Posted on

“Your Spooks Are Your Enermies”

By Stanley Goreraza| We all remember the historical convergence of Zimbabweans of all backgrounds in the streets of Harare in the month of November 2017.

MDC and Zanupf held hands as Blacks and Whites partook from the same bottles of strong drink. It was so beautiful and for the first time in a very long time, the whole world cast it’s glance on Zimbabwe with beaming pride, sharing the joy of a nation emerging from 37 years of everything being about one man and what he and he alone wanted.

Zimbabweans celebrated thinking this marked the end of the mist of fear that covered their entire country. Fear of midnight abductions and disappearances! Fear of upsetting Mr Mugabe which carried severe consequences.

For 37 years Zimbabweans were terrified of Mr Mugabe and the spooks who acted on his behalf. His forced departure brought great relief to a terrified and traumatised population who viewed him as the seven headed Dragon which was cast from heaven.

I don’t know whom exactly President Mnangagwa thinks is his enemy, but those who recently abducted a teachers union leader and brutally assaulted him, are his enemies.

Such people will precipitate his downfall because in the end the buck stops with him. Fingers will be pointed at him and not those behind the criminal act and vile human rights violation.

There is law enforcement and then there are crimes against humanity. A fine line separates the two and if one is careless they can step out of line without noticing it. It is inexcusable and completely unacceptable.

The dream of a new start Zimbabwe cannot be betrayed by a few individuals carrying on the shameful legacy of Mr Mugabe which brought political and economic desolation.

President Mnangagwa, the people carrying out these satanic acts do so in your name. It is your name that gets associated with crimes against citizens blurring distinction between yourself and your predecessor. There has to be a difference between the Zimbabwe of now and the Zimbabwe before November 15 2017.

You do not preserve or bring peace and security through crimes and human rights violations. When citizens are terrified of security agents it means the security agents are armed criminals. Citizens should be made to feel safe by law enforcement authorities and not be afraid of them.

Posted on

Passport Office Official Hauled To Court For Assault

By Talent Gondo| An official from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday appeared before a magistrate facing indecent assault charges involving a woman who had visited his offices.

Wilbert Mugoni (41) allegedly fondled 29-year-old Netsai Chigodora of Marondera in Paradise Park in the town.

The incident allegedly happened on May 22 this year after the accused had obtained the complainant’s number and called her for a rendezvous after working hours.

Chigodora had earlier been to the offices to inquire about the delay in the processing of her travel document.

Mugoni pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Munemo.

He was remanded out of custody on free bail and is expected to appear in court on Friday (today).-Newsday

Posted on

CAAZ Stage Salaries, Working Conditions Protest

By Talent Gondo- Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) workers reportedly embarked on a strike on Thursday citing poor working conditions.

The workers allegedly gathered in the committee room at the RGMI Airport the whole day.

However, the management refused to address the workers, reports indicate.

CAAZ spokesperson Anna Hungwe dismissed the claims that workers are on strike, saying:

There is nothing like that. Of course, we had a normal meeting like any other company, but all of our staff reported for duty today (yesterday).

An employee who spoke to a local publication said that the strike is in the form of a sit-in.

Said the disgruntled worker:

We are staging a sit-in, demanding long overdue issues to be addressed by the management and the minister.

The agreed cost of living adjustment starting from March has not been implemented after executive management included, were trying to ride on employee agreements.

The workers say that they are now incapacitated and can no longer afford to travel to work. They also accuse the human resources director of practising nepotism.-Newsday

Posted on

Telecel Suspends Board Member Who Leaked Letter To The Media

The decision came a few days after Francis Mawindi’s letter to the board recommending the firing of CEO Angeline Vere, recently leaked out to the media. The letter from Telecel Zimbabwe Board read:

Francis Mawindi

Telecel Zimbabwe board has suspended Mr Francis Mawindi, their Board member with immediate effect over breach of the common law fiduciary duty of confidentiality, ZimTechreview reported.

“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 office of Telecel Zimbabwe Board Director effective the 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.”

Vere was appointed CEO in 2015 to steer the ship but at that time the majority shareholder was a foreign company. Under her watch, the mobile network operator was relegated to third from second in terms of subscriber base with its numbers dwindling ever since.

According to industry statistics, Telecel’s subscriber base dipped 12,3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 whereas its competitors Econet and NetOne recorded gains of 1,9 percent and 5,2 percent respectively.

Mawindi said he was unhappy with the performance of the company.

“On my part my position is very clear and that I’m not happy with the performance of the company and I’m of the opinion that the CEO is not competent enough to lead the company and has reneged on her responsibilities to inform the board of critical and important resolutions which have a material impact on the financial position of the company including re-authorisation of annual service contracts with key vendors and awarding salary increases of 20% to employees without full board authorisation,” Mawindi said.

“She has also failed to demonstrate her capacity and capability to lead by struggling to lead the charge in coming up with a turnaround plan which only materialised after the intervention of the board.”

Mawindi said under normal circumstances failure to adhere to company policy and procedures on such things as salary increases for employees, contracts and purchase order approvals in accordance with the existing schedule of authorisation “leads to automatic termination since this is a serious breach.”

-Online

Posted on

Soldier Uses Up $262k Mistakenly Deposited Into His Bank Account, Surprisingly No Criminal Charges Laid Against Him

‌The Central African Building Society (CABS) has dragged Air Force of Zimbabwe operations officer Arnold Lethale Pullen to the High Court seeking to recover the US$262 000 which Pullen allegedly stole. The banking is seeking a garnishee order which will allow it to automatically deduct the money from Pullen’s salary.

The money was stolen when the bank mistakenly credited his account with $262 000 in September 2017 when the bank’s system failed. Pullen allegedly transferred the money to his friends and family’s accounts before asking them to transfer the money back to his Steward Bank account where CABS could not touch it. The error was discovered when the bank was carrying out a system upgrade at a later date.

