State Media|PROMINENT medical practitioner and former Bulawayo City Council councillor, Dr Garry Ferguson, who founded Galen House and Medical Centre in the city, has died.

He was 89.

Dr Ferguson died at Mater Dei Hospital on Monday evening from an undisclosed ailment.

He was born on June 11, 1929 and was a certified Family Physician and Director at Galen House from 1957.

Dr Ferguson only retired last year after serving the Bulawayo community for 61 years.

A family friend and colleague, Dr Chad Tarumbwa, said the late Dr Ferguson, who was originally from Scotland, was the city’s longest serving general practitioner having started his practice years before Zimbabwe attained its Independence in 1980.

“We are saddened by the loss of our great icon, Dr Ferguson, one of the few non-racial doctors who served the people of Zimbabwe before and after independence. During his practice, he trained most of the renowned general practitioners that Zimbabwe ever had, both black and white,” said Dr Tarumbwa.

“We will miss his passion for general practice and his trade unionism which shaped the practice to what it is today. Dr Ferguson was also instrumental in forming a united Zimbabwe Medical Association in 1984 and together with the late Dr Timothy Stamps, they set up a college where general practitioners would be examined before starting their private practice”.

He described the late Dr Ferguson as a visionary general practitioner who set up private institutions to ease pressure on referral hospitals.

“Galen House was set up for minor surgeries and ailments to help save people the stress of going all the way to bigger institutions. However, over the years it turned to be a training ground for all doctors who wanted to start a private practice,” said Dr Tarumbwa.

He said Dr Ferguson’s family and partners had a difficult time trying to convince him to retire as he practiced until a few months ago.

“He was advised to retire four years ago due to old age but he kept on going to Galen House to consult and help people until last year when he finally retired. He was determined and contributed a lot to general practice in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Tarumbwa.

The late Dr Ferguson was on record as saying the late Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo was one of the reasons why he did not leave the country with most whites after Independence.

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said the local authority will miss Dr Ferguson’s contribution towards the development of the city as a doctor and former councillor.

“The City of Bulawayo has learnt with sadness of the passing of Mr Ferguson who was sworn in as a Councillor for Ward 5 on the April 2, 2008. He was a member of the Environmental Management Committee and was nominated to represent Council in the Bulawayo Publicity Association Committee and the Bulawayo Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2008/2009 Municipal Year,” said Cllr Mguni.

“Mr Ferguson was very active in promoting development in the City as he advocated for the servicing of roads in Cowdray Park and the promotion of a healthy diet for patients at Ingutsheni Hospital.”

City gynaecologist and Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said Dr Ferguson had mentored and helped a number of doctors establish their practices in Bulawayo and beyond.

“It is with profound sadness to learn of his passing as he was a giant in the medical field, a great visionary who built institutions that will last forever. He was a very jovial person and had a very sharp mind. He will be sadly missed by all of us,” said Dr Ngwenya.

Dr Ferguson is survived by his wife and several children.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance George Guvamatanga says that government has done its homework in reducing ZUPCO Bus fares to a shock minimum 50 cents for a trip.

Speaking to State Media on Tuesday, Guvamatanga said the duty on fuel, though reduced, will be used to subsidise the public transporter.

The subsidy will see Zupco reduce its fares by half from $1 to 50 cents for distance below 20 kilometres and from $1,50 to 75 cents from distances between 20 and 30 kilometres. The next 10 kilometres will cost $1 in bus fare from the previous $2.

The reduction, Guvamatanga said, was necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public that have been exposed to unfair pricing by the private transporters.

“We also wanted to put money back in the pockets of people and this will be done through savings on transport costs,” he said.

Guvamatanga allayed fears that the Zupco subsidies are not sustainable saying the move was well calculated and will not burden the country’s purse.

“We know exactly how much this is going to cost us, we have done some mathematics, and we have factored in this subsidy,” he quipped.

“A subsidy if its quantified, budgeted for and targeted, it’s a good subsidy. Safety nets by their nature are subsidies because you want to protect the more vulnerable members of the society,” said Mr Guvamatanga.

At least 15 cents (5 cents from diesel and 10 cents from petrol) in fuel levies per litre will go towards subsidising the public transport system, he said.

Government has announced plans to revive Zupco and will import thousands of conversional buses to be distributed among the company’s operating divisions.

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor Trevor Ncube has thrown the blame for the unpopular fuel price increase on ordinary Zimbabweans claiming that they asked for the increase and must therefore endure it.

In a very sensational post on Twitter on Tuesday, Ncube accused Zimbabweans for demanding the removal of the 1 to 1 rating of the Zimbabwean surrogate currency to the US Dollar.

Dear Zimbabwe,

I am completely outraged by your outrage over things that you have been calling for which have just happened.
Your rush to be part of popular opinion and in with the outraged crowd is so pedestrian.

Yours
Equally Outraged Compatriot

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) May 21, 2019

Fuel prices shot up by about 50% on Tuesday the day the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced that fuel buyers were now going to be sourcing their own foreign currency to purchase the scarce petroleum products.

By Farai D Hove| The government owned airliner AirZim has blown over $5 million on jets with a well known history of engine failure.

As pathetic and poetic as it sounds, the parastatal has purchased jets with a public history of engine failure and it has bought these from a country popular for plane accidents.

The Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza is quoted in the state media revealing that two out of the four Boeing 777-200 ER planes purchased by the government from Malaysia are expected in the country within two months.

The Boeing 777-200 is seen in the below horrific footage after developing engine failure:

Matiza’s remarks came after the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development had demanded information on the four passenger planes bought by Government from Malaysia. Matiza said:

Two of the planes have already been fully paid for and we are expecting them in the country within two months from now.

We are still in the process of paying for the other two. Issues of foreign currency are hindering the process of paying for the other two in full, but we have already started paying for them.

The state media reported that a payment of US$5 million was made last week, with more payments expected in the near future.

Earlier this month, Air Zimbabwe received an Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. The airline has largely been operating two serviceable aircraft, a Boeing 737-200 ER and 767-200ER. Other planes have been grounded due to old age, shortage of spares and foreign currency.

By Own Correspondent- A 45 year old Chisumbanje teacher was recently arrested and hauled before the courts after being found in possession of ivory and bullets in his car.

The suspect Bruce Moyana was arraigned before Chipinge magistrate Mr Vuso Gapara facing two counts of contravening Section 128 of Parks and Wildlife Management as well as possessing live ammunition without a permit.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $200 bail with usual reporting conditions of staying at his given address and not to interfere with witness until the finalisation of the matter.

It is the State case that on May 8, police officers received a tip off that the accused was in possession of ivory, whose value could not be quantified at the time of going to print.

The detectives visited his place of residence in Masunda village under Chief Garahwa and conducted a search. After conducting a search of his vehicle, the dragnet squad found ivory and eight live rounds of ammunition of an AK 47 riffle.

The bullets and ivory were hidden at the back of the driver’s seat in his Nissan Hardbody truck. Moyana was eventually arrested. “The accused was arrested and ivory and bullets will be produced in court as exhibit,” he said.

Moyana was represented by Mr Langton Mhungu of Matutu, Kwirira and Associates and the case was postponed to a later date for routine remand.ManicaPost

By Own Correspondent- Concerned residents in Ashdown Park have lodged a complaint against Orchestra Dendera Kings boss Suluman Chimbetu’s menacing dogs.

