By Own Correspondent- Cristiano Ronaldo is due to be served a summons to face rape claims after lawyers for his accuser finally tracked down his address in Italy, according to reports.
The Juventus striker vehemently denies claims he attacked ex-model Kathryn Mayorga at a Las Vegas hotel ten years ago.
Attorneys representing former teacher Ms Mayorga are apparently expected to send the court summons document in the coming weeks once it is translated. A spokesperson for Ronaldo declined to comment last night – but insisted that claims he would be issued with a summons were “entirely false.”
It comes after a US judge last month allowed more time to track down the Portugal national captain’s address – a necessary step in beginning court proceedings. Ms Mayorga met Ronaldo – then a 24-year-old Manchester United ace – at a nightclub in Las Vegas in 2009.
Footage showed them dancing in the VIP area of Rain nightclub – inside the glamorous Palms Casino Resort – where then 25-year-old Ms Mayorga worked. She claims the £100million star then raped her in his luxury suite before paying her £295,000 in “hush money” – which she accepted because she “felt intimidated.”
But police reopened their investigation last year after she came forward with the identity of her alleged attacker. Ronaldo emphatically denies the explosive claims.
At the time they emerged, the footballer Tweeted: “I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. “Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.
“Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.” He followed that tweet with a further message saying he had a completely “clear conscience.”
It is now official that President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has won the presidential election.
The final presidential tally shows that Mutharika has 1,940,709 votes while Malawi Congress Party presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera 1,817,740 and Saulos Chilima of UTM 1,028,187 and Atupele Muluzi of United Democratic Front 239,258.
Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to officially announce the results on Sunday or Monday.
The inauguration ceremony will follow soon after the swearing in ceremony.
Mutharika will then be inaugurated in Blantyre.
Malawians have voted for Mutharika for his visionary leadership. Malawians want the Democratic Progressive Party to continue with development projects under way.
Malawians have voted for Mutharika because he is also a father who cares for every Malawian, he does not believe in politics of vengeance.
By Own Correspondent| The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has impored government to invest in passengers safety arguing that the government run ZUPCO buses are the preferred choice for the majority of the commuting public because they are affordable.
Tafadzwa Goliath, President of the PAZ said:
“The commuting public is preferring to travel on affordable ZUPCO buses. Prior to their introduction most were spending 35% of their salaries on transport.
However, we note that some of these buses do not have passenger liability cover. They must comply, after all, other operators are arrested for not having passenger liability cover.
ZUPCO must prioritize passenger safety first. They are overloading and picking up people from undesignated points.”
By Own Correspondent| Outgoing MDC National Chairperson Tabitha Khumalo has revealed that more chiefs in the country will be attending the party’s 5th National Elective Congress.
In her official opening remarks in Gweru, Khumalo said the traditional leaders will be gracing the party’s event in solidarity with the principles and values for which the party stands for.
…and I know your team here will be looking at that. I know they will be focusing at that I know they're trying to sort it out currently in our country we have a constitutional president but here right here we have the popular president – Chief Ndiweni pic.twitter.com/lOjPNUbf1P
1/ Today I’ll be attending @CongressMdc by invitation. As I’ve always maintained as an Independent, I remain balanced. I take in views from ruling party @ZANUPF_Official views from main opposition @MDCAllianceZW take in the good of each, point out the bad&formulate my own opinion
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 25, 2019
2/Contrary to popular belief it’s not the 1st @mdczimbabwe event I’ve attended. The late Tsvangirai has before invited me to address in Wedza, the March for jobs etc, I’m part of progressive initiatives. I also work well with many @MDCAllianceZW MPs as I believe in their capacity
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 25, 2019
3/ Norton is a mixed bag & it would be folly of me not to take in the divergent views of all to effectively represent the aspirations of the people of Norton
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 25, 2019
By Own Correspondent| In a highly contested election race for the MDC National Youth Organising Secretary post, Godfrey Kurauone romped to victory bagging 415 votes ahead of Denford Ngadziore who garnered 316 votes.
Said Ngadziore accepting his defeat:
“I respect the People’s wishes and in my view the election was free and fair. Let’s all remain united.”
Watch ZimEye as we give you the live coverage and on the spot updates at the MDC party congress in Gweru where the prolific Ugandan MP Bobi Wine is heading. Today is set to be the day of Histories when Africa’s most powerful politicians Wine and Nelson Chamisa will stage side by side. WATCH LIVE UPDATES BELOW
By Luke Batsirai Tamborinyoka| Today, our beloved continent celebrates Africa Day as the Movement for Democratic Change, itself a political behemoth on the continent, holds its 5th Congress under the theme: Defining a new course for Zimbabwe.
It is always cold here in Gweru but the democracy currently unraveling in this cold Midlands city is warm enough to de-scarf the nation’s chequered politics.
The contestation for positions has reached fever pitch here as candidates jostle to capture the hearts and minds of the electorate. Yet for us, the bigger issue is not the positions but the propositions that will emerge from this Congress.
Yes, this Congress is largely set to be a festival of ideas.
The candidates are set for last ditch campaign efforts. They will parade themselves here in Gweru one after the other to make their case before the delegates from the remaining provinces of Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Masvingo.
The other provinces caucuses were held the respective provinces prior to the main Congress here. The “beauty contests”, as they are referred to within the MDC circles is a reference to the beauty of the ideas and propositions that the various candidates are proffering to make the case of their electability.
The beauty contests are contests of ideas and the candidates are being given a chance to openly, freely and democratically convince the delegates about how they will execute their respective mandates.
In what has been a first in Zimbabwe’s politics, all candidates vying for the same post have been afforded time to pitch their propositions and programmes to the provinces in an open forum.
In this whole Congress from the branches upwards, we have seen true democracy at play. Even the President’s position was open to contestation; only that Advocate Nelson Chamisa was nominated by all the 13 provinces, meaning his position will no longer be contested. But everyone had a chance to stand against him if they were nominated by the provinces.
In the MDC, personal ambition for a position is not enough. You are deployed by the people through a nomination. You do not self-deploy, or get deployed by a Court to lead the party. Such is the people-centred politics that runs through political parties and movements that are truly democratic.
It appears there has been consensus within the party that Chamisa gets a fresh mandate as his tenure has sonorously exuded vibrancy since he took the mantle from the party’s late icon, Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Chamisa is a vibrant testament of the demographic reality of our beloved continent where the youth now constitute more than 60 percent of Africa’s population. It was because of this actuality that the Africa Day theme for 2017 was “Harnessing the Demographic through Investments in the Youth.
And the MDC has already invested in this generation by entrusting it with national leadership. In his wisdom, the iconic Morgan Tsvangirai appointed Advocate Nelson Chamisa as one of his deputies in August 2016.
Addressing the party’s National Council, the party’s supreme decision-making body between Congresses, on 3 August 2016, President Tsvangirai explained why Chamisa, one of the founder members of the party, had been his choice for appointment.
“I took into consideration the fact that my visits across the country have revealed that the party has lost young voters, whether consciously or unconsciously.
I had to respond to that key constituency which now constitutes about 60 percent of the country’s voting population. I had to project the MDC as a modern, 21st century political party in which the youth are not the leaders of tomorrow but are the leaders of today.”
I know that Tsvangirai’s spirit will now rest in peace because he personally told me of his succession preference. I can restate without equivocation that this Congress has just affirmed, through a democratic process, the doyen of democracy’s choice for President after his demise.
My only word of caution to the party faithful is that this party has never been about personalities but values and propositions. While loyalty to our leaders is important, we must ascribe more reverence to the party and its sacred values.
Thought is endemic in the MDC as is evidenced by the abundance of talent and the spread of competences at all levels of the party. Some may not know that the span of the party’s talent is well beyond lawyers and lawyer-ship.
The MDC is a political behemoth bristling with flair and capacity from culturally-rich Binga in the Zambezi escarpment to Rushinga, well beyond the narrow precincts of Gutu where the people’s President hails from.
At this Congress, we are affirming and electing a leadership that confirms the MDC as a thriving political factory of ideas, thought, ingenuity, deftness, creativity and innovation.
This Congress has also been an eye-opener in terms of the extent to which ordinary party members and their leadership can go in defending the people’s project.
The twin values of service and sacrifice have been showcased in a big way as delegates sacrificed their small savings and their assets to fund this Congress. The people’s project was under siege and the people themselves have stood firm in defending this sacred repository of their collective aspiration.
In this cold city of Gweru, we are witnessing true democracy at play, with the delegates openly mingling and interacting regardless of their different choices of those to be deployed into the party’s national leadership. The huge crowd here, kaleidoscopically emblazoned in diverse apparels with our distinct totemic red colour, is testimony that this is indeed a people’s party.
At play here in Gweru is true democracy that melts away the murderous politics that has brought this country down to its knees.
The people of Zimbabwe have chosen this Congress to de-scarf our politics and to usher democratically-elected deployees into the searing cockpit furnace that demands thought, leadership and delivery.
From this congress, the fight-arena has been infested with a thought leadership endowed with the craft competence and deftness of mind that will overwhelm the militarized shenanigans of this scarfed lot that brazenly pick-pocketed the people’s vote.