In its court papers, the bank says,

On April 2, 2019, the applicant (CABS) obtained an order against the third respondent (Pullen) in the sum of US$262 208 together with interest thereon calculated at the rate of 20% per annum and costs of suit on a legal practitioner and client scale.

The judgment debt arises from unauthorised overdrafts utilised by the third respondent which debt remains outstanding and unsatisfied. The applicant is aware that the third respondent is a member of the Air Force and is employed by the first respondent (Defence minister).

The applicant prays for an order compelling the first and second respondents to pay the sum of US$1 000 per month to it until the judgment debt is paid in full.

It is not clear why Pullen is not facing criminal charges because a student nurse who took advantage of the same system error at CABS was sentenced to 12 years in prison last year. The student had stolen, $54 000.

The nurse, Kelvin Kutadza was sentenced to 12 years in prison a few days before he could graduate after he was convicted on 54 counts of theft.In mitigation, Kutadza claimed that he was a devout Christian who honestly believed that he had received miracle money. Said Kutadza,

When I checked my account and saw the money, I thought it was miracle money. I’m a Christian and thought that my prayers had been answered and I regret using the money. I’m a final year student nurse at Gweru Provincial Hospital and I am supposed to graduate on May 5. May the court pardon me.

Posted on

Blow For Huawei, As Facebook Stops Pre Installation Of Its Apps On Phones

Facebook is no longer allowing pre-installation of its apps on Huawei phones, the latest blow for the Chinese tech giant as it struggles to keep its business afloat in the face of a US ban on its purchase of American parts and software. 

Customers who already have Huawei phones will still be able to use its apps and receive updates, Facebook told Reuters. But new Huawei phones will no longer be able to have Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram apps pre-installed.

Smartphone vendors often enter business deals to pre-install popular apps such as Facebook. Apps including Twitter and Booking.com also come pre-installed on Huawei phones in many markets. Twitter declined to comment and Booking Holdings did not respond to a request.

The move by Facebook dampens the sales outlook for Huawei Technologies, whose smartphone business became its biggest revenue generator in 2018, powered by strong growth in Europe and Asia.

Huawei declined to comment.

Alphabet’s Google said earlier that it would no longer provide Android software for Huawei phones after a 90-day reprieve granted by the US government expires in August. But Google’s Playstore and all Google apps will still be available for current models of Huawei phones including those which have not yet shipped or even been built.

The Facebook ban, by contrast, applies to any Huawei phone that has not yet left the factory, according to a person familiar with the matter. Facebook declined to comment on when the suspension took place.

In May, Washington banned US companies from supplying technology to Huawei, part of a long-running campaign against the company. The US alleges that Huawei is too close to the Chinese government and that its telecom network gear and other products could be a conduit for espionage, which Huawei denies.

Buyers of Huawei phone models that do not have Facebook pre-installed would still be able to download it from the Google Playstore. Future versions of Huawei phones, however, will not have access to the Google Playstore and its apps unless the US government changes course.

Huawei has said it was prepared for the US action and vowed to work around any disruptions. But some customers at stores in Europe and Asia have told Reuters that they are reluctant to buy Huawei phones in the face of uncertainties, and analysts expect a dramatic drop in Huawei smartphone sales.-Reuters

Posted on

Zim 7 Arrest: Mnangagwa Has Just Pressed The Reset Button To Go Back To Mugabe Era.

Same WhatsApp Group, Mnangagwa and Mugabe

Opinion By Hillary Jephat Musarurwa|Barely a year into office, the 2nd Republic of Zimbabwe has pressed the reset button and returned to authoritarianism by arresting and harassing human rights defenders and civic society leaders.

This is something that I had hoped would never be witnessed under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule given the political mantras that they sold us during his campaigns. The current leader of Zimbabwe famously declared himself to be, “as soft as wool.” Posturing himself as a listening president, he proclaimed that, “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” However, events over the past months seem to show that the leader has grown deaf to the voices he vowed to serve. The arrest of seven civil society leaders and practitioners between 20 and 27 May 2019 on their return from a capacity building workshop in the Maldives raises questions as to whether the new dispensation is prepared to open up space for civic organisations to operate; or behave in the very way that the regime it replaced used to.

The seven that were arrested are: Tatenda Mombeyarara of the Citizens Manifesto: George Makoni of the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ); Nyasha Frank Mpahlo of Transparency International Zimbabwe; Gamuchirai Mukura of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Trust (COTRAD); Farirai Gumbonzvanda of Rozaria Memorial Trust; Sitabile Dewa of Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence and Rita Nyampinga of the Female Prisoners Support Trust. Ironically the three ladies that were arrested, Farirai, Sitabile and Rita shared the same space with Zimbabwean government officials, led by the Minister of Information, Monica Mutsvangwa, at the annual UN Women Activists Summit held in March 2019. 

As a peacebuilding scholar, who was privileged to learn about nonviolent action from the likes of Prof Geoff Harris, Dr Sylvia Kaye, Ela Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter) and Paddy Kearney, I find it perturbing that violence and nonviolence resistance should be put in the same sentence as given in the allegations levelled against the #Zimbabwe7.  Given the events of the past few weeks it begs that we briefly unpack what civil resistance is.

