By Own Correspondent- Villagers in Nswazwi, Bulilima West, Matabeleland South have reportedly gone for 8 years without water after the engine that pumped water to their taps broke down.
The pump, which provided safe drinking water for the villagers, was taken for repairs by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). It has not been returned.
A local businessman said that villagers are now sharing drinking water with animals from a river. He said:
We had our engine here, but when it broke down, it was taken by Zinwa and never returned. Right now, we are sharing water sources with animals.
As I speak, there is a donkey which is rotting in the dam and that’s the same water we are drinking. We appeal to the government to solve this water problem.
A local traditional leader, Headman Jetjeni, under whose jurisdiction the villagers fall disclosed that four of his villages were affected by water challenges. He said:
The other problem is that elephants also drink from the dam and it’s now fast running out of water.
When we reach August or September, it would be dry and we find it difficult to get water for our livestock and domestic use.-Newsday
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Comrade Dumiso Dabengwa. I had huge respect for Dumiso and his contribution to Zimbabwe: As a liberation fighter, a long standing Minister of Home Affairs & as a man. My deepest condolences are with his friends and family at this sad time
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) May 23, 2019
Upsetting news on the passing on of former Zipra Forces Supremo, Dumiso Dabengwa. May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/CB69oU3c7T
Sad to hear about the passing on of Dumiso Dabengwa. He was a rare breed of politicians who made a morally good decision to dump ZANU PF, BUT economically painful.He chose to go by his conscience NOT comfort. A principled liberator. Phumula qxawe lamaqxawe @MDCAllianceZW@zenzele
Giants have traversed this land. When their names are read, yours will be among them. Your contribution to humanity and the dignity of the people of Zimbabwe was monumental. Go well Black Russian. Rest well #DumisoDabengwa
While I'm so devastated that our true liberator Dumiso Dabengwa has died, I'm however comfortable that he died untainted, he defied the vampiric ZANU PF machinations right to the end. What a soldier! BLACK Russian, once cited as the most sophisticated and highly trained African pic.twitter.com/WhG7d2bxEW
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Comrade Dumiso Dabengwa. I had huge respect for Dumiso and his contribution to Zimbabwe: As a liberation fighter, a long standing Minister of Home Affairs & as a man. My deepest condolences are with his friends and family at this sad time
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) May 23, 2019
I am very sad to read that Dumiso Dabengwa has died. Although we were on different sides in the war and on different sides when I first stood for Parliament we became good friends and he will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy is extended to Zodwa & their family. #Zimbabwe
We are saddened to learn of the passing of ZAPU leader Dumiso #Dabengwa, who will be remembered for his contributions to #Zimbabwe both before and after Independence. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace! pic.twitter.com/iH5ixxY1ab
— EU Delegation to Zimbabwe ?? (@euinzim) May 23, 2019
Dumiso Dabengwa: 1939 – 2019. A true freedom fighter, selfless revolutionary & national hero; whose service to Zimbabwe was derailed by gukurahundists who maliciously detained him in 1983 for four years under the evil Rhodesian State of Emergency Act. Giants like him don't fall! pic.twitter.com/JniOZ77Ooy
Our condolences to the Dabengwa family and the nation at large for the untimely death of a liberation war hero #DumisoDabengwa. May his soul rest in eternal peace pic.twitter.com/rMB2BAG2Dq
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) May 23, 2019
Very sad to hear the death national hero Dumiso Dabengwa, the gallant son of the Republic of Zimbabwe. RIP Black Russian! pic.twitter.com/PC1lNUaaKA
— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) May 23, 2019
A National Hero has departed, it is sad Cde Dumiso Dabengwa has passed on, a true icon and a true revolutionary who stood for the truth. May your soul rest in peace Great Commander. pic.twitter.com/JXMp1IixMN
— Setfree Nherera Mafukidze ?? (@cdesetfree) May 23, 2019
Rest in peace Cde Dumiso Dabengwa. Zimbabwe's Liberation Fighter. You shall be remembered. ?? pic.twitter.com/2tXnHVgD3l
By Own Correspondent- There was an explosion at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Monday evening as a patient attempted to commit suicide using an unidentified explosive device, in the process endangering the lives of fellow patients and health staff.
Although no one was injured in the explosion, including the patient in question, sources close to the happenings said linen on the bed was reduced to ashes.
The man, who is believed to have had some social issues prior to his admission last Friday, was by end of yesterday reported dead due to his “rapidly deteriorating” health condition.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Mr Lainos Dhire confirmed the incident, but could not provide details on circumstances surrounding the issue saying the case has since been handed over to the police.
“We have received a report of that nature from one of our wards and we immediately called the police who are now handling the matter. We are, however, not at liberty to give details due to patient confidentiality, but we can reveal that no injuries occurred,” said Mr Dhire.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said investigations were underway.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Former Chitungwiza chamber secretary Ms Priscilla Vengesai’s bid to register with the High Court a more than $330 000 award has sparked an ugly legal wrangle with the council which is now seeking to block the motion.
Ms Vengesai approached the higher court to register her award after the council allegedly breached an agreement to pay her all her dues in terms of the agreement.
The parties had hammered out a settlement which culminated in the council agreeing to pay Ms Vengesai $65 000 in outstanding benefits.
The Labour Court had ordered the municipality to pay her outstanding salary arrears of $65 000, while the cost of a residential stand and school fees for two children amounting to $247 000 was to be paid by end of March, this year.
In her court filing, Ms Vengesai argues that the municipality defaulted in making payments as agreed.
She argues that the default by council meant that the agreement struck between the parties was no longer in force and parties have to revert to the Labour Court judgment.
According to the Labour Court judgment, council needs to fork out more than $330 000 to pay Ms Vengesai.
Though Ms Vengesai agrees to have been paid in part, she wants the municipality to deduct whatever it paid her, under the labour court judgment.
“Therefore the Labour Court judgment is still extant and registrable before this court,” she argues.
“Wherefore, applicant persists in her claim and prays for an order in terms of the draft.”
But the municipality insists that it fully paid Ms Vengesai what was due to her in terms of the deed of settlement signed by both parties.
It argues that the Labour Court judgment is no longer extant and cannot be registrable.
“This application ought to fail with costs at a higher scale, because the applicant is abusing the court process and not being honest,” read the municipality’s opposing papers.
Ms Vengesai, who was dismissed by council after being found guilty of breaching conditions of her contract in 2015, won her case in February this year.
She was suspended for allegedly mobilising councillors to pass a vote of no confidence in her superiors.
It was reported that a subsequent special council meeting agreed to dismiss Ms Vengesai which dismissal was endorsed by the Local Government Board. StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- A Binga inyanga serving nine years in prison for illegal possession of 400 grammes of pangolin scales has approached the High Court challenging his sentence.
Damason Mutale (39) of Chininga village was last year convicted of violating a section of the Parks and Wildlife Act (unlawful possession of pangolin trophy scales) and sentenced to an effective nine years in jail by Binga magistrate Mr Livard Philemon .
Mutale, through his lawyers Mvhiringi and Associates, filed an application challenging both conviction and sentence.
He is seeking an order nullifying Mr Philemon’s sentence, arguing that it was too excessive. In his grounds of appeal, Mutale said the lower court erred by failing to consider special circumstances.
“The court a quo erred grossly at law and fact in finding that there were no special circumstances in the case yet appellant pointed out that he was a traditional healer, ” argued the lawyers.
The lawyers also said the court erred by failing to recognise that the appellant is an unsophisticated and uneducated man.
“The appellant was genuinely ignorant of the law and was genuinely mistaken for thinking that as a traditional healer he could continue to use the pangolin scales for traditional purposes,” said the lawyers.
According to papers before the court, Mutale was arrested after someone tipped an official from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) that he was in possession of 71 pangolin scales.
Zimparks officials teamed up with police detectives and raided Mutale’s home leading to the discovery of the pangolin scales weighing 400g. He failed to produce a permit leading to his arrest. -StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The trial of prominent Harare lawyer Puwai Chiutsi (50), who is facing fraud allegations after allegedly selling land that had been repossessed from him by the Sheriff of the High Court to Mashwede Holdings, has been set for June 20.
Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa asked the court to postpone the matter to June 20 saying further investigations are to be conducted at the Deeds Office and at the High Court.
Chiutsi made an application for the temporary release of his passport with effect from yesterday to June 4 after indicating that he intended to travel outside the country.
Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko released Chiutsi’s passport and ordered him to return it on the agreed date.
The complainant is Tendai Mashamhanda, the director for Mashwede Holdings.
It is the State’s case that sometime in September 2017, Chiutsi’s property, called Remainder of Subdivision C of Lot 6, Highlands Estate, was sold to Bariadie Investments by the Sheriff while acting in terms of the High Court order in a matter against Chiutsi and Elliot Rogers.
Chiutsi allegedly lost ownership of the property and several attempts to appeal against the High Court order at the Supreme Court were unsuccessful.
It is alleged that Chiutsi misrepresented to Mashwede Holdings and made an affidavit that the property had no mortgages or any encumbrances and sold it for $230 000 cash.
The complainant suffered financial prejudice of $230 000 and nothing was recovered.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The MDC elective Congress slated for this weekend is facing another legal challenge after an official from Gokwe filed an urgent chamber application to stop it from going ahead.
Maureen Tawengwa, who was a secretary for Gokwe Sesame under the 2014 structures, on Thursday filed a High Court application through her lawyer, Ashel Mutungura. She is seeking an order to halt the MDC Congress at the 11th hour.
Speaking to a local publication, Mutungura confirmed the development. Said Mutungura:
I can confirm the application has been filed with the High Court in Harare. It is an urgent application to interdict Nelson Chamisa from proceeding with the Congress.
There are several reasons; one being that the structures going to the Congress are illegal. The 2014 structures are still in office and their term expires in October and new structures can only be in place after the old ones are dissolved.
Tavengwa has also argued that the nominations were characterised by fraud and other irregularities and that nonmembers were allowed to participate.
The nonmembers who were nominated include Tendai Biti, Settlement Chikwinya and Jacob Mafume, she argued.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who is representing the MDC, said that he is not aware of the latest application.
This latest application follows on the heels of a ruling by High Court Judge, Justice Edith Mushore in early May this year which nullified party president Nelson Chamisa’s election.
The case was brought before the High Court by another Gokwe Sesame official, Elias Mashavira.
Meanwhile, the MDC has vowed to continue with its Congress this weekend.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- Daughter to former hero and MDC founding President, the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, Vimbai Tsvangirai Java is recovering well, a senior MDC offical has confirmed.
Tsvangirai Java who last week survived a car crash which killed two other MDC stalwarts is reportedly getting better.
Said party spokesperson Jacob Mafume while addressing the media at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare, Wednesday:
“We are also happy that Vimbai Tssvangirai is making a speedy recovery from the injuries sustained in the car accident and we thank the nation for your prayers and over that we are happy.”
