By Own Correspondent| DJ Fantan of the Chillspot Records has defended the explicit lyrics from some artistes at his recording stable.

This comes after some of the artistes under his recording label such as Boss Pumacol, Uncle Epatan and X-Faya performed explicit freestyles with some unprintable words that praised marijuana, violence and sex.

Bazooker, who records with Chillspot, was among the artistes on that freestyle medley but his lyrics were clean.

The video of the freestyle went viral on social media.

Fantan said dancehall is a different music genre which talks about real issues that happen in the society.

“Dancehall lyrics are different from any other genre.

“You sing what is happening on the streets and the society, this is what makes dancehall different from sungura or gospel.

“If people know dancehall is not gospel maybe they will understand where we are coming from,” said Fantan.

Fantan said these dirty songs have a category in the Zim dancehall in the name of club songs.

“That is why in Zim dancehall awards we have a category called club songs.

“This is a category where you people call it dirty songs, but these songs reflects the truth of what is happening in the streets.

“Drugs are being abused in the streets, prostitution is happening in the streets and the youths are also indulging in sexual activities, its reality.

Winky D back in the days, did songs like Mzii and Mabhebhi hobho, Seh Calaz has a song Ndakarohwa nemuzii, Soul Jah Love has Gumkum, Killer T has a song with the lines ndikamuona achifamba yangu inomi** and Sniper Storm has also these types of songs.”-HMetro

The MDC condemns attacks on Chief Ndiweni over his expression against human rights violations by the military State.

In response, the cult displayed that by all accounts the Chief was right. Matemadanda’s press conference, Nick Mangwana and Energy Mutodiwere all inciting and unacceptable.

Within a day of their reckless utterances the Chief was attacked by a Zanu PF mob in Bulawayo who attempted to take his vehicle. It is clearthat vehicles given to Chiefs were meant to convert them into a captured community. This too is unacceptable. Not to mention that Zanu PF wasall in defence of Chief Charumbira when he was found on the wrong by the courts for partisan behavior.

Chief Ndiweni has not in any way supported any political party, but castigated violations of citizen rights. If he is on the wrong, there is alwaysdue process. Barbaric attacks on the Chief are unacceptable.

Zanu PF functionaries in government who made reckless statements must be held to account and those who attacked the Chief, intending toimpound his car in Bulawayo must be investigated and brought to Justice.

MDC 5th Congress: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe!

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

By Own Correspondent- A Kwekwe-based pastor has sued his wife of eight years for allegedly failing to value their marriage and disturbing his peace.

Pastor Ronald Nyambira, of a church whose name was not disclosed, hauled his wife Chido Precious Nyambira to court for abuse and disturbing his peace.

The two are on separation and Ronald told the court that he had separated with his wife because she did not value the marriage.

” My wife is staying at her mother’s house at the moment because we are on separation; we separated because I want her to value our marriage. I am a Christian and I do not believe in divorce so this is just a separation until we solve our differences.

” The problem now is she comes to my place to harass me, causing scenes even in the presence of other people. I want her to stop abusing me like that. I just want her to visit me peacefully so that we discuss the children if there are any issues concerning the children,” said Nyambira.

in response to the accusations made against her, the wife lashed out at her husband for being irresponsible and neglecting his children ever since she had moved out of their matrimonial home.

” He is neglecting the children and does not want to provide money for them; if I visit him to discuss the children he tells me that he does not have money. I do not know the meaning of his silence about our marriage so I do not know the meaning of his actions,” she said.

The presiding magistrate Vimbai Mutukwa granted a mutually binding protection order compelling them to observe peace between themselves for the sake of their children while they solve their issues amicably.

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has issued statement warning members of the public regarding fake bond notes which are in circulation.

Read the notice:

BEWARE OF FAKE BOND NOTES IN CIRCULATION. THEY ARE IN $5 BATCHES WITH SERIAL NUMBERS:

• AC6699084
• AC3887855
• AC1213446

By C/INSP Rabson

OIC ZRP Hillside

Former white farmers dispossessed under the Zimbabwe government’s land redistribution would accept land instead of cash as compensation for their loss, a senior Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) official has said.

About 4,000 farmers were turfed off the land at the turn of the century as President Robert Mugabe’s government pursued what it said was a drive to address colonial land ownership imbalances.

The policy caused upheaval in the key agriculture sector, resulting in economic turmoil from which the country is yet to recover from. Zimbabwe was also isolated from its traditional western donors and investors as a result.

Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution acknowledges the need for the former farmers to be compensated, but for improvements only.

While the Mugabe administration undertook to make good on the compensation promise, even making some token payments, his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appears to be making a bigger push on the matter.

Government has set aside $53 million (US$16 million) in the 2019 budget, a modest amount considering a total compensation bill which is estimated to be in the order of billions of US dollars.

But CFU director Ben Gilpin told the Zimbabwe Independent that some farmers would be willing to get some land back in lieu of compensation.

“To pay me, government has to take money from taxpayers. Wouldn’t it be ok that, instead of excluding me from farming, you give me a land lease where I pay money to the state to meet its obligation?,” queried Gilpin, who says he lost a farm he purchased in 1987.

“I think there’s a great opportunity for government to embrace Zimbabwe citizens of competence on a non-discriminatory basis and say, if you are a farmer and we owe you money, let’s offset this by giving you access to the land.”

He, however, said a good number of the 3,500 farmers on record as eligible for compensation had aged and were no longer interested in farming.

“If you look at the age of farmers when they lost land, they were 55, some older. Most of the elderly are not interested, but parts of the younger generation are just looking for opportunities to farm,” Gilpin said.

“It has happened in other parts of the world. This is one way of dealing with it. It’s a win-win. If it can be done, why can’t it be one of a menu of options?”

A reported 860 farmers have signed up for the first round of compensation under the $53 million fund, which will benefit the most distressed.

-Newzwire

Gynaecologists have warned the public against wearing used underwear they buy from flea markets around the country, saying doing so, exposed unsuspecting women to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) recently announced the ban on the sale of used underwear citing health reasons.

But in Harare, the sale of second-hand panties and brassieres (bras) has become a brisk business at most flea markets, particularly at the Charge Office and Mupedzanhamo in Mbare.

Most of the undergarments are stained with unknown substances.

The debate on the sale of second-hand underwear has remained a sensitive issue, and health experts are saying that it could be a ticking time bomb.

Harare-based gynaecologist, Felistus Shambare — who runs a clinic in the Avenues area — said many unsuspecting women were exposing themselves to all types of diseases, including STIs, by using these second-hand panties.

“There is a high likelihood of getting an STI from wearing or sharing someone else’s underwear,” said Shambare. “Some bacteria is very resistant and can survive the conditions, long enough to infect someone. Pubic lice have been known to survive the harshest conditions, and are not easily killed. These little parasites can cling tightly to a certain spot and even a general wash might miss them”.

Another gynaecologist and obstetrician, Martha Stevenson, said it was high time the government adopted a sterner stance against the practice.

“I tell you, although there has not been tangible evidence to link the used underwear with any particular incidence of an infection, the possibility is there,” she said. “We are constantly presented by our patients with the strangest types of infections. We cannot rule out that such practices could be contributing to these odd diseases. No one knows what kind of chemicals are used to preserve the items during their sea voyage.”

Stevenson also warned women against washing the underwear with bleach or stronger solutions.

“It is possible that one might fail to totally rinse out the solution, and whatever chemicals that form part of the bleach might harm the ‘sensitive’ parts.”

A nurse from Belvedere council clinic also said it was unhygienic to wear used underwear, just as much as it was unethical.

“It is unhygienic and according to our African culture you cannot share undergarments with someone else,” she said.

But people who spoke to Standardcommunity last week were reluctant to take advice from health experts.

“If you wash it thoroughly the stains come off. It’s just dust and dirt because these items come from faraway places. Many people including the prospective buyers handle the stuff with bare hands, which are not always clean,” said one undergarment vendor, who spoke to Standardcommunity in Harare’s central business district.

“Even if you buy new underwear, unless it is sealed, you will still wash it before you wear it, so there is nothing peculiar about washing used underwear,” said another vendor who identified herself only as Anna.

She added: “It is good business and besides, women want to look good and prefer the labels that we sell.”

True to her word most of her wares comprised known labels like Wonderbra and Victoria’s Secret.

“People prefer labels more than the fact that it has been worn before. The items last for a long time, unlike the dollar for two [items] that people buy in shops. They may be new but they are not strong. Mazhing zhong chaiwo [They are not strong]” said one Aaron Poshai.

They advertise the wares by shouting, “Svikai muone US$1 bra yekuStates ichangovhurwa bhero (Come and see, a bra from the US going for a dollar).

UNCOMMON PRACTICE FOR AFRICANS

Other people however discouraged the practice.

“People should be careful; the satanists are now very clever they use all sorts of ways to lure innocent people into their cults,” said Tatenda from Waterfalls. “Those items might have been offered to the dark one first, and anyone who wears them might end up behaving exactly the way they want them to.”

Gogo Mazhenje, who sells vegetables along Fourth Street, said it was not common practice that African women wear used underwear.

“During our times when we were growing up, that was not allowed because you could end up with numerous problems like jeko [period pain]” she said.

Harare City Council has seemingly turned a blind eye on the issue, as more and more vendors are openly selling the underwear.

Council spokesperson, Leslie Gwi-ndi had not responded to an email sent to him by the time of going to print.

Finance minister Tendai Biti once said, any man whose wife wore used underwear should consider himself a failure.

-The Standard

Farai Dziva| Legendary musician Clive Malunga has disclosed that he last had sex in 2002 when he parted ways with his wife.

The Nesango hit-maker has also said he is committed to studies and he has no time for ladies.Malunga owns Jenaguru Culture Centre.

“I am currently doing my Masters in Business Administration (degree) with Great Zimbabwe University,” Malunga told H-Metro.

One of the country’s top musicians and music promoter, Malunga, has decided to go back to school.

“It is time for educating our minds than wasting time having sex.”

Malunga, however, urged men not to divorce their wives saying it was only him who was unlucky in marriage.

“I think I am unlucky in marriage. To all men, get me correctly here, I am not saying leave your wives, no, but I am just honestly telling you that I have a bad luck in marriage, hence decided to stay single for life with my children.”

