By Own Correspondent- Treasury has given the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) the nod to begin recruiting staffers of the Constitutional Court next month, while the selection of judges will begin thereafter.

Currently, a single panel of judges has been superintending over both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

Although Section 183 of the Constitution prohibits the appointment of judicial officers in more than one court, a seven-year transitional clause — through part 18(2) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — was put in place to enable Supreme Court judges to serve in the Constitutional Court, which was borne out of the 2013 Constitution.

However, the clause lapses on May 22 next year.

JSC secretary Walter Chikwana told the state media that the separation of the two courts has already begun although the recruitment of judges will only commence once the JSC gets the greenlight from Government.

He said:

“We have already been given authority by Treasury to recruit staff for the Constitutional Court, and we will be starting in June because the staff we have at the moment is Supreme Court staff.

We have started on that process already so that when the two courts separate, we are going to have staff for both.In terms of Section 180 of the Constitution, whenever there is a vacancy, the JSC is required to declare it and advertise it and conduct public interviews. After they are done, the names are submitted to His Excellency (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) and he makes the necessary appointments.”

In essence, Section 166 of the Constitution stipulates that a total of seven judges – including the Chief Justice (Luke Malaba) and Deputy Chief Justice (Elizabeth Gwaunza) – shall sit in the Constitutional Court.

The Chief Justice may also appoint an acting judge if the services are required.

Qualifying judges to this superior court should necessarily be more than 40-years-old and have the relevant experience.

In fact, Section 177 of the Constitution stipulates that a candidate should have “been a judge of a court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters in the country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch or English, and English is an officially recognised language”.

They should also have practiced law for at least 12 years in Zimbabwe or any country in which the common law is Roman-Dutch law.-StateMedia

Jane Mlambo| Exiled cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has refuted claims that former police boss Augustine Chihuri is causing problems in neighbouring Malawi.

Posting on Twitter, Moyo dismissing the trending report that Chihuri was fingered in alleged acts of trying to rig elections in favour of the ruling party.

Moyo authoritatively said Chihuri was not in Malawi.

“This is a lie with no legs. It won’t go anywhere. I don’t know where former CGP Chihuri is, but I know where he isn’t. He’s not in Malawi,” said Moyo.

"EX ZIM POLICE BOSS IN MALAWI TO HELP RIG POLLS", claims UTM's presidential candidate in Tuesday general election.

This is a lie with no legs. It won't go anywhere. I don't know where former CGP Chihuri is, but I know where he isn't. He's not in Malawi!https://t.co/UlslOxjff3 pic.twitter.com/JR2RQcwaoK

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) May 19, 2019

The new Minister of Energy and Power Development Fortune Chasi has got off at his new responsibility with a bang of controversial positions.

His first move on assuming office was to instruct power utility company ZPC to recover $5m advanced to Intratek Director Wicknell Chivayo for the Gwanda Solar project besides the courts ruling on favour of Chivayo.

In his latest stunt has told Zimbabweans who are failing to get fuel to purchase electric cars.

Speaking at a Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) ISO Certification event on Friday, Chasi said,

“May I challenge all present to seriously consider electric vehicles. I am happy ZERA has already made overtures in this regard.

“We also would expect the electric vehicles to be charged from renewable sources i.e. Solar Parks, solar radiation is a free resource, you only pay for the extraction and usage costs.”

The minister also said that the task of procuring fuel for the country was not solely for the government.

“I have seen some people dropping this task on my shoulders alone or on the shoulders of the government alone.”

“All of us here have a responsibility. Those that use fuel, those that import it, those of us who are in government, we all need to play a role in the coming up with a lasting solution to this problem so that we re-enact the dignity of our people who spend time in queues.”

“We don’t believe that it’s solely an issue of foreign currency. We also want to look on the other side as to what can be done, issues of solar need to come into play.”

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Land Commission (ZLC), which recently completed the first phase of the audit involving more than 18 000 farmers, has unearthed gross under funding of the agricultural sector and is now pushing for the establishment of a Land and Agricultural Bank to facilitate funding for resettled farmers.

It is also recommending an integrated Land Information Management System (LIMS) after investigations revealed widespread cases of fraudulent land allocations, rampant illegal leasing of land parcels and gross underutilisation, which is materially affecting agricultural output.

The first phase of the National Agricultural Land Audit — conducted in 10 districts across the country’s 10 provinces between October and November last year — only covers 6 percent of the targeted land.

Last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered an expeditious completion of the land audit, which is expected to rationalise ownership and farm sizes.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri confirmed receiving the report, but referred further enquiries to ZLC chair Ms Tendai Bare.

Commissioner Bare told The Sunday Mail that some of the challenges in allocating land could be remedied by making the Ministry of Lands the sole issuing authority of tenure documents.

“Basically, it was established that the carrying capacity of subdivisions, particularly of A1 farmers, far exceeded the planned target due to the fact that there were multiple allocations by authorities who were not following laid-down procedures,” said Commissioner Bare.

“The level of investment was not to the expectation due to the fact that farmers had used all their initial savings and could not access new credit from financial institutions, and this accounts for low production levels and very little mechanisation.

“On issues of security of tenure, the tenure documents given to A1 farmers are shambolic because they came from different allocating authorities.

“This made it impossible to verify the legal status of genuine farm beneficiaries,” she said.

ZLC also established that crops were also being planted in a haphazard manner on some farms.

Further, some villagised schemes that have communal land were being subdivided and sold, “threatening the livelihood of farmers” in the process.

There were also challenges in change of ownership, especially in cases where farm beneficiaries died without leaving behind a will.

“Some of the farmers were also found to be leasing farms without authority from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement,” Commissioner Bare said.

In compiling the data, the ZLC interviewed 18 646 subdivision farm owners out of the 300 000 land parcels distributed to farmers.

It covered Lupane and Umguza districts (Matabeleland North); Mangwe and Beitbridge (Matabeleland South); Kwekwe (Midlands); Hurungwe (Mashonaland West); Muzarabani (Mashonaland Central) and Hwedza in Mashonaland East.

In Masvingo, only Gutu district was audited, while in Manicaland, farms in Makoni district were covered.

However, skyrocketing prices of goods and services in the latter part of last year affected the commission’s work.

The second phase would begin once Treasury provides funds for the exercise.

“We are preparing to roll out the Comprehensive National Agricultural Land Audit phase 2 at the end of May, beginning of June 2019 in all the eight provinces,” said commissioner Bare.

It is believed that once the audit is concluded, it will help inform Government’s agricultural policies. In essence, the probe is also meant to ensure productivity, its contribution to social equity and environmental sustainability.

The scope of the investigations include multiple farm ownership, underutilisation of land, investments made on the parcel of land, skills and competencies of the land owners, recruitment of farm managers with an agriculture background, maintenance of farm records, business plans, level of investment including mechanisation, access to finances and markets and provision of social services.

Overall, the LIMS is envisaged to help Government review its policies on agriculture and aid the efficient administration and management of agricultural land.

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union executive director Mr Paul Zakarayi said although Agribank was established to ostensibly serve this important sector, “having dedicated finance towards the agrarian economy is certainly positive”.

“There is definitely need to rally support towards agrarian issues,” said Mr Zakariya.

“What we will have to ensure, however, is that the funds are not abused so that the resources go to the right people.-StateMedia

A KAROI magistrate and clerk of court have appeared at the Chinhoyi Magistrate Court for allegedly accepting a $20 bribe in order to rule in favour of the defendant in a maintenance case. Amanda Muridzo (31), who is employed as Karoi magistrate and Shelter Kachirika, a clerk at the same court, are both facing charges of bribery as defined in section 170(1)(b)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9.23.

Acting Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze granted the duo $50 bail and ordered them not to interfere with State witnesses.

Prosecutor Mrs Kessia Teveraishe told the court that last year in August, Sinafi Chidoko, who is David Mazowi’s ex-wife, filed maintenance papers at the Karoi Magistrate Court. She was claiming $250 for the upkeep of her two minor children.

The court heard that Mazowi and Chidoko appeared before Muridzo and Mazowi was ordered to pay $50 as maintenance every month.

Further, the court heard that Chidoko later applied for an upward variation to $100. It was this application that was then compromised due to the bribe.

“Muridzo and Kachirika, in connivance with Mazowi who is still at large, hatched a plan to influence the outcome of the variation. Mazowi transferred $20 from his ecocash account into Kachirika’s ecocash account,” the court heard.

“Muridzo presided over the maintenance hearing and granted an upward variation of $20 against $50, as was requested by the applicant, after she had been influenced by the bribe”.

The matter came to light when Chidoko received a tip-off from an anonymous caller who told her how the maintenance case had been handled.

-State Media

By Own Correspondent- Online money transfer company WorldRemit has renewed its sponsorship of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (Z.A.A) UK and Canada editions for the fifth year running, following a successful partnership for the ZAA South Africa edition in April.

ZAA highlights the successes and achievements of Zimbabweans and brings together business leaders and innovators from all sectors to celebrate, empower and network. 

Using the WorldRemit app or website, the Zimbabwean diaspora living in over 50 countries, including the UK and Canada, can send money home in just a few taps from their smartphones.

The company offers a variety of convenient ways to receive money in Zimbabwe, including cash pickup in USD at over 250 locations across the country – the widest network of any other international remittance service.  

To celebrate its renewed partnership with ZAA, WorldRemit is offering new customers sending money from the UK or Canada to Zimbabwe zero fees on their first transfer if they use the code ZAAPROMO  when making payment. 