By Own Correspondent- Liberation war hero Dr Dumiso Dabengwa (80) died in Kenya on Thursday morning en route to Zimbabwe from India.
Dabengwa died following a battle with a liver related ailment.
The Zapu leader was airlifted to the south Asian country in April, after having received medical attention in South Africa since November 2018.
He had not been seen in public in months due to his failing health. Shortly before being taken to India, the liberation war cadre underwent surgery in South Africa.
Dabengwa served as the head of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War.
From 1992 to 2000 he served in the government as Minister of Home Affairs, and in 1991 he was appointed to the chair of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.
During the Rhodesian Bush War the white minority nicknamed him the “Black Russian” because he trained in Moscow, Russia.
In 1982 Dabengwa was charged, with Lookout Masuku and four others, of treason by the Mugabe administration. They were acquitted due to lack of evidence in 1983. On release they were redetained under emergency regulations. At this time the Gukurahundi began.
Dabengwa was released four years later.
Dabengwa ran as a ZANU-PF candidate for a seat in the House of Assembly from Nkulumane in the 2000 election, but was defeated by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Gibson Sibanda. Dabengwa said that the MDC would have won even if its candidate was a donkey.
He was again defeated in the March 2005 parliamentary election. He served as a member of the ZANU-PF Politburo,but he announced his support for the opposition candidacy of Simba Makoni in the March 2008 presidential election at a press conference in Bulawayo on March 1, 2008.
A spokesman for Mugabe said that Dabengwa’s defection to Makoni was unimportant, claiming that Dabengwa did not command any support.
It was reported that Mugabe had offered to appoint Dabengwa as Vice-President following the election as the replacement for Joseph Msika, but that Dabengwa had declined the offer.
Below are eight things you probably didnt know about Dabengwa:
He declined to deputise Former President Robert Mugabe as a replacement for the late Joseph Msika
He had 4 degrees, 2 of which are honorary
During the liberation struggle, Dabengwa was ZIPRA Head of intelligence
He left Zanu PF in 2008 to revive ZAPU
Last year, Dabengwa, formed the Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation. According to the Foundation website, the Foundation seeks the emancipation and capacitation of people for an independent, well-governed and self-reliant continent with empowered citizens.
Last year Dabengwa endorsed Nelson Chamisa in his bid to become President.
He was once charged with treason and was imprisoned together with Lookout Masuku
He was the Home Affairs Minister in 1992, a post which he held for eight years
By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC has revealed that the party is set to launch a new economic document which is set to transform and redefine the country’s economy trajectory.
This was revealed by party national spokesperson Jacob Mafume at a presser held Wednesday at the party headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai house in Harare.
Said Mafume:
“We are going to launch the “RELOAD” document, the new economic blueprint and framework that is going to reload this economy. It will reshape the country’s economy.
We have got the answers (to the country’s woes), we are the thinking party and we hold the brain trust of Zimbabwe. And as i highlighted earlier, we have successful economic planning ministers like Tapuwa Mashakada, successful former education minister David Coltart, successful former industry minister Welshman Ncube vying for posts, former Finance minister Tendai Biti and remember even our president, he was a former ICT minister where the sim card, that you used to buy using a cow became affordable and you could buy it using a dollar.
So we have people with the answers, we have people who provided the brain trust of Zimbabwe over the past two decades. And we have got the solution. We are going to put it in the reload document. It is a policy framework that is going to be the alternative framework that we are going to use to transform the economy from a dead economy to an economy that the international community and international business can engage in.
This is a document that we have been working with over time and the delegates will get time to interrogate it and allowed to look at it and it will set the framework for the economic recovery of the country.”
By Own Correspondent- Newly-appointed Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi yesterday took his oath of office before President Mnangagwa at State House and vowed to end fuel hoarding and other corrupt practices.
The minister said he would also keep an eye on critical parastastals in the fuel and power generation industry to ensure high standards of corporate governance.
The minister said he will empower the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to take full charge of the sector and tightly monitor activities to restore order in the energy sector.RELATED ARTICLES
This follows the recent unearthing of a hoarding case in which a service station in Chinhoyi reportedly sold 10 000 litres of fuel to an individual despite a long winding queue of desperate motorists.
Minister Chasi replaced Cde Joram Gumbo, who is now Presidential Affairs Minister responsible for Implementation and Monitoring.
Minister Chasi said his first meeting with the fuel industry will discuss acts of misconduct by some fuel attendants and find ways of rectifying the problem.
“This afternoon I am meeting the fuel industry and get feedback from them on the fuel price adjustment.
“I would also like to speak to them about the misconduct that is going on at service stations, some of them going beyond the conditions of their licences regarding how much they can sell to a single customer.
“There are instances where 10 000 litres of fuel is sold to one person when there is a long queue and everybody else does not get fuel.
“There is a service station that has done so in Chinhoyi and I have asked ZERA to investigate that development so that we take remedial measures,” he said.
Minister Chasi said ZERA should be adequately empowered to deal with challenges in the fuel sector.
Minister Chasi said he will ensure ZERA take full charge of sector to do away with hoarding of fuel and other corrupt activities dogging the fuel industry.
He said fuel attendants should be called to order and stop illegal dealings that find diesel and petrol on the black market.
“Beyond that I would like ZERA to take charge of the industry in accordance with what their founding statute requires them to do. We intend to empower them in terms of their monitoring functions. We want to ensure there is no favouritism in the purchase of fuel.
“There is misconduct by fuel attendants that that must end,” he said.
Minister Chasi said he will ensure that parastatal boards are properly constituted with members of high integrity with the zeal to improve service delivery.
“We must be very strong on the governance of parastatals involved in the fuel and power generation. I am going to have an eagle’s eye on ZESA because it is a critical parastatal. I want to ensure that all the boards are sufficiently skilled. They should have men and women of integrity.
“I would like to ensure that procurement is done properly and ZERA should take charge of the industry to ensure transparency,” he said.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- ZAPU President Dumiso Dabengwa has died.
Dabengwa, has been unwell since December 2018 and was in India where he was seeking treatment.
Sources privy to the developments said Dabengwa died while he was on his way back home from India.
Said Ezra Tshisa Sibanda,
“Devastating news on the passing on of former ZIPRA forces Supreme, ZAPU President, the Black Russian, Dumiso Dabengwa. May his soul rest in peace.”
Said another source at the Dumiso Dabengwa foundation:
“The Foundation will issue a statement soon regarding the matter.”
In April 2018, the former Home Affairs Minister was pictured sitting in a wheelchair at Joshua Mqabuko International Airport – his first public sighting since December before he underwent lengthy treatment in South Africa earlier on in the year.
A family source revealed that the 79-year-old had liver disease, and the disease was associated with fatigue, weakness and weight loss.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.
Analyst, Felix Chiroro has exposed a long list of contracts worth $27 billion the Mnangagwa administration misled the public on.
the first Herald article celebrating the Mnangagwa fuel mega deal
Writing on Thursday, Chiroro said, Some of us do not make a living out of politics and have the guts to confront you head-on.
FULL TEXT:
A LONG LIST OF LIES, FAKE DEALS AND INCOMPETENCE BY THE MNANGAGWA ADMINISTRATION:
— March 22, 2018: Zimbabwe signed a $4.2 billion deal with Karo Resources, a closely held Cyprus-based company, to build a platinum mine. On April 17, Mnangagwa tweeted that the project is moving ahead and will create 2,500 jobs. On May 15, Tharisa Plc, which has taken a stake in the project, said some drilling has started and the company is awaiting approval of its environmental-impact assessment study. Still waiting even now…
— May 18, 2018: The Herald reported that South Africa’s Nkosikhona Holdings will build a $5.2 billion coal-to-fuel plant in Zimbabwe. A search of South Africa’s company records shows Nkosikhona has one director and an address in a light-industrial area.
— Nov. 1, 2018: Mnangagwa told reporters that Invictus Energy Ltd. had found oil and gas deposits in the country. The next day, Invictus said it hadn’t discovered oil.
— Feb. 19, 2019: A venture between the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments said they’ve shortlisted bidding groups for a $4 billion hydropower plant on the Zambezi River. How far?
— April 10, 2019: Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said a deal had been signed with Russian investors to build a $4 billion platinum mine. The project is struggling to attract finance because potential backers are wary of the stake held by Zimbabwe’s military.
— April 23, 2019: Mines Minister Winston Chitando said an agreement has been signed with China’s Tsingshan Holding Group Co. to build a 1 million-metric-ton per year stainless-steel export facility in the landlocked country, as well as a power plant and a possible lithium mine at a total cost of $10 billion. Where is it? How about fixing the old ZISCO issue first?
— May 15, 2019: In an article headlined “U.K. beef giant takes over CSC,” the Herald said Zimbabwe’s state-owned cold-storage company would transfer its cattle ranches and abattoirs to Boustead Beef Ltd. for 25 years in exchange for it investing $130 million in the company and paying off debts of $42.5 million.TurnS out the British “giant” is a “briefcase company” with no history of doing business. There is no record of Boustead on the U.K.’s companies register.
No, this is not on. Some of us do not make a living out of politics and have the guts to confront you head-on. I want my vote back.
By Own Correspondent– A Bulawayo man is battling for life at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after a suspected armed robber stabbed him at his Mahatshula home in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Elliot Chikandiwa was stabbed with a screwdriver during a scuffle with Brian Gumede who had broken into his house at round 1AM.
According to sources, Chikandiwa woke up after he heard noises coming from the kitchen.
“ When he went to the kitchen to check, he was confronted by Gumede who was armed with a screwdriver and a scuffle ensued. During the scuffle, Gumede stabbed Chikandiwa on the head and left side of the ribs with the screwdriver, “said the source.
Chikandiwa screamed for help and other people who were in the house rushed to the kitchen and managed to apprehend Gumede who was later identified as a squatter from Killarney Squatter Camp.
The badly injured Chikandiwa was later rushed by ambulance to UBH where he is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Residents later took turns to clobber Gumede using an assortment of weapons before handing him over to the police
“We have arrested a 28- year -old man from Killarney Squatter Camp for allegedly breaking into a house in Mahatshula suburb. The suspect, who gave the police two different names, is alleged to have stolen bread and 2kgs of flour. After being interrupted, he stabbed his victim before other people in the house subdued him,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
She also confirmed that Chikandiwa is battling for life in the ICU at UBH.
Asst Insp Msebele urged members of the public not to take the law into their hands even when they feel aggrieved as they risk arrest.-State Media
By Own Correspondent- Secretary for Finance and Economic Development George Guvamatanga has said that Zimbabwe has enough foreign currency for businesses to meet their foreign payments if the interbank starts operating efficiently.
Guvamatanga said that Zimbabwe was generating over US$1,2 billion per year in export proceeds, which should be enough to support the business community.
