundi
Own Correspondent|THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) says that it is still gong through consultations on how it will approach the Gukurahundi issue that is priority in the Matabeleland region.
Speaking during a strategic stakeholder engagement meeting in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Commissioner Ms Netty Musanhu said the commission is still not sure how it will handle the matter and would be guided by the victims and stakeholders to come up with recommendations on the way forward.
“Recommendations are extremely important. We’ll be guided by the affected people and we’ll report to Parliament through the minister. Engagement is therefore our priority. We can’t tell how long this will take to be concluded because it’s a process.”
The commission however indicated that it will tackle Gukurahundi as a matter of priority in the Matabeleland region.
Commissioner Leslie Ncube said Gukurahundi was a burning issue in the region and addressing it was extremely important.
“One of our key fundamentals as a commission in terms of our approach right now is tackling the Gukurahundi issue as a priority. This is being done through consultative processes and dealing with the emotions of the affected people,” said Comm Ncube.
“We’re dealing with this issue as stakeholders and it’s important for us to bring all the issues so that as we’re working, the NPRC is held accountable. We’ve done a number of consultations before and we realised that in Matabeleland South and North, they had to deal with Gukurahundi first.”
He said the approach that the NPRC had adopted was to work closely with stakeholders and communities in which victims are based.
“This is why we’ve created these multi-stakeholder committees because we know that this is a burning issue. We don’t want to be seen as if we’re hiding the truth.
“In terms of implementing our plans, we need support from the stakeholders because they know what happened and they also know where and when it happened and they will not hide anything,” said Comm Ncube.
He urged stakeholders to be proactive and participate fully in the healing process, saying the commission was keen to create an enabling environment.
Comm Ncube said the NPRC wants to implement whatever it agreed with stakeholders.
“We’re also preparing for our public hearings and we encourage stakeholders to prepare their constituencies so that all the necessary information is gathered,” he said.
The commission will today, Thursday, hold a public hearing with the residents of Bulawayo on how they will want the commission to carry out its mandate on the hot Gukurahundi issue.
Mukupe On Video: Youths Who Looted Shops In January Were Sent From ZANU PF HQ, “I Say They Are Heroes!”
MUKUPE SAYS THE LOOTING YOUTHS ARE ZANU PF HEROES, THEY WERE HERE AT ZANU PF HQ.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s in law, Terence Mukupe has in a video recorded party address, said that the youths who were injured while looting during the January 2019 mayhem, were sent by ZANU PF.
He described them as Zanu PF children dispatched on mission from the ZANU PF headquarters.
Said Mukupe: “Those who are saying the youths were looting, down with them. They didn’t even care to get close to the incidents to see for themselves. How can your own kids be injured, and you fail to rise up to go and find out what has happened?
“And you find out on your own instead of relying on social media. When our children were at headquarters, at ZANU PF HQ, no one bothered to even get there and that is how you see that some people are merely interested in getting positions. So the matter here is, in my own books the youths who were injured are Heroes, to me.
“And I said it at Jekerere. When I said this, they started sending me messages telling me to behave (get back into line). You must support this person (nhingi). We want to pass a vote of no confidence on Emmerson Mnangagwa. If you do not do what we are telling you, you already know what we did to the late Gen. Mujuru.
“And I said that when I joined these things I did not do it in order to seek to breathe. I got in because I have faith in this thing that is called Zanu-pf. I did not put my faith in a human being.
“So the issue is the person who is ruling, the person who was chosen by the people I know him. For you to say that you want to burn me inside my house my address I give it all to you. And I am happy that with these words (video ends) “
Young Igwe Peter Moyo Faces Arrest For “Assaulting” Police Officers
UTAKATAKA Express band leader Peter Moyo is wanted by police to answer to accusations of teaming up with his bouncers to attack police officers on the day he launched his latest album “Mwana weMurozvi” in Harare.
“Young Igwe”, as Moyo is eferred to by his fans, reportedly teamed up with bouncers, who were offering security services and attacked police officers, after they went to the venue to quell violence that had erupted.
The fracas broke out after raunchy dancer Beverly Sibanda’s manager Hapaguti “Hapaz” Mapimhidze picked a misunderstanding with the bouncers who ended up thumping him.
Irked by the bouncers’ act, Hapaz sought assistance from the police.
Upon his return in the company of police officers, the bouncers allegedly attacked the police and other revellers who attended the album launch.
Some of the bouncers are said to have sought refuge in the venue and police pursued them. Moyo reportedly blocked police officers who had pursued the bouncers with his actions amounting to obstructing the course of justice.
Police confirmed the incident saying they wanted the young musician to submit himself and answer to allegations of obstructing the course of justice.
“On May 31 at around 1am Mapimhidze came to the charge office at Harare Central Police reporting that he had been attacked by one Romeo at East Point Nite Club.
“The police went to the venue where Romeo and other bouncers resisting police orders. Peter Moyo then obstructed the course of justice,” said police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Webster Dzvova.State media
SADC Rejects Burundi’s Application For Membership
Own Correspondent|The Southern African Development Community has rejected Burundi’s application to join the bloc, saying Bujumbura did not meet all the requirements.
A statement issued last week on Tuesday quoted the SADC chair, Namibian President Hage Geingob, as saying that Burundi did not meet the bloc’s admission requirements after the latest assessment.
Burundi’s internal political instability is blamed for this as President Pierre Nkurunziza continues to face allegations of stifling democracy since he ran for a controversial third term in office in 2015. His administration has denied the allegations.
Speaking in Tanzania, President Geingbob said, “The SADC assessment mission was in Burundi, but recommended that it is not yet beneficial for Burundi to be admitted into SADC,” due to what he called the unresolved democratic process in that country.
We are also concerned about the counter-accusations between Burundi and Rwanda about interference in each other’s internal affairs,” the Namibian leader said.
Maize Production Declines Drastically
The country is expecting 776 635 tonnes of maize from the 2018-2019 summer cropping season due to a poor rainfall season characterised by long dry spells, the second round crop and livestock assessment report reveals.
The output represents a 54 percent decline from the 2017-2018 cropping season, which yielded 1 700 702 tonnes.
According to the report, 1 623 757 hectares were put under maize last season.
The report also notes that the 2018-2019 season was characterised by late rains across the country.
“The false starts in the southern and south-eastern parts of the country affected the crop establishment,” reads the report in part.
“Long dry spells in January and February negatively affected the planted crop. Cyclone Idai, which hit the country in mid-February, caused severe damage to crops and agriculture infrastructure in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
“However, it improved crop condition in Mashonaland East and Central.”
Mashonaland West is leading in maize production with 228 073 tonnes while Mashonaland Central is second with 159 184 tonnes, with Mashonaland East on third place with 153 831 tonnes.
Midlands is expected to harvest 93 703 tonnes while Masvingo will get 60 962, Matabeleland South 16 781 tonnes and Matabeleland North 13 031 tonnes.
The reports shows that Mashonaland West and Central provinces have substantial surplus cereal production while Masvingo and the Matabeleland provinces have a deficit.State media
Warriors Off To Nigeria
THE ZIMBABWE Warriors yesterday set off for the second leg of the AFCON preparations when they flew to Nigeria for their high-profile international match against the Super Eagles at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba tomorrow.
The Warriors, who had set up base in Durban for the COSAFA Cup, left with 18 players to intensify their preparations for the Nations Cup.
The other four AFCON-bound players remained in South Africa, together with assistant coaches Rahman Gumbo and Lloyd Mutasa, and will follow on Sunday after playing in the third/fourth place play-off against Lesotho.
China-based forward, Nyasha Mushekwi, is already in Nigeria where he connected directly from his base.
Head coach Sunday Chidzambwa, who was back home to bury his father, linked up with the squad in Johannesburg yesterday.
There were no major surprises among those who made it into the final AFCON squad with the bulk of the players having played in the qualifiers.
There were, however, some new faces with impressive Baroka goalkeeper, Elvis Chipezeze, and Thabani Kamusoko making it into the final team.
However, the duo together with Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Ronald Pfumbidzai will miss the clash against the Super Eagles.
After Saturday’s friendly match in Asaba, the Warriors will stay in Nigeria until they depart for Egypt for the continental football show-piece.State media
Love Birds Busted, Mistress, Hubby Hauled To Court
By Own Correspondent- All hell broke loose when a woman on the lookout for her husband busted him looking lovey-dovey with his mistress before she accosted them in a scene reminiscent of the television series Cheaters.
After being busted, Adam Phiri got a public tongue lashing from his furious wife, Agnes Phiri, supposedly demanding that he decide who he wanted to be with between her and his mistress Charity Mukandawire.
With the rage of a broken heart, Agnes also confronted Charity, who reportedly admitted to dating her husband.
Fearing for her life and public humiliation, Charity reportedly ran away leaving her sandals that were later confiscated by Agnes as evidence that she had indeed caught her red-handed with her husband.
The amusing dramatic incident reportedly happened in full view of onlookers at How Mine shops on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
Details of the incident also unfolded on Friday last week at the Bulawayo Civil Court where Agnes was suing her husband and his alleged mistress —Charity — for economically and emotionally abusing her through their adulterous relationship.
Instead of catering for the basic needs of the family, Agnes said her husband was spending his money on Charity.
She said Adam had even stopped paying school fees for their children.
“Adam Phiri is my husband and we are married under the Marriages Act Chapter 5:11. He has gone violent and has beaten me up on several occasions, the latest being on 11 April this year. This was after I asked him where he had been after he arrived home at around 1am.
“He has numerous girlfriends, one of them being Charity Mukandawire and he no longer financially supports the family. Whenever I ask him about his affair with Charity he turns violent and assaults me in the presence of the children.
“I discovered the relationship in November last year. What is greatly affecting me is that he is no longer bringing money home as he spends it with Charity. They are always together even at football matches,” said a disappointed Agnes.
Agnes said she loved her husband and it broke her heart to see him cheating on her.
Turning to Charity, Agnes said she was a “gold-digger” who was squandering her husband’s money at the expense of his family.
“She is my husband’s girlfriend. She is enjoying my husband’s money at the expense of his family. On 10 May I caught her red-handed with my husband at How Mine shops. When I busted them she ran away leaving her sandals which I took and I’m still in possession of them.
“When I reported her to her aunt she chided me saying my husband was a dog and playboy who was going after every woman he meets,” said Charity.
In response both Charity and Adam, although they admitted to seeing each other before, however, said they had since terminated the relationship.
“I admit that I was in a relationship with her husband, but we have since terminated the relationship. I didn’t know that he was married,” responded Charity.
Agnes, however, refuted the claims that they were no longer together saying the two parties — Adam and Charity — were still madly in love.
That led Charity to receive a stern reprimand from the presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga who said by dating married men she was dicing with jail as she risked being sued for adultery.
She was also advised to apologise to Agnes for believing Adam’s lies that he was not married.
The magistrate also ordered Adam not to verbally, physically and emotionally abuse his wife.-BMetro
Drama At Pakame High School As Receptionist “Small House” Is Confronted By Lover’s Wife
By Talent Gondo- An action-packed drama which left pupils and teachers stunned, punctuated Pakame High School in Shurugwi, Midlands Province when a receptionist dashed out of the office for freedom after being confronted by her alleged lover’s wife.
According to a source from the school who claimed to have witnessed the action, the public humiliation of the receptionist, Margaret Mukwachi, was courtesy of her alleged lover Zvikomborero Manjiche’s furious wife Charity Mbamba. It is alleged that Mai Mufaro(Mbamba), attacked Mukwachi at her workplace, after accusing her of having an extra-marital affair with her husband.
Circumstances are that on 22 May last month; Mai Mufaro who is a student at Great Zimbabwe University teamed up with her two female relatives and proceeded to Pakame High School where her husband is employed as a history teacher to give Mukwachi a very special kind of punishment for flirting with her man.
Upon arrival, she accused Mukwachi of having a love affair with her husband before she grabbed her trying to hit her.
It is alleged that, sensing danger, Mukwachi quickly bolted with Mai Mufaro in hot pursuit much to the amusement of onlookers mostly pupils and teachers who abandoned their business to follow the free drama.