ZAA International Founder and Chairman, Conrad Mwanza said: “We are glad to announce a new partnership with WorldRemit for the UK and Canada editions and look forward to making these events even more successful than previous years.

“WorldRemit is a globally recognised brand that makes life easier for the Zimbabwean diaspora who send many home to support their families and communities.

“We are delighted to continue our work with the company to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the diaspora in the UK and Canada.” 

Nominees and tickets – UK edition

The UK edition is the flagship event in the ZimAchievers Awards series. The 2019 ceremony will be held on Saturday 25^th May at the Millennium Gloucester hotel in London and marks the awards’ ninth anniversary. The event will be hosted by Mako Ndlovu with explosive musical performances by the Noisettes frontwoman, Shingai. 

Nominees and tickets – Canada edition

The Canada edition of the ZAAs will be held on Saturday 29^th June at the Radisson Hotel in Edmonton. Voting for this year’s nominees will open on 5^th June 2019.

By Own Correspondent- First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has pledged to continue empowering women by sensitising them on inheritance laws and health issues.

Addressing multitudes of Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) congregates gathered for the Royal Queens Conference at the church’s headquarters in Chatsworth, Gutu, the First Lady, who attended the event at the invitation of the church, said there was still an information gap on inheritance and health issues that needs to be bridged.

She commended male congregants for allowing their spouses to attend the event.

The Master of High Court, Eldard Mutasa, who was accompanying the First Lady, took the gathering through the country’s inheritance laws and explained some potential areas of conflict that are likely to arise, especially in the event of their spouses’ demise.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira thanked the First Lady for her philanthropic works through Angel of Hope Foundation, which he said were likely to help further the country’s endeavour to create prosperous country within the next decade.

“Today’s visit is second time after another visit you paid to this congregation with the objective to deliver high quality medical and health services through your esteemed Angel of Hope Foundation.

“We are also humbled as a province that this is your third special successive visit in a space of 14 days, where you met victims of Cyclone Idai here in Gutu, and just yesterday (Friday), you officiated at the International Day of Midwife at Masvingo Provincial Hospital,” said Chadzamira.

“Through the Angel of Hope (Foundation), you are indeed complementing Government’s desire, under the leadership of His Excellency, the President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, of attaining a prosperous and upper middle-income economy by 2030,” he said.

Through her works, Chadzamira added, the First Lady was bringing “Government services closer to its people”.

Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, who also accompanied the First Lady, said her actions had ably transformed some communities.

“She has programmes for widows, chiefs’ wives.

‘‘(On the) international and national level, she has won many awards. Proverbs 29 verse 2 says when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice,” she said.

The AFM church — through the churches’ president’s wife, Chiyangwa — handed over kitchen utensils meant for Cyclone Idai victims to the First Lady.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Mangwe-Plumtree Business Association chairperson Golden Dube said most grocery shops located close to neighbouring countries’ borders of Botswana and South Africa were refusing to accept payment in bond notes including mobile phone transactions, preferring to sell their products in foreign currency.

Communities in rural areas such as Bulilima and Mangwe districts of Matabeleland South Province are at the mercy of unscrupulous businesspeople who are refusing to accept RTGS dollars, demanding consumers to pay in foreign currency, notably the rand.

“Most of the shops in rural areas are no longer accepting bond notes as payment. Most of the shops are owned by South Africa-based Zimbabwean businesspersons and these instruct their employees not to accept the local currency and only sell products in rand, pula or the US (United States dollar). This has left communities in a predicament as foreign currency is very difficult to source,” he said.

Dube said the situation has exacerbated to the extent that communal farmers are now demanding to be paid in foreign currency for their livestock.

Dube said there was a need for the Government to expedite the re-introduction of a local currency to curb a growing mismatch between cash dollars and RTGS dollars. Meanwhile the Plumtree business community donated three tonnes of mealie-meal, 100 blankets and clothes to Cyclone Idai victims in Chimanimani two weeks ago.

NEAL Hovelmeier, a former St John’s College deputy headmaster in Harare, who acrimoniously parted ways with the school after admitting that he was gay, has been nominated as one of the 2019-2020 Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Fellows at Harvard University.

According to the institute, Hovelmeier will pursue an individual project in a community dedicated to exploration and inquiry at Harvard’s institute for advanced study.

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study is regarded one of the foremost academic institutions in the world. Started in 1999, the institute has hosted about 900 fellows.

Radcliffe Institute dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin said: “Radcliffe’s Fellowship Programme — a microcosm of the Institute — is a laboratory of ideas where scholars, artists, scientists, and practitioners draw insights from one another and generate new knowledge that spans disciplinary boundaries. I am extraordinarily excited to see what emerges from this incredible group of individuals in the year ahead.”

An educationist, Hovelmeier is also an internationally published author of three highly-acclaimed novels, as well as numerous short writing, articles, academia and plays.

His unceremonious departure from St John’s College, one of the elite schools in Harare, was met with mixed reactions with some saying he was supposed to stay at the school while others said homosexuality was unacceptable in some quarters, hence they feared he was going to influence the students.

After the announcement was made that he would be going to the US as part of the fellowship, some parentsbemoaned his departure as a loss to the school.

They described the former deputy head as a highly esteemed teacher hounded out of a job he had held for 15 years with the highest professionalism and integrity.

They said his sexual orientation must remain his private affair which must not be used as a form of abuse and discrimination.

“There is still a large group of people who are trying to convince St John’s to re-employ this man simply on the grounds that this country desperately needs to have excellent teachers working in our schools, not sidelined or forced to find work elsewhere because of the prejudice which exists in society (one I am deeply respectful of as a Shona myself, but one which I also feel needs to be taken into careful context when we consider how devastating discrimination can be of any kind),” said one parent, Francis Mpofu.

The Radcliffe Institute fosters innovative research collaborations and offers hundreds of public lectures, exhibitions, performances, conferences, and other events annually.  

-The Standard

By Own Correspondent- South Africa-based self-proclaimed Congolese pastor — Alph Lukau has yet again found himself at the centre of controversy, after delivering what has been deemed to be a fake prophecy.

Pastor Lukau, who is the founder and leader of Alleluia Ministries International, located in South Africa’s upmarket town of Sandton, was early this year accused of stage managing a resurrection miracle, which led to the questioning of his authenticity as a ‘‘man of the cloth’’.

He has, however, denied the claims.

In a recently published video, Lukau supposedly receives a ‘‘prophecy’’, where he then calls out a man among his thousands of followers to deliver the prophecy. In the video Lukau claims to have received a prophecy, where he picks out a man from his multitude of congregants and tells him he once served in the Zimbabwe National Army and was being haunted by ghosts from his past.

The man, Tawanda Zinyemba — who Sunday News has established to be from Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb, acknowledges the prophecy but however, it raises a stink from people who know him, as well as some of the historical information he provides.

Zinyemba claims, in the video, to have served in the army and was deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1996 to 2003. Factually the Zimbabwe army was only deployed in DRC from 1998.

Sunday News took the liberty of investigating Zinyemba’s history, where it was discovered that his closest to serving in any form of security service was in the Zimbabwe Prison Correctional Services (ZPCS) in Manicaland.

“This guy was paid, according to people who know him in South Africa. He was paid R5 000 for the fake prophecy. He claimed to have served in the army and was deployed to battle in the second Congo war. He confessed to lies, claiming to have committed crimes of war that include murdering and raping civilians,” claimed a man who preferred anonymity.

The man went on to add: “Zinyemba was never a soldier, in 1996 and if you know our history with DRC, Zimbabwe only got involved in 1998, not 1996. In 1996 he was waiting for his O-level results. He is such a gullible person to agree to be used by a man whom the world believes to be a charlatan.”

Load-shedding is hitting hard on businesses and livelihoods as many areas are going for up to eight hours without power in most parts of the country.

Zesa recently rolled out a load-shedding schedule which appears to be far more severe than was experienced in the past nine years. Industries and households are going without electricity for as long as 10 hours daily.

Affected businesses and households alike have nowhere to run as they cannot turn to generators because of the scarcity and cost of fuel in the country.

John Kamhungira, who operates a business at the Glen View Area 8 complex, said his operating costs had shot up due to power outages.

“We are experiencing power cuts for the most part of the day here in Glen View and that is a big blow to our businesses. Power supply is an absolute necessity in the carpentry business since most of our tools of trade are powered by electricity,” he said.

“At least some big industries can turn to generators, but as for us, we are still small, so we cannot afford to use generators, especially considering there is a shortage of fuel. We can only find it on the black market where it is going for RTGS$25 per five litres. That is a lot of money.”

Raymond Ganza of Crowborough said preparing a meal was now a challenge.

“LP gas is expensive and since it is harvesting time, many of us have turned to maize stalks as a source of energy for cooking,” he said.

Amanda Makombe from Chitungwiza also said gas was now too expensive forcing her family to wait until power supplies are restored and would therefore cook around 10pm daily.

“They cut supplies in the afternoon and restore it late at night every day. It is sad that we would not have power supplies during the evening hours of which such time is critical because that is when we are supposed to be preparing dinner. We cannot opt for gas because it has become expensive,” she said.

Sharon Museta, also from Chitungwiza, said power outages would affect her performance in the coming examinations. She is a candidate sitting for Ordinary Level examinations in June.

“At times we experience power outages during the night, yet it is the time I am supposed to be studying. June is around the corner, but I am losing valuable time due to blackouts,” she said.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe yesterday said there was need to ration electricity to ensure there was production in companies.

“With regards to power, I think the power utility has tried to spare most business operations and most of our members are not affected although we do have some that have been affected,” Jabangwe said.