Speaking during a ZBCTV programme Face The Nation on Tuesday night, Guvamatanga said:
Once we get the interbank operate efficiently, there is enough foreign currency for everyone. The only problem is that at the moment it (forex) has been inefficiently allocated.
As long as it is efficiently allocated, we have more than enough foreign currency. If you look at our total export receipts and compare them to our nearby countries and other countries in Africa which I will not mention, we actually have twice or three times the export proceeds compared to them and they do not have the same challenge we are facing.
The Secretary indicated that foreign currency has been leaking through imports. He also revealed that exporters and some individuals are holding onto their money in nostro and offshore accounts without liquidating it. He added that as of Friday last week, the country had US$800 million in nostro FCAs while US$700 million was due to be received in export receipts.
Guvamatanga added that the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr John Mangudya was working to make sure the money is put on the interbank market.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- A Bulawayo resident magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa has been acquitted of assaulting and kidnapping his maid.
Muchemwa who works at Esigodini magistrates courts, through his lawyer Mr Tanaka Muganyi of Tanaka Law Chambers, had denied the charges and applied for a discharge at the close of State case on Tuesday.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari, sitting at the Tredgold Magistrates’ court in Bulawayo, yesterday dismissed the case on the grounds that State witnesses gave inconsistent statements about what transpired.
“The State called evidence of the witnesses and the information they gave was to be considered in making the final ruling.
“There was no evidence to prove the assault from the analysis of the statements and what was said in court.
“Referring to what the complainant gave to the court, she mentioned that she was assaulted for an hour and sustained bruises but the doctor did not indicate that on the medical report.
“This shows the court that she is untruthful. She completely changed the whole story during cross examination.
“Complainant said she was locked in the house, yet the police found her doing her chores in the form of laundry outside the house she had claimed she was locked in. This has left the court wondering if ever she was locked inside.
“This has also made the kidnapping allegations to remain without substance as at first the investigating officer said they had not recorded the charge.
“If ever she was kidnapped how would she be free to go and buy airtime as one witness told the court that there is a time she called the complainant who told her that she was at the shops buying airtime.
“Therefore the application for a discharge at the close of the State case is granted,” said the magistrate.
Muchemwa (35) of Hillcrest suburb in Bulawayo was said to have assaulted his maid, Ms Shaymore Musendekwa (20), at the instigation of his wife.
His application for discharge was based on what he termed “inconsistencies in the State witnesses’ testimonies.
“One wonders how three people would come up with three different versions of the same incident. It is strange that there can be three truths of the same incident, in fact that is impossible,” said Muchemwa through Mr Muganyi.
Prosecuting, Mr Thobekani Nyathi said on May 8 last year at around 4.20PM, Ms Musendekwa intended to bath Muchemwa’s children and when they refused to comply, she told their mother, Mrs Petronella Muchemwa.
He said instead of rebuking her defiant children, Mrs Muchemwa accused the maid of troubling her children before she reported the complainant to her husband through a phone call.
Mr Nyathi said the accused person arrived home shortly after 5PM and allegedly indiscriminately assaulted the complainant with a belt several times all over the body.
Three days later, he said, the accused person allegedly ordered the victim to lock the gate to the house before she handed over the keys to him.
The complainant phoned her aunt, Ms Primrose Gwese, who in turn reported the matter to the police leading to Muchemwa’s arrest.-StateMedia
The EFF has welcomed Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election as the president of the country, but warned the president not be influenced by outside forces.
Malema told Ramaphosa that he won’t finish his term if he doesn’t heed his warning.
“The position you occupy needs someone who’s going to be honest with you… those who failed were told many times that they were right even when they were wrong…You must never listen to those who say your are right against the courts,” he said.
Malema said those before Ramaphosa failed because they were wrongly advised.
“Stellenbosch is a problem, we know your proximity…We have not elected Oppenheimer… We told your predecessor we have not elected the Guptas, we elected him and he didn’t listen. Listen to the collective wisdom of the people who elected you… Once you listen to white monopoloy capital, you must know that you are likely not to finish you term,” Malema said.
Ramaphosa will be inaugurated on Saturday, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
MPs were sworn in on Wednesday in the National Assembly.
ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the Movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa.
Said the MDC Information Department:
Thursday, 23 May 2019 Notice of a Press briefing Members of the media are invited for a Press Conference at 1115hrs today (Thursday,23 May 2019) at Morgan Tsvangirai House.
Jane Mlambo| High Court of Zimbabwe has granted an order to stop the construction of a wedding venue at Hillside Park, a wetland area by a company linked to Former cabinet minister Petronella Kagonye.
According to the court order filed by Hillside Park Association who were represented by Memory Mafo of Scanlen and Holderness, Kagonye’s company named Gracious All Time Functions Private Limited was ordered to suspend all operations and remove its equipment at the site with immediate effect.
“The 1st respondent planned development on stand number 19 594 Harare Township in the District of Harare measuring 1, 0195ha also known as Hillside Wetlands is hereby declared unlawful.
“The first respondent is ordered to permanently cease all construction work related to the development and remove all machinery on the site,” reads the Court order.
Harare has been battling against invasion of wetlands by property developers, something that have worried environmental conservation activists who feel the destruction of wetlands will cause water problems in Harare including flooding and avoidable purification costs for municipalities.
Opinion By Stanley Goreraza|Prices have gone helter-skelter with images of the President being fixed to dart boards as sharp and piercing words are angrily thrown at him on social media and general national discourse.
But Va Mnangagwa is only following what everyone with authority on economic matters advised. He has rightly left the meeting of demand and supply to market forces. The moment he grabs a hammer like his predecessor to halt the free movement of prices, it becomes smash and break! Things will go from bad to worse. Goods will move from shops to the black market as prices reach zero gravity.
Our business people adopted a culture of unethical practices during the unforgettable years of record breaking inflation. Business ethics and morals were abandoned during that time as survival of the fittest became the only rule. Since then we have never been really ethical and responsible in our business conduct. Just listen to this : Transport into town costs a dollar during the day and from 4:30 when people knock off, Kombi fares soar to $4 or even $5. There is no justification for this kind of abuse and it can only be explained by greed, the same motivation for corruption!
Yes the economy is in bad shape but in an environment where greed and profiteering are rampant, what do we expect? We must also blame ourselves for our unwelcome circumstances.
Everyone providing a product or service is after a windfall. That kind of attitude is destructive when it is widespread and accepted as perfectly normal.
NEWLY-appointed Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi yesterday took his oath of office before President Mnangagwa at State House and vowed to end fuel hoarding and other corrupt practices.
The minister said he would also keep an eye on critical parastastals in the fuel and power generation industry to ensure high standards of corporate governance.
The minister said he will empower the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to take full charge of the sector and tightly monitor activities to restore order in the energy sector.
This follows the recent unearthing of a hoarding case in which a service station in Chinhoyi reportedly sold 10 000 litres of fuel to an individual despite a long winding queue of desperate motorists.
Minister Chasi replaced Cde Joram Gumbo, who is now Presidential Affairs Minister responsible for Implementation and Monitoring.
Minister Chasi said his first meeting with the fuel industry will discuss acts of misconduct by some fuel attendants and find ways of rectifying the problem.
“This afternoon I am meeting the fuel industry and get feedback from them on the fuel price adjustment.
“I would also like to speak to them about the misconduct that is going on at service stations, some of them going beyond the conditions of their licences regarding how much they can sell to a single customer.
Zimbabwe has enough foreign currency for businesses to meet their foreign payments if the interbank starts operating efficiently, Secretary for Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga has said.
He said Zimbabwe was generating over US$1,2 billion per year in export proceeds, which should be enough to oil the operations companies if taken to the interbank market.
Mr Guvamatanga said this on Tuesday night during a ZBCTV programme, Face The Nation.
“Once we get the interbank operate efficiently, there is enough foreign currency for everyone. The only problem is that at the moment it (forex) has been inefficiently allocated,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
There was an explosion at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Monday evening as a patient attempted to commit suicide using an unidentified explosive device, in the process endangering the lives of fellow patients and health staff.
Although no one was injured in the explosion, including the patient in question, sources close to the happenings said linen on the bed was reduced to ashes.
The man, who is believed to have had some social issues prior to his admission last Friday, was by end of yesterday reported dead due to his “rapidly deteriorating” health condition.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Mr Lainos Dhire confirmed the incident, but could not provide details on circumstances surrounding the issue saying the case has since been handed over to the police.
“We have received a report of that nature from one of our wards and we immediately called the police who are now handling the matter. We are, however, not at liberty to give details due to patient confidentiality, but we can reveal that no injuries occurred,” said Mr Dhire.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said investigations were underway.
Fanuel Chinowaita is the aspiring National Deputy Spokesperson of the MDC Youth Assembly who believes that unity is key in the MDC. He values the importance of communication and togetherness towards one purpose in any democracy adding that as a young and skilled man, he has what it takes to deputise in the party’s youth wing communication department.
Political career
Chinowaita joined MDC in 2007 in Manicaland as an ordinary card carrying member before he became the Secretary for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for ward 6, Harare Central in 2010.
In 2013, he became the Secretary for Security and Defence, Harare Central District before landing the National Spokesperson of MDC Students Council in 2015.
Chimowaita has been in the Information Department for MDC Youth Assembly since 2016 where his contribution is clearly visible.
“Publicity of youths activities has been one of my priorities since I have been writing articles for the MDC Youth Assembly and covering Youth Assembly events such as #MyZimbabwe Campaign.”
Why MDC delegates should vote for me.
He said:
“I am an effective communicator due to my professional background as a journalist. My skills enable me to know how to handle any issues in the Information Department. My previous experience enable me to communicate party issues comprehensively.
Motivation
Chinowaita says:
“It is not about wanting to get power but it’s about what is in me. I am already in a position to speak and also project the MDC brand in the correct light. I also have the confidence in what I believe in as a young MDC cadre and I want to give back to the party by donating my expertise.
Final words
“As we are going to the congress, let’s unite in choosing the leaders who are capable. The leaders that can liberate Zimbabwe from this coup government led by Dambudzo Mnangagwa.”
Secretary for Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga
State Media|Zimbabwe has enough foreign currency for businesses to meet their foreign payments if the interbank starts operating efficiently, Secretary for Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga has said.
He said Zimbabwe was generating over US$1,2 billion per year in export proceeds, which should be enough to oil the operations companies if taken to the interbank market.
Mr Guvamatanga said this on Tuesday night during a ZBCTV programme, Face The Nation.
“Once we get the interbank operate efficiently, there is enough foreign currency for everyone. The only problem is that at the moment it (forex) has been inefficiently allocated,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
“As long as it is efficiently allocated, we have more than enough foreign currency. If you look at our total export receipts and compare them to our nearby countries and other countries in Africa which I will not mention, we actually have twice or three times the export proceeds compared to them and they do not have the same challenge we are facing.”