This is a propositional and not a positional Congress and seven thematic committees are currently engaged in rigorous debate after which they will table before the Congress plenary the outcome of their robust deliberations.
Guiding the deliberations currently underway is the input from ordinary Zimbabweans into the relevant thematic areas that was gathered in an involving nationwide consultation process that has been taking place in the last three months.
The seven thematic committees will feed into and inform the internal and external resolutions that will be debated and adopted by this Congress.
The thematic sectors comprise the Strategies and Tactics committee, the Ethics and Leadership committee, the committee on Ideology and Communication, the Finance and Administration committee, Constitutional Review committee, Organizational Review committee and the committee on International Relations.
Finally, as we leave this Congress venue tomorrow, the delegates are putting this scarfed regime on notice.
Anytime in the not-so-distant future, Zimbabweans shall be duly exercising their democratic right enshrined in the national Constitution to express their displeasure at the challenging hardships spawned by the gross mismanagement of the country’s economy.
The last time this regime nocturnally raised the price fuel, which triggers price hikes elsewhere in the economy, Zimbabweans went into the streets. And developments this past week show that the regime has just incentivized and invited Zimbabweans to occupy the streets once again.
Indeed, the people will heed the regime’s frantic invitation for action and the timing, nature, form and substance of the citizens’ confrontation with the authors of their plight will be revealed at the appropriate time.
The monthly token salary of the average Zimbabwean, for those still receiving wages, can barely buy 40 litres of fuel on the very rare occasions that the fuel is available while whole families are surviving on less than one dollar a day.
With the party leadership that will come out of this Congress, Zimbabweans should have a legitimate reason to hope again!
The people’s project remains in safe hands.
Ascot Racecourse, located in East Berkshire, England, is one of the famous horse-racing venues in the world. Fresh from our 5th Congress at our own Ascot Stadium in here Gweru, the dynamic and vibrant horses in the name of our unsullied, freshly-minted leadership can only gallop this nation to the commanding heights of opportunity, prosperity and hope.
Behold the new!
Luke Tamborinyoka is the Director of Communications in the MDC. He writes here in his personal capacity.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) in the below note announces that load shedding has entered phase 2 as power generation remains depressed at Hwange.
The company attributes this is due to a technical fault at the plant.
A notice by ZETDC reads: “Kindly note that generation at Hwange is depressed due to a technical fault. Load-shedding is now on Stage 2. Load shedding maybe above the publicised schedules. We apologize for any inconveniences caused.“
A FORMER John Radcliffe medical secretary, who claimed he was racially abused by colleagues and security officers ‘broke his arms and legs’ while removing him from the hospital, has had his case dismissed.
Martin Shaba, who is from Zimbabwe, brought a case against the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Headington hospital, accusing the trust of allowing racial discrimination and harassment during his 11-month employment from May 31, 2016.
He also alleged security staff and a police officer used excessive force, motivated by his race, while removing him from the John Radcliffe in April last year after he was banned from the building.
According to a judgement published this month after a three-day employment tribunal in Reading in March, Mr Shaba claimed his case could not be adjudicated by Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto as: “A Zimbabwean Judge considering a Zimbabwean case twice is not fair.”
When the tribunal rejected this argument Mr Shaba left the hearing and it continued without him.
The tribunal heard from witnesses and saw bodycam footage from Mr Shaba being removed from the hospital after he took his son to A&E.
The full reason for the ban was not disclosed but the judgement stated it came “from the claimant’s behaviour at the hospital on 3 April 2018”.
Judge Gumbiti-Zimuto said though Mr Shaba was held down several times it was because he had ‘become a dead weight’ and then ‘lashed out’ at security officers from the ground.
Judge Gumbiti-Zimuto said though Mr Shaba was held down several times it was because he had ‘become a dead weight’ and then ‘lashed out’ at security officers from the ground.
He added: “The claimant [Mr Shaba] shouted at the security officers who held him that they had broken his hands, that they had broken his arms, that they had broken his elbow, and that they had broken his legs.”
However, bodycam footage and a medical examination following the incident contradicted this and the judge described Mr Shaba as an ‘unreliable narrator’.
His other claim of racist abuse and discrimination came from his time as a medical secretary working in the Vascular Surgery Department between May and September 2016.
The first in a series of incidents he described was a colleague asking where he came from and when he responded Zimbabwe she said: “Your president is a dictator” and added: “You people from abroad bring diseases like AIDS to the UK”.
He said as a result he felt lower than everybody else, “an intruder who was not part of the team”.
The staff member, however, said she had not said the second thing at all.
She added she had since become aware of an Oxford Mail article in which Mr Shaba was described as somebody who has fled Zimbabwe and shown celebrating at a party that he organised when Robert Mugabe was removed from office.
Evidence from staff said rather than discrimination Mr Shaba was ‘struggling with the job’ and there were ‘constant problems’ with his work.
He was also called ‘aggressive and intimidating’ during a meeting. — Oxford Mail
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Africa emerged from the dark cruel days of colonialism. The inspiration to find itself and shake the shackles of bondage came from the soup of Africa day. Africa day has brought about different vibes. In some countries it is a public holiday.
In Zimbabwe, May 25 is a public holiday, while on Senegal’s former slave port, Goree Island, a new movement dubbed “Africans Rising,” is being launched to reclaim peace, dignity and justice for Africans on the continent and the diaspora. Africans are raised from the death jaw of cruel racism and colonialism but still bound. It is very sad that Africa day has been reduced to a ceremonial day. It has lost its meaning and its purpose. Africans are still taken for a ride. They are undermined oppressed and surely down trodden. They spend the special day feasting without sorting their future.
Elsewhere, there are concerts and ceremonies to mark the day. Africa Day is also celebrated by Africans abroad, as diaspora communities of different nationalities come together in cultural attires and swap traditional recipes. There is no longer a meaningful strategic plan for Africans from the Africa day. Africans just assemble so that they can eat talk and go home.
It is clear that the point and history of the Africa Day celebration has been lost. We are independent but bound.
The sad thing is the efforts of the founding fathers is being put to waste. The spirit of April 15, 1958 has been exorcised. when the first Conference of Independent African States brought the fathers of Africa’s liberation movements together. They never believed that or even thought that they are removing the chains of colonialism replacing it with new mode of disrespect and oppression. At the time, there were few independent African states, whose goal was to see total emancipation of the continent they call their own in the whole world. There were few leaders in attendance—from Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Liberia and others—were there as a collective platform to reject colonialism and find a common interest in the best interest of their people.
Africa day was an interstate organization with a shared objective. It sowed the seeds of what would become the Organization of African Unity (later rebranded in 2001 as the African Union) launched on May 25, 1963 by 32 free nations, led by Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Sékou Touré of Guinea and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. Every year since, Africa Day has been celebrated on May 25.
More than half a century later, colonialism is no longer the common enemy, and finding a clear message from a community of states has become more difficult. The African Union uses Africa Day to highlight certain development themes but they had never forged a way forward. While personal development remains the objective, achieving that goal is not possible.
It is not a mistake that all leaders who championed an agenda of an united Africa were killed like Kadhafi or toppled like Nkwame Nkurumah. Issues like common borders common currency and free movement of goods and persons were undermined.
Free travel, and by extension free trade, between countries remains a tall order despite the very obvious advantages it promises.
A strong united Africa is not permitted at all.
AFRICAN BUSINESS
A 2014 IATA study projects that opening up to 12 key air routes between countries on the continent will create “an extra 155,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual GDP.” At the moment, up to five million passengers a year face difficulties traveling between African countries due to “unnecessary restrictions on establishing air routes.” Zimbabwe has been sabotaged and its airline faces anti flying economic guns pointed at it. Very lucrative routes routes are congested by airlines which do not benefit the individual African nation. Africans in this new mental oppression have become their worst enemies. They promote xenophobia they restrict free movement. Throughout the continent, only 10 out of 55 countries allow visa-free entry for Africans or grant visas on arrival.
In comparison, Americans can travel to at least 20 African countries without similar restrictions face d by Africans.Instead Africans make Africa a foreign land to themselves. Slaves in their own backyard. Last year, it finally launched its continental passport but so far, the passport has only been made available to heads of state and high-ranking officials. Some countries have recently relaxed their entry requirements for Africans, as such some progress was recorded last year across the continent. Over the coming years, trade between African countries could also improve, especially given Trump’s isolationist “America First” stance. At the moment, intra-Africa trade accounts for a small share of trade on the continent but Trump’s policies could see more African countries forced to trade with each other.
It’s unfortunate that just getting together to celebrate Africa Day is more ceremonial and swims in confusion.
As Africans are still trying to figure out how exactly to use this cross-continental holiday, perhaps it’s time to get back to the original message behind this day and figure out what it means today. Unity is still a relevant and honorable goal, but making it practical means removing the barriers between nations.
Africa is still destabilised it is not a wonder that every rich African state is reeling in conflicts. The enemies of Africa brew problems in Africa so that they can steal Africas resources.
Africans are being used to fight themselves while the gluttons take our resources.