“So, what we need to do is that if there is inadequate power, it is better to ration the domestic consumer rather than the productive consumer because if we do not do that, the country will eventually not be able to pay for power because they would not have any earnings.”

Spokesperson of the power utility Fullard Gwasira said load-shedding was chiefly being caused by low water levels currently at Lake Kariba.

“This is because of the lowering levels of the water which has forced us to reduce generation from a possible 1050mw (megawatt) to an average of 350mw,” he said.

Gwasira said the normal situation could have been maintained if there was enough foreign currency to import power from other countries on the continent.

“This loss could have easily been covered by power imports if resources in foreign currency were availed to import power from the region,” Gwasira said.

“Generation is also compromised at all our thermal plants which are now unreliable due to age, leading to frequent plant failure,” he said.

-The Standard

MDC Secretary General aspirant at the forthcoming congress Charlton Hwende has taken a dig at the past holders of the powerful position for creating centres of power instead of centres of administration something he says he will correct if elected to the position this coming weekend.

Asked by The Standard why previous Secretary Generals Professor Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and Douglas Mwonzora- all ended up either leaving the party or clashing with their Presidents, Hwende said the problem was their refusal to acknowledge the constitutional reality that they were surbodinates to the President.

Below is Hwende’s response;

NEWSDAY: The position of the secretary-general is one of the most powerful ones in the party. Historically some secretary-generals have ended up in problems with the rest of the leadership. Would you know why this is the case and what can you do to stop this?

CHARLTON HWENDE: One of the most urgent things during my tenure will be to reform the secretary-general’s office and to transform this crucial department from being a centre of power to a centre of administration. In terms of the MDC constitution, the secretary-general is not the leader of the party. The leader of the party is the president of the party. The secretary-general is a subordinate of the president. Unfortunately, successive secretaries general of the MDC have refused to acknowledge this constitutional reality and it has caused major conflicts and divisions in the party. Under my stewardship, the office of the secretary-general will not compete with the office of the president because it is not only wrong, but also retrogressive. The secretary-general should complement and not compete with the president of the party. Unbridled ambition and disloyalty have also been a source of conflict in the party. The MDC splits in 2005 and 2014 were spearheaded by sitting secretaries general of the time. This will not happen during my tenure. I am a loyal cadre of the party and I will not invest my energy into any agenda that has the potential to derail the movement. I will be loyal to president Nelson Chamisa and his shared vision of a new Zimbabwe.

POLICE detectives in Rusape are investigating a murder case in which a sex worker was robbed and killed by a client whom she had hooked up for a one night stand.

Deputy Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda confirmed the murder which occurred last Friday night. He said 20-year-old Takudzwa Mugocha, of NE133, Vengere in Rusape met a client who later killed her in cold-blood.

“The man who hired and went home with the deceased is not known and we are appealing to anyone who might have information on this matter to call or report to the nearest police station,” said Ass Insp Chananda.

He said on May 10, the deceased and her younger sister, Tatenda went to a night club together. At around 7pm the deceased was seen going home with the suspect who was putting on a tracksuit, dark spectacles and a cap.

When the young sister came back home, she slept in another room and did not check on her sister since she thought she was with a client.

The following morning the deceased was found dead, lying naked on the bed.

Homicide detectives attended the scene.

Missing in the deceased’s room were a 32inch Ecco television, two Phillips DVD players and some Hifi speakers.

-Manica Post

Three MDC legislators have approached the Civil Court demanding $27 000 from government as compensation for violation of their fundamental rights by police officers who assaulted them in Parliament in November 2018.

Lynette Karenyi (Proportional Representation), Thabitha Khumalo (PR) and Amos Chibaya, who represents Mkoba constituency, claim they were manhandled and assaulted by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who invaded Parliament to eject them, following an instruction by Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda.

The trio was accused of having refused to stand to attention when Zanu PF secretary, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, entered Parliament for the 2019 national budget presentation. They were protesting against his claim to victory in the July 2018 harmonised elections.

In summons filed by the legislators’ lawyer, Tinomuda Shoko, of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR), the lawmakers cited ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Cain Mathema as respondents.

In their individual declarations, the legislators said some members of the ZRP physically manhandled them using fists and open hands and during the commotion their clothes were torn.

In his submissions, Shoko said “the assault of the legislators amounted to violations of their constitutional rights to be treated humanely, with respect, with dignity, with integrity and not to be subjected to physical or psychological torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment guaranteed in sections 50, 51, 52 and 53 of the Constitution”.

Karenyi, who fell down as she was forcefully grabbed by three police officers, said she suffered injuries on her right arm as a result of the assault for which she is now demanding compensation in the sum of $9 000 to cater for the shock, pain, suffering and past and future medical expenses.

Chibaya said he is demanding $9 000 being damages for pain, suffering and medical bills he incurred for treatment, while Khumalo, who is asthmatic and lost her breath during the scuffle, said she is also claiming $9 000 for shock, pain and suffering and for past and future medical expenses. The matter is pending.

By Farai D Hove| A respected former cabinet minister, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has said the visit by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, which saw her being booed down, marks the beginning of the end.

ALSO WATCH VIDEO BELOW –

Writing on Sunday, Hon. Bhasikiti said, if Great Zimbabwe rejects you the same way it did former First Lady, Grace Mugabe, you are gone – “Zvino kana kumuzinda we Great Zimbabwe varamba,zvakona saGrace.Masvingo was the first to booe down Grace.I was Minister then,I then went and told RGM, the visit by amai marks the beginning of an end.History repeats&doesn’t lie.”

Zvino kana kumuzinda we Great Zimbabwe varamba,zvakona saGrace.Masvingo was the first to booe down Grace.I was Minister then,I then went and told RGM, the visit by amai marks the beginning of an end.History repeats&doesn't lie.

— Dr.K.Bhasikiti. (@KbhasikitiGmai1) May 19, 2019

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

LOCAL BUSINESSES SALUTE CHAMISA AS PRESIDENT, BUT WHY IS ED DISMISSED BY THE ECONOMY WHEN YET HE WAS DECLARED WINNER BY MALABA?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 19, 2019

Standard|NEAL Hovelmeier, a former St John’s College deputy headmaster in Harare, who acrimoniously parted ways with the school after admitting that he was gay, has been nominated as one of the 2019-2020 Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Fellows at Harvard University.

According to the institute, Hovelmeier will pursue an individual project in a community dedicated to exploration and inquiry at Harvard’s institute for advanced study.

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study is regarded one of the foremost academic institutions in the world. Started in 1999, the institute has hosted about 900 fellows.

Radcliffe Institute dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin said: “Radcliffe’s Fellowship Programme — a microcosm of the Institute — is a laboratory of ideas where scholars, artists, scientists, and practitioners draw insights from one another and generate new knowledge that spans disciplinary boundaries. I am extraordinarily excited to see what emerges from this incredible group of individuals in the year ahead.”

An educationist, Hovelmeier is also an internationally published author of three highly-acclaimed novels, as well as numerous short writing, articles, academia and plays.

His unceremonious departure from St John’s College, one of the elite schools in Harare, was met with mixed reactions with some saying he was supposed to stay at the school while others said homosexuality was unacceptable in some quarters, hence they feared he was going to influence the students.

After the announcement was made that he would be going to the US as part of the fellowship, some parentsbemoaned his departure as a loss to the school.

They described the former deputy head as a highly esteemed teacher hounded out of a job he had held for 15 years with the highest professionalism and integrity.

They said his sexual orientation must remain his private affair which must not be used as a form of abuse and discrimination.

“There is still a large group of people who are trying to convince St John’s to re-employ this man simply on the grounds that this country desperately needs to have excellent teachers working in our schools, not sidelined or forced to find work elsewhere because of the prejudice which exists in society (one I am deeply respectful of as a Shona myself, but one which I also feel needs to be taken into careful context when we consider how devastating discrimination can be of any kind),” said one parent, Francis Mpofu.

The Radcliffe Institute fosters innovative research collaborations and offers hundreds of public lectures, exhibitions, performances, conferences, and other events annually.

Own Correspondent|In a move induced by the spiralling black market rate of the United States Dollar, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has announced that it will be drawing US$500 million on Monday to supply the interbank forex market.

The interbank market has for the past few weeks not been all that active as firms found it difficult to access hard cash from the banks.

The move has had negative implications on the ability of several firms to stabilise prices on the back of soaring parallel market rates.

RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya revealed in an official Twitter statement on Saturday that US$ 500 million forex package for the interbank will be availed on Monday.

Government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is drawing down US$500 million on Monday, 20 May 2019, to supply the interbank forex market to meet the forex payment
requirements of business and individuals.

— Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (@ReserveBankZIM) May 18, 2019

This amount shall go a long way to stabilise the exchange rates and prices of goods and services in the economy – J P Mangudya Governor.

— Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (@ReserveBankZIM) May 18, 2019

According to the central bank, commodities such as gold, platinum, chrome, diamonds and nickel account for more than 60 percent of foreign exchange inflows against an excess demand of forex by industries and firms.

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa completely ignored speaking to the on-going saga around Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna in Matabeleland North when he presided over the official launch of the national culture week in Harare on Saturday.

Presented with an opportunity to publicly address the matter and possibly ease tensions in Bulawayo and Matabeleland region, Mnangagwa completely evaded the subject.

Instead, he took time to shower praises on China which he said has done well to preserve its culture over centuries and spent much of his address talking about his somewhat worthless Political Parties Dialogue.