Mr Guvamatanga said citizens’ insatiable appetite for imports was draining forex.
It has also been observed that exporters and some individuals are holding onto their money in nostro and offshore accounts without liquidating it for unclear reasons.
Mr Guvamatanga said as of Friday last week, the country had US$800 million in nostro FCAs while US$700 million was due to be received in export receipts, making the country liquid.
“The challenge has been around having those funds available on the interbank market, which are the issues addressed by the Governor (of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr John Mangudya) yesterday (on Monday) and we now expect that the Governor will be able to complement.
“It is not the responsibility of the Government or the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to provide the market with foreign currency; it is industry, the miners, tobacco merchants. Those are the ones who have got access to foreign currency and are the ones that should bring foreign currency into the country,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
He said there was “absolutely nothing” structurally wrong with the economy, with an analysis he did showing that over the past 10 years, US$1,2 billion was generated per year.
However, the receipts have not been brought in and exporters have been sitting on the money in their FCAs outside the country, said Mr Guvamatanga.
Exporters are allowed by law to hold on to forex for 90 days.
“But if all that money had come through as we had expected, then at least US$1 billion would have come onto the market.
“If that billion had come in, we would have been able to pay for fuel, electricity, (and) cooking oil. But for one reason or the other, that money has not come in. That is why we have not been able to pay as we would have ordinarily been able to do under normal circumstances.”
Mr Guvamatanga criticised businesses that were pegging their on the parallel market forex rate, saying there was no justification for that.
Mr Guvamatanga said while the parallel market was unavoidable, even in advanced economies, it did not determine what happens on the official market as is the case in Zimbabwe where the black market determines the direction of a $70 billion economy.
“That is what we are addressing now. There is no normal market that moves in a few hours, from 4 to 8 and at the weekend without trade (and) moves back to 5.
“It is actually a clear reflection that we cannot base our prices on that market,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
He said there was no need for businesses to increase prices on the basis of the recent fuel price adjustment following the announcement that oil companies should procure forex from the interbank market.
Own Correspondent |Renowned South African Musician, Ringo Madlingozi, who is popular in Zimbabwe for his collaboration with late national hero musician Oliver Mtukudzi in the song Zvese Zvangu, has been sworn in as new Member of Parliament for the radical youthful opposition party the EFF.
A staunch EFF member, Ringo Madlingozi bagged himself a seat in parliament after the recent elections held in the country.
The opposition party’s benches will feature some interesting characters including Fees Must Fall student activists. The EFF’s caucus will also include Fallists Naledi Chirwa and Vuyani Pambo.
Own Correspondent|Former Botswana president Ian Khama is set to announce the formation of a new party, according to media reports monitored here Wednesday.The privately owned Mmegi newspaper reported on Wednesday that Khama has decided to sponsor a new party after falling out with President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The name of the new party is yet to be confirmed, with the paper saying at least 10 names are being considered.
Another private paper, The Telegraph, also reported on Wednesday that Khama is expected to hold a meeting in his home village of Serowe where he is expected to announce the formation of the new political party.
Khama confirmed the meeting but would not be drawn into further details.
Suspended former health minister Biggie Butale is expected to officially defect alongside others from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party and join the new party.
The ruling party recently slapped Butale with a six months suspension for “indiscipline”.
Thousands of passengers wrestling to board the few ZUPCO Buses in Harare on Monday.
Government has literally lifted the same chaotic situation in Harare to Bulawayo or even worse after it dispatched 5 of the 39 new Zupco buses which were commissioned recently to service the city of close to one million people.
Chaotic scenes have been the order of the day in Harare with several people injured as citizens wrestle to board the few buses that cost way less than the economic value of the transport sector.
Government slashed fares for the buses by 50 percent resulting in fares for most urban routes being reduced to 50 cents a trip.
In an interview yesterday, Zupco acting CEO Mr Evaristo Madangwa said Bulawayo buses will be delivered between today and tomorrow.
“I’m not looking at the actual figures at the moment but roughly four or five buses have been allocated to Bulawayo, two to Gweru, one bus to Kwekwe and another to Masvingo. Due to the fact that Harare is a big city, about 14 or 15 buses have been allocated to service its routes.
Mr Madangwa said the bus company was working flat out to ensure that all urban routes have enough buses to meet demand for transport.
“We understand that some suburbs are yet to be serviced by Zupco buses and we are appealing to the commuting public to be patient as we work out the logistics to increase our fleet,” said Mr Madangwa.
He said in some suburbs they will replace the buses which have withdrawn from the routes as they want as many commuters as possible to enjoy the benefits of mass public transport.
“ I want to take this opportunity to appeal to the commuting public to avoid overloading as doing so puts their lives at risk,” said Mr Madangwa.
Meanwhile, taxi operators in Bulawayo are meeting today for a new fares indaba following the increase in the prices of fuel that was effected on Tuesday.
Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, Bulawayo Public Transport Association (BUPTA) spokesperson Mr Keeper Ndlovu said the operating environment had become harsh and unsustainable hence the decision by the operators to meet and deliberate.
He said the association had not come up with new fares yet although some operators had reviewed fares upwards following the fuel prices increase.
“As operators, we understand that commuters, our clients have no money and can therefore not afford high fares. Our core business is to ferry people to various destinations across the city at affordable fares,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said they welcomed the introduction of Zupco buses in urban areas and looked forward to professional co-existence.
“Zupco was there way before us as kombi operators and we hope we will complement each other as our objective of serving the commuting public is the same. We want the commuters to be offered multiple options,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Tshova Mubaiwa Transport Cooperation chairperson Mr Atlas Moyo said his association had not yet come up with new fares.
“We have not yet come up with new fares as we are still deliberating and assessing the situation. We will be able to give a more concrete response after analysing the impact of the new fuel prices,” said Mr Moyo.
Bulawayo City Transit Trust chairperson Mr Daniel Pondo could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The representives of the taxi associations distanced themselves from the messages that are circulating on social media claiming that the taxi operators are planning to ground their vehicles in protest against the operating environment.
Own Correspondent|Malawi’s electoral commission on Wednesday addressed journalists, election observers and political party agents on Wednesday morning, warning against trusting the authenticity of results published on social media.
Commission chief Dr. Jane Ansah reassured the nation that a backup plan had been put in place to deal with any technical hitches that might be encountered, as the country uses the electronic system of tallying results, for the first time.
‘‘The first result was received at midnight but have received only partial results from polling centers. Results have been slow because we’re experiencing some problem in result transmission.’‘
‘‘Security at all centres is very high. Anyone trying to tamper with results transmission I caution them to refrain. Both the police defense force are on high alert,’‘ Dr. Ansah added.
Under the electronic tallying system, results are canned and sent to the national tallying centre in Blantyre, using specially designed forms that have several security features. The commission also has auditors who will confirm figures before they are released and displayed on giant screens at the national tally center.
Official Presidential election results received from 1,784 (35.67%) of 5002 centers so far:
Chakwera-533 217 (37.6%)
Chilima-293 978 (20.76%)
Chisi-5 786 (0.41%)
Kaliya-4 380 (0.30%)
Kuwani-6 113 (0.43%)
Muluzi UDF-48 766 (3.44%)
Mutharika-524 247 (37.01%)
#MalawiElections
People are now anxiously waiting for vote results after millions of voters in #Malawi cast ballots on Tuesday in a closely-fought election, with President #PeterMutharika battling to hold off two rivals in a race that focused on corruption allegations and economic development.
Election oficials say no results of Tuesday’s elections will be released until after 10 p.m. local time at the earliest, because at least one polling station had a delayed opening and it won’t close until late.
The Malawi Electoral Commission issued a statement explaining the delay, and urged all parties to wait for official results announcements.
Ballot counting is currently underway at some votting points and has finished at most polling stations.
Zimbabwe rigging team forced to leave Malawi??
Malawi’s Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima, on weekend, made allegations that he had discovered that some people, who are not police officers, have been deployed to polling centres.
As quoted by the Daily Times, he said, “there is a gentleman called Augustine Chihuri who is a former commissioner general of Zimbabwe police, Mugabe’s right hand man.
He is a fugitive on the run and he is responsible for deploying police uniform to DPP Cadets.
“We demand that he leaves this country immediately”. He also said he was aware of plans of “seeding pre-marked ballot papers using some police impersonators”.
The allegations were dismissed by the Electoral Commission and it was later revealed by sources that the Zimbabwe rigging team was forced to leave the country after Chilima exposed their leader Chihuri.
If they left, it is clear they did not return home as they are still wanted by Harare authorities for crimes commited during President Mugabe’s time.
Presidential candidates main runners:
Lazarus Chakwera – Malawi Congress Party – hoping to revive the fortunes of the former ruling party
Saulos Chilima – UTM Party – current vice-president running against his boss
Peter Mutharika – Democratic Progressive Party – current president running for a second term
State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday said people should not panic over the current economic reforms, which have seen the prices of fuel going up because Government is working on addressing the challenges.
Briefing journalists soon after the Zanu-PF Caucus meeting in Harare yesterday, the party’s chief whip Pupurai Togarepi said the President had indicated to the caucus that the challenges were temporary and will pass.
“The President assured members that people will not starve because Government is working on providing enough food for each household.
Togarepi said President Mnangagwa said Government was working on modalities to set up people’s shops in all the 10 provinces which will sell subsidised products.
“The Government through the Grain Marketing Board is setting people’s shops so that people can access commodities at cheaper prices. The President urged MPs to convey this message to their respective constituencies. He said people should understand Government’s position on the ongoing economic reforms,” said Togarepi.
He said the President said the challenges were a passing phase hence there was no need for people to panic.
The President, Togarepi said, urged MPs to identify families in need of food aid in their constituencies.
“The President said Parliamentarians should work with the relevant ministry (of Public Service) on food requirements in their communities. This will help to ensure that each and every household has access to food,” said Togarepi.
He said the President said he will meet MPs once every month to discuss issues affecting their communities.
“The Zanu-PF Parliamentarians declared their loyalty to the President and indicated that they are happy with the President’s efforts on economic reforms,” said Togarepi.
He said they also discussed the issue of illegal settlers and the President indicated that they should not be evicted like criminals.
“The President said the evictions should be done in a dignified way and the relevant Ministry should identify land to resettle the illegal settlers.
“Where the illegal settlers have grown crops on someone’s farm, the President said they should be allowed to stay on until they have finished harvesting their crops.
“Where they have settled on undesignated land, the President said efforts should be made to regularise their stay on that piece of land.”
By Own Correspondent| A group of “nosy” journalists were on Tuesday escorted out of Murehwa by state security agents shortly after their arrival in the area ZimEye can exclusively reveal.
The journalists, who had travelled feom Harare to Murehwa wanted to cover a story where local communities are at loggerheads with government over their looming displacement.
The journalists were followed by police officers in plain clothes who demanded that they leave Murewa “as soon as possible”.
