Government believes the Cybercrime and Cyber Security Bill will combat cybercrimes when it becomes law.

This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi on Thursday during question and answer session in the Senate, while responding to a question from president of the Chiefs Council, Senator Fortune Charumbira, who wanted to know what Government was doing to minimise abuse of social media by some uncouth citizens.

Cybercrimes are on the rise in the country due to a surge in broadband penetration, with statistics from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) showing that mobile Internet and data utilisation rose by 15,7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

The Information ministry is working together with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in coming up with the Cyber Security Bill to nip cybercrime in the bud. He said unscrupulous citizens were creating fake social media accounts which are being used to circulate falsehoods and defame top politicians.

“We have fake Twitter and WhatsApp accounts . . . some of them have been used by criminals who use the accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. We are in the process of coming up with a Cyber Security Bill which concentrates on this,” said Mutodi.

Mutodi said the Bill will plug loopholes that people have been exploiting to disseminate false information and tarnish others’ images. “The Bill will also address some behaviour that seeks to infringe on the rights of other people such spreading of nude pictures or any information that will tarnish a person’s image,” he said.State media

The Zifa president has courted the country’s most sought after contemporary musician and lead member of the band Third Generation, Jah Prayzah to coin a new song for the Sunday Chidzambwa-mentored side.

“We know that Jah Prayzah has quite a number of followers and he is also a Warriors fan. So, I asked him to compose a song for the Warriors. I hope that will also motivate our Warriors,” said Felton Kamambo.

For Jah Prayzah, the challenge is huge and he understands the role that music plays in football.
“The idea is amazing and we are going to do it. . . . Just to get everyone in the football mood, needs music. Football does not go without music. We are going to do a great song,” said the dreadlocked muso.

Indeed music plays a part before, during and after the match.
Hopefully the next offering by the singer will evoke feelings of happiness as it connects the Knowledge Musona-led ship with the fans.

Zimbabwe are in Group A where they open their campaign against the hosts Egypt on June 21 (at 10pm Zimbabwean time) before they take on Uganda on June 26 (at 7pm Zimbabwean time).

They then wrap up their group stage matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo four days later at 9pm.B-Metro

Farai Dziva|Controversial Member of Parliament for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba (ZANU PF) has sensationally claimed the MDC is dead and buried.

Chinotimbaade the remarks on Wednesday.

He blasted the MDC-led Harare City council for “dismally failing torun the affairs of the city.”

Chinotimba was commenting on the absence of water in the Parliament building -affecting ablution facilities.

“Parliament has no water. The stench from the toilets is just so bad. We cannot just sit as Parliament whilst things go bad to such an extent.

How are we expected to carry out parliamentary business without water?

It is the council that has failed. The MDC party is dead and has failed.
If they have failed then I want to be the Mayor of Harare. I will contest for the position so that I fix the problem.”

By Talent Gondo- Some political parties that spurned the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) after its launch in February this year are now approaching authorities seeking to get involved, President Mnangagwa has revealed.

A report by the state media said Mnangagwa revealed this at a recent meeting to chart the way forward following the successful launch of the dialogue.

He said the parties had been referred to the conveners.

The process is being co-convened by National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare and Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) chairperson Mrs Margaret Sangarwe-Mukahanana.

“I have received inquiries from some political parties outside the dialogue, who were once here and left, who want to come back, but I have told them to go to the conveners,” said the President, without naming the concerned parties.

Out of 23 political parties that took part in the July 31 harmonised elections last year, 21 joined the political dialogue aimed at finding consensus on solving problems affecting the country and address various socio-economic and political issues.-StateMedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- Senate, Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira has asked Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi to explain government policy on fake Twitter and other social media accounts.

Recently, there was a twitter account under the name Fortune Charumbira which was criticising president Mnangagwa’s administration for causing pain to the citizenry. The chief has since distanced himself from the account.

In response to the question, Mutodi said that the situation was not peculiar to Zimbabwe. He also said that the issue was worrying as fake accounts were being created in the names of prominent people including Mnangagwa, Vice-Presidents and top army officials.

He said:

It is not only happening in Zimbabwe. In the United States, 11% of social media accounts are fake and some have been used for fraudulent criminal activities. In Zimbabwe, we face a serious situation of these fake accounts because popular individuals like the Head of State and Government, the army, the Central Intelligence Organisation or chiefs are used to peddle lies through those fake accounts as if they have said something.

Mutodi added that there is a Cyber-Crime Bill which is in its draft stage which shall address the issue of protection in the cyberspace. He, however, forewarned that there shall be a problem in implementing the cyber laws since the Constitution provided for freedom of information. He added that most of the people creating fake social media accounts were residing in foreign countries.-Newsday

PARLIAMENT has been called upon to support President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement drive that has resulted in the recent launch of a formal dialogue process between Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU). 

The dialogue, launched in Harare last Wednesday, is based on Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which governs relations between member states of the African-Carribean-Pacific regions and the EU.

Zimbabwe and the European bloc have endured frosty relations in the past two decades and the dialogue opens a fresh page that will have major geopolitical implications and benefits for Zimbabwe, whose international relations soured domestic prospects for growth economically and socially.

The dialogue is being co-chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Secretary Ambassador James Manzou and the Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Zanu-PF Makonde legislator, Cde Kindness Paradza said the dialogue process paints a good picture of the country.  “Article 8 (of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement) on political dialogue, provides for parties to exchange information, foster mutual understanding and facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas among other objectives. 