“So inini handichada, I am now just staying and educating my children who are now respecting me more because they now know that our father is an organised parent and he is a father,” he said.

Farai Dziva|Elias Mashavira the man who “challenged ” Nelson Chamisa’s presidency at the High Court denies he has links with Zanu PF.

Mashavira says he is a mere cattle herder from Gokwe and he is not in any way linked to Zanu PF.

However, sources in his home area claim he is a Zanu PF informer.

Mashavira said he discovered the constitutional violations by himself.

“I am not a Zanu PF member and I discovered the constitutional violations by myself,” claimed Mashavira.

Farai Dziva|The preparations for the MDC A National Congress are at an advanced stage, the party’s organising secretary, Amos Chibaya has said.

Read Chibaya ‘s statement below :

MDC Congress on course: Party programmes to continue as scheduled
Following the highly political judgement.

The ruling is essentially meant to destabilize the party.

This memo serves to inform all structures that all party programmes and activities are continuing as scheduled.

Our Congress is on course. Now that we have finished all preliminary congresses by democratically electing new leaderships up to the provincial level, we must brace for the ultimate national Congress in Gweru from 24-26 May 2019.

In the meantime, the thematic outreaches and provincial assembly campaign caucuses must proceed as scheduled.

The courts will not give us a leader. We are going to democratically elect our national leadership at our Congress in Gweru. No political judgement will side-track us from our scheduled activities.

The party remains solid and firm under the leadership of President Nelson Chamisa, who was overwhelmingly elected by all the party’s 13 provinces.
MDC 5th Congress: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe.

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora was grilled on his plans if given a second mandate to run the office, with some party members accusing him of being involved in the double nomination of candidates.

But Mwonzora brushed aside the accusations and vowed to stay loyal to party leader Nelson Chamisa, and ensure the party will never split.

“What is important is the relationship between the president and secretary-general. If I am not happy, I go to the office of the president. We are close to each other and deal with the disputes,” he said.

“That’s why I have been secretary-general under our late icon Morgan Tsvangirai. There was no split, I have been secretary-general under our president Chamisa, there was no split and there will be no split because we know how to deal with disputes in a mature way.”

Party members also accused Mwonzora of having a hand in the recent High Court judgment which declared Chamisa as an illegitimate party leader.

“Zanu PF killed our people, killed our industries and our economy, we have to remove this government. That is our main objective,” Mwonzora said.

MDC vice-chairman aspirant Job Sikhala said: “There are people who want to personalise the president because they come from the same village; that is what I will stop. I will take the president from the pockets of those who want to personalise our president and will give him back to the people.”

-Newsday

Farai Dziva|MDC A Youth Assembly national executive member Arnold Batirai Dube has castigated Zanu PF youths for insulting Chief Ndiweni.

Batirai Dube is the councillor for ward 24 in Bulawayo and he is vying for the position of deputy chairperson in the MDC youth assembly.

“Zanu PF must desist from abusing traditional leaders,
Chief Ndiweni must be respected,”said Batirai Dube.

He strongly warned Zanu PF youths to stop harassing the traditional leader for merely expressing his views.

“Chiefs are custodians of our national culture, heritage and integrity and they deserve respect.

Chief Fortune Charumbira has openly declared allegiance to Zanu PF but nobody raised a finger.Why are they tormenting Chief Ndiweni?” Batirai Dube argued.

Newly appointed energy minister, Advocate Fortune Chasi has been urged to liberalized fuel imports as well as break the fuel cartels in order to address the shortages that have seen queues becoming the order of the day across the country.

Posting on Twitter, an economic analyst Brains Muchemwa said the only way out of the current situation is reverting to market prices and dump subsidies which are responsible for the ever growing queues.

Hon Chasi congrats!

1. Break the fuel cartels

2. Liberilise fuel importation

3. Revert to market price. Our subsidies framework and queues are inseparable friends.

All the best! @fortunechasi@Ndungas
@@tmubvuma

— Brains Muchemwa (@brains_muchemwa) May 14, 2019

By Own Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has assured doctors at public hospitals that Government will ensure they are fully stocked with drugs and medical equipment while looking at their welfare.

He said this after meeting a delegation of doctors at State House in Harare at a meeting arranged by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is also the Ambassador of Health and Child Care, as a follow-up to an earlier meeting this year.

The meeting mainly centred on the working environment for medical practitioners and their tools of trade.

Head of delegation Dr Faith Muchemwa told journalists after the meeting that they were leaving the State House satisfied.

She said they were invited by the First Lady, who has shown deep concern about their work.

“She initially invited us so that she could understand what was really going on because she cared about the health of the population,” she said.

“She arranged for us to meet His Excellency.”  Dr Muchemwa said the meeting went well and expressed confidence that their plight could soon be a thing of the past.

“It has been a really good meeting and we were listened to,” she said.

“We have been assured that most of the things that we have been requiring are actually already on their way through the Honourable Minister (Obadiah Moyo).”

Minister Moyo said the President was going to utilise his influence to be able to get the requested products and ensure that all hospitals are fully stocked.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf has pledged commitment to continue pursuing developmental initiatives in Mutasa despite the ruling party losing a rural local authority seat to the opposition MDC Alliance  in the just ended by-election in Ward 10.

Zanu PF’s Margaret Tindirika who garnered 548 votes behind MDC A’s Rosemary Mukodza who got 801 votes, said the ruling party will continue working for the people in line with President Mnangagwa vision 2030.

Tanyaradzwa Chirima (NCA) pulled 16 votes.

Ward Election Officer Conillias Mudehwe said all the candidates accepted the results.-ManicaPost

By Own Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavhima has revealed that Government will pay school fees for all children who lost parents and guardians during the recent Cyclone Idai as well as provide books to learners in all areas affected by the devastating tropical storm.

More than 364 people died after Cyclone Idai ravaged the eastern parts of Zimbabwe on March 15 and 16 this year with Ngangu Township and villages in Rusitu Valley in Chimanimani district being some of the hardest hit.

Professor Mavhima said food will also be provided in schools in areas affected by Cyclone Idai.

“We have already instructed headmasters to compile lists of pupils that lost parents or guardians during Cyclone Idai. As Government, we pay school fees for all children who lost parents and guardians during the recent Cyclone Idai as well as provide books to learners.

“We are happy that distribution of books has already started in some areas and we will make sure there are adequate books in schools located in all those areas that were affected by the cyclone,” said Minister Mavhima.

The Primary and Secondary Education Minister said all schools in Chimanimani managed to conduct normal lessons on opening day while repairing of damaged infrastructure in schools is almost complete.

“We are also excited that all schools in Chimanimani and Chipinge opened for second term just like all the other schools in areas that were not affected by the cyclone.

“As you can see here at Ngangu Primary, repairing of damaged infrastructure in schools is almost complete. The good thing is that in some instances we are actually placing better facilities than what was previously there,” he said.

Among the schools that Minister Mavhima toured recently are Ngangu Primary, Chimanimani Secondary, Vimba Primary, Kwirire Primary, Mutsvangwa Primary and Secondary.-Manica Post

Mthwakazi National Party observes with attention the orchestrated onslaught directed at the paramount Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Khayisa Ndiweni by the imperfect state of Zimbabwe and ZANU PF, a clear attack on the right to freedom of expression of the oppressed Mthwakazi nation.

Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, like many other esteemed chiefs within Mthwakazi who remain true to the cause of the people of Mthwakazi, is a beacon of Mthwakazi sovereignty. MNP asserts that the right to dissent and to express and disseminate one’s ideas are critical components of free expression and a cornerstone of a democratic society. Since the time Chief Ndiweni wrote a joint letter with Chief Maduna calling for the United nations to intervene in the resolution of the Gugurahundi genocide matter, Mnangagwa and his cronies have upped their aggression against him.

Our chief is being persecuted for being the voice of Mthwakazi people who have suffered all various forms of oppression under the Zimbabwe colonial rule including denial of our right to self-determination in a free and sovereign Mthwakazi state, denial of our identities as the Mthwakazi people, destruction of Mthwakazi minority languages, ethnic dilution of Mthwakazi, Gukurahundi genocide, displacement of our people from their ancestral land, military ocupation of our country, socio-economic marginilazation, cultural suppression and oppression.

The heavy-handed effort by Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF regime meant to undermine the authority of our traditional authorities and the pillars of our culture, to persecute her people and disrupt Mthwakazi’s quest for freedom  is tantamount to colonialism. Mnangagwa’s regime, like the Smith regime and all other colonial administrations before it, recognises that the only way to dominate Mthwakazi is to interfere with her culture and tradition through the subjection of our traditional leaders.

In light of our commitment as MNP to defending the people of Mthwakazi and our right to freedom of expression, we call on the Zimbabwe regime to stop on its march of aggression against Chief Ndiweni. We want to put it clear before our oppressors that a people who have lost their fear can never be re-injected with fear and that destiny can be delayed but can never be denied.

We recognise the inherent need to restore the sovereign authority of traditional leaders as the pillar of our independence in order to safeguard our culture, tradition, language and historical heritage.

We call upon the people of Mthwakazi to unite across social divides in support of Chief Ndiweni in order to limit the influence of the Zimbabwe regime on what is left of our independent traditional systems. 
Mthwakazi will be free.

Vuka Mthwakazi Sizwe!

MNP President S.V Mabhena

A report by the State owned Herald claimed that Chief Ndiweni stage managed his attack in Bulawayo yesterday. Is this true or its state media propaganda/ lies ?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 16, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, with the aid of known anti-Government activists, yesterday stage-managed an attack on himself by people he claimed to be Zanu-PF youths in Bulawayo, reported The Herald.

According to the report, the chief, who claimed his assailants sought to confiscate his Government-issued vehicle, was pictured pouring petrol all over the car and threatening to burn it if anyone touched it.

The pictures went viral on social media after being published by activists led by Zenzele Ndebele, who recently claimed to have survived a suspicious accident in which all four bolts on the “lower control arm of the front wheel on the left side of my vehicle came off simultaneously”.

A senior Zanu-PF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, poured cold water on Chief Ndiweni’s claims saying “his story simply does not add up”.

