The body of the late national hero Dr Dumiso Dabengwa arrived at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport in Bulawayo on Monday.
The late Dabengwa was declared a national hero will be laid to rest in Ntabazinduna on Saturday.
Scores of people from all walks of life thronged to the airport to welcome his body.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa may not be attending the burial of the late former ZPRA Intelligence Supremo Dr Dumiso Dabengwa sources close to the funeral arrangements have revealed.
The source have revealed that the President who was in South Africa over the weekend for the inauguration of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is considering sending Vice President Kembo Mohadi to stand in for him throughout the funeral and burial.
“It is highly likely that the President may not attend the burial of the late DD because his advisors deem the environment to be very hostile and will be an unnecessary embarrassment,” the source said. “You will be aware that DD will be buried in Ntabazinduna and Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni will definitely be given a platform and his views on Dabengwa are known.
“Dabengwa worked closely with MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and Welshman Ncube meaning these guys will be given a platform to speak at the event. It is with that background that the President is considering not attending to avoid being booed and facing a hostile environment.”
The source added that ZAPU and former ZPRA members were not happy with the way government had treated Dabengwa during Gukurahundi and known after his death where they sought to hijack his body so that it passes through Harare and ransported by Airforce of Zimbabwe.”
On Sunday government sent Mohadi, Dr Obert Mpofu, Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Minister Oppah Muchinguri to the Joshua Nkomo airport to inform family and friends that Dabengwa had been declared a national hero.
His burial is slated for Saturday 1 June at Ntabazinduna.
Former MDC Masvingo provincial chairperson and national member Mr Bernard Chiondengwa was involved in an accident on his way to Harare.
Masvingo Provincial chairperson Mr James Chafungamoyo Gumbi said : “Mr Chiondengwa was involved in an accident today. Let us pray for him and others who were injured. May God grant them quick recovery.”
Melting ice on Mt Everest is uncovering a grisly sight – dozens of dead bodies.
More than 300 people have died attempting to reach the summit of the world’s tallest mountain. Most are left to lie where they fall due to the difficulty in bringing them down from such high altitudes.
Perfectly preserved in the freezing temperatures, they serve as macabre signposts to the summit. Others are covered in snow and ice and can disappear for decades.
But warming temperatures are melting Mt Everest’s glaciers and exposing these bodies.
“Because of global warming, the ice sheet and glaciers are fast melting and the dead bodies that remained buried all these years are now becoming exposed,” Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, told BBC News.
“We have brought down dead bodies of some mountaineers who died in recent years, but the old ones that remained buried are now coming out.”
Many are being found around Camp 4, a relatively flat area.
“Hands and legs of dead bodies have appeared at the base camp as well in the last few years,” an NGO official told BBC News.
“We have noticed that the ice level at and around the base camp has been going down, and that is why the bodies are becoming exposed.”
Another government official added that he had personally retrieved around 10 dead bodies recently.
It’s not just dead bodies that are increasingly a problem. Global warming is also uncovering years’ worth of human faeces from mountains around the world.
USA Today reports North America’s tallest mountain, Denali, could be home to around 66 tonnes of human waste from climbers who left it frozen for years.
National Park Service glaciologist Michael Loso conducted experiments that showed discarded excrement left in snow pits or thrown into deep crevasses in the mountain eventually resurfaced downstream, despite people thinking for years it would be ground up by the ice.
“The waste will emerge at the surface not very different from when it was buried… It will be smushed and have been frozen and be really wet,” he told USA Today.
Own Correspondent|Results coming from Ascot Stadium in Gweru indicate that the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has elected Nelson Chamisa as its president with Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube as vice presidents whilst Thabita Khumalo and Charlton Hwende won National Chairperson and Secretary General respectively.
The electoral process ran throughout the night.
Below is a list of elected members and their respective positions
President: Nelson Chamisa
Vice Presidents: Tendai Biti
Welshman Ncube
Lennet Kairenyi Kore
Secretary General: Charlton Hwende
Treasurer General: David Coltart
Chairperson: Tabitha Khumalo
Youth Assembly
Chair: Obey Sithole
Deputy: Cecilia Chimbiri
Secretary General: Gift Siziba
Deputy Sec Gen: Babra Nyagomo
Tresurer General: Vimbai Mavherudze
Deputy T.G: Judith Tobaiwa
Organizer: Gift Kurauone
Deputy: Netsai Marova
Women Congress went well, and this is what they said.
MDC Deputy Spokesperson Dr Bekithemba Mpofu who had thrown his name in the ring for the post of party National Chairperson has conceded defeat to Thabitha Khumalo.
The former United Kingdom-based University lecturer said he accepts the results of the election and has a handful learning points to take away from this exciting race
The MDC Congress elected Thabitha Khumalo who will be deputised by Job Sikhala. For the Chairperson position, Khumalo got 2 239 votes, Gabuza received 933 while Mpofu received 286.
Below is Senator Bekithemba Mpofu’s statement:
I would like to congratulate Hon. Thabitha Khumalo for winning the MDC National Chairmanship race. I accept the results of the election. I have a handful learning points to take away from this exciting race. The Provincial caucuses provided an opportunity for delegates to make informed decisions and we sold our manifesto and presented our case. I hope the party will continue with this tradition and replicate caucuses at every level of the structure.
I would like to commend the independent electoral commission for running a credible process. The Congress support staff and MDC technical staff also deserve commendation for working well to make the Congress a success.
Finally, I congratulate all congress winners, in particular, my very good friends Hon. Charlton Hwende and Job Sikhala!
Farai Dziva|Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu was not satisfied with how his charges won their first game of the season on Sunday.
Bosso narrowly beat TelOne 1-0 to ease the pressure after going for the opening eight games without a victory. Winger Ray Lunga scored the solitary goal in the 17th minute as the opposite side finished the game with a man short after Frankson Bushiri received a second yellow card in the 75th minute.
But overall, the Wifi Boys dominated possession and were more organised than Highlanders, something Madinda admitted after the game.
“Our football wasn’t better than our previous displays, but what was important was to collect three points,” said the coach.
“TelOne played more meaningful football than us, and we were let down by poor finishing. Our game plan was all about pace, stretch them on the wings, with Ray Lunga and Cleopas Kapupurika.
“But I’m just happy that we broke the jinx.”
The result put Highlanders a place up in the 16th position with eight points.
Farai Dziva|Former Deputy Minister of Finance Terence Mukupe has said those who want to remove Emmerson Mnangagwa from power are daydreaming.
On Friday Mukupe claimed the operation would be futile.
“You can’t employ the same strategy twice. Good luck to you daydreamers. We will respond in kind,” Mukupe tweeted, apparently referring to the 2017 coup that saw Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming power.
Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Ruhanya has commended MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa for reflecting political maturity at the party Congress.
” What @nelsonchamisa demonstrated at the Gweru Congress flies in the face of fake and bogus pronouncements by Pfeeerorists such as Matematanda that @nelsonchamisa is not mature.
ZANU PF used tankers for transition.”
“FUNDAMENTALLY ideas and not mere sloganeering won at the MDC Gweru Congress; it’s a mixed bag with everything; ideas, mobilisation, grassroots, gender, regional balances etc, Well done @nelsonchamisa
for managing the post Tsvangirai transition so well.”
Farai Dziva|Newly elected MDC A Youth Assembly Information and Publicity Secretary Stephen “Sarkozy” Chuma says he is ready to work for the “people’s project.”
“Thank you Zimbabwe for your support and confidence in me.
Not only will I be your mouthpiece but an earpiece. As such I look forward to work with everyone in this information superhighway era.
Farai Dziva|Former Vice President Joice Mujuru is in financial doldrums according to state media reports.
Mujuru has been forced to settle her debt amounting to US$452 000 with Peppy Motors that supplied tractors to her company, Ruzirun Investments, five years ago, according to a state run paper.
Mujuru was dragged to the High Court as Peppy Motors, represented by its lawyer Tapson Dzvetero, sought to recover the money it paid to Mujuru’s bank, Stewart Bank.
She had entered into a loan facility agreement in terms of which Steward Bank advanced a capital sum of US$350 000 for the purchase of various tractors from Peppy Motors.
According to The daily publication , the maturity date was July 31, 2013.
Sarbrina and Tony Sarpo of Peppy Motors bound themselves as surety to the loan advanced to Mujuru by her bank.
However Mujuru failed to meet her part of the deal.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE 5TH NATIONAL CONGRESS HELD AT ASCOT STADIUM GWERU, MIDLANDS, ZIMBABWE
2019-2024
The Movement for Democratic Change convened a successful and historic Congress from the 24th to the 26th of May 2019 at Ascot Stadium in Gweru, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe under the theme “Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe”.
Following a comprehensive Political Report of the Party and Thematic Reports followed by robust debates by delegates during plenary, Congress made the following Resolutions –
EXTERNAL RESOLUTIONS
Congress takes note of the multiple crises affecting and arresting Zimbabwe which includes crisis of legitimacy, of governance, of lack of confidence, economy disequilibrium, breakdown of the rule of law, corruption and massive closure of political space.
Congress therefore resolves that the Party must urgently implement measures to address and resolve the national crises. Which measures include the following –
(a) the transformation, strengthening, modernisation, renewal, capacitation, rejuvenation and reinvigoration of The Party.
(b) defending and protecting the people of Zimbabwe and the constitution though proactive informed processes of engagement that include advocacy and mobilisation, including the exercise of the people’s constitutional right to petition and protest as protected by s59 of the Constitution.
(c) providing solid and effective leadership in the zones controlled by the party including parliament, local authority, including deepening and sharpening the Party’s relations with the trade union movement, the church, the student movement and the rest of civic society.
(d) providing leadership and alternative programmes, ideas and solutions to the national crisis through deep and informed policy positions, particularly on issues of governance, the rule of law, constitutionalism and the economy.
(e) implementation and pursuit of the reform agenda particularly on areas that fundamentally affect the national question, including areas of –
I. electoral reform
II. political and institutional reform
III. constitutional and legal reforms
IIII. security sector realignment
V. corruption
VI. devolution
VII. poverty and social safety nets
VIII. the economy
(f) the pursuit of genuine inclusive national dialogue to actualise the reform agenda though an inclusive framework or transitional mechanism.
Resolution of Legitimacy and the National Question
Concerned by the absence of a national consensus and broad-based inclusive reforms resulting in cosmetic, false and pretentious reforms. Congress therefore, calls for the restoration of trust, confidence and legitimacy in order to create an environment for growth, stability, productivity on the back of domestic and foreign capital flows. Congress reiterated its position, that in the face of continued intransigence by ZANU-PF, the people of Zimbabwe have a constitutional right to protest.
Congress further calls for an all stakeholders and all people’s Convention to locate exit points to the crisis currently bedevilling our country.