“Hon Members may be pleased to know that Zimbabwe and the EU have been undertaking informal political dialogue over the years. The exchanges remained informal because Zimbabwe has been refusing to engage in formal dialogue insisting on the removal first of the EU sanctions imposed on the country,” he said. 

“However, since the advent of the Second Republic, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated Government’s commitment to engage, re-engage and normalise relations with all players and Member States in the International Community.”

By A Correspondent- THE Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has barred 10 lawyers from practicing this year for misconduct and a litany of other reasons.

The reasons which LSZ cites for de-registration of these lawyers range from non-payment of practising fees and subscriptions to cases of misconduct such as money laundering,forgery and abuse of trust funds.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates

JOHN Tallach High School has taken Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema to court challenging the looming deportation of its Canadian expatriate teacher following the refusal by immigration authorities to extend her temporary employment permit (TEP).

Ms Kerkhoff Maria Alida (31), a Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland missionary and volunteer A-Level Mathematics teacher at John Tallach High School had her application for the extension of temporary employment permit rejected by the Principal Director of Immigration without any reasons given. 

John Tallach High School (Ingwenya Mission) through its lawyers Ncube and Partners, has filed an ex-parte urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the refusal by the immigration authorities to extend Ms Alida’s permit, citing Minister Mathema and the Principal Director of Immigration as respondents.

John Tallach High School wants the court to block the respondents from deporting Ms Alida to her country of origin pending the resolution of the issues related to the refusal to extend her TEP without furnishing her with reasons.

In his founding affidavit, the school head Mr Bonakele Ncube said the application was on an urgent basis in light of Ms AIida’s imminent deportation.

“This is an urgent application for an order directing the first respondent (principal director of immigration) to furnish us with the reasons for refusal of granting of second applicant (Ms Alida) a temporary employment permit. Further, we seek relief to the effect that the deportation of the second applicant be stayed until such a time the issue relating to her TEP is finalised,” he said.

Ms Alida successfully applied for a TEP last year in May and it was valid for 12 month. 

The work permit also stated that she had an option to apply for an extension three months before the expiry date.

“She applied for an extension and the Principal Immigration Officer declined to renew the permit and a notice of deportation was subsequently issued against Ms Alida. The respondents are bound by the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act to act reasonably and in a fair and just manner in taking administrative action which may affect the rights, interests and legitimate expectations of any person,” said Mr Ncube.

The school head said the Principal Director of Immigration acted unfairly by failing to provide the reasons justifying their refusal to renew Ms Alida’s TEP.

“The second application is in the country legally and she is a holder of a valid passport. She has been volunteering as an A-Level Mathematics teacher. This is an important point considering that the Maths teacher resigned in July 2018 to join the Harare City Council. Despite numerous requests, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary has somehow failed to make a suitable replacement,” said the headmaster.

“Since July 2018, Ms Alida has been preparing the pupils for their final examinations. It would be impossible to get a suitable replacement as she has been teaching in her own unique way such that they have managed to cover most areas in the syllabus and our fear is that a sudden change may have disastrous effects on the pupils.”

Mr Ncube said Ms Alida, a holder of a Master’s degree in Mathematics, is also conducting a training programme for two assistants who are understudying her.

“All these teaching roles are not at the expense of the Government of Zimbabwe or the school as she is funded by the church in Scotland. She is also strategically positioned to source donor funds for the institution. Furthermore she is also exploring a possibility of establishing a short term exchange programme for John Tallach High School pupils and her former school in Canada,” he said.

“The second applicant has no criminal conviction and her continued presence in the country pending the resolution of her TEP issues does not in any way prejudice the country.” Mr Ncube said the school, which is situated in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North, was also one of the worst affected in terms of STEM teachers’ shortage in the province. 

In her supporting affidavit, Ms Alida said she had developed a great relationship with the pupils such that she feels they will be deprived in the event that she is deported.

Minister Mathema and the principal director of immigration are yet to respond.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Emerging information suggests that Wicknell Chivhayo could have misled the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) into making payments for earthmoving equipment worth US$800 000 to a non-existent US firm.

However, the report on April 26, 2016, shows that Intratrek got central bank authority to load US$849,475 on their VISA card to purchase the earth moving equipment from a USA based equipment supplier, Pietznack Plant and Earthmoving Services.

The report reads:

“A Google search on the supplier revealed that the address on the invoice for the earth moving equipment was an unoccupied block of residential flats.

These advance payments were made to the contractor without the knowledge of the company secretary’s office which administers all contracts. The board was also not aware that Intratrek had been paid without an Advance Payment Guarantee.”

Chivhayo’s Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Ltd was paid a total of US$5,6m for designs and feasibility study, and pre-commencement works and in terms of the contract, Intratrek was obligated to provide an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) against advance payments made by ZPC and this was not done. The report further reads:

Chivhayo dismissed the report saying it was based on speculation.

He said:

“That’s why the High Court acquitted me on 22 March and granted specific performance on 18 December. No one travelled to America to visit that company. It was mere speculation and conjecture.”

Pindula|The newly elected MDC Youth assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole is reported to have been briefly taken in by police officers for questioning. It is however not clear as to why he was taken.