Chief Ndiweni torched a storm few days ago when he bluntly said western powers were justified in extending sanctions against the Zanu PF led administration whose acts of commission and omission have worsened the plight of suffering locals.

The outspoken traditional leader’s comments invited both verbal and physical attacks by individuals linked to Zanu PF with the chief at one time accosted by some Zanu PF youths in Bulawayo’s CBD.

Mnangagwa hailed the ongoing dialogue with political parties that participated in last year’s Presidential elections under the auspices of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) saying it was part of a deliberate effort to entrench the spirit of unity.

“One of the major priorities of my Government is to cultivate a culture of peace, tranquillity and tolerance. The respect we have for each other as people coming from different cultural backgrounds is what makes us a nation that is resilient, friendly and hospitable,” he said.

“It is part of who we are as African people, as encapsulated in the spirit of hunhu/ubuntu. I urge each one of us to value and maintain the peace that we are enjoying as it is the bedrock upon which our cultural and national identity are derived . . . Violence is not part of our culture and its proponents must be condemned and rejected. The culture of dialogue is embedded in our traditions, which should be preserved and entrenched. It is upon this background that yesterday (Friday) I launched the Political Actors Dialogue.”

The President urged communities to freely participate in commemorating Culture Week — a seven-day event that celebrates the country’s cultural diversity — as it is a key building block of “a peaceful, loving, united, harmonious and prosperous society”.

Government, he added, was committed to facilitating the growth of the arts, culture and heritage sector, including harnessing it as a tool for economic development. President Mnangagwa said piracy, which essentially violates intellectual property rights and copyright laws, has to be condemned by both producers and consumers.

“I encourage the Ministry (of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation) to continue to facilitate the necessary environment that is needed by artistes to produce, package and distribute their goods and services in a manner that enriches all, without prejudicing their creative impulses and energies. The practice of piracy should be condemned and stopped by producers and consumers of all creative arts. Let us work in unison, respecting each other’s ideas intellectual property and copyrights for a viable and profitable sector.”

He said Government will also prioritise the development of facilities for artistes to showcase their work. The new political administration is committed to grow the arts and culture sub-sectors into successful ventures that are able to generate employment and decent livelihoods for communities, he said.

The week-long Culture Week is celebrated through various cultural and artistic expressions. It is commemorated as part of the universal declaration on cultural diversity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

A string of cultural events have been lined up across the country through to May 25 under the theme “The African Royalty — Our Heritage.”

State Media|THE Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) has engaged the World Bank to come up with a model aimed at ensuring policyholders and pensioners who paid premiums and contributions from 2009 to February this year are paid in United States dollars or the equivalent at prevailing market rates, an official has said.

IPEC public relations manager Mr Lloyd Gumbo revealed this while responding to questions at a workshop on insurance and pensions in Bulawayo last Wednesday.

Mr Gumbo said the World Bank was already working on the indexation model to be used as the benchmark for contributions made in United States dollars since 2009, before the introduction of the floating of the RTGS dollar through the Monetary Policy Statement in February this year.

“The World Bank is helping us with technical assistance to provide guidance on how policyholders and pensioners who were paying premiums and contributing from 2009 to 2019 will be compensated. The model will assist us in solving the issue of policyholders and pensioners who contributed in US dollars since 2009 and bank transfers following the introduction of bond notes and coins in 2016,” said Mr Gumbo.

Mr Gumbo added that the regulator was working on decentralising its services including opening satellite offices across the country with the first one being in Bulawayo in the near future.

Mr Gumbo, speaking at another workshop in Kwekwe said pensioners should be patient while the framework to compensate contributions were being finalised.

He said IPEC has already appraised the Parliamentary Portfolio Commission on Budget, Finance and Economic Development of their concerns on the envisaged compensation law. For that reason, Mr Gumbo said, they expect the matter to be expedited once tabled in parliament because the portfolio committee also wanted closure on the issue.

“The issue of contribution arrears is a major concern to us as a Commission because it means you may not get benefits that are due to you. Even now, there are some companies that are deducting contributions but not remitting to pension funds. Contribution arrears stood at about $600 million as at 31 December 2018 with local authorities owing about $200 million.”

He said IPEC had proposed amendments to the Pension and Provident Funds Act that will see decision-makers at companies that deduct but do not remit contributions being held accountable at law.

By A Correspondent| Former Deputy Finance Minister Terence Mukupe has indicated he could fix the economy if he is elected ZANU PF Chairman.

This is however ZANU Chairmanship for Harare Province.

He said this using a 1970s picture of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Below was his tweet Sunday evening:

RT- Will that fix the economy Sir? https://t.co/P8fesIyZsv

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 18, 2019

COMMUNITIES in rural areas such as Bulilima and Mangwe districts of Matabeleland South Province are at the mercy of unscrupulous businesspeople who are refusing to accept RTGS dollars, demanding consumers to pay in foreign currency, notably the rand.

Mangwe-Plumtree Business Association chairperson Mr Golden Dube said most grocery shops located close to neighbouring countries’ borders of Botswana and South Africa were refusing to accept payment in bond notes including mobile phone transactions, preferring to sell their products in foreign currency.

“Most of the shops in rural areas are no longer accepting bond notes as payment.

Most of the shops are owned by South Africa-based Zimbabwean businesspersons and these instruct their employees not to accept the local currency and only sell products in rand, pula or the US (United States dollar). This has left communities in a predicament as foreign currency is very difficult to source,” he said.

Mr Dube said the situation has exacerbated to the extent that communal farmers are now demanding to be paid in foreign currency for their livestock.State media

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl from Tsholotsho is lucky to be alive after she was savagely attacked with an axe in the stomach and left with intestines protruding by one of her boyfriends in a suspected love triangle.

The incident happened at Akhona Business Centre in Tsholotsho on Independence Day and the suspect appeared in court last week and was remanded in custody to Tuesday.

Ntuthuko Sibanda (22) appeared before Tsholotsho magistrate Mr Victor Mpofu facing a charge of attempted murder.

Sibanda is said to have fought with three other men over the juvenile where he later turned his anger on the girl, axing her in the stomach leaving her intestines protruding. The girl was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for treatment.

The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Farirai Chakamanga was that on 18 April at Akhona Business Centre in Magumandwini, Sibanda axed the juvenile with an axe in the stomach in a fight over her with Lawrence Gumede, Langton Moyo and Mthokozisi Dube.

Sibanda is also facing an attempted murder charge in a separate incident where he and his co-accused Mduduzi Ncube (24) attacked Sifiso Ncube with stones, knobkerries and an axe over the girl. The two appeared before the same Tsholotsho magistrate Mr Mpofu charged with attempted murder.

They were remanded in custody to Tuesday for sentencing.
Prosecuting, Mr Chakamanga said Sibanda and Ncube quarrelled with Sifiso Ncube over the girl before they indiscriminately attacked him with stones, axes and knobkerries. Sifiso sustained serious injuries on the head. He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he later died as a result of the injuries sustained during the attack.

Meanwhile, in another incident Loveson Nkomo (29) from Tsholotsho was arraigned before Mr Mpofu for attempted murder after he assaulted Mporosima Mhlanga for wearing a political party t-shirt. He will reappear in court on Tuesday this week.

Prosecuting, Mr Billiard Mukuwa told the court that Nkomo verbally attacked Mhlanga at Osiyabalandela Business Centre after he saw him wearing a political party T-shirt. The political party was not specified in the court papers.

It was the State’s case that Nkomo later rained a flurry of fists on Mhlanga before he assaulted him with an iron bar and booted feet on the ribs. Mhlanga sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Mpilo Hospital where he is admitted.State media

A KAROI magistrate and clerk of court have appeared at the Chinhoyi Magistrate Court for allegedly accepting a $20 bribe in order to rule in favour of the defendant in a maintenance case.

Amanda Muridzo (31), who is employed as Karoi magistrate and Shelter Kachirika, a clerk at the same court, are both facing charges of bribery as defined in section 170(1)(b)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9.23.

Acting Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze granted the duo $50 bail and ordered them not to interfere with State witnesses.

Prosecutor Mrs Kessia Teveraishe told the court that last year in August, Sinafi Chidoko, who is David Mazowi’s ex-wife, filed maintenance papers at the Karoi Magistrate Court. She was claiming $250 for the upkeep of her two minor children.

The court heard that Mazowi and Chidoko appeared before Muridzo and Mazowi was ordered to pay $50 as maintenance every month.

Further, the court heard that Chidoko later applied for an upward variation to $100. It was this application that was then compromised due to the bribe.

“Muridzo and Kachirika, in connivance with Mazowi who is still at large, hatched a plan to influence the outcome of the variation. Mazowi transferred $20 from his ecocash account into Kachirika’s ecocash account,” the court heard.

“Muridzo presided over the maintenance hearing and granted an upward variation of $20 against $50, as was requested by the applicant, after she had been influenced by the bribe”.

The matter came to light when Chidoko received a tip-off from an anonymous caller who told her how the maintenance case had been handled.State media

Farai Dziva| Auxillia Mnangagwa “invaded” an Apostolic Faith Mission Women’s Conference in Gutu District before being embarrassed in the city of Masvingo.

At the conference , Auxillia Mnangagwa pledged to continue empowering women by sensitising them on inheritance laws and health issues, according to state media reports.

Addressing multitudes of Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) congregates gathered for the Royal Queens Conference at the church’s headquarters in Chatsworth, Gutu, Mrs Mnangagwa said there was still an information gap on inheritance and health issues that needs to be bridged.

She commended male congregants for allowing their spouses to attend the event.

Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.

“There was commotion yesterday as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.

Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.

“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.

Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva | It was in June 2017 when Masvingo Province bravely the exit of former President Robert Mugabe. Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia was on Friday afternoon booed down as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.

“There was commotion yesterday as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.

Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.

“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.

Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.

By Own Correspondent| Alpha Media Holdings has denied that it has any reporters outside the country training to topple Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The allegations had been made in a story published in the government-controlled Herald daily newspaper.

In a statement, AMH referred to the supposed writer of the story, Lawson Mabhena and Herald acting editor, Tichaona Zindoga as “liars and fiction mongers”.

Said AMH:

While we subscribe to the principle of freedom of the Press and freedom of expression, we take great exception when such freedoms are abused with reckless abandon to achieve sinister agendas. For the record, all our journalists, including multimedia journalists, are in Zimbabwe at the moment.

“We do not have any of our practitioners or members of staff outside the country. The writer in question one, Lawson Mabhena did not speak to anyone to verify such falsehoods. One of the tenets of good journalism is to allow us the right to respond, of which no effort was made to get the facts right from ourselves.

Journalism is a science of verifying facts. And this piece of poor journalism by Mabhena, which was approved for publication by Tichaona Zindoga, the acting Editor of the country’s oldest newspaper is stuff fit for the spians.

In fact, this piece of gutter journalism shows that some of those holding the reigns at the glass and mortar building have a fertile sense of imagination only fit for fiction. Such reckless news reports by these so called journalists only serve to polarise this noble profession.

We, therefore, put it on record that the article is malicious, vexatious, false and an attempt to tarnish our good image and should be disregarded as a piece of yellow journalism which should be condemned with the contempt it deserves.

Mabhena apologised:

“I am sorry the story came very late. I would not want this to happen to me. Can I ask the acting editor to call you?”

Zindoga also apologised:

“My apologies, it was a project we got. It could have been a case of lack of probity; we could have called you for a comment. I didn’t realise we did not remove the name of the publication. Let me see if I can do something. So sorry.”

But by last night no correction had been made on their online version.

AMH publishes NewsDay, NewsDay Weekender, Southern Eye, The Standard, and Zimbabwe Independent and operates Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services.

The government is planning to spend more than R100m less on the presidential inauguration ceremony of Cyril Ramaphosa than it did on Jacob Zuma’s inauguration‚ as it battles with austerity measures.

Minister in the presidency Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said because of cost-cutting measures‚ only heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and heads of state who are chairing continental regional economic blocs had been invited to the May 25 event.

“We all know there is economic difficulty in this country. The budget that we are going to spend on this inauguration is more than R100m less than what was spent in the previous inauguration‚” she said in a press briefing on Thursday.

“We had to ensure we don’t spend as much as we did in the last inauguration … taking into account inflation‚” she said.

Dlamini-Zuma said the previous inauguration‚ where former president Jacob Zuma was sworn in for his second term‚ cost in excess of R240m.

She said preparing the amphitheatre at the Union Buildings for the ceremony‚ as custom‚ cost more than hiring the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.

“We chose the stadium because it is more cost-effective than the Union Buildings‚ which carry high preparation costs‚ in particular the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre‚” Dlamini-Zuma said.

She said in line with government austerity measures‚ the government was happy to go with the least-costly option.

Among the dignitaries invited are Egypt’s president and chair of the African Union Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Fakhi.

UN secretary-general António Guterres has also been invited.

“We have limited the invitation to the heads of state in line with our cost-cutting measures‚” Dlamini-Zuma said.

She said about 5‚000 guests had been invited from various sectors of society‚ including parliamentarians‚ the judiciary‚ ministers‚ deputy ministers‚ premiers‚ provincial members of the executive councils (MECs) and executive mayors.Also invited are members of the diplomatic corps and the religious sector.

Dlamini-Zuma said 32‚000 people would be bused to the stadium from Gauteng and neighbouring provinces and 10‚000 people would be allowed to walk in to join the ceremony.

Own Correspondent|Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has released images to prove how he spent the US$5 million that was advanced to him by the Zimbabwe Power Company for the construction of the Gwanda Solar Power Project.

His responses come after new Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi ordered him to pay back the money advanced to him for the job after it emerged that nothing had been done on site.

Chivayo claims he has done all the requisite work equivalent to the US$5 million which was advanced to him in irregular circumstances under the instruction of former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge.

To prove that, Chivayo circulated the following pictures:

Own Correspondent|The country’s biggest labour movement the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union has pulled out of the Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade Unions allegedly because of the ZCTU’s very close links with the opposition MDC Party.

With a total membership of over 40 000, the pull out of Zimta comes as a major blow to the ZCTU, currently struggling to raise meaningful union dues from its 32 affiliate unions.

The ZCTU has over the years been seen as an extension of the MDC, having birthed the country’s biggest opposition political party in 1999, with the then secretary-general, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, leaving his post to take up leadership of what was to be the fiercest opposition to Zanu PF led by former President Robert Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980.

And recently, in the run-up to the July 2018 elections, the labour body, in particular, its current president Peter Mutasa openly declared the labour body’s allegiance to the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

This led to serious fissures in the trade union body’s general council, which is the highest decision-making body outside congress, with several affiliate unions, who had advocated for a non-partisan approach, threatening to pull out of the labour body.

And the recent decision by Zimta, the biggest teacher representative union in the country, could be the beginning of an exodus of disgruntled affiliate unions, threatening the existence of the once powerful labour federation.

Zimta secretary-general, Tapson Sibanda, confirmed the development, noting the decision has, however, not been officially communicated to the ZCTU.

“The Zimta national executive felt its continued affiliation to the ZCTU violates the Zimta’s principle and constitutional provision of political non-partisanship. This position was taken after it became clear that ZCTU dabbles in opposition party politics,” he said.

Sibanda said Zimta structures had diverse membership who subscribed to various political parties and, therefore, could not affiliate to a labour centre that openly supported a particular political party.

He said the association had not yet identified an non-partisan labour centre, hence, did not foresee itself joining any other centre other than pursuing its own issues through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) via the Apex Council.

“The NJNC is the only route that civil servants can channel their grievances and be heard and that is through the Apex Council. I can neither confirm nor deny that some members of the ApexCouncil might be partisan, but it is a case of personalities rather than the institution itself,” he said.

Sibanda said the Apex Council was unavoidable for civil servants as agreements with the government for the betterment of their conditions of service were only signed at the NJNC via the Apex Council.

“The ZCTU could only be used for lobbying with other international bodies like the ILO, but the process would require unions to come back and sign bargaining agreements with the government at NJNC,” he said.

“So the Apex Council cannot be wished away if any teachers’ union would like to meaningfully represent its members.”

ZCTU secretary-general, Japhet Moyo said that they had not yet received an official correspondence from ZIMTA on the matter.

Moyo said that the teachers union is free to withdraw their membership as the constitution of the Union does not block them from pulling out.

Moyo would not accede to ZIMTA allegations that it was practising partisan politics throwing the same allegations back at the teachers body.

“The current Deputy Minister of Education is a former ZIMTA national executive member, so can we then officially declare that the body is aligned to ZANU PF,?”

As leaders, we must also pledge to to be exemplary; leaders of our nation at every level must say no to sanctions, and say no to all conduct and speech that will bring harm to our people. It is when there is unity that God will come and all blessings upon a land – @edmnangagwa pic.twitter.com/wVEFOjZq3r

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 17, 2019

WATCH VIDEO BELOW….

PAUL Masikati, a top Zanu PF official based in Marondera, who, together with fellow ruling party youths, stormed a police base and assaulted a cop in a bid to free his arrested son, was on Wednesday sentenced to 12 months in jail by Marondera magistrate Arnold Maburo.
Masikati (48), a former Zanu PF councillor, was convicted of assault and obstruction the course of justice charges. He will, however, serve an effective six-month jail term after six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

His accomplice, Kudakwashe Zhou (25) was also given the same sentence while a warrant of arrest has been issued on Courage Ben (26), who is yet to appear in court for assaulting the police officer identified as Paenias Mashiri.

According to court papers, on September 18 last year, Mashiri arrested Masikati’s son for assault in Cherutombo.

Masikati was tipped of his son’s arrest and proceeded to the Cherutombo Police Base in the company of some Zanu PF youths and confronted Mashiri.

Masikati grabbed Mashiri by the collar and slapped him once on the face before Ben and Zhou joined in the scuffle and took turns to assault Mashiri, tearing his trousers in the process. Mashiri was later rescued by Shepherd

Magwaza, but after he had sustained a swollen face. His torn police trousers was brought to court as exhibit. Lovemore Musariyarwa represented the State.

-Newsday

Online money transfer company WorldRemit has renewed its sponsorship of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (Z.A.A) UK and Canada editions for the fifth year running, following a successful partnership for the ZAA South Africa edition in April.

ZAA highlights the successes and achievements of Zimbabweans and brings together business leaders and innovators from all sectors to celebrate, empower and network. 

Using the WorldRemit app or website, the Zimbabwean diaspora living in over 50 countries, including the UK and Canada, can send money home in just a few taps from their smartphones. The company offers a variety of convenient ways to receive money in Zimbabwe, including cash pickup in USD at over 250 locations across the country – the widest network of any other international remittance service.  

To celebrate its renewed partnership with ZAA, WorldRemit is offering new customers sending money from the UK or Canada to Zimbabwe zero fees on their first transfer if they use the code ZAAPROMO[JB1] when making payment. 