“Teachers and pupils were busy in their respective classes when they heard the commotion at the reception but they didn’t really know what it was.
“When they decided to go outside to see what it was all about that is when they eventually found out that it was Manjiche’s wife, Mai Mufaro who was confronting Mukwachi while accusing her of having an affair with her husband.
“Their illicit relationship is well known at the school and Manjiche is even publicly declaring it by addressing Mukwachi as Maggie despite the fact that she is almost twice his age.
“The two — Manjiche and Mukwachi — were once reprimanded by their relatives and promised to end the relationship but they are still continuing with it despite that reprimand,” said a source from the school who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
During the melee, the source further said Mukwachi was passionately begging for help but people refused to come to her rescue saying it was a warning to other women not to mess with people’s husbands.
When contacted for comment Mukwachi said it was a “small” misunderstanding between her and Mai Mufaro(Mbamba). “Who told you those things? It was just a misunderstanding between me and Mai Mufaro and it is also not true that I am in love with her husband,” said Mukwachi. When asked to explain the nature of the misunderstanding she immediately hung up.
Manjiche, who apparently wanted to remain tight-lipped, giggled before he said: “Nothing of that sort happened. Go and ask those people who told you.”
Mbamba confirmed the incident saying she confronted Mukwachi after she discovered some “steamy” love messages in her husband’s phone in which she was exchanging with her husband.
“It is true that I confronted her (Mukwachi). This was after I discovered some love messages in my husband’s phone in which she was exchanging with him. The matter is still unresolved since I am currently in Masvingo writing my exams,” said Mbamba.-BMetro
Businesswoman Beds Mentally Challenged Son In Bid To Cure Him
By Own Correspondent- A 45-year-old businesswoman from Mberengwa in Ndagara Village under Chief Banga confessed to sleeping with her 20-year-old son who is mentally challenged in an attempt to cure her son’s mental illness.
The woman, Tendai Mapfukidze, who owns a bottle store at Mataga Business Centre shocked Chief Banga’s traditional courts when she revealed that she slept with her biological son.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told this publication that Mapfukidze claimed to have been instructed by a traditional healer.
“She shocked the court when she revealed that she sleeps with her son once in seven days after being instructed by her traditional healer. The entire village is still shocked.
“After being questioned if the ritual was meant to heal her son or to increase her wealth, Mapfukidze said it’s for curing his son, although the ritual also helps in boosting her businesses,” said the source.
Mapfukidze’s sexcapades with his son came to light after the two were caught by her boyfriend making out in Mapfukidze’s homestead.
Out of anger, the boyfriend who felt cheated took the matter to Chief Banga. Chief Banga confirmed the matter.
“I dealt with a matter of a woman who sleeps with her son to cure him claiming to be following orders from a traditional healer. I ordered her to pay five cows because such sexual relationships are not allowed culturally. In fact it is considered taboo for a parent to sleep with their own child,” said Chief Banga.-StateMedia
Residents Fume Over Proposed Tariff Increases
By Own Correspondent- Mutare residents have expressed shock and anger over the proposed 2.7 percent rate increase in tariffs that was made by Mutare City Council recently.
The proposal, according to Mutare City Council, was made due to the general economic downturn that has a negative impact on the local authority’s service delivery capacity.
Speaking to Mutare central constituency ward 1 and 10 representatives during a 2019 supplement budget consultation meeting held at Moffat Hall on Wednesday this week, Mutare City Council senior accountant Mr Godwin Chinaka said: “We decided to hold this meeting with ward representatives of Mutare central to inform them about our proposed rates which have increased to RTGS $2.70 per USD $1.
“Previously council approved that US $1 was 1:1 with RTGS. It was approved recently in March, since then the prices are increasing almost every month and in some instances, daily.”
Mr Chinaka outlined challenges being faced by Mutare City Council that resulted in the need for a supplementary budget.
“Suppliers have lost confidence in Mutare City Council’s capacity to pay hence contracting suppliers is a problem. There is no forex allocation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Our suppliers mostly depend on parallel market among other issues,” he said.
Mr Chinaka said that most of the City Council’s projects are not yet finished because of the lack of material such as cement and other equipment that require foreign currency.
Responding to the City Council’s proposal, ward representatives raised concerns over the increased tariffs indicating that Mutare City Council should not raise tariffs because their services are poor and they are vandalizing old property.
Mr Michael Chikati from Mutare Central constituency Ward 1 suggested that City Council should reward residents with a 50 percent discount just like Harare City Council did.
“I suggest that at least you should reward us with a 50 percent discount just like what Harare City council is doing without that you have no reason to raise these service tariffs,” he said.
Mr Benson Mukusha from Mutare Central constituency Ward 1 said: “Sakubva residents are living under poverty datum line, they cannot afford to pay RTGS $2.70 per US $1. They are still in the process of paying previous debts. Raising tariffs is a bad idea.”
Mrs Mary Bandidza of Matida Flats said they are living under unhealthy conditions and it is not reasonable to raise service tariffs.
“Matida Flats is not a healthy place to live. We clean the toilets on our own. These toilets are supposed to be cleaned by the City Council. Our roofs are leaking, toilets are in bad conditions, there are no lights in hall ways which has increased crime rate in that area hence Council has no right to raise tariffs”
“I suggest Mutare City Council should focus on beer halls and raise tariffs on them because they earn a lot of money compared to us. We earn less and we are paid in RTGS. Beer halls in Sakubva such as Bako night club should pay more,” she said.-StateMedia
Suspect Gives Chilling Account Of How He Murdered Fellow Villager, Harvested His Body Parts
By Own Correspondent- A 24-year-old man from Chimanimani left court officials at the Mutare High Court in a state of disbelief after he gave a chilling account of how he struck a fellow villager with a machete, harvested several body parts, which he then placed in a bag and later asked his brother-in-law to refrigerate.
The suspect planned the callous murder because he wanted to sell the body parts in South Africa and then buy a house and a car from the proceeds.
His plan hit a brick wall after the brother-in-law refused to refrigerate the body parts and subsequently sold him out to the police.
Victor Dinga of Munaka Village under Chief Chikukwa appeared before Senior Judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera charged with murder as defined in Section 47 (i) (a) or (b) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Ms Jane-Rose Matsikidze prosecuted.
“The deceased Cephas Mubarenyana lived in a separate village and the accused stayed alone,” she said.
“On September 24 last year in the morning, the accused person approached the deceased at his home and asked him to help carry some planks from Martin Forests for a fee. Unknown to the deceased, the suspect had a machete hidden inside his pair of trousers.”
On arrival in Martin Forest, the accused suddenly pulled out the machete and struck the deceased on the neck and above the left ear, killing him instantly.
He then dragged the deceased’s body into a bush before proceeding to harvest certain body parts. He later took the body parts to Chikukwa Business Centre where he asked his brother-in-law, Aaron Mashava, to refrigerate them for him.
“Having refused to refrigerate the human body parts, the brother-in-law later mobilised other villagers leading to the recovery of the body parts and the arrest of the suspect. A post mortem examination concluded that the death was as a result of severe head injury,” said Ms Matsikidze.
Mashava told the court that he was inside his shop when the suspect approached him asking him to refrigerate the bag containing the body parts.
He became curious when the suspect told him that the bag should not be opened. On being asked about its contents, the suspect told him that it contained human body parts. Suspecting that the accused person had killed a person, Mashava informed his neighbour who in turn called the councillor and the trio then approached Constable Blessing Muroda.
They went to the suspect’s house where he led them to a disused toilet where the bag and its contents were hung.
The case continues on June 10 when the defence counsel Mrs Ngorima from the Legal Aid Directorate is expected to present her closing submissions.-StateMedia
Woman Fraudster Hauled To Court
By Own Correspondent- A 25-year-old Mutare woman has appeared in court on allegations of fraud after she accessed a $750 loan from a micro-finance institution using stolen identity documents.
Chidochashe Nyambombe of House Number 3907 Chikanga 2 appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe.
She pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mr Mahwe sentenced her to 12 months in prison and four months were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar crime in the next five years.
It was the State’s case that on February 11 this year, Nyamombe obtained Stanford Mudariki’s national identity card and pay slip.
She went to Econet Wireless Mutare and opened a line using Mudariki’s details.
The State also alleges that at an unkown date in February this year, the suspect applied for $750 loan at Credifin Micro Finance using Mudariki’s details. In March, Mudariki noticed a deduction of $115 from his salary and he went to Credifin to ascertain the deduction.
He was told that the deduction was for a loan of $750 which was deposited in his Ecocash wallet.
Former Mutare Bottling Company Managers Hauled To Court Over Fraud
By Talent Gondo- Three former Mutare Bottling Company managers were on Tuesday hauled before the Anti-Corruption court facing 15 counts of fraud emanating from alleged dubious transactions they processed which prejudiced the company of more than $80 000.
The trio, Stewart Chidawanyika (38), Thabo Mpofu (37) and Tariro Maringapasi (61) pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Mutare Magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Chidawanyika, who was employed as a debtor’s controller resides at Number 368 NHB Sakubva while Mpofu who was employed as an accountant stays at Number 601 Emganwini Bulawayo.
Maringapasi of Number 6461 Chikanga 3 was employed as the sales manager.
Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted while Mr Cosmas Chibaya represented Chidawanyika and Mpofu. Maringapasi was a self actor.
Mr Mutyasira told the court that Maringapasi retired from being a sales manager and founded Ukuzenzele Marketing Enterprises (UME) whose core business was to sell soft drinks purchased from the complainant.
“On April 2016 Maringapasi who was representing UME entered into a distribution memorandum agreement with the complainant as the sole and exclusive distributor of the complainant’s products at Dangamvura and Vengere bus termini with a customer credit limit of $21 000 as from May 2016,” he said.
It is alleged that UME failed to service its account but the three suspects working in concert connived to credit UME’s account with payments that would have been made by other clients.
“On December 2, 2016 Andrew Murwisi from Murambinda who operates a wholesaler transferred $7 000 via ecocash into MBC merchant number with the intention of servicing his account but the money was diverted and receipted against UME’s debt,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Several clients including restitution amounts that were awarded MBC at the Mutare Magistrates Court and subsequently transferred into MBC account by the Judicial Service Commission were diverted and credited into UME’S account.
This modus operandi was executed on 15 different occasions and MBC lost a fortune.
On Tuesday, Mr Chibaya made an application for an exception to be charged on the basis that the matter had been handled at the civil courts but the State led by Mr Mutyasira argued that civil court processes do not bar a criminal trial if the essential elements of the case show that a crime was committed. Mr Mahwe dismissed the application labelling it a monumental joke.
He said facts presented by the State show that crimes were committed and thus the matter must proceed to trial.
The trial continues.-StateMedia
Self Confessed “Killer” Appears In Court
Farai Dziva|Chakanetsa Kambarami, who allegedly murdered a taxi driver in Masvingo has appeared in court.
Kambarami was not asked to plead when he initially appeared in court today.
He allegedly killed taxi driver Josiah Rimayi and dumped his body near Sundowners Lodge.
“You assaulted Josiah Rimayi with clenched fists and you also kicked him all over his body after accusing him of having an affair with your wife, Caroline Banda,” the court heard.
Kambarami was remanded in custody to June 18 2019.
Smart Express Horror Crash Driver Jailed 6 And Half years
By Talent Gondo- The reckless Smart Express bus driver who negligently caused the horrific Rusape Bus Disaster that claimed 46 lives following a head-on collision with a Bolt Cutter bus along the Mutare-Harare Highway has been jailed for a six-and-a-half years.
A total of 59 other passengers escaped with varying injuries in the accident that occurred last year.
Munotyei Cosmas Marembo (50) tried to simultaneously overtake a haulage truck and another small vehicle on a sharp curve disregarding carriage way markings on the road that prohibited overtaking on that stretch.
Apart from the jail sentence, he was barred from driving any motor vehicle for the rest of his life.
After the accident Marembo and his conductor fled from the scene only to hand themselves over to the police two days later when a manhunt was launched.
He pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a serious accident as defined in Section 70(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to report a serious accident within 24hrs.
For culpable homicide Marembo was slapped with a five year sentence, and an additional 12 months for failing to stop and another six months for failing to report the accident.