It is suspected however that he was taken in connection with some announcements he made last week about the MDC youths assembly resolution to take a confrontational approach against president Emmerson Mnangagwa. Sithole is quoted as having said:

We are taking the decision to confront this regime, knowing fully well that the answer to the national question lies in this generation, which has a future to safeguard.

As the MDC youth assembly, we are going to set the pace in making sure we save this nation from despondency and deprivation. We are neither apologetic nor afraid to take this regime head-on to ensure that we bring back the dignity and decorum of our people.

Posting on Twitter, @mdcya-dpspokesconfirmed both the release of Sithole. See the post below:

PAYNET, a subsidiary of Mauritian financial services provider Payserv Africa, has suspended all local financial institutions from its transacting platform after they refused to pay in foreign currency for its services.

This has had the knock-on effect on RTGS payments.

Paynet is the platform used in interbank RTGS transfers. The platform is also used by corporates to facilitate its payments.

The standoff is the latest indication of a worsening economic crisis characterised by a debilitating liquidity crunch, foreign currency shortages, rising inflation, power outages and low productivity.

The development means that there will be limited movement of funds during the standoff, which will affect the general public’s transactions.

The development could also affect the payment on time of salaries to civil servants. Government starts paying its workers mid-month.

In a statement this week, Paynet said they had cut off all banks from using its platform because of their failure to pay for its services.

“We regret to inform our valued clients that Payserv Africa have suspended Paynet services to all banks due to non-payment of service fees,” Paynet said.

“If you would like to continue using Paynet, please contact your bank and request they address this with Payserv Africa to have service reinstated.”

A senior banking official told businessdigest that they cannot pay for the services of Paynet for carrying out transactions in RTGS.

“Various discussions have been held over the issue to try and find middle ground,” the official noted.

“It does not make sense for us to pay the service provider in foreign currency when we process transactions in RTGS. Paynet has cut off all banks from their platforms which is probably to pressurise us to accept its proposition for us to pay for its services in foreign currency. “

Another banking official said they are now looking at other modalities to avert a national crisis, which include looking for an alternative service provider who will charge in RTGS dollars.

“We feel that Paynet has tried to turn customers against banks by asking them to contact us over its decisions to cut us off which is a move in bad faith,” he said.

The development is a culmination of the depreciation of the country’s local currency which continues to rapidly erode against the United States dollar. Yesterday the US dollar was trading at 1:9 with the RTGS dollar on the parallel market.

The country’s local currency has been in a free-fall since Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya announced in October last year the separation of RTGS and foreign currency accounts. The situation is further aggravated by the central bank’s decision in February this year to adjust the exchange rate from 1:1 to 1:2,5.

This has resulted in most service providers and retail shops demanding payment in the US dollar or at the RTGS equivalent at a time the disposable income of most Zimbabweans has remained stagnant.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced last week that his government is working on introducing a new local currency and abandoning the use of the multi-currency regime which has been operating for the last decade.

By Own Correspondent- Seviasi Piki, a former Zanu Pf councilor who resides near Chaka business centre, the man who assisted Apostle Talent Chiwenga soon after the accident has said he assisted the accident victim but was not even aware of who was who.

He said:

“The atmosphere was sombre and everyone was afraid because there were dead bodies. There was a police officer but he looked scared and i took control because i wanted to save a life.

I even commanded the people that were there to go and take axes so that we assist the people that were trapped. Everyone was panicking.

There were three or four boys who had the guts to assist because the other people, from a nearby farm that were there were shell shocked. They were not taking any action because they were too scared.”

Watch the video below for this and more….

If 8-hour powercuts were already a pain in the backside then brace yourselves for even longer periods in the dark, as ZESA has started stage 2 of load shedding as announced on ZBC News last night.

“Kindly note that generation at Hwange is depressed due to a technical fault. Load shedding is now on Stage 2.

Load shedding may be above [for longer periods than] the publicized schedules. We apologize for any inconveniences caused.”

Considering that Stage 2 load shedding has 15 hour power cuts, it’s going to be a depressing period if the fault at Hwange takes a significant amount of time to fix.

Even in the event that this technical fault is fixed, once you consider that there’s close to a fortnight of generation capacity left at Kariba, stage 2 might become the norm sooner rather than later.

Tech Zim

‌

The troubled Anglican Church Diocese of Manicaland is currently engulfed in a major se_x scandal which the high ranking officials are reported to be attempting to cover up.

The Zim Morning Post reports that Reverend Position Chikuruwo was caught redhanded having se_x with Lynnette Manyumwa, the wife of his colleague Reverend Talent Makanga. The disgraceful act occured in Makanga’s own house.

However, Bishop Eric Ruwona who presides over the Diocese of Manicaland is reported to be making moves to protect Chikuruwo, who is reported to be a protegee of his.

A source who spoke to the publication said,

“Yes, we can confirm that this (se_xual act) happened. As we speak right now they (Talent Makanga and Lynnette Manyumwa) are on separation, as divorce processes are ongoing.”

Both Revered Chikuruwo and Lynnette are said to have confessed to the adultery. However, Chikuruwo went on to claim that he was not the only bedding Lynnette. He went on to claim that Lynnette was also having adulterous affairs with two other named Reverends as well as another church member who is at the Anglican Church Diocese of Manicaland head office.

According to the established facts, Chikuruwo attended a party last Friday where he became inebriated. Instead of going home, he went to Makanga’s residence where he continued drinking with Makanga.