“For starters, it is a known fact that all Zanu-PF structures in Bulawayo were dissolved. How did Chief Ndiweni know that his attackers were Zanu-PF youths; did they identify themselves as such? The pictures that Ndebele posted do not show any Zanu-PF regalia.

“Secondly, how was this attack coordinated, considering that Ndiweni lives in Ntabazinduna and not Bulawayo? How did Zanu-PF youths know where he was in Bulawayo? Did they prophesy his presence in Bulawayo?

“This event was clearly stage-managed and broadcast by Ndebele a few minutes after it allegedly happened. If that is not suspicious, I don’t know what is,” the official said.

Chief Ndiweni has been accused of abusing his position to further the agenda of the opposition MDC-Alliance with Zanu-PF challenging him to step down from the chieftaincy and join mainstream politics.

Apparently angered by the Government’s decision to resettle an indigenous farmer at a farm in Ntabazinduna previously occupied by a white family, Chief Ndiweni last week addressed a Press conference in Bulawayo and called for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Chief Ndiweni sensationally appealed to the international community to escalate sanctions on President Mnangagwa’s Government, claiming it has failed to pursue democracy.

It is understood that before addressing the Press, Chief Ndiweni wrote to a number of foreign embassies calling for further sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

He has also set up a parallel organisation to the Chiefs Council under the banner of College of Amakhosi, where he is reportedly seeking to rope in some traditional leaders from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

After the 2018 elections, Chief Ndiweni visited opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to “endorse” the MDC-Alliance leader despite his defeat in the polls at the hands of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Besides his links with the Chamisa-led party, Chief Ndiweni has had liaisons with secessionist movement Mthwakazi Republic.

However, the relationship with the two are said to have suffered a temporary knock after Chief Ndiweni and some colleagues visited Mr Chamisa to update him about the “installation” of a Ndebele King in South Africa.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chair Richard Moyo said they are aware of all Chief Ndiweni’s shenanigans.

“He must just join politics and leave the chieftaincy. He should join mainstream politics by joining these political parties that he is aligned to or even form his own and we will show him how winning politics is played, he has no chance against Zanu-PF,” said Moyo.

“In pursuit of a political agenda, he has chosen to advocate for the suffering of the people instead of working towards their development and unity. We know that initially he was running with secessionist movements like Mthwakazi and later we heard he was endorsing Chamisa despite his loss in the 2018 elections.”

Moyo urged traditional leaders to ignore Chief Ndiweni and continue working for the people.

“He has shown his true colours and his destructive politics and I don’t think any self-respecting traditional leader who has their people at heart can follow such kind of behaviour. They should just ignore his attempts to divide the chiefs in the country,” he said.

In a statement on Sunday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana said Chief Ndiweni’s utterances were inhuman and against Zimbabwe’s cultural beliefs.

‘‘Chief Ndiweni sentiments are deplorable, parochial and ignorant coming from a traditional leader,’’ he said. ‘‘It is tragic that one of those constitutionally expected to uphold our customary values and community cohesion has chosen to not only be a controversial political player, but to repeat a shameful familial history by calling for suffering to be visited upon the people of Zimbabwe.’’-StateMedia

The Matabeleland Collective is deeply concerned about the attacks on Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni that threatens his safety and security and calls upon relevant security sectors to ensure that his safety and security is guaranteed.

The Collective strongly believes in the creation of safe spaces for dialogue on issues affecting people of Matabeleland, events of today undermines candid engagements processes that have commenced.

We call upon authorities to also ensure that his right to freedom of expression is protected as espoused in the Constitution.

The Collective believes every citizen has a right to express themselves in line with Constitutional provisions of freedom of expression without undue interferences. The Collective calls upon concerned parties to pursue dialogue than to resort violence to resolve issues.

By Own Correspondent- A 16-year-old Malaysian girl killed herself after her Instagram followers voted overwhelmingly for her death.

The girl, who has not been named, posted a poll on Instagram asking followers is she should die or not. After 69% of the respondents said that she should die, she killed herself.

According to police in the east Malaysia state Sarawak, the girl posted the poll with the message: “Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L”

A lawyer and MP in the north-western state of Penang, Ramkarpal Singh, however, said that those who voted for the young woman’s death could be guilty of abetting suicide.

He said:

“Would the girl still be alive today if the majority of netizens on her Instagram account discouraged her from taking her own life? Would she have heeded the advice of netizens to seek professional help had they done so?

Did the encouragement of those netizens actually influence her decision to take her own life? Since attempted suicide is an offence in this country, it follows that abetting one to attempt suicide may be, too.”-Guardian

CITE|There is a general concern at the low literacy levels among Councillors with various stakeholders calling on the government to insist on minimum educational qualifications for aspiring and elected councillors to improve their competence in executing their duties.

The Urban Councils Act which governs the mandate and conduct of Councillors is silent on educational qualifications.

Speaking during a public finance management reform Indaba organised by the Zim Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) recently, Samukeliqwa Dube from Umzingwane Rural District Council said councillors with a certain level of education would make them able to comprehend budget issues.

The Indaba ran under the theme “Influencing the legislative and institutional reform agenda for public finance management in Zimbabwe.”

“The issue of concern is that if we have councillors without any educational qualifications they won’t understand the processes of budget and how to be accountable and transparent. We need people who understand what they are doing and why they are doing it,” said Dube.

An official representing ZIMCODD, Florence Ndlovu said with devolution on the horizon there was a need for councillors to be equipped on how to effectively manage resources and funds.

“Devolution is approaching and the question is, are our councillors prepared? Are our councillors ready to monitor resources when we are devolved?

“Political parties have to start capacity building for their candidates so that when they get to these positions they are able to know what a budget is. They should not wait for the Council to teach them,” said Ndlovu.

“Resources will also be given according to competence. Do our councillors have proper CVs in terms of public finance management.”

Another participant said councillors chosen should be locals so they do not misuse funds.

“We need to go back to the previous system where we chose councillors from people who owned houses in those areas. If they are tenants, how will they be accountable for misuse of funds because the person will go back where they came from.

“At least if the councillor is a landlord we can go and sell their house,” he said.

Nhlanhla Mlilo from National Association of non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) however differed saying educational qualification does not qualify someone to be efficient.

“Joseph Chinotimba, compared with most Members of Parliament has made contributions that are better than those of educated MPs.

“Development is not a concept that you can extract from education. Sometimes you do not need to go to school to appreciate devolution,” said Mlilo.

HUNDREDS of Zanu-PF members aspiring to be part of the Bulawayo Provincial Executive Council on Monday thronged the party offices at Davies Hall to submit their CVs and application letters.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province will go to the polls on Saturday and Sunday for the provincial council executive council elections after Zanu-PF First Secretary and President Mnangagwa dissolved all the party’s structures in March this year.

The Provincial elections were slated for last Sunday but were deferred due to the burial of the Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly member and national hero Velaphi Misheck Ncube on Thursday last week.

Retired Colonel George Nare, who is in charge of the exercise, said all members interested in contesting for the positions of Provincial Chairperson for the Main Wing, Women’s League and Youth League should have submitted their CVs to the Provincial Administrator by Tuesday afternoon.

“Due to the burial of the national hero Cde Velaphi Ncube, we had to move the provincial elections to this weekend. The PEC elections will be held on 18 and 19 May 2019,” he said.

“All members who are interested in contesting positions of Provincial Chairpersons for Main Wing, Women’s League and Youth League in the Provincial Council Elections should submit their CVs to the PA’s office by 14 May 2019 at 1200 hours.

“These individuals should have served as a member of the district for at least one term, or should have been a Provincial member, or in the case of one being a member of a senior organ, one must first resign and have proof of resignation.”

All those aspiring to be in the Youth League executive are to be between 15 and 35-years-old.

The venues for the Polling Stations are Davies Hall (Area 1), Sub-Office Magwegwe (Area 2), Mpopoma Park (Area 3), Bullet Shopping Centre (Area 4) and Nketa Hall (Area 5).

The polling stations will be open from 10AM to 4PM.

Most of the people who dropped their CVs said they were pleased with the transparency of the process.

“This process has been transparent since day one and it shows that the party is really rebranding and restructuring, doing away with cancerous elements who believed in imposition of leaders,” said one member.

“As you can see, all age groups are represented well here, showing that the party is for everyone. I hope that people will be able to select their provincial leaders peacefully.”

The party leadership said the dissolution of the party’s structures in Bulawayo and Harare was meant to address problems that have resulted in the party perennially losing elections in the two metropolitan provinces.

The restructuring process by Zanu-PF is part of preparations for the 2023 harmonised elections and the party said it is pleased with the progress so far.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday swore-in three six-member commissions for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services during a ceremony held at State House in Harare.

The swearing in of the commissioners was done in terms of the Constitution, which provides for the establishment of such commissions, adding to the governance reforms that are being undertaken by President Mnangagwa’s administration, which is also expanding civil and political rights in the country.

President Mnangagwa said it was a requirement of the supreme law of the country to set up the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Services Commission, “consisting of a chairperson, who must be the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission and a minimum of two and a maximum of six other members appointed by the President.”

The first to be sworn-in was the Zimbabwe Defence Commission in terms of Section 217 of the Constitution. The six who took oath of office before President Mnangagwa were — Bishop Morris Gwedegwe, Air Commodore Anele Moyo (Rtd), Major General Etherton Shungu (Rtd), Colonel George Nare (Rtd), Mrs Patricia Sarah Bwerofa and Mrs Sheilla Mahere-Nyagumbo.

The Police Services Commission members who were sworn in are Mr Great Fortune Zengeni, Mr Benson Gasura, Mr Casper Khumalo, Ms Plaxedes Gezha, Ms Mercy Muchirahondo-Murevesi and Dr Nyasha Kaseke.

The last set of commissioners to take oath of office were those who will serve under the Prison and Correctional Services Commission. These are Colonel Godfrey Matemachani (Rtd), Mrs Pauline Mukondiwa, Brigadier General Milton Siziba (Rtd), Mrs Pauline Chapendama, Mrs Charles Manzini and Mrs Priscillah Murombedzi.

Persons to be appointed to these three commissions, according to the Constitution, must be chosen for their knowledge of or experience in the administration, management and military affairs, police affairs and prisons affairs.