The presiding magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera did not suspend any part of the sentence.
Public prosecutor Mr Gift Mutigwa told the court that Marembo encroached into the opposite lane to overtake where the road is clearly marked with two double continuous white lines.
A Bolt Cutter bus was travelling in the opposite lane making it unsafe to overtake.
“The accused person then decided to encroach to the right side of the opposite lane thereby side swiping the oncoming bus which resulted in the death of 46 passengers and 59 others sustained several degrees of injuries from both buses.
“The Bolt Cutter bus sustained extensive frontal damages and the driver Temba Sorota died on the spot. The Smart Express bus sustained left side damages. After being involved in an accident Marembo failed to stop and render assistance to the dead and injured people. He also failed to report the accident to the police within 24 hours as provided by the Road Traffic Act,” said Mr Mutigwa.
Nothing Is New In Zimbabwe -Chamisa
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has roundly condemned the harassment of human rights activists and members of the opposition party by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
In a statement Chamisa said:
“The recent arrest and detention of 7 activists upon increasing cases of crackdown against opposition,labour and civil society activists and progressives confirm that NOTHING IS NEW in Zimbabwe.
ED must stop copying and adopting the same old tactics used by tyrants to repress, harass, embarrass and terrorize citizens.”
MDC Condemns Harassment Of Masaraure
Farai Dziva|The country’s biggest opposition party, MDC has condemned the arrest and harassment of ARTUZ leader Obert Masaraure.
See the MDC statement:
MDC condemns in the strongest terms the abduction and brutalising of ARTUZ leader,Obert Masaraure by suspected state security operatives.
A State which perpetrates violence on men and women who stayed behind to serve the education system even when most teachers were leaving the country is shameless and ungrateful.
All they demand and rightfully so, is a living wage indexed in US dollars, better working conditions, reasonable teacher-student ratio and suitable facilities for the learners.
That is not criminal.
Masaraure has committed no crime, he is a patriot who is demanding better public delivery of education services.
It is quiet clear that he is being targeted for his dissenting views.
In January, he was thrown in the supermax state penitentiary with robbers and rapists.
Now armed bandits are assigned to go to his house petrifying his family, torturing him, striping him naked and leaving him for dead.
The dark days are still with us.
Even signs of Goodwill from the EU are being washed down the drain by reckless and ruthless behavior.
The MDC demands an end to the terrorising of CSO and Union leaders.
Those in prison must be given back their freedom unconditionally and those who attacked Masaraure must be brought to Justice.
MDC: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
Read Constitution, MDC Tells Zanu PF Official
Farai Dziva| A member the MDC Youth Assembly has said the party is prepared to defend democratic principles.
This follows threats by Zanu PF stop protests.
Zanu PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke last week indicated that preparations were being made to “defend the ruling party and Emmerson Mnangagwa against MDC’s planned demonstrations.”
MDC Youth Assembly spokesperson Steven Chuma said:”Matuke must shut up. He must read the Constitution first before spewing out dross bent on threatening citizens. He is no one, I repeat no one in the eyes of the Zimbabwean law and the broader politics.
He cannot stop people from demonstrating.”
SA Rand Hits A Record Low
By Own Correspondent- The South African Rand fell early on Thursday to its lowest in 2019. The drop is attributed to disputes within the ruling African National Congress over the central bank which is said to have weakened demand.
At 0800 GMT, the rand was 0.15% weaker at 14.8850 per dollar compared with an overnight close of 14.8600. It suddenly fell to a session low of 14.9625, its weakest since October, before settling near 14.80.
The currency is reported to have shed its value due to ANC intraparty disagreements over whether the central bank should do more to promote jobs and growth.-Newsday
Biti Digs A Mnangagwa, “He Is A Cartel President”
Nurse Bashed By Superior
By Own Correspondent| A nurse at Bikita Rural Hospital is nursing injuries sustained from the beating she received from her senior who accused her of exposing her private business.
Edina Muzondiona was allegedly assaulted by Sencia Matimba during a meeting the latter called to identify who was spreading a rumour that she was over-charging transport fares to subordinates she gives rides to and from work.
The case has since been reported to Bikita police station and no action is reported to have been taken amid speculation that Matimba is well connected.
The story, accompanied by an audio recorded during the fracas, is circulating on social media.
Contacted for comment, Muzondiona confirmed the incident saying she was nursing injuries accusing Matimba of assaulting her without verifying facts.
“Sister Matimba quickly got angry during a meeting held on the 22nd of May where she wanted to know who was spreading information that she was giving favours to junior nurses who use her vehicle for transport,” said Muzondiona.
“She jumped and firmly got hold of me before pushing my head to the wall leading to my injury and I lodged a police complaint in order to access treatment.
“The incident has left me exposed and I am being humiliated daily by members in the community since Sister Matimba is well connected to local authorities.
“The issue is still to be settled and Matimba never apologised although she later discovered that I was not the one who spread the rumour. She also never gave me money for treatment,” said Muzondiona.
Contacted for comment, Matimba confirmed the story referring questions to the administrator.
“I am unable to comment about that story now. Allow me to inform my administrator who can be in a position to give you the comment about what actually transpired,” said Matimba.
It is said those who use her vehicle for transport are rewarded by benefiting from paid duties organised by donors in the area.-HMetro
Telecel Board Member Suspended For Leaking Secrets To The Media
By Own Correspondent- Telecel Zimbabwe has suspended a board member, Francis Mahwindi, with effect from June 6, 2019.
In a notice issued on Thursday, board chairman James Makamba said that Mahwindi has been suspended for leaking company information to the media.
Said Makamba:
The Telecel Zimbabwe board of directors wishes to inform all stakeholders that a resolution has been passed for the suspension of Mr Francis Mawindi from holding the office of Telecel Zimbabwe board director effective 6th of June 2019, pending final resolution by the shareholders in terms of the Companies Act.
This is following Francis Mawindi’s serious breach of the common law fiduciary duty of confidentiality and to act in the best interests of the company through communicating and misrepresenting confidential company information.
However, Mahwindi has rejected the resolution, saying that it is null and void.
He pleaded his innocence and vowed that the goings-on within the company will eventually come out
Energy Minister Fortune Chasi Commends Econet
By Talent Gondo| Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi, has commended Distributed Power Africa (DPA), an Econet Wireless subsidiary for taking the lead in pushing for the use of solar energy.
Chasi was touring DPA’s recently commissioned solar power plant at Econet’s Willowvale office complex in Harare.
He said:
I would like to congratulate the Econet group and DPA for taking the lead in driving the use and adoption of renewable energy which reduces the load on the national power grid.
… The government fully supports the use of solar power and sees the adoption of renewable energy as a sustainable, clean and long-term option to the challenges of inadequate power supply.
… solar energy can alleviate the country’s dependence on both hydro-power energy and non-renewable fossil fuels, and it can significantly reduce the importation of energy and save scarce foreign currency, which can be used for other national developmental programmes.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe group CEO Mr Douglas Mboweni said that his company is encouraged by the support rendered to the private sector by the government.
Mnangagwa Dates Southlea Park
Zanu Pf Declares War On Economic “Vampires”
By Talent Gondo| The ruling party’s youth wing led by its 55 year old leader has warned businesses that they risk getting out of business urging its supporters to boycott over charged products.
Pupurai Togarepi told a local publication on Wednesday that it is high time that consumers fight back against the “vampires”.
He said:
It’s time consumers fight back. Imagine if we stop buying bread for a week? Do we avoid some shops for a day? Price vampires must fall.
Businesses should shape up or ship out and allow humane organisations to set base in the country.
The economy is going through a revival phase but that should never be punitive to the consumer. In a way, the price madness is yet another ploy to trigger demonstrations and we are aware of the actors behind these nefarious exercises.
Togarepi said that the party will soon send price monitors to check on the manufacturing companies and ensure that they are complying with the country’s laws.
He blamed some companies of engaging in economic terrorism in order to stifle the country’s economic revival efforts.
Straight A Murehwa Student Appeals For Help To Pay Fees At UZ
By Own Correspondent- A Murehwa student, Ranganayi Zhakata’s pictures have been circulating on social media with one Mobie Musakatiza appealing to well-wishers to help assist him proceed to University.
According to Mobie, Ranga aced his Os and As and got accepted at UZ but can’t afford the tuition fees.
Attached to the post are Ranganayi’s O level and A level result transcripts that have straight As and a C for O level and straight As for A level.
Gvnt Dispels Mat North Teacher Shortage Reports
By Talent Gondo- Teacher shortage in Matabeleland North province is said be not as severe as was initially reported.
Education officials say that 300 teachers were recently deployed in the province to alleviate the shortage of educators.
Matabeleland North Provincial Education Director, Mr Jabulani Aggry Mpofu revealed that even though 300 teachers have been employed, ECD and A Level classes still need attention. He said:
The situation is not very bad in his area as 300 more teachers had been recently engaged. However, the infants and Advance Level categories need more attention.
Mpofu said that the new curriculum has exacerbated the challenge as more specialised teachers are needed.
Advanced Level subjects such as Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology have a shortage of teachers. The same applies to practical subjects such as Agriculture and Computer Science.
VIDEO: Tendai Biti’s Response To Allegations MDC Wants To Perform A Coup
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One Thousand “Bucks” To Watch Zim Warriors In Action
Own Correspondent|The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the prices of three categories of tickets for the friendly encounter between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
The game which is set to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba at 6pm on Saturday, June 8 has its VVIP ticket pegged at N10,000 , the VIP ticket is N2,000, while the popular side will go for one thousand naira.
Nigeria started preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations at their training base in Asaba on Monday with 23 players now in camp following the arrival of Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, and Abdullahi Shehu on Wednesday.
Imbibers Find Way Back To Forgotten Drinking Spots After Beer Price Slashing.
Own Correspondent|Beer drinkers are all smiles tonight as they find their way back to forgotten drinking spots after the country’s largest beverage manufacturer Delta Beverages, slashed the prices of beer and soft drinks, citing the improvement of foreign currency available on the interbank market.
The 375mls brown bottle lagers are now going for RTGS $3.00, while the recommended price for a quart is now RTGS $6.00.
The prices of the two had reached as high as $6 for the 375ml bottle and between $10 and $12 for the quarts.
See full price list below
“I Saw An Empty Presidential Seat.. Soldiers Were Around It.. It Was Not Election Time..” Prophet Calls For Prayers
Own Correspondent|Zambian controversial Prophet Sheppard Masela has thrown Southern Africa region into another panic mode with his latest “prophesy” claiming that one of the SADC leaders will be disposed off by his own military.
Masela who has claimed several “successful prophecies” posted the following prophecy in his social media platforms and to his church members.
I SAW A PRESIDENTIAL SEAT WAS EMPTY ! IN ONE OF THE COUNTRIES .
“Pray for presidents , I saw military protecting an empty seat without a president on it “.
” what i saw in this vision was shocking , because i did not see were that person who was seating on that seat went but i just saw the presidential seat was empty and being protected by military” .
” It was not time for elections but the seat was empty and military was surrounding the seat “.
Pray for presidents , God has spoken .prophecy its for the wise not for cannal , its done .
NPRC Boss Invites Zimbabweans To Confront Mnangagwa On Gukurahundi Commission Reports
Own Correspondent|The chairperson of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Retired Justice Sello Nare has invited Zimbabweans to go out and demand President Emmerson Mnangagwa to make public “missing” Dumbutshena and Chihambakwe Commissions reports on the eighties Gukurahundi atrocities.
Speaking at an NPRC Stakeholders consultation meeting in Bulawayo on Thursday, Nare said that he has tried all efforts within his capacity to get the release of the reports of the two commissions that set to find facts on the disturbances in Matabeleland after independence.
The two historic commissions led by Justice Enock Dumbutshena and Justice Simplisius Chihambakwe set on separate occasions after the end of the horrific Gukurahundi atrocities to find facts on the early eighties Entumbane Civil Clashes and the subsequent Gukurahundi atrocities that claimed over 20 000 lives and affected over 100 000 others in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
The findings of the two commissions were never made public nor talked about.