It seems like Makanga was already suspicious of Chikuruwo as he pretended to leave his own house, only to climb over the pre-cast wall hide in the yard.

Thinking that her husband had left, Lynnette is reported to have left the couple’s bedroom, and taken Chikuruwo into a spare bedroom where the two engaged in unprotected se_x.

After Makanga failed to open the main door into the house because it was locked, he called a relative who was in the other spare bedroom to open the door for him. The two then went into the other spare bedroom where they caught Lynnette and Chikuruwo In flagrante delicto (red handed).

Ruwona is reported to have protected Chikuruwo who alleged to be serial se_x predator from numerous previous cases. Whenever an allegation was made, Bishop Ruwona would transfer Chikuruwo almost overnight to another parish.

When contacted for comment, Bishop Ruwona said

“As a church, we have not yet received that report (se_xual misconduct). We have only read that on the social media. But on cases of that matter, the church has processes and systems to deal with that. The Bishop has his court. We want evidence. So when we have that evidence, our Diocesan Secretary will deal with it.”

Zanu-PF party is set to receive $8 403 600 while the MDC Alliance will $3 596 400 from the $12 million allocated to political parties by the Treasury under the Political Parties Finance Act.

This was announced by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in the government gazette.

The two political parties garnered 70,03% and 29,97% of the total votes cast in the 2018 elections and under the Political Parties Finance Act, only a political party that secures 5 % of the total votes cast can benefit from the fiscus.

“It is hereby notified in terms of the Political Parties and Finance Act (Chapter 2.040 that the total amount of monies payable to political parties in respect of the year beginning January 1, 2019, and ending December 31, 2019, is $12 million,” stated Ziyambi.

The move has in the past raised the ire of smaller political parties as they have argues that they deserve a chunk of the money.

The move comes in the wake of financial problems in the opposition movement with recent reports indicating that the party was failing to pay its workers.

The MDC had to rely on donations to run its recent national elective congress held in Gweru.

A video of Former President Robert telling a gathering that he had confided to South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki that he preferred Sydney Sekeramayi to take over from him has resurfaced.

Mugabe is heard saying he told Mbeki that Sekeramayi should be the one who takes over because he was senior than Mnangagwa.

Mugabe revealed that people like Perence Shiri also knew the succession plan but they decided to support Mnangagwa.

Member of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Council Busisa Moyo has been subject to speculations that he has quit the presidential committee.

Moyo posted a Twitter message which generated speculation that he is throwing in the towel and resigning from the embattled PAC.  

Moyo’s ambiguous tweet read as follows:

“Zvaramba ma Comrades. Kwalile zihlobo! Okay. I was wrong, yes perhaps naive. Sometimes you want something to be true & you believe it before it happens (faith)…you give it your best & believe the next man is largely doing the same. I thought you should know!”

Moyo has apparently since deleted the tweet and replaced it with another one claiming that he had been misunderstood by the readers.

Farai Dziva|MDC Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole has been summoned by the ZRP Law and Order section.

The police are yet to disclose the reason for summoning him.Sithole will report at Harare Central Police Station in the company of his lawyers.

See the MDC Youth Assembly statement below:

Youth Assembly National Chairman leader Obey Luther Sithole has been summoned by ZRP’s Law and Order section.

He will report at Harare Central Police Station today in company of his lawyers.

The move by ZRP comes hotly after the Youth Assembly this week held a press conferences at MRT House where we bemoaned the debilitating economic situation presided over by the ZANU PF regime.

It is our conviction that our youth commander did everything within the confines of the law.

As the MDC Youth Assembly we are not going to be moved or gravitate away from our position that the current crisis is directly linked to corruption and the legitimacy question.

We stood where we stand and we stand where we stood!

Aluta!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva| The brother-in-law of the late MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday said an inclusive government will resolve the country’s political crisis.

He urged Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to resort to dialogue and come up with an inclusive government to address the country’s economic woes.

Isaac Mhundwa, brother to Tsvangirai’s wife, the late Susan said :”
My sister died in an accident on her way to celebrate the inclusive government that later stabilised the economy for the betterment of people’s lives.

My niece died in an accident as well and I hope this challenges the political leaders to negotiate and come up with another inclusive government.”

He made remarks at the funeral of Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, the eldest daughter of Morgan and Susan who died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident she was involved in outside Kwekwe on May 14.

By A Correspondent| Fears for ZANU PF’s former National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Rugeje rose early Friday afternoon when his phone remained switched off, just after rumours floated claiming that he has been involved in a car accident. A church Facebook account first flighted the reports which claim he has been admitted at Silveira Hospital near Masvingo.

The fears have continued from the time Rugeje was removed from his National Commissar post last week. The NPC post “burns everyone” and even the former NPC (Mugabe days), Saviour Kasukuwere is still lurking in fear 2 years after his removal on 2017.

But his Personal Assistant, Everisto Dika told ZimEye there is no truth at all in the accident rumours.

He said, “Lies, true lies, there is nothing like that there are a lot of people who have phoned me. There is nothing like that. He is safe,” he told ZimEye.

When asked about Rugeje’s whereabouts, he refused to be drawn into disclosing his exact location only saying, “he is out of Harare, but not in Masvingo.

“It is his home area of course, but he is not anywhere near that place. Usually, stories of this nature involving our leaders they(people) want to cause confusion and panic, to throw unnecessary confusion and panic,” he added.