In order to resolve the national crisis, Congress mandated the party to engage in a national dialogue to reach a political settlement through a transitional mechanism.
Any such dialogue must be credible and bankable, anchored on five key pillars which are:
a) Return to Legitimacy and normalcy
b) A Comprehensive reform agenda
c) Nation building and peace building
d) An end to international Isolation
e) Resolving the economic and humanitarian situation
Congress mandates the Party to formulate and launch a roadmap to legitimacy and dialogue framework to guide the Party in any dialogue for the purposes of resolving the national crisis.
The National Economy
Through disastrous policies anchored on patronage and regime survival agendas, the ZANU PF administration has collapsed the economy which finds itself in a deep recession characterized by high unemployment, zero productivity, hyperinflation, an unsustainable debt, collapsed social services, terrible monetary policy and loss of value of working peoples salaries and pensions.
Congress therefore mandates the party to take action through dialogue and other constitutional means of ensuring that there is deep structural Reforms in the economy including –
(i) macro-economic stability and fiscal consolidation
(ii) a stable monetary policy including a return to the multi-currency regime and the demonetization of the RTGS dollar and its cousin, the bond note.
(iii) ensuring full employment and the preservation of the value of wages and pensions
(iv) a resolution of the country’s sovereign debt crisis through methods that do not ensure the country’s further indebtedness and the continued accumulation of unsustainable and odious debt.
(v) addressing poverty, social services and the creation of social safety nets.
(vi) the pursuit of a rigorous programme of the rural areas.
(vii) the pursuit of gross capital formation and infrastructural transformation focusing on roads, energy, dam and ICTs.
Issued at Gweru this 27th day of May 2019
National Institutions
Congress recognises that the constitutional role of national and state institutions including our national security institutions in defending our territorial integrity and sovereignty is of utmost importance and that their professionalism and neutrality in the election of political leadership is important in the development of constitutional democracy and economy.
Rule of law and Independence of the Judiciary
Congress reiterates the party’s position to uphold the rule of law and to continue respecting the independence of judiciary.
The Labour Agenda
Congress resolved to establish a Labour Caucus as a platform to engage workers and address labour related matters. Congress further resolved to institute a labour quota at all levels in the Party structure.
Court Judgement
Congress noted a High Court Judgement ordering the Party to hold an Extra-Ordinary Congress and resolved that the necessity and requirements of such Extra-Ordinary Congress have been fully addressed by this Congress.
Party in Government
Congress noted that the Party has developed a comprehensive policy blueprint called SMART and therefore resolves to stand by these policy positions and continue to review them in line with changing circumstances. Further that the Party must continue to develop policy positions in line with the objectives of the Party.
The Party will formulate and launch a New Zimbabwe Blueprint to guide a conversation and discourse on our vision for a new Zimbabwe.
The Party will develop a comprehensive legislative agenda to inform reforms and oversight by Parliament.
The Party shall develop a SMART agenda to inform the Local Government work-plans in the various zones of autonomy where the Party has been given a mandate by the people of Zimbabwe.
The National Democratic Project
Congress noted that the Party is the legitimate vehicle of the ideals of the liberation struggle. As such, the Party will lead the nation in a national agenda of nation building through building a consensus by all Zimbabweans for Zimbabwe.
Congress mandates the Party to honour and salute all the liberation war heroes and the nation’s forebears for their contribution to the attainment of our independence.
Diplomacy and International Relations
Congress mandates the Party to build a global solidarity network and diplomatic offensive for pressure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. There must be African solutions to African problems upon the support of the international community.
Congress directs the Party to build African and global solidarity for the advancement of the African people’s struggles and aspirations. Further, to advance the struggles of all the downtrodden and oppressed people of the world.
Congress mandates the Party to work with all progressive peoples, nations and governments that defend and advance good governance, rule of law and democracy, worldwide.
The website that publishes opinion analyses, Spotlight Zimbabwe claims that ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has agreed to resign. We issue caution that at the time of writing, these claims remained unverified. BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT
Itai Mushekwe/Mary-kate Kahari
COLOGNE/HARARE– President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reportedly due to tender his resignation as the country’s leader in less than twelve months, to avoid a humiliating exit, after failing to resolve Zimbabwe’s economic crisis and suffering an alleged business fallout with a powerful military faction rooting for Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, to either take over or name a successor to finish off Mnangagwa’s term, Spotlight Zimbabwe, has exclusively been told.
Furthermore and exacerbating Mnangagwa’s political woes, a ruling Zanu PF faction opposed to his rule and believed to be in bed with the opposition MDC Alliance, is said to have elevated plans to impeach him and possibly call for his arraignment in the killing of innocent protesters in August 2018 and early this year, when the country’s main labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called for a three day stay-away.
Hitherto it was unbeknown in the public sphere, that Mnangagwa has also been dropped as “the money man” in businesses he was allegedly fronting for the army by securocrats aligned to VP Chiwenga, top level sources in government have revealed.
Mnangagwa is easily one of the richest people in Zimbabwe, according to Wikileaks cables written by a US envoy in 2001. The cables, however, do not provide an estimate of his wealth, but speculation is rife that his fortune could now be in the billion dollar club.
United Nations Security Council reports in 2002 and 2003, say Mnangagwa’s wealth was supplemented by his involvement as one of the illegal mineral exploiters in the Congo, through a company called Cosleg Private Limited. Cosleg is a joint venture company formed by a Democratic Republic of Congo-based entity Congo Comiex and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’s company Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (OSLEG). The firm was established for the purpose of pursuing business opportunities in timber and minerals found in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Katanga Province.
“The game is over for Mnangagwa,” said a senior army officer based at Tongogara Barracks in the capital. “There are many factors at play, and although he might put up a brave face in public, things have reached a boiling point and he’s going to be out very soon. Actually his resignation as Zimbabwe leader is to avoid a humiliating exit, because the top guns (military generals) are livid about his mortgaging of the country’s mineral wealth in opaque arrangements with foreign powers secretly hostile to this country. I can confirm that he has been given six months to wrap up his duties and step down no later than early 2020.”
The officer said Mnangagwa’s dethronement could come early as military intelligence has gathered that the opposition intends to stage massive winter protests, and continue with a series of shut-down campaigns to set the stage for his impeachment over the worsening economic situation.
In October last year, opposition legislator for Chitungwiza North, Godfrey Sithole, pleaded with Zanu PF lawmakers to join hands with his party to impeach Mnangagwa so as to save Zimbabwe from total collapse.
Another source in the defence ministry said the real reason Mnangagwa was being pushed out is that he was now out of favour with China, which has reportedly been asked not to release any loans to Mnangagwa’s administration by Chiwenga’s military backers, pointing out that his tenure was coming to a close and that the army is replacing him with another leader, set to be in power between 2020 to 2023, when the next presidential election is due.
Mnangagwa the highly placed source said is being eased out of control of business deals and ventures involving the army, in which he played a pivotal role including diamond mining partnerships with the Chinese in Chiadzwa.
“There is a misconception that Mnangagwa is the one who brought back the Chinese diamond company Anjin to mine diamonds in Marange after they were dismissed for corruption activity by President Robert Mugabe. It was the vice president (Chiwenga) who ordered for their immediate return after the 2017 November military intervention to remove Mugabe. Mnangagwa then conspired to bring in the Russians, through Alrosa diamonds and that did not go down well with the army leadership, as it was seen as a political checkmate attempt. You can also see the tug of war to control the country’s fuel supplies taking place behind the scenes. The military always wins, and Mnangagwa and his allies will be muscled out.”
A prominent Zimbabwean banker with links to the ruling party, now based abroad said he predicts a violent and humiliating ouster for Mnangagwa, who he suspects will try to buy time, to regularise some of the deals he struck in Eurasia this year, which are still in the pipeline.
“The president is living on borrowed time,” he said. “The mistake he made was to play poker face with China. They could have bailed him out with a massive economic package, but his finance minister was and is still negotiating with the IMF and World Bank for a similar package. The Chinese had planned to channel the Zimbabwe revival loan through BRICS, but with the Bretton Woods institutions which are rivals with BRICS coming into the country’s economic equation through the backdoor, Mnangagwa has sealed his own demise. The IMF will unfortunately at this moment not give us a cent, therefore he can’t fix the economy. That’s Mnangagwa’s waterloo.”
Our contacts close to the Office of The President and Cabinet (OPC) maintain that Mnangagwa has officially agreed to tender his resignation in private and that he will be out of office no later than May 2020.
“Yes, he has six months to wind up as president and will likely tender his resignation at anytime after this grace period,” they said. “They have also discussed about his retirement benefits and pension. Although he would not have served a full term, we understand the army is willing to award him all full benefits and pension of someone who has served a complete term.”
Ironically Mnangagwa himself in December 2017 gazetted pension and retirement benefits which a Zimbabwean former Head of State and Government should enjoy on retirement.The benefits were published in a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government Gazette in terms of Presidential Pension and Retirement Benefits (Services and Facilities for Former Presidents) Notice, 2017. Former leader Mugabe is the inaugural beneficiary of the entitlements.
Officials at the information ministry said they could not comment on sensitive presidential matters last night, referring all questions to Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba, whose mobile phone went unanswered on numerous attempts.
Farai Dziva| Guinea national team coach Paul Put has named a provisional 25-man squad for Afcon 2019 Tournament.
Put included Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita in his preliminary selection despite still nursing an injury.
Other notable names in the squad include Amadou Diawara of Napoli, Ibrahima Traore of Borussia Monchengladbach and Toulouse defender Issiaga Sylla are some of
Guinea’s provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Naby Yattara (Excelsior, Reunion Island), Ibrahima Kone (Pau, France), Moussa Camara (AC Horoya), Aly Keita (Ostersunds, Sweden).
Defenders: Fode Camara (Gazelec Ajaccio, France ), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, France), Ernest Seka (Nancy, France), Simon Falette (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Ousmane Sidibe (Beziers, France), Baissama Sankoh (Caen, France), Mikael Dyrestream (Xanthi FC, Greece), Julian Jeanvier (Brentford, England).
Farai Dziva|CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe has applauded his team’s performance in a 3-0 victory over Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday.
Makepekepe dominated their opponents throughout the match, opening the scoring as early in the second minute through Joel Ngodzo before John Zhuwawu doubled the advantage twenty minutes later.
Ngodzo came back again in the second period, notching home a superb strike on the hour mark.
The speedy duo of Phineas Bamusi and Gabriel Nyoni was a menace coming from the flanks and kept the hosts’ backline busy.
Chitembwe described the performance as a high-class in his post-match presser.
“It was a high-class performance, we were at a different level,” said the coach.
“We showed our supremacy on both technical and tactical ability and everything went according to plan. The boys were very strong mentally and we got what we wanted.”