Africa day is a total failure and a real embarrassment to Africa.
Our leaders are allowing themselves to be abused at the detriment of the people.
In the excitement of freedom Africa is sadly bound.
African leaders have been hauled before international courts. No European or American leader was ever brought before the international Criminal Court Of Justice. Why?
African leaders never sit to forge a way towards African freedom.
There are issues where African leaders have their own accounts frozen. The wealth taken by the international community. Billions of dollars have been taken and never repatriated back to Africa.
Africans are not benefiting from Africa.
Africa day should change its course and it should be pro active.
It is a pity that even today Africa is bleeding and its blood is watering the wealth of its enemies.
Africa day we must cry NOT YET UHURU.
By Own Correspondent- MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe has said that her party is preparing to hold an extraordinary Congress in line with a recent High Court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore.
The High Court ruled that the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai acted unlawfully when he appointed Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as deputies alongside Khupe.
As such, Chamisa’s ascendancy to the MDC presidency was declared null and void.
In a statement issued through her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, Khupe said:
The preparations for the MDC-T extraordinary congress are at an advanced in line with the High Court Judgment.
Very soon all the delegates of our 2014 congress will have an opportunity to once again regain our movement to its former glory days of steadfastness to the culture, character, values and principles of Social Democracy.
There is, therefore, no need to panic or even employ money and energy in stopping some gathering purported to be our congress; as such a gathering is null and void and only amounts to a jamboree.
I will soon be visiting all the districts and wards of our Movement in preparation for the MDC-T legitimate Extra-Ordinary Congress.
It’s a real life football script that even the most revered fiction writers would battle to put it together into a novel.
While some local coaches are battling to find a job, Rodwell Dhlakama is allegedly employed by two clubs in Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
At Chapungu, Dhlakama is the official head coach, sits on the team’s technical bench and attends post match press conferences whenever the team plays, or at least when he is available.
The Premier Soccer League also lists Dhlakama as the Chapungu gaffer and their books attest to that, according to the PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare.
“He is listed as the 2019 season Chapungu head coach. For further inquiries speak to the Chapungu bosses since he is their employee,” said Bare.
Thousands of kilometres from the Chapungu base in Gweru, another club — Matsapha United — in Swaziland, says Dhlakama is officially their head coach.
As is also the case in Zimbabwe, Dhlakama reportedly sits on the Matsapha United technical bench in addition to speaking to sports journalists after games.
Just last week, a Swaziland newspaper, The Observer, quoted Dhlakama after Matsapha played a one-all draw against Mbabane Swallows.
“It was an important result for us, as we needed to secure this point ahead of our last match game. I’m very proud of my players for the effort they put in the whole time I was here,” he reportedly said.
According to the newspaper Dhlakama even dreams of better fortunes next season.
“Our aim is to build a strong and competitive team for next season. I believe with the right approach we can achieve great things at this team.”
How is it possible that Dhlakama can dribble two clubs at the same time?
According to another eSwatini publication — Times of Swaziland — Dhlakama was recently not available when Matsapha United lost 1-2 to Royal Leopard in the Eswatini Bank Cup because his wife was critically ill back in Zimbabwe.
That same day, Sunday 7 April, Chapungu drew 2-2 with Black Rhinos and Dhlakama was in charge of the Air Force of Zimbabwe-owned team.
Back in Swaziland, Matsapha United were under the impression that Dhlakama was attending to his ailing spouse.
Club public relations officer Bheka Magagula was quoted saying:
“He (Dhlakama) was supposed to have been back yesterday but his wife is not too well at home. We cannot expect him here too soon if his wife’s condition is critical.”
Last month, media in Swaziland had already begun questioning why Dhlakama seemed to be conveniently absent for Matsapha United games.
The Zimbabwean league had kicked off and Dhlakama was away “sorting out family issues” when Chapungu beat Bulawayo Chiefs 5-0 in their first game of the season.
At Chapungu the coach requested for official leave to “bury his brother’s two kids that were killed during Cyclone Idai”, according to club chairman Doubt Ncube.
“On the occasions that he was not at work, he asked for official leave to attend to family issues. He requested for some time off to bury family members in Chipinge that died during Cyclone Idai.
“He also took some days off to sort out a family issue and again when he fell ill in Shurugwi,” said Ncube.
The Chapungu boss said he would take time to read the Swaziland media reports before the club could act.
Matsapha United chairman Sibusiso “Scorpion” Nxumalo was adamant Dhlakama was their coach.
“We have an agreement with the coach. He is our coach and it would be very unethical and unprofessional for a coach to work for two different clubs at the same time,” Nxumalo told B-Metro Sport from Swaziland.
Cyril Ramaphosa to be sworn in as SA President today.
Own Correspondent|More than 32,000 people are expected to make their way to Loftus Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, this morning to witness Cyril Ramaphosa being sworn in as president of the 6th democratic administration.
South Africans – who want to be part of the historic moment – will be bussed in from other parts of Gauteng as well as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the North West and Free State.
Security is tight with police and metro police officers deployed in the streets while no one will be able to gain access to the venue without accreditation.
The gates are expected to open to the public where thousands of South Africans will stream into the stadium to take their seats hoping to capture the historic moment which will unfold before them.
A mother says she is bringing her 8 year old daughter to the stadium today to experience the electric mood.
“I feel excited and I’m looking for a selfie.”
A graduate – who has been unemployed for two years – says she’s also going to make her way into the stadium hoping with Ramaphosa at the helm more work opportunities will be created.
“It’s been 25 years of freedom and I’m looking forward to celebrate it.”
For those not able to attend the ceremony, you will be able to go to the different public viewing sites across the country where proceedings will be broadcast live.
While the thousands of South Africans will be following the event, former president Jacob Zuma has indicated that he won’t have time to attend Ramaphosa’s inauguration because he is busy fighting to stay out of jail.
Zuma addressed his supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday, after his lawyers argued in favour of a permanent stay of prosecution.
The former president says it will be tricky for him to attend today’s inauguration.
“My time to go is tricky, there is no time. I am fighting to stay out of jail.”
Zuma says there are people who want him in jail, while a new president is being inaugurated.
“There will be people, heads of state, the president will be inaugurated but as that happens, people want me to be in jail.”
It’s unclear if the former president officially confirmed his attendance at the inauguration today.
President Mnangagwa congratulates best overall officer cadet Nobesuthu Moyo who also received a sword of honour at the Zimbabwe Military Academy commissioning parade in Gweru on Thursday.
Battling with stabilising the economy, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has incessantly thanked members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for not kicking him out of power by remaining loyal to his battling government.
Speaking during the commissioning parade for 149 officer cadets at the 35th Commissioners’ Cadet Ceremony at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru yesterday, the President commended the ZDF for remaining vigilant and loyal as Government tries to work towards finding solutions to the current economic challenges.
“I further, recognize the unflinching resilience of the Defence Forces in general, who have remained loyal, focused and dedicated as my Government seeks to find lasting solutions to the currents challenges facing the forces.
Mnangagwa promised to pay back the soldiers’ loyalty and that of other civil servants by providing them with houses.
“I assure you all that my government remains seized with the need to address the housing backlog among other issues affecting our public service, including the uniformed forces.”
Mnangagwa himself took over power from former President Robert Mugabe through a military coup in November 2017. Rumours have been spreading throughout the last year that the army is getting impatient with Mnangagwa who is battling to revive the country’s economy since taking over from Mugabe.
Some sectors have indicated that, Mnangagwa has been given up to the end of next year to revive the economy or be kicked out by the army which put him in power in the first place.
Of the 149 officers graduated with a Diploma in Military Training and Education in association with Midlands State University, 35 were female.
Overall best cadet Nobesuthu Moyo, a female, got a sword of honour and US$500 from the President. Second best cadet Itai Katsega got US$300, and third placed Lloyd Mbonisi US$200.
President Mnangagwa said his government offers many opportunities for women.
“I encourage them (female cadet officers) to always draw strength and inspiration, throughout their professional journey, from the resolve and determination that saw them completes this demanding course.
“Under the second republic, my Government will continue to ensure that women reach their full potential, with no glass ceilings. With hard work, zeal and perseverance anything is achievable, regardless of one’s gender.
“I commend the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for continuing to strive for gender equity in line with our country’s gender policy which calls for equal opportunities,” he said.
President Mnangagwa praised the marriage between the military and MSU for churning out officers who are able to deal with contemporary threats.
“Academic partnerships of this nature must always ensure that the graduates of this academy are equipped to deal with a broad spectrum of contemporary threats and opportunities within the security architecture.
“Hence, bold, astute, innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets must equally be inculcated within the military domain.
“Wide ranging capabilities and talents of our cadets must therefore be constantly explored as we quest to build a stronger and modern defence forces.
“I commend the academy for its resource fullness and persistence in the fulfilment of the institutions mandate and set objectives, in spite of various constraints,” he said.
At least 215 officer cadets were enrolled at ZMA in September 2017 and of those, 149 were commissioned yesterday after 63 dropped for various reasons while three died during the period of the course.