ZAA International Founder and Chairman, Conrad Mwanza said: “We are glad to announce a new partnership with WorldRemit for the UK and Canada editions and look forward to making these events even more successful than previous years.

“WorldRemit is a globally recognised brand that makes life easier for the Zimbabwean diaspora who send many home to support their families and communities. We are delighted to continue our work with the company to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the diaspora in the UK and Canada.” 

Nominees and tickets – UK edition

The UK edition is the flagship event in the ZimAchievers Awards series. The 2019 ceremony will be held on Saturday 25^thMay at the Millennium Gloucester hotel in London and marks the awards’ ninth anniversary. The event will be hosted by Mako Ndlovu with explosive musical performances by the Noisettes frontwoman, Shingai. 

Jane Mlambo| Firebrand trade unionist, Raymond Majongwe has lashed at the government over its failure to address current economic challenges facing the country saying in the absence of production, the country will continue on a see-saw of civil servants demands versus paltry salary adjustments.

Majongwe who is the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube was joking with the lives of teachers who recently received a salary adjustment that has already been eroded by inflation.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is pinning hopes of improving the country’s situation on the national political dialogue that he launched amid pomp and fanfare in Harare yesterday.
The country is undergoing serious economic challenges which have been worsened by foreign currency shortages that have seen the United States dollar parallel market rate ballooning in the past week.

The economic challenges have pushed the cost of living beyond the reach of many.

In his remarks during the official launch of the dialogue, Mnangagwa said the situation demanded that all stakeholders must discuss in earnest to find collective strategies to arrest the challenges.

“The dialogue we are launching today will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on our country’s political landscape and help contribute to the turnaround of our socio-economic fortunes,” he said.

“This platform is designed to be a vibrant forum through which we proffer solutions to the challenges that confront us as a nation, through peaceful, open and transparent discourse. The culture of dialogue we begin today must, indeed be synonymous with us as a nation and as a people. This journey we are embarking on must ultimately lead us towards improving our democratic practices and culture.”

He implored Zimbabweans to work together to harness the vast potential that the country is possesses.

Declaring that the time for electioneering was over and urging political parties to re-direct their energies towards socio-economic transformation. Mnangagwa said: “However, in view of the reality that the major concern is on the need for economic resuscitation which cannot be solved by political parties alone, it has, therefore, been agreed that other stakeholders who are deemed essential can always be invited to participate in the dialogue.”

Although, the main contender during the July 30, 2018 elections in terms of votes, the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC is not part of the process, a majority of those who participated have endorsed Mnangagwa’s leadership and reiterating the need to come up with collective solutions to the country’s problems.

The parties signed the code of conduct that will bind their operations and conduct during the tenure of the talks.

Various political leaders urged the nation to shrug off the “small parties” tag, insisting that they were important players whose views must be taken aboard for national development.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe said the political parties have shown leadership qualities by agreeing to participate in the dialogue.

She also showered praises to Mnangagwa for initiating the dialogue.

“Once again, I want to thank my colleagues for the very fact that they decided to put their heads on the block despite all the attacks and the prophets of doom who want this dialogue to fail. We were referred to as small political parties or that we have no people, but regardless of that you continued to this day. Let me also thank you (ED) for your commitment,” Khupe said.

South African ambassador to Zimbabwe Mphakama Mbete applauded Zimbabwe for the initiative, saying the Southern African Development Community region stood ready to assist in any way to ensure the dialogue endures.

“We are grateful that the leadership of Zimbabwe has established the dialogue voluntarily,” Mbete said.

“This is a demonstration by an African country working on an African problem to get an African solution. The success of the dialogue will have far reaching consequences to the region.”

Meanwhile, the President urged the media to be sincere on the dialogue.

“I particularly want to appeal to our brothers and sisters from the media to play a constructive role in our dialogue, nation-building and other critical national processes.

“In all mature democracies the world over, the media is a critical partner in nation building. The media must, therefore, resist the temptation to be a vehicle for sowing seeds of division and despondency among the citizenry,” he said.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Presenting her Thank You address at the POLAD launch in the capital Harare Friday, leader of the MDC-T faction Dr Thokozani Khupe said there was need for political leaders to imbabwe was bigger than an individual.

Khupe, heaped praises on Zanu Pf leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa for initiating the dialogue process and said:

“This dialogue is not top-up in approach but a bottom-up approach. It’s not about President Mnangagwa or Khupe of Professor Madhuku but about Zimbabweans.

We may belong to different political parties but we have the same aspirations. Differing is healthy but let it not make us to fight. I thank the parties for putting their heads on the block despite the efforts of prophets of doom.

His Excellency the President said all the political parties had their visions and he said he had this desire for us to share these visions and I would like to say thank you your Excellency.

I want to thank you for believing that Zimbabwe is bigger than an individual or political party. This is just the beginning of a long journey; it’s not an event but a process.”

By Own Correspondent- It all started at St Mary’s Apostolic Faith Mission church in Chitungwiza where Charles Charamba met Olivia Maseko.

Although they were attending the same church for some time, music brought them closer and one thing led to the other until they finally tied the knot in 1997.

Theirs is a tale of choir members that secretly admired each other as they went for practice sessions and crusades.

They were both members of a crusade team called Jesus in Action.

Charles had formed the group with their resident pastor Bernard Takawira Mukwaira towards the end of 1993. The young man, then, was the team leader and lead vocalist.

Olivia joined the group in 1995 as a backing vocalist. They started working and touring together.

Charles had turned 24 and church teachings advised him to start praying for a wife. He had to ask God for the best woman with whom he would share the rest of his life.

Olivia was 22, a fair age for a lady to start getting primary lessons about courtship and marriage.

They were both talented singers devoted to spreading the word through music. Even today, they continue spreading the word.

This time they are complementing their music with pulpit work. They recently formed a church called Rooted in Christ Ministries and, in line with their brand Fishers of Men, they are bringing souls to Christ.

The Saturday Herald Lifestyle had a chat with the gospel couple this week and they shared stories about their affair, music, family and church.

Falling in love

Pastor Charamba told the story of his dream as a boy.

“I am always cautious with what I do in life. I do not want to make mistakes and I try to make the best decisions all the time. Before I got married, I always prayed about the woman I wanted God to give me as a wife,” he recalled.

“I was afraid of marrying someone who would ruin my life or make me miserable, so I was specific when I prayed to God. I told God the characteristics that I wanted in a woman with whom I would spend my whole life. I was afraid of disappointment.”

Pastor Charamba said the answer to his prayer came when they started getting along with Mai Charamba as they sang together in Jesus in Action crusade team. He knew God had answered his prayers as he began observing the lady who was slowly taking away his heart.

Mai Charamba said she also saw a future husband in this determined choir leader the moment he started showing interest in her.

“We got to know each other for some time as we did music together. I was also observing his character and I saw him as a responsible man. When he approached me, I already knew the character of the person I was talking to. One thing led to the other and here we are today,” said Mai Charamba.

When Pastor Charamba decided to pursue a solo music path, Mai Charamba became his backing vocalist and that is how they jointly launched their careers.

He released “Tinashe Akatendeka” in 1997 and the debut album caught the attention of gospel music followers. After releasing two albums, he decided to give his wife a chance. He gave her some compositions that she recorded in her debut album titled “Amen” that she did with her fiends Tariro Matongorewa-Muringa and Spiwe Murerwa-Chimuti.

Since then the duo’s music career has been flourishing and they are now regarded as the first family of gospel music.

From Chitungwiza to Gunhill

The couple’s music career began on positive note and they made hits with their first album. After “Tinashe Akatendeka”, Charamba did “Johanne 3:16” in 1998 and “Vhuserere” 2000. The albums solidified his position as one of the top musicians in the gospel sector. It also came with good financial returns, which meant the singer had to upgrade his life.

“Our music did well and we thank God that he blessed our careers in the very first days. We bought a big set of music equipment. It was actually bigger than most sets that were being used by established artistes.

“Unfortunately, we became a target of burglars because of the equipment. We moved from St Mary’s to Zengeza and we faced the same problem. Every time we returned from shows and offloaded the equipment the attention we attracted was overwhelming.

“We realised that we would soon need more assets like vehicles and upgraded music equipment, which would need more space.”

Pastor Charamba said the need for security and more space gave them an idea to look for accommodation in another suburb away from the high-density. He said they were planning to buy a house in areas like Bluffhill and Westgate.

In 2001 when they were working on their album “Exodus”, God blessed them and their exodus from Chitungwiza came in a way they least expected. The album’s name became a prophecy.

“It was in 2001, when we were working on our album ‘Exodus’, that a miracle happened. Someone heard that we were looking for a house to buy and offered assistance. We never thought we could get a house in Gunhill.

“Our budget targeted other areas. Through that person’s assistance, we managed to acquire our Gunhill house where we have been staying since then. We saw God’s hand in all this.”

The four-bedroomed house has been extended to include the Fishers of Men Studio where they now record their music. They have been recording music in this fully-equipped studio since they did the album “Pashoko Pangoma”.

Humble Lifestyle

There is something striking and outstanding about the Charambas. Their humility tells a lot about the purpose of their music. With all their achievements and fame, they are both down to earth.

Many people in the city centre have been surprised to see Mai Charamba vending. She sells her music at Copacabana and Fourth Street. She takes it as a way of spreading the gospel. She is not ashamed of working for her family and for God.

For some celebrities, fame comes with driving posh cars and wearing designer outfits. The Charambas have a different approach.