Meanwhile, the fears for Rugeje are not new, they stem from the fact that since independence, every political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:

Mayor Urimbo,

Maurice Nyagumbo,

Movern Mahachi,

Border Gezi,

Elliot Manyika,

Webster Shamu,

Saviour Kasukuwere,

Engelbert Rugeje.

2001 Border Gezi

• BORDER GEZI: Gezi had been a rising star in Zanu PF, rising to governor and then Youth minister before his death in a car crash on April 28 2001. Gezi died when his driver lost control of his ministerial vehicle, although an inquest later blamed two senior officials from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department for negligence in fitting a defective tyre to his car.
• May 26, 2001

  2001 Moven Mahachi

  MOVEN MAHACHI: The Defence minister died barely a month after the death of Gezi, raising questions whether the accident that claimed his life had been a genuine one. Mahachi was killed on May 26, 2001 when his Range Rover collided with a small car along the Mutare –
  Nyanga Road.

Apostle Batsirai Java|”We laid you my wife yesterday at Glen Forest, but i did not lay you inside of me.You were and you are still part of my life, church and GlenView constituency that God has given you to lead as MP.”

A true wife and best friend.A true leader in all areas, a mother to many people.

Rest in eternal peace my wife, best friend and partner in everything. I am happy because you are with the Lord.

Newsday|Police officers who man the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) urban buses have petitioned government and the bus company over unpaid overtime.

In the petition, seen by Southern Eye, the police officers said they were working more than 18-hour shifts, which they alleged begin at 3:45am and end at 10pm.

“When those duties started, we had two shifts, one starting at 3:45am to 1pm and the other at 1:01pm to 10pm. But the command said one shift was enough,” read the petition.

The officers further said they spend many hours in the buses plying different routes, which they felt was unhealthy.

“For 18 hours, we are given only lunch, which is not enough,” the petition read.

They said Zupco was supposed to pay them an allowance of ZWL$30 daily, which should through their command, but they had never received the allowance.

“We hear news that Zupco pays travelling and subsistence allowances at RTGS$30, but it does not reach us. Many have fallen sick due to this strenuous duty,” the petition read.

The police officers alleged that the Zimbabwe Republic Police was engulfed by so much panic such that even those at police stations were doing 12 hour-shifts.

“Security wise, we have so much fatigue. At Bulawayo Central, they have 12 hour-shift again and there is panic all of a sudden. You greed (sic) pay us our allowances.”

Contacted for comment, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said there was a period when officers manning Zupco buses had to work for longer hours due to logistical problems that the force’s Bulawayo province command was working on.

“I admit that we had a period when our officers had to work longer hours on the buses. This was due to logistical issues we had, but we managed to solve that within three days,” he said.

However, Nyathi said if members of the police force had any problems, they knew the communication channel within the force, adding that their grievances would never be ignored.

“Our position as the Zimbabwe Republic Police is, we are fully aware of the communication channels that we use in the event that we have grievances. Right now,

members are doing a two shift system, and I believe some of the allegations are exaggerated,” he said.

The police officers in their petition also complained over lack of winter uniforms.

“We do not have enough winter uniforms. Is our police commander aware of this?” the petition read.

Responding to the complaint, Nyathi said: “I am not aware of that, even the issue of ZWL$30 a day is new to me. Like I said, if police members have a problem,they should use the proper communication channel, and desist from running to the Press.”

Zupco acting chief executive Everisto Madangwe distanced the company from any responsibility to police officers on duty aboard their fleet.

“I am not in a position to comment about the police welfare, I can only talk about the welfare of the Zupco employees, which happens to be my dispensation,” Madangwe said.

ZRP officers have been on duty, maintaing security, ever since the threat of violent demonstrations by angry citizens, particularly in Harare, following fuel hikes in January.

Defunct Steel manufacturer Ziscosteel, is set to get a new board of directors after Government retired the entire old board that had been in office for more than a decade. Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, confirmed that the board led by Mr Nyasha Makuvise had overstayed its term of office and has been retired, paving way for the appointment of a new board.

“We have retired the entire old board. The new one is expected anytime soon. In fact, I already have the names and am awaiting approval by President Emerson Mnangagwa,” said Minister Ndlovu.

“The board has been there for long, more than 10 years. Under normal circumstances, the board was supposed to be in office for two terms of four years, that is a total of eight years in office. We are actually celebrating their tenure and appreciating their hard work in trying to turn around the fortunes of our great national asset.”

The board leaves office at time when there are allegations of looting of assets within the giant steel manufacturer. During the commissioning of ZimCoke plant that is within the Ziscosteel plant recently, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima decried alleged theft within the parastatal.

“We all know that Zisco has been closed for a long period now. While it appears that everything is intact there are, however, there are incidences of cannibalism and removal of assets from this particular public enterprise. However, I should mention that management to an extent has tried to protect these assets,” said Minister Mavima.

Minister Ndlovu also confirmed having received such information, saying the coming in of ZimCoke will put a stop to such shenanigans.

“I have heard about those allegations. We, however, cannot say the retiring of the board is part of the solution but I know for sure the coming in of ZimCoke, which is set to resume operations in the near future, will improve sanity at the parastatal,” he said.

“I understand they are bringing in top notch security that will be manning not only ZimCoke but the entire Ziscosteel plant.”

Minister Ndlovu said an investigation will also be conducted in the near future to ascertain which assets were missing.