As they were leaving and had travelled an estimated 5kilometers from Murehwa centre, the journalists were followed by the plain clothes police officers and instructed to return to Murehwa Police Station for proper “identification”.
The officer commanding Murehwa Police Station requested for their accreditation cards to verify whether they were not bogus before telling them that they were free to go since they were doing their work.
Said one of the journalists:
“We were summoned back to Murejwa police station where the officer commanding the police station exonerated us and said there was no need for us to be detained since we were just doing our work. But we never got the opportunity to do our interviews with the affected communities because we were escorted out of Murehwa soon after they (police) were satisfied that we were accredited.”
The journalists were at Murehwa centre covering the looming displacement of an estimated 10 families in order to pave way for road construction.
The communities are alleging that government has revealed that they are going to be moved to pave way for the construction of a new road linking Murehwa and Macheke.
According to the communities, it is believed that government construction is set to take a new route since the previously pegged route is no longer viable following the discovery of a huge rock.
Said one of the community members when contacted via telephone:
“They discovered a huge rock which they do not want to blast, so they want the road to take a new route. The new route means that we have to be moved, but where to, we have not been told. They just want to displace us.”
By Own Correspondent| Three men who were arrested for stealing and slaughtering a beast in Murewa were sentenced to a combined 30 years after they were found guilty of stock theft.
The trio will each spend the next ten years in jail after the court established beyond that the three are cattle hustlers.
The ZRP said that the three were arrested at a police roadblock.
The police said in a statement:
3 men were arrested for Stock theft in Goromonzi after the vehicle they were travelling in was stopped at a roadblock.
Police searched the vehicle and discovered some meat which was packed in 6 sacks. Police investigations revealed that the accused persons had stolen a cow at Murape Village, Chief Chikwaka, Murewa and slaughtered it in the bush about 300 metres from the complainant’s homestead.
The meat was destined for Harare. The accused persons appeared in court and were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each
BY a Correspondent| Zimbabwe Rugby Union: Head Coach of the Zimbabwe National Women’s Seven’s side Abigail Kawonza has stepped down from her national team coaching position
She holds long list of records breaking new ground as the first woman in Africa to be appointed as a senior national team coach
HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 22, 2019/ — Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) would like to announce that Abigail Kawonza has stepped down from her national team coaching position in pursuit of other top portfolios she holds with the ZRU and World Rugby.
Voice recordings of Abigail Kawonza and Abigail Mnikwa: http://bit.ly/2X1P87c
She was the Head Coach of the Zimbabwe National Women’s Seven’s side, the Lady Cheetahs.
Kawonza has led the team in various tournaments such the Kwese Sevens where the Lady Cheetahs were crowned 2019 Champions as well as giving Zimbabwe its highest ranking in Africa reaching third position after a brilliant run in the 2016 in the Rugby Africa Cup.
She holds long list of records breaking new ground as the first woman in Africa to be appointed as a senior national team coach – this has inspired and opened doors for other women in Africa such as Uganda Sevens head coach Helen Buteme who was appointed in 2009.
Kawonza is also the first woman to be appointed as the President of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Association and the first Zimbabwean woman to become a World Rugby Citing Official.
Having served Zimbabwe as a national team rugby player and Old Hararians Sports Club, Kawonza says she would like to leave her national team coaching roles to concentrate on the portfolios she is handling.
“It was a difficult decision for me when you have so much passion for the game. I had decided it was time for me after the 2018 Africa Cup, I feel I have a long and great run with the team.
“I have worked with great players and coaches – there is a solid group of girls that will ensure the successful continuation of women’s sevens. As history shows I will not be able to let go of the team, I will always available to the players and coaches whenever they need me.
“I can now have time to focus on my citing and my role as President of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Association, it is a handful, referee tend to be worse than players but I love this job. I have enjoyed my rugby and I am thoroughly enjoying this as well,” said Kawonza.
ZRU Head of Women’s Rugby Abigail Mnikwa applauds the milestones achieved by Kawonza and says she was more than a coach.
“Not only was she a coach but a mentor to the players and other coaches that she took under her wing throughout her tenure as a coach.
“She is not totally leaving us in the rugby circles as she will continue to serve within the rugby community,” said Mnikwa.
Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said people should not panic over the current economic reforms, which have seen the prices of fuel going up because Government is working on addressing the challenges.
Briefing journalists soon after the Zanu-PF Caucus meeting in Harare yesterday, the party’s chief whip Pupurai Togarepi said the President had indicated to the caucus that the challenges were temporary and will pass.
“The President assured members that people will not starve because Government is working on providing enough food for each household.
Togarepi said President Mnangagwa said Government was working on modalities to set up people’s shops in all the 10 provinces which will sell subsidised products.
“The Government through the Grain Marketing Board is setting people’s shops so that people can access commodities at cheaper prices. The President urged MPs to convey this message to their respective constituencies. He said people should understand Government’s position on the ongoing economic reforms,” said Togarepi.
He said the President said the challenges were a passing phase hence there was no need for people to panic.
The President, Togarepi said, urged MPs to identify families in need of food aid in their constituencies.
“The President said Parliamentarians should work with the relevant ministry (of Public Service) on food requirements in their communities. This will help to ensure that each and every household has access to food,” said Togarepi.
He said the President said he will meet MPs once every month to discuss issues affecting their communities.
“The Zanu-PF Parliamentarians declared their loyalty to the President and indicated that they are happy with the President’s efforts on economic reforms,” said Togarepi.
He said they also discussed the issue of illegal settlers and the President indicated that they should not be evicted like criminals.
“The President said the evictions should be done in a dignified way and the relevant Ministry should identify land to resettle the illegal settlers.
“Where the illegal settlers have grown crops on someone’s farm, the President said they should be allowed to stay on until they have finished harvesting their crops.
“Where they have settled on undesignated land, the President said efforts should be made to regularise their stay on that piece of land.”- state medis
State Media|NEWLY appointed Minister of Energy and Power Development Fortune Chasi yesterday took oath of office before President Mnangagwa at State House where he vowed to end fuel hoarding and other corrupt practices dogging the energy sector.
Minister Chasi said he will also keep an eye on critical parastastals in the fuel and power generation industry to ensure high standards of corporate governance.
The minister said he will empower the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to enable them to take full charge of the sector and tightly monitor activities to restore order in the energy sector.
This followed a recent unearthing of a hoarding scam where a service station in Chinhoyi allegedly sold 10 000 litres of fuel to an individual despite a long winding queue of desperate motorists.
Minister Chasi replaced Joram Gumbo who is now Presidential Affairs Minister responsible for implementation and monitoring.
Speaking after the ceremony, Minister Chasi said he would ensure improved availability of fuel and work towards plugging fuel leakages.
Minister Chasi said his first meeting with the fuel industry will discuss acts of misconduct by some fuel attendants and find ways of rectifying the problem.
“This afternoon I am meeting the fuel industry and get feedback from them on the fuel price adjustment.
“I would also like to speak to them about the misconduct that is going on at service stations, some of them going beyond the conditions of their licences regarding how much they can sell to a single customer.
“There are instances where 10 000 litres of fuel is sold to one person when there is a long queue and everybody else does not get fuel.
“There is a service station that has done so in Chinhoyi and I have asked ZERA to investigate that development so that we take remedial measures,” he said.
Minister Chasi said ZERA should be adequately empowered to deal with challenges in the fuel sector.
Minister Chasi said he will ensure ZERA takes full charge of the sector to do away with hoarding of fuel and other corrupt activities dogging the fuel industry.
He said fuel attendants should be called to order and stop illegal dealings that find diesel and petrol on the black market.
“Beyond that I would like ZERA to take charge of the industry in accordance with what their founding statute requires them to do. We intend to empower them in terms of their monitoring functions. We want to ensure there is no favouritism in the purchase of fuel.
“There is misconduct by fuel attendants that must end,” he said.
Minister Chasi said he will ensure that parastatals boards are properly constituted with members of high integrity with the zeal to improve service delivery.
“We must be very strong on the governance of parastals involved in the fuel and power generation. I am going to have an eagle’s eye on Zesa because it is a critical parastatal. I want to ensure that all the boards are sufficiently skilled. They should have men and women of integrity.
“I would like to ensure that procurement is done properly and ZERA should take charge of the industry to ensure transparency,” he said.
All eyes are now on Minister Chasi with the nation expecting him to come up with solutions to fuel shortages and power outages.
Minister Chasi, who comes from Chiweshe, was born in Bulawayo. he grew up and attended school there.
He studied law and practised as a legal practitioner for years.
He also worked as a public prosecutor. Minister Chasi was once employed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) before joining politics.
He is legislator for Mazowe South.
Minister Chasi also served as Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as well as Deputy Minister of Transport Infrastructure Development.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi and several senior Government officials graced the occasion.
By Own Correspondent- MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has said the party has the answers to the country’s economic woes revealing that the party is set to launch a new economic document which is set to transform and redefine the country’s economy trajectory.
This was revealed by party national spokesperson Jacob Mafume at a presser held Wednesday at the party headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai house in Harare.
Said Mafume:
“We are going to launch the “RELOAD” document, the new economic blueprint and framework that is going to reload this economy. It will reshape the country’s economy.
We have got the answers (to the country’s woes), we are the thinking party and we hold the brain trust of Zimbabwe. And as i highlighted earlier, we have successful economic planning ministers like Tapuwa Mashakada, successful former education minister David Coltart, successful former industry minister Welshman Ncube vying for posts, former Finance minister Tendai Biti and remember even our president, he was a former ICT minister where the sim card, that you used to buy using a cow became affordable and you could buy it using a dollar.
So we have people with the answers, we have people who provided the brain trust of Zimbabwe over the past two decades. And we have got the solution. We are going to put it in the reload document. It is a policy framework that is going to be the alternative framework that we are going to use to transform the economy from a dead economy to an economy that the international community and international business can engage in.
This is a document that we have been working with over time and the delegates will get time to interrogate it and allowed to look at it and it will set the framework for the economic recovery of the country.”
Farai Dziva|Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni has vowed to expose Zanu PF members who threatened to confiscate his official motor vehicle last week.
Chief Ndiweni told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview he was preparing detailed information on the incident.
Asked how he managed to identify the concerned individuals he said:”I know all of them, they are Zanu PF members.Some of them are members of the Women’s League while some are councillors.
I will expose all of them very soon.I am preparing a document that will expose them.”
“Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were also part of the mob,” added Chief Ndiweni.
Farai Dziva|Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni is unfazed by attempts by Zanu PF to soil his image.
“I am apolitical, you remember that they accused me of being a Member of Mtwakhazi Party at one point and they also claimed I was a member of Joice Mujuru’s party.Now they are saying I am working with Nelson Chamisa.As a traditional leader I have to embrace diverse views,” he said.
He also vowed to expose Zanu PF members who threatened to confiscate his official motor vehicle last week.