After the parade ceremony, the President also commissioned the new state-of-the-art cadet accommodation and messing facilities.
Present at the graduation ceremony were Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima, Minister of State for National Security Owen Ncube, ZDF commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Deputy Chief Secretary in the office of the President George Charamba, war veterans chairman Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, and senior Government officials.
Zimbabweans experiencing difficult economic times and getting frustrated with the government. Government responds by visible army patrols in the cities.
Own Correspondent|RESIDENT Mnangagwa has urged the nation to remain resilient and support him and his government besides the difficult economic conditions prevailing in the country.
Speaking during the commissioning parade for 149 officer cadets at the 35th Commissioners’ Cadet Ceremony at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru yesterday, Mnangagwa begged the nation to continue being patient with his government policies he claimed were aimed at ensuring sustainable economic growth.
“My Government is presently in a phase of transition which is geared to put our country back on the rails of development.
“In our politics, economy and society in general, our country has been stuck in the old way of doing things. This has held us back as a nation for too long. We must embrace the new, to ensure sustainable economic growth that will develop our country and speedily improve the standard of living of all people,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the road to recovery will be bumpy but through resilience and unity, Zimbabweans will enjoy the fruits as a country.
“The journey towards the attainment of Vision 2030, requires us to have common ideals, convictions and unity of purpose.
“As I have said the road will not be easy and requires sacrifices by all of us. Let us collectively determine to build a modern, industrialised, stronger and more prosperous Zimbabwe, for both present and future generations,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said even if the road to recovery gets bumpy, Government will not take short cuts to prosperity. He urged all progressive forces to pull in one direction and have the interests of the country at heart.
“We cannot and should not take short cuts for political expediency. Our economics and politics must be that which puts national interests above individual or group interests.
“My Government will continue to put in place an environment that ensures the long term benefits of all citizens of our great country.
“As we implement the broad economic reform policies, we will also put in place the appropriate safety nets to cushion the most vulnerable members of society.
“I, therefore, urge all of us to remain resolute and play our part in line with the Transitional Stabilization Programme and our quest to attain vision 2030,” he said.
Former president Robert Mugabe preached the same message in futility for ten years up to the time of the Government of National Unity in 2013 as the massive corruption culture in ZANU PF continued to plunder the country.
Mnangagwa’s call, comes in the wake of spiralling prices of basic commodities, fuel shortages and fall of the Zimbabwean RTGS Dollar against the U.S. Dollar. The difficult economic period is causing serious despondency in the citizens with sporadic threats of uncoordinated citizens protests being raised.
Five civil society activists who were arrested on allegations of undergoing training to violently overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government are reported to be undergoing cruel and inhumane conditions at the Remand Prison.
According to one of the lawyers representing the five, Rose Hanzi from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the five were denied warm jerseys at the prison despite the fact that Zimbabwe is now in its winter season.
Four of the human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years, Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were arrested on Monday 20 May 2019 upon disembarking from a South African Airways while Farirai Gumbonzvanda aged 26 years, was arrested on Tuesday 21 May at Robert Mugabe International Airport.
According to the ZRP, Makoni, an Advocacy Officer with Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe, Mombeyerara of International Socialist Organisation, Mukura of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development, Mpahlo of Green Governance Zimbabwe and Gumbonzvanda, a volunteer at Rosaria Memorial Trust, allegedly connived with their accomplices, who are still at large and travelled to Maldives on 13 May 2019, where they attended a training workshop organised by Centre for Applied Non Violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), a Serbian non-governmental organisation, with the intention of subverting a constitutionally elected government.
Harare Magistrate Hosea Mujaya remanded the five human rights activists in custody to 6 June 2019. Their lawyers have since said that they will be appealing the judgement at the High Court- iHarare.com
WHILE other women are complaining that their husbands are not satisfying them in bed, a Bulawayo woman is grumbling that she’s having sleepless nights because of her husband who has turned into a poking monster by allegedly demanding sex the whole night.
Grace Tembo from Pumula South suburb said her husband Tendai Kasambira loves sex too much. And to make matters worse, he would attack her when she refused his demand for sex.
A seemingly exhausted Tembo begged a Bulawayo magistrate Rachael Mukanga to grant her a protection order against her husband based on the fact that he was physically and sexually abusing her.
The mother of two told the court that her husband harassed her for sex non-stop since they got married in 2008.
“Tendai Kasambira and I have been customarily married since 2008. He is abusive. He is a very violent man and he beat me up with fists and a belt.
“After beating me up, he forced me to have sexual intercourse with him the whole night when I will be in pain because of his severe beatings. The demands started when my first pregnancy was one month old and that child is now nine years old. My life and that of my children he is refusing with are in danger. He is also threatening people that I work with,” complained Tembo.B-Metro
A 19-YEAR-OLD maid who worked for a family from Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested after she strangled and slit her newborn baby’s throat.
Happiness Ndebele worked for Ms Typhania Ngwenya who suspected that she was pregnant.
The maid pleaded guilty to a charge of infanticide when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu.
Ndebele was sentenced to 36 months in jail which were suspended on condition that she performs 210 hours of community service at a local primary school.
The maid told the court that she didn’t know why she killed her baby. “I don’t know what really made me kill the baby,” she said.
The court heard that Ndebele has a two-year-old child. Prosecuting, Mr Tony Kamudyariwa said on April 15, Ndebele was asked by Ms Ngwenya if she was pregnant. “Ndebele denied being pregnant. On Friday last week during the night, she gave birth to a baby and strangled it before cutting its neck,” he said.
While Ms Ngwenya was escorting her mother to the toilet, she noticed blood stains in the house, the court heard. She went to her maid’s bedroom and there was blood all over the room and a funny smell.
Mr Kamudyariwa said Ms Ngwenya asked her maid what was happening and she said she was on her monthly period.
“Ms Ngwenya threatened Ndebele that if she did not tell her the truth she would call the police. Ndebele told her that she had given birth and killed the baby,” said the prosecutor.
Ndebele was taken to the police station where she was arrested. A post mortem report was produced in court as an exhibit.State media
By Own Correspondent- A praise and worship team- member at Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries who lied to her husband that she was going for music practice while she went for trysts at her churchmate’s house was caught pants down by the husband.
The husband, from Kwekwe, has since dragged his wife’s boyfriend to court to answer to adultery charges after he caught the pair in the act at the boyfriend’s house following a tip-off.
Taurai Mutoti was incensed after he caught his wife, Naomi Utete with Simon Mutemeri and broke windows before he filed adultery charges against the lover.
The three are all members of the Prophet Walter Magaya’s PHD Ministries, Kwekwe Branch.
The matter was heard before Kwekwe magistrate Miss Vimbai Mtukwa who postponed it to 28 May.
According to State papers, Mutoti caught the lovers red handed at Mutemeri’s Amaveni residence after being alerted by church members.
“I went to his house at the Amaveni Flats after I was told that my wife was seen visiting him. I approached his bedroom window since it was open and I pulled the curtain and was shocked to see both of them naked — stark naked. I was shocked and I have been hearing stories about the two,” Mutoti told the court.
He said police had to intervene as he went berserk and started breaking windows demanding that his wife be released from the house.
“I went berserk because I was angered by what I saw. Police had to intervene and begged me to be calm. We were taken to the police camp where our matter was heard,” he said.
Mutoti said Mutemeri would take advantage of Utete, a member of the PHD Ministries Praise and Worship team as she went for practice at their parish in Mbizo.
He said he was still in love with his wife of five years and no one was going to come between them.-BMetro
THE Dr Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has said preparations for its extraordinary congress are at an advanced in line with a recent High Court judgment, which nullified MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s appointment as president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).
Justice Edith Mushore ruled that the decision by the late former MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai to handpick two additional vice presidents, Mr Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri, was illegal and that the party should hold an extraordinary congress within a month using 2014 structures.
Mr Chamisa, however, filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court on Thursday.
In a statement yesterday, Dr Khupe said the party was confident of victory and retaining its former glory. “I have had extensive consultations with different stakeholders and constituencies and all are determined to take our party back from the toxic claws of the infamous ‘G40’.
“Very soon all the delegates of our 2014 congress will have an opportunity to once again retain our movement to its former glorious days of steadfastness to the culture, character, values and principles of social democracy,” said Dr Khupe.State media
A Zhombe man who was caught having sex with his uncle’s wife has claimed the woman was a dynamite in bed and has vowed to marry her.
Juda Muketiwa of Village 18 Bobs under Chief Gwesela in Zhombe was caught pants down with the woman in question, Letwin Masvaure, who is wife to his uncle Unity Nduku.
Muketiwa is son to Nduku’s elder sister. The matter has since been heard before Chief Weight Gwesela’s court where Muketiwa was fined five head of cattle for adultery.
Nduku who is a gold dealer, was shocked when he returned home unannounced only to find his wife and his sister’s son having sex in his matrimonial bedroom.
Muketiwa is married to another woman with whom he has one child while Masvaure has two children with Nduku.
Chief Weight Gwesela confirmed that his court handled the matter and the man had since been fined.