His dogs have been accused of being a menace at Rosedeane Garden Flats where he resides.

The dogs have been accused of trespassing into other residents’ premises and also attacking school children that reside at the garden flats.

One of the residents who didn’t want to reveal his name said they have tried to approach the Sean Timba singer over the issue but he has turned a deaf ear on them.

“We have approached him and tried to talk to him about his dogs for close to four months now.

“It appears he doesn’t want to listen to our complaints.

“We have also approached his wife but she is pompous and won’t listen to us.

“His dogs trespass into our yards; bins are all over the place because of the dogs and sometimes harass our children when they come from school.

“All this goes against the garden flats code of conduct.”

In an interview with H-Metro, Sulu said he is not aware of the issue as he spends most of his time away from home.

“I’m not aware of that, I am not usually at home.

“I will consult with my wife and hear what really is going on,” he said.-HMetro

By Own Correspondent- A Harare man accused of abandoning his child for his new lover, yesterday offered to pay 50 cents per day as maintenance.

Ephraim Pfukwa appeared in court answering to a $250 maintanance claim by his ex-wife Esther Gwara.

However, Pfukwa said he was prepared to part with $15 for the minor child per month.

“I want him to pay $250 per month as prices of basic commodities are going up on daily basis.

“I am a vendor realising at least $30 per month which is not sufficient to cater for me and the child.

“He is employed earning $400 each month but he is neglecting his child preferring to spend money with his girlfriend,” Gwara told the court.

In his submissions, Pfukwa argued that he had four other children to look after.

“I will offer $15 every month because I also have a wife and four other children I am taking care of.

“It’s not true that I am employed. I only do part time jobs and taking home $30 or less on a monthly basis.

“She also has to contribute as the mother of the child and not only look up to me,” he said.

In her ruling magistrate Sheila Nazombe ordered Pfukwa to contribute $50 towards the upkeep of his minor child.HMetro

By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has taken another sick leave amid indications that he has been flown to India for treatment.

The development comes after his health deteriorated over the past few weeks according to sources.

The visit is Chiwenga’s second this year after he left for India in February for what the government described as a “minor abdominal ailment”.

Chiwenga has not been seen in public for some time and was conspicuous by his absence at the official launch of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) on Friday last week.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his official address at POLAD acknowledged the absence of his deputy neither did he shed light on his whereabouts like he normally does.

The former army general who removed former president Robert Mugabe, has for weeks crept out of the public eye and has been spending more time indoors.

ZimEye also exclusively revealed that he has been skipping church for the past three weeks.

Sources privy to the developments told ZimEye, that VP Chiwenga has for nearly 3 weeks to date been summoning ambulances full of medics to his rescue at his home residence.

Sources told ZimEye:

“He has been quiet and more indoors lately.”

When Mnangagwa flew to Botswana for the Elephant Summit recently, he left the country in the hands of Chiwenga’s side-swipe, Kembo Mohadi.

Opposition legislator for Mutare Central Innocent Gonese is on record raising concern in parliament over Chiwenga’s absence from parliamentary sittings.

Gonese said Chiwenga and Mohadi are conspicuously absent in the chambers and their names do not appear on the list if those who would have sought leave of absence.

Lamented Gonese:

“….I am simply asking the chair to inform the House of the ministers and Vice Presidents whom we have never seen….In particular, Mr Speaker Sir, I also note with concern that the Hon Vice Presidents have not been attending on most ocassions.”

Government has however remained mum on Chiwenga.

More to follow…

Farai Dziva|Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi’s claims that former President Robert Mugabe was removed from office by the army indicate that the former strongman was ousted via a coup , several Zimbabweans have said.

Commenting on Mutodi’s utterances Innocent Itai Nyamatore wrote:
You could be a good replacement since we have lost so many Rhumba giants, the likes of Pepe Kale and Papa Wemba. Just try your luck that side please Papa Mutodi and the new musica stars hahaha.

Shingirai Mbuwayesango:Anyway ZANU PF and the Army cannot be separated.

Sim-Field Humbasha: Well well Mr Minister! If you then agree that he was removed by the military, so it means that was a coup?

Rodwin Nyadundu:So if he was removed by the army it means it was coup .

Kudakwashe Mapfumo: Said by a band member!

Farai Dziva|MDC T vice president Obert Chaurura Gutu has claimed the level of desperation in the MDC A has reached shocking levels.

He also said his party entered into the POLAD agreement to help rebuild the nation.

“In the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), MDC-T has made our party position on corruption clear & unequivocal : We are demanding ZERO tolerance to corruption in both the public & private sectors. Corruption should be ruthlessly & decisively dealt with, without fear or favour.”

“They created FAKE NEWS about a fathom Supreme Court “victory” and thereafter, they staged wild and delusional celebrations. I just laughed my lungs out….!! This is DESPERATION RELOADED…..LOL.”

Farai Dziva| Zanu MP for Goromonzi West Energy Mutodi has claimed there is a difference between Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy and that of his political rival Nelson Chamisa.

Mutodi, a declared close ally of Emmerson Mnangagwa believes it is not proper to compare ZANU PF and MDC scenarios when it comes to how they handled succession.

Mutodi told Newsday that it was wrong to liken MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s ascendancy to that of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who came to power on the back of a military coup in 2017.

While Chamisa was chosen by the party’s National Council in 2018 after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai, Mnangagwa took over the reins in ZANU PF after Mugabe’s “forced” resignation.

Opinion By Farai Maguwu|Two days ago I received a Macedonian call for help from Chief Marange who requested to see me at his homestead in Marange. I went there yesterday morning and was truly shocked with the state of his homestead. First Chief Marange expressed gratitude to CNRG for all the civic education and awareness campaigns we have held in Marange and on behalf of his community.

He told me he has no clean water at his homestead, his family fetches water at the nearby Primary School. The Car he got from the government broke down last year and he has no money to repair it. I have since taken this up with ZCDC and they promised to look into the matter.

He lamented the general poverty in his area despite being home to what was once considered the biggest diamond find in a century. He added that there was a company called Marange Resources and yet He, as Chief Marange, didnt know who owned that company.

Zim needs serious dialogue on mining. This is not working. No, it can work, you will not work as it is also mechanising very rapidly, simple!

Correspondent|H-Metro reports that a 39 yer old man, Kelvin Mukungwa, only returned home in the late hours of Tuesday last week. He then committed suicide the next morning after his wife had taken the school children to school. She is the one who later discovered the body.

In a sad development, a man from Glen Norah who spent the weekend away from his home is reported to have committed suicide on his return after his wife chose not to inquire about his whereabouts over the weekend.

A family spokesperson who spoke to the publication said. His wife found Kelvin’s body hanging upon her return from taking children to school, and I want to believe he felt ashamed to face his wife. He has two children, and I think akundwa nenyadzi since his wife never asked him about where he had been for two days.

However, some of his friends told the publication that they suspected that Kelvin was already troubled because he had some unresolved issues at home. One source told, H-Metro.