CAPS United returned to the top of the log following the victory, maintaining a two-point lead.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF UK has accused Chief Ndiweni of misleading the people of Zimbabwe.
See the Zanu PF UK statement below:
Ndiweni must be careful. He makes it seem like there were no people living in what is now known as Ntabazinduna prior to Mzilikazi’s invasion.
Those people have living descendants. We have to note that Europeans were in what we now know as Zimbabwe more than a century before his ancestors Ndiweni has no nyaya.
Four decades overseas then all of a sudden he is the vanguard of the Ndiweni chieftainship?
Surely how can he question the election of President ED Mnangagwa and the integrity of our constitutional court, misleading many people in the process?
Farai Dziva|Social media analyts Simeon Mawanza has urged the nation to pray for Farirai Gumbonzvanda and the detained human rights activists.
See Mawanza’s statement : Last night I could not sleep. I was thinking of this young woman, Farirai Gumbonzvanda.
She spent the night in Zimbabwe’s top most maximum security prison, Chikurubi Prison. She is accused of plotting to overthrow the government. How could I sleep knowing fully well that an injustice is unfolding in my country and the victim is someone I know.
We have many challenges in our country, but I think the worst is when the State falsely accuses innocent people and lock them up and we keep quiet about it. I have weighed in on this case. I have applied logic. I am still wondering why someone would think they are doing our country a favour by locking up our innocent Farirai.
One of the reasons I had taken a vow not to comment on politics in Zimbabwe was because I was disillusioned by a type of politics that does not seek to establish common ground so that we can rebuild our lives.
Farirai is 26 years old. She came home after studies to volunteer in a charity that seeks to empower rural girls to have dreams beyond their village. She campaigns to end child marriages.
She is a model citizen. When her peers are out partying and doing all sorts she is building her community clutching on her mother’s big skirt – our big sister Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda .
I pray for love. I pray for Farirai. I pray for my country. I pray for its leadership. I pray for the innocent locked up for crimes they did not commit.
Farai Dziva|Former Deputy Minister of Finance Terence Mukupe has said those who want to remove Emmerson Mnangagwa from power are daydreaming.
On Friday Mukupe claimed the operation would be futile.
“You can’t employ the same strategy twice. Good luck to you daydreamers. We will respond in kind,” Mukupe tweeted, apparently referring to the 2017 coup that saw Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming power.
Farai Dziva|Terence Mukupe has said he is ready to defend Emmerson Mnangagwa following claims that there is a plot by the military to remove him from power.
There are claims that Constantino Chiwenga, and a hardline military faction backing his political doctrine and ambitions, are reportedly on the verge of toppling Mnangagwa.
Social media reports claim Mnangagwa’s ouster will be carried out under a military operation code-named “Operation Restore Economy.”
“Mnangagwa is keen to save face and resign to avoid humiliation, but a Zanu PF faction supporting his presidency is resisting the move,” a social media report claimed.
Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Ruhanya has commended MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa for reflecting political maturity at the party Congress.
” What @nelsonchamisa demonstrated at the Gweru Congress flies in the face of fake and bogus pronouncements by Pfeeerorists such as Matematanda that @nelsonchamisa is not mature.
ZANU PF used tankers for transition.”
“FUNDAMENTALLY ideas and not mere sloganeering won at the MDC Gweru Congress; it’s a mixed bag with everything; ideas, mobilisation, grassroots, gender, regional balances etc, Well done @nelsonchamisa
for managing the post Tsvangirai transition so well.”
By Own Correspondent- The body of the former and late ZIPRA Commander, Dumiso Dabengwa is expected today in the country.
This development follows delays in the arrival of his body after it remained stuck in South Africa due to space constraints in the cargo compartment of an Airlink plane which flew his widow, Zodwa and other family members to Bulawayo.
Sources privy to the development said that the body would land in Bulawayo at around 10:40 am today ahead of his burial at his rural home in Ntabazinduna on Saturday.
Dr Dabengwa was declared a national hero. The national hero status of the ex-Home Affairs minister was announced by vice president Kembo Mohadi.
Speaking to mourners who had come to greet the body of the late national hero, Mohadi said:
Unfortunately, the body could not come in this (Airlink) plane. We were told that the holding was very small. The body remained behind. We are making arrangements that his body be flown into Zimbabwe either this evening through any other aircraft, but not directly to Bulawayo.
Across the political divide, Dabengwa’s hero status was something that was very obvious.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has been forced to settle her debt amounting to US$452 000 with Peppy Motors that supplied tractors to her company, Ruzirun Investments, five years ago.
She had entered into a loan facility agreement in terms of which Steward Bank advanced a capital sum of US$350 000 for the purchase of various tractors from Peppy Motors. The maturity date was July 31, 2013. Sarbrina and Tony Sarpo of Peppy Motors bound themselves as surety to the loan advanced to Mujuru by her bank.
Mujuru was dragged to the High Court as Peppy Motors, represented by its lawyer Mr Tapson Dzvetero, seeking to recover the money it paid to Mujuru’s bank, Stewart Bank.
In its claim filed at the High Court, Peppy Motors now seeks an order compelling Mujuru and her company Ruzirun Investments (Pvt) Ltd, to settle the debt now standing at US$387 583.22. During a pre-trial conference before Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa, Mujuru’s lawyers concede they had no defence and chose to hammer a settlement.
This will give the former VP a chance to liquidate her debt with Peppy Motors. According to the deed of settlement, Mujuru will now pay US$452 000 with effect from June 30 this year.
“Judgment with cost on a legal practitioner’s scale be and is hereby entered against the first and second defendants (Mujuru and Ruzirun Investments) jointly or severally the one paying the other to be absolved from the payment of (a) US$226 000 being the capital debt due to the plaintiff (Peppy Motors), (b) US$226 000 being the interest on capital debt due to plaintiff,” the consent order read.
It was also agreed that the capital debt, interests and costs of suit shall be paid in terms of a deed of settlement executed between the parties with effect from June 30, this year.
State Media|Zimbabwean consumers will be relieved to know that the intensity of the load shedding has now returned to normal after it had been scaled up in the last few days when power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) had moved to Stage 2. ZESA blamed the intensifying of the load shedding on a fault which had occured at Hwange Thermal Power Station which appears to have since been rectified.
ZESA spokesperson Fullard Gwasira told state media.
“We have since resolved the issue of the phase two load shedding and that means we have gone back to the normal hours of load shedding.
“People should not panic, at the moment we are sticking to the scheduled time table that we have been working with and if something comes up, members of the public will be told.”
However, despite Gwasira’s sentiments, please note that the power utility has also said that the load shedding schedule is not fixed and should only be used as a rough guide.
The published load shedding schedule is a guide for planning purposes and is not fixed. If supplies improve on a given day, the shedding will be shorter than stipulated and if supply deteriorates, then shedding will be longer than advertised.
Own Correspondent|LATE MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s daughter Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java has won the MDC women’s assembly secretary general post from a hospital bed.
Java, who is sitting MP for Glen View South, was involved in a Kwekwe car crash that killed two occupants who include her maternal uncle a fortnight ago.
They were returning to Harare from a party caucus in Bulawayo.
Java is daughter to Susan Tsvangirai who died 2009 in a road crash which saw then Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai escape with injuries.
She faced off challenge from Memory Mbodiya for the influential women’s job.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume confirmed Java was still in a Harare hospital.
Last week, Mafume told journalists that Java was recovering well at Harare’s Avenues Clinic.
She was said to have suffered superficial head wounds, broken left hand and a broken pelvis.
Own Correspondent|Senior MDC sources have revealed that the party is at crossroads trying to make sure that current Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube retains his position in order “to save the party.”
The sources indicated that Ncube is being pushed to the position primarily for what they call regional balance and secondly because he was the big brains behind the formulation of the MDC Alliance with the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.
The tactical protection of Ncube means that the race for the Vice President post will likely come down to one bruising political fight between Tendai Biti and Morgen Komichi.
“Ncube will be allowed to win somehow. It will be a disaster if he were not to and the party would not want to be sucked into that sticky situation.
“This leaves one slot for the vice presidency meaning Biti and Komichi with (Elias) Mudzuri, a distant outsider,” the insiders said.
“Komichi has remained loyal to the party and president (Nelson Chamisa). He probably deserves it but capacity wise, Biti is way ahead but very ambitious. It’s a political banana skin for both the party and president.”
Biti who is totally against the protection of Ncube questioned the election commission during a briefing on how they are going to make sure that no ballot papers stuffed probably by the party system in order to rescue Ncube.
“What safeguards have you (independent election commission) put in place to make sure there is no ballot stuffing,” the former party secretary general said.
Mfundo Mlilo who is heading the electoral commission said the commission had enough capacity to deal with all concerns.
Another source said Ncube will only win if “there is political engineering. He is not very popular but the ethnic card will save him. The party will make sure he sails through.”
This leaves Biti and Komichi in a bitter scrap for power with Mudzuri already a right-off given his frosty relations with Chamisa.
The former Harare Mayor has not even been seen at the congress.
Mlilo declared the voters roll would not be altered.
“We would need the resolutions to make a decision but for now, anyone not appearing on the voters roll will not be allowed to vote,” he said.
Curiously, despite concerns around the credibility of the voters roll, Mlilo said candidates will not be allowed to inspect the roll of voters.
UPDATE: Preliminary figures for the Secretary General post seen by ZimEye at 7.30am reflected that Chalton Hwende has outpaced his rival, Douglas Mwonzora. Hwende was soaring above 2,000 while Mwonzora was wailing below 800. – More follows
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has warned that police will use maximum force to deal with the opposition MDC if it engages in any mass action against the government.
Mathema gave the warning in a press conference after MDC President Nelson Chamisa warned that his party is going to protest against the harsh economic conditions after its congress currently taking place in Gweru.
“Against the background of opposition led bloody demonstrations on 1st August last year and again between 14th and 16th January this year,
Government has noted and treats with seriousness, threats by MDC-Alliance and its leader Mr Nelson Chamisa that: ‘As soon as MDC-Alliance congress ends, it will be war’.
“This intemperate and inciteful language, clearly conveying an intention to breach national peace through public violence, disorder, looting and destruction of property, deserves unqualified condemnation by all peace loving Zimbabweans, and unequivocal censure by genuine democrats and friends of Zimbabwe.”
He added, “Such reckless threats made against any constitutional order in any part of the world, require and invite a vigorous response from any responsible Government.”
Ambassador Mathema said governments the world over, were there to protect peace, and to ensure citizens claim and exercise their rights, while at the same time discharging and fulfilling their obligations fully, regardless of individual status, motivation, cause or party affiliation.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is constitutionally mandated to guarantee the same in our country. It is determined to and indeed will do no less.