Also considered for appointment is their profession and qualifications.

At least half of them must be persons who are not and have not been members of the Defence Forces, police and prison services, says the Constitution.

Also according to the supreme law, at least one of them must have held senior rank in the respective portfolios for one or more periods amounting to at least five years.

State Media|THE Member of Parliament for Mberengwa North, Tafanana Zhou, is challenging a $30 000 lawsuit by a local woman accusing him of breaching a promise to marry after allegedly breaking her virginity.

The Mberengwa woman, Ms Henrietta Tafadzwa Chauke (35), a student nurse in Harare, through her lawyers Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, last week filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court under case number HC 980/19 citing Cde Zhou as a defendant.

She is demanding $30 000 from the politician for contumelia arising from the alleged breach of promise to marry her. Ms Chauke said she fell for the legislator in February last year after he had promised to marry her.

Zhou is however, challenging the summons and wants the application to be dismissed, claiming the woman is a serial litigant who is abusing court processes to humiliate him.

In papers before the court, the politician said she did not know Ms Chauke and the allegations were trumped up charges.

Zhou through his lawyer Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Legal Practitioners, filed an application for dismissal of action at the Bulawayo High Court, citing Ms Chauke as a respondent.

“The respondent is not personally known to me and I have never met her and what I know is that I received WhatsApp messages from a person who alleged to be the respondent making sexual advances towards me. The person went as far as introducing herself to me by sending me her pictures and I did not respond,” he said.

“I submit that the respondent cannot prove at all that she is known to me and that I had sexual intercourse with her.”

In papers before the court, Zhou also attached WhatsApp messages where Ms Chauke was allegedly pestering him for sex.

He further said the respondent raised similar allegations against one Mr Simon Magidivana in 2014 demanding US$10 000 for contumelia.

“Most importantly, she alleges at the time she had sexual intercourse with me she was a virgin and this cannot be true. I am advised by my legal practitioner that on November 12, 2014 at Zvishavane magistrate court and under case number 999/14, the respondent instituted a claim of seduction against one Simon Magidivana of Zvishavane. In her particulars of claim, the respondent alleged that she fell in love with Magidivana between August and October in 2014 during which she was a virgin and they had sex,” he said.

Zhou said Ms Chauke was abusing court processes, arguing that the woman carries no genuine intention of seeking seduction damages.

“It is my averment that the claim has no prospects of success. It is frivolous and vexatious in nature and is designed to tarnish my good name and social standing. I am a Member of Parliament and I am inclined to believe that it is my opponents who have hatched a plan to bring my name into disrepute. I aver that there are no issues in this matter as it is clear that as per respondent’s allegations she lost her virginity sometime in 2014. The claim by the respondent is not made with a bona fide intention of seeking justice. Wherefore, I pray for an order dismissing with costs the summons filed under HC980/19,” said Zhou.

Ms Chauke, in her summons, said she fell in love with the MP in February 2018 and three months later he orally made a promise to marry her.

She said she had sexual intercourse with Zhou which was premised on prospects for an imminent marriage. At the time of the sexual intercourse with Zhou, Ms Chauke said she was a virgin.

The woman said Zhou terminated their relationship in February this year for no apparent reason, consequently violating his promise to marry her.

She wants to be compensated for damages emanating from her alleged former boyfriend’s actions.

State Media|Zanu PF has accused Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna of abusing his position to further the agenda of the opposition MDC challenging him to step down from the chieftaincy and join mainstream politics.

The ruling party accuses Ndiweni for calling on tougher sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

Angered by the Government’s decision to resettle an indigenous farmer at a property in Ntabazinduna previously occupied by a white family, Chief Ndiweni last week addressed a Press conference in Bulawayo and called for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Chief Ndiweni appealed to the international community to escalate sanctions on President Mnangagwa’s Government, claiming it has failed to pursue democracy.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial person Richard Moyo said they are aware of all Chief Ndiweni’s shenanigans.

“He must just join politics and leave the chieftaincy. He should come into mainstream politics by joining these political parties that he is aligned to or even form his own and we will show him how winning politics is played, he has no chance against Zanu-PF,” he said.

“In pursuit of a political agenda, he has chosen to advocate for the suffering of the people instead of working towards their development and unity. We know that initially he was running with secessionist movements like Mthwakazi and later we heard he was endorsing Chamisa despite his loss in the 2018 elections.”

Moyo called on traditional leaders to ignore Chief Ndiweni and continue working for the people.

“He has shown his true colours and his destructive politics and I don’t think any self respecting traditional leader who has their people at heart can follow such kind of behaviour. They should just ignore his attempts to divide the chiefs in the country,” he said.

In a statement on Sunday, the Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, said Chief Ndiweni’s utterances were inhumane and against our cultural beliefs.

‘‘Chief Ndiweni sentiments are deplorable, parochial and ignorant coming from a traditional leader,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s tragic that one of those constitutionally expected to uphold our customary values and community cohesion has chosen to not only be a controversial political player but to repeat a shameful familial history by calling for suffering to be visited upon the people of Zimbabwe.’’

COMIC PASTOR’S SATIRICAL PORTRAYAL OF EMMERSON MNANGAGWA’S BREAD BREAKTHROUGH- FULL TEXT

Today I met mpfana anogadzira polon yekuisa pakati pechingwa, using only Zimbabwean beef! He has made 5,000 slices of polon to supply Harare neChitungwiza. “I am always happy to meet local entrepreneurs and learn about their initiatives to build our comedy” – Comic Pastor Prosper Nengomashi

By Own Correspondent| Opposition legislator for Mutare Central Innocent Gonese has raised concern over the continous absence of the country’s two Vice Presidents Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi from parliament sittings.

Gonese said the duo “have never been seen” in the chambers while their names are also conspicuously absent on the list of those who would have sought leave of absence.

Said Gonese:

“On a point of order Mr. Speaker.  In terms of our Standing Orders, those Hon. Ministers, Hon. Deputy Ministers and Vice Presidents who are not in Parliament today are supposed to seek leave of absence.  

I am simply asking the Chair to inform the House of the Hon. Ministers and Vice Presidents whom we have never seen. As a matter of fact, if the Hon. Chair can inform the House of those Hon. Ministers, Hon. Deputy Ministers and the Vice Presidents who have sought a leave of absence. 

In particular Mr. Speaker Sir, I also note with concern that the Hon. Vice Presidents have not been attending on most occasions. 

I have also noted Mr. Speaker Sir that generally speaking, the Hon. Vice Presidents are never in attendance and when the Chair read out the names of those who have sought leave of absence, their names are conspicuous by their absence from the list and also they are conspicuous by their absence from the Chamber.  

I think it is a matter which the Chair should really follow because the rules equally bind the Hon. Vice Presidents but my main point is to have the names of those who have sought leave of absence so that we are informed accordingly.”

Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda however said he would look into the issue.

He said:

“The Hon. Member is correct.  I have yet to receive some names seeking leave of absence.  I will ask the Clerk to check with Papers Office immediately and give me the apologies.  

I only have two at the moment.  The Minister of Local Government , Public Works and National Housing, Hon. J. Moyo and the Deputy Minister of Local Government , Public Works,  and National Housing Hon. J. Mhlanga.  I request the Clerk of Parliament to check with Papers Office and give me an updated list.”

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has petitioned parliament over the review of the country’s electoral law.

This was revealed by speaker of parliament, Jacob Mudenda (Thursday).

Said Mudenda:

“I have to inform the House that on 3^rd April, 2019 Parliament of Zimbabwe received a petition from Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) beseeching Parliament to review the electoral law and enact electoral reform laws. The petition has since been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.”

The below picture of a permit to buy and sell beer during the Rhodesian era, has emerged and it was issued to Mr Johnson Tagwirei. IS THIS BUSINESSMAN, KUDA’S FATHER?

The government broadsheet, The Herald has claimed that the firebrand chief Ndiweni yesterday faked his own attack by ZANU PF militants. In their article written by a faceless author, the Herald said this is because the Chief does not live in Bulawayo. They also claimed that he is a Nelson Chamisa backer.

BELOW WAS THE FULL TEXT:
Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, with the aid of known anti-Government activists, yesterday stage-managed an attack on himself by people he claimed to be Zanu-PF youths in Bulawayo.
The chief, who claimed his assailants sought to confiscate his Government-issued vehicle, was pictured pouring petrol all over the car and threatening to burn it if anyone touched it.

The pictures went viral on social media after being published by activists led by Zenzele Ndebele, who recently claimed to have survived a suspicious accident in which all four bolts on the “lower control arm of the front wheel on the left side of my vehicle came off simultaneously”.
A senior Zanu-PF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, poured cold water on Chief Ndiweni’s claims saying “his story simply does not add up”.

“For starters, it is a known fact that all Zanu-PF structures in Bulawayo were dissolved. How did Chief Ndiweni know that his attackers were Zanu-PF youths; did they identify themselves as such? The pictures that Ndebele posted do not show any Zanu-PF regalia.
“Secondly, how was this attack coordinated, considering that Ndiweni lives in Ntabazinduna and not Bulawayo? How did Zanu-PF youths know where he was in Bulawayo? Did they prophesy his presence in Bulawayo?

“This event was clearly stage-managed and broadcast by Ndebele a few minutes after it allegedly happened. If that is not suspicious, I don’t know what is,” the official said.
Chief Ndiweni has been accused of abusing his position to further the agenda of the opposition MDC-Alliance with Zanu-PF challenging him to step down from the chieftaincy and join mainstream politics.

Apparently angered by the Government’s decision to resettle an indigenous farmer at a farm in Ntabazinduna previously occupied by a white family, Chief Ndiweni last week addressed a Press conference in Bulawayo and called for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Chief Ndiweni sensationally appealed to the international community to escalate sanctions on President Mnangagwa’s Government, claiming it has failed to pursue democracy.

It is understood that before addressing the Press, Chief Ndiweni wrote to a number of foreign embassies calling for further sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.
He has also set up a parallel organisation to the Chiefs Council under the banner of College of Amakhosi, where he is reportedly seeking to rope in some traditional leaders from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

After the 2018 elections, Chief Ndiweni visited Mr Chamisa to “endorse” the MDC-Alliance leader despite his defeat in the polls at the hands of President Mnangagwa.