Answering a question during the plenary session of the meeting on whether the NPRC will make references to the two commissions, Nare said the commission has given up on getting the reports as he has tried by all means to get them with no success.
“I have been all over the region and activists are asking me the same question on the reports, the truth is that I have run as much as I can to get those reports but I can not run faster than my fastest, I have given up,” said Nare.
The former Supreme Court Judge said that the issue of the reports is giving him sleepless nights to an extent that he at one time found himself talking to himself aloud in the streets of Harare on the matter.
“When you see a man speaking alone in the streets, you then have to know that something is really troubling them,” he said.
“At one time a friend stopped me right in the middle of the streets of Harare when I was busy talking to myself about the issue of these reports, that tells you how much I am worried about this.”
Nare then called on Zimbabweans who may get an opportunity to meet with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to directly ask him to release the reports to the commission if he has them.
“The issue comes down to all of you in this house to ask his excellence for the reports whenever you get an opportunity to meet him maybe he will be able to release them to you if he has them,” said Nare.
The NPRC reported last month that the office of the President advised them that they can not find the reports anywhere within the President’s files claiming that they went missing from the office.
The two commissions were the first and only state initiated moves to get on the ground facts from the Gukurahundi victims and are reported to have produced incriminating reports on senior government officials leading to the silencing of the outcomes.
Teachers Deliver Petition on Urgent Rescue Package to Parliament
Harare- Neglected and long suffering teachers of Zimbabwe, ( today) the 6th of June 2019 presented a Petition to Parliament in Harare, demanding that government which is the main employer of Teachers in Government schools must immediately deliver an economic rescue package to cushion the hard pressed Teachers, some of whom can no longer make it to work stations due to spiraling costs of transport and the rising cost of living in general.
Presenting their Petition in Harare to Parliament were the most representative bodies of teacher trade unions comprising of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union, (PTUZ), who petitioned Parliament to cause Government to pay a cushioning allowance in United states dollars to every teacher over and above their soon to be reviewed RTGs Salaries.
The Petition presented by the Teacher Unions , is seeking for the intervention of legislators in facilitating that Teachers’ low salaries and allowances that are paid by government in RTGs Dollars should also be reviewed and paid in full consideration of the inter-bank rate because the same salaries were computed on contracts which were consummated before the announcement of the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy which sought to review, the exchange rate.
Outlined in the Petition was also the fact that the Teachers want Parliament in light of its oversight and legislative role of protecting the provisions of the Constitution and national interests , to undertake , insist and ensure that the State promptly reviews, calculates and pay teachers ‘salaries in line with the current rate of inflation.
Teachers in Zimbabwe make the largest percentage of the restive civil servants , whose wages and salaries have been thoroughly wiped by the ever rising inflation that has hit Zimbabwe for the past several months.
Ongoing talks between civil servants who are represented at APEX Council level and the Government have been consistently failing to yield results for a period spanning over seven years , a situation which analysts have blamed on the obsolete subsidiary law providing social dialogue in the civil service. The present scenario in salary negotiations does not provide for sectoral labour bargaining processes, hence as a result, civil servants negotiate for salary reviews as a collective, and in the process, the unique needs of specialized fields such as teaching are not given prominence at the National Joint Negotiating Forum(NJNC).
Teachers through their trade unions are calling for the establishment of legislation that should see the facilitation of Sect oral Collective Bargaining systems , a process that they anticipate to bring relief to ineffective labour bargaining processes.
The submission of a Petition to The Parliament by Teachers comes against a backdrop of massive calls for tools downing, re- introductions of sit-ins and all forms of incapacitation declarations from Teachers, who are also members of the trade unions.
The majority of the Teachers in government and public schools across Zimbabwe, are employed by Government , and recent surveys carried under ZIMTA have shown that the majority of them are loyal and dedicated employees who work for more than 8 hours a day in schools , and yet relying on one source of income , which is a salary from Government.
Courts Not Yet Done With ZANU PF Warlord On Charges He Wanted To Overthrow Mnangagwa
Former Zanu PF youth leader and warlord Jim Kunaka’s bid to escape jail flopped after Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko dismissed his application challenging placement on further remand for the second time.
Kunaka is being accused of attempting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government after he allegedly posted messages on his social media platforms inciting the public to partake in the January national shutdown.
Mateko dismissed Kunaka’s application saying he is facing “very serious” allegations and that he has not been on remand for a long time, the basis which his lawyer Job Sikhala was basing on.
“The record is saying that the accused has been on remand for over four months and he is facing a very serious offence… There has been no inordinate delays and will therefore move to dismiss this application,” magistrate Mateko said.
Mr Sikhala had challenged placement on further remand after prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa sought a postponement saying they are awaiting confirmation from the Postal Telecommunication and Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) to confirm the purported message originated from Kunaka.
He opposed the application and said the State has been using the same excuse the last seven times Kunaka appeared in court for routine remand.
“There is no justified reason why the accused should be continuously kept on remand on the basis of that excuse.
The state had undertaken to finish investigations within six weeks and record statements from four witnesses.
“No evidence has been brought before the court to show the statements have been recorded. It will be an insult to justice to appear again only to be told of the same excuse,” he said.
Sikhala linked the Kunaka’s case to the Adolf Hitler’s Nazi system where the judiciary system was used to persecute political opponents, adding that most January protests related cases were resolved over four months ago.
“One wonders what is so special about this case for the State to take six months to investigate, if there is any case. The overzealous nature of how accused was arrested in the early hours of January 17 should have been the same zeal in which the State pursued this matter.
The court must reject and refuse to collude with the State in trampling the fundamental human rights of the accused…I urge this court to exercise its mandate without fear or favour,” Sikhala said, adding that the State will suffer no prejudice if they removed Kunaka from remand and proceed by summons once it has put its house in order.
Kunaka will be back in court on August 1.
BREAKING- Chiwenga To Make First Public Appearance Tomorrow
By Tapiwa Nduna| Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga who has been conspicuously absent from state events due to ill health is set to make his first public appearance tomorrow.
The former army boss, who deputised President Emmerson Mnangagwa following his controversial election in 2018 was reportedly confirmed sick by presidential Spokesperson George Charamba who revealed that he will resume duties “as soon as he gets better”.
ZimEye exclusively reported that Chiwenga was not well and was confined to his Harare home for several weeks before he was flown out of the country for medical attention.
He was however flown back into the country last week.
Chiwenga is set to grace a clean up campaign, a monthly event held on the first Friday of each month.
The day, declared by Mnangagwa as a way of promoting a culture of cleanliness will see Chiwenga being the guest of honour in cleaning government offices at Kaguvi, Mkwati and Chaminuka complexes.
Below is the clean up program for the country’s President, his two deputies and first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa:
Breaking News: CAF President Arrested In France For Corruption Just Two Weeks Before AFCON Kick Off
President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad has been arrested in Paris, France.
According to a @jeune_afrique, the CAF president was arrested on Thursday morning at a hotel in Paris, where he was staying to attend the FIFA Congress.
World football’s governing body FIFA on Thursday issued a statement confirming that Ahmad was being questioned by French authorities in Paris.
Among the allegations are claims Ahmad forced CAF to buy sportswear through a French company rather than directly from manufacturers and at inflated prices.
“FIFA is unaware of the details surrounding this investigation and is therefore not in a position to make any comment on it specifically,” FIFA said in a statement.
“FIFA is asking the French authorities for any information that might be relevant to investigations taking place within its Ethics Committee.”
Ahmad, a former Malagasy cabinet minister, had been reported last month to FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged corruption and sexual harassment by CAFgeneral secretary Amr Fahmy, who was then fired.
The last few days have been very controversial for the African football body he is in charge of.
Less than 24 hours ago CAF executive committee decided to order for a replay of the Second leg of the CAF Champions league final which ended prematurely last Friday in Tunis, Tunisia.
It was observed that the decision to replay the final has not gone down well with Esperance followers and many across the continent, including some top followers of Ahmad.
It’s unclear whether his arrest may also be linked to the Esperance Versus Wydad case or it will remain focused on the corruption and sexual harassment accusations raised against the Football top Executive in Africa, especially by former CAF employees.
The next edition of the biggest football tournament in the continent, the African Nations Cup, begins in 15 days in Egypt and will need the football supremo of the continent for a smooth football festival.
FULL TEXT: 5 Electric Cable “Thieves” Finally Arrested
FIFA Speaks On Arrest Of CAF President Ahmad Ahmad
By Own Correspondent- The world football governing body, FIFA, has issued a statement following the arrest of CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.
Ahmad was arrested on Thursday morning over charges of corruption which rose from a contract dispute with Puma.
Read the FIFA statement:
FIFA has taken note of the events concerning Mr Ahmad Ahmad, who is being questioned by the French authorities in relation to allegations related to his mandate while President of CAF.
FIFA is unaware of the details surrounding this investigation and is therefore not in a position to make any comment on it specifically.
FIFA is asking the French authorities for any information that might be relevant to investigations taking place within its Ethics Committee.
As a matter of due process, everyone has the right to the presumption of innocence, but as the FIFA President reiterated yesterday, FIFA is fully committed to eradicating all forms of wrongdoing at any level in football. Anyone found to have committed illicit or illegal acts has no place in football.
FIFA is now clean from the scandals that tarnished its reputation and this same determination should prevail in governing bodies such as confederations.
FIFA will be at the forefront of ensuring that this is enforced by everyone involved in football.
Recovery Requires Responsibility -Mnangagwa
Consumers Welcome Delta’s New Prices, But What Of Other Basic Commodities?
By Own Correspondent- The country’s largest beverages manufacturer, Delta Beverages, has slashed the prices of beer and soft drinks, following the improvement of foreign currency available on the interbank market, reports have claimed.
Some of the beer products include 375mls brown bottle lagers which are now pegged at RTGS $3.00, while the recommended price for a quart is now RTGS $6.00.
Consumers here have hailed the move saying beer was not top priority for the majority as most people had become accustomed to not drinking it.
Said Sandra Moyo:
“Beer is a luxury. Prices should be slashed for sugar, mealie meal and cooking oil. We do not drink beer to survive so there is nothing to celebrate.”
Added Luke Mangoi:
“They have helped us because it was no longer affordable. At least you can drown your sorrows with a beer and go and sleep, something that we have not been doing for the past month.”
Watch Live Suspected Taxi Driver “Killer” Speaks
Full Text From CANVAS: “Non Violence Is A Basic Human Right”
The Center for Applied Non-Violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS) firmly condemns the illegal arrest of seven (7) Zimbabwean civil society activists on their way home from attending a training workshop organized by CANVAS in the Maldives from May 15 to 19, 2019.
All of them have been denied bail so far. Six are remanded in person. The seventh person has serious health issues – she is remanded in a public hospital and denied the right to seek treatment in her preferred private clinic.
Their names are George Makoni, Nyasha Frank Mpahlo, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Stabile Dewa, and Rita Nyampinga.
During the workshop, the State-controlled newspaper, The Herald, published an article that falsely accused participants of plotting to unleash violence in Zimbabwe in a bid to overthrow the Government.
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 the use of small arms”.
The activists could face up to twenty years in prison for these charges. The workshop focused on advocacy and civic engagement capacity building such as Developing Shared Vision of Tomorrow; Civic Engagement; Effective Communications; Protecting Privacy and Security; and Organizational Planning.
For a decade and a half, CANVAS’ mission has been focused on the fact that nonviolence is morally and ethically superior to violence, and more likely to produce constructive outcomes and build strong and stable societies.
The arrests clearly violate provisions of the Zimbabwean Constitution on freedom of assembly and expression and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
Basic universal principles of due process, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and conducting an unbiased investigation before arrest need to be upheld.
As long as the Government continues to violate the fundamental rights the constitution confers to Zimbabweans, it will not be seen by citizens and the international community as democratic or law abiding.
CANVAS calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately and unconditionally release the seven (7) activists and follow the rule of law.
Participation in a workshop with a focus on peacebuilding and nonviolence should never be considered a crime, as the practice of nonviolence and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights.
Taxi Driver “Killer” Further Remanded In Custody
Farai Dziva|Chakanetsa Kambarami, who allegedly murdered a taxi driver in Masvingo has appeared in court.