“It was never the intention of the legislature to pass laws which themselves become a basis of, or a licence for, unleashing lawlessness and chaos in the land. Or even a thin pretext for overturning or reversing the general will of the Zimbabwean people as expressed through the ballot, by resorting to violent acts of civil unrest and disobedience,” he said.
He said during the bitter and bloody events of August 1 last year and January this year, many lives were lost while businesses suffered huge losses, adding that the events will not be repeated, in the name of exercising constitutional rights.
“No set of rights in our Constitution come before or above the twin sacred rights to life and to personal security which we hold foremost.
Those who choose to act against these, or any other, will only have themselves to blame when the full wrath of the law visits them without any iota of mercy,” said Ambassador Mathema.
He said peace-loving Zimbabweans, who are in the majority, deserve full protection from selfish political actors who vainly attempt to grab power from the street; or who seek to cover up dissension in their party by precipitating civil unrest in the country.
Ambassador Mathema added that Government efforts at reviving the economy, which are in full swing, require and will be underpinned by national peace and national focus.
“No individual or groups of individuals, will be allowed to hold our nation to ransom by disturbing or disrupting that hard-won peace. Our law enforcement agencies are under full orders to exercise their full, lawful authority and might to guarantee peace and calmness for and at all times,” he said.
“They are now behind us, with next elections only coming in 2023, consistent with the constitution.
“Elections do not happen out of personal whims. In the same vein, I wish to draw to his attention and that of all his supporters that, in addition to constitutionally defined and provided avenues for inter-party interactions, Government went an extra mile by setting up a credible framework for national dialogue which is open to all political parties and players,” he said.
Farai Dziva|Several Zimbabweans have said the Marondera woman who was arrested after being found in possession of mbanje should not be prosecuted as she was only trying to fend for her family.
The woman was arrested after being found in possession of 52 kilograms of mbanje.
Sandra Rusenza said:Don’t blame her, the situation is bad ari kuedza kurarama. Better pane kuba.
Cathew Manyani commented:
It’s very unfortunate. She needs a good lawyer. I don’t believe the weed is hers. She could have been used by someone. If she doesn’t get legal representation she will definitely go to jail.
Prosper Chibvura: Please this is not fair. A woman of her calibre should be cautioned and given another chance and supported with a legal project so that she continues to do the best for her family. Haana kuba haana kuuraya haana kumukira hurumende haana kuita chitadzo kunaMwari. REGERERAYI VAKADAYI VANOITIRA ZVINHU FOR A REAL CAUSE!!!
Shepherd Mukuta:God bless her she is doing this for her living. Pana Pana:Hupenyu hwakaoma arikutsvagawo yefood neyevana yexul fees ….may God bless her family.
COMMUTERS have called on ZUPCO to adjust timetables to cater for all workers as existing starting and finishing times and also expand on areas covered.
Currently the Zupco buses operate between 5am and 7pm, which affects those that finish work late or have to attend evening lessons at various colleges and universities, commonly known as adult learning
. Commuters want Zupco buses to operate 24/7 to cater for those who work different shifts as the current scenario assumes everyone works the traditional 8am-5pm shift.
When the cheap buses are off the road, kombis charge anything up to $5 for trips costing $1 on Zupco which affects most of the commuters who cannot afford.
Some end up jumping onto open trucks as a cheaper option to the kombis.
On Monday government announced the slashing of ZUPCO fares by 50 percent for both urban and rural travel whereby distances within 20km radius cost 50c (RTGS), 20km-30km now cost 75c while 30km to 40km is now $1.
This followed a decision to scrape support for fuel importers who were getting the US$ at 1:1 with the RTGS and now have to source the scarce currency from the interbank market. Finance and Economic Development Secretary, George Guvamatanga said government decided to cushion the travelling public against fuel price hike.
Yesterday petrol was selling at $4.97 and diesel $4.87 at the prominent service stations, which triggered a hike in the privately owned commuter omnibuses, otherwise known as kombis.
“Please be advised that the Zupco bus fares on Operation Restore Sanity have been reduced by 50 percent from 21 May 2019. This has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public,” said Guvamatanga. State media
Own Correspondent|Uganda opposition People Power Movement leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu also known as Bobi Wine has blasted his country’s president Yoweri Museveni for over staying in power.
Bobi Wine while speaking at Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) congress in Zimbabwe said Museveni’s fundamental change promised in 30 years ago was a hot air.
Here is part of Bobi Wine hard hitting speech in Zimbabwe.
In my country, in 1986, a man emerged out of a 5 year long guerilla war that claimed more than half a million lives of our people. The young cattle keeper turned soldier stood on the footsteps of our Parliament and promised nothing but a fundamental change in the politics of our country.
He promised to preside over a country based on the principles of unity, democracy, equality and social justice. He said that Africa’s problem was not the people but leaders who overstay in power! Our people dreamed again!
As we gather here today, President Museveni has been in power for 33 years and showing no sign of quitting. Another betrayed dream – Bobi Kyagulanyi
Dabengwa’s widow Zodwa arrives in Bulawayo without her husband’s body.
THE family of the late ZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has welcomed Government’s decision to declare him a national hero but immediately declared that he will not be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Dr Dabengwa died on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, while being flown back to Zimbabwe from India where he had gone for medical treatment.
He was 79.
Dr Dabengwa died following a liver related illness that started last year in November.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi on Sunday announced that Dr Dabengwa had been declared a national hero at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport where his body was expected to arrive aboard a South African Airways plane.
However, the body did not arrive due to some complications and is expected to arrive in the country today at 10AM at the same airport.
Scores of people yesterday converged at the airport to receive the body.
Some of the people who had gone to the airport proceeded to the Dabengwa residence in Fourwinds, Bulawayo where family spokesperson Mr Gibson Sibanda revealed that the body is expected today.
Mr Sibanda said the family was satisfied with the national hero status accorded to Dr Dabengwa.
“We welcome that he has been declared a national hero,” said Mr Sibanda.
He added that the family informed Vice President Kembo Mohadi of their desire to bury him at the family gravesite in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North.
Mr Sibanda said Vice President Mohadi revealed that Government respects their family position.
He appealed to members of the public to come in their numbers’ today and receive the body of the national hero at the airport. Transport is expected to be availed for those intending to go the airport.
Thousands of people wait in vain for the body of Dumiso Dabengwa at JMN Nkomo Airport on Sunday.
Own Correspondent|A fierce war is building up between hardline Matabeleland activists and politicians against the ruling ZANU PF party over who should be in charge of the burial of late National Hero Dumiso Dabengwa.
Led by the opposition ZAPU, the party which Dabengwa led out of ZANU PF, and the Mthwakazi Republic Party, accusations immediately arose that ZANU PF a party Matabeleland accuses of tormenting Dabengwa in much of his post independence life was hijacking his burial.
Tensions arose on Sunday when Vice President Kembo Mohadi declared that Dabengwa has been accorded the National Hero status an announcement that immediately ignited state systems to take over charge of the body of the deceased and all proceedings.
Immediately after it was announced that Dabengwa’s body was not in the flight that brought his wife, accusations immediately kicked off that ZANU PF had a hand in the mix up with the MRP declaring resistance against ZANU PF and government in handling Dabengwa’s burial.
The full Statement released by the radical regional party on Sunday reads:
Zanu-PF must back off
We are at the residence of the late Dr Dumiso Dabengwa’s house. The official position is that the body of the late national and international hero was left in SA because of lack of space in the cargo. His body is now expected to come tomorrow and uMthwakazi is expected to come in numbers as we did today.
But information obtained here is that ZANU PF is trying to highjack the proceedings and silence ZAPU which is evil and satanic to say the least.
I personally overheard ZANU PF members who have been brought here in buses saying that “ngavayimbe ava ve ZAPU asi chituna tatora, chinhu ndechedu ichi”. Literally declaring that ZAPU can sing and make noise but they have no power or authority; they even say ZAPU is poor so they should shut up and allow the government to take over. Asifuni Bumbulu la.
Dr Dabengwa’s wishes must be respected; we stand with the Dabengwa family, Zipra and ZAPU if Dr Dabengwa wanted to identify with ZANU he could have simple rejoined it. Respect our Comander. Just like white settler government, Zanu pf is so cunning and oppressive even to our customs and norms. We are against any attempts to silence ZAPU in times we stand with our Cdes in ZAPU.
By Nqobile Tshili| Matabelebeland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo’s house in Umguza, Matabeleland North was on Thursday evening gutted by fire following an electric fault.
The incident occurred between 5PM and 7PM at the home that is situated about 17KM from Bulawayo.
No one was injured in the inferno.
In an interview, Moyo said security officials deployed at his home alerted the Bulawayo Fire Brigade and fire fighters swiftly attended to the scene.
“The fire started in one of the rooms that we are not using. We were only alerted by security officers who were outside after they observed flames as it is a thatched house. No one was injured in the process and the fire did not cause any serious damages. We suspect that the fire was caused by an electric fault and there is no foul play,” said Moyo.
He said the swift reaction by the Fire Brigade and community members ensured that no serious damage occurred as they quickly extinguished the fire. The Chronicle
By Farai D Hove| Below is the response by the Minister Of Energy Fortune Chasi on allegations that he switched off the MDC party’s connection lines at Ascot Stadium yesterday. Minister Chasi denied ever doing this saying those accusing him can only be mad.
The Gweru Congress was plunged into darkness yesterday.
Dear @fortunechasi Did you in your Capacity Prioritised Electricity for Ascot Stadium ahead of MDC Congress considering the high number of people gathered at one place? Is this not risking the lives of Citizens Honorable? This Country needs Healing @nelsonchamisa@TembaMliswapic.twitter.com/WEjrtKtrpa
A critic of the minister, Mr Sebastian Mukonza had said if one asks, “Fortune Chasi why plunged MDC Congress at Ascot stadium into darkness he will probably tell you that he is not a ZESA engineer.”
To this, Chasi responded by saying: “uno rwara – you are mad!”
He also added saying, “what due respect? Am the one who switched off the electricity?”
At that point, another Zimbabwean, Mr Chris Nyamandi then asked the question, “would you have allowed a ZANU PF Congres sto be plunged into darkness for whatever reason Minister?”
By Own Correspondent- The late Oliver Mtukudzi’s former band manager, Sam Mataure, who is now managing another music giant Thomas Mapfumo collapsed in the United States of America (USA) on Friday morning.
The state media reported that Mataure, who has been unwell for sometime, recently took up a role as Dr Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo’s manager and moved to the North American country.
Speaking from his base in Oregon, Dr Mapfumo confirmed that Mataure had been rushed to hospital after collapsing at his house.