Besides his links with the Chamisa-led party, Chief Ndiweni has had liaisons with secessionist movement Mthwakazi Republic.
However, the relationship with the two are said to have suffered a temporary knock after Chief Ndiweni and some colleagues visited Mr Chamisa to update him about the “installation” of a Ndebele King in South Africa.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chair Cde Richard Moyo said they are aware of all Chief Ndiweni’s shenanigans.
“He must just join politics and leave the chieftaincy. He should join mainstream politics by joining these political parties that he is aligned to or even form his own and we will show him how winning politics is played, he has no chance against Zanu-PF,” said Cde Moyo.

“In pursuit of a political agenda, he has chosen to advocate for the suffering of the people instead of working towards their development and unity. We know that initially he was running with secessionist movements like Mthwakazi and later we heard he was endorsing Chamisa despite his loss in the 2018 elections.”
Cde Moyo urged traditional leaders to ignore Chief Ndiweni and continue working for the people.

“He has shown his true colours and his destructive politics and I don’t think any self-respecting traditional leader who has their people at heart can follow such kind of behaviour. They should just ignore his attempts to divide the chiefs in the country,” he said.

In a statement on Sunday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said Chief Ndiweni’s utterances were inhuman and against Zimbabwe’s cultural beliefs.

‘‘Chief Ndiweni sentiments are deplorable, parochial and ignorant coming from a traditional leader,’’ he said. ‘‘It is tragic that one of those constitutionally expected to uphold our customary values and community cohesion has chosen to not only be a controversial political player, but to repeat a shameful familial history by calling for suffering to be visited upon the people of Zimbabwe.’’

Farai Dziva|Opposition leader
Linda Masarira is set to unveil the national leadership of her new party LEAD.

Masarira yesterday said the party leadership would be unveiled on 1 June 2019.

She added the draft constitution will be ratified at the party’s inaugural national strategic meeting on the same day.

Masarira is hoping to be the first female President in Zimbabwe, a feat many say is unachievable.

US State Security Statement| To all American citizens,

Exercise increased caution in Zimbabwe due to crime and civil unrest.            

Violent crime, such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion, is common. Smashing the windows of cars with the intent to steal, which can harm the driver or passengers, is also common.

Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.

If you decide to travel to Zimbabwe:

• Stay alert and avoid openly displaying cash.
• Carry a copy of your passport and visa and leave originals in your hotel safe.
• Stay away from political rallies, demonstrations, and crowds.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Crime and Safety Report for Zimbabwe.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Harare 2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill  Harare, Zimbabwe 

Telephone+(263) 867-701-1000 Emergency+(263) 867-701-1000 Fax+(263) 24-233-4320 Email[email protected] WebsiteU.S. Embassy Harare

MDC is at crossroads following a High Court ruling that declared its leader Nelson Chamisa illegitimate and ordered the party to hold an extraordinary congress instead of its planned congress.

The judgment has brought interest and confusion in and outside the party. Our senior reporter Blessed Mhlanga (ND) caught up with MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume (JM) to get the party’s position and below are excerpts of the interview.

ND: The MDC has indicated that it is going ahead with its congress despite a High Court judgment which has ordered an extraordinary congress instead, what are your thoughts?

JM: Well, first off all, we are pushing ahead with congress. The party is still there, it is still intact. The leadership is still intact, the judgment is one of those things that comes out of the courts, but we have legal options from our lawyers that indicate how we can proceed.

So, we cannot stop a process that had begun, a process that had over 500 000 people, a process that had 1 958 wards, 210 constituencies or districts and 13 provincial congresses. That process has to continue and reach its logical conclusion. What we do is, we look at the situation, if it needs to be appealed, we will do so depending on the advice from our lawyers.

We will appeal so that we proceed or if it does not affect the activities of the party, we will proceed with the activities of the party and we will not appeal. Currently, there is no order that has nullified our congress, there is no order that had nullified the processes that we have done up to this point. There is no order that has indicated that the party had to derail any of its projects in as far as we can interpret the law. Remember, political leadership of a party cannot be determined by anybody else except its members.

It cannot be determined by the courts, it cannot be determined by anyone else who is outside the ambit of the membership. The world over, and time and time again, this is a stated legal principle which has been stated even here in Zimbabwe by Constitutional Court (ConCourt) that it is the preserve of the members to select its leadership and that is what the party is doing.

ND: When you say the ConCourt, what is the specific case.

JM: There is a case of Bhasikiti and others versus Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe, there is the Madzimure case versus MDC. There are a number of judgments this court has issued and their clear stated position is that … if you are unhappy with a particular party, being a voluntary member, you get out and you form your own.

ND: Don’t you risk the tag of being a rogue political party that doesn’t respect the rule of law?

JM: The rule of law is that the members of a political party choose its own leaders.

ND: I mean you are continuing with congress when the rule of law says go for an extraordinary congress?

JM: Well, there is a congress, an extraordinary congress or a congress can be combined in one and in any event, the court has not said we should not hold our own congress. It is clear that a congress has to be held every five years otherwise we fall foul of the constitution. An extraordinary congress simply meets to deal with one agenda. It does not cancel out a congress. Even if the party holds an extraordinary congress every five years, it has to hold its congress and this congress has to be held in terms of the processes that have begun.

Remember a congress when it is held, it validates any decision that has been made by the party. Congress can do anything, it is the ultimate authority and it can change names. It can change and vary a lot of things in terms of its constitution. It can condone any irregularity that was made because it is the ultimate authority of the party.

ND: In the statement you issued, you alleged Zanu PF had a hand in this, do you have any evidence or you are just casting aspersions.

JM: What we referred to were the machinations of Zanu PF to deal with MDC. The evidence of the machinations of Zanu PF are all too clear: The tweets by (Information deputy minister) Energy Mutodi, the statements by various leaders of Zanu PF that are determined to deal with the leadership of the MDC, (Victor) Matemadanda saying they would prefer a particular leader. Douglas Mahiya has said they would prefer a leadership that is other than our president Nelson Chamisa, you have heard them time and time again trying to change the leadership of the MDC right up to the point that they even proposed that they needed to change the Constitution so that the presidency of the country can only be contested by a person who is 52 years old and above. They have said the opposition must develop a character that they (as Zanu PF) have defined; they have clearly made their preferences known … and they have indicated that they don’t want Chamisa to be the MDC president. So, those are the machinations we referred to and the machinations come in all forms and disguises because you are having an opponent trying to choose the coach of a particular team.

ND: There is some vile that is coming out of the party towards Douglas Mwonzora, your secretary-general, on allegations that he had a hand in this judgment?

JM: We have not seen that evidence as a party. We know that the system always wants to work with people inside. It is very important for leaders to distance themselves from certain invitations, certain statements to be unequivocally on where they stand in defence of the party. Sometimes, when leaders prevaricate and are not able to answer or are lily-mouthed in their responses to certain invitations and aspirations, it leads to conclusions being drawn. We have not accused anyone to this point and once we get the evidence, yes, the party has the capacity to deal with such individuals, if any.

ND: Mwonzora is quoted elsewhere saying he gave advice to the party and its leaders on how to avert this crisis, what was the advice.

JM: Well, I am not privy to that advice, he is the party and its leadership ostensibly. How does a person advice himself? You cannot separate him from the party. If he did say that, then that is an awkward phrasing of events. It is like me saying I have advised the party, I am the party, the decisions that come out of internal debates bind the entire leadership. It is such utterances that then invite different meanings from people who are malicious. The party is the collective of its leadership and once they have taken action they do so in their entirety.

ND: There is a statement already out there which says Thokozani Khupe wants to come to Harvest House, is that possible?

JM: (laughs) We say that people can hallucinate. They can daydream or they can conjure phantoms. As far as we know, she has her own party, she held her own congress, fielded her own candidates; she has a motley crew of leadership, one of which they have just recently fired, Linda Masarira and, therefore, it is an entirely different set-up. The issue we have with her is here, she continued to use the MDC-T name, continued use of the party symbols, continued use of paraphernalia that is associated with the MDC and our late icon (Morgan Tsvangirai) and that matter is pending before the courts and it will be heard in the fullness of time. We will defend the interests of the party and we will make sure that party symbols and everything else that the party needs to use is not abused in any particular manner. It would be foolhardy for them to extend this joke beyond where they have taken it by trying to physically impose themselves on the party membership to try and impose themselves on party institutions and party activities. That would be taking a bad joke too far.

ND: Can you please clarify if it is possible for one to impose themselves on members or it is now a war for party assets.

JM: It appears it is now a matter of looting; it is another different matter and will be addressed at the right time. The issue of her coming to the MDC to lead it is not even part of the judgment, so we would not understand where she is getting it. The judgment as it stands, says she was supposed to have been interim leader and was supposed to have called for an extraordinary congress when our founding leader passed on. That time has already lapsed and she has already formed her own party. If the judgment wanted her to call the extraordinary congress, it would have been explicit that Khupe shall call for it. The judgment left the party without a president, it did not install one, and in that case, reading that judgment, it is clear that whoever is in the line of succession in this case, the party chairman should call the extraordinary congress.

ND: There have been reports that the party is in sixes and sevens following this ruling, is it correct?

JM: No, that is incorrect. The membership of the party, the heart and soul of the party is with Nelson Chamisa. We saw that with the 2,6 million people who voted, we saw that from people who walk with us in the streets, we see it everywhere, the heart and soul of the party is not legislated. No amount of writings, kidnappings and killings will take the heart and soul of the party. Where Nelson Chamisa is, is where the party will be.

ND: You are a party with lots of lawyers, who appear before the courts every day for a living, yet you appear not to respect the courts, do you turn to something else when you are in politics?

JM: No! No! Every judgment of the court can be criticised, the Chief Justice Luke Malaba has indicated that any judgment they make can be criticised. We can fundamentally disagree with a judgment; it does not mean you have disrespected anyone. What we say in terms of the law jargon is that we respectfully and fundamentally differ with a judgment of a particular court, which is not a sign of disrespect, it is a sign of democracy, it is a sign of the rule of law and it does not go on one side.

ND: Are you democrats?