Civil resistance is the sustained use of nonviolent action by civilians. Civil resistance is a powerful way for people to fight for their rights, freedom, and justice – without directly harming (or threatening to harm) an opponent. Nonviolent civil resistance is far more successful in creating broad-based change than violent campaigns are (Stephan and Chenoweth 2008). This organized civic pressure approach, usually done through strikes, protests, demonstrations, boycotts, amongst many other tactics, has been used in many successful settings that had nothing to do with regime change, but empowering citizens to self-organise and participate more in issues to do with their welfare. It has been used to:

  • advance women’s and minority rights indigenous rights, labour rights, and democratic rights.
  • improve transparency and good governance through anti-corruption and transparency campaigns
  • hold governments, corporations and other non-state actors accountable
  • struggle for self-determination
  • resist foreign occupation
  • campaign for public and community safety and reduce deadly violence in conflict zones
  • protect the environment
  • land reform


Civil resistance is driven by people power and the cooperation of different stakeholders (Ackerman and Duvall 2005). It is therefore key to promoting social cohesion. It can pull political power away from governments or traditional power brokers. Civil resistance takes place outside traditional political channels, making it distinct from other nonviolent political processes such as lobbying, electioneering, and legislating (Chenoweth and Stephan 2011). Tending to be more open and participatory than secretive and hierarchical, nonviolent resistance is conducive to the diffusion of power and democratic relations (Bond 1994; Randle 1994). Civil resistance focuses on achieving civic goals, has widespread civil society involvement and is distinct from civil disobedience. Civil disobedience thrives on intentionally breaking the law to achieve civic goals, which is not what civil resistance pushes for. Most, if not all civil resistance methods follow the prescriptions of the law.

Civil resistance has the capacity to address the root causes of conflict, such as the suppression of rights, rather than merely dealing with symptoms or containing a conflict. And it is powerful precisely because community-based resistance speaks to the root of the suffering that Zimbabweans have endured for decades. Perhaps this is why the Regime has arrested leading civil society actors who share knowledge with fellow citizens.

Repressing non-violent resistances can easily backfire as it can quickly galvanize more support to the cause that is being pushed for. It has been documented that internally, members of a regime—including civil servants, security forces, and members of the judiciary—are more likely to shift loyalty toward nonviolent opposition groups than toward violent opposition groups (Chenoweth 2014). Indeed, the international community is more likely to denounce and sanction states for repressing nonviolent campaigns than it is violent campaigns. Zimbabwe therefore needs to reconsider its actions, lest it dig itself deeper into international isolation at a time when it badly needs support to reverse the socio-economic mess it is in.

There is need to follow up on this article in order to understand why the #Zimbabwe7 travelled to the Maldives for the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS) workshop. What exactly are the civil rights they were or are planning to push for? Can the goals of the civil movements they belong to be achieved under a regime led by Mnangagwa that has clearly shown its unreadiness to share space with civil leaders? If their story is not told and shared, we will always remain sold to the narrative that these seven community leaders were getting trained on how to violently overthrow a constitutional government.

Hillary Jephat Musarurwa is a Peacebuilding scholar and writes in his own capacity.

Posted on

In- Law Bashed After Man Discovers Lizard Tail In Relish

By Own Correspondent- A Zvishavane man went berserk and bashed his mother-in-law after he stumbled on a lizard tail in his relish. 

Dickson Chatsauka (34) of Whande Village under Headman Matenda assaulted 71-year-old Sarah Hadebe alleging that she advised his wife Kudzai Hadebe to lace his relish with a love potion meant to “tame him”. 

A source, Ndabenhle Sibanda, said Chatsuka had gone out with a friend to drink and he returned home late at night. 

“Chatsauka returned from Matenda Growth Point and was offered supper by his wife. While enjoying the meal, he came across a lizard tail in his plate,” said Sibanda.  

“He interrogated his wife over the issue and she didn’t give him a satisfactory answer. Chatsauka threatened to kill her and that is when she admitted that she had been instructed by her mother to put the lizard tail as it was a strong love potion,” he said. 

Raging with anger, Chatsauka proceeded to her in-laws’ homestead and assaulted his mother-in-law using a switch that he plucked from a tree. 

“Seething with anger, he went to his in-laws homestead that same night and confronted his mother-in-law over the issue. There was a heated argument and Chatsauka assaulted his mother-in-law with a switch before slapping her countless times on the face. He was restrained by neighbours who came after hearing Hadebe scream for help,” said Ndlovu.

Chatsauka appeared before Chief Masunda’s traditional court on Friday. Chief Masunda, however, said he would still meet them again on Friday as the matter was not finalised. 

“I summoned Chatsauka after receiving a report that he assaulted his mother-in-law. However, after hearing his side of the story l summoned his mother-in-law together with Chatsauka’s wife and l am yet to hear their side of the story,” said Masunda. 

Posted on

ED Tells Local Businesses How To Survive In The Economic Mess He Created

Government is committed to supporting turnaround efforts by entities through the creation of a conducive investment climate which ensures viability and guarantees security of investment, President Mnangagwa has said.

He implored firms to pursue capital injection through internally-mobilised resources instead of focusing on borrowing as the only option.

President Mnangagwa said this yesterday while commissioning a US$125 000 state-of-the-art production plant at Allied Timbers.

“Credit finance is not the only option for capital injection. Business models and strategies must be developed and interest-free capital internally generated for expansion and growth of our entities. As Government, we will continue to support turnaround efforts through the creation of a favourable trade and investment climate which steers profitability while guaranteeing security of investment and ensuring sustainable jobs,” said President Mnangagwa.

-State Media

Posted on

Unbelievable!! 56 Tonne Bridge Stolen Over Night In Russia

Own Correspondent|We have heard of cars, bikes, laptops even ATM machines being stolen, but have you ever heard of a bridge being stolen? Weird, isn’t it?

The disappearance of a 56-tonne bridge in Russia has sparked controversy, and prompted the police to start an investigation into the incident. In Russia’s Murmansk region, this bizarre incident has sent the local residents into a tizzy.

According to the Daily Mail, the bridge is roughly 75 feet in length and weighs over 50 tonnes. It is located on the Umba river in the Arctic region.

Another bizarre thing is that the bridge has disappeared without a trace. Some 10 days ago, pictures of the bridge were again shared on VK, which showed that a part of the bridge had broken down and the debris was lying in the water below.