Dr Mapfumo said Mataure had benefited immensely from top-notch medical facilities in the USA, which saw him undergo an emergency surgical operation.
He also said he is recuperating in hospital and is now able to speak.
“Indeed he is in hospital. We are going to the hospital now to see him. The doctors removed two blood clots during a head surgery. He is now able to converse intelligibly,” said Dr Mapfumo.
Mataure’s relative, Hopewell Katsande, who is based in Lusaka also spoke to Mukanya, who told him that he was surprised to wake up in the morning before Mataure, a known early riser.
Mataure is staying in the same house as Mukanya in the USA.
“This has come as a surprise and a shock. We did not know that Sam was going through any major medical problems. Mukanya told me that he was surprised to wake up before Sam, which is very unlike him.
“He said he decided to go and check on him only to find him collapsed on the floor of his room and tried to speak but with a very low inaudible voice. That is when he decided to call 911 (an emergence number),” said Katsande.
Mataure is said to have put Josh Hozheri, a local promoter and close friend as his emergency contact person in papers lodged with American authorities.
Hozheri, therefore, became one of the first people to get the message.
He immediately got in touch with Mukanya, who confirmed that they had communicated with Mataure’s only surviving sibling known only as Mai Kajese.
“I’m happy that he has been taken care of and that he is recovering. He is in safe hands. We pray that he regains his health 100 percent and fulfils what he went to America to do,” said Hozheri last night.
Efforts to track down Mataure’s sister Mai Kajese were unsuccessful.-StateMedia
Renowned religious leader and founder of the Family of God church Reverend Andrew Wutaunashe yesterday spent the better part of his church service telling congregants that Zimbabweans were “privileged to have the kind of selfless leaders that sacrificed their interest for the liberation of the nation.”
“Know that the values and foundations and history of our nation are sacred. Let us value our leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa one of our liberation fighters. We are privileged as a nation to have such calibre of leaders. Let us value our leaders, the departed and the living.
“Let us appreciate the contributions of leaders Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Robert Mugabe and the recently departed Dumiso Dabengwa. May his soul rest in peace.
“President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 is our greatest asset as a nation. The vision will not die. It will speak and it will live because this vision is based on God. Whatever has its foundations on God will live.
“The sound of scolding voices will fade as the vision of ED will live. The vision is bigger than us. It will bring glory and productivity and will restore our nation to its glory and beyond. Let us have hope in the nation. Let us all fight hard knowing what our efforts will yield.
“Our greatest hope is in the Lord. There comes hope in knowledge that we have a vision because with no vision a nation is destroyed,” said Rev Wutaunashe.
He castigated religious leaders who spoke ill of the nation and its leaders.
“Anyone who trashes our history in politics or religion does so out of total foolishness. Don’t wish to be like the western nations. We are complete as a nation and we are ‘enough’.
“To those that wish to be like the neighbour, have you noticed that those nations never trash their history and they are proud of their history and the foundation of their nationhood?” asked Rev Wutaunashe.
He said the scolding voices of naysayers would fade as fruits of government efforts will soon be visible for all to see.
“As a church we have concern on rising attitudes that trash our history as a country. No matter what happens, never look back and think it was better. Never look back to Egypt.
“No matter how hard the journey is, do not look back. Remember the prioritisation of our liberation struggle and the sacrifices of our leaders,” he said.
The religious leader urged Zimbabweans to value the sacrifices of the nation’s leaders and play their part in building the country.
“These pains that the country is experiencing are the pains of a woman giving birth. In times of hardships it is easy to despair and blame, become faithless and lose hope.
“As we celebrate Africa Day, let us remember the contributions of those that came before us, lay our hope and trust in the Lord and have faith in the vision of our leaders.
“Let us build ourselves as Africans as this is time for Africa’s revival. Let us remember that the Lord gave our liberation war fighters power to overcome forces and stronger military forces. Our fighters are our own Moses who led us from turmoil,” said Rev Wutaunashe.
Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni arrives at the MDC congress.
Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has blasted Supreme Court judge Justice Chief Malaba’s ruling on the 2018 election results appeal by the MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.
The firebrand traditional leader, who recently torched a storm when he declared that the West must exert more sanctions on Zimbabwe after government evicted a white commercial farmer from his area.
Addressing the MDC congress in Gweru, Ndiweni castigated Supreme Court judge Justice Luke Malaba for his ruling against Chamisa claiming that his headmen pass better judgements.
Ndiweni called for “proper dialogue” and declared Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s judgment after last year’s electoral petition by Chamisa challenging the results of last year’s elections as a charade.
“Our country is going through a terrible, terrible time. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong.
“We have a serious problem in our country. We have a problem of failure of democracy and when democracy fails everything fails,” said Chief Ndiweni.
In a thinly veiled attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, Chief Ndiweni added: “Currently in our country we have a constitutional President and a popular president right here (in Gweru). We have not started yet. Things will get much worse.”
Chief Ndiweni called for dialogue and an honest arbitrator in an analogy about a boxing match in which a referee is required.
“This country needs a third person. We can’t have one boxer who wants to be both a player and referees. We need an arbitrator who is honest, someone who can judge fairly and give proper timelines.
“Any dialogue without these prerequisites is a waste of your time and my time. I know people will say Chief Justice Malaba made a ruling but my Headmen in Ntabazinduna every week give better judgments than that one,” said the traditional leader to rapturous applause.
“Our judiciary has failed this country. We are in this mess because our judiciary has let us down profoundly.”
Chief Ndiweni said the legitimacy issues around Mnangagwa’s leadership have resulted in investor confidence failing.
This he added will continue unless there is a genuine willingness to resolve the country’s political problems.
The traditional leader has also been in the news recently after demanding a more open and practical way of resolving the Gukurahundi issue.
Our party LEAD values the experience, resilience and expertise of the Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
Please if you want to practically change Zimbabwe contact our Diaspora Coordinator, Tsungai Marian Mutasa. She is based in UK and she will assist you with the process and orientate you to our ideology.
There are a lot of areas in our party and government that we believe will need the expertise of Zimbabweans in diaspora if the country is to have real chances of revival and change. Shun the stong-men politics. It has killed Africa and Zimbabwe. Dont create more dictators.
Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
PRESIDENT
Labour Economists & Afrikan Democrats (LEAD)
How Can We Overthrow What Is Not There? Asks Chamisa
Farai Dziva|Youthful MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that his party os is plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s admimistration.
Said Chamisa:”There are some who are saying that we want to overthrow Mnangagwa. No, we don’t overthrow what is not there.
Zanu PF has rigged elections enough and we will not go to an election that we lose before the election
.
We must make sure we have a democratic election as soon as possible and if they refuse we will force them to go for elections before 2023.
We don’t want political dialogue to share power, but national dialogue to share ideas. What we want to deal with are all the issues to make sure we move forward.”
“As soon as the congress ends, it will be war. They will not stop us … No party has title deeds for this country. I am not afraid of dying or being arrested.”
Farai Dziva|Youthful MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that his party os is plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s admimistration.
Said Chamisa:”There are some who are saying that we want to overthrow Mnangagwa. No, we don’t overthrow what is not there.
Zanu PF has rigged elections enough and we will not go to an election that we lose before the election
.
We must make sure we have a democratic election as soon as possible and if they refuse we will force them to go for elections before 2023.
We don’t want political dialogue to share power, but national dialogue to share ideas. What we want to deal with are all the issues to make sure we move forward.”
“As soon as the congress ends, it will be war. They will not stop us … No party has title deeds for this country. I am not afraid of dying or being arrested.”
Farai Dziva| Self-declared traditional healers known as Tsikamutandas are causing havoc in Gokwe through extortion.
Villagers in Zhombe under Chief Gwesela in the Midlands are under sustained persecution from a group persons conducting these expose and cleans ceremonies for the past fortnight.
They claim to have signed and stamped written authenticity from the local Member of Parliament Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, Chief Gwesela and the Kwekwe District Administrator to conduct and collect on the spot fees. The fines and fees are anything from cash to live stock.
The targeted areas are the Nxosa or Fegu community off Gokwe/Kwekwe road from Zororo stores and all villages east of Somalala River bordering the old commercial farms boundary towards Chief Samabwa/ Ndojani School.
Village elders have sought audience with the youthful Chief but he declined to meet with them.
Efforts to meet the MP are yet to materialise. MP Mackenzie sits on the Midlands Zanu PF of executive The Chef’s aides are being fingered in collection of the fines and fees.
MDC members and families are mostly being singled out and
villagers are living in fear and can’t approach the police as this would result in victimisation or unknown repercussions.
Farai Dziva|Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development(COTRAD) has condemned the harassment, persecution and detention of human rights activists by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
See the COTRAD statetement below:
COTRAD CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) calls for the release of Human Rights Defenders Gamuchirai Mukura (COTRAD) Director, Tatenda Mombeyarara of the Citizen Manifesto, George Makoni Center for Community Development Zimbabwe ( CCDZ) Advocacy officer, Nyasha Frank Mpahlo of Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TIZ), and Farirai Gumbonzvanda of Rosaria Trust.
The Human rights Defenders were arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Monday night on allegations of plotting to subvert President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. The State alleges that the Human Rights Defenders allegedly participated in a meeting held in Maldives last week, where they hatched a plot to topple Mnangagwa’s government through civil disobedience.
The Human Rights Defenders were denied bail when they appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday (23/May/2019.
Farai Dziva|Several Zimbabweans have said the Marondera woman who was arrested after being found in possession of mbanje should not be prosecuted as she was only trying to fend for her family.
The woman was arrested after being found in possession of 52 kilograms of mbanje.
Sandra Rusenza said:Don’t blame her, the situation is bad ari kuedza kurarama. Better pane kuba.
Cathew Manyani commented: It’s very unfortunate. She needs a good lawyer. I don’t believe the weed is hers. She could have been used by someone. If she doesn’t get legal representation she will definitely go to jail.
Prosper Chibvura:Please this is not fair. A woman of her calibre should be cautioned and given another chance and supported with a legal project so that she continues to do the best for her family. Haana kuba haana kuuraya haana kumukira hurumende haana kuita chitadzo kunaMwari. REGERERAYI VAKADAYI VANOITIRA ZVINHU FOR A REAL CAUSE!!!
Shepherd Mukuta:God bless her she is doing this for her living. Pana Pana: Hupenyu hwakaoma arikutsvagawo yefood neyevana yexul fees ….may God bless her family.
Farai Dziva|Lead Zimbabwe’s Linda Masarira has dropped a bombshell.
The outspoken politician tore into her former boss Thokhozani accusing her of hopelessly attempting to “force herself on the people.”
“My humble advice to my erstwhile Cde sister @DrThoko_Khupe
is- to focus on her party MDC-T, build its brand and stop all this political hullabaloo. At the end of all these legal challenges, it will leave their party leadership broken, frustrated, fatigued and defeated,” argued Masarira.