JM: Yes, we are democrats. That is why we are saying the leaders of the party are chosen by members, democracy is the ability to say how do you chose.

ND: But we have heard the people in MDC complaining about the use of violence, intimidation and disrespect of your own constitution as indicated in this ruling. Does that impair your record as democrats?

JM: Over 500 000 of our members took part in branch elections and no serious injuries were reported, no death was reported; that was a display of democracy.
ND: When you say there were no injuries, but people were taken to hospital in Chitungwiza, what does that mean?

JM: That was one person not people.

ND: Is that one not too many?

JM: Well, in the grand scale of things, one had to look at the multitude of elections that occurred and that there is only one reported case that had been swiftly investigated and corrective measures taken.

The opposition MDC says it plans to introduce the Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology immediately after its elective congress slated for May 24 to 26.

This was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary and MDC Alliance MP for Mkoba, Amos Chibaya at a district congress held at Chiredzi Town House on Sunday.

The congress, which was meant to elect the district leadership failed to take place, because the wards in attendance failed to make a quorum. Only 10 out of 13 wards showed up after a bungle by the district party leadership in communicating the date of the event.

Chiredzi West has been a problem child for the opposition party for a long time now, leading to more than 10 party members standing as independents in the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections in both parliamentary and local government elections.

Addressing party members, Chibaya said his party is going to introduce the Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology in honour of the late trade unionist, leader and founder of the MDC. Tsvangirai died on February 14 last year, after succumbing to cancer of the colony.

“As soon as the congress is over, we are going to introduce Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology in honour of our late founding father. The first group to attend will be the party’s national council members, followed by the provincial leadership until we reach the branches.

“We want to educate our members on the party ideology. We want our members to understand our position on certain political issues. They should also understand our position on the land policy, which is misconstrued in various circles, (including) Zanu PF, in a bid to tarnish our party.

“As a party, we are saying land to the people, not to the politicians. So we are going to roll out the programme starting in June. We are going to reach out to everyone in our party until we reach the grassroots,” Chibaya said.

NewsDay|BRIBERY demands by high-ranking MDC party officials on prospective candidates resulted in the opposition fielding more than one candidate in some constituencies and council seats, in the run-up to last year’s polls.

This was revealed during a provincial caucus meeting in Bulawayo on Monday, where the opposition party’s aspiring executive council candidates were campaigning ahead of congress later this month.

The party last year had double nominations in some areas, a development most people claimed contributed to its poor showing in several constituencies across the country, where its aggregate votes outstripped eventual winners from the ruling Zanu PF party.

Gabbuza Joel Gabuza, vying for the chairman’s post, claimed there were people asking for money for votes.

“When I was nominated, I only got one nomination, but people started calling me saying can you please give us some money in exchange for nomination. I said no, I will not do that,” he said.

“As a chairman, if you do that, people become untouchable and you will not be able to discipline them. If you accept money, you become compromised. Double candidates are a result of corruption.”

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora was grilled on his plans if given a second mandate to run the office, with some party members accusing him of being involved in the double nomination of candidates.

But Mwonzora brushed aside the accusations and vowed to stay loyal to party leader Nelson Chamisa, and ensure the party will never split.

“What is important is the relationship between the president and secretary-general. If I am not happy, I go to the office of the president. We are close to each other and deal with the disputes,” he said.

“That’s why I have been secretary-general under our late icon Morgan Tsvangirai. There was no split, I have been secretary-general under our president Chamisa, there was no split and there will be no split because we know how to deal with disputes in a mature way.”

Party members also accused Mwonzora of having a hand in the recent High Court judgment which declared Chamisa as an illegitimate party leader.

“Zanu PF killed our people, killed our industries and our economy, we have to remove this government. That is our main objective,” Mwonzora said.

MDC vice-chairman aspirant Job Sikhala said: “There are people who want to personalise the president because they come from the same village; that is what I will stop. I will take the president from the pockets of those who want to personalise our president and will give him back to the people.”

News24|Zimbabwe has started to institute planned rotational power cuts to reduce stress on its national grid, following low water levels at Kariba Dam, generation constraints at Hwange Power Station and limited imports from Eskom in South Africa and Mozambique.

Power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company on Sunday published load shedding schedules for the whole of the country.

“The power shortfall is being managed through load shedding in order to balance the power supply available and the demand,” it said in a weekend statement.

While Eskom in South Africa has eight stages of loadshedding, Zimbabwe has announced only two stages for now.

The power supplier divided the country into seven regions, and then further into districts or suburbs. It has given each district or suburb a numerical code.

This code is then checked against a regional table which has two time periods: Morning peak – between 05:00 and 10:00, and evening peak, between 17:00 and 22:00.

•  FIND: Zimbabwe’s load shedding schedule here 

When power is cut, suburbs that fall within the time period lose power.

The same suburbs or districts will not generally have power cuts over the same day’s morning and evening peaks. When load shedding moves to Stage 2 and “increases beyond the planned limit” power to additional suburbs will be cut. The power cuts will be in five or eight hour blocks in different areas of the region or district. 

Zimbabwe has had to implement power cuts, in part, due to poor rainfall in 2018 and 2019 that led to reduced inflows into Kariba. The dam’s hydroelectric power stations supply electricity to both Zimbabwe and Zambia

Over the years Zimbabwe has been topping up its power supply by importing an average 100MW of power from Eskom and Mozambique, but will be forced to look for more given the current crisis.

Power imports from South Africa’s Eskom also cannot be guaranteed, with the power utility facing a fair share of its own challenges.

Analysts say the impact of the power cuts will be significant to industry, which cannot easily turn to the use of generators amid limited availability of fuel.

News24

https://youtu.be/oilA0qbIuMI

Farai Dziva|Political analyst Tinashe Eric Muzamindo has described Thokozani Khupe as a desperate and power hungry individual.

See his statement below:

Thokozani Khupe must report for duty at Harvest House if she is now the President of the MDC

1. Harvest House is not under threat
2. Any other assets and buildings are very safe
3. Chamisa’s Presidency is very safe
4. They can simply resort to MDC Alliance and use this congress as “Extra-ordinary Congress”
   What a heartless woman whose focus is on hard currency, when the majority of Zimbabweans are languishing in poverty !!!!
   She is more concerned about Harvest House building ?????
   Really Thoko !!!
   … She got away with a brand new vehicle which belongs to Parliament and nothing happened to her? Really. She got away with the name MDC T and brought confusion to less than 30 000 people who voted for her?? She enjoys comedy and the public will judge her in future!
   What a heartless woman, she can do anything so that she can smile all the way to the bank.
   Prices are skyrocketing, Thoko will never respond?
   Tobacco farmers are getting bond money whilst Zim Government is selling tobacco in USD, Thokozani is silent?
   The unemployment rate has reached 98.6%, Thokozani is more worried about Harvest House??.
   No drugs in Hospitals, Khupe wants to be at Harvest House?

By Own Correspondent| A 15 year-old boy is suing the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) after he was brutally assaulted by a police officer, who was reportedly investigating the theft of a mobile phone handset in Mutare’s high-density suburb of Sakubva.

The 15 year-old boy, who is represented by Peggy Tavagadza of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, recently served ZRP with a notice of intention to sue for inhuman and degrading treatment after he was handcuffed and assaulted in March by Jefinias Mazambani, a police officer, who accused him of stealing a cellphone before detaining him at Sakubva Police Station in Mutare, Manicaland province.

However, the 15 year-old boy was released from police custody without being charged.

According to Tavagadza, the 15 year-old juvenile bled profusely as a result of the assault by Mazambani.

Despite being released from police custody without any charges pressed against him, Tavagadza said some ZRP officers continued making impromptu visits to the juvenile’s residence and continued assaulting him.

The ZLHR revealed that Tavagadza will soon issue summons against ZRP, where she will indicate the total amount of damages suffered by the 15 year-old boy as a result of the ill-treatment by the law enforcement agents.

MDC Treasurer General aspirant David Coltart has denigrated Thokozani Khuphe over her remarks that she wanted to reclaim her leadership in the MDC. Khuphe’s remarks came after the High Court nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency in the party.

The court ordered the party to go to an extraordinary congress to elect a new leader.

Dear Thoko Zanu Khupe … You did your congress together with Gutu, Linda Masarira and others, you were elected president and you indicated that your party is the original MDC-T. You participated in the presidential race using the name MDC-T and you got 0.9 percent … Chamisa also participated and got over two and half million votes, so I don’t see the logic why you are saying you want to lead the MDC, which MDC?

Coltart further described Khuphe’s decision as total madness. He added:
You want to be a leader of 2 million people who didn’t vote for you really, this is total madness give us a break madam Khupe …This will not work, you will not work, Chamisa will work … Simple.

Chamisa has engaged advocate Thabani Mpofu to represent him in the matter. Meanwhile, Khuphe has since roped in Professor Lovemore Madhuku to help her implement the court order.

Chamisa’s supporters and sympathisers are arguing that the ruling was influenced by the ruling ZANU PF which prefers any opposition leader but Chamisa.DailyNews

Video loading below…

https://youtu.be/t6dEaaxR_xs

By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC says it plans to introduce the Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology immediately after its elective congress slated for May 24 to 26.

This was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary and MDC Alliance MP for Mkoba, Amos Chibaya at a district congress held at Chiredzi Town House on Sunday.

The congress, which was meant to elect the district leadership failed to take place, because the wards in attendance failed to make a quorum. Only 10 out of 13 wards showed up after a bungle by the district party leadership in communicating the date of the event.

Chiredzi West has been a problem child for the opposition party for a long time now, leading to more than 10 party members standing as independents in the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections in both parliamentary and local government elections.

Addressing party members, Chibaya said his party is going to introduce the Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology in honour of the late trade unionist, leader and founder of the MDC. Tsvangirai died on February 14 last year, after succumbing to cancer of the colony.

“As soon as the congress is over, we are going to introduce Morgan Tsvangirai School of Ideology in honour of our late founding father. The first group to attend will be the party’s national council members, followed by the provincial leadership until we reach the branches.

“We want to educate our members on the party ideology. We want our members to understand our position on certain political issues. They should also understand our position on the land policy, which is misconstrued in various circles, (including) Zanu PF, in a bid to tarnish our party.