Kambarami was not asked to plead when he initially appeared in court today.
He allegedly killed taxi driver Josiah Rimayi and dumped his body near Sundowners Lodge.
“You assaulted Josiah Rimayi with clenched fists and you also kicked him all over his body after accusing him of having an affair with your wife, Caroline Banda,” the court heard.
Kambarami was remanded in custody to June 18 2019.
Man Jailed 8yrs For Stabbing 3 Brothers Over Beer
By Talent Gondo- A 23-YEAR-OLD man from Gwanda has been jailed for eight years after he stabbed three siblings and left them severely injured in a fight over beer.
Priviledge Siziba of Ndibe Village in Tshanyaugwe area had a misunderstanding with Forget Gumbi (28), Obvious Gumbi (28) and Prosper Gumbi (23) after they asked him why he was not sharing his beer with them during a drinking spree.
Siziba pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder and two counts of assault when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira, but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and two years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. He will serve an effective six years.
In his defence, Siziba, who was being represented by Mr Bukhosi Ncube of Mlweli Ndlovu and Associates, said the siblings ganged up against him and attacked him and he retaliated in self defence.
“I was drinking beer at a bar with Forget, Obvious and Prosper who are siblings. I left them and went outside to get some fresh air.
“Prosper followed me and accused me of drinking beer alone outside without sharing with them.
“When we got to the bar entrance he started fighting me but I managed to twist his hand and disarmed him of the knife he was carrying.
“Prosper and his brothers closed the door of the bar and they started assaulting me using chairs. I then used the knife that I had recovered to stab one of them who was blocking the door and I fled.
“I acted in self defence after realising that they were going to harm me,” he said.
Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said Siziba and the complainants were drinking beer together at Tshanyaugwe Business Centre in Guyu on November 18 last year at around 8PM.
He said Siziba had a misunderstanding with the trio about why he was not sharing his beer with them.
Mr Dube said Siziba stabbed Forget on the neck, left hand and on the chest with an Okapi knife. He stabbed Prosper several times on his back and stabbed Obvious on the left arm and beneath his left eye.
Mr Dube said the complainants were all taken to hospital for treatment and the matter was reported to the police resulting in Siziba’s arrest.-StateMedia
Malawi Police Fire Tear Gas Into U.S Embassy As Opposition Supporters Protest Election Results
Own Correspondent|Malawi police may have just dragged the country into a major diplomatic row after officers fired tear gas into the US Embassy offices in Lilongwe on Thursday as opposition supporters tried to find refugee at the embassy following a protests over the May 21 Election results.
However, while the Embassy was engulfed with smoke, security officers swiftly evacuated the ambassador Virginia Palmer who is winding up her tour of diplomatic duty in Malawi.
Police fired teargas on opposition party Malawi Congress Party supporters who we regrouping for another electoral protest themed ‘Mutharika Must Fall.’
The security officers wanted to prevent the MCP supporters from a repeat of what they did in their previous march last week when they broke into Capital Hill government offices and told civil servants to leave.
One MCP supporter identified as Saad Muhajila has reportedly been shot by police and is at Kamuzu Central Hospital receiving treatment.
Protesters carried placards reading “we don’t want His Tippex-ellency President Mutharika”, in reference to the correction fluid allegedly used to alter voting sheets.
Most protesters were dressed in the regalia of the MCP, which is challenging the election outcome along with the UTM Party of immediete former vice president Saulos Chilima.
Meanwhile, police arrested newly elected Lilongwe City Centre legislator Alfred Jiya, accusing him of mobilising protestors and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Jiya was bundled in a police car and taken to Kawale Police Station.
MCP deputy campaign director George Zulu said the MCP are demanding Mutharika to step down while the court case seeking nullification of election results progresses.
Zulu said if the system delays to decide on vote recount, then Mutharika would be forced to resign to pave the way for fresh elections or a declaration of Chakwera, who finished second according to results announced by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), as the country’s President.
MEC declared Mutharika winner of the presidential race with 1 940 709 votes or 38.57 percent. The electoral body said Chakwera finished second with 1 781 740 votes, representing 35.41 percent of the vote while Chilima, who debuted on the presidential ballot on a UTM Party ticket after falling out with Mutharika last June, was third with 1 018 369 votes or 20.24 percent.
MCP contends that Mutharika “won a fraudulent election” fraught with irregularities, including alleged stuffing of ballot papers with pre-marked ballots and tempering with election results sheets through tippexing.
Political tensions are intensifying in the country following the disputed elections.
Source Nyasa Times.
Chipinge Okays MOPO
By Talent Gondo- The state media has reported that Chipinge residents have given the thumbs up to the Maintenance of Peace and Order (MOPO) Bill.
On Wednesday, a parliamentary public hearing was held at Gaza Hall in Chipinge on the Bill, which if passed, will replace the infamous Robert Mugabe-era Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
POSA came into force in the year 2000 and has been a bone of contention between the government on one side and opposition political parties and civic organisations on the other, as the law stifled the freedom of association.
Under POSA, it is illegal to hold a gathering without notifying the police, and it is also an offence to move around without identification particulars.-StateMedia
Is This What You Call New Dispensation Mr President?
MNANGAGWA LEAVING TODAY WHO SHOULD TAKE OVER IMMEDIATELY?
17yr Old Rapist Strikes Again, Jailed 7yrs
By Talent Gondo- A 17-YEAR-old boy who is in Form Three at a Gweru school has been sentenced to four years in jail for raping a two-year-old toddler.
The boy, a repeat offender will, however, serve a total of seven years after Gweru Regional magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, added three more years which were suspended in 2015 when he was convicted of a similar charge of rape.
In passing sentence, Mrs Msipa said as a repeat offender, the teenage boy deserved a custodial sentence which would act as a deterrent to would be offenders.
“This is not your first time appearing before the court facing a similar charge. In 2015 you committed a similar offence and you were sentenced to a three year suspended sentence on condition you do not commit a similar offence within five years. That time frame hasn’t lapsed and you have committed another similar offence,” she said.RELATED ARTICLES
“There is a difference in age of 15 years between you and the complainant and you were supposed to protect the complainant, therefore a custodial sentence will serve justice to this case.”
It was the State case that on April 21 at around 3PM, the complainant was playing with the accused’s siblings at their house.
The accused called the complainant into his room and raped her.
The matter came to light when the complainant indicated to her mother that she was feeling pain on her private parts as she was being bathed.
The court heard that the mother examined her and noticed some bruises on her private parts. The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused.
Mr Talent Tadenyika appeared for the State.-StateMedia
FULL TEXT: Abduction And Torture Of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union Teachers’ Union Of Zimbabwe President
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is shocked by reports of the abduction of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, (ARTUZ) President, Obert Masaraure at his home last night.
Reports indicate that he was abducted from his home by seven masked heavily armed men who tortured him and dumped him.
The abduction of Masararure follows reports by ARTUZ that it has recorded twelve cases of members of the security forces interrogating and harassing their members ahead of the 3 June 2019 job action.
The ZCTU strongly condemns this barbaric act that is meant to instill fear in trade unionists and the general public. What is more disheartening is that this happens just hours after President Emmerson Mnangagwa had commissioned the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF) that brings Government, Business and Trade Unions together to try to solve the country’s socio-economic problems. Such behavior, which earns Zimbabwe a pariah state tag, renders useless the effectiveness of the TNF.
The abduction of Masaraure comes at a time when the NAZI-style disappearance of activist, Itai Dzamara is still fresh in our minds. We demand a thorough investigation of the latest abduction and those found to have done it punished.
At the same time, the ZCTU notes with concern and alarm the continued clamp down and arbitrary arrest of civic leaders and opposition Members of Parliament in the aftermath of the14-16 January 2019 stayaway called by labour to protest escalating prices.
Most of those arrested are facing charges of plotting to overthrow the government. The ZCTU is worried that this ‘New Dispensation” has become more dangerous than the Robert Mugabe regime as well as the notorious racist Rhodesian government of Ian Smith.
The ZCTU demands an environment conducive for freedom of association and assembly where every Zimbabwean can discharge his or her duties without fear of being arrested, tortured or abducted.
Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Harassment Of Civic Society Leaders Totally Unacceptable -Biti
Why Zanu PF Does Not Want Sanctions To Go
Linda Masarira Is The Second Mbuya Nehanda: LEAD Secretary General
WATCH: Cars Made In Africa And Yet We Continue Buying From Europe, Asia
Once We Dwell On Discrediting First Lady, We Will Lose Focus -Mliswa
Mnangagwa Has 2 Thirds Majority So Why Does He Demand Dialogue From Chamisa, A Minority?- COMMENT
Abducted And Tortured Union Leader Vows To Fight On
Be Wary Of Naysayers- Obert Gutu
Its A Battle Of Ncube’s In Lupane East As Welshman, Mthuli Are Tipped To Fill Vacant Seat
Jane Mlambo| Following the proclamation of the 3rd of August 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the date for the Lupane East by-election, unconfirmed reports from both Zanu PF and opposition MDC have it that two Professors Mthuli Ncube and Welshman Ncube will square off to fill the post left vacant following the death of Sithembile Gumbo in April this year.
Professor Mthuli Ncube joined government as one of the technocrats brought by Mnangagwa and had not been involved in politics raising questions if Zanu PF rules will have to be bent to accommodate him to contest without serving the in the revolutionary party.
On the other hand, Professor Welshman Ncube has been actively involved in the politics of Zimbabwe and is a founder member of the opposition MDC which he left in 2005 following disagreements with the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
He returned back to the main MDC first as part of the MDC Alliance before his readmission and re-appointment as the Vice President.
Should both Ncube’s contest in the by-election, it would be an interesting by-election whose stakes would be high for Zimbabwean politics.
More to follow…
State Propaganda Nauseating -Coltart
US Insists Political Reforms Will Unlock Economic Bailout?
Africa Union Suspends Sudan Over Deadly Attacks, Suspension To Remain Until Military Hands Over Govt To Povo
The African Union Peace and Security Council has with immediate effect suspended the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a Civilian-led Transitional Authority, as the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis. –
This is a developing story refresh this page for the updates
Rahman Gumbo In Pain
Farai Dziva|
Warriors stand-in coach Rahman Gumbo is a disappointed man following the defeat to Zambia in the Cosafa Cup semi-finals as they wanted to retain the cup for the third consecutive time.
Zimbabwe made eight changes to the team that beat Comoros in the quarterfinals, with only Thabani Kamusoko, Tendayi Darikwa and Alec Mudimu keeping their places in the starting XI.
The Warriors, however, failed to find the target in regulation with the man of the match, Elvis Chipezeze saving a penalty in the first half in his debut for the Warriors.
“We brought our full strength squad here because we had two objectives, one to retain the cup and the other to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Gumbo.
“In this game, we made a lot of changes because we want to try new combinations as we have focus also on the Africa Cup of Nations. It’s sad that we failed to win this one when we really wanted to and congratulations to Zambia.
“Matches between Zimbabwe and Zambia have never been easy, we dominated them in the past and they really wanted revenge.”
Zimbabwe dominated position but had a few chances to crack at goal as Zambia sat back and soaked the pressure for the better part of the game, waiting to catch their opponents on counter attacks.
In the shootout, Khama Billiat and Admiral Muskwe failed to convert for the Warriors while Tendayi Darikwa.
Agony For Soccer Lovers As PSL Raises Gate Charges
Farai Dziva|The Premier Soccer League has confirmed new gate charges for all matches -much to the agony of soccer fans.
The League raised the fees to $10 for the cheapest ticket while the VIP is now going for $20 and the VVIP for $50.
The new charges will take effect from Match-day 11 scheduled for thid weekend.
Here is a statement by the PSL:
The Premier Soccer League would like to advise all stakeholders and football fans that gate charges for Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches have been reviewed upwards with immediate effect.
The new gate charges are as follows:
Rest of Ground: RTGS$10
VIP: RTGS$20
VVIP: RTGS$50
Clubs that wish to maintain the old prices are free to do so. We appeal to our fans to come in their numbers and support their teams.