“It is true we handled such a matter and the man was fined five beasts for the taboo. This is unheard of and we do not condone such activities. We have since fined the man and warned him against such actions,” said Chief Gwesela.
A source who also attended the court session said Muketiwa had since vowed to marry Masvaure whom he claimed was better than his wife in bed.
“He was heard after the court vowing that he was not going to let her go as ordered by the court saying the woman is good in bed. He vowed to pay lobola for the woman,” said the source.
The source said Muketiwa said the fine was a form of lobola and had since cemented their relationship. “He said now that he has paid the five beasts, the relationship has been legalised and nothing was going to stop him from seeing her anytime he wanted,” the source further revealed. — BMetro
The City of Harare has issued a statement advising residents and business of scheduled water cut over the weekend. The statement read:
PRESS NOTICE ON THE COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF MORTON JAFFRAY WATER TREATMENT PLANT Harare residents and business enterprises are by this notice advised of a complete shutdown of the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant on Friday 24 May, 2019 (1800hrs) to Sunday 26 May 2019 (1800hrs). The shutdown is to allow programmed maintenance at Morton Jaffray and Warren Control Stations. The shutdown will affect all suburbs and satelite towns. Our machinery periodically requires servicing as all other pieces of machinery. Water consumers are urged to use available water sparingly. The hosepipe ban remains in effect. HARARE TO ACHIEVE A WORLD-CLASS CITY STATUS BY 2025 Report any unusual conduct on hotline numbers: 0242-774141-3, 0242.753330-2
By Own Correspondent- A BULAWAYO man was severely assaulted and subsequently lost his teeth after asking a fellow vendor what happened to cabbage leaves that he left at a vending bay to run errands.
Lewis Ngwenya and Kwanele Ndlovu both run vending stalls at a vegetable market along George Silundika Street and Sixth Avenue.
Ngwenya is said to have asked Ndlovu to check on his vegetable bay while he attended to personal business.
On his return Ngwenya allegedly discovered that cabbage leaves, that he intended to use as stock feed, had disappeared.
Ndlovu allegedly turned violent when asked on the whereabouts of the cabbage leaves.
An argument ensued and de-generated into a fist fight.
Ndlovu is alleged to have overpowered his rival before repeatedly smashing Ngwenya’s head against a push cart.
The complainant lost five teeth.
He reported the matter at Bulawayo Central Police Station leading to Ndlovu’s arrest
“When I asked him why he took my cabbage leaves meant for stock feed, he charged at me and smashed my head against a push cart. He also punched me several times in the face and as a result I Iost five teeth,” Ngwenya told magistrate Ulukile Mlea-Ndlovu at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court while answering to assault charges.
In his defence Ndlovu said: “He got injured while we were fighting. I was trying to defend myself because the complainant was the first to assault me with fists and I retaliated in self defence.”
A medical report will be produced in court as an exhibit.
The defendant was remanded out of custody to next week on Monday.-BMetro
A MAN from Hwange who fatally struck his neighbour with an iron bar 10 years ago during New Year celebrations following a dispute over a missing identity card, has been sentenced to an effective 12 years in jail.
Worried Ncube (33) fatally attacked Mr Godfrey Tshuma (28) of Tshingababili in Plumtree in January 2009 after he was accused of stealing an identity card belonging to the deceased.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva convicted Ncube of murder with constructive intent.
In passing the sentence, Justice Takuva took into consideration the delay by the State in bringing Ncube to trial and other mitigatory factors. “There was an inordinate delay of almost 10 years, which the State failed to explain and that in itself is a mitigatory factor.
“The picking of the iron bar by the accused person was by chance and it was not premeditated and the court also noted that the accused was provoked by the deceased’s conduct which shows that he was drunk,” said the judge.
Justice Takuva however, condemned Ncube’s conduct, saying the courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of human life.
“In aggravation, we note that a life was unnecessarily lost and the courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of human life.
“An appropriate sentence should strike a balance between the interests of justice and of society.
“In casu, there were strong mitigatory factors that warrant lenience and accordingly, you are sentenced to 12 years in jail,” ruled the judge.State media
By Own Correspondent- Villagers in Lupane had the shock of their lives when they caught a woman digging up the grave of her recently deceased child.
Grace Ncube, 28, gave birth to a baby boy about three months ago and was constantly seen by family members breast feeding him.
But her joy was short lived as the baby soon succumbed to an illness and was buried in the homestead.
“After the baby was buried Grace kept on telling us that she has problems sleeping as she always saw the baby in her dreams. We were then shocked to see her one early morning digging by the child’s grave,” said a reliable source.
She added: “When we asked her what she was doing she said she was only clearing the grass which was on the grave. Her response left tongues wagging as people came up with various theories as to what her intentions could be. We know it was her child but now we fear she wants the baby’s remains for witchcraft purposes.”
The area’s councillor Kevin Ncube said he heard about the issue and that Grace’s actions did not sit well with some residents as what she did is taboo in the community.
“Most villagers think she wanted to tamper with the baby’s body and they keep wondering what she wanted to do with the remains. It is rather sad because we have stayed with her for a long time and she seemed like a good person so we don’t really know what led her to do such an evil thing. Her actions are definitely disturbing and we hope we will get proper answers for her actions, that’s if she is not mentally disturbed at all,” said the councillor.-BMetro
NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Erol Akbay says his side increased the intensity of their training this week to try and turn around their fortunes.
They meet stricken giants Dynamos at Rufaro tomorrow. The platinum miners disappointed their fans in the last two games after a defeat to ZPC Kariba and a home draw against Yadah.
“We have been training hard this week, we have trained two times a day on very high tempo. We also played a friendly match on Thursday and the boys did well,’’ said the Dutchman.
“I hope we can show people this weekend that the boys are coming up and demonstrate how Ngezi Platinum wants to play football.
“Of course, the most important thing is that we have to win and we want to win.
“We have been creating chances but we haven’t been scoring. “Since the season started we have had close to 40-50 chances but we only scored seven goals.
“We have good strikers and the only thing we have to do is score goals. “We have changed our style of playing football this week and the boys are surprisingly very happy with the new style.’’
The Mhondoro-side will be without key forwards Donald Teguru, Tichaona Mabvura and Kelvin Bulaji through injuries.
“It’s a big blow, especially with Ticha (Mabvura). We have a different style that we want to play and Ticha was actually good on the pitch. “When he was doing well that’s when he was injured. Sometimes it’s hard life in football,” said Akbay. Leftback Tinotenda Muringai is back for DeMbare after missing last week’s 0-2 defeat to Bulawayo Chiefs through suspension.
Utility man, Emmanuel Jalai, has also recovered fully from an injury he sustained in that game.State media
By Own Correspondent- Members of the Johanne Masowe Echishanu Apostolic sect are not allowed to advertise their work through media channels such as radio, television and newspapers, a senior member has warned.
The warning comes at a time unsuspecting people are being fleeced of their valuables or even raped by ‘fake’ prophets who advertise.
However, the issue has been received with mixed feelings with some saying advertising helps in attracting people seeking deliverance while others say the work of God does not require marketing.
The sect is made up of the big five comprising Edward, Israel, Katsiru, Mathias and Gibson.
Some members of the church refused to comment on the issue.
One of the big five, Madzibaba Katsiru distanced the church from members who purport to be real Madzibaba going against the doctrine.
“The first thing is that the doctrine doesn’t allow members to advertise and no one should pay for being helped by our members.
“Anyone who is asked to pay should tell us, but they are doing it secretly.
“Some are not even part of us, like anaMasango avo, we differ on the doctrine,” said Katsiru
He added:
“Some are not even the real Madzibaba, they just come from nowhere and you guys (journalists) are taught the wrong things mototanga kufamba nevanhu ivavo.”
Madzibaba Katsiru’s sentiments were echoed by Madzibaba Mose who said:
“The good name of the church was made by our elders, zita rakagadzirwa izita rakanaka zvekuti munhu wese anongofara kuti Johanne Masowe.
“So we have some people who end up having Johanne Masowe Zambuko , chakati chakati but ours is called Johanne Masowe eChishanu no other additions.
“And those who come to advertise is not our culture, they have their own agendas.”
He added:
“If we look at churches in Zimbabwe, our church has many branches and if you look at your backyard, there is our church, so if people have problems and are looking for help from Masowe, they can go anywhere.
“If there is need for further assistance they then be referred to seniors, so it’s not even a way of quick advertising.
“If you look at our elders they don’t do such but vamwe vanhu vanenge vane madeals avo.
“Members from Johanne Masowe should follow the doctrine of the church, we can’t say names but some are disturbing the name of the church. God won’t be happy and some results are not good, so people shouldn’t play with the name of the church.”
Below is what some members of the sect said:
Madzibaba Spenlodge – I don’t advertise, because I can’t say to people come I will help you because God’s work can’t be advertised.-HMetro
By Own Correspondent- While other women are complaining that their husbands are not satisfying them in bed, a Bulawayo woman is grumbling that she’s having sleepless nights because of her husband who has turned into a poking monster by allegedly demanding sex the whole night.