Chief Ndiweni told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview he was preparing detailed information on the incident.
Asked how he managed to identify the concerned individuals he said:”I know all of them, they are Zanu PF members.Some of them are members of the Women’s League while some are councillors.
I will expose all of them very soon.I am preparing a document that will expose them.”
“Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were also part of the mob,” added Chief Ndiweni.
Bloomberg| The collateral for African Export-Import Bank’s $500 million loan to Zimbabwe is a mine that hasn’t been dug yet, people familiar with the matter said.
The loan, which will be paid over four years when production starts, is backed by a mine that Great Dyke Investments, a venture between Russian investors and the Zimbabwean military, plans to build at a cost of $4 billion, the people said. The mine, for which Afreximbank is arranging funding, is struggling to attract financiers because of the interest held by the military’s Zimbabwe Defense Industries Ltd.
Short of foreign currency, fuel and medicine and battling the highest inflation since 2008, Zimbabwe is mortgaging its mineral wealth in exchange for foreign currency. Lines of credit from Afreximbank were secured using gold exports as collateral, Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette reported in February, citing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mangudya.
Zimbabwe secured the $500 million loan, the origin and terms of which were not disclosed, after businesses complained that the interbank currency market instituted in February wasn’t functional because there weren’t enough dollars to meet their needs. The RTGS$, a quasi-currency that isn’t traded outside Zimbabwe, is exchanged on the market. The government abandoned its own currency. the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2009 after a bout of hyperinflation.
George Guvamatanga, the permanent secretary in the finance ministry, said he couldn’t comment, citing confidentiality agreements. Afreximbank didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Afreximbank, which is based in Cairo and is partially owned by African governments, has lent to Zimbabwe before. In addition to the gold-backed loan it extended a $600 million line of credit to the country in 2017. While the country is mired in an economic crisis, it has the world’s third-biggest platinum group metals deposits and abundant reserves of gold, iron ore, diamonds and lithium. It also has some of the most developed infrastructure in Africa and one of the region’s best educated work forces.
To read more about the mine’s financing struggles, click here
The structure of the deal was decided earlier this month at a meeting attended by officials from Zimbabwe’s treasury, central bank, mines ministry, Afreximbank, and Great Dyke Investments chairwoman, Hespinah Rukato, the people said. The mine could produce about 800,000 ounces of platinum group metals a year if built.
Rukato declined to comment. Officials mines ministry said they couldn’t immediately comment. Mangudya declined to comment.
NewsDay|Former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Robert Junior’s latest call-up to the national basketball team has raised eyebrows, with claims that the South Africa-based player has not been involved in competitive action.
Robert Jnr (pictured), more known in the basketball circles as Tinotenda, was called up to the squad that will be participating in the All-Africa Basketball Championship regional qualifiers to be hosted by Zimbabwe between June 2 and 8.
He is set to join camp on May 27, with other members of the squad already in camp preparing for the regional qualifiers.
Basketball enthusiasts have responded to his call-up, generally expressing surprise considering he is not involved in club basketball either in Zimbabwe or South Africa.
National basketball team coach Addison Chiware claimed that Robert Jnr was actively involved in college basketball in South Africa, but admitted that he did not have the statistics to back his call-up.
Robert Jnr’s basketball career has been supported a lot, especially by his mother, Grace, who helped fund the national team’s activities when her son was involved.
Chiware said Robert Jnr’s call-up did not mean that he would get an automatic entry into the final squad.
“Nobody gets an automatic entry into the national team. We do a lot of work to make sure the player has the right fitness and mental ability. Robert Jnr (Mugabe) is currently at college and he is playing there. We do not have the statistics on how he is performing, but he is actively involved,” he said.
“Robert Jnr will come to Zimbabwe on May 27. We will access him to see what he has for us. He has to have good discipline, good mental ability, strength and participate in hard training,” Chiware said.
“No big names will have an automatic entry, this is sport and we should respect that. He needs to be sharp.”
Zimbabwe played some friendly matches against visiting Wheaston College of the United States on Saturday.
Despite losing, Chiware said they picked up positives from the match.
“We played Wheaston College and the boys put up a good performance. It was an important match as it showed us some weaknesses that need to be fixed before the All Africa Championships,” he said.
“The players learnt a lot from that match and we are now getting ready for the tournament.”
Zimbabwe will be hosting Angola, Mozambique and South Africa.
The Zimbabwe National Army stepped in to provide collateral for the African Export-Import Bank’s $500 million loan advanced to Zimbabwe recently.
Bloomberg has reported that the loan, which will be paid over four years when production starts, is backed by a mine that Great Dyke Investments, a venture between Russian investors and the Zimbabwean military, plans to build at a cost of $4 billion.
The Minister of Finance, the central bank and their officials have refused to disclose the source of the money and the process done to acquire it.
Afreximbank, which is based in Cairo and is partially owned by African governments, has lent to Zimbabwe before. In addition to the gold-backed loan it extended a $600 million line of credit to the country in 2017. While the country is mired in an economic crisis, it has the world’s third-biggest platinum group metals deposits and abundant reserves of gold, iron ore, diamonds and lithium. It also has some of the most developed infrastructure in Africa and one of the region’s best educated work forces.
Bloomberg reports that the structure of the deal was decided earlier this month at a meeting attended by officials from Zimbabwe’s treasury, central bank, mines ministry, Afreximbank, and Great Dyke Investments chairwoman, Hespinah Rukato, the people said. The mine could produce about 800,000 ounces of platinum group metals a year if built.
Zimbabwe is now at risk of fresh protests after the cash-strapped government on Monday night unexpectedly announced that it had cancelled fuel subsidies for imports.
Caught in a debilitating energy crisis that has resulted in serious fuel and electricity shortages, the government said that from Tuesday, May 21, local companies that import fuel will now have to buy foreign currency on the interbank market.
Zimbabwe’s pseudo currency – the Bond Note and RTGS facility – are no longer equal to the US dollar and their value is declining by the day.
Using the interbank market means importers can buy foreign currency on auction using a willing-buyer-willing-seller method. This means the value of the foreign currency fluctuates depending on demand.
Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya on Monday night said the government was discarding the 1:1 local quasi-fiscal currency against the United States dollar ratio, which had been set for fuel imports.
The fuel hikes will see the price of basic commodities shoot up even further, this after being on an upward trend in the past weeks.
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) is pleased to advise the public that with effect from 22 May 2019, the procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) shall be done through the interbank foreign exchange market,” Mangudya said in his statement.
“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.”
The move comes as government says it has secured a US$500 million loan from the African Export-Import Bank to actuate the interbank currency market and soothe the forex crisis.
“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,” Mangudya 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.”
He said the central bank had 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,” the central bank boss said.
“Similarly, banks should discontinue twinning arrangements for their customs as this undermines the efficient operations of the interbank foreign exchange market.”
Some service stations have already hiked prices, despite Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority acting chief executive Edington Mazambani in a notice early Tuesday morning saying: “The petroleum industry is advised that the prices of fuel have not changed and operators are expected to continue selling fuel into the market as is expected of them.”
He later acknowledged the price hikes in another statement, saying the maximum pump price for diesel is $4.89 and petrol is $4.97 in the local virtual currency.
Violent protests rocked Zimbabwe in mid-January after government hiked the prices of fuel by around 150%.
Then, the price of petrol moved from around $1.36 to $3.35, while diesel went up from $1.20 to $3.20 in local currency.
The fuel price hikes resulted in violent protests, which left 17 people dead, according to human rights organisations. Close to a hundred people were left nursing gunshot wounds.
Economic Freedom Fighters MPs had earlier abstained from the vote for the speaker.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was announced as president of the republic by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng unopposed on Wednesday afternoon in the National Assembly.
His MP position now becomes vacant. He will be inaugurated in Tshwane over the weekend.
ANC member of Parliament (MP) Thandi Modise was earlier on Wednesday afternoon formally elected as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Modise went up against Democratic Alliance MP Thembekile Richard Majola, a former Speaker of the Western Cape Legislature.
Modise, former National Council of Provinces chairwoman, emerged victorious after the ANC used its majority to secure her as the national legislature’s boss for the next five or so years.
The outcome of the secret ballot was 250 votes in favour of Modise, meaning the ANC had help in voting her into power. The DA’s Majola received 83 votes. There were 17 spoilt ballots.
Economic Freedom Fighters MPs abstained from the vote.
Lechesa Tsenoli was elected deputy speaker unopposed.
Three Midlands based truck drivers have been arrested for stealing maize from President Emmerson Mnangagwa‘s Kwekwe farm.
The farm is managed by Patrick Mnangagwa, ED’s young brother. The thieves who were arrested in Chegutu confessed that they have been stealing farm produce from the President each harvesting season with one having bought a Mazda Demio car and others acquiring housing properties.
Yesterday the trio stole large quantity of maize from Mnangagwa’s thirty tonne truck that was meant to be delivered to Grain Marketing Board silos in Chegutu.
According to police reports, two of the gang members Levison Undi and Christopher Trivavi were spotted offloading the maize at around 4 am on Tuesday, 21 May.
Both the buyer and seller were apprehended and upon interrogation it was established that they have stolen more than 40 tonnes of maize, wheat and soya beans for each harvest season.
The drivers confessed that they have been stealing from President Mnagagwa for close to five years after gaining his trust.
One of the drivers confessed to have batter traded five tonnes of maize for a Mazda Demio while the other two bought several properties from their stolen loot.-ZwNews
Jane Mlambo| The MDC elective congress set for the 24th to the 26th of May could be thrown into disarray after members aligned to former vice President Dr Thokozani Khupe approached the High Court with an interdict to bar Nelson Chamisa from using the MDC name at the Friday Congress.
According to Warship Dumba, the interdict is “to stop Chamisa from using the name MDC in his illegal Gweru congress has finally been filed. A date for the hearing will be announced shortly.”
Farai Dziva|Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni is unfazed by attempts by Zanu PF to soil his image.
“I am apolitical, you remember that they accused me of being a Member of Mtwakhazi Party at one point and they also claimed I was a member of Joice Mujuru’s party.Now they are saying I am working with Nelson Chamisa.As a traditional leader I have to embrace diverse views,” he said.
He also vowed to expose Zanu PF members who threatened to confiscate his official motor vehicle last week.
Chief Ndiweni told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview he was preparing detailed information on the incident.
Asked how he managed to identify the concerned individuals he said:”I know all of them, they are Zanu PF members.Some of them are members of the Women’s League while some are councillors.
I will expose all of them very soon.I am preparing a document that will expose them.”
“Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were also part of the mob,” added Chief Ndiweni.
Farai Dziva|Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni has vowed to expose Zanu PF members who threatened to confiscate his official motor vehicle last week.
Chief Ndiweni told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview he was preparing detailed information on the incident.