“On a more serious note, political events have overridden the court judgement.
@DrThoko_Khupe
has her own party which went to congress on 21 April 2018. I don’t understand why they want to go for another extraordinary congress. What is their end game? You can’t force yourself on people.”
Farai Dziva|Takamuka leader and former MDC Youth Assembly secretary general Promise Mkwananzi has said members of the dreaded Military Intelligence Department(MID) are plotting to kill him.
Mkwananzi added several human rights activists have been placed on the “hit list.”
“So the military intelligence left a list of people to be killed at borders and airports myself included…God will protect us,” tweeted Mkwananzi.
In January Mkwananzi also indicated that state security agents were plotting to assassinate him.
Five human rights activists were arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Monday for allegedly plotting to topple Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Own Correspondent| The Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT) called for the speed completion of the education policy which they hope will ensure that children with disabilities are given equal rights to education.
Addressing journalist in Harare, Thursday DZT Executive Director Barbra Nyangairi said the new bill should address issues of inclusivity especially of communities that were not catered for.
“DZT requests that the inclusive education policy be completed because it will create school environments that meet the needs of children with disabilities and ultimately improve the learning outcomes of learners with disabilities. Inclusive education requires that attitudinal and environmental barriers to learning are addressed” said Nyangairi.
Despite Zimbabwe having a sign language sylllabus for learners with hearing impairment, Nyangairi said it was not being used hence depriving children with disability.
“Zimbabwe has developed a sign language syllabus from ECD to Grade 3 and this is yet to be implemented thus prejudicing learners who are deaf. In addition there is need to develop the sign language syllabus for Grade 4 to Ordinary level. There are deaf learners in the schools prejudiced because of lack of sign language syllabus” she said
DZT says inclusive education is a human rights based approach which recognises that its barriers must be removed from society to ensure that all children achieve their potential.
By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has said that social media messages suggesting the organisation has called for a mass stay away are lies.
Some messages claimed that the organisation had called for a weeklong stay away starting Monday 27, May 2019.
Said the ZCTU through on its Twitter page:
The ZCTU wishes to dispel rumours going around that it has called for a stay away tomorrow, Monday 27 May 2019. The ZCTU has not called for a stay away in it’s own name or as a coalition with any groupings.
While, the ZCTU General Council acknowledged that workers are facing serious hardships it decided that: ( i )We will first urge the Government to convene an urgent TNF meeting focusing on finding a quick mutual solution to the economic crisis.
The GC further decided that : ( ii ) We immediately start wide consultations aimed at find out what workers consider as the appropriate nature & timing of a General Strike should the Government refuse or neglects to deal with the crisis collectively with social partners.
We therefore advise workers to take note of our position and to participate in the consultative meetings ( labour forums) through out the country. Kindly follow our official communication for when we call for action, it is announced by our office bearers only.
1) The ZCTU wishes to dispel rumours going around that it has called for a stay away tomorrow, Monday 27 May 2019. The ZCTU has not called for a stay away in it's own name or as a coalition with any groupings. @NewZimbabweCom@263Chat@bustoptv@NewsDayZimbabwe@DailyNewsZim
( ii ) We immediately start wide consultations aimed at find out what workers consider as the appropriate nature & timing of a General Strike should the Government refuse or neglects to deal with the crisis collectively with social partners.
Farai Dziva|Youthful MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed claims that his party os is plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s admimistration.
Said Chamisa:”There are some who are saying that we want to overthrow Mnangagwa. No, we don’t overthrow what is not there.
Zanu PF has rigged elections enough and we will not go to an election that we lose before the election
.
We must make sure we have a democratic election as soon as possible and if they refuse we will force them to go for elections before 2023.
We don’t want political dialogue to share power, but national dialogue to share ideas. What we want to deal with are all the issues to make sure we move forward.”
“As soon as the congress ends, it will be war. They will not stop us … No party has title deeds for this country. I am not afraid of dying or being arrested.”
Thank you Zimbabwe for your support and confidence in me. Not only will I be your mouthpiece but an earpiece. As such I look forward to work with everyone in this information superhighway era.
Change is possible in our lifetime!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Secretary for Information and Publicity
Farai Dziva| Self-declared traditional healers known as Tsikamutandas are causing havoc in Gokwe through extortion.
Villagers in Zhombe under Chief Gwesela in the Midlands are under sustained persecution from a group persons conducting these expose and cleans ceremonies for the past fortnight.
They claim to have signed and stamped written authenticity from the local Member of Parliament Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, Chief Gwesela and the Kwekwe District Administrator to conduct and collect on the spot fees. The fines and fees are anything from cash to live stock.
The targeted areas are the Nxosa or Fegu community off Gokwe/Kwekwe road from Zororo stores and all villages east of Somalala River bordering the old commercial farms boundary towards Chief Samabwa/ Ndojani School.
Village elders have sought audience with the youthful Chief but he declined to meet with them.
Efforts to meet the MP are yet to materialise. MP Mackenzie sits on the Midlands Zanu PF of executive The Chef’s aides are being fingered in collection of the fines and fees.
MDC members and families are mostly being singled out and
villagers are living in fear and can’t approach the police as this would result in victimisation or unknown repercussions.
By Own Correspondent- Members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) were behind the accident which claimed the two lives of MDC stalwarts leaving daughter to the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Vimbai Java battling for life at a local hospital.
ZimEye exclusively revealed the mystery surrounding the accident and how the police were mum on details of the other vehicle which reportedly collided head on with Vimbai’s car killing Paul Rukanda, who was Tsvangirai-Java’s campaign manager; and Tafadzwa Mhundwa, her cousin who was also an active party member.
They were killed on the spot.
2 hours of the accident, this publication had it on good authority that there was an invisible hand in the accident. Our news lead connected us to the identities of the soldiers and their phone numbers.
However, when ZimEye brought up the issue of conspiracy in the accident, this channel’s Simba Chikanza battled skepticism from some quarters of our readers…
“Someone is saying it was a head on collision, but it was a head on how?,” asked Chikanza.
https://youtu.be/4Cb3zGakw78
He then continued saying the story of Vimbai’s accident can never be told while excluding, “this clear build up of repulsion by the state against anyone who opposes Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dialogue concept.”
SEE VIDEO BELOW (article continues):
Reported ZimEye:
“All this is coming at a time when … Vimbai has in the last few days been outstanding in her backing Nelson Chamisa being the only Tsvangirai family member to be so openly and loudly vocal in support of Nelson Chamisa particularly his position against the so called dialogue that Emmerson Mnangagwa is demanding from Nelson Chamisa standing in opposite directions from her brother (Edwin) who criticised Nelson Chamisa’s position…at the memorial just last weekend…”
A local weekly publication, The Standard has since followed those leads and reported that police have closed off an investigation into the horror accident that claimed the lives on the basis that it involved soldiers.
Philda Muringani, who was driving the car was lucky to escape alive in the accident which allegedly involved three other cars.
However, it is reported that the driver of the other car, a Honda Fit, allegedly fled the scene.
Tsvangirai-Java’s family was last week told that the investigation had been closed after the driver of the car, which collided with theirs had died.
It has since emerged that the two cars were being driven by soldiers.
Tsvangirai-Java’s husband Batsirai collected the wreckage of her car from the Kwekwe Vehicle Inspection Department, but he was not given any paperwork.
Java refused to comment on the latest developments, saying he was preoccupied with raising money to settle his wife’s hospital bills, which have soared above US$10 000.
She is being treated by six specialists who have so far done four surgeries on her. The amount did not include RTGS charges.
“I am not in the right frame of mind to talk. I am preoccupied with raising money for my wife’s hospital bills,” he said.
However, a family source said they were told investigations had been halted after Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officials at Guinea Fowl informed police that the army sergeant who was driving the Mazda vehicle had died last Wednesday.
Investigations also revealed that the driver of the Toyota Vitz that caused the accident was also a sergeant at the same base and is facing a court martial.
According to the sources, the Mazda vehicle had four people in civilian clothes, including the driver, but military uniforms were discovered at the back of the vehicles during police searches.
Three of the passengers were from the military intelligence department as shown by the identity documents, while others did not have IDs.
Muringani said she also heard people at the accident scene saying there were soldiers in the other vehicles.
The family fears that the move to court martial the surviving driver is an attempt to sweep the case under the carpet.
Midlands acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende referred questions to national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
However, Nyathi said he was not aware that investigations had been closed.
“I am not sure of the alleged closure. What I can confirm is that the driver of the other vehicle passed on,” he said.
Nyathi could also not comment on claims that the surviving driver was being court-martialled by the army.
“I am not aware of processes by sister departments,” he said.
ZNA spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore last night confirmed that Staff Sergeant Lunga of army ordinances died after the accident.
Meanwhile, an unidentified man was caught trying to sneak into the intensive care unit where Tsvangrai-Java is being treated.
The family said the man kept giving different reasons why he wanted to see the MP after first claiming that he was her relative, then party member and a well-wisher who wanted to pray for her.
Own Correspondent|The body of the late liberation war hero Dumiso Dabengwa has failed to arrive in Bulawayo as expected this Sunday afternoon.
Highly placed sources said that the body was left behind at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after the casket with the body could not fit into the small cargo unit of the SA Airlink plane.
VIDEO LOADING … (STORY CONTINUES BELOW) …
However from a distance ZimEye.com spotted someone in black who was possibly Dabengwa’s widow Zodwa disembark from the plane crowded by family members and friends.
Thousands of people had gathered at the airport to welcome Dabengwa. The crowd patiently waited for the plane which landed at midday from as early as 7 in the morning.
More details will be provided as soon as they are made available to ZimEye.com.
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has reportedly warned the government that its members will embark on industrial action after there was a deadlock in negotiations with the Health Services Board (HSB).
The association representing nurses in all the country’s public health institutions advised its members to brace for a strike after giving the government a 14-day notice.
ZINA said in a statement:
“Having failed to find a common position with the employer, a deadlock has been declared.
“We are therefore issuing a notice of intent to embark on industrial action in the next 14 days if our grievances are not addressed.”
The latest threat follows threats by the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) to go on strike if they are not paid in United States dollars.
Said Tafadzwa Goliath, President of the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe:
“We learn with great sadness of an accident which has happened along Willowvale road which is now being called Oliver Mtukudzi Road when a tout who was hanging behind the kombi fell down and he died on the spot. The development also resulted in the commission.”
Umkhonto we Sizwe veterans received with shock and sadness the news of the untimely passing of Comrade Dumiso Dabengwa, the former commander of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA), who died in Nairobi yesterday aged 79 years. We wish to pass our heartfelt condolences to the Dabengwa family, comrades, friends and indeed the people of Zimbabwe on their immense loss.