Grace Tembo from Pumula South suburb said her husband Tendai Kasambira loves sex too much. And to make matters worse, he would attack her when she refused his demand for sex.
A seemingly exhausted Tembo begged a Bulawayo magistrate Rachael Mukanga to grant her a protection order against her husband based on the fact that he was physically and sexually abusing her.
The mother of two told the court that her husband harassed her for sex non-stop since they got married in 2008.
“Tendai Kasambira and I have been customarily married since 2008. He is abusive. He is a very violent man and he beat me up with fists and a belt.
“After beating me up, he forced me to have sexual intercourse with him the whole night when I will be in pain because of his severe beatings. The demands started when my first pregnancy was one month old and that child is now nine years old. My life and that of my children he is refusing with are in danger. He is also threatening people that I work with,” complained Tembo.
She said her husband has made her life intolerable with his “cruel behaviour” and his insatiable desire for sex made it impossible for them to live together under one roof.
“I ended up leaving the matrimonial house and I do not want him to come where I am staying now to harass me,” she said, adding that she was “too young” to live a miserable life.
She insisted that when she tried to resist his advances, he would abuse her so she would always end up succumbing to his persistent demands.
Her husband, however, accused her of cheating saying she deserted their matrimonial home so that she could look for action outside without being bothered.
“The problem is that she used to come home late especially at around 11pm claiming she would be at work. She is a cheat. I caught her three times with a boyfriend. It is not true that I refuse her to take the children but I just told her it was not possible since she is staying with a boyfriend. She boasted that she had a boyfriend because my relatives didn’t like her.
“It is also not true that I forced her to have sexual intercourse, we engage in it with her consent and after every encounter she would ask me if I’m satisfied. She is always bragging about her boyfriend saying he was better than me,” said Kasambira.
For the purpose of maintaining peace between the two estranged parties the magistrate ordered Kasambira not to verbally, emotionally and physically abuse Tembo.
Kasambira was also ordered not to visit Tembo where she is now staying and to allow her to collect her property she left at their matrimonial home.-BMetro
Violence is not part of the Zimbabwe culture and its proponents must be condemned and rejected, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking during the commissioning parade of 149 officer cadets at the 35rd Commissioners’ Cadet Ceremony at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru yesterday, the President said Zimbabwe is a peace-loving nation.
He said dialogue must be entrenched to promote peace.
“Let us always uphold our cultural values and ensure that our unique, tangible and intangible cultural heritage is not only embraced, but respected, safeguarded and celebrated.
“Violence is not part of our culture and its proponents must be condemned and rejected. The culture of dialogue should be preserved and entrenched. Each one of us must value and maintain peace, the peace that we are enjoying as it is the springboard that will help us attain upper and middle income economy status by 2030,” he said. President Mnangagwa urged officers to be loyal and committed to their country.
“Now that you have attained this first major step in your chosen career path. I urge you to be loyal, disciplined and committed to your country. Be vigilant and watchful, avoid conduct and company that may defile your love for our great country,” he said.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces urged officers to measure up to their training.
“The academy is renowned for producing high grade officers, of sound professional and moral character. You must therefore, measure up to the expectation that comes with being a graduate of this premier military institution,” he said.State media
Emmerson Mnangagwa at his national Dialogue meeting in the HICC
While being affordable for all Harare based citizens, women and children are now being disadvantaged when it comes to boarding especially during peak hours.
The slashing of ZUPCO bus fares has caused havoc at bus termini as all people are now opting for the busses causing chaos on boarding.
Speaking to H-Metro a Harare based citizen identified as Chipo Gwasira said the situation was unbearable, “Yesterday there was pressure at the bus, I was trying to enter the bus and ended up being fondled on my private parts but never saw the person who did it.
“As women we do not have to be victims of bus pressure but we do not have control over it since the bus is the only affordable means of transportation because kombis are now expensive,” she said.
Travel time negatively affects pupils going to and from school. Children are now prone to getting injured as they tend to be more vulnerable.
Students who use public transport in Harare are facing many problems including conflict with conductors and passengers.
Another Harare based citizen said the conductors are not willing to allow students to board the buses because of the little amount of bus fare they pay.
“Children are now in danger as some of them end up getting home late because of transport chaos, yesterday I saw some child in school uniform trying to force himself into the bus but ended up being pushed away by the conductor.
“The government should allocate buses only meant for children in school uniforms for the safety of our children,” he said. — HMetro
By Own Correspondent- China has expressed willingness to assist Zimbabwe in dealing with its power shortage crisis.
The state media reported that this could be done through increased private sector investment towards the particular sector.
This is reported to have unfolded when visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Dr. Qiang Kenning paid a courtesy call on Vice President Kembo Mohadi at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday.
The government, therefore, intends to engage its Chinese counterparts to lure them into investing in Zimbabwe’s energy and power sector, especially the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
Zimbabwe is having a crippling power shortage that is threatening production and economic resuscitation. The power utility, ZESA Holdings has reported that the shortage is caused by the reduction of volumes of power being produced as water levels are dwindling Kariba dam.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- An emotionally scarred woman made shocking revelations that she was impregnated because of her step-father who was always making demands that she should bring groceries home.
Rethabile Ncube (24) claimed she didn’t complete her Advanced Level studies after she was apparently forced into the “flesh trade” by her step-father Robert Nkhata.
She revealed this after her stepfather had approached the court seeking her eviction from his house claiming she was disrespecting him as her father.
“I am no longer able to live with my step-daughter Rethabile Ncube whom I have been taking care of since she was three years old. She is now 24 years old. She is very rude and arrogant towards me. She backbites me and won’t take instructions from me. She insults me and her mother supports her. I once engaged my in-laws to no avail.
“I now fear for my life that I can be poisoned or accused of rape because most of the time when schools open her mother won’t be around and we spend most of the time together at home. She has vowed not to leave my house and I want her evicted as she is also alleging that I abuse her. I no longer want anything to do with her as she does not regard me as her father,” explained Nkhata.
He said he had tried to create an environment where as a family they all respect each other but his step-daughter was making his life miserable.
Giving her evidence, Rethabile said her step-father was the one emotionally abusing her.
“He is the one who is emotionally abusing me. My father is overseas and has not been maintaining me. I was impregnated because he (Nkhata) was making demands that I should bring groceries home. I did not finish my Advanced Levels because of that (pregnancy),” said Rethabile.
In a bid to make the two (Nkhata and Rethabile) smoke the peace pipe, the presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga suggested that they should go for counselling but Nkhata refused saying he had had enough of his step-daughter’s subversive behaviour.
“She refused to apologise and both of them with her mother are not talking to me,” he said.
Nkhata’s further submissions led the magistrate to grant an order which requires her (Rethabile) to vacate his house in Magwegwe North with the assistance of a police officer.-StateMedia
President Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday ahead of the inauguration of the country’s sixth President, Cyril Ramaphosa, today.
The ceremony will be held at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria. The President was met at Lanseria Airport by South Africa’s Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mr David Hamadziripi.
President Ramaphosa and the African National Congress (ANC) won the elections held on May 8 with a 57,5 percent majority. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), came a distant second with 20,8 percent and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) third with 10,8 percent of the vote. ANC retained all the eight provinces it held before the elections, while the DA retained its governing position in the Western Cape.
At least 4 500 guests, including Heads of State, representatives from continental regional economic blocs, former liberation movements, the African Union, United Nations, members of the diplomatic corps and eminent persons and former presidents of the Republic have been invited.State media
By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged the nation to remain united and support Government policies, in this transitional period, as government strives to find lasting solutions to current challenges that will put the country back on the rails of development and attain vision 2030.
Speaking during the commissioning parade of 149 officer cadets at the 35rd commissioners’ cadet ceremony at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru today, President Mnangagwa urged the nation to embrace the new dispensation to ensure sustainable economic growth that will develop the country.
“My Government is presently in a phase of transition which is geared to put our country back on the rails of development. In our politics, economy and society in general, our country has, been stuck in the old way of doing things.
“This has held us back as a nation for too long and we must embrace the new, to ensure sustainable economic growth that will develop our country and speedily improve the standard of living of all people.”-State Media
By Own Correspondent- A 25-year-old woman from Dzingai Village in Gokwe under Chief Nemangwe slept with her husband’s best friend in exchange for two loaves of bread each time they had sex.
The woman, Miriam Dube, left Chief Nemangwe’s traditional court in shock when she confessed that her love for bread led her to commit adultery.
Dube’s husband, Obert Sibanda, discovered that his wife was sleeping with his best friend Oswald Moyo when Dube had a fall out with Moyo over unpaid four loaves of bread which Moyo was yet to pay after being given sexual services on “credit”.
A source, Pikisayi Maparadza said Dube tried fighting Moyo after discovering the shocking truth but he was overpowered and he resorted to reporting the matter to Chief Nemangwe.
“Dube went to Moyo’s homestead to ask for her four loaves of bread which Moyo had promised to pay the following morning. Upon arrival, Moyo said he did not have any money, and this did not go down well with Dube.