Asked how he managed to identify the concerned individuals he said:”I know all of them, they are Zanu PF members.Some of them are members of the Women’s League while some are councillors.
I will expose all of them very soon.I am preparing a document that will expose them.”
“Members of the Central Intelligence Organisation were also part of the mob,” added Chief Ndiweni.
FIVE human rights campaigners, who were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) this week, were on Tuesday 21 May 2019 charged with plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
First to be arrested on Monday 20 May 2019 upon disembarking from a South African Airways aircraft at Robert Mugabe International Airport, were four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years, Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years while Farirai Gumbonzvanda aged 26 years, was arrested on Tuesday 21 May at Robert Mugabe International Airport.
The five were charged with subverting constitutional government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
According to ZRP officers, 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 subvert a constitutionally elected government.
ZRP officers claimed that during the training workshop, the five human rights campaigners, who are represented by Godfrey Mupanga, Jeremiah Bamu and Jessie Majome of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were trained on how to mobilise citizens to turn against the government and to engage in acts of civil disobedience and or resistance to any law during some anticipated national protests organised by some anti-government movements. The law enforcements agents charged that Makoni, Mombeyarara, Mukura, Mpahlo and Gumbonzvanda were also trained on how to operate small arms and to evade arrest during civil unrest and on counter-intelligence and acts of terrorism.
The ZRP officers confiscated the human rights activists’ laptops and mobile phone handsets, which they reportedly handed over to the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe “for extraction of evidence”, which will be produced in court as evidence against them including some notes recorded during the meeting.
Farai Dziva|Chief Felix Ndiweni has said the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government is dismally failing to address topical matters in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Zim Eye.com, Chief Ndiweni said:”While I know that the leader of the current administration (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is aware of the Ntabazintuna Issue, it is unfortunate to note that he pretends to be oblivious of the matter.
The current administration is failing to address fundamental governance issues.”
“Recently he (Mnangagwa) deliberately left out the matter- my view is that the current administration is making a grave mistake by attempting to suppress the issue,” he added.
Farai Dziva|Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo has reportedly ordered Asamoah Gyan to rescind his decision to quit international football.
Gyan, 33, announced on Monday that he will not be available for national duty again, just weeks before the Africa Nations Cup, after coach Kwasi Appiah took the captaincy from him.
According to GhanaSoccerNet, a football website, President Akufo-Addo who wants to see the Black Stars win the Afcon title spoke to the Turkey-based player on Tuesday and urged him to reconsider his decision.
“President Akufo-Addo, subsequently, also spoke on the telephone with Asamoah Gyan, and informed him of the considerable national disquiet over his decision to retire from the Black Stars,” the spokesman for the Ghana President, Eugene Arhin wrote in a statement on Tuesday night.
“The President urged him, in the national interest, to rescind his decision to retire from the Black Stars, and make himself available for selection by Coach Kwasi Appiah.”
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time top scorer in the national team with 51 goals in his 106 matches.
He featured in all Afcon tournaments since 2006 and played in the country’s last three World Cup appearances – 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Farai Dziva|Opposition party Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to address the current economic crisis as a matter of urgency.
See the party’s statement below :
ZIM EFF STATEMENT ON THE DETERIORATING STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Zim EFF strongly condemns the continued ineptitude by the government to address the
worsening economic situation in the country.
For a long time, Zimbabweans have been victims
of government failure to address the challenging economic situation in Zimbabwe.
We have seen much to our disgust casual and clueless approach with which the government has tried but failed to halt the ever spiraling out of control economic meltdown.
We are at a crisis point where the price of basic commodities is far beyond the means of our ordinary people and at the core of your our people’s dignity. How does a father or a mother maintains their dignity when they cannot afford to feed or dress their children?
Our children are at the peril of savage abuse by those with
economic advantage – girls in particular become victims of sexual abuse and violence due to the
heightened vulnerability caused by their economic situation. Other vulnerable groups in our
society like the elderly, the disabled and the sick equally experience being abused and taken
advantage of by others all due to their economic situation.
The current situation is a painful reminder of the failure of politics in the past four decades. The Zanu PF led government has dismally failed the economy and the people at large. They have betrayed the gains of the liberation struggle.
Zanu PF has become an instrument of oppression of people and the official opposition is consumed by internal power struggles instead of engaging in its constitutional obligation to hold the government to account.
Sadly, the poor masses of Zimbabwe continue to wallow in deep poverty as they are always at the receiving end of poor governance. Zimbabwe is a rich country with its natural resources and can do better to manage these resources for the betterment of all citizens. The Zanu Pf led corrupt government does not care about the suffering masses and it’s sad Zimbabweans nationwide continue to accept the status quo and that ours indeed is a bad country.
We, Zim EFF believe that doing nothing about the current situation is not an option and stand against this corrupt government and demand better governance. The hike in fuel prices is an abomination that has befallen our people and an act of cruelty by a government that continues to punish its citizens. Fuel should be an affordable commodity since growth of the economy depends on it.
EFF strongly condemn this decision and call upon the government to reverse these fuel price hikes immediately and implement stringent measures to revamp the economy.
“We believe in change!!!!Change is long overdue!!!” Zim EFF wants change for all the people of Zimbabwe. We will fight for change!!! We will fight for economic freedom NOW!!! Issued by : Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters
Contact : Victor Mpofu, National Spokesperson
Cell Number : +263 77 194 3180 / +263 71 321 7854
Email : [email protected]
Twitter : @vnngwaladi
Farai Dziva|There are panic stations within Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government following revelations -through an autopsy report- that a senior intelligence officer was beaten to death.
Peter Munetsi, a senior Zimbabwean spy operative, died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries during the military-led coup that ousted former President Robert Mugabe, according to the autopsy report.
This dismisses claims that he died of illness.
Munetsi was a district divisional intelligence officer employed by the Central Intelligence Organisation, the country’s dreaded spy agency, which authorities claimed was opposed to the coup.
According to a summary of the autopsy examination report conducted by Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe on November 21 2017 at the state-run Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Munetsi was certified dead on November 16 2017 by one Dr Chinegono at 1 Commando Barracks hospital in Harare, which is run by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
Javangwe said after examining Munetsi’s body he recorded that he had “sustained multiple graze abrasions on several parts of his body, including on his hands, arms, legs, elbows, ears, forehead, knees and scalp”.
Farai Dziva|Primary and Secondary Education Minister Paul Mavima has said the country’s education system has improved significantly in the past two years.
Speaking in Parliament today Mavima said:” I don’t agree with the assertion that education standards have plummeted in the country.
On the contrary the education system has improved significantly.For instance, the Ordinary Level pass rate has improved remarkably.In 2017 the Ordinary Level pass rate was 22% and last year the rate was 33%.”
Farai Dziva|Disgruntled Zimbabweans say the government should fix the country’s healthcare system instead of using taxpayers’ money to fly out of the country to seek medical services.
Constantino Chiwenga was flown to India to seek treatment on Tuesday.
Commenting on Chiwenga’s health Caroline Kanda said: It will work. Nicodemus Mupawose wrote :Who cares.Fortune Zihura: Wish you speedy recovery Vice President.
Calvin Mbatha: Fix your health care system stop flying to India for something that can be done at home.
Cooper Marunda:Music to my ears.Ma Ndlovu: Taneta naro statement iroro.
Patience Cele: VP sack your hairdresser.Newton Zvoushe: Akupedza foreign currency…
Accused of aligning himself with Chamisa, Chief Ndiweni will set the record straight on ZimEye.com.
Own Correspondent|Bulawayo and Matabeleland region as a whole is at the moment going through a tense time where citizens of the region are collectively up in arms in defence of under government and ZANU PF siege Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna.
The ruling party has been demanding for Ndiweni to be dethroned allegedly for demanding the West to tighten sanctions against Zimbabwe after government evicted a white commercial farmer from his area.
He was recently attacked by a group of ZANU PF Youth League members who wanted to take away an official vehicle he was given by government after accusing him of aligning himself with the opposition MDC.
Prior to the latest incidents, Ndiweni has been involved in a huge legal scuffle with former Umguza legislator Dr Obert Mpofu who is also the ZANU PF Secretary for Administration.
Mpofu has repeatedly called on government to dethrone Ndiweni claiming that he was not properly put to the Ntabazinduna chieftainship left vacant after the death of the renowned Chief Khayisa Ndiweni.
Mpofu claims Nhlanhla is not the rightful heir.
To get more details on this controversy, connect to ZimEye.com at 15:45hrs today and hear it all from the “horse’ mouth.”
Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Kuwadzana East Charlton Hwende has donated textbooks valued at $ 2,310.
“Kuwadzana East Member of House of Assembly Honourable Charlton Hwende has assisted in stocking the new Kuwadzana Libray through the timely donation of 132 professional textbooks.
The donation was noted in a recent full council meeting.
The books are valued at RTGs $2 310,” a Harare City Council Official said yesterday.
By Own Correspondent| Auto Tyres Zimbabwe (ATZ) company, formerly Dunlop Zimbabwe, is at loggerheads with 150 former workers who are demanding unpaid wages and exit packages.
The workers were retrenched between 2015 and 2018 and are owed US$518 000 in salaries and exit packages.
A workers’ representative who spoke to Newsday on condition of anonymity had this to say:
Those who were retrenched in 2015 obtained a court order compelling the company to pay them their dues, but to date, nothing has happened.
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We, who were retrenched in 2018, took the matter to the retrenchment board, where it was ruled that those of us owed $2 000 should be paid within three months, while those owed above US$2 000 should be paid within 18 months.
The company’s judicial manager, Shepherd Chimutanda, confirmed that the ex-employees are owed substantial amounts of money, but the money is now in RTGS dollars. He said:
Their dues are now pegged in RTGS$ rather than US$ due to changes in the recent February 2019 monetary policy.
Chimutanda said that a South African investor, NUVO Rubber Company has expressed interest in reviving the company.
He added that there are ongoing talks with NSSA [National Social Security Authority] concerning their renewed interest in investing in ATZ
The MDC is concerned with how the transport situation has deteriorated over the past few days due to Zanu PF’s incompetency, inconsistency and inability to make the right decisions.
A country run through a series of stop gap measures is bound to degenerate into the chaos witnessed last night when commuters all but failed to afford return fares following another reckless decision on fuel.
In January of 2019 a fuel price hike sparked unrest, the military State responded with brute force and scores of people lost their lives.
No lessons were learnt, the Zanu PF government is baking yet another powder cake. Insanity is when a government decides to liberalise supply and yet not deal with the sources of income.
The government must in totality dumb the RTGS dollar and pay civil servants in US dollars otherwise issues of affordability will just escalate.
The fuel price increase will certainly drive inflation, in any case it is the second highest in the world, worse than war torn countries like Somalia and Afghanistan.
The MDC demands an end to the chaos being caused in the fuel industry in protection of cartel interests. The propaganda games around ZUPCO are not working. Its failure to meet demand was exposed yesterday.