Now, a few days later, there is absolutely no sign of the broken bridge. In fact, the debris also disappeared. This triggered a detailed investigation which revealed that the bridge had not sunk to the bottom of the river.

‘It was taken away by unknowns. At the bottom, too, there are no large debris. Natural phenomena could not bring down the bridge’, wrote the page, where aerial shots of the bridge that disappeared were posted.

Locals believe that the bridge was torn down and then stolen by scrap metal thieves. Its disappearance has been reported to Kirovsk Police.

‘Most likely, metalworkers pulled the structure down into the water, and there they slowly took it apart into scrap pieces’, the VK page also speculated.

There is a reason everyone believes that it’s the doing of metal thieves – it wasn’t the first episode of scrap metal thieves damaging infrastructure in the region. There were attempts to steal transmission towers in the nearby Apatity in summer 2018.

In 2008, Russian police hunted scrap metal thieves who stole an even larger 200-tonne metal bridge in a night-time raid.

According to The Independent, Kirovsk Prosecutor’s Office confirmed an investigation was underway, regarding the bridge’s disappearance. Police say that thieves may have acted to sell scrap metal, but their identity and the way they operated is still unknown.

Police said in their statement that the bridge belonged to a company operating in the area, and estimated material losses of about 600,000 Russian rubles had been incurred, according to The Independent.

Just when we thought the world couldn’t possibly get more bizarre, people start stealing bridges, of all things!

Source: News agents

Posted on

Motor Scheme For Civil Servants, Gvnt Clarifies Conditions

By Own Correspondent- Civil servants who have benefited from the Government’s motor vehicle scheme will not be eligible to benefit again for the next five years, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has said.

In Circular number 6 of 2019 to all Government departments, PSC Secretary, Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said in addition, beneficiaries should have served the public service or service commissions for at least 10 continuous years.

In addition interested members must also have a valid driver’s licence and must not be subject to any disciplinary hearing.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said members that meet this criteria, should submit an application to the head of their ministry requesting authority to import a vehicle under this scheme.

“If the member satisfies the above criteria, the head of ministry shall forward the recommendations together with the relevant copies of driver’s licence and current pay slip (original) to the PSC for clearance,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

He said once clearance has been granted, the PSC will forward the recommendations to Treasury for concurrence after which the member will proceed to import a suitable vehicle with the stipulated specifications.

“The vehicle should not be older than 10 years from the date of manufacture at the time of importation. The Government shall grant rebate of duty on a motor vehicle with a maximum import value of US$10 000. The vehicle must meet the specifications under the Customs Tariff Codes,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

The specifications under the Customs Tariffs Codes include motor vehicles principally designed to carry passengers with specific cylinder and engine capacities as well as propulsion specifications.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said for the rebate on import of a motor vehicle to be processed, a member must submit clearance from the PSC, Treasury concurrence, copy of a driver’s licence and in the case of a member living with a disability, a valid driver’s licence of a designated driver must be submitted.

An applicant must also submit proof of residence and a copy of identity card.

Ambassador Wutawunashe, however, said once a member resigns from service before expiry of five years, the grant of rebate will be revoked immediately.-StateMedia

Posted on

Masaraure Abduction, Nick Mangwana Says His Pictures Are Old Scars

PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, has dismissed the alleged abduction and torture of a teachers’ union leader as stage-managed.

In a hard-hitting response to news that Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure was abducted and tortured on Wednesday evening, Mangwana dismissed the attack as stage-managed, saying even the injury scars do not look fresh at all.

Masaraure said some assailants who are yet to be identified dragged him out of his Waterfalls home on Wednesday night in full view of his wife and kids, kidnapped him to some place he could not identify, and tortured him before dumping him in the chilly cold of Thursday morning.

Pictures circulated on Thursday showed Masaraure with whip marks on his back, arms and buttocks.

He says he has has been targeted by suspected State security agents because of his vocal stance in pushing for a salary increase.

Teachers want a salary review, citing the increase in the price of basics and has called for a strike by teachers.
Pictures circulated on Thursday showed Masaraure with whip marks on his back, arms and buttocks.

On Monday, Masaraure’s ARTUZ pushed for a three-day stay away which flopped after teachers largely ignored the call.

The main labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has also ignored calls for a stay away, as its leader Peter Mutasa attendd the launch of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the capital city on Wednesday.
More on ZOOMZimbabwe… Rwanda genocide reminds us of the Gukurahundi: Chamisa

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is reportedly been pushing for the TNF, saying it is the best way forward to address Zimbabwe’s labour-to-government relations, hence the attendance by the ZCTU.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Harare, Timo Olkkonen tweeted that the assault of Mr. Obert Masaraure was unjust and unacceptable.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Nelson Chamisa said Masaraure’s kidnap, coming hot on the heels of the detention of his deputy Godfrey Chanda in Gweru on Tuesday, pointed to the deterioration of the political situation in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe has turned into a pariah state and banana republic,” Chamisa said on Twitter.

Masaraure and other unionists say they have of late been targeted for urging their members to go on strike for three days starting on Monday this week.

On Tuesday, ARTUZ reported that two of its officials were arrested in Gweru by CID officers and warned to desist from calling for a stay away.

Masaraure’s wife reportedly raised the alarm after six men wearing masks stormed their home and grabbed her husband in front of their terrified children before driving away into the night.

-Online

Posted on

Tsvangirai’s Strathaven Mansion Goes Under The Hammer To Pay Middleman Who Facilitated Election Coalition

The late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai

Own Correspondent|Reports just received indicate that Moreprecision Muzadzi the man who has been involved in a long legal battle with the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pushed for Tsvangirai’s estate executors to sell the former Prime Minister’s Strathaven house to recover $204 000 money he is owed by Tsvangirai.