Kelvin surprised his friends on Monday when he bought beer for everyone who was in the bar, and he has not been going home. He asked one of his friends for a jersey to put on since it was cold. He would come early in the morning visiting his friends for the past two days.

I want to believe that he had an unresolved issue with his wife because in 2016 he downed rat poison, but survived. Mourners are gathered at House 512, Glen Norah.

Lynette Karenyi’s focus has always been hardwork, unity and victory for the MDC party and it’s President.

POLITICAL CARREER HIGHLIGHTS

It all started in 1999. In 1999, she was ward 16 secretary before she was elevated to become the district secretary for Mutare North in 2000.

In 2003, she became the first elected MDC Councillor for ward 16 and joined Mutare city council. 2006 saw her become the provincial secretary for Manicaland province before she became the national Organising secretary for the Assembly of Women in 2007.

Karenyi was then elected as the member of parliament for Chimanimani west in 2008. In this 7th parliament, she chaired the local government committee and was also in the speaker’s panel.

At the party level, she was re elected national organiser for the Women’s Assembly before landing the National Chairperson’s role in the same wing in 2014. She has been at the helm of the Women’s Assembly from 2014 to date.

WHO IS LYNETTE KARENYI KORE?

Karenyi is a political activist, MDC Assembly of Women Chairperson and MP for Manicaland. She is also a Women’s Rights Activist besides currently contesting for MDC VP Post .

When Karenyi was elected to the Zimbabwean Parliament in 2008, she became the first Zimbabwean opposition female legislator to ever win a parliamentary seat in a rural constituency.

She later became the 3rd Assembly of Women Chairperson in the MDC serving exceptionally well from 2014 to date.

In 2018 , she became the first woman Chairlady in MDC history to campaign for the President and the party nationwide addressing rallies and door to door campaigns that brought positive results to MDC and President Nelson Chamisa.

As Women Chairperson, Karenyi has always been active in MDC political campaign groups and campaigned for MDC 2018 Presidential Nominee.

She said:

“I am inspired to work for the people because i have the people at heart and I want to fight the continued suffering of citizens under the Zanu Regime.

I have been nominated to be VP for the party and I am cherishing the possiblity of winning and taking up the challenge. I am fully aware of the responsibilities of such a high office and I am also aware of the people’s expectations.

The people want a VP that will support President Nelson Chamisa to win and also ensure we get the majority in parliament.

I also understand the need to fight and create a gender balanced MDC. I also intend to foster unity and build a radical rural base that will bring our party votes.

Turning to Parliament my task is to push for reforms that will guarantee a political level ground for Zimbabwe.”

In doing so, Karenyi revealed a 10 point plan that will guide her Leadership Ethics as VP at the same time meeting expectations of many MDC supporters who want leaders that deliver change than mere talking.

This is because she believes that she is not a mere leader but “a people’s servant who is always walking the Talk”.

KARENYI’S 10 POINT PLAN

“Karenyi as leader has always known how to do the right thing. It may be difficult to define exactly what “right” is, but in my case, focus has always been hardwork, unity and victory for the MDC party and it’s President.

My Mission is to support President Chamisa and MDC’s vision of free democractic and successful Zimbabwe through this 10 POINT PLAN.

1. Justice – Promoting an MDC that is always Democratic, fair, and just. Under Lynette Kore as VP, all members have no reason to fear biased treatment on the basis of gender, ethnicity, nationality, or any other factor.
2. Respect Others – Lynette promises to respect all MDC members by listening to everyone attentively, valuing everyone’s contributions, being compassionate, and being generous while considering opposing viewpoints.
3. Honesty – Honesty is particularly important to be an effective ethical leader, because MDC followers trust honest and dependable leaders. who supports the President and party vision
4. Humane – I place importance in being kind, and act in a manner that is always beneficial to the MDC.
5. Focus on building The MDC – I promise to foster a sense of community and team spirit within the MDC. My goal is an MDC that achieves its set targets of democratically removing Zanu from power
6. Value driven decision-making – I will ensure that all decisions are first checked and are in line with the President and party mandate
7. Encourages initiatives – It is my intention to encourage intiatives that attracts voters. In the past I intiated programmes Like Mhou Ne Mhuru and Dzoka uyamwe for the Diaspora, Transformation of rural voters to believe in the MDC
8. Lead by Example – I will not just talk but always walk the talk. It is my wish to help the President and the party in the recruitment of new members for the MDC.
9. Value Awareness – Regularly formulating, communicating, and executing ways to win and removing Zanu is key to my values.
10. No Tolerance to Party violations
    Don’t expect Lynette to overlook or tolerate those who disregard party Leadership and direction

In conclusion if you elect Lynette Karenyi as one of your VPS you have elected a servant of the people and the party. It is also my hope to mentor the future MDC generation to be leaders of tomorrow.”

A New Zimbabwe Is Possible!

Own Correspondent|Botswana police have confirmed the death of a missing man from Maitengwe in that country whose remains were found in Zimbabwe last week.

The 62-year-old man of was reported missing on the 17th of August last year only for his bones to be found along Maitengwe border last Monday.

Officer Commanding for No:15 District, Kabo Badirwang, confirmed the report to The Voice Newspaper of Botswana.

“We got the report from the Zimbabwe Republic police on the 7th of May this year that a passerby found human bones in Nsekesa cattlepost which is next to Magola village in Zimbabwe. They informed us because they knew that we had been searching for a missing person.

“We then sent our pathologist who together with our Zimbabwean counterparts confirmed that indeed the remains belonged to the missing man. We also went there last week to meet with Zimbabwe police for further investigations.

“The results have shown that the bones have been in that bush for a long time as they were in isolated pieces. It was mainly the skull that ignited the suspicion that the remains were for a human being,” revealed the police chief.

Badirwang further said he did not rule out the possibility of foul play but said investigations into the matter were underway.

The remains have since been handed over to the family for burial.

Last year Botswana police official, Jerry Halahala sent an SOS to his Zimbabwean counterparts that the old man went missing when he was on his way from work.

He was working as a security guard for Radial in the Kurujenaa area near the border with Zimbabwe guarding gorvenment boreholes.

It was said that he left on the 17th of August on his bicycle which was found on the day that the report was made.

We demand the immediate release of CCDZ Advocacy Officer George Makoni and his civil society colleagues Gamuchirai Mukura of COTRAD, Tatenda Mombeyarara of the Citizens Manifesto and Frank Mpahlo of Transparency International – Zimbabwe.

The 4 Civic leaders were arrested upon arrival at R. Mugabe International Airport last night. George Makoni took leave of absence to attend a professional Human rights and Peace-building Programme in The Maldives.

This workshop was NOT in any way linked to regime change and any plot to unseat the Zimbabwean government as being peddled by the state press – The Herald and Chronicle. The arrest of the 4 civil society leaders by the State authorities is an attempt to muzzle civil society and criminalize its work.

Jane Mlambo| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been flown to India for treatment, after his health deteriorated.

The visit is Chiwenga’s second this year after he left for India in February for what the government described as a “minor abdominal ailment”.

Chiwenga has not been seen in public for some time and was conspicuous by his absence at the official launch of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) launch on Friday last week.

The former army general who removed former president Robert Mugabe, has for weeks crept out of the public eye been spending more time indoors. ZimEye also found that he has been skipping church for the past three weeks.