The government must take Zimbabweans seriously, the time of games have come to an end
MDC 5th National Congress: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe!
Zimbabwe’s State security continues to dent any hope of improving the image of our great nation. The continued, senseless arrest of Civic Society leaders is an embarrassing indictment of our democracy.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ calls for the immediate release of George Makoni CCDZ, Gamuchirai Mukura COTRAD, Frank Mphalo TIZ and Cde Tatenda Mombeyarara of the Citizens’ manifesto.
The four were arrested at Robert Mugabe International airport after landing back from an international Human rights workshop.This persecution makes it difficult for citizens to collectively call for the removal of sanctions.
If our state cannot guarantee the security of its own citizens then we have to seek international support to force state actors to respect human rights.
The state should focus on fixing the economy and curbing corruption rather than victimising innocent citizens.
By Own Correspondent- Police have arrested the Founder of Rozaria Memorial Trust Farirai Gumbonzvanda and charged her with plotting to subvert a constitutionally elected government.
Giving an update on Wednesday morning Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said:
“In Zimbabwe, authorities intensify a crackdown on human rights defenders with the arrest of Farirai Gumbonzvanda at Robert Mugabe International Airport and detained at Harare Central Police Station for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Mnangagwa’s govt through inciting civil disobedience.”
Gumbonzvanda joins four other civic society leaders who are appearing in court on Wednesday over similar charges.
The four are the Citizens Manifesto coordinator Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe advocacy officer George Makoni (38), Nyasha Frank Mpahlo (35) of Transparency International Zimbabwe and executive director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), Gamuchirai Mukura (31).
On Tuesday Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana confirmed that the police had arrested the four soon after their arrival from the Maldives.
Said Mangwana:
“The four were arrested after disembarking from a South African Airways flight while coming from the Maldives and are currently assisting police with investigations.”
By Own Correspondent- The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) said that it will be holding meetings with retailers across the country meant to deal with price distortions in the retail sector.
This was revealed by GMAZ ethics chairman Alvin Mparutsa in an interview with a local publication on Tuesday.
He said:
Starting this week, this committee (Ethics Committee) and the GMAZ secretariat will be moving from towns to cities, holding meetings with retailers, explaining to them the objective of this initiative so that there is buy-in.
We will start by engaging Bulawayo retailers, followed by their Gweru counterparts before moving to Mutare and Masvingo, just to mention a few cities and towns.
Our major thrust will be to hear from retailers the challenges they might be facing that could be making it difficult for them to comply with the prices we agreed on for our products.
We are doing this so that we amicably move together and eradicate price distortions.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) said that it fully supports the initiative. The organisation’s chairperson, Philip Bvumbe, hopes that the initiative will be successful as he is opposed to price controls which will result in empty shelves.-Newsday
Own Correspondent|The government has passed a new law that will ensure that those with a minimum of ten years working for the government can import vehicles without paying any fees.
However, the law has a condition. According to a notice, when an individual is importing a car there should be an application letter for a rebate, a confirmation of employment from the responsible permanent secretary, a driver’s licence and the car should not be over 10 years old.
Furthermore, the notice stated that only private vehicles were allowed, no commercials like trucks, kombis and panel vans could be imported under the policy.
The facility has been active for nearly two months, through a statutory instrument, but the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) had not affected it, claiming they had not received the formal orders.
The civil servants who have been trying to import cars without paying any fees have hit a brick wall, as the government took time to operationalise the law.
A top official in the finance ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that they could not start the process without a circular from the finance minister to other ministries.
“Government departments operate on circulars. In the absence of that, nobody can do anything, but now there is movement”, he claimed.
At present, the Zimra website still has any references to the policy and points to a rebate for the disabled only.
Statutory Instrument (SI) 52 of 2019 spells out the deal: “The secretary responsible for Finance and Economic Development may, according to his discretion, grant rebate of duty on a motor vehicle with a maximum import value of US$10,000 being imported by any serving public servant of Zimbabwe who has been in service for a period of no less than 10 years.”
By Own Correspondent- MDC president Nelson Chamisa has reiterated calls for unity arguing that a divided nation will not stand.
The development, which has torched a social media storm with some quarters viewing it as indication that the country’s main opposition leader is warming up to dialogue with Zanu Pf’s Emmerson Mnangagwa read:
“THE DUTY TO STAND…Great nations are built strongly on the pillars of unity upon singleness of focus and an extraordinary fixity of purpose.
Every country divided against itself will be laid waste, and every community or household divided against itself will not stand.”
THE DUTY TO STAND…Great nations are built strong on the pillars of unity upon singleness of focus and an extraordinary fixity of purpose.Every country divided against itself will be laid waste, and every community or household divided against itself will not stand.#onepeople
By Own Correspondent- The government has put all security agents on high alert, fearful of nationwide protests, as happened in January this year following a sharp fuel price hike.
On Tuesday, the government announced another sharp increase in the price of fuel in a move that has generated anger and consternation among the hard-pressed citizens.
The deputy minister of Information and Publicity, Energy Mutodi said that the heightened police presence has been done to stop the opposition from causing chaos.
Said Mutodi:
The opposition wants to make the country ungovernable as a way to gain political mileage. In response to this, the police and other arms of the State security apparatus are on high alert to deal decisively with any incidences of violence and those who are hallucinating and believing that… Mnangagwa will not complete his five-year elected mandate are day-dreaming.
A University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, told the Daily News that the government has pressed the panic button. He opined:
The government is panicking, whether it is a rumour or not but government is afraid, the rumours trigger panic on the part of government and they have been expressing that for a while now and the security has been put on high alert, these are signs of panic and trying to prepare for the worst whether pre-or post MDC, this resonates with what government including Mnangagwa himself has been saying
By Own Correspondent- The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has advised consumers against panic-buying following a sharp increase in the price of basic commodities triggered by an increase in the price of fuel on Tuesday.
CCZ chairman Philip Bvumbe opined that panic-buying will result in shortages of goods forcing manufacturers and retailers to raise prices. Said Bvume:
Last week, as you are aware, the parallel market rate went up to about 1:7 and all the goods in shops went up and there was panic buying.
What we are urging consumers is that they must not go on a rampage of panic buying. Suppliers and retailers have been trying to reduce their prices because of the demand which has been low for some time.
Let us be mindful that the more we have an artificial demand for products, the retailers and manufacturers will be justified to increase prices.
We encourage people not to go on a panic-buying spree.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- Charles Manyuchi’s opponent in the Global Boxing Union/Universal Boxing Council Intercontinental super-welterweight unification title bout, Pablo Ezequiel Acosta of Argentina, arrived in the country bubbling with confidence Monday.
Acosta will take on the former WBC silver welterweight champion on May 25 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
“It is my first time to fight in Africa and I hope I will come up with a win. “I have been working hard in the past weeks and I hope it is going to help me.’’
Manyuchi lost his WBC title to Uzbek boxer, Qudratillo Abduqaxorov, in Singapore in March, 2017.
“I am training with Issa and Ali Phiri. It’s called the restoration fight. I had lost but I am trying to come back. This year I am prepared, I want to return to the top.’’
By Own Correspondent- The draft Marriages Amendment Bill, 2017, approved by Cabinet last week, criminalises child marriages and proposes a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison for anyone who permits, aids or coerces a minor into marriage.
Such minors are also protected against civil unions or cohabiting.
The draft Bill, in line with the Constitution, sets 18 years as the minimum age for any form of marriage or union.
Religious leaders, relatives and parents who marry off children under 18 years of age, will be liable to prosecution with a possible penalty of up to five years in jail or a fine not exceeding Level 10.
Part of the Bill reads: “ (1) No person under the age of 18 years may contract a marriage or enter into an unregistered customary law marriage or a civil partnership.
“(2) For the avoidance of any doubt, child marriages are prohibited and under no circumstance shall any person contract, solemnise, promote, permit, allow or coerce or aid or abet the contracting, solemnising, promotion, permitting, allowing or coercion of the marriage, unregistered customary law marriage, civil partnership, pledging, promise in marriage or betrothal of a child.
“(3) Any person, other than the child concerned, who contravenes subsection (2), shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Level 10 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”
A parent or a person in loco parentis found guilty of the offence risks getting the maximum penalty.
“It shall be an aggravating factor in an offence referred to in subsection (3) that the contravention was by a parent or a person in loco parentis to the child concerned,” reads the draft Bill.
The Marriages Act will be repealed and replaced with one consolidated Marriages Amendment Bill, which is a cocktail of civil and political liberties being undertaken by President Mnangagwa under the Second Republic.
South Africa-based Zimbabwean lawyer Tambudzai Gonese-Manjonjo said criminalisation of child marriages was now long overdue.
“It was long overdue considering that the child marriage case was decided in 2016 by the Constitutional Court.
“The model law was also crafted the same year. The existence of the judgment without legislative backing caused a lot of confusion. People generally knew that the court said the minimum age of marriage is 18 but there were no consequences for those who married or married off children,” she said.
Gonese-Manjonjo said the sentence was reasonable.
“The prescribed sentence is reasonable for now but it remains to be seen how effective it will be after implementation,” she said.
Another lawyer Jacqueline Sande hailed the development.
“It is a welcome move. Children are not able to make decisions such as whether or not to marry.
“This protects the rights of young girl against abuse. At times parents are tempted to marry the child off to a rich old man, hence a deterrent sentence of five years in prison will go a long way in curbing child marriages,” said Sande.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Former cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo’s passport was seized by an unidentified state security agent leaving him stranded at the airport before the document emerged at the Clerk of Court offices.
Chombo’s passport was seized just as he was about to board a plane to South Africa for treatment.
Said his lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku:
“He went through all formalities at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and when he was about to board his flight, a security agent approached him and asked to check his passport.
Madhuku further told court that after taking the passport, the officer vanished forcing Chombo and his family to abort the journey.
He further told the court that the immigration department continued giving excuses on why his passport was taken. The once powerful ex-minister later discovered the document was handed back to the clerk of court with how it got there still a mystery to him.
The City is experiencing increased periods of power outages due to load shedding as indicated by ZETDC in their distributed schedules.
Traffic signals are supplied power from the same network and are not spared from load shedding. As a result of of the load shedding, the City is experiencing increased traffic signals outages.
Motorists are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution when approaching non functional traffic signals.
Whenever motorists approach a faulty intersection the Highway Code stipulates that motorists should treat the intersection as an uncontrolled intersection and to observe the correct road rules.
By Own Correspondent| Four human rights defenders arrested and charged with subverting a constitutional government are on their way to Rotten Row Magistrates Court for initial appearance, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has revealed.
The four, are the Citizens Manifesto co-ordinator Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe Advocacy Officer George Makoni (38), Nyasha Frank Mpahlo (35) of Transparency International Zimbabwe and executive director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), Gamuchirai Mukura (31).
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.