LIVE: Mnangagwa’s Polad Youths Order Chamisa To Dialogue ED
Polad (an acronym for Political Actors Dialogue) is a voluntary platform for national dialogue launched by ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa just a few days after the Ides of May 2019.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Polad was launched at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Friday, May 17, 2019. The “political actors” are mainly political parties and candidates who participated in the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections, wherein the biometric voter register (BVR) was used for the first time in Zimbabwe. In this Political Actors Dialogue, it may be presumed that the stage is not set for a drama where the phrase “political actors” denotes dramatis personae.
Watch Live POLAD Youth Wing News Conference
WATCH LIVE: Who Are These Youths And Who Sent Them?
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Prodigal Son Mukamba Returns To Dynamos
Farai Dziva| Enigmatic yet talented midfielder
Denver Mukamba is set to return to Dynamos after a successful drug rehabilitation process.
Football’s bad boy Mukamba – is expected to return to Dynamos during the mid-season transfer window after completing the rehabilitation programme which helped him overcome his hard drug addiction.
“Mukamba is set to rejoin Dynamos during the mid season transfer window,” a Dynamos official said.
Mliswa Says Auxillia Mnangagwa Is A Hardworking Woman Who Deserves Respect
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa has said Zimbabweans should respect Auxillia Mnangagwa as she is a hardworking person.
” Tolerance is about being all inclusive and not being selective. “When in Rome, do as the Romans”.
The FL is a hardworking woman who goes about her charitable work with great gusto and she’s spot on to observe different affiliations.”
“Once we dwell on discrediting the First Lady we’re really losing focus. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with her wearing the uniform of a place she’s attending in respect and fellowship.
Everyone’s aware that the family members go to the Methodist Church , if anyone,the complaints should come from them,” argued Mliswa.
Zimbabwean Journalist Shot Dead In SA
Farai Dziva| A Zimbabwean journalist based in South Africa, Mike Chimombe, was reportedly shot dead in Cape Town on Sunday by robbers who also took away his vehicle.
The late 37-year-old journalist was the first son of seasoned journalist Emilia Zindi.
Zindi said:
“I am told, on Sunday around 6pm he drove home and parked by the gate to open it. As he went back to his car, three guys had jumped into the vehicle.
One of them was already on the steering wheel. As he tried to wrestle them out, one shot him before driving off.
He had earlier told me he wanted to finish the instalment for his car in August and then come home permanently. It was so near, yet so far.
We are working on repatriating his body. We are not sure of the burial dates yet, but we need R20 000 to get his body to Beitbridge from where our funeral house will take over.”
GMAZ Deploys Price “Spies”, Will This Work?
By Own Correspondent| The Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has launched a price monitoring exercise to ensure retailers sell grain products like mealie meal, rice and flour at the agreed prices.
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and GMAZ in March this year agreed on the reasonable pricing of mealie-meal, rice, flour, and salt. Teams of price monitoring officers have since been deployed countrywide to check on compliance.
GMAZ said those found overcharging, risk withdrawal of grain product supplies. This comes at a time prices of commodities were unjustifiably rising to levels beyond the reach of many.
Shut Up, MDC Youths Tell Zanu PF Official
Farai Dziva| A member the MDC Youth Assembly has said the party is prepared to defend democratic principles.
This follows threats by Zanu PF stop protests.
Zanu PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke last week indicated that preparations were being made to “defend the ruling party and Emmerson Mnangagwa against MDC’s planned demonstrations.”
MDC Youth Assembly spokesperson Steven Chuma said:”Matuke must shut up. He must read the Constitution first before spewing out dross bent on threatening citizens. He is no one, I repeat no one in the eyes of the Zimbabwean law and the broader politics.
He cannot stop people from demonstrating.”
Chamisa Condemns Harassment Of Human Rights Defenders
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has roundly condemned the harassment of human rights activists and members of the opposition party by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
In a statement Chamisa said:
“The recent arrest and detention of 7 activists upon increasing cases of crackdown against opposition,labour and civil society activists and progressives confirm that NOTHING IS NEW in Zimbabwe.
ED must stop copying and adopting the same old tactics used by tyrants to repress,harass, embarrass and terrorize citizens.”
Leave Masaraure Alone- MDC Tells Mnangagwa
Farai Dziva|The country’s biggest opposition party, MDC has condemned the arrest and harassment of ARTUZ leader Obert Masaraure.
See the MDC statement:
MDC condemns in the strongest terms the abduction and brutalising of ARTUZ leader,Obert Masaraure by suspected state security operatives.
A State which perpetrates violence on men and women who stayed behind to serve the education system even when most teachers were leaving the country is shameless and ungrateful.
All they demand and rightfully so, is a living wage indexed in US dollars, better working conditions, reasonable teacher-student ratio and suitable facilities for the learners.
That is not criminal.
Masaraure has committed no crime, he is a patriot who is demanding better public delivery of education services.
It is quiet clear that he is being targeted for his dissenting views.
In January, he was thrown in the supermax state penitentiary with robbers and rapists.
Now armed bandits are assigned to go to his house petrifying his family, torturing him, striping him naked and leaving him for dead.
The dark days are still with us.
Even signs of Goodwill from the EU are being washed down the drain by reckless and ruthless behavior.
The MDC demands an end to the terrorising of CSO and Union leaders.
Those in prison must be given back their freedom unconditionally and those who attacked Masaraure must be brought to Justice.
MDC: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
“Outlawing Of Demos Is Declaration Of War On Citizens”
In a display of pure arrogance of incumbency the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration yesterday continued on its deleterious path by banning the citizens’ right to register their discontentment through peaceful demonstrations.
The ill-informed decision is a clear testimony that this quasi-military ensemble purporting to be a government of the people is itching for an adversarial relationship with the law abiding and peace loving citizenry.
Simply put the criminalization of the only remaining mass communication channel is a clear declaration of war on citizens by this trigger happy junta regime.
For a government that has already shut airwaves by shrinking media space, banning the people’s only expression channel ,demonstrations is a signpost that ED is not prepared to listen to the voice of people which he ironically referred to as a voice of God.
When the Waterloo is nigh for any dictatorship, banning of the demonstrations becomes the signal especially in our case.
History has a tendency of repeating itself and oftentimes times giving signal of the omens that lie ahead.
When Ian Smith unilaterally declared independence in 1965, he went on to strew a stringent of repressive laws in a bid to silence the voice of the people.
As we all know, what followed was a head on collision with the masses and a new dawn in 1980.
More recently in September 2016, Robert Mugabe again unilaterally subverted the constitution by outlawing demonstrations.
In response people simply turned streets into their homes and in nothing less than a year Mugabe became history in 2017.
Then enter the voice of the people is the voice of God proponent!
This week he decided to set himself on the collision course with the masses groaning under the yoke astronomical prices and cost of living.
The omens are there for all to see! No system has declared war on the people and emerged winners!
This is a time bomb Mr President!
As the MDC Youth Assembly we condemn this fascist move by the government to outlaw peaceful demonstrations.
The right to demonstrate and freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution and as such we will not allow the regime to panel beat it for their own selfish ends.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Be 2nd Wives And Avoid Being Single Mothers, Female MP Advises Women – VIDEO
Family Of Slain Mutare Man Engage Lawyers To Force Post-Mortem
HIGH Court Judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi will on Thursday 06 June
2019 hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a
Mutare man seeking an order to compel Zimbabwean authorities to
conduct a post-mortem examination on the body of their deceased
relative who was shot dead by a former police officer, so as to
determine the cause of his death.
Justice Mathonsi will hear the urgent chamber application at 2:30 PM
after the Masendeke family represented by Richard Masendeke, an uncle
to the late Terence Masendeke filed an urgent chamber application on
Monday 3 June 2019 seeking an order compelling the state to urgently
carry out a post-mortem within 48 hours of the granting of the court
order and in the alternative for an independent forensic pathologist
to be granted authority to urgently carry out a post-mortem on the
body of Terence, a 24 year-old man, who was shot dead on 15 May 2019
by Dulula Chinamano, a retired police officer, who now works as a
security guard in Chiadzwa, Manicaland province.
In the application filed by Fiona Iliff of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, the Masendeke family stated that they had been denied access
to Terrence’s body and were advised that the post-mortem cannot be
conducted until at least on 25 June 2019 due to the unavailability of
pathologists at Mutare General Hospital.
The Masendeke family has cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
Minister Cain Mathema, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General
Godwin Matanga, Member In Charge of ZRP Marange Police Station,
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care and
Clinical Director at Mutare General Hospital as respondents.
Iliff argued that Terence’s body is decomposing such that a
post-mortem will soon become futile as the cause of death will become
difficult to determine.
Iliff said the Masendeke family including Terence’s wife are mourning
for the loss of their family member and are eager to bury him and
ensure that justice is done.
In addition, Iliff charged that the Masendeke family is currently
incurring huge expenses in providing for relatives and family members
who wish to bury their relative and return to their residences hence
the post-mortem needs to be carried out urgently.
Mai Titi, Madam Boss Make Peace
Jane Mlambo| Top comediennes Madam Boss and Mai Titi who have been engaged in a bitter social media war calling each other names have finally made peace in what has been received with mixed feelings.
Posting on Facebook, Madam Boss said;
Dear Felistas Edward : I acknowledge the pain you were in and am glad you took responsibility .To err is human to forgive is Divine.We had our fair share of flaws and unfortunately often are times that sisterhood took away its hit.i truly accept your apology . I pray for the right vibes and better days to come.Peace is better than war.
On the other hand, Mai Titi posted a skit they did together with the message below;
N behold there was peace. Kutoshaya hope hangu. My heart feels lighter. Thank you God for allowing such a beautiful thing to happen before something terrible was going to happen. Forgiveness is the way to go because life is too short. I am that hard nut to crack but I must say I been cracked. Love you still Madam boss.
The two have not been seeing eye to eye over a litany of issues including jealousy as Mai Titi often dismissed Madam Boss for using ‘makumbo’ to gain fame and money.
Mthuli Ncube, Professor Welshman Ncube Square Off In Lupane East By-Election?
Jane Mlambo| Following the proclamation of the 3rd of August 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the date for the Lupane East by-election, unconfirmed reports from both Zanu PF and opposition MDC have it that two Professors Mthuli Ncube and Welshman Ncube will square off to fill the post left vacant following the death of Sithembile Gumbo in April this year.
Professor Mthuli Ncube joined government as one of the technocrats brought by Mnangagwa and had not been involved in politics raising questions if Zanu PF rules will have to be bent to accommodate him to contest without serving the in the revolutionary party.
On the other hand, Professor Welshman Ncube has been actively involved in the politics of Zimbabwe and is a founder member of the opposition MDC which he left in 2005 following disagreements with the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
He returned back to the main MDC first as part of the MDC Alliance before his readmission and re-appointment as the Vice President.
Should both Ncube’s contest in the by-election, it would be an interesting by-election whose stakes would be high for Zimbabwean politics.
More to follow…
Letitia Gaga re-elected ICSAZ President
Letitia Gaga, the Baines Avenue Clinic finance and administration director, has been re-elected for a second term as president of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe.
She was re-elected at the institute’s annual general meeting at its headquarters, Dzidzo House, in Harare on May 22. Dr Sipithi Nkomo and Mrs Gladys Mudyahoto were elected vice-presidents.
Mrs Gaga, who was first elected president in May last year, is a seasoned financial expert with more than 20 years’ experience in both public and private sector finance. Her core areas of expertise include organisational development, strategic management, investment promotion, operations management and employee relations.
She chairs the Baines Avenue Clinic’s board of trustees. She is currently spearheading the clinic’s establishment of a Paediatrics Hospital.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe and a past chairperson of the institute’s Harare Branch, Mrs Gaga is a registered public accountant.
She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Zimbabwe and a Diploma in Transformational Leadership and Leadership for Women from the Success Motivation Institute.
She is a member of the Board of the Private Hospitals’ Association of Zimbabwe and chairperson of the Conference Committee of Private Hospitals.
Dr Nkomo, who is retired, was, before his retirement, People’s Own Savings Bank risk manager and compliance officer. He is also a former distribution director for Cairns Foods.
A Fellow of the institute, he holds an MBA degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Management from the Chinhoyi University of Technology.