Muzadzi approached the High Court applying for a judgement to be passed according to the offer.

Tsvangirai allegedly engaged Voice of People leader Muzadzi and Zimbabwe Development Party leader Mr Kisnot Mukwazhi to facilitate fellow opposition parties to throw their support behind him to avoid splitting votes during the 2013 harmonised elections.

Muzadzi is claiming the money for the role he says he played in setting up the coalition arrangement.

Initially, Muzadzi had cited Tsvangirai, his brother Manasa as well as former MDC vice president Morgen Komichi as respondents.

However, the High Court has since granted an order by consent allowing Tsvangirai to be replaced by his estate executors Innocent Chagonda and Charles Maunga.

Following the changes, on April 9, Mazadzi met with Manasa and agreed to a final offer as in US$84 000 granted by High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu on December 4 2017, breach of contract US$50 000, perjury US$40 000 and libel US$30 000.

No cent was paid and in his application, Muzadzi wrote that he was told that Tsvangirai’s estate has no money.

“The third defendant went to the executors with plaintiff to get funds but they said the estate had no ready funds but just the Strathaven house and cars.

In his founding affidavit, Muzadzi alleged that in January 2013, Tsvangirai agreed to engage him and his partner, Kisinoti Mukwazhe, to negotiate with opposition party leaders not to contest the 2013 Zimbabwe general elections, but support the now late leader’s presidential bid.

“Plaintiff and partner successfully negotiated with Simba Makoni, Dumiso Dabengwa, Margaret Dongo and 15 others to support Tsvangirai’s presidential candidature,” the High Court heard.

Muzadzi once told the High Court that when he asked for the payment, he was physically abused.

Source: allafrica.com

Posted on

Major Blow For China As Govt Mulls Ban On Export Of Raw Granite

Government will soon ban unprocessed granite exports as part of efforts to enhance foreign currency generation.

This was said by President Mnangagwa yesterday after touring Southern Granites (PVT) Ltd in Chitungwiza.

The company is into processing of granite and the President said he was impressed by its operations.

“This has been an eye-opener. I am told that this factory has been in existence for quite some time, but all that I knew was our rocks were being extracted and depleted in Mutoko and sent in big blocks to Beira on their way to Europe,” he said.

-State Media

Posted on

Zim Expects Only 770k Tonnes Of Maize From 2018-19 Cropping Season

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.

-State Media

Posted on

Maize Production Slumps By 54%

By Own Correspondent- 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

“Out of the 60 percent administrative rural districts in the country, 11 (18 percent) have enough cereal to last until the next harvest and the rest (49 districts) will last between two and 11 months,” reads the report.

Sorghum production is expected to be 40 215 tonnes, finger millet (6 947 tonnes) and pearl millet 28 047 tonnes.

The combined small grains production decreased by 44 percent compared to 2017/2018.

According to the report, several dry spells experienced this year affected the regions where significant areas are put under small grains.

Groundnuts production declined by 44 percent from 127 202 tonnes in the 2017/18 season to 70 902 tonnes this season.

Production of pulses and tubers remain low.

Sugar bean production also decreased by 55 percent from 21 320 tonnes to 9 528 tonnes while cowpeas decreased by 23 percent to 12 655 tonnes while sweet potatoes declined 73 percent to 88 248 tonnes.

The huge decrease in the production of tubers and legumes is a result of erratic rains at the start of the season and long dry spells in January when the crops are normally planted.

Climate change is affecting rainfall patterns.-StateMedia

Posted on

Mnangagwa Blows Thousands On Lethal Weapons To Quell Protests: Report

By Talent Gondo- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is reported to have bought an assortment of lethal weapons for the police as it prepares itself to crush anticipated protests over the deteriorating economy and living conditions in the country, a local publication has reported.

The publication reports that some of the weapons which have been purchased are as follows,

3 343 AK-47 Rifles
2 000 CZ Pistols
500 Pl Pistols
500 Steyrs
500 UZI Submachine guns,
500 Mossberg Shotguns
500 Riot Guns
300 Mortar Tubes
500 MAG
300 SSG Sniper Rifles
300 Dragnov Sniper Rifles
100 RPG7
1 500 Tokarev
22 948 AK Magazines

According to the report the authorities are still shaken by the #Shutdown Zimbabwe protests which took place in January and degenerated into violence.-ZimIndependent

Posted on

Husband Beater Deserted, Hauled To Court For Abuse

By Talent Gondo- WHEN love goes sour it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and can cause damages if not handled with caution.

Such bitter taste is what a Bulawayo woman, Memory Ndabalime, is experiencing following chilling revelations by her ex-husband Costa Mhazha that she threatened to hire thugs to “deal” with him as punishment for dumping her.

Mhazha claimed to be living in fear following the disturbing threats. He said he deserted the matrimonial home because of Ndabalime’s abusive behaviour.

He said during the subsistence of their customary marriage, his ex-wife was always beating him up at the slightest provocation.

Mhazha said Ndabalime would descend on him with various dangerous weapons such as a knife and cooking stick anytime they had a disagreement.

“Memory Ndabalime is my ex-wife and we separated on 4 May this year. During the subsistence of our customary marriage she was threatening me with various and dangerous weapons to an extent that I had to vacate our matrimonial home. She even promised to poison me and hire thugs to beat me up. She is coming to where I am staying now while threatening to stab me with a knife,” said a devastated Mhazha.

He tearfully said he dumped Ndabalime because of her violent behaviour and threats to end his life in a grisly manner.

“Every time she gets angry she would take a knife and threaten to stab me with it. She was also assaulting me with a cooking stick and publicly insulting me with obscene language. As a result of that I am now seeking a protection order against her so that she stops harassing me and coming to where I am staying now.”

In response, Ndabalime shot down her ex-husband’s abuse allegations and that she threatened to hire thugs to teach him a lesson he would never forget in his life.