“As a party, we are saying land to the people, not to the politicians. So we are going to roll out the programme starting in June. We are going to reach out to everyone in our party until we reach the grassroots,” Chibaya said.

By Own Correspondent- The Cabinet has revealed government plans to privatise the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO).

This is premised at resuscitating the operations of the parastatal to ease challenges in public transport.

The development was disclosed by Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube at a post-cabinet briefing.

Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a deal to revive Cold Storage Company operations under a joint venture.

The deal shall see the partnering company, Boulstead Beef Pvt Limited taking over the management of CSC seven ranches for an initial period of 25 years. It will also be in charge of abattoirs in Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Marondera, and Kadoma.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Senior Doctors have said that they are confident that president Mnangagwa shall meet their grievances. 

They were speaking after meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the State House.

Dr. Faith Muchemwa said that president Mnangagwa assured them that the government was working towards addressing their grievances.

She said that the meeting was arranged by the first lady as she wanted to have an appreciation of concerns of workers in the public institutions.

Muchemwa said:

She then arranged for a meeting with the President and we were listened to. We were assured that most of the things we have requiring are actually on their way through the Minister.

She also revealed that they were promised mainly the medicines, the sundries to use in the hospitals, and some of the equipment that had broken down. Muchemwa also expressed confidence in the president.

She said:

I’m a doctor and I work with faith, so yes (i have confidence that ED will deliver).

Health and Childcare Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo added that Mnangagwa will use his influence to achieve doctors’  wish list.

He, like Dr. Muchemwa, was, however, evasive on the matter of doctors’ remuneration saying that the issue was going to be discussed at other forums.

Doctors, like teachers, are demanding to be paid their salaries in United States Dollars. They argue that the increment that was made recently is now insignificant considering the rising cost of living as a result of the soaring inflation.-263Chat

The United States has issued a warning to its citizens over possible civil unrest in Zimbabwe, African News Agency has reported.

It reports that the US has in a notice titled ‘Zimbabwe Travel Advisory, Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution’, that was released on Tuesday warned Americans to be vigilant in Zimbabwe. 

The advisory read: Violent crime, such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion, is common. Smashing the windows of cars with the intent to steal, which can harm the driver or passengers, is also common.

Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Read the safety and security section on the country information page.

The advisory is also said to have urged those deciding to travel to Zimbabwe to be always alert, avoid openly displaying cash, stay away from political rallies, demonstrations, and crowds, as well as monitor local media for breaking events and to be prepared to adjust plans.

In addition to the above, the advisory is said to have advised the Americans to carry with them copies of their identification and travel documents.

The deteriorating economy and living standards have resulted in increased tensions between the government and opposition parties and civil organisation groups.

Opposition parties, consumer representatives and workers representatives have threatened to take it to the streets if the political and economic crises go unabated.-African News Agency

By Own Correspondent- Musician Clive Malunga claims he quit sex for good in 2002 after divorcing his wife. The 59-year-old says he has been managing without it for close to 17 years.

“I quit sex for life in 2002 when I divorced my wife,” he said.

Malunga dared women who claim to have had slept with him after his divorce to come forward.RELATED ARTICLES

“If there is anyone who can stand in front of the people now saying Clive Malunga is lying, that person can come here and say so, because I have never heard slept with anyone after divorcing with my wife in 2002 up to now.

“I will never ever have a …. relationship with anyone in my life, handina, ndakangozvi garira zvangu inini, I am now just praying,” he said.

Malunga, who runs Jenaguru Music, Arts and Culture International Promotion Village in Belvedere, said he was also unlucky in marriage.

“I am not married; ruoko rwangu urwu rwakashata (I have bad luck in marriage).

“I think the bad luck is because some of these ladies we meet them during our show businesses.

“Later I said to myself, I no longer need to have hassles, I decided to enjoy my life, only taking care of my children, my life, my music.”

Malunga said he was also committed with studies and he has no time for ladies.

“I am currently doing my Masters in Business Administration (degree) with Great Zimbabwe University.

One of the country’s top musicians and music promoter, Malunga, has decided to go back to school – and he has chosen to study for his Masters in Business Administration with Great Zimbabwe University.

The Nesango hit-maker and award-winning musician, Malunga is enrolled with Great Zimbabwe University through the Open Learning Centre, an affiliate of the University.

“It is time for educating our minds than wasting time having sex.”

Malunga, however, urged men not to divorce their wives saying it was only him who was unlucky in marriage.

“I think I am unlucky in marriage. To all men, get me correctly here, I am not saying leave your wives, no, but I am just honestly telling you that I have a bad luck in marriage, hence decided to stay single for life with my children.

“So inini handichada, I am now just staying and educating my children who are now respecting me more because they now know that our father is an organised parent and he is a father,” he said.-H.Metro

By Own Correspondent- A Zimbabwean helicopter pilot, Kelvin Zirema has been arrested in connection with culpable homicide and drunk driving.

South African police report that the pilot hit and killed a Nigerian man and broke the leg of a 26-year-old pedestrian lady before fleeing from the scene.

Zirema who works at a helicopter charter and flight school in Port Elizabeth was however apprehended shortly afterward.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu reported that Zirema lost control of the vehicle after hitting two pedestrians and he ended colliding into four stationary cars parked near the Humewood Hotel.

He shall appear again in court on Thursday where he is expected to apply for bail.

Jorum Gumbo should not just be removed from Energy Ministry and appointed into a fake ministry of Monitoring etc, he should be totally removed anywhere near public office and investigated over ZINARA etc anywhere the reshuffle is not the solution; REFORM or PERISH!

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) May 14, 2019

Chasi put on the spotlight..given a struggling https://t.co/TssCgoallr fuel,no electricity.Regai ,tione kuti kugona basa ,kuchiri kuriita here?@fortunechasi I give you my full support.I hope you will not go Jorum Gumbos way of propaganda.Kugona basa kutaura chokwadi also!

— Facts Are Stubborn (@ChiefGuvson) May 14, 2019

https://twitter.com/GeorgeCharamba/status/1128370262360186882?s=19

By Own Correspondent| Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has claimed that president Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to fully implement all recommendations and reforms proposed in the Kgalema Motlanthe inquiry report.

The inquiry was initiated by president Mnangagwa following the August 1, 2018 shootings which resulted in about 6 deaths. 

Ziyambi, who chairs the inter-ministerial taskforce tasked to ensure implementation of the Kgalema Motlanthe inquiry report said:

We have done all the work in terms of looking at how to implement the recommendations and these will be made public once we present them to Cabinet. What I can tell you (for) now is President Mnangagwa is committed to implement that report in full. It has not been discarded, it’s being taken seriously.

He further said that the report recommended some law reforms including electoral laws and compensation of victims.

There are doubts in some circles on whether arrests will be effected on security personnel who were implicated in the shootings. It is also not clear whether there shall be security sector reforms or not.

However, a source revealed that among other recommendations, the report advocated the commencement of a political dialogue to diffuse years of political violence.

The source also indicated that bringing to book military officers accused of shooting and killing people on the streets of Harare was the major impediment to the implementation of the report in full.-Newsday

Own Correspondent|Mthwakazi kingdom restoration activists have indicated plans to deploy a full-fledged regiment of traditional Ndebele “soldiers” known as Inxusa to protect controversial chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni against possible attacks from ZANU PF and state security agents.

Sources who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence said that the entire Matabeleland region is backing Ndiweni who is currently facing persecution from the government and ZANU PF after he condemned President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

“We want to warn whoever is behind the persecution of Chief Ndiweni that the entire Matabeleland region is fully behind him and will do anything possible to defend and protect him,” said the group spokesperson.

“We have since assembled a full regiment of “soldiers” that will be dispatched soon to give him security as it is now obvious that he is at a serious risk, ” he added.

On Wednesday morning, Ndiweni was exposed to severe threats from a mob of ZANU PF youths at the Bulawayo CBD.

The marauding youths claimed that they had been sent by senior ZANU PF officials to repossess a vehicle which was handed over to him by President Mnangagwa last year.

Ndiweni escaped the ordeal when he pretended to be cooperating with the youth to hand over the car. He asked for them to allow him to get personal belongings from the car, point at which he drew a 20 litre can of petrol and sprayed it all over the car as if to set it on fire.

The terrified youth and other members of the public fled from the scene leaving Ndiweni to safely drive his car home.

The Mthwakazi grouping claims that the special regiment of “soldiers” that will be armed with traditional weapons should be taking over the chief’s security as a matter of urgency.

Ndiweni has been heaving serious clashes with ZANU PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu who at one-time threatened to strip Ndiweni of his chieftainship and throw him out of the area.

Ndiweni could not be reached for a comment at the time of writing.

By Thokozile Usuwana| My first ever memory of any money concept was of the iconic rabbit on the Zimbabwean 5 cent coin. This was enough to buy that ever refreshing freezit or two to quench the thirst that comes inevitably in the hot African sun. As a precocious and early reader, one thing I enjoyed the most was reading the Kwayedza newspaper sipping and savouring my delicious drink. I was about 3 years of age then.

Sadly, now 26 years later, our rabbit is now extinct and newspapers are permeated with propaganda and millennials do not have the slightest idea of the significance of neither what that rabbit meant to us nor what it means to enjoy a good newspaper read.

This is the sad reality of Zimbabwe. Any brainwashed ZANU PF activist can and will easily argue that this sort of scenario is imminent in any country including and especially the United Kingdom with an example being the 6 pence piece. On the other hand, any individual with the basic requirements for common sense can see the vast disparity between the economic impasse in Zimbabwe and the inflation that hits any other country.

In the past few weeks, news filtered in about the shocking price hikes of basic commodities that took a sub-quality loaf bread from ZWL$2 to ZWL$3.50 a price that many can barely afford. Surely the ZANU PF government should be answerable to such appalling conditions.

In an article published on the 26th April 2019 in the online newspaper NewsdzeZimbabwe, the party’ secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, is quoted ,”This is ZANU PF speaking and we are against these price increases. It is not the government that is increasing the prices, it is individuals for whatever reasons. We are saying as a ruling party, these are unjustifiable and unacceptable.”