Sources privy to the developments told ZimEye, that VP Chiwenga has for nearly 3 weeks to date been summoning ambulances full of medics to his rescue at his home residence.

Sources told ZimEye:

“He has been quiet and more indoors lately.”

When Mnangagwa flew to Botswana, he left the country in the hands of Chiwenga’s side-swipe, Kembo Mohadi, another infirm.

More to follow…

Farai Dziva|Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi’s claims that former President Robert Mugabe was removed from office by the army indicate that the former strongman was ousted via a coup , several Zimbabweans have said.

Commenting on Mutodi’s utterances Innocent Itai Nyamatore wrote:
You could be a good replacement since we have lost so many Rhumba giants, the likes of Pepe Kale and Papa Wemba. Just try your luck that side please Papa Mutodi and the new musica stars hahaha.

Shingirai Mbuwayesango: Anyway ZANU PF and the Army cannot be separated.

Sim-Field Humbasha:Well well Mr Minister! If you then agree that he was removed by the military, so it means that was a coup?

Rodwin Nyadundu:So if he was removed by the army it means it was coup .Kudakwashe Mapfumo:Said by a band member!

Farai Dziva|MDC T vice president Obert Chaurura Gutu has claimed the level of desperation in the MDC A has reached shocking levels.

He also said his party entered into the POLAD agreement to help rebuild the nation.

“In the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), MDC-T has made our party position on corruption clear & unequivocal : We are demanding ZERO tolerance to corruption in both the public & private sectors. Corruption should be ruthlessly & decisively dealt with, without fear or favour.”

“They created FAKE NEWS about a fathom Supreme Court “victory” and thereafter, they staged wild and delusional celebrations. I just laughed my lungs out….!! This is DESPERATION RELOADED…..LOL.”

Jane Mlambo| Controversial former Zanu PF activist, Acie Lumumba real name Gerald William Mutumanje has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa that his advisors are feeding him poison that will get him removed from office.

Posting on Twitter today, Lumumba said if Mnangagwa fails to fire his advisors, they will get him fired.

Lumumba said Mnangagwa was surrounded by criminals who should be removed.

WTF are @edmnangagwa's advisors advising him? If ED does not start firing his advisors, his advisors are going to get him fired! We need to remove the criminals around the President. I was really enjoying my sabbatical ??

— #ThePeoplesChampion???✊? (@acielumumba) May 21, 2019

Lumumba was reacting to the fuel price hike announced today which saw petrol now selling at $4.97 per litre while diesel is now at $4.87.

Jane Mlambo| Opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa has reached 500 000 followers on Twitter, beating Professor Jonathan Moyo who is on 473 000 and becoming the third most followed Zimbabwean on the popular social network after Danai Gurira (793k) and Mufti Ismail Menk who has a staggering 4.3 million followers.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa could not hide his excitement at reaching a milestone non of the local politicians in Zimbabwe has reached since Twitter became widespread in Zimbabwe.

“Wow we’re now 500 000…Thank you dear friends for this happy space on Twitter.I thank God as I appreciate you all for the half a million followers mark. You are awesome and wonderful. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live in harmony!” said Chamisa.

Since he became the MDC President following the death of their iconic founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Chamisa’s Twitter account has gained so much traction from Zimbabweans both locally and abroad.

Chamisa follows only 1,638 people and has tweeted 4,928 times.

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has legitimised Robert Mugabe’s removal from office , saying that the central committee chose Emmerson Mnangagwa to fill a power vacuum that had been left after former’s demise.

“For Zanu PF, I can assure you that this is not the same issue because there were intervening issues. First of all, the President of the Republic, then Robert Mugabe was facing impeachment for allegations for having given his wife certain executive powers and Parliament taking measures to impeach him.

The military had intervened in the process of government on a very clear issue that the status quo had broken down so that is why the central committee had to sit in a formally-constituted meeting to determine who would be elected as the leader or interim leader of Zanu PF and then substantive leader.

That is how Mnangagwa’s name emerged. So this cannot be the same or some kind of replication or similarity of what is happening in the MDC,” Mutodi told Newsday.

Farai Dziva|Prominent human rights activist Prosper Tiringindi has condemned the persecution of fellow human rights defenders by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

See Tiringindi’s statement below :

I Am Human Rights Defender
Fix Zimbabwe’s economy don’t arrest Human Rights Defenders.

Arresting human Rights Defenders is not a solution Mr President, I was shocked to receive the news of about 4 human rights defenders who were arrested at Robert Mugabe Airport.

Zimbabwe’s civil society leaders George Makoni of CCDZ, Frank Mpahlo of TiZ, Tatenda Mombeyarara of Citizens Manifesto and Gamuchirai Mukura of Cotrad were arrested at the R. Mugabe Int’l Airport last night.

The 4 leaders were coming from Maldives where they attended a workshop in human rights and peace-building.

Free HRDS now

Fix the cash crisis.”

By A Correspondent| Pro-Democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has told the story of how the four activists currently under police arrest, were taken into custody at the Robert Gabriel International Airport.

The four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years and Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were detained upon disembarking from a
plane at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday 20 May 2019 and held for several hours without communication with their lawyers after authorities confiscated their mobile phone handsets and laptops.

Haruzivishe tells of this story in the below interview. He says:

“The 4 in question arrested, were coming from South Africa from Oliver Tambo International Airport to Robert Mugabe Airport and when they arrived; when they were checking out of the airport when they were apprehended by detectives from the law and order they were then arrested and told that they were charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

“They were then separated taken to separate police stations one of them, a police station in Mbare, the other ine in Braeside, the other one at Harare Central… and you know it is unfortunate that we have a state that feels citizens, four young men, four who don’t even have means to overthrow this and constitutional government it is unconstitutional in existence and in operation. They don’t have the means, that for it to be so paranoid, torturing them, traumatising them, to that extent and invading their privacy, their laptops have been taken they entered them even without even the consent of the accused in question, and even the trauma of being charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government, that is treasonous, a treasonous charge; the kind of trauma that they face, the cold they are spending the night without adequate clothing, and also the torture that they’re going through it is just so unnecessary.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

By Own Correspondent- MDC president Nelson Chamisa said that the party will maintain the current structure of having three vice presidents, but will have one once in power.

Chamisa revealed that three vice presidents will be elected at this week’s elective Congress set to be held in Gweru as a way of continuing with the legacy left by the late founding party president Morgan Tsvangirai: He said:

The issue of three vice-presidents is a legacy for our late president Mr Tsvangirai, with a trade union background. The party is different from the government.

The party can have as many leaders as possible, but in government, we will have a lean cabinet, with one vice-president on the basis of State resources.

I want you to know that none of the vice-presidents is paid any salaries by the party. It’s voluntary work.

Even the president is not paid. Not that I want a salary because my salary is a victory, if we have a victory, then my salary would have come.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- The ongoing planned power cuts in the country had negatively affected operations at Bindura Provincial Hospital with grave consequences for the sick until an intervention by a fuel dealer, Puma.

A message, whose author remains a mystery, went viral on social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Twitter, detailing the sorry state of affairs at the hospital due to the debilitating power cuts.