“He is lying that I was abusing and threatening him and visiting his place. He no longer loves me because he now has a girlfriend and that is the reason why he moved out of our matrimonial home,” said Ndabalime.

In her ruling the presiding magistrate Racheal Mukanga ordered Ndabalime not to verbally and physically abuse her ex-husband or threaten him in any way.

Share This:

Posted on

Village Head Beds Neighbour’s Wife, Fails To Honor Promised Payment Of Two Goats

By Own Correspondent- An affair between a village head and his neighbour’s wife took an ugly turn after the village head failed to deliver two goats that he had promised to give his neighbour’s wife as payment.

Tonderai Jari, the village head of Madhekwana Village in Mberengwa shocked the villagers after it emerged that he solicited for sex from his neighbour’s wife Esnat Mataruse promising her two goats.

The affair, however, took an ugly twist after Jari failed to deliver on his promises causing Mataruse to disclose the matter to her husband Raymond Chakawira.

Out of anger, Mataruse spilled the beans to her husband after realising that she had been played by Jari.

B-Metro managed to track down Mataruse and she confirmed the matter.

“Some time in February, Jari proposed me and we started dating. After some time he asked for sex and l refused but he promised to give me two goats and l gave in. However, after discovering that he lied to me l was angry and l ended up telling my husband about the matter. He was going to find out about the matter either way, so it was best that he heard about it from me,” said Mataruse.

“It was a wise move for me to confess because l wanted to save my marriage,” she said.

Jari, however, could not be drawn to comment on the issue as he professed ignorance about the matter.

“I do not know the matter that you are talking about,” he said.

Upon hearing about the embarrassing incident, Chakawira took the matter to Chief Maziofa. 

Jari initially denied having an affair but he had to admit after Mataruse produced their WhatsApp conversations before the court as evidence.

Due to overwhelming evidence against him, Jari was ordered to pay six cows for disrespecting Chakawira and for tarnishing his image.

Chief Maziofa castigated Jari, labelling him as a hypocrite who steals other peoples’ wives. 

“As a village head, Jari should know better than to sleep with a married woman. What will the villagers learn from him if he behaves in such a way. He is supposed to be of good character,” said Chief Maziofa

Posted on

SA Based Singer King 88 Makes History

By Own Correspondent- The South Africa-based singer has launched his career in a foreign land. To many local music followers, the name sounds foreign. 

Despite having a few stage appearances back home, King 98 seems to be building a good brand in the region. Recently he reportedly thrilled Zambians when he performed at the Phoenix Rising Teen Awards and Music Festival at the Polo Arena in Lusaka.

King 98 is said to have stunned Zambian music followers with his performance and earned praises from music critics of that country. He shared the stage with Nasty C and Ammara Brown.

This Saturday King 98 has another regional assignment. The 21-year-old singer will perform at the “Castle Lite Unlocks” gig at the Campo do Maxaquene in Maputo, Mozambique. He will go to the event with Nasty C and Mozambican star Edson Abel Jeremias Tchamo, aka Laylizzy.

After the Mozambican tour, King 98 is expected to travel to Nigeria where he is set to have a number of shows. This could be a unique entry into the hip-hop music scene for King 98. He has started with rubbing shoulders with the likes of Davido and Nasty C when local hip-hop fans are still to get to know more about him.

He could be writing a story similar to Mokoomba’s script. Mokoomba is known on European stages and has risen the country’s flag at many prestigious festival, yet their activity is less back home.

For King 98, it is a different story because he is based in South Africa where he is studying. After building a big regional brand, the young singer is likely to stamp his authority on the local scene when he is able to stage more shows in the country.

His manager DJ Simms believes their journey will take them miles on the continent and they plan to have more shows back home to reach out to their hip-hop fans in the country.

“We were happy with the reception we got in Zambia. We did not expect such a response and we are hopeful that everything will go according to plan as we leave for Mozambique this week,” said DJ Simms.

“Performing in the region means a lot to us. King 98 is building a good fan base in the region. He has a perfect working relationship with Nasty C and they have big plans together.

“His collaboration with Davido titled ‘No Bad Vibes’ has introduced him to the Nigerian market and we are confident he will also leave a huge mark when he goes to perform in West Africa.”

Posted on

Lizard Tail In Relish, Man Bashes Mother- In Law

By Own Correspondent- A Zvishavane man went berserk and bashed his mother-in-law after he stumbled on a lizard tail in his relish. 

Dickson Chatsauka (34) of Whande Village under Headman Matenda assaulted 71-year-old Sarah Hadebe alleging that she advised his wife Kudzai Hadebe to lace his relish with a love potion meant to “tame him”. 

A source, Ndabenhle Sibanda, said Chatsuka had gone out with a friend to drink and he returned home late at night. 

“Chatsauka returned from Matenda Growth Point and was offered supper by his wife. While enjoying the meal, he came across a lizard tail in his plate,” said Sibanda.  

“He interrogated his wife over the issue and she didn’t give him a satisfactory answer. Chatsauka threatened to kill her and that is when she admitted that she had been instructed by her mother to put the lizard tail as it was a strong love potion,” he said. 

Raging with anger, Chatsauka proceeded to her in-laws’ homestead and assaulted his mother-in-law using a switch that he plucked from a tree. 

“Seething with anger, he went to his in-laws homestead that same night and confronted his mother-in-law over the issue. There was a heated argument and Chatsauka assaulted his mother-in-law with a switch before slapping her countless times on the face. He was restrained by neighbours who came after hearing Hadebe scream for help,” said Ndlovu.

Chatsauka appeared before Chief Masunda’s traditional court on Friday. Chief Masunda, however, said he would still meet them again on Friday as the matter was not finalised. 