Mrs Mudyahoto, who is also a Fellow of the institute, is executive director for finance and administration at the Scientific and Industrial Research Centre (SIRDC).
She holds an MBA degree from the University of Zimbabwe. She is chairperson of the MARSH Umbrella Fund Board of Trustees and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA). –
Will VP Chiwenga Take Over Presidency?
ABDUCTION OF ARTUZ LEADER: Is Someone Sabotaging Zim’s Re-Engagement Efforts Or Its The New Govt Strategy?
“Teachers’ Leader Stripped Naked, Assaulted”
Report by ARTUZ| The president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) was reportedly abducted from his Waterfalls home by unknown assailants who took him, stripped him naked and assaulted him for several hours.
The union, which called for a 3-day strike starting on Monday this week, said in a statement:
ARTUZ president abducted from his Waterfalls home in view of his wife and children. They took all cell phones 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.
ARTUZ condemns this shocking violation of the rights of our President and the continued assault against our union in response to our legal and peaceful actions to address legitimate labour issues. We call on the State, as the Employer, to immediately stop the persecution.
Problems Will Disappear If We Talk” Says Mnangagwa – Nonsense, Never Stopped You Rigging Elections
By Patrick Guramatunhu | When President Mnangagwa took over the reins of power from Robert Mugabe 18 months ago, he was cocksure he was going to revive Zimbabwe’s comatose economy.
He was cocksure his “Zimbabwe is open for business!” was going to attract a flood of investors and lenders.
Today, 18 months since the clarion call it is clear that the flood of new investments has failed to materialise, for whatever reasons. Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime rigged last year’s elections and now realise they cannot rig economic recovery too.
With unemployment rate a nauseating 90%, the country’s basic services such as supply of water and health care all but collapsed, 3/4 of the population now living on US$30 or less per month, etc.; the economic situation is serious. It is socially, politically and morally unsustainable. Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF junta know they MUST do something to revive the economy but, more pointedly, they know not what to do other than step up their use of violence to silence protest against the worsening economic situation.
“In the Second Republic, let us shun the culture of militancy, disharmony and demonstrations. We must develop a greater understanding of each other’s perspectives,” said Mnangagwa after launching the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF).
The regime has already passed a law making street protests illegal until all channels of wage negotiations have been exhausted. No doubt the regime will see to it that the negotiations are a long drawn out process taking months if not years!
The regime is banning all street protests such as the 1st August 2018 to protest the rigged elections and the January 2019 to protest the fuel price increases. As far as the regime is concerned all protests are a confrontation born out of failure to hold peaceful dialogue.
“Like one writer says, ‘Most problems would disappear if people talk to each other more, instead of talking about each other. Differing positions must be permissible within our country, however, these must never divide us or result in conflict,” continued Mnangagwa.
“Violence must never be used as a tool to gain a temporary advantage, at the expense of the people we must serve and protect.
“The old, retrogressive culture will only serve to widen our fissures and exacerbate our socio-economic challenges, and further delay the prosperity that our country so much needs and our people deserve.”
How long have the people of Zimbabwe called for the implementation of the democratic reforms, the pre-requisite for holding of free, fair and credible elections and you, Mr Mnangagwa, has dismissed the calls with contempt.
“Zanu PF ichatonga! Igotonga! Imi muchingohukura! Nokuhukura!” (Zanu PF will rule! And rule! Whilst you (calling for reform) bark! And bark!) Mnangagwa has boasted on countless occasions.
Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year’s elections. The regime failed to release something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake.
When some people dared to vent their anger and frustration at yet another rigged elections, the regime unleashed soldiers with orders to shoot to kill. You did the same when the people dared to protest the fuel increase.
Mr President, you keep wittering about the need to talk; what is there to talk about when present the people with consequences of the fait accompli of your incompetent, corrupt and tyrannical oppression. All the people can do is cry but even that you do not want them to do – you want them to “talk”!
Mnangagwa is behaving like the bad wolf accusing the sheep, drinking down stream, of mudding his drinking water. Mnangagwa knows that the worsening economic meltdown is causing heart-breaking human suffering and many are dying of poverty related diseases and hunger, he is just looking for an excuse to ruthless silence all those who dare voice their suffering.
Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the elections to deny the people a meaningful say in the governance of the country and now he is seeking to deny them the right to peaceful demonstration to demand that the regime steps down. He rigged the election but has failed to rig economic recovery and is now seeking to deny the people the voice to protest their economic suffering and deaths.
Abducted MDC Activists’ Whereabouts Still Unknown
TWO MDC activists were reportedly abducted by suspected State security agents in Gokwe early Tuesday morning and their whereabouts were still unknown last night.
MDC Midlands provincial spokesperson Takavafira Zhou confirmed the development and identified the missing activists as Prince Paradza and Edify Vushoma from Gokwe Central.
A missing persons report was made at Gokwe Police Station.
Sources told Southern Eye that last weekend, the two had an altercation with individuals suspected to be State operatives who accused them of pulling down President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s campaign poster during last year’s elections. The poster was pasted at Gokwe centre bus terminus.
“During the altercation by their tormentors, the two MDC activists were given four hours to either replace the poster or disappear. We strongly believe that the threat has been put into action,” said one source.
Zhou also concurred with the source.
“The duo was falsely accused of removing Mnangagwa’s poster and was given a four-hour ultimatum. However, they politely indicated that there were not the ones who had pulled it down and so they could not replace it,” he said.
The opposition spokesperson highlighted that the poster in question had, in fact, been pulled down by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officers ahead of the 2018 elections since it was in the vicinity of a polling station.
“As a legitimate party that has chosen to change government through the ballot box, MDC is perturbed by the abduction and harassment of its members who are not in any way a security threat … our activists must be immediately released from unlawful detention and harassment,” said Zhou.
He also pointed out that human rights violations should be avoided at a time the government was trying to go back into the community of nations and emerge from economic doldrums.
“Zimbabwe, which is at crossroads at this critical juncture, does not need such unpalatable violations of rights of innocent citizens, but respect of the dignity and inalienable rights of law-abiding citizens. We appeal to the powers-that-be to reign in renegades masquerading as Central Intelligence Officers,” Zhou said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get a briefing on the matter.
“I am not aware of the case, can you talk to Inspector Joel Goko the spokesperson for Midlands, he is on the ground perhaps he can shed more light,” he said.
However, Goko was unavailable for comment.
-Newsday
ZRP Cop Robbed Of AK Rifle
A police officer stationed at Lion’s Den tollgate outside Chinhoyi was last week robbed of her AK-47 assault rifle while on duty, NewsDay has learnt.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident and said police were hunting for the suspected robber.
“Police are hunting for the culprit who robbed our officer of her gun at Lion’s Den tollgate last week. That’s all I can say for now concerning the issue. It is not unusual as people would want to believe,” he said
Mabgweazara said this was the second time an officer had been dispossessed of a gun in the province.
“This is not the first time an officer on duty had the gun forcibly taken away, as this happened in Norton, but we managed to apprehend the culprits and recovered our FN rifle,” he said.
Such robberies are happening at the backdrop of increasing armed robbery cases in the country. – Newsday
Poverty Stricken Zanu PF Supporters Threaten To Vote For Chamisa
ZANU PF supporters in parts of Masvingo province have threatened a protest vote in the 2023 election over the recently completed command livestock programme, which they claim was skewed in favour of party bigwigs and traditional leaders.
The command livestock programme was launched last year by the Lands ministry to help resuscitate the beef industry.
Party supporters, who spoke to Southern Eye on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said only those in positions of power got beasts, adding that disgruntled members were now going to vote for the opposition MDC in the next election.
“As youths and women who are driving the party at the grassroots we feel we are being used by these big guys, because every time a new programme is introduced they are the first to benefit. Enough is enough. We have resolved to give back all the constituencies to MDC like what happened in 2008,” a disgruntled Zanu PF activist said.
“We are starting to realise that most big guns are into this not because they love the party or the sitting President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), but because they just want to line their pockets and benefit from party programmes.
If this corruption is not investigated and action is taken to avert this decay they will get the shock of their lives come 2023. We have so far decided to vote the opposition.”
A protest vote, Bhora musango, rocked Zanu PF in the 2008 elections when party members dumped their presidential candidate, Robert Mugabe and voted for then MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, resulting in an embarrassing loss for the ruling party.
However, the results of the elections were withheld for six-long weeks by the stunned Zanu PF regime, amid widespread allegations of ballot tampering and fraud.
A run-off then ensued, with Zanu PF militia engaged in an orgy of violence which saw hundreds of MDC supporters killed, forcing Tsvangirai to withdraw from the race and Mugabe declared himself winner after a widely-condemned one-man race.
Some of the notable figures who allegedly benefitted from the command live stock programme in Bikita are traditional leaders, Zanu PF provincial and district leaders. The traditional leadership who include Lazarus Mazungunye, the current Chief Mazungunye, Mudhe Phillip, the reigning Chief Marozva, and Clemence Munyika the sitting headman Mpakwa, who all got three beasts each.
Ignatius Murindi, the Masvingo provincial war veterans chairperson got five beasts, businessman Busai Mutema got his share; losing parliamentary candidate, Ignatius Matenga (five), war veterans district chair Simon Masosonere, ward 24 councillor Chipo Munyoro and Joseph Chigiya, a school head, also benefited.
Murindi, however, blasted some traditional leaders describing them as greedy, but was quick to defend the distribution, saying most of the beneficiaries owned farms with vast grazing lands.
“This is a government programme which is meant to benefit a lot of people. I don’t see anything amiss with the allocation because these people can quickly breed the cattle and pass them on to other beneficiaries because they have the capacity unlike those complaining,” he said.
“The government is in dire need of foreign currency, so we can export the beef and ease some of the problems that the country is currently facing. Unfortunately, there are some traditional leaders who feel they should benefit from every government programme. That is greediness because they should let their subjects benefit first.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said he could not comment on the issue and referred questions to the Lands ministry.
“I cannot comment on the matter at the moment. On the issue of the beef breeding programme, why don’t you ask the minister responsible?” he said
However, efforts to get comment from Lands minister Perrance Shiri were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.
-Newsday
Furore Over Nick Mangwana’s Statement, “Zimbabwe Is Not The Only Country Experiencing Power Cuts”
We publish below reactions to Information ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana’ s statements that Zimbabwe is not the only country experiencing power cuts.
Said:
Hon Learnmore K Magorimbo: What worries me much about this worsening situation in our country examplary this issue of power shortage is very artificial and it stipulates the how much this Monster of Transport and Energy and he is not the only corrupt person in the government.
We are all using pre paid power from fuel to electricity how then does the government run out of resources and be incapacitated to pay for the electricity and fuel that they import is it sunctions or it is corruption?
They are telling us that we should bicycles because they have failed to meet fuel demands on the market what about electricity, water, etc???
Hospitals without medicines are just halls, courts without justice, schools without education, banks without money and money without value are as a result of illegitimacy and lack of common sense by the Ministers. We no longer trust these wolves to make decisions and spend our tax money for more than 3 months.
Tanya Sawadye: Back to empty incompatible comparisons??♀️ what does power cuts in mars or Jupiter have anything to do with Zimbabwe? You won’t send yr kids to school or feed them Cz your neighbor isn’t? WHO is experiencing 16hrs of no power? WHY are they experiencing the cuts? WHAT have they and are they doing about it? WHEN do they plan to restore them? HOW long and frequent are the power cuts? Etc answer those questions side by side and see if you are saying nonsense.
Lita Amuna: Handisiri ini ndiri ndega ndiri Kuba, or kuponda or ndarepa vamwe ard doing it. What a lame excuse from a gvt official, really Nick you can give such fucked statement yet you know this problem is largely caused by corruption. How on earth you pay huge sum of mo ey tho this fat dude chivhayp and no job do e plus he is a convict.
ZANU PF Supporters Threaten “Bhora Musango” Because Of Command Livestock Corruption
Newsday|PF supporters in parts of Masvingo province have threatened a protest vote in the 2023 election over the recently completed command livestock programme, which they claim was skewed in favour of party bigwigs and traditional leaders.
The command livestock programme was launched last year by the Lands ministry to help resuscitate the beef industry.