Why is it so easy for the ruling party to shift blame of these price upsurges on the people who are suffering and hence attributing their own suffering to be because of their own choosing? No sane mind would rather put themselves in the path of suffering!

In my personal opinion, if any mortal is going to drastic and criminal extremes in the midst of adversity and hardship, it is because of desperation and the sovereign need to provide for their families through a difficult season that they did not impose upon themselves. If what the government says about individuals taking liberties with the prices is indeed true, then evidently the Zimbabwean community is committing a crime.

The question always then is , “ what is leading a mass of people to commit financial crimes such as this?” From face value, Zimbabwe is destroying its own economy but the layer just below the surface exposes the ripple effects of the government’s feral actions.

When the coup d’etat took place in Zimbabwe in November 2017, many argued that having Mr E.D Mnangagwa as the president would benefit the country financially. At almost a year and a half later, the only beneficiaries are the president himself and those that he rules with.

The feeling of catharsis that optimists were expecting to get was irrevocably squashed by the heavy grey cloud of looming suffering. There is no denying all the photographic images that we have been seeing of the president and the rest of his “squad” as he has been living it large travelling from country to country on private jets in the name of helping the country, transporting sofas for better seating while addressing cyclone victims and then there is Mr Mthuli Ncube’s breakfast…

Every human being is entitled to a healthy and hearty breakfast as they so wish but when the minister of finance himself is showcasing such luxury mastication while the common man is scrounging for scraps of poor quality bread, what type of picture does it paint?

As I was growing up, my single mother, Ms Sarah Usuwana, always used to teach us to reach and help humanity from the little that we had and the same will be reciprocated unto us.

Most Zimbabweans that were surrounding me then and now still live by these basic fundamental morals and ethos. Clearly those in ZANU PF must have missed those teachings. To make matters worse, they deny any wrongdoing when it is as clear as day whom is the main culprit. All across the world MDC has been conducting congresses and putting together new executive teams that aim to bring about change and democracy in a civilised and non violent manner.

The reality of anguish and adversity that Zimbabwe is facing in these times of extortionate price increases without any corresponding manner of financial income is what drives us as the MDC to yearn for change.

Enough is enough! All this unethical spending done in the eyes of those who do not know where the next meal is coming from is beyond appalling and we stand as optimists that the future with MDC will not see a such profanity. ZANU PF ought to watch this space because this is the last of their repugnant rule!

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF youths in Bulawayo reportedly attempted to confiscate Ntabazinduna Chief Ndiweni’s government vehicle as they sought to fix him over his recent remarks that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be removed from office.

The youths descended on Chief Ndiweni real name Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni in the central business district of Bulawayo, forcing him to surrender his Isuzu Double Cab which he got from government last year.

Ndiweni is on record calling for sanctions to remain in place until government follows democratic tenets.

Below are the pictures of the scuffle;

Anti-corruption special prosecutor Tabani Mpofu, who is handling the trial of Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director-general Gift Machengete, failed to appear in court for the third time yesterday or respond to the application for exception filed by the defence.

Machengete, who appeared before Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya, had filed an objection and application for exception to quash the charges levelled against him after the prosecutor failed to appear in court last week.

Prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga, who was standing in for Mpofu, told the court that he could not respond to Machengete’s application for objection, saying Mpofu had advised him that he was sick.

Mpofu recently dropped the main charge of criminal abuse of office against Machengete, preferring to charge him with inducing a procuring entity to engage in procurement by a method that is prohibited by the Act.

The matter was, however, postponed to April 5 for ruling on the application for exception after Macharaga had undertaken to respond to the application on April 2.

In his application for exception, Machengete is contesting the validity of the charge saying the State facts do not disclose how he induced or intended to induce Potraz as a procuring entity to engage in a procurement method that is prohibited by the Act.

Machengete, who was represented by Farai Zuva standing in for Selby Hwacha, also successfully applied for the release of his passport after he was given Cabinet authority to attend an International Telecommunications Union general meeting in Tanzania.

Macharaga said they could not oppose to the application since the accused was given authority by the government.

He further told court that Machengete was given his passport on February 20 for him to attend to his duty in Barcelona, Spain, and he returned it.

He said they were consenting to release his passport, hoping that he will abide by the conditions.

A plan to build Zimbabwe’s biggest platinum mine at a cost of about $4 billion is floundering because a military stake in the project has deterred potential backers, according to people familiar with the funding discussions.

The African Export-Import Bank has the mandate to raise money for the mine, a joint venture between Russian and Zimbabwean investors. While the bank provided $192 million of its own funds, meetings in the past year with investors including South Africa’s Public Investment Corp., the continent’s biggest fund manager, failed to bring additional commitments, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are private.

Zimbabwe has the world’s third-largest reserves of platinum, palladium and related metals such as rhodium — which typically occur together — after South Africa and Russia. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is trying to lure investment to the country to help rebuild the economy, devastated during the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe.

The sticking point is a Zimbabwe military company that once was subject to U.S. sanctions. Zimbabwe Defence Industries Ltd. and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corp. together hold 30% of the joint venture, known as Great Dyke Investments, through Pen East (Pty) Ltd., a company they control, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.

Vi Holding, led by Russian entrepreneur Vitaliy Machitski, has a 50% stake in Great Dyke, and 20% is held by undisclosed Zimbabwean investors, the documents show. While the documents are dated 2012, the shareholdings are about the same today, two of the people familiar with the discussions said. The $4 billion figure is a government estimate of the cost to develop the mine and associated infrastructure.

Investors ‘Uncomfortable’

“If there is any kind of military shareholding it will make western investors very uncomfortable, especially the banks,” said Peter Major, a mining analyst at Mergence Corporate Solutions Ltd. in Cape Town. “Who is going to risk it? I think they will battle to get funding from traditional and western institutions.”

South Africa’s PIC declined to comment. Zimbabwe’s defense ministry, ZDI and Vi Holding didn’t respond to phone and email requests for comment.

The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe Defence Industries, or ZDI, and several politicians in 2004 because of violence and irregularities in the nation’s 2000 and 2002 elections. Vi Holding groups Russian companies including state-controlled Rostec Corp. and development bank VEB, according to the people. Both companies also have been sanctioned by the U.S. because of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Global Witness has previously tied ZDI to diamond mining in eastern Zimbabwe through an indirect shareholding in a Chinese company. Mugabe said his government lost large sums to theft from that deposit, and Human Rights Watch in 2009 accused the military of shooting and killing 200 miners there.

This wouldn’t be the first time military involvement thwarted a mining project. In 2000, Oryx Diamonds Ltd. scrapped plans to trade in London after its adviser withdrew support under pressure from the U.K. government. Oryx had planned a diamond mine in Democratic Republic of Congo with investors that included another Zimbabwe military company at a time when Mugabe’s forces were fighting in Congo.

Repossessed Land

Mugabe handed the Great Dyke concession to Russian investors in 2006 after the government repossessed land from a unit of South Africa’s Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., or Implats. The first joint venture to try to tap the deposit was Ruschrome Mining, according to the Zimbabwean government. Vi Holding took over Ruschrome’s shareholding in 2014, the people said.

An offer about eight years ago by a “large international mining house” to buy out Pen East from the project for $30 million was rejected, according to a proposal prepared by CDF Trust & Consulting BV, a Zimbabwean consultancy, that was seen by Bloomberg. CDF Trust Managing Director Caleb Dengu declined to comment.

Agreements signed by Great Dyke, Afreximbank, Vi Holding, the Russian Export Center and African Finance Corp. to develop the mine were exchanged at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mnangagwa in Moscow in January.

The project could produce more than 800,000 ounces of platinum-group metals a year, only one-fifth less than Zimbabwe’s total current output from mines owned by Implats and Anglo American Platinum Ltd. Afreximbank is seeking funding at a time when supplies of the metal are balanced and a significant increase in production could depress prices.

Afreximbank, which is based in Egypt, will allow potential backers of the mine at Darwendale, north of the capital, Harare, to use a $1.4 billion guarantee it provided to Zimbabwe, one of the people said. Afreximbank is partly owned by African governments. African Finance Corp., whose holders also include African governments, has agreed to invest $75 million, said Hesphina Rukato, Great Dyke’s chairwoman. Afreximbank will complete financing details for the project around June, she said.

Afreximbank doesn’t comment on “ongoing transactions,” said Obi Emekekwue, the bank’s spokesman.

-Bloomberg

Own Correspondent|The much talked about British Investor set to be taking over the Cold Storage Commission in Bulawayo might just not be what Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa pronounced it to be.

Details about the company on the internet show that the company is actually a dormant company with some of the directors linked to Zimbabwe and also in the books of the defunct Rhodesia Meat Company.

Some of the details extracted from the British Companies House website reveal the below:

This is a developing story more details to come..

Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean opposition leader was beaten up by his lawyer after failing to settle a bill for legal services.

Bryn Mteki, was allegedly assaulted by his lawyer Moses Nkomo over a money dispute.Mteki was one of the 23 candidates who contested in last year’s elections.

The assault incident reportedly occurred on 26 March this year when Mteki and Nkomo were attending court at the Harare Magistrates’ Civil Court.

It is alleged that Nkomo was representing Mteki in a civil case in which he (Mteki) successfully applied for postponement of the case.

Nkomo, who was irked by the postponement, demanded outstanding legal fees from Mteki.

He assaulted Mteki while hurling obscenities at the dreadlocked politician.

Nkomo was not asked to plead to assault when he appeared before Harare magistrate Obedience Matare.

He was remanded out of custody on his own recognition and will be back in court on May 31.

Jane Mlambo| ZANU PF youths have reportedly attacked Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni over his recent remarks that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will leave office soon.

According to an eye witness in Bulawayo, the ruling party youths attempted to take Chief Ndiweni’s vehicle which he got from government.

“They wanted to take his vehicle and he asked them to remove his stuff,” said the eye witness who preferred anonymity.

Ndiweni attracted the ire of ZANU PF leaders over his Mnangagwa remarks with Matemadanda warning that the popular traditional leader was playing with fire.

Ndiweni has also called for more sanctions on Zimbabwe saying the current government had brought more misery to the majority.

Below are pictures of Chief Ndiweni’s scuffle with ZANU PF youths in Bulawayo.