The SOS read in part:

As a result of load-shedding, the situation at Bindura Hospital is unbearable. All operations cannot be done because of non-availability of power. The life support system in neonatal ward for pre-term babies is dependent upon power which is not there.

… It pains us to watch helplessly someone losing life, yet as key stakeholders, they have the potential to avoid that. I hope this plea will get to those that can assist.

Mashonaland Central provincial administrator, Cosmas Chiringa, told Newsday that the text was indeed authentic and in response to the plea, Puma had intervened to avert the crisis.

Said Chiringa:

I received a similar text over the weekend. What happened is that we were allocated fuel which was not enough, but we have since resolved the matter with Puma.

I am very happy to say that the meeting with hospital management and Puma officials was fruitful.

I am also pleased to announce that following the SOS, well-wishers are also coming on board to assist and already we have been offered 500 litres of diesel to be used at the hospital by a local company.

After announcing that the price of fuel will not increase, ZERA has since made a statement gazetting new prices with petrol now $4.97 while diesel is now selling at $4.87.

A Twitter user, Miss Chindiya said such inconsistencies erode public confidence in both ZERA and the government.

These are the type of inconsistencies that erode the public’s confidence ? pic.twitter.com/zwDgPoSlCd

— AN UNEMPLOYED HUN (@MISSCHINDIYA) May 21, 2019

READ THE ZERA Statement below…

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe has not paid back it’s debt to Botswana that dates back as far as 2012 during former President Robert Mugabe’s era for the sale of livestock they sold them.

This was all revealed in the Auditor General’s report for the 2018/2019 financial year that was released last week that Zimbabwe still owes Botswana a total sum of P1 239 000 for that livestock sale that took place.

For the debt that has been outstanding for almost seven years, it appears that the neighbouring country Zimbabwe is struggling and has not made any effort in settling the debt it owes Botswana.

The livestock sale transaction happened back in 2012 following an agreement that was signed by the two countries, the previous year for the sale of the live cattle from the Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) areas such as Ngamiland.

Under the signed agreement over 30,000 live cattle were sold to Zimbabwe for slaughter, through a Cold Storage Company (CSC), a development which brought hope to Ngamiland farmers who had been struggling to sell their cattle to local slaughterhouses.

According to details of the report, the Botswana government extended its export deal of live cattle to Zimbabwe for an indefinite period, four years ago, as Botswana grappled with foot-and-mouth disease in the north and east regions.

The deal between the two governments involved sending live cattle from Botswana to Zimbabwe’s CSC slaughter facilities in Bulawayo.

The deal was largely seen as some respite to the Botswana Meat Corporation, since the European Union had stopped beef importsfrom Botswana due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Zimbabwe and other African countries seized the opportunity to buy cattle from Botswana.

CSC has a huge debt of close to $22 million and has seen production going down to around 10% of capacity.

The company was at one time the largest meat processor in Africa, handling up to 150 000 tonnes of beef and associated by-products each year and exporting to the European Union.

CSC is reportedly left with just 700 cattle and more than $80 million is needed to bring the company back to its feet.

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will today cancel fuel subsidies, with oil companies now required to compete for foreign currency on the interbank market, a move likely to see the price of fuel rising sharply.

Central bank governor John Mangudya yesterday said the bank was dropping the 1:1 peg from the fuel importation matrix, which many fear will trigger another round of price rises and a domino effect in an economy already experiencing high inflation.

This comes after the central bank said it had secured a US$500 million loan from unspecified international banks to support its interbank currency market to ease shortages of hard currency.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) is pleased to advise the public that with effect from May 21, 2019 (today), the procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) shall be done through the interbank foreign exchange market,” Mangudya said in a statement last night.

“There shall be only one foreign exchange rate to be used in the market for the importation of all goods and services. This means that the 1:1 exchange rate that was being used by OMCs for the procurement of fuel will be discontinued with immediate effect.”

Government scrapped its discredited 1:1 dollar peg for surrogate bond notes and electronic dollars, which it merged into the Real Time Gross Settlement (ZWL) dollar in February and launched the interbank market.

It, however, maintained the 1:1 parity for fuel companies to keep fuel prices low, a move critics said was promoting corruption in allocation of foreign currency and exacerbating shortages of cash, with allegations that the market was controlled by few politically-connected players.

As of yesterday, the interbank rate closed at US$1:ZWL$3,48, while on the black market, the rate was at ZWL$5,7.

The last fuel price hike in January, announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself, triggered protests around the country, which resulted in security agents killing 17 people, according to human rights groups, with hundreds left nursing gunshot wounds.

Mangudya yesterday said the new position was necessary to promote the efficient use of foreign exchange and to minimise and guard against incidences of arbitrage within the economy.

The central bank, Mangudya said, would proceed to drawdown the US$500 million from the offshore line of credit to supplement the country’s foreign exchange receipts to underpin the interbank market.

“The facility will be disbursed into the country through the interbank foreign exchange framework at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis,” he said.

“Over and above these initiatives, letters of credit (LCs) shall continue to be used for the importation of essential commodities such as fuel, grain and cooking oil. The LCs will also be priced at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate.

“The bank has directed banks to effectively apply the willing-seller willing-buyer principle to ensure that the interbank foreign exchange market is reflective of market conditions.

“Accordingly, banks must ensure that there are no moral hazards in the operation of the interbank foreign exchange market. In this regard, all the foreign exchange requirements for bank for their own use that includes dividend payments, subscriptions fees, etc, would need prior exchange control approval; for the proper conduct of the interbank foreign exchange market. Similarly, banks should discontinue twinning arrangements for their customs as this undermines the efficient operations of the interbank foreign exchange market.”

However, critics note that the high price of fuel was also because of exorbitant government taxes on fuel, which accounted for nearly 25% of the ZWL$2,1 billion revenue collected in the first quarter alone.

“No more getting forex at 1:1 to import fuel or cooking or wheat. They now get priority forex through banks at the going interbank rate. This means fuel pricing is likely to increase by a huge margin unless government immediately reverses its Jan 13 fuel tax increase,” economist Kipson Gundani said.

“Cutting excise duty back to 45 cents per litre would ensure pump price remains more or less stable at around ZWL$4/litre.”

Government collects ZWL$2,11 per litre of diesel sold and ZWL$2,48 for petrol, which the State has to cut significantly to keep fuel prices low.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) yesterday announced a 50% price cut on transport fares that will see the majority of commuters paying 50 cents for a trip to town.

A statement issued by Finance secretary George Guvamatanga, headlined “Operation Restore Sanity,” said the new fares were with effect from yesterday.

A distance of 20km and less will cost 50 cents; 20km to 30km will be charged 75 cents, while 30km to 40km will cost $1.

“Further distances will follow similar reductions,” the statement read.

NewsDay

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW

Own Correspondent|After sensationally claiming that there is no fuel piece increase in place in the country, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulating Authority, ZERA, has increased the price of fuel with an immediate effect and valid for a week.

The new pump price for petrol is now $4.97.

Below is the statement from ZERA issued moments ago.

By Own Correspondent- The government, through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), has officially announced new fuel prices after having been in denial since Monday.

In a statement on Tuesday, ZERA announced that with effect from May 21, 2019, the price of diesel has been pegged at $4.89 while petrol will be sold at $4.97.