“I summoned Chatsauka after receiving a report that he assaulted his mother-in-law. However, after hearing his side of the story l summoned his mother-in-law together with Chatsauka’s wife and l am yet to hear their side of the story,” said Masunda. 

Posted on

PICTURES: Alick Macheso Returns Back To Former School, Pays Fees For 109 Kids

By Alick Macheso|June is my birth month and because I value my roots and love all, I decided to celebrate my birthday by giving back to my former school, Enterprise Primary in Shamva.

We will be paying full tuition for 109 underprivileged students that are not covered under BEAM and we are also building an ECD block for kids that were learning under trees.

Various other projects are also coming up to support the school.
Thank you all for supporting Orchestra Mberikwazvo. Your support and every dollar you give goes a long way. Ndihwo huchenjeri hwaMwari ihwohwo.

Posted on

Robber Overpowers Police Officer Gets Away With An AK47 Rifle At Tollgate

Lion’s Den Tollgate

A POLICE officer stationed at Lion’s Den tollgate outside Chinhoyi was last week robbed of her AK-47 assault rifle while on duty.

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.

Posted on

African Football Thrown Into Turmoil As Esperance Refuse To Play Champions League Replay

Own Correspondent|Esperance De Tunis have rejected the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to replay the 2nd leg of the CAF Champions League final.

The Tunisian club was crowned on Saturday, 31 May as Champions of Africa but the crown was rescinded following a CAF Emergency meeting ordering for a return of the winner’s medals and trophy for a replay of the 2ndleg.

Esperance are however not interested in returning their prized assets and are set to hold a meeting to appeal to the Court of
Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“Esperance will organise an emergency meeting in the coming days to challenge this decision to the competent international authorities and take all necessary measures to legally defend its rights,” a released on the club’s twitter account read.

A release by CAF cited safety reasons as one of the factors resulting in why the game could not travel the stipulated 90 minutes but the Prime Minister of Tunisia Youssef Chamed has hailed the country’s security force stating they remain loyal to Esperance and Tunisia.

”Our security forces are an example in the world and those who question Tunisia’s security. It bears responsibility to the audience of Esperance on its discipline in the last game. We recognize the right of
Esperance and the right of any Tunisian association”

The Champions League final replay is scheduled to take place in a neutral venue after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Posted on

OTP-CR-174/19 Updated| International Criminal Court On Zimbabwe

 – ICC reference number is: OTP-CR-174/19. – 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – We the supporters and trustees of ZimEye Media, combined, have a special announcement to make concerning efforts by victims of military violence to obtain legal remedies outside Zimbabwe.

This development follows our successful public advocacy for victims of the 1 August shootings, that is, the pressure we put on the Motlanthe Commissioners to force military generals to testify on what they did to end the lives of many in August last year.

We got the Bar Standards Association to investigate the activities of one of the Motlanthe Commissioners, Rodney Dixon.

The latest of these efforts have seen the International Criminal Court finally becoming seized with the report and as at this time, we now have an official reference number and also direct access to the ICC prosecutor. This is special and crucial.

This development means for the first time victims of violence in Zimbabwe can file their complaints and we are glad to facilitate that.

The ICC reference number is: OTP-CR-174/19.

During consultations with several legal experts, the matter of jurisdiction came up but we are pleased that clarification has been passed beyond the bottleneck of Zimbabwe’s not being a -signatory to the Rome Statute.

Just as a summary- evidence submitted to date include ZBC broadcast video in which it was the clearly declared that civilians were going to come under state military terrorism just so that election results are altered and those fake results maintained afterwards.

It is encouraging that for the first time, the ICC are now going through this evidence.

From today henceforth we shall also be giving regular updates as and when they are available. – Trustees And Supporters

Posted on

Mthwakazi Block Cassava From Bringing Jah Prayzah And Winky To Perform In Bulawayo

Mthwakazi wants to watch their own Sandra Ndebele

Own Correspondent|Mthwakazi Republic Party, MRP, has ordered giant mobiles phone service provider, Econet, to reverse the decision to bring Harare based top Zimbabwean musicians Jah Prayzah and Winky D to perform at a a corporate event in Bulawayo at the weekend.

The two crowd pulling musicians are set to be in the city this Saturday where they are billed to perform at the “Ziyawa kuEcoCash” promotion first monthly draw at the Bulawayo City Hall free of charge to the public.

Below is the letter to Econet which the company has not yet formally responded to.

To: Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
CC Marketing Manager
Regional Manager
Branch Manager

06 June 2019

The Director

It is with great concern to note your bizarre decision to import labour into Bulawayo in the form of artists,when Bulawayo and the region at large has great artists. For a big corporate which is well supported by people in the region,this is a big disappointment and will not be condoned.

The society is already poisoned,skewed and destroyed by such unholy tendencies that seek to undermine a certain group of people,which is a divisive measure stinking to high heavens. We have Bulawayo crowd pullers amongst them are Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, Khaya Arts, Khuxman, Hwabaraty, Martin and Ndolwane Super Sounds , Clement Magwaza, Calvin, Gazi Elimnyama, Ezimnyama the list is endless.

On that note, we request that you immediately withdraw and reconsider your decision to import artistes from Harare for your event to be held at the Bulawayo City Hall Car Park on Saturday 08 June 2019.

Speaking ahead of the draw, Winky D urged fans to attend the draw in their numbers. 

“Gafa rapindira. I’ll be back in Bulawayo this weekend with a bang for the EcoCash promotion. A lot of prizes including a house, stands, cows and goats will be won so come in your numbers on Saturday,” he said in a video drop.

Posted on

Telecel Board Member Fired “For Disclosing Confidential Information”

Francis Mawindi
Francis Mawindi

Own Correspondent|The Telecel Board has sent out a press release to the effect that Francis Mawindi has been suspended from the Telecel Board of Directors with immediate effect.