The coming in of new board is expected to bring renewed hope towards the revitalization of the giant steel company, which is considered one of the biggest in the region.

With capacity to employ more than 5 000 workers and supply the whole region with steel, the company is a strategic player in the country’ economic turnaround.

State Media

State Media|GOVERNMENT has said no Gukurahundi exhumations and reburials should be done until the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) completes consultations on how the process should be undertaken.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Mike Madiro said a policy, which is yet to be crafted, will guide the exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims.

Madiro said this while responding to Bulawayo MDC-T proportional representation MP Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga during Wednesday’s National Assembly Question-and-Answer Session.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga had asked whether it was permissible for families of individuals who died during the 1980s disturbances to conduct exhumations and reburials for the victims.

Madiro said the NPRC was conducting consultations on the issue and what will come out of that process would be used to map the way forward.

“Member should be informed that this is a matter which is being considered by the commission which has been put in place to come up with the programme and policy on reburials. So until such a time that the commission finishes its brief, then no one should be able to exhume and rebury — unless it is done according to the law. Otherwise at the moment, it cannot be done on private basis. It has to wait for the commission to do its work and upon reporting then reburials can be done. I want to inform the House that we do not have a specific policy on how it has to be done. That is a matter which is still under consultation,” said Madiro.

Last week, the NPRC said it would tackle Gukurahundi as a matter of priority.

NPRC Commissioner Leslie Ncube said in the commission’s engagement with the public, it observed that Gukurahundi was a topical issue that needed to be addressed.

Comm Ncube said the NPRC was working closely with stakeholders and communities.

“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.

State Media|BATTLE lines have been drawn between tenants in Victoria Falls town and property owners who are demanding outrageous United States dollar amounts for payment of rentals for their properties.

Concerned residents have approached the Victoria Falls Municipality and Government to intervene. Unscrupulous landlords are now demanding rentals in US$ and are refusing to accept RTGS and EcoCash payments thereby leaving many stranded.

A room is now pegged between $50 and $100, which translates to between RTGS$400 and RTGS$800 per room on the prevailing black market rate. The rentals exclude other charges such as rates and water bills.

The rent madness is not confined to households as office space owners are also demanding between US$400 and US$1 000 per month per office with effect from June 1.

A majority of tenants are vacating premises as they cannot afford to raise the US$ but have a challenge of getting new premises because Victoria Falls has limited office space. Those who spoke to Business Chronicle said more and more landlords were demanding US$ for rentals

They called upon Government to regulate the property sector.

“Something needs to be done. We need a regulation because people earn on average between RTGS$350 and RTGS$500 yet they are expected to pay rent in forex,” said a concerned resident who requested anonymity.

Many residents said they expected only foreigners to be asked to pay for services and other charges in forex and not locals.

“Employers are not paying workers in forex including those demanding payments in forex so where do they expect people to get the forex from?”

The residents said what has worsened their plight is that many of them do not own houses and as such were at the mercy of landlords demanding forex.

They said council was not helping the situation because it was giving priority to those seeking land for commercial use at the expense of homeseekers.

Most people are vacating offices and shops and securing a room to rent in the suburbs is now a nightmare. Another resident said some tenants have resorted to sharing office space thereby risking lowering standards given that Victorial Falls is a resort town. Residents said the US$ price madness was initiated by hardware owners who started demanding payment for building material in foreign currency.

This has resulted in most locals buying products from Zambia and Botswana where prices are reasonably cheaper. Zambians are cashing in on the situation as they overload bicycles with bags of cement to sell to Victoria Falls residents.

“Government has to intervene urgently before the situation gets out of hand. The commuting public has also not been spared by this price madness as taxis are charging exorbitant fares. We wish Government could also send us Zupco buses like in other towns where they are paying 50 cents for a distance of up to 20km while we pay RTGS$2.50 for a distance of 4km,” said another concerned resident.

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) Victoria Falls chapter has described what is happening as contra bona mores (against good morals) and a violation of Statutory Instrument 33/2019, which prohibits such actions. The AAG has said this is causing a lot of anxiety in the community and promoting corruption and profiteering thereby negating Government’s vision 2030.

The chapter’s secretary, Mrs Mercy Mushangwe-Ncube, urged Government to quickly intervene.

“The situation is not confined to rent but also includes prices of other basics. This is not fair because people are earning RTGS. Government should come in because this is getting out of hand. We urgently need our own currency,” she said.

Victoria Falls mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini said council is overwhelmed by complaints from residents but there was nothing the local authority could do as the issue involves private property. He, however, appealed to landlords to be humane reminding them that they pay small amounts in RTGS to council.

“These are private properties where the agreement is between the landlord and tenant hence it’s not easy for the council to intervene.

“We have received a lot of complaints and landlords are saying they built the properties on their own but we would want to urge them to be considerate because this situation is affecting everyone,” he said.

State Media|President Mnangagwa has invited Chinese construction firm, Shanghai Construction Group, to establish offices in Zimbabwe in preparation for future infrastructure construction projects, as the country moves to fulfil Vision 2030 aimed at achieving an upper middle-income society.

The President was speaking after touring the new Parliament Building under construction in Mt Hampden yesterday, which he said was symbolic of the strategic relationship between Zimbabwe and China.

The 650-seater building is being constructed by Shanghai Construction Group using a grant of approximately US$98 million (RMB676,43 million) extended to Zimbabwe by the Chinese government.