“We did not choose a glittering life. We are investing in other things that will make a bright future for our children. There is nothing wrong with driving posh cars. There are facets of showbiz that call for such assets, but we just chose a different route. We are not saying we will never drive posh cars. It is just a decision we have made, for now, to focus on other investments.”

Although the Charambas could not disclose their investments, they confirmed that they have a farm in Goromonzi where they mainly specialise in livestock.

“We go there once every week. We have cattle and poultry projects. We are also starting to keep Boer goats and we do a bit of crop farming.”

While many would be expecting the Charambas to cruise in latest car models, the family chooses to drive ordinary cars. They have a Nissan Teana, Toyota Estima, Toyota Hiace and Toyota Dyna.

At home Mai Charamba often does household chores when her schedule permits. She is a tailor and sometimes makes her stage outfits at home.

The Charambas were blessed with five children. They have daughters namely Shalom (21), Eternity (17) and Tagamuchira (13) and two boys, Timikudze (10) and Aveneni (8)

Rooted in Christ Ministries

The Charambas founded the church in October last year when they left Apostolic Faith Mission where they had ministered as pastors for two decades.

Pastor Charamba once led an AFM assembly for some years before he quit to pursue music studies. However, they remained pastors in the church doing other pastoral roles.

Pastor Charamba completed his first studies in Theology in 2000 and went on to take other courses in the field. Mai Charamba completed her Theology studies in 2004.

The Rooted in Christ Ministries leader says God had been speaking to him about starting a new revival for many years.

They announced the formation of the church in October last year and started with services at Zimbabwe College of Music. The place became small for their congregants and they moved to Ambassador Hotel where they had services for some weeks before relocating to David Livingstone School where they are now based.

Pastor Charamba said they are not doing music performances at church at the moment because they want to separate music fans from congregants.

“Things might change in future, but at the moment we are focusing on having those people that come for the word not music. It is not bad to have music fans coming to our church.

At the moment we just want to make that demarcation.

“God spoke to me about this revival some years ago and it took a certain environment for things to come to pass. God told me great things about this revival.”

Although increased numbers have forced them to change venues, the Charambas say they are not worried about counting heads.

“There is an obsession with numbers in some churches today. We are not taking that approach. We are ‘fishers of men’ and we want to take people to Christ as they come. We are not in a rush. Like real fishermen, we are patient and we will let God lead the way.”-StateMedia

In a mature & patriotic democracy, the majority will always have their way whilst the minority will always have their say. National Dialogue is the way to go.
We're in it for the long haul. We're completely unfazed. We have got the courage of our convictions. That's what matters.

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) May 18, 2019

By Own Correspondent- UK-based Zimbabwean, Nicole Ndiweni, is eying a Member of the European Parliament seat.

She was nominated as one of the candidates for the European parliamentary elections to be held in May.

Ndiweni, who was born in Karoi in 1989 and schooled in Zimbabwe in her early years, is already councillor in a ward called Hucknall Central in Ashfield, United Kingdom.

She said about the development:

“We need Labour MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) at the heart of Europe to influence policies that will improve our lives. I genuinely want to see the region progress and continue to fight for jobs, investment in the region, workers’ rights and the protection of our environment today and for generations to come.”-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Leading workers representative body the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has reported that it will soon pronounce the way forward to deal with economic madness that is currently gripping the country.

Posting on Twitter, ZCTU urged workers to unite and save themselves from the impact of neo-liberal policies introduced by government since it came into power in August last year.

“Workers can’t endure the economic madness around us anymore. The ZCTU General Council will soon pronounce the way forward for the workers of Zimbabwe.

“Workers and the poor marginalised majority must unite and save themselves from the impact of ill advised neo liberal policies,” ZCTU announced.

By Own Correspondent- In her address, MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe said the dialogue is about development and must put ordinary people first.

Said Khupe in her vote of thanks address at the launch of the political parties National Dialogue in Harare Friday:

“This dialogue is not top-up in approach but a bottom-up approach. It’s not about President Mnangagwa or Khupe of Professor Madhuku but about Zimbabweans.

We may belong to different political parties but we have the same aspirations. Differing is healthy but let it not make us to fight. I thank the parties for putting their heads on the block despite the efforts of prophets of doom.

His Excellency the President said all the political parties had their visions and he said he had this desire for us to share these visions and I would like to say thank you your Excellency.

I want to thank you for believing that Zimbabwe is bigger than an individual or political party. This is just the beginning of a long journey; it’s not an event but a process.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday failed to turn up at a the highly-anticipated smart agriculture conference held in Mount Darwin, which he had been expected to officiate for the past few months.
Mnangagwa had to assign Women Affairs, Gender and Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Sithembiso Nyoni to represent him.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga had a torrid time reading her welcome speech which she said she had prepared for Mnangagwa.

“We invited the President and he has come through his representative Honourable Nyoni, our speech was prepared for his Excellence since we were expecting him. So bear with me and I hope you take the message to him,” she said.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mnangagwa said productivity and utilisation of agricultural land has been hampered by climatic change and inadequate skills among farmers.

“This conference is also timely in the context of the unfolding concept of provincial economies, productivity and utilisation of agricultural land has been hampered by the adverse effects of climate change, inadequate skills among some of our farmers and constrained access to markets,” Mnangagwa said.

“As government, we are accelerating the mechanisation and modernisation of our agriculture. We are geared towards transforming the sector through broadening access to agricultural finance and inputs, promoting production and productivity growing of new seed varieties, enhancing extension services and infrastructure as well as developing markets for our value-added products to earn foreign currency.”

He castigated illegal settlers mushrooming around the country and urged the Lands ministry to act immediately.

“I am, however, deeply concerned about the illegal settlements which are mushrooming and adversely affecting land productivity, peaceful co-existence of nature and the environment throughout the country,” Mnangagwa said.

“This has also negatively affected water bodies as well as grazing land. I, therefore, urge the Lands Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement ministry to deal with this issue expeditiously.”

Mnangagwa in February also failed to attend his “Thank You Rally” in Mashonaland Central after reports of a poor attendance despite Zanu PF sweeping all legislative seats in the province.

Serious factionalism is reportedly brewing in the province with war veterans calling for the dissolution the provincial leadership amid reports of clashes between Mavhunga and chairperson Kazembe Kazembe.

-Newsday

 By Own Correspondent- 29-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after he was found in possession of dynamites and various other explosives at a roadblock along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway in Bubi.

Godknows Nkomo is still assisting police with investigations while his accomplice is still at large after disappearing at the roadblock.

The duo was travelling in a Toyota Granvia.

The incident occurred at around 9:40pm and it is suspected that they wanted to smuggle the explosives to South Africa.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“Police officers at a security roadblock at the 209km peg stopped a Toyota Granvia and one of the occupants excused himself and disappeared. Police then searched the vehicle and recovered seven dynamites, 275 capped fuses, four rolls of nylon coated detonating cables that were stashed in a sack, a small bag and a satchel,” he said.

Ass Comm Nyathi said after being questioned, all the occupants in the vehicle indicated that the person who disappeared was the owner of the explosives.

Investigations carried out led to the arrest of Nkomo who was still in the vehicle.

In another related incident, police in Norton have also arrested six men for illegal possession and transportation of explosives.

“The incident occurred on 11th May 2019 along the Harare-Bulawayo Road near Norton, the suspects’ car was searched by police officers and they found 29 emulite explosives and loose dagga.

“Explosives are dangerous and should be handled with care by people who are properly licenced to do so,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

The two incidents come after a Zimbabwean woman was recently arrested while smuggling an assortment of explosives into South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post.

The woman has since appeared in court and denied bail by a Musina Magistrate.

Linda Katiyo (38) was arrested by Musina police on April 28 at 8am during routine border searches.

South Police Services (SAPS) Limpopo province spokesperson Constable Maphure Manamela said the accused was remanded in custody to May 21 pending further police investigations.

She said Katiyo, who was travelling in a bus from Zimbabwe, was arrested during routine police operations at the border.

“The bus that she was travelling in had just crossed over when it was directed to the searching bay for inspection.

“During the search, two hundred units of Superpower 90 Blasting cartridges were recovered in her luggage wrapped inside plastic bags.

“The origin and destination of these explosives will be determined by the ongoing police investigations. Police investigations are still continuing,” said Cst Manamela.

Meanwhile, police in Beitbridge have arrested a Revival Bus Crew who were travelling from South Africa en-route to Bulawayo after a contraband of dagga was discovered in the luggage compartment of the bus.

The incident occurred on May 11 at the Beitbridge Border Post.

When the bus was searched, police recovered a blue 25 litre container with 936 twists of dagga and four paperbags with loose dagga.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- US-based pro-Zanu PF activist, Coltrane Chimurenga, has died.

The Zanu PF Patriots Twitter account posted Saturday morning that Chimurenga had passed away.

Chimurenga, real name Randolph Simms, was most known for staging demonstration in the US in support of former President Robert Mugabe’s administration and “anti-imperialism”.

Chimurenga also supported the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration.

Said Zanu Pf Patriots in a tweet:

“Sad to hear that Revolutionary Cde Coltrane Chimurenga is no more! Rest in Eternal Peace Cadre.
Rest in Peace and Power, Gallant Pan African Statesman.”

Chimurenga was also the founder of December 12 Movement, which demanded civil rights in the US. He was often invited to Zanu PF conferences where he is reported to have been granted the status of a liberation movement leader.