Party supporters, who spoke to Southern Eye on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation said only those in positions of power got beasts, adding that disgruntled members were now going to vote for the opposition MDC in the next election.
“As youths and women who are driving the party at the grassroots we feel we are being used by these big guys, because every time a new programme is introduced they are the first to benefit. Enough is enough. We have resolved to give back all the constituencies to MDC like what happened in 2008,” a disgruntled Zanu PF activist said.
“We are starting to realise that most big guns are into this not because they love the party or the sitting President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), but because they just want to line their pockets and benefit from party programmes.
If this corruption is not investigated and action is taken to avert this decay they will get the shock of their lives come 2023. We have so far decided to vote the opposition.”
A protest vote, Bhora musango, rocked Zanu PF in the 2008 elections when party members dumped their presidential candidate, Robert Mugabe and voted for then MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, resulting in an embarrassing loss for the ruling party.
However, the results of the elections were withheld for six-long weeks by the stunned Zanu PF regime, amid widespread allegations of ballot tampering and fraud.
A run-off then ensued, with Zanu PF militia engaged in an orgy of violence which saw hundreds of MDC supporters killed, forcing Tsvangirai to withdraw from the race and Mugabe declared himself winner after a widely-condemned one-man race.
Some of the notable figures who allegedly benefitted from the command live stock programme in Bikita are traditional leaders, Zanu PF provincial and district leaders. The traditional leadership who include Lazarus Mazungunye, the current Chief Mazungunye, Mudhe Phillip, the reigning Chief Marozva, and Clemence Munyika the sitting headman Mpakwa, who all got three beasts each.
Ignatius Murindi, the Masvingo provincial war veterans chairperson got five beasts, businessman Busai Mutema got his share; losing parliamentary candidate, Ignatius Matenga (five), war veterans district chair Simon Masosonere, ward 24 councillor Chipo Munyoro and Joseph Chigiya, a school head, also benefited.
Murindi, however, blasted some traditional leaders describing them as greedy, but was quick to defend the distribution, saying most of the beneficiaries owned farms with vast grazing lands.
“This is a government programme which is meant to benefit a lot of people. I don’t see anything amiss with the allocation because these people can quickly breed the cattle and pass them on to other beneficiaries because they have the capacity unlike those complaining,” he said.
“The government is in dire need of foreign currency, so we can export the beef and ease some of the problems that the country is currently facing. Unfortunately, there are some traditional leaders who feel they should benefit from every government programme. That is greediness because they should let their subjects benefit first.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said he could not comment on the issue and referred questions to the Lands ministry.
“I cannot comment on the matter at the moment. On the issue of the beef breeding programme, why don’t you ask the minister responsible?” he said
However, efforts to get comment from Lands minister Perrance Shiri were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Chamisa Savages Mnangagwa’s ‘Banana Republic’
Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has denounced the abduction and torture of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure by suspected state security agents last night.
Masaraure was abducted at his house last night, tortured and dumped in the early morning as his union prepares for another teacher stayaway to force government to pay them in United States dollars.
Posting on Twitter this morning, Chamisa said the political situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated accusing Mnangagwa of turning the country into a pariah state and banana republic.
“Civil society leader Obert Masaraure abducted, tortured & dumped the usual way in Zim.7 other civil society activists in jail on trumped up charges.Political situation deteriorates.Zim turned into a pariah state and banana republic,” said Chamisa.
Zimbabwe ShutDown Documentary Profiling January Protests
“End The Terror To CSOs And Union Leaders” Chamisa Tells Mnangagwa
The MDC condemns in the strongest terms the abduction and brutalising of ARTUZ leader,Obert Masaraure by suspected state security operatives.
A State which perpetrates violence on men and women who stayed behind to serve the education system even when most teachers were leaving the country is shameless and ungrateful.
All they demand and rightfully so, is a living wage indexed in US dollars, better working conditions, reasonable teacher-student ratio and suitable facilities for the learners.
That is not criminal.
Masaraure has committed no crime, he is a patriot who is demanding better public delivery of education services.
It is quiet clear that he is being targeted for his dissenting views.
In January, he was thrown in the supermax state penitentiary with robbers and rapists.
Now armed bandits are sent to his house petrifying his family, torturing him, striping him naked and leaving him for dead.
The dark days are still with us.
Even signs of Goodwill from the EU are being washed down the drain by reckless and ruthless behavior.
The MDC demands an end to the terrorising of CSO and Union leaders.
Those in prison must be given back their freedom unconditionally and those who attacked Masaraure must be brought to Justice.
MDC: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
Two MDC Activists Abducted By Suspected State Agents
By Own Correspondent- The MDC has said that its two members from Gokwe were abducted by suspected State security agents on Tuesday morning.
MDC Midlands provincial spokesperson Takavafira Zhou said that their whereabouts were still unknown last night.
The missing activists are Prince Paradza and Edify Vushoma from Gokwe Central. A missing persons report was made at Gokwe Police Station. Witnesses told Southern Eye that the duo had an altercation with individuals suspected to be State operatives who accused them of pulling down President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s campaign poster during last year’s elections. The source said:
During the altercation by their tormentors, the two MDC activists were given four hours to either replace the poster or disappear. We strongly believe that the threat has been put into action.
Zhou also concurred with the source said:
The duo was falsely accused of removing Mnangagwa’s poster and was given a four-hour ultimatum. However, they politely indicated that there were not the ones who had pulled it down and so they could not replace it.
He added that the poster in question had, in fact, been pulled down by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officers ahead of the 2018 elections since it was in the vicinity of a polling station. He also said that the MDC was disturbed by the abduction and demanded the immediate release of the duo.
Football Fans To Pay More To Drown Their Sorrows As Price Doubling Spree Continues
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League has increased gate charges by 100 percent, with the cheapest ticket for the rest of the ground now costing $10.
The new gate charges are with effect from this weekend’s games. PSL clubs were notified on Tuesday about the gate charges.
“This serves to advise that gate charges for Premier Soccer League matches have been reviewed with immediate effect. The new gate charges are as follows: Rest of Ground: RTGS$10, VIP: RTGS$20, VVIP: RTGS$50.
“Clubs that wish to maintain the old prices are advised to inform the PSL by Friday, 7 June 2019 to enable proper allocation of match tickets,” wrote the PSL to clubs.
The new charges are meant to cushion clubs that are faced with steep match day related costs, with camping budgets said to have skyrocketed from $4 000 to $14 000.
Yesterday state media reported that Bulawayo giants Highlanders had moved their camping base for home games, with the new accommodation base reportedly taking in five players per room.
Even corporate sponsored clubs like Chicken Inn are failing to cope up with escalating costs, resorting to camping for a single night instead of two nights when playing away.
Club officials that chose to remain anonymous said they had to review their budgets to survive.
“To be honest we no longer afford camping where we used to. It’s also difficult to plan now because service providers are saying we have to pay on the day we’re coming for camp and can’t give us the quotation in advance. Locally, some of the service providers do agree to a deal where we bring our own food, but when you are away they don’t want that kind of environment,” said one club official.
Another club official said they are faced with a dilemma of re-engaging their sponsor to revisit the accommodation issue.
“Look, we agreed with a sponsor say in December that they will pay say $2 000 for camp and now it’s difficult to go back and say things have changed. We understand the economic challenges sponsors are also facing hence we are trying to find how best to address the issue.
“What we are grateful for is that the league has raised charges which we hope will cushion clubs but service providers like Zifa, SRC, local authorities and the police among others, will still take a huge chunk,” said an official.
Picture- ED Vs Economy
Gogo Collapses And Dies After Being Evicted From Resettlement Home
A 60-YEAR-OLD woman reportedly collapsed and died after she received news from the Bulilima district administrator’s office that she was being evicted from her illegal settlement at Sibantubanye.
The elderly woman, whose name could not be immediately verified, collapsed and died on Monday afternoon at her homestead at Sibantubanye Resettlement area, a few kilometres outside Plumtree Town, along Thekwane Road.
According to reports, the resettled farmers were declared illegal settlers on State land.
The DA’s office then gave the affected farmers 30-day notices to vacate the area or get forcibly removed.
On receiving the news, the woman reportedly collapsed and died on the spot.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday confirmed receiving a report of sudden death from Plumtree.
“I don’t have the full details, but I received information of a sudden death of a 60-year-old woman from Thekwane area, who collapsed and died on Monday. I am still to get her full name and other details. Her body was conveyed to Plumtree District Hospital for post-mortem,” Ndebele said.
A source close to the matter said the elderly woman was part of several families resettled at Sibantubanye area of Thekwane.
“On Monday, the villagers received notices of eviction from the DA’s office, informing them that they were illegal settlers who should vacate the area or face forced evictions. The granny did not take the news lightly and started gasping for air,” he said.
“She collapsed and other villagers tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late as she had already died. Police came and collected her body to Plumtree District Hospital mortuary.”
Government embarked on evictions of resettled farmers in December last year, arguing that it was rationalising the land reform programme and weeding out illegal settlers.
LATEST- Teachers Leader Abducted And Brutally Assaulted By Suspected State Agents | PICTURES
https://twitter.com/nelsonchamisa/status/1136508632118550528?s=19
Abduction & torture of Obert Masaraure is strongly condemned.@ZLHRLawyers is very disturbed that suspected state agents continue 2 commit international crime of torture @zhrc365 @kubatana @RuralTeacherZim @ZimHRNGOForum @advocatemahere @PastorEvanLive @euinzim @usembassyharare https://t.co/VUDnXIoP2H
— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) June 6, 2019
STATEMENT BY PROMISE MKWANANZI
Following this and other heinous crimes of this regime, I have released the statement below:
Zimbabwean leader of the Teachers movement Obert Masaraure was abducted and severely tortured by state agents at mid night. Our resolve for a better Zimbabwe is and remains unshaken. Our search for justice against those who perpetrate these dastardly acts remain very solid. We will continue to use peaceful and non-violent methods to pursue a better and greater Zimbabwe and to search for more democratic and compassionate leaders who will treat the citizens of this country with respect and humanity. We hold President Mnangagwa and his illegal illegitimate and criminal government directly responsible for these heinous crimes. We continue to insist on the urgent need for an all inclusive national dialogue to resolve the escalating economic and political crisis and we hope and pray that the regional and international community will exercise their duty to protect unarmed and defenceless citizens and human rights activists in Zimbabwe.
Promise Mkwananzi
Tajamuka Leader
E.U Gives Mnangagwa An Opportunity To Prove To Be Different From Mugabe
Zimbabwe and the European Union began political talks on Wednesday aimed at turning the page on hostile relations during Robert Mugabe’s rule, a step that could enable a resumption of direct financial aid for the ailing economy.
During Mugabe’s four-decade rule until 2017, he would routinely blame European “colonialists” for Zimbabwe’s problems, and snarled at EU and U.S. sanctions for rights and vote abuses.
The EU has only kept sanctions on Mugabe, his wife and the state arms manufacturer, but is yet to resume direct funding to the new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, preferring to channel money through local charities and U.N. agencies.
With the economy afflicted by dollar shortages, fuel queues, power-cuts, and soaring prices, Mnangagwa has said restoring ties with the West and multilateral lenders like International Monetary Fund is one of his major priorities.
At the start of the open-ended talks between diplomats and officials in Harare, EU Zimbabwe delegation head Timo Olkkonen said they would discuss issues including economic development, trade, investment, rights, rule of law and good governance.
The government has already signed up to an IMF monitoring programme where it has committed to political and economic reforms in a bid to set a track record of fiscal discipline that could earn it debt forgiveness and future financing.
At a separate event in a Harare hotel, Mnangagwa signed a new bill creating a tripartite negotiating forum intended to bring labour, business and government together to shape policy.
The 76-year-old leader is under pressure to deliver on pre-election promises and wants to avert a repeat of violent protests over a steep fuel price hike in January.
Later on Wednesday, the government is expected to start wage negotiations with public sector unions, who say a pay rise of up to 29% they received in April had already been eroded by inflation, now at a 10-year high of 75.86 %.
Mnangagwa has promised to break with his predecessor and says his “open for business” mantra will woo foreign investors. But critics say under his rule the economy shows no signs of improving while security forces have continued to crush dissent.