In the latest announcement ZERA said:

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) advises that in terms of amendments to Statutory Instruments 9 and 10 of 2019 and the new measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on fuel procurement based on the interbank rate, applicable prices for the period May 2019 to 26 May 2019 are summarised in the table below:

Below is the ZERA statement.

RE: REVIEW OF FUEL PRICES EFFECTIVE 21 MAY 2019

The Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA) advises that in terms of amendments to Statutory Instruments 9 and 10 of 2019 and the new measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on fuel procurement based on the interbank rate, applicable prices for the period 21 May 2019 to 26 May 2019 are summarized in the table below.

Diesel $4.89

Blend E10: $4.97

Operators may sell petroleum products at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages.

E. T. Mazambani

ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ZIMBABWE ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY

VIEW PICTURE BELOW

By Own Correspondent- A South African judge of the labour court has died after he was bitten by a black mamba whilst in Zambia on a holiday.

Judge Anton Steenkamp, 57, was in Zambia in the company of his wife when the venomous reptile attacked him.

The incident was confirmed by a relative, Ruby Steenkamp, in an interview with News24.

She said:

We’re devastated. No words. What an incredible man. His wife, Catherine, is still on her own in Zambia. They were touring Africa. We as a family were very, very proud of him.

ZIMBABWEAN authorities on Monday 20 May 2019 arrested four human rights campaigners upon their return to the country and confiscated
their laptops and mobile phones.

The four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years and Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were detained upon disembarking from a
plane at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday 20 May 2019 and held for several hours without communication with their lawyers after
authorities confiscated their mobile phone handsets and laptops.

Zimbabwean authorities refused to allow lawyers representing the four human rights activists access to their clients.

The lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Tinomuda Shoko and Godfrey Mupanga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights only had access to their clients at
Harare Central Police Station after nearly five hours from the time the human rights campaigners were in incommunicado detention at the airport.

At Harare Central Police Station, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers only waved a search warrant in the lawyers’ faces without giving them
access to the document.

No charges have been preferred yet against the four human rights campaigners.
ZLHR’s Position

Government must stop criminalising the work of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Human rights work is not a crime. – ZLHR

The Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority ZERA has put to rest speculations that fuel prices will be increased.

This follows the shock announcement by RBZ governor John Mangudya that Fuel Companies will now buy foreign currency at the Interbank rate instead of the subsidized 1:1 they were receiving previously.

Zimbabwe has been plagued by foreign currency shortages with the RBZ coming under fire for prioritizing fuel cartels at the expense of other critical sectors of the economy.

Below is a Press statement released by ZERA.

UPDATE: Police at Harare Central doing interviews (of the 4 activists) this morning have indicated they intend to lay charges of subverting a constitutionally elected government @ZLHRLawyers @MakomboreroH

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

RT – After almost 4,5 hours @ZLHRLawyers have located 4 human rights activists who are now detained at Harare Central. These include Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamu Mukura, George Makoni & Nyasha Mpahlo… https://t.co/2bk3PNgQ6J

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

Zimbabwean authorities on Monday 20 May 2019 arrested four human rights campaigners upon their return to the country and confiscated their laptops and mobile phones.

The four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years and Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were detained upon disembarking from a plane at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday 20 May 2019 and held for several hours without communication with their lawyers after authorities confiscated their mobile phone handsets and laptops.

Zimbabwean authorities refused to allow lawyers representing the four human rights activists access to their clients.

The lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Tinomuda Shoko and Godfrey Mupanga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights only had access to their clients at Harare Central Police Station after nearly five hours from the time the human rights campaigners were in incommunicado detention at the airport.

At Harare Central Police Station, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers only waved a search warrant in the lawyers’ faces without giving them access to the document.

No charges have been preferred yet against the four human rights campaigners.

In a statement the ZLHR said its position is that “Government must stop criminalising the work of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Human rights work is not a crime.”

By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has said the recent judgement by the High Court regarding the presidency of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is a matter between the MDC and the courts.

In a state media report, Moyo distanced his party from allegations that his party was meddling in the internal processes of the MDC.

Moyo dismissed allegations that Zanu Pf was interfering with MDC preparations for the forthcoming congress.

He remarked that the claims by MDC Alliance are untrue adding that the allegations were meant to create instability in the country.

Moyo said:

I must restate that the court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leader using the 2014 MDC structures is purely a matter between the MDC and the courts.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has dismissed allegations that his party was interfering with MDC preparations for the forthcoming congress.

A state media report revealed that Moyo remarked that the claims by MDC Alliance are untrue.

It further says that he views the allegations as meant to create instability in the country.

According to the article, Moyo said:

I must restate that the court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leader using the 2014 MDC structures is purely a matter between the MDC and the courts.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Armed robbers who are reportedly using a Honda Fit vehicles are wreaking havoc in Gweru and are mainly targeting cross border traders and Midlands State University (MSU) Students.

Spates of robberies, some of which are violent, have been reported in Gweru City.

The robbers are using Honda Fit vehicles that do not have registration numbers and pouncing on students near MSU campus and cross border traders travelling to South Africa at night using cross border buses.

In a shocking incident on Thursday last week in Gweru Central Business District (CBD) near Chicken Inn along Lobengula Avenue at around 9pm, a woman travelling to South Africa lost her hand bag to the daring robbers who attacked her in front of onlookers.

The robbers who were driving a silver Honda Fit pounced on the woman who had just bought food from Chicken Inn and snatched the bag from her before dragging her for close to 100 meters as they wrestle the bag and pushed her out off the moving vehicle.

The woman sustained serious head and body injuries. The robbers sped off in movie style and left the woman for dead.

Several students have lost laptops and cellphones to the robbers who usually pounce at them at night.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zimdancehall chanter Obey Makamure better known as Tocky Vibes by his fans has welcomed a baby boy to his family.

He announced the news on his Instagram account by posting  picture of himself holding his baby son

And he wrote: You are going to change this world my son #MWARI makatendeka mbiri yenyu ngaikudzwe.

RECENTLY, President Emmerson Mnangagwa swore in 18 commissioners for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the Police and Prisons and Correctional Services. NewsDay (ND) senior reporter Blessed Mhlanga caught up with Public Service Commission chairperson Vincent Hungwe (VH), who also chairs the Judicial Service Commission, the ZDF, police and prisons commissions to discuss security sector reforms and conditions of service for civil servants.

ND: We witnessed the President swear in commissioners for the defence forces, police and prisons. What awaits them?

VH: Well, next is work, work, work. The commissioners were, in terms of appointment, approved by His Excellency maybe a month ago, but we could not start any operations in the absence of fulfilling this constitutional requirement to be sworn in by the President. That has now been done, so, we are doubling down to the real work that is before the commissions.

ND: What are the issues that you are looking at, especially in the security sector?

VH: It is basically to ensure that the security services create an environment in this country that is conducive to the observance of law and order, the creation of safety, stability and security for citizens, including those that would, from time to time, want to engage with us on the economic front so that we can improve the livelihoods of our citizens.

ND: Chiefly, there has been talk of security sector reforms to achieve the things you mention. Anything on that front that you are doing in terms of reforming the military and police?

VH: The reform of the security sector is a responsibility that lies with the ministers that have been given mandates in that domain, the Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence and Justice.