Sad to hear that Revolutionary Cde Coltrane Chimurenga is no more! Rest in Eternal Peace Cadre.‼️

Rest in Eternal Peace and Power, Gallant Pan African Statesman.@KMutisi @CdeNMaswerasei @larry_moyo @Mavhure pic.twitter.com/FXN4TEZMqF

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) May 18, 2019

A United States diplomat recently raised security concerns after he smuggled two rifles and two shotguns into the country in 2016, only to declare the weapons in February 2019, about a month before leaving Zimbabwe, a state media report has alleged.

According to the report:

“Fears abound that the weapons could have been used for nefarious purposes, including civil disturbances that occurred in 2018 and this year, although The Herald could not ascertain this at the time of going to print.

According to documents at hand, Mr John Kent, a US Embassy Attaché responsible for Overseas Building Operations and was project director for the New Embassy Campus, requested to import the firearms through a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on February 15. Mr Kent was, however, already in possession of the firearms, which he had not declared as part of his diplomatic luggage in 2016.

He also did not register or get the weapons licensed.
Mr Kent’s tour of duty reportedly ends in December, but because the construction of the new embassy ended in February, he left earlier.

The weapons smuggled into the country by Mr Kent are two Bolt Action rifles — a Savage 111 and Remington 700 — and two semi-automatic shotguns — a Berreta A390 and Weatherby SA-08.

“Kent flagrantly violated the law by not declaring his firearms to Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) on his entry into the country in 2016. The firearms were apparently treated as part of the diplomatic luggage, was unlawful since firearms are among exceptions to this, under the Vienna Conventions.

“Kent stayed three years in the country, in possession of unlicensed firearms which is also a violation of the law. There is no guarantee that the firearms were not used for any outward or unlawful activities during that period.

“The US Embassy through the note verbale misrepresented facts by indicating that Kent is intending to import firearms,” one of the documents that The Herald is in possession of reads.

In November last year, Mr Nelson Chamisa’s MDC claimed it had disbanded a youth-led outfit called The Order of the Vanguard. This was after service chiefs that testified at the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 violence raised the possibility of the outfit having shot civilians.

The Herald on Friday reported that the MDC-Alliance is seeking to unleash a wave of violent demonstrations beginning next month, with ring leaders of civil unrest having received training in the Czech Republic and the Maldives.

Already, civic organisations with members attending an ongoing training in the Maldives being conducted by Centre for Applied Non-violent Action and Strategies, have started dissociating themselves from the regime change plot.

Meanwhile, one of the organisations fingered in our report, Rozaria Memorial Trust, yesterday said it was not involved in plots to unseat Government.

It issued a statement saying: “Rozaria Memorial Trust disassociates from the reference to our organisation as one of those undertaking training for subversive purposes. This report is false and a misrepresentation of who we are and damaging our integrity.”-TheHerald

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has welcomed remarks by South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete at the official launch of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) when he urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to ensure that the national dialogue is inclusive and participatory.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said Mbete’s words resonate with what he has been saying all that the national dialogue as it stands excludes 2,6 million voters.

“We welcome the wise words by the South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete. He said, “..the national dialogue must be inclusive & participatory & take into account the views of all Zimbabweans.” We restate that dialogue can’t be credible when it ignores the views of 2,6m voters

“His Excellency Mbete also said, “…if necessary for credibility, the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator from outside Zimbabwe, we as a region will be ready to propose names from the African Continent.”We’ve said this from day 1 & called 4 such a mediator.

“Ambassador Mbete added that “…the success of a national dialogue will have far reaching implications for the SADC region and beyond.” This is what we have always said that stolen elections have a negative impact on the welfare of all SADC citizens, they repulse investment.

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the recently launched political parties dialogue is set to change the country’s economic fortunes.

Said Mnangagwa in a speech at the launch of the national dialogue in Harare Friday:

“The dialogue we are launching today will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on our country’s political landscape and help to contribute to the turnaround of the country’s socio-economic fortunes.

“This platform is designed to be a vibrant forum through which we proffer solutions to the challenges that confront us as a nation through peaceful, open and transparent discourse.

“The culture of dialogue we begin today must indeed be synonymous with us as a nation and as a people.

“This journey we are embarking on must ultimately lead us towards improving our democratic practices and culture. It must also lead us to a stage where we can compete and cooperate, always informed and guided by our national interests.”

“Every Zimbabwean is important from Zambezi to Limpopo and from Mutare to Plumtree. As we are enjoined by our National Anthem, let us all lift high our National Flag which is a symbol of freedom, independence and unity.

“As leaders, we must also pledge to be exemplary. Leaders of our nation at every level must say no to sanctions and say no to all conduct and speech that will bring harm to our people.

“It is when there is unity that God will command more blessings to our land.

“Through the Vision (2030), we should be able to bequeath to current and future generations, a peaceful, united and prosperous nation which lives in harmony with all the progressive nations of the world.

“Dialogue, like charity, begins at home, and will enable us to speak with one voice as the re-engagement with other nations gathers pace.

“It does not serve any purpose to continue in an election mode when citizens are yearning for social economic transformation.

“The success of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and indeed the success of the five-year plans which will follow after 2020, requires that we harness our collective competencies and abilities for national progress and prosperity.

“We must close ranks, communicate, cooperate, build trust and instill hope among our fellow countrymen.

“In a clear testimony of our mature democracy, those among you who were in the country can attest to the unprecedented tranquillity that prevailed in all corners of our great nation ahead of the watershed elections.

“The code shall be binding on the leaders, their officials and supporters alike, in the observance of responsible conduct as we cascade the dialogue to the provinces”.

“Our committee on agenda setting has already highlighted critical issues, chief among them being the need to expedite the alignment of laws to the Constitution.

“The committee further stressed the need to resolutely stamp out corruption wherever it raises its ugly face, in the need to tackle drug and substance abuse, affecting especially affecting our youth, and deepen the inclusion of youth, women and the disabled in all national development programmes.

“The committee also called for the unconditional removal of sanctions that are sapping the energies of our resilient and resourceful citizenry as well as inhibiting unfettered economic growth.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), has promised to announce a way forward soon.

In a tweet on Saturday morning, ZCTU urged workers and the poor to unite against neo-liberal policies.

Said the labour body:

“Workers can’t endure the economic madness around us anymore. The ZCTU General Council will soon pronounce the way forward for the workers of Zimbabwe. Workers and the poor marginalised majority must unite and save themselves from the impact of ill advised neo liberal policies.

Following the weakening of the RTGS$ in the past few months, prices of basic commodities, have risen beyond the reach of most families in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean workers generally don’t earn foreign currency and have to depend on RTGS$.

Protests in January resulted in the death of more than 10 civilians after the government security forces cracked down on civilians

Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the Emmerson Mnangagwa led dialogue lacks credibility because it ignores the views of 2,6 million voters.

Said Chamisa:”Zimbabwe’s crisis is political.We have’nt had genuine and true political settlement since the days of Lancaster,Unity accord and GPA GNU.Deceptive, manipulative politics upon fake dialogue is the source of all our national discohesion.This breeds false, disputed and rigged processes.”

He added:”Ambassador Mbete added that “…the success of a national dialogue will have far reaching implications for the SADC region and beyond.” This is what we have always said that stolen elections have a negative impact on the welfare of all SADC citizens, they repulse investment.

His Excellency Mbete also said, “…if necessary for credibility, the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator from outside Zimbabwe, we as a region will be ready to propose names from the African Continent.”We’ve said this from day 1 and called for such a mediator.”

“We welcome the wise words by the South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete. He said, “..the national dialogue must be inclusive and participatory and take into account the views of all Zimbabweans.”

We restate that dialogue can’t be credible when it ignores the views of 2,6m voters.”

By Own Correspondent- Government remains committed to solving fuel and electricity shortages through engaging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) on long-term financial mechanisms, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi has said.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority’s ISO Quality Management Standard Certification celebrations in Harare, Chasi said the financial mechanisms had already been formulated and were awaiting implementation.

He said:

“The Government remains committed to eradicate fuel queues and is working on long-term financing mechanisms with the RBZ which will see the supply gaps being eliminated over time.

“We are working closely with the power utility to ensure that there is increased power generation from different sources other than Kariba Power Station.

“As a new minister, I expect to see results and strategies that resolve some of the challenges and proposals to restructure the sector for a better performance.

“We are not an oil-producing country not by choice but by geographical location yet we need fuel to run our transport system,” he said.

Speaking at Kariba North Power Station on Thursday, Minister Chasi said they were also exploring electricity trade-offs with Mozambique.

The trade-off proposition seeks to leverage on abundant water in the Cahora Bassa Basin following Cyclone Idai, amid fears that the continued discharge of large volumes of water during generation at Kariba South and North power stations was causing flooding.

Coupled with prioritisation of demand management, Minister Chasi said the country would significantly reduce the electricity import bill in the wake of depressed supply from Kariba, Hwange, Munyati, Bulawayo and Harare thermal power stations.
“We need to understand the source of the problem that our counterparts in Mozambique are facing as a result of Cyclone Idai on the generation side of electricity,” said Chasi.-StateMedia

POLAD is dialogue between political actors who are binded by their common dislike of the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 18, 2019

By Own Correspondent| First lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in Masvingo.

Masvingo, which is situated near President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown Zvishavane, is also in the same province of Midlands.

Said a source privy to the development who spoke to ZimEye:

“There was commotion yesterday as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into one of the shops.

Angry by bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket.”

According to the witness, angry by standers denounced the country’s leader for the untold suffering being experienced by citizens.

Said the witness:

“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.”

The source revealed that the First lady’s security aides had a torrid time trying to contain the situation before whisking her away.

Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.

“There was commotion yesterday as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.

Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.

“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.

Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.