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 office of Telecel Zimbabwe Board of Director effective the 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

By order of the BoardDr J. Makamba

Posted on

FULL TEXT: Mnangagwa’s Dialogue Youths’ Statement

Youth Dialogue Forum
_Press Statement_

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

On the 14th of February 2019, the leadership of youth wings from various political parties and independent candidates who participated in the last harmonized elections came under one banner and launched the youth dialogue forum (YODIF;) whose main thrust is hinged on having youths from all political persuasions coming together to promote peace, unity and cohesion towards socio-economic transformation in the country.

It is from this background that YODIF wishes to further notify all relevant stakeholders of its existence.

Zimbabwean Youths, from all political persuasions have for long been victims of isolation with regards to various pertinent issues of the nation. This brings us to the issue of POLAD. YODIF would like to make it categorically clear that as youths we are behind the dialogue process by our principals and we hope and pray that eventually all political players will eventually participate in order to make Zimbabwe reclaim her role as the Jewel of Africa. It has become clear that the problems affecting our nation are stemming from politics and can be best addressed through political avenues. Henceforth; political players should not utilize these problems as leverage to gain political mileage, but should rather consider the plight of the masses as top priority and be prompted to unite towards the socio-economic transformation of our nation.

As youths we are tired of being exploited as objects to achieve individuals� selfish goals. We are tired of being tricked; being divided along political lines; to pave way for selfish agendas. We are tired of being manipulated to fight one another, destroying property and killing each other to settle political scores. We now come, united as one to claim our space and realize our mandate of developing our Nation as well as to enjoy all the milk and honey that our Nation is blessed with.

To our Principals, we appeal to you to treat this dialogue as a life transforming initiative; one that seeks to secure the future of Zimbabweans and not to treat this as a mere power sharing arrangement. We also want to highlight that the negotiations are incomplete without the participation of youths who constitute the majority of the population of the Nation and the most affected group, pertaining to the current socio economic situation in our country. At our levels as youths, through our convener, we have already taken steps to involve youths� from the political players whose Principals are yet to join the National dialogue.

YODIF is now fully functional and will keep updating the Nation, through the fourth estate of all its programs.

Posted on

Civil Servants Vehicle Import Scheme A Pie In The Sky

Ambassador Wutaunashe

Own Correspondent|Civil servants have expressed concern at the government car scheme agreed on during a National Joint Negotiating Forum (NJNC) held in Harare three months ago. The scheme which was to allow civil servants to import vehicles duty-free, has been described as a pie in sky and will not benefit the majority of its workers.

The conditions set out by government through Statutory Instrument (SI) 52 of 2019, purportedly offering an incentive to civil servants, sets stringent conditions for one to qualify for the benefit

In Circular number 6 of 2019 to all Government departments, PSC Secretary, Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said, beneficiaries should have served the public service or service commissions for at least 10 continuous years.

In addition interested members must also have a valid driver’s licence and must not be subject to any disciplinary hearing.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said members that meet this criteria, should submit an application to the head of their ministry requesting authority to import a vehicle under this scheme.

“If the member satisfies the above criteria, the head of ministry shall forward the recommendations together with the relevant copies of driver’s licence and current pay slip (original) to the PSC for clearance,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

He said once clearance has been granted, the PSC will forward the recommendations to Treasury for concurrence after which the member will proceed to import a suitable vehicle with the stipulated specifications.

“The vehicle should not be older than 10 years from the date of manufacture at the time of importation. The Government shall grant rebate of duty on a motor vehicle with a maximum import value of US$10 000. The vehicle must meet the specifications under the Customs Tariff Codes,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

The specifications under the Customs Tariffs Codes include motor vehicles principally designed to carry passengers with specific cylinder and engine capacities as well as propulsion specifications.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said for the rebate on import of a motor vehicle to be processed, a member must submit clearance from the PSC, Treasury concurrence, copy of a driver’s licence and in the case of a member living with a disability, a valid driver’s licence of a designated driver must be submitted.

An applicant must also submit proof of residence and a copy of identity card.

Ambassador Wutawunashe, however, said once a member resigns from service before expiry of five years, the grant of rebate will be revoked immediately.

Posted on

NPRC Still Consulting On How To Handle Gukurahundi

Commissioner Netty Musanhu

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.

Posted on

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) “

Posted on

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

Peter Moyo
Posted on

SADC Rejects Burundi’s Application For Membership

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. The president has missed most of the EAC Heads of State Summits since 2015

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.

Posted on

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

GMB Centre
Posted on

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

Warriors
Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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

Posted on

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.

Josiah Rimayi’s motor vehicle
Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.”

Nelson Chamisa
Posted on

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

Posted on

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.”

MDC
Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Link to join Our Business Network


£15 per month

WHY JOIN?

BENEFITS:

1.Membership to out Business Network
2. Dedicated business support including exclusive sessions.
3. Free access to our bi-monthly networking events.


£15 per month

Posted on

One Thousand “Bucks” To Watch Zim Warriors In Action

NFF Announces Price of Ticket for Super Eagles Versus Zimbabwe Clash

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.

Posted on

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

Posted on

“I Saw An Empty Presidential Seat.. Soldiers Were Around It.. It Was Not Election Time..” Prophet Calls For Prayers

Prophet Sheppard Masela

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 .

Posted on

NPRC Boss Invites Zimbabweans To Confront Mnangagwa On Gukurahundi Commission Reports

Justice Sello Nare

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Courts Not Yet Done With ZANU PF Warlord On Charges He Wanted To Overthrow Mnangagwa

Jimmy Kunaka

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.

Posted on

BREAKING- Chiwenga To Make First Public Appearance Tomorrow

Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga

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:

Posted on

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

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.”

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

The late Josiah Rimayi’s vehicle
Posted on

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

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Chipinge Okays MOPO

Constitution

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Posted on

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…