Comrade Dabengwa was a great patriot and fighter for the liberation of Zimbabwe.
He was also a fervent internationalist as all true revolutionaries are. When ZAPU under the leadership of Joshua Nkomo, and the ANC led by Oliver Tambo, decided to forge an alliance to tackle the twin scourge of Rhodesian and Apartheid colonialism, Dabengwa became a central figure in forging the alliance on the ground between the fighting forces of ZPRA and MK.
He recently shared his experiences on the Wankie and Sipolilo campaigns which were jointly undertaken with the Luthuli Detachment at an MK history conference organised by Lilliesleaf Farm in March earlier this year.
We salute him for his courage, his comradeship and the contribution he made to the freedom we now enjoy in our country.
ISSUED BY MK VETERANS NATIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON and FORMER Chief of Staff (MK)
Own Correspondent|Vice President Kembo Mohadi has told Bulawayo journalists that the late ZAPU leader and former Home Affairs, ZIPRA intelligence Guru Dumiso Dabengwa has been declared a National Hero.
This is a developing story please refresh the page for more details.
By Chris Tongogara | Anyone who touches Ntabazinduna, touches fire, touches death. And anyone who fights a mountain, fights the Almighty, chief Ndiweni repeated on Saturday.
As the late national hero Dumiso Dabengwa’s touches down at JN Nkomo Airport Sunday afternoon, the same mountain Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to desecrate, will be the glorious resting place for the man he violently persecuted, Dabengwa. It is a time of mourning, but there is something in the air.
Mnangagwa wants to upset the locals here, and indeed the whole nation. What’s happening?
Within days of a Gukurahundi mass murderer,the agriculture minister Perance Shiri seeking to step his feet on the sacred mountain, with residents swearing to die to protect the mountain, it is revealed that that the late black Russian, Dumiso Dabengwa has sworn not to be buried at the National Heroes Acre, but Ntabazinduna.
But what is it that is in this mountain and why is it so hot to touch? In an exclusive interview lasr week, the highly respected Chief Felix Ndiweni tells ZimEye.com this mountain was chosen by King Mzilikazi. He goes on to list a bill of instructions by Zimbabwe’s resting fathers of the area.
But Ntabazinduna is also synonymous with the word “democracy”. Chief Ndiweni speaking at Gwelo says a nation cannot function without democracy.
He says the country will not move until it observes the ‘Ntabazinduna’ code of life, Democracy.
He says, a national ” leader must be god-fearing; it is ladies and gentlemen impossible for anyone to be a proper leader if they are not god fearing because those are the qualities that were placed down.”
He then adds saying,”
Ladies and gentlemen our issue here in Zimbabwe is a very serious issue; we have a failure of democracy. When democracy fails everything else fails…”
“Even if you go to the magistrates and the high courts you will not receive Justice because democracy has failed. Ladies and gentlemen democracy touches every part of our lives…”
Chief Ndiweni then says he is of the belief that the problem with Zimbabwe is being attended to by the MDC.
He says, “…I know your team here will be looking at that. I know they will be focusing at that. I know they’re trying to sort it out currently in our country we have a constitutional president but here right here we have the popular president.” – WATCH THE FULL VIDEO FOOTAGE ON ZIMEYE.COM BELOW
Own Correspondent|Thousands of people have gathered at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport to welcome the body of the late hero of the liberation struggle and flight for democracy in Zimbabwe Dr Dumiso Dabengwa.
Dabengwa who was the leader of the opposition ZAPU died in Nairobi Kenya enroute to Zimbabwe from India on Thursday.
Of concern is that government has not deployed any of its army or police officers to give honour and security as the body arrives. No senior government officials have also appeared in public as the body arrives.
As Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga appears to continue on his several health falls and ascents, Spotlight Zimbabwe alleges that there is an ongoing plot to remove Mnangagwa in a coup. Below is the full text –
Itai Mushekwe/Mary-Kate Kahari
COLOGNE/HARARE– Combative Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, and a hardline military faction backing his political doctrine and ambitions, are reportedly on the verge of booting President Emmerson Mnangagwa out of office at any moment now, through another subtle military intervention, allegedly called ‘Operation Restore Economy’, Spotlight Zimbabwe, can exclusively reveal.
The revelations by well placed military intelligence sources and long-time serving former cabinet ministers, come at a time when the country’s economy is descending into near collapse, with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority this week, hiking the pump price of diesel and petrol to ZWL$4,89 and ZWL$4,97, respectively. The annual inflation rate in Harare has also soared to 75.86% in April 2019, up from 66.8% in March.
Mnangagwa is said to have been warned by the army in October 2018, to urgently put the country’s economic house in order, as they feared a possible popular uprising over his administration’s new extortionate taxes, uncontrollable price escalations, and growing shortages of fuel, but he has failed to find a breakthrough thus far.
Operation Restore Economy, the sources say is reminiscent of the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy, a military campaign which triggered the demise of former leader Robert Mugabe. The operation started on the 13th of November 2017 and ended on the 18th of December 2017, with Chiwenga and current Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, being the main protagonists and masterminds of the ‘smart coup’ which led to Mugabe’s resignation after 37 years in power.
Spotlight Zimbabwe, reported last week that Mnangagwa is due to tender his resignation as the country’s leader in less than twelve months, to avoid a humiliating exit, after failing to resolve Zimbabwe’s economic crisis and suffering an alleged business fallout with powerful securocrats rooting for Chiwenga, to either take over or name a successor to finish off Mnangagwa’s term.
According to fresh information from the intelligence sources and former ministers, Mnangagwa is keen to save face and resign to avoid humiliation, but a Zanu PF faction supporting his presidency is resisting the move, together with one of his own ministers thought to be “engaging some hostile world powers in secret” to rescue his boss through an emergency economic bailout package, thus the army resorting to launch preparations of the operation, as all indications are that Zimbabwe is unlikely to get any meaningful economic loans, thereby breeding grounds for popular uproar and political instability in the country, if the economy fails to find a new captain altogether.
“The General (Chiwenga) might not be in the best of shape health wise, but an elaborate plan in already on the table to boot Mnangagwa out of power,” one of the sources said in a telephone briefing last night. “What people do not know is that, this army operation code named ‘Restore Economy’ is three- pronged in nature. This means the military has at least three ways and options of making sure that Mnangagwa is gone. The first is a recall by the party, allowing CGNC to replace him in the fashion and manner, the ANC dealt with Jacob Zuma in February 2018; an impeachment parliamentary process over the deteriorating economy; or call for his arraignment in the killing of innocent protesters in August 2018 and early this year.”
Two former cabinet ministers under Mugabe, one of them having worked in a national security related portfolio some years ago said the army operation against Mnangagwa, has been planned and necessitated also by intelligence reports that one of the powerful ministries in government, is now allegedly involved in “quasi presidential activities” through foreign hands signalling a dangerous capture and threat to national security, without giving further detail.
“Our media perhaps chooses to be blind and passive, but there is a complex political power matrix in our government,” the ex- ministers said. “You guys only focus on the so called cartel inside the country, without a clue about the real usurper. Thanks to our central and military intelligence, we are fairly safe. There is a ministry that has been running around world capitals canvassing political support to enable Mnangagwa to finish his term, and potentially stand for re-election, but that is not going to happen. The army is angry with the foreign interference. You will soon find out more about the hidden faces behind all this.”
Spotlight Zimbabwe has also gathered that Chiwenga in now in favour of former reserve bank governor, Gideon Gono, to replace Mnangagwa should his health woes continue to trouble him. However the army is believed to prefer an arrangement where Chiwenga takes over the presidency on a transitional basis until 2023, when fresh presidential and parliamentary elections are due.
Gono was first appointed as governor of the central bank in November 2003 because of his reputation as a turnaround specialist, particularly because of his work at the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe. Chiwenga, who is a friend of Gono might be looking at Gono’s background and credentials as the better candidate to attempt an economic revitalisation, where Mnangagwa has failed.
Other contenders being considered include: former defence minister, Sydney Sekeramayi; current defence minister though remote-Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; former Zanu PF political commissar and local government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.
The other emerging dark horses are from within the military camp, and these are foreign affairs minister, Sibusiso Busi Moyo and his counterpart in cabinet lands and agriculture minister, Air Marshal Perence Shiri.
Meanwhile Chiwenga is reportedly back under the knife for the second time in India, where media reports suggest he was airlifted for treatment from the capital late at night on May 18. – Spotlight
By Own Correspondent- The World Justice Report has commended Zimbabwe for its improved rankings in the latest World Justice Rule of Law 2019 Index Report.
Director of the World Justice Project (WJP), Elizabeth Anderson recently singled out Zimbabwe amongst 126 countries that include Ethiopia, Malaysia and Guatemala as having the greatest rule of law performance last year.
In her keynote address to the 7th Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and World Justice Report Symposium entitled “Fighting Corruption- A New Perspective,” held in Hong Kong from 22- 24 May, Ms Anderson said, “twenty-three countries’ rule of law performance improved by 1 percent or more in the last year while Zimbabwe’s Rule of Law performance was at 7,1 percent.”
The symposium was co-hosted by the Hong Kong based ICAC and WJP. Zimbabwe was represented by Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao SAR (special administrative region of China), Mr Alfred Mutiwazuka.
The Hong Kong based Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the World Justice Project co-hosted the event. Zimbabwe was represented by Mr Alfred Mutiwazuka, the Zimbabwe Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao SAR (special administrative of China).
Speaking from Hong Kong, Mutiwazuka said the improved ranking on Zimbabwe through the findings of an independent, multi-disciplinary organisation working to advance the rule of law is an acknowledgement of the sterling efforts being made by President Mnangagwa in tacking corruption, combating poverty and protecting people from injustice in the Second Republic.
“Traditionally, the rule of law has been viewed as the domain of lawyers and judges, but everyday issues of safety, rights, justice and governance affect everyone and in turn makes everyone a stakeholder in the rule of law,” said Mutiwazuka.
Renowned Zimbabwean engineer, Martin Manuhwa, who is the Vice President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO and chairperson of the WFEO Committee on Anti-Corruption also attended the symposium as a panelist.
In his address at the symposium (a copy of which has been availed to state media, Eng. Manuhwa highlighted the anti-corruption strategies and anti-bribery standards that need to be embraced and implemented particularly in developing countries.
Eng. Manuhwa said, “governments, corporates and financial institutions should insist on dealing with organisations that are ISO 37001 compliant as it is the only standard that requires the genuine commitment of top management to reduce the corruption risk by curbing bribery using policies and systems that are robust and rigorous.”
In a show of confidence in the strides taken by Zimbabwe in observing the rule of law, Eng. Manuhwa urged the World Justice Project to hold its next multidisciplinary engagements in Zimbabwe at the majestic Victoria Falls.