Zimbabwe is targeting development and modernisation of roads, railways, airports and other related infrastructure to fulfil provisions of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and enhance the lives of ordinary people.

“This company (Shanghai Construction Group) which is building this Parliament for us has been on the continent for many years, possibly decades and has repute across the continent for constructing buildings or infrastructure of repute,” said the President.

“Now they are in Zimbabwe and they are building this one for us freely. We are grateful, but I would wish that they continue to remain in Zimbabwe. In the area of infrastructure development, Zimbabwe is still lagging behind and I am informed that this company has multiple skills in the area of construction of infrastructure.

“Even by the time we complete this project, there are other projects currently being discussed and seeking financing and I have no doubt that we will be able to select you to implement such projects in Zimbabwe.”

President Mnangagwa said the construction of the Parliament building was as a result of a discussions he held with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, during the FOCAC summit in Beijing last year.

“There are issues which were discussed under the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) meeting in September last year and currently there are discussions which should be undertaken this month at ministerial level,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Under that programme, China-Africa programme, there is a $60 billion facility from China to Africa and I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will share part of that cake for infrastructure development.”

President Mnangagwa said under the new dispensation, business takes precedence over politics, citing that investors must shun corruption and focus on doing business using the correct channels.

“Now, business takes front seat and politics takes a back seat,” he said. “The cost of short-cuts and the disregard of local authority by-laws and architectural requirements have far reaching and dire implications to one’s investments

“Individuals and corporate property investors must, therefore, make sound and corrupt-free decisions.”

President Mnangagwa praised Shanghai Construction Group for the work it is doing at the New Parliament Building site, whose ground breaking ceremony was done in November last year.

“This edifice will be one of the most unique parliaments in our region,” he said. “Besides being unique, it’s demonstrative of our comprehensive, strategic relationship with the People’s Republic of China. There are many friends we have, but this is one symbolic stature which generations to come will know it is a demonstration of the cooperation between the people of Zimbabwe and the people of China.”

President Mnangagwa commended the construction firm for moving with speed, saying the project was likely to be completed before the scheduled three years.

“I am told that the period of construction is expected to span a period of three years, but I would speculate that with the pace the project is being implemented, there is a possibility that the construction of this parliament will be finished earlier than projected,” he said.

“The Chinese working culture is a culture I believe we should emulate. The Chinese are very hard-working and get focused on the project they would be doing. I have no doubt that our own Zimbabwean people; the craftsmen who are here, the engineers who are here, the architects that are here will benefit not only in terms of skills, but in terms of technology that has been brought here.”

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has said some husbands will not enter heaven because they ignore calls by their spouses to go to church but only think of “stonyeni.”

Stonyeni is a colloquial name that refers to a sex organ or broadly sexual int*rcourse.

Chamisa was addressing mourners at the funeral service of the late MDC Alliance Glenview MP Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java who died on Monday.

“Most of you here will not be saved because you ignore the wives when they say let’s go to church when you want to do other things and thinking of stonyeni,” said Chamisa to loud cheers.

The MDC Alliance leader who is also an ordained pastor said it was the role of religious leaders to tell the truth as it is.

“A pastor must tell it as it is, we know these things,” said Chamisa.

The term stonyeni was popularised by singer Jah Signal with his song Sweetie released in 2018. The singer has denied that the term refers to sex but instead to love.

However, the disclaimer came too late as Zimbabweans had already made their own conclusions on the meaning of the term.

Besides being warmly welcome and acknowledged by the MDC President Nelson Chamisa at the burial of Vimbai Tsvangirai on Thursday, MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe claims that she was not treated well by the opposition party and its supporters.

Speaking to state media on the sidelines of the burial ceremony, Dr Khupe claimed that MDC supporters called her derogative names with some threatening to force her away from the burial proceedings.

The former MDC Deputy President condemned the behaviour and called on MDC supporters to stop what she called politicising funerals.

“As you can see today is a sad moment for all of us where we have come to mourn the passing on of Honourable Vimbai and also to celebrate her life. She was our founding president’s daughter and we had lived with her all our lives.

“But when people come to mourn, they must mourn. This culture of coming to funerals to hijack and turn them into political rallies must come to an end, and I mean this culture must come to a stop. It is unacceptable, it is uncultured, it is not Zimbabwean and I have never seen that,” she said.

“We have opportunities to go out there and do rallies, but to do that here is unacceptable, I have never seen such. Even the one who has departed, I don’t think she is happy, if they can indeed see I don’t think they are happy with what they see here today. When people come to funerals, they must do exactly what they have gone there for, I hope and trust that these people will learn and change their behaviour especially when we come to funerals, people should also respect the dead”.

Dr Khupe also spoke about the ongoing national political dialogue where she said the initiative is good for the people of Zimbabwe.

“When we are in dialogue, we are doing it for Zimbabweans, we are saying we want things to change but we cannot change things by going out there throwing stones, by burning tyres, by destroying people’s shops but we only resolve issues by discussing issues and this is what some of us are doing.

The MDC President, instead took the occasion of the burial proceedings to express his respect and honour for Khupe inviting her back into the party and calling on the party supporters to continue valuing her contributions to the party.

Said Chamisa, “I honour you Dr Khupe. Dr Khupe once more I salute. You were my Deputy Prime Minister while I was Minister, you were my Vice President while I was your Spokesperson.