“A misunderstanding ensued between the two until Dube’s husband was called to the scene. Upon inquiring about the bread payment, he was shocked to discover that his wife was having an illicit affair with his friend.
“He tried fighting Moyo but unfortunately he was overpowered and he went to report the matter to Chief Nemangwe,” he said.
Chief Nemangwe confirmed the incident saying he ordered Moyo to pay four cows to Sibanda.
“I presided over that matter last week and both Dube and Moyo admitted that they were having a sexual relationship. Dube said each time they slept, Moyo would give her two loaves of bread. She said she did that as her husband doesn’t buy her bread.
“I warned her to stop having extra marital affairs and concentrate on her marriage. I also ordered Moyo to pay four cows to Sibanda for disrespecting his marriage in such a manner,” said Chief Nemangwe.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Violence is not part of the Zimbabwe culture and its proponents must be condemned and rejected, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking during the commissioning parade of 149 officer cadets at the 35rd Commissioners’ Cadet Ceremony at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru Thursday, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is a peace-loving nation. He said dialogue must be entrenched to promote peace.
“Let us always uphold our cultural values and ensure that our unique, tangible and intangible cultural heritage is not only embraced, but respected, safeguarded and celebrated.
“Violence is not part of our culture and its proponents must be condemned and rejected. The culture of dialogue should be preserved and entrenched. Each one of us must value and maintain peace, the peace that we are enjoying as it is the springboard that will help us attain upper and middle income economy status by 2030,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged officers to be loyal and committed to their country.
“Now that you have attained this first major step in your chosen career path. I urge you to be loyal, disciplined and committed to your country. Be vigilant and watchful, avoid conduct and company that may defile your love for our great country.
“The academy is renowned for producing high grade officers, of sound professional and moral character. You must therefore, measure up to the expectation that comes with being a graduate of this premier military institution.”- StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The High Court of Kenya on Friday upheld a law banning gay sex, keeping same-sex relations punishable by 14 years in jail.
Giving verdict, Justice Roselyn Aburili said:
We hereby decline the relief sought and dismiss the combined petition.
We find that the impugned sections are not unconstitutional, accordingly the combined petitions have no merit.
Campaigners who filed the petition to decriminalize gay sex have since promised that they will appeal the ruling which they described as erroneous and very biased.
The petition was thrown out on grounds that the ban on gay sex dovetailed with broader, traditional moral values encapsulated in Kenya’s constitution. The verdict left some gay rights activists weeping outside the courtroom.
Speaking to Reuters, Alfred Rotich a Catholic bishop said:
We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah.
Most African countries have criminalised same-sex relationships. Only South Africa has legalised gay marriage. Globally, more than 70 countries have banned homosexuality.-Reuters
By Own Corespondent- The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has described the way in which the late ZIPRA Commander and intelligence supremo, Dumiso Dabengwa was treated during the Gukurahundi as a mistake.
Dabengwa was together with fellow ZIPRA Commander Lookout Masuku incarcerated in 1983 at the height of Gukurahundi massacres for four years on alleged treason. He was later released and installed the Home Affairs Minister in President Robert Mugabe’s administration.
Douglas Mahiya, the spokesperson of the war veterans’ representative body said that the organisation sympathised with the way Dabengwa was treated.
He said:
We do sympathize, you cannot have a process where no mistakes are made. Whatever is perfect today is out of a lot of mistakes in the process, so whatever mistake was done is not what we should always highlight and forgetting the good things that would have been done. So we are talking about Dabengwa’s personal life commitment and result which is political independence for the people of Zimbabwe.
When you do not make mistakes you are not doing anything. People who do not do anything do not make mistakes.
Mahiya added that Dabengwa’s national hero status was an obvious thing. He, however, entreated the ZNLWVA Bulawayo Province to formally write to the ZANU PF Politburo requesting the former ZIPRA commander be declared a national hero.
The former Home Affairs Minister passed away yesterday in Kenya on his way back home from India where he was seeking treatment for a liver ailment.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the officials to hang not his portrait in their offices, but the pictures of their children and look into their eyes before making any decision. He said it in his inauguration speech, broadcasted by Ukraine TV.
“I would like that you don’t have my portraits in your offices. Please, because the President is not an icon, not an idol. The President is not an icon. Hang there the pictures of your children, and look into their eyes before every decision,” Zelensky urged.
The inauguration of Volodymyr Zelensky to the post of president of Ukraine took place today, on May 20 at 10:00 Kyiv time.
Zelensky dismissed Ukrainian Parliament at his inauguration and announced early elections after he took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people.
By Own Correspondent- MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe has said that her party is preparing to hold an extraordinary Congress in line with a recent High Court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore.
The High Court ruled that the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai acted unlawfully when he appointed Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as deputies alongside Khupe.
As such, Chamisa’s ascendancy to the MDC presidency was declared null and void.
In a statement issued through her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, Khupe said:
The preparations for the MDC-T extraordinary congress are at an advanced in line with the High Court Judgment.
Very soon all the delegates of our 2014 congress will have an opportunity to once again regain our movement to its former glory days of steadfastness to the culture, character, values and principles of Social Democracy.
There is, therefore, no need to panic or even employ money and energy in stopping some gathering purported to be our congress as such a gathering is null and void and only amounts to a jamboree.
I will soon be visiting all the districts and wards of our Movement in preparation for the MDC-T legitimate Extra-Ordinary Congress.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has learnt with deep sadness of the passing on of Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, the leader of ZAPU party and liberation war stalwart on Thursday 23 May 2019.
Dr Dabengwa’s death is a great loss not only to his family but also to the nation, the African region and the world as a whole.
Dr Dabengwa was and shall remain a leading icon of the nationalist struggle for liberation from the oppression of the people of Zimbabwe by the colonial regime prior to the gaining of the country’s national Independence in 1980.
ZLHR will always value the contribution to fostering a culture of human rights that Dr Dabengwa made. As a client of ZLHR, we salute him for actively litigating to protect the political rights of citizens.
Through several legal cases that he brought in court, he sought to foster a culture of human rights, democracy and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.
ZLHR extends its deepest condolences to his wife, the Dabengwa family, friends and the nation at large.
We thank him and his family for all they have done for Zimbabwe, Africa and the world.
Dr Dabengwa will be greatly missed and may the Dabengwa family and the nation take comfort in that he fought a good fight and his legacy of a tolerant, open and just society.
By Own Correspondent- Since time immemorial, Zimbabwe has been churning out stars who have touched hearts of many with their amazing talent.
Some have gone on to conquer the world while others dominated locally and regionally.
However, it is their departure to the other world which has exposed most of them for their planning boobs.
It also appears that some don’t invest in the future when they are at their peak.
This follows the death of mbira grandmaster Sekuru David Tafanei Gweshe whose family is desperately looking for help to give him a dignified send-off.
Nicholas Moyo (National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director)- You will remember that NACZ did introduce the Cell-brity Funeral Plan through Cell Funeral and there were no takers. It was a sad response from the sector.
Muwengwa was the first artist to be covered then.
It is important that artists should view themselves as equal citizens to others. Zimbabweans are generally known for embracing social schemes like burial societies.
This has been a culture from the communities that we come from and these had nothing to do with status. An artists should therefore not be an exception.
Artists like any other professionals should embrace social services schemes like funeral and medical policies.
The Council however has been engaging insurance companies to design packages for special groups that do not have regular income. Tailor made schemes may be more attractive to the sector.-HMetro
By Own Correspondent| Cooking oil manufacturer, Surface Wilmar has resumed operations after it was allocated foreign currency by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
The company, which owns Chitungwiza based Surface (manufacturers of Pure Drop) and Olivine Industries had suspended operations citing foreign currency shortages.
Surface Wilmar CEO Sylvester Mangani reiterated the company’s commitment to Zimbabwe.
He said:
We had stopped production because of foreign currency challenges but our commitment to Zimbabwe never changed. We remain firmly committed to Zimbabwe and it is our belief that we will remain the biggest cooking oil manufacturer.-BusinessTimes
By Own Correspondent- State Broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has denied allegations that it is politically biased in favour of the ruling ZANU PF party.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media chaired by Prince Dubeko Sibanda on Thursday, the ZBC head of news and current affairs Gilbert Nyambabvu said:
There is an inherent perception by certain individuals that they will not be covered by ZBC.
When I was an editor of a certain media organisation before going to ZBC, I was in regular communication with some members of the MDC and they gave me their diaries.
However, after I joined the ZBC, I have not had any request from MDC members to cover any of their events and perhaps they think that they are not going to be covered
Musician Tocky Vibes, real name Obey Makamure, was forced to change the name for his newborn baby after irate nurses refused to sanction the name that he had chosen.
Tocky had named his son, Chamakuvangu, after an album he did last year. However, the nurses at the clinic protested against the name and informed the musician that they were not going to write the name on the baby’s card.
The affable musician did not take this to heart and renamed the baby after himself, calling him Obey Junior.
Speaking to online publication, 263chat, the musician said,
I had named him Chamakuvangu but manurse akabva azviramba ndikazongomuti Obey Junior Makamure (nurses denied the name and I had to settle for Obey Junior Makamure).