So, those are the policy drivers with respect to security sector reform, and we are expecting those ministries to principally champion those reforms.

Ours is really to implement the security reforms that would have been initiated by those line ministers and cleared by Cabinet.

ND: So is there anything that you are implementing as of now in the area of security sector reforms?

VH: Well, there is a lot of work that is being done on conditions of service, the institutional infrastructure for the police, the army and the prisons and correctional services to do their work.

Those are the things we are currently doing, but I thought that the import of your initial questions was to what extent are there imperatives for us to revisit policies with respect to the dispensing of those mandates.

Those issues are not for the commissions, those are issues for the line ministers that are responsible.

ND: The President recently spoke about the erosion of disposable incomes, particularly those of civil servants because of the rising prices. Is there anything that you are doing for the civil servants on that front?

VH: Consistently so because we do engage with our employees from time to time and you will recall that at the beginning of the year, the President granted civil servants some resources and those resources were not negotiated.

It was the President merely indicating and recognising that there have been some challenges with respect to the economy and the increase in prices.

Subsequent to that, we engaged with our employees for purposes of coming up with the cost of living adjustment of $400 million (which) became operational with effect from the 1st of April.

However, since April 1, of course, there has been some changes, there have been some challenges within our economy and we are continuing to engage employees in order to come up with mid-term adjustments to their salaries sometime in June and July.

But over and above salaries and allowances for civil servants, there is always consistent focus on our part as the employer to ensure that non-monetary benefits continue to be delivered to our employees.

Just watch the space in the coming two to three months and see the extent to which we would have gone by way of ensuring that the non-monetary benefits become a reality.

All this is intended to ensure that our workers continue to be barricaded against some of the vicissitudes in the economy.

ND: There has been this programme to streamline civil service to ensure that you put skills where they are required, how far has that programme gone?

VH: That is an ongoing exercise. The PSC has completed its strategic plan (which) has a number of pillars and one of the pillars is skills development, which includes making sure that we deploy our skills to the areas where they are required.

In the process, there will certainly be individuals that are going to be affected, but that will be done in the context of our rules and our procedures and the provisions of the Constitution.

ND: There is the issue of youth officers who were retired from the civil service, what is the situation right now?

VH: Well, the position was, as was indicated in our plan, that some of the youth officers were going to be retired and they have been retired.

Some of them have found space in other areas of economic endeavour and others continue to receive their pensions consistent with the provisions of State Pensions Act.

ND: On the issue of the civil service wage bill, which every Finance minster has insinuated that it is too big. Have there been any significant cuts?

VH: I think we should have a very serious and more nuanced discussion about the veracity of the fact that the civil service wage bill is too big before we conclude that it is necessary for it to be cut.

I am not convinced, as chairman of the commission, and I am not convinced that the civil service and the national wage bill are too big.

It could well be the case that our economy is not growing consistent with the imperative to ensure that the proportion of the amount of the money that we pay to our civil servants remains at a constant level.

What has been happening is that, if the economy is declining, but you have the same numbers of civil servants and bill, the impression is created that it is growing yet it has not been growing.

As a matter of fact, we need about 138 000 to 140 000 working in the Primary and Secondary Education ministry. There is a deficit there and we will continue to narrow that deficit.

The ministry constitutes maybe something like 58% to 60 % of our civil service. What do you want us to do, to close down schools, fire teachers? I don’t think we will ever move in that direction. It will be extremely disingenuous and irresponsible for us to move in that direction.

ND: Can you educate us on the extent of the deficit that you talked about?

VH: The deficit of teachers?

ND: Yes.

VH: We need an additional 18 000 to 22 000 teachers in this country and we are working on it. At the beginning of the year, we were granted permission to recruit 3 000 teachers and we will continue to increase those recruitments consistent with what the budget will allow us to do.

The Malawian opposition United Transformation Movement (UTM) led by the country’s vice president has demanded the immediate deportation of former Zimbabwean police boss Augustine Chihuri following allegations that he is involved in rigging local elections.

According to the independent NewsDay newspaper, Saulos Chilima’s UTM made the allegations Sunday and urged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to postpone the elections to a date to be determined by the electoral body.

Chihuri, who left Zimbabwe in 2017 following the fall of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, was not available for comment.

In a letter to the MEC, the party said there were “strong indications of rigging plots from the ruling DPP and their working mission with Zimbabwe’s former (police) Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri. We would further like to demand that MEC facilitates the deportation of this man from Malawi with immediate effect.”

President Peter Mutharika, who is being challenged by his deputy, Chilima, and a former pastor accusing him of corruption, is banking on the rural electorate for his governing Democratic Progressive Party.

Meanwhile, media sources in Malawi claim that the former Zimbabwean Police Commissioner was whisked out of Malawi on Monday morning longside some other Kenyans who were hired to rig the elections.

Chihuri who has been hiding since the Malawi vice President Saulos Chilima exposed him, was disguising himself as if he was either in South Africa or England.

Correspondent|Zimbabwe’s energy distribution issues are expected to continue until the state power company, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), clears its debts.

According to the reports, the utility owes approximately $80 million to South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s HCB power company, which should be paid as soon as possible as ZESA can only import 150 megawatts of power from both foreign counterparts.

In order to fulfill the responsibility, the country should come up with a payment plan, company spokesperson Fullard Gwasira explains. However, it is yet unknown whether such a schedule would be implemented or not.

Zimbabwe is now in a shadow of temporary power cuts as the country’s main hydro-power station at Lake Kariba had to reduce its power output to 358 megawatts because of low water levels.

By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have the managed to locate for activists who were allegedly abducted at the RGM International airport on Monday night. The ZLHR reveals this development in the below tweet:

RT – After almost 4,5 hours @ZLHRLawyers have located 4 human rights activists who are now detained at Harare Central. These include Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamu Mukura, George Makoni & Nyasha Mpahlo… https://t.co/2bk3PNgQ6J

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

State Media|A FORM One pupil died in Bulawayo yesterday after he was electrocuted by overhead power cables while fetching lemons from a tree to season mealie-meal porridge.

Prince Mafu of Emakhandeni suburb died instantly and was stuck on a mango tree until personnel from ZESA switched off power for him to be brought down. The mango tree that he had climbed is next to a lemon tree and both are directly under a power line.

His mother, Ms Elizabeth Mbele, who is expecting her fourth child, got into premature labour as she failed to contain her sorrow on the death of her child.

Prince’s family narrated how they witnessed him being consumed by the high voltage electricity and described the horror of watching smoke coming out of his burning body.

“We literally saw him getting burnt to death. The electricity consumed him while we watched. We were helpless. We could not do anything. He was too high up in the trees and neighbours called for ambulances and police but it was too late.

“I have been procrastinating trimming the trees. We are tenants at this house so the landlord comes once in a while and he had advised us to find someone who could cut the trees for us. It is sad,” said Mrs Sithokozile Mbele, his grandmother.

“The long wire he was using was not stable. It was going back and forth and the ripe lemons are now higher up the tree. So he climbed a mango tree which grows next to the lemon tree and got to the top. Somehow he failed to control the wire and it came into contact with the power cables. There is a transformer outside our yard,” said Mrs Mbele.