“Yesterday I told Dr Khupe yesterday that we will unite one day. The Seniority of Dr Khupe is not defined by Congress and her seniority is not questionable.”

Parliament has denied buying fuel for parliamentarians at more than the Government-prescribed rates, saying an exchange note published by ZimEye.com on Tuesday implying that the institution bought the commodity at a higher price was for a private transaction involving an individual MP.

The fuel exchange note implied that Parliament was buying fuel at $10,50 per litre, which is way above set limits.

In a statement yesterday, Parliament said their investigations had shown that the particular transaction involved an unnamed MP who wanted to exchange expired fuel coupons.

“The fuel coupon exchange note in question involved a transaction between an individual Member of Parliament who was replacing expired coupons at Redan Pvt (Ltd) and not the institution of Parliament,” reads part of the statement.

“The only reason the exchange note reflects the name of the institution is primarily because the coupons are purchased by Parliament as an institution for all Members of Parliament and subsequently issued to individual members.

“The serial numbers of the coupons in Redan’s system thus reflect Parliament of Zimbabwe as the procuring entity and not the individual member. That notwithstanding, Parliament of Zimbabwe engaged Redan over the matter and was advised that the exchange note was generated and issued to the Member of Parliament for the sole reason of enabling him to collect the new coupons.

“The member in question was never charged for the transaction. In other words, the coupon exchange note is an internal Redan document whose esoteric figures are understood by Redan staff, but do not reflect the prevailing coupon prices and should thus not be used as a pricing reference point.”

Parliament said it was unfortunate that the MP in question decided to circulate the document on social media platforms without verifying with Redan or Parliament what the figures meant.

Manica Post|A HOT Springs businessman and his family endured 20 minutes of terror after five armed robbers pounced on their homestead, assaulted him and his wife while firing live ammunition before they made off with cash and smart phones during last Saturday night.

The terrifying armed robbery that saw Mr Divine Gamunorwa (33) losing US$2 100, R4 000, $150 RTGS and two smart phones, is one of a number of incidents now common in the diamond rich area.

When The Manica Post visited Hot Springs Business Centre on Tuesday, the incident was still the talk of the area.

Mr Gamunorwa, who runs a grocery shop as well as a night club at Hot Springs Business Centre, narrated his ordeal at the hands of the armed robbers.

He said the incident occurred around 9pm.

“It was around 9pm when I came back from the shops and saw my dogs barking. I suspected that something was wrong since this was not usual of them. I first thought thieves had tried to steal fuel from my truck parked just outside the fence.

“I disembarked from my vehicle went straight to the truck and everything was in order. I went to open the gate and when I was about to get back into my vehicle in order to drive inside the yard, all hell broke loose.

“Five men came out of a bush opposite our homestead and approached me. Two of them were holding pistols. They claimed to be officers from CID and asked for an unlicensed gun that they alleged to be in my possession. I told them I do not possess a gun and in any way that is not the way police officers operate.

“They started assaulting me and fired two shots perhaps as a way to scare me. I insisted that I do not have any gun in my possession. As I tried to wrestle them, they sprayed a substance that left my eyes itchy and unable to see properly,” he said.

Mr Gamunorwa said he eventually managed to open one of his eyes and found a way to run away and even though the robbers fired two more shots, he did not stop.

“I instantly ran away and even though the robbers fired two more shots, I did not stop. I had told myself that it was all the same, they would eventually kill me if they wanted to,” he said.

The businessman said the robbers proceeded to break the locks to their doors to gain entry into the house where his mother, wife, young brother and his wife were.

“Upon gaining entrance into our house they started assaulting my wife demanding the keys to our safe. She refused to give them. Realising that they did not have much time since I had already escaped, they went on to break the doors to our bedroom then stole two cell phones and US$800 which was in the house.

“On their way out, they ransacked my vehicle and took US$1 300 as well as $150 RTGS. They disappeared in the dark,” said Mr Gamunorwa.

Harare’s prime talk radio station, Capitalk 100.4FM, is set host its first live interview with President Mnangagwa tonight, with various issues confronting the economy such as price increases and currency reforms expected to be discussed. The interview starts at 7pm.

The station, which prides itself in “leading the conversation”, is advertising the interview on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.

Capitalk 100.4FM head of content Ms Nyaradzo Makombe told The Herald last night that the interview, dubbed “Catching up with ED (Live)”, is predicated upon President Mnangagwa’s declaration that he was a “listening President” and the interlocution it will be testimony of the Second Republic’s openness and transparency .

“We are picking it up from his inauguration speech where he said he is going to be a listening President. So we feel as a station that this is one of the platforms we have created for him,” said Ms Makombe.

“We are going to look at the introduction of a new currency; what it means, so we expect him to explain on that. We are going to review his days in office and we are going to review his team that he put on the job, how they have been fairing, and is he happy with it (the team)?”

Is the programme is going to be conducted in its usual way, President Mnangagwa will have to take live questions from members of the public who are normally given a slot to phone into the show and ask the panel questions.

Judging from the responses that Mnangagwa normally gets on his social media platforms, he may be in for a tough time on the live interaction with the citizens.

Speaking to state media, Ms Makombe however hinted the radio station has already started collecting questions from listeners suggesting that listeners might not be given the usual opportunity to call into the programme.

Without the live listeners plenary, it gives doubts that the programme might indeed be a live one or will be pre-recorded and questions heavily edited.