By Own Correspondent- MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe said that her party is preparing to hold an extraordinary Congress in line with a recent High Court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore.
The High Court ruled that the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai acted unlawfully when he appointed Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as deputies alongside Khupe.
As such, Chamisa’s ascendancy to the MDC presidency was declared null and void.
In a statement issued through her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, Khupe said:
“The preparations for the MDC-T extraordinary congress are at an advanced in line with the High Court Judgment.
Very soon all the delegates of our 2014 congress will have an opportunity to once again retain our movement to its former glory days of steadfastness to the culture, character, values and principles of Social Democracy.
There is, therefore, no need to panic or even employ money and energy in stopping some gathering purported to be our congress as such a gathering is null and void and only amounts to a jamboree.
I will soon be visiting all the districts and wards of our Movement in preparation for the MDC-T legitimate Extra-Ordinary Congress.”
Zimbabwe has awarded a concession to explore for and mine platinum to a company linked to a Nigerian billionaire as the country speeds up investment in a mining sector it hopes will transform the country’s struggling economy.
The concession comes just over a year after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government signed an agreement with Cyprus-based Karo Resources to develop a $4.2-billion integrated platinum mine.
Zimbabwe is seeking to quickly exploit its reserves of platinum, which is used in catalytic converters for limiting emissions at a time vehicle manufacturers are moving to electric cars powered by lithium batteries.
The information ministry said Bavura Holdings, in which Nigerian billionaire Benedict Peters is a major shareholder, would on Thursday sign an agreement to mine platinum on Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich Greak Dyke. It did not give details.
Peters, who is based in Ghana, is the founder of Aiteo Group, which has interests in oil.
In November last year, the Nigerian High Court, directed the removal of the name of Benedict Peters, from a police list of wanted persons.
Justice Musa had ordered that Peters’ name be taken down from the anti-graft agency’s website, describing the process leading to his declaration as “wanted” by EFCC as unconstitutional, since it was not initiated or validated by any known law or court order.
Mines Minister Winston Chitando said last month the government would name two new investors to develop separate platinum mining projects west of the capital.
Anglo Platinum and Impala Platinum Holdings already mine platinum in Zimbabwe. Impala also owns a joint-venture mine with Sibanye-Stillwater.
A Russian consortium and Zimbabwean investors are developing a platinum project in Darwendale near Harare.
By Own Correspondent- Self proclaimed spiritual consultant Diana “Mangwenya” Samkange has urged people to uphold their culture especially in these trying days.
Mangwenya, who is billed to share the stage with Good Child and Dziva Rembira on Saturday at Solomons Lifestyle Café in Glen View said people should know where they are standing spiritually.
“People should go back to their traditions and spirituality and know where they are standing.
“Sometimes we should stop blaming top officials for failing us and seek spiritual guidance ourselves.
“People should also know that not having a culture is just the same as not having and an identity card, it means you cannot be recognised.
“Without culture there is no belonging,” she said
Mangwenya said traditional bira ceremonies were still relevant in our life.
“Our Zimbabwean culture is being diluted and as a nation we no longer have something to point as our very own.
“We are standing in the middle of nowhere as far as culture is concerned.
“There reason of having this African Gig or Bira on Africa Day is to revive our culture and help others know its worth.
“As Africans, as Zimbabwean we should be proud of who we are and stop people from taking advantage of us, of what we believe in,” she said.
“I am here to help my fellow Zimbabweans to uphold our culture.
“People should know that culture has nothing to do with wealth, uptown or down town lifestyle, culture is culture and that is why we are having this gig in Glen View,” added Mangwenya.
Her show comes at a time when Mangwenya has been doing on the showbiz.
She is one of the few active female artistes who has managed to stay afloat.
Buoyed by the success of her latest album Kumandinde, Mangwenya has vowed to fight for the girl-child.
Her album, produced by the country’s top producers, carries seven tracks.
These include the title track Kumandinde followed by Tovera Mudzimu Dzoka, Tsitsi Rudo Neunyararo, Hondo, Mudiwa John, Ndine Rudo, Chandinoda and Gara Pedyo.
Mangwenya went full circle in search of quality sound which saw her engaging the services of Maselo, Oskid, Walter Mabayi and Casper Beatz of Bazooka Studios in the capital.
Farai Dziva|Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development(COTRAD) has condemned the harassment, persecution and detention of human rights activists by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
See the COTRAD statetement below:
COTRAD CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) calls for the release of Human Rights Defenders Gamuchirai Mukura (COTRAD) Director, Tatenda Mombeyarara of the Citizen Manifesto, George Makoni Center for Community Development Zimbabwe ( CCDZ) Advocacy officer, Nyasha Frank Mpahlo of Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TIZ), and Farirai Gumbonzvanda of Rosaria Trust.
The Human rights Defenders were arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Monday night on allegations of plotting to subvert President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. The State alleges that the Human Rights Defenders allegedly participated in a meeting held in Maldives last week, where they hatched a plot to topple Mnangagwa’s government through civil disobedience.
The Human Rights Defenders were denied bail when they appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday (23/May/2019.
Farai Dziva|Ghana coach Kwasi Appiah has named a 29-man squad in his provisional list for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation scheduled for Egypt, next month.
The 29 consist of three goalkeepers, ten defenders, eleven midfielders and five strikers.
Goalkeepers
Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United, South Africa, Lawrence Ati- Zigi (Sochaux, Montbeliard, France), and Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).
Defenders
John Boye (Metz, France), Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), Abdul Baba Rahman (Reims, France), Lumor Agbenyenu (Goztepe A.S, Turkey), Kassim Nuhu, (Hoffeinham, Germany,) Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC, USA), Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belguim), Nuhu Musa (St Gallen, Switzerland), Joseph Attamah (Basaksehir, Turkey), and Mohammed Alhassan (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)
Midfielders
Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Internazionle, Italy), Ebenezer Ofori (New York FC, USA), Afriyie Acquah (Empoli, Italy), Andre Ayew ( Fenerbache, Turkey), Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Samuel Owusu (Cukaricki, Serbia), Thomas Agyepong (Hibernian, Scotland), Yaw Yeboah (Numancia, Spain), Abdul Fatawu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).
Strikers
Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Abdul Majeed Waris ( Nantes, France), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor, Turkey) and Kwabena Owusu (Leganes, Spain)
Farai Dziva|Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu has reiterated that he is not panicking and the results will soon come.
Bosso are yet to win this term and face TelOne in a tricky tie at Barbourfields on Sunday. The newly-promoted side has managed to pull some surprising results against top teams – a draw against Dynamos and a victory over reigning champions FC Platinum.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Madinda said: “I’m not panicking for now maybe there will be another time.
“I still believe good times are yet to come with the same players. If we are going to beef up (the squad), it’s because we have slots, and we will use them in June.”
Highlanders are sitting in the drop zone, second from bottom with just four points.
By Own Correspondent- Chiefs here have been identified as important players in peace building and conflict resolution in their communities to promote family values and facilitate development.
Addressing chiefs from Matabeleland North during a meeting in Bulawayo recently, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who is responsible for national healing and reconciliation, said the role of traditional leaders is vital and recognised by the Constitution.
Said Mohadi:
“Chiefs should guide us in resolving conflicts in their communities so that their people live in peace and harmony, in accordance with customary law. They should promote and uphold cultural values of their communities and in particular to promote sound family values.
Chiefs also preserve culture, traditions, history and heritage of their communities, including sacred shrines. They also play a role in facilitating development.
This is the second meeting I am holding with chiefs in the provinces, having held the first one in Mashonaland Central last month.
This is a crucial programme that I am engaged in, consulting and involving all chiefs in their areas of jurisdiction on how to build and sustain peace in our country.
By making our cultural approach the foundation of our peace-building architecture, I’m not ignoring or playing down other institutions that are involved in peace building and conflict resolution like the church, civic society and constitutional commissions. “However, these other institutions complement this fundamental cultural approach to peace-building and conflict resolution,” said VP Mohadi.
The VP challenged young chiefs to follow traditional values so that they earn the respect of their people.
“I’m aware that we have a good number of our chiefs who are young. They should realise that they have a challenge of earning the respect of their people. They should also know that wisdom comes with age and experience,” said VP Mohadi.
By Own Correspondent- 90% of Zimbabweans are not paying radio and TV licences to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Parliament was told.
ZBC chief executive officer Patrick Mavhura appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media on Thursday where he made the sensational claim.
Mavhura claimed that the public broadcaster has therefore been prejudiced of hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid fees. Said Mavhura:
The forecasted budget for 2019 is $45 million and we expect $34 million from advertising revenue and $10 million from licencing.
The potential licence revenue we are supposed to collect is around $220 million per annum, but the compliance rate is very low at less than 10%, and what it means is that less than 10% of the country’s population is paying licences.
The ZBC official said nonpayment was attributable to poor TV and radio signals in many areas.-Newsday
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Africa emerged from the dark cruel days of colonialism. The inspiration to find itself and shake the shackles of bondage came from the soup of Africa day. Africa day has brought about different vibes. In some countries it is a public holiday.