Neighbours described Prince as an obedient child who respected the elderly in his community.

“It pains us to see such a wonderful and well brought up boy die like this. These days so many youths are disrespecting elders and engaging in the unthinkable, but for such a good boy to go in such a painful way, I wonder why. This is a tragedy for the whole community as Prince was everyone’s child. Children nowadays are problematic but as a boy we watched him help his grandmother with cleaning duties such as mopping and polishing floors, laundry and most of all gardening. He loved to tend his garden,” said a neighbour who identified himself as Mr Moyo.

Mrs Mbele described her grandchild as a hardworking, intelligent and obedient child.

“He had not gone to school yesterday as he has outstanding school fees balance and was avoiding the embarrassment of being sent back home for non payment. My grandson was my blessing. He did everything around the house without complaining. As you can see on this wire, this black waxy stuff are chunks of his flesh which got burnt and got stuck on it,” said Mrs Mbele

When the Chronicle arrived at the scene, his body had been taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“While he was up the tree, his uncle was telling him to get off as he had picked enough lemons to flavour the porridge. However, we did not know it was his last day.

“After he got electrocuted, we only saw smoke coming from his hands and feet as they were on fire. He froze in that position and got stuck in the tree. Ambulances, fire brigade and police rushed to the scene. The ambulance crew left as they said he had died instantly,” said Mrs Mbele.

The fire brigade could not remove the boy as power lines were still live and his body could electrocute anyone who came into contact with it as the metal hook he was using was still stuck to the power cables.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has denied reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.

A statement by the police reads as follows:

The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.

The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.

Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.

One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.

Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.

One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.

The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.

No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.

By Own Correspondent-ZUPCO has reduced bus fares by 50% effective from Tuesday 21 May 2019.

In an announcement made by the Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the move has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public.

Distance 1-20km: Old fare – $1.00. New fare: $0.50

20-30km: Old fare – $1.50. New Fare: $0.75

30-40km: Old Fare – $2.00. New Fare – $1.00

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.

A statement by the police reads as follows:

The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.

The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.

Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.

One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.

Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.

One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.

The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.

No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.

By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC has invited the ruling party ZANU PF-affiliated war veterans association and the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T to its May elective Congress set to be held in Gweru.

The invitation was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and the secretary for information, Jacob Mafume last week.

However, MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu dismissed the invitation, calling the MDC Congress kindergarten gibberish.

Speaking to a local publication, Gutu said:

“At any rate, the MDC-T has got completely no appetite to attending kindergarten gibberish.

If we want real entertainment, we go to a circus and not to a facade of a gathering disguised as a congress.

There is the High Court order by Honourable Justice Edith Mushore to contend with.

We are a law-abiding political party that resolutely believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism. We adhere to democracy and not mobocracy.

Why should we be seen hanging around with that lot? No, that won’t happen until the second coming of the Son of Man. We are perfectly happy where we are.

Let them wine and dine using the money they are getting from Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. The chickens are coming home to roost. It’s not a congress, it’s actually a complete dog’s breakfast.”-DaliyNews

Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has taunted Emmerson Mnangagwa saying it is practically impossible to keep “goats stolen from someone”- implying that the Zanu PF leader rigged the 2018 polls.

Chamisa made the remarks at a rally in Chiredzi yesterday.

“Mbudzi dzokuba hadzichengeteki. You stole the election.
You are stealing 2% tax and you are stealing people’s foreign currency.

Pension and salaries have been eroded.

We are saying sanctions and Zanu PF must go,” said Chamisa.

“The GNU brought economy stability and recovery remember : $ for 2 yakauya naTsvangirai.

Sadly Zanu PF is “over borrowing” results in ballooning debts- Zimbabwe ine chikwereti che 20 billion.

The MDC has the capacity to change Zimbabwe’s economy within two weeks,” added Chamisa.

Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said there is only one legally constituted MDC party in the country.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa said :” There is only one MDC which is legally consituted -that is backed by the Constitution. The one Morgan Tsvangirai left. The one l am currently leading.

MDC is here to stay and it’s unstoppable.We are 20 -year -old party. We are a household party nationally and internationally.

We won presidential vote, councillors and MPs.”

“We are going to our 5th Congress in Gweru.We are modernizing the Party -making it a 20 th century party.

We are the first party to have peacefully debates among candidates. We are the first party in Africa to have candidates debating ideas.

We are teaching democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa.Debate of issues and not personalities.”

Farai Dziva| War veterans leader Victor Matamadanda has claimed MDC A comprises unruly youths who barred him from attending the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Matamadanda accused the MDC Vanguard of threatening to beat him up at the funeral of the late MDC leader.

He also described the MDC A as an illegal composition.

See below comments on Matemada’ s remarks.

Yimbiri wrote : Murwere uyu kusiyana naye kwakangonaka wani he z so concerned with politics of the opposition than his own party.

Jordanabide: It’s a shame indeed to hear such comments from members of Zanu you end up being very worried about the judgement itself ummm.

Valentine Madziwa:Economy in shambles fix it forget about the Congress corruption yakuvhiringai.

Matron Nyoni:Coup leaders are illegal. Matemadanda & Mutodi same WhatsApp group.

Tafadzwa Natso Chidodo: Cz u talk rubbish dai vaiziva pain inevanhu nekuda kweeconomy apa everyday unotaura zvaChamisa instead of givin us hope yekut nyika muchaigadzira sei.

Safika Sayi:It’s illegal to you .
Jethro Makaye Bota:A declaration of illegality cannot come from authorities that are by themselves illegal.ED’s ascendance via a coup was illegal ab initio. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.

By Own Correspondent| Four civil society organisations representatives who were returning from an international trip were picked up by state security agents as they jetted back into the country from a CSOs conference.

The four, were allegedly picked up by the state security agents led by one Detective Ben Justin following the publication of a story run in the state owned Herald titled “Plot to unleash violent protest unearthed”.

The Herald story printed out allegations that the CSOs representatives were attending a meeting in Prague where they were being trained together with opposition MDC stalwarts on strategies to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The four have been identified as Frank Mpahlo, from Transparency International, Gamuchirai Mukura representing COTRAD, George Makoni who is representing CCDZ and Tatenda Mombeyarara from the Citizens’ Manifesto.

Of the 4, pro democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe managed to reach 1 of them by late Monday night.

Haruzivishe told ZimEye, “the only one I managed to reach is Tatenda Mombeyarara although the conversation was brief.

“I am appealing to members of the public with details of the four because anything could happen to them,” he said.

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

By Own Correspondent| MDC-T vice president, advocate Obert Gutu has dismissed as fake news the reports suggesting that the Supreme Court has overruled a High Court judgement that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency in the MDC.

See Gutu’s tweet below:

BEWARE of fake news circulating on social media purporting to be a Supreme Court order granted today. It's FAKE!
An old video clip is also being circulated to bolster the FAKE news.
Zizi harina nyanga!!
Mutuvi hausi mukaka!!
Musanyeberwe…!!

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) May 20, 2019

Following the government move to liberalise the procurement of fuel by abandoning the 1:1 rate for fuel companies, the price of fuel has consequently been raised.

As a result, the pump price for diesel is now $4.88 per litre while the price of petrol will be selling at  $4.96 per litre.