The WJP Rule of Law Index 2019 is the latest report in an annual series measuring the Rule of Law based on the experiences and perceptions of the general public and in-country experts worldwide. The index provides scores and rankings based on eight factors that include constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice and criminal justice.
The scores and rankings for the WJP Rule of Law Index are derived from more than 120 000 household surveys and 3 800 expert surveys in 126 countries and jurisdictions. The index is the most comprehensive dataset of its kind and is the world’s leading source of current, original data on the rule of law from the perspective of ordinary people and their experiences.–StateMedia
ZimEye will be giving you live updates as the body of the late liberation war icon Dr Dumiso Dabengwa arrives today in Bulawayo.
Dr Dabengwa’s body is expected today and will land at Joshua Nqabuko Nkomo airport in Bulawayo.
Dr Dabengwa, 79, died on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya on his way back home from India where he had gone for medical treatment. The Zipra intelligence supremo succumbed to a liver ailment.
Family spokesman Mr Freeman Dr Dabengwa, who is the Zapu leader’s last born son, said the body was expected at around midday. It will be accompanied by Dr Dabengwa’s wife, Zodwa.
The family has provisionally planned to bury Dr Dabengwa this Saturday at his rural home in Ntabazinduna – about 40km outside Bulawayo.
“Nyaradzo (funeral parlour) buses will ferry mourners from the Large City Hall to the airport at 10.30am tomorrow (today),” said Mr Dabengwa.
“We are grateful for the assistance received from the Government through provision of food for the scores of mourners.”
Things can’t get worse for the clueless Lacoste gangster and his followers.
I have always said even the gods of this country are opposed to how he and his fellow armed gangsters removed Robert Mugabe, a man who had been legitimately anointed by the spirits of the land.
Gushungo still holds the traditional axes and knobkerries bequeathed to him by the ancestors of Zimbabwe and without them, Lacoste will have problems ruling the land.
The Lacoste gangsters have lurched from one disaster to another.
From shooting citizens in August last year just after the elections to murdering more citizens during the January stayaway.
From a never before seen devastating cyclone to a debilitating (debhiritating) drought, which is being felt before we get to the halfway mark of the year.
Two of the crises, the January massacre and Cyclone Idai, forced some of the gangsters to cut short their ill-advised shopping jaunts to Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.
Some of the disasters are no laughing matter as they have seen the Lacoste government officials escaping from assassination attempts to battles with life threatening and complicated medical conditions.
The latest headache — the death of a real national hero, Dumiso Dabengwa has virtually shocked the Lacoste faction into silence.
As was the case when another real national hero, Oliver Mtukudzi died, the gangsters don’t know what to do.
Unverified stories that they were paying his medical bills have begun to surface with ED and Victor Matemadanda leading in making the allegations of having been his guardian angels.
What we find odd is that DD died in transit while waiting to catch a connecting flight to return home.
Maybe those who claim they loved him so much could have arranged for a private plane to ferry him home.
Kembo Mohadi says Dabengwa died while they were making arrangements to hire a private plane to go and collect him.
Really Kembo? Collect Dabengwa from the transit lounge in Nairobi?
Shame on you.
Delays in confirming him as a national hero did not help matters although he is reported to have left clear instructions that he did not want to be buried among “thieves”.
That is the problem with real national heroes.
They can do just about anything and still remain heroes in the eyes of the people, which is what Dumiso did.
He showed Zanu PF several middle fingers by dumping the ruling party and reviving Zapu then endorsed Nelso Chamisa, but the people see nothing wrong with that and still revere him.
Sensing the mood in the air, senior Lacoste gangsters have been trooping to the funeral wake to make all sorts of wild claims of how good Dumiso was and how he is a hero of heroes bla bla bla.
Nonsense! They have sensed that the people have declared him the peoples hero and any contrary position will attract the wrath of the people.
There is also the vexing issue of at which point the former State Security minister, Lacoste himself will personally pay his condolences.
It will not be lost on many that Dumiso was jailed from 1983 to 1987 as a political prisoner of the regime and we all know who was behind his incarceration and the butchering of more than 20 000 people in Midlands and Matabeleland.
It will be interesting to see how mourners respond to his presence.
It should not be lost on many that he will be buried in his village, in Ntabazinduna, a place that falls under Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni.
The same outspoken chief who attended the MDC congress and has generally been regarded by the regime as “unpatriotic”.
Again the chief is very popular and can do no wrong in the eyes of Zimbabweans, which is also a problem for the gangsters.
The same chief may actually be very prominent at the funeral of Dabengwa, another very big headache for Lacoste and company.
Watch this space.
One question Mnangagwa may want to deal with is why for some reason, 50% of national heroes this year have refused to be buried by him.
And these are solid characters such as Phineas Makhurane, Oliver Mtukudzi and now Dumiso Dabengwa.
Real heroes not some violent party activists who owe their lofty positions to thuggery, extortion and violence.
Mugabe legacy finally restored
When the Lacoste gangsters toppled Mugabe from power, they said it was an operation to restore his legacy by targeting criminals around him.
Thanks to their brutal and incompetent misrule, they have successfully restored Mugabe’s legacy.
Mugabe, who was hated with passion for his near four decades rule is now fondly remembered for his insistence on pro-people policies such as maintaining low commodity prices.
If he was younger he would have won the next election by a mile.
Dead BC has standards?
People out there are probably very shocked by a running advert in which our one and only Dead BC is looking for a deputy news editor.
Among other things, the person should be able to ensure content in line with Dead BC standards.
Many are still to come to terms with the revelation that the propaganda unit actually has standards.
It would be good though to know what those standards are. Maybe ensuring Auxillia is on every news bulletin.
There is belief that Dead BC standards are domiciled in the mortuary of a leading funeral parlour.
Hope the new person will revive them.
The problem with Hwange and Zisco
What exactly is the problem with Hwange power station and Zisco? There is always something that needs fixing at the power station.
At one time there was a partnership with Namibia.
And now something needs fixing and requires lots of money.
The same is happening at Zisco. It has been officially re-opened every year bu t never gets to function. Kutonga Kwaro!
By Own Correspondent- The body of liberation war stalwart and former Home Affairs Minister Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, will arrive this afternoon at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, in Bulawayo.
Dr Dabengwa, 79, died on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya on his way back home from India where he had gone for medical treatment. The Zipra intelligence supremo succumbed to a liver ailment.
Family spokesman Mr Freeman Dr Dabengwa, who is the Zapu leader’s last born son, said the body was expected at around midday. It will be accompanied by Dr Dabengwa’s wife, Zodwa.
The family has provisionally planned to bury Dr Dabengwa this Saturday at his rural home in Ntabazinduna – about 40km outside Bulawayo.
“Nyaradzo (funeral parlour) buses will ferry mourners from the Large City Hall to the airport at 10.30am tomorrow (today),” said Mr Dabengwa.
“We are grateful for the assistance received from the Government through provision of food for the scores of mourners.”
Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu said the party’s decision on Dr Dabengwa’s hero’s status will be announced soon.
“We will make pronouncements and then the nation will know,” he said.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube said Dr Dabengwa deserved to be honoured in recognition of the pivotal role he played towards the liberation of Zimbabwe from the colonial yoke.
“A leader is gone; a commander is no more. We hope that he gets the respect and honour he deserves. I encourage the Bulawayo community to welcome Dr Dabengwa’s body back home today,” she said.
Zimbabweans across the political divide have united in mourning the liberation war stalwart with several senior Government officials visiting the Dabengwa’s residence in Fourwinds to pay their condolences.
Dr Dabengwa is well-known for his key role in the war that brought independence in 1980.
He participated in the liberation war under Zipra which was Zapu’s military wing – with other heroes like the late Misheck Velaphi Ncube, Moffat Hadebe, Robson Manyika, Clark Mpofu, Sikhwili Khohli Moyo, Retired Colonel Thomas Ngwenya and Retired Colonel Tshinga.
He is survived by his wife Zodwa, five children and five grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at number 39 Diamond Road, Fourwinds, Bulawayo.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Government and players in the petroleum sector have agreed on a host of measures in the dealing of the precious commodity, which has been scarce since the end of last year.
The state media reports that agreements were reached on Wednesday at a meeting that brought together the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi, officials from Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and petroleum sector representatives.
The indaba was triggered by the fuel policy changes introduced last week that saw Government removing a subsidy on fuel imports.
Among the measures agreed upon, was the need for an efficient and effective system to coordinate the distribution of fuel to ensure it is availed rationally in accordance with demand.
ZERA has since been tasked by the parent minister to come up with a comprehensive report mapping and detailing consumer demand trends.
In addition, Government is also looking into introducing an electronic monitoring system for the entire fuel value chain to curb corruption at service stations.
Last week ZERA increased prices of fuel by averages of 46 percent for blend petrol and 49 percent for diesel. The increase followed the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) directive to fuel importers to obtain foreign currency on the obtaining interbank market rates.
Previously, oil marketing companies were receiving foreign currency from the RBZ at a special rate of 1:1 between the US dollar and RTGS dollar.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Minister of Energy and Power Development Fortune Chasi said Government was coming up with interventions to help restore sanity in the fuel sector.
“I held a meeting with the (players in the fuel) industry yesterday (Wednesday), all stakeholders in the petroleum industry were represented and we agreed to meet regularly, that is quarterly,” he said.
“I emphasised the need for professionalism in the conduct of their business. In particular, I said that they must observe licence conditions.
“I also emphasised the need for self-regulation and should this fail, I will have no choice, but to initiate legal reforms to compel compliance.
“I also said that there is need for coordination in distribution, so that fuel is distributed rationally and deliberately in accordance with needs.
‘‘They (fuel players) are working on this with ZERA and I expect it soon.
“In addition, we were all agreed on the need to establish and ensure order in the industry. In that connection, I pointed out that I am actively looking into electronic monitoring of the entire value chain of the industry.
ZERA acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani said they were already taking action to curb hoarding of fuel.
He said service stations had been directed to dispense a maximum 600 litres of fuel to an individual, stop fuelling bowser and those intending to purchase fuel in jerry cans, will be served at a know your customer basis.
“However, these new measures excludes any prior arrangements that had been made between service stations and customers.
“We are also looking at gaps in the law to see how it can be amended to ensure we have more powers.
“ZERA is also working on setting up real time online monitoring system which will be installed at service stations.
“We will continue monitoring compliance from service stations and checking quality of fuel from around the country.”
Zimbabwe has been experiencing fuel shortages over the past few months with some fuel traders accused of channelling the commodity to the black market.
Foreigners have also been accused of hoarding the commodity and selling it in neighbouring countries.-StateMedia
