State Media|A FORM four pupil allegedly drank himself to death in a suspected Vuzu party binge in Nkulumane suburb.

Brandon Zimba (18) of Nkulumane suburb died on Saturday night at a party in the company of his friends and cousin at a house in the same suburb.

He was staying with his grandfather following the death of his father years ago and his mother works in South Africa.

The mother, Ms Sithembiso Zimba said she was devastated by her son’s death.

She said his behaviour completely changed when he moved to a new school and she suspects it was as a result of influence from bad friends.

“Never at any point in my life did I ever imagine that my child would drink himself to death. Growing up, he was obedient and brilliant in school. He started school in South Africa and came home for his secondary. I took him to Sizane High School and his school performance was very pleasing.

“The school, however, hiked fees and I was forced to transfer him. I regret that move because it has led to the death of my son. At the new school, I started receiving reports that he had started drinking. The elders who stayed with him would sit him down and each time he apologised and promised to change,” said Ms Zimba.

She decried the growing culture of juvenile delinquency and said she believed her child’s demise was a result of bad friends.

“This society and this new culture of today will ‘finish’ our children and something needs to be done to stop it. We don’t know what transpires at these Vuzu parties, perhaps they abuse all sorts of drugs besides alcohol. Those that were with him should have called for help when Brandon passed out but unfortunately they decided to watch him die. I am asking myself why him?” she said.

Ms Zimba said she now regretted her decision to work in South Africa to fend for the family.

“I keep asking myself if the situation would have been different had I stayed home and taken care of my children. But I am living in South Africa to work and fend for my children. I did all I could for him as a single parent. I am doing all I can even for his younger siblings, his sister aged 14 and his younger brother aged six,” she said.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the death.

“I can confirm that we are dealing with a case of sudden death and investigations are underway.

Brandon’s grandfather, who only identified himself as Mr Ndebele and was Brandon’s guardian said he was shocked by the boy’s death.

“I knew him to be a quiet fellow but there is a saying that still waters run deep. I cannot express my devastation and I cannot even imagine what his mother must be feeling following his death. He was the eldest and his father died some years ago.

“There is a sick culture that is slowly engulfing the youths and it is time communities took a stand. We have been reading about these strange parties and happenings but I never thought that one of these things done by youths could lead to the death of my grandson,” said Mr Ndebele.

Brandon will be laid to rest today at Athlone Cemetery after a funeral service at Kings and Queens’ funeral parlour at 8AM.

Police have been raiding Vuzu parties where youths abuse alcohol and drugs and also engage in sex but it is proving difficult to ban these parties completely.

Own Correspondent|MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has blasted excited MDC-T Deputy President Obert Gutu over claims that his party is readying to take over all MDC properties and recall members of parliament in the wake of the controversial High Court ruling issued on Wednesday.

Mwonzora, who like Gutu, is also a legal practitioner accused the MDC-T leader of rushing to speak on the court judgement without reading through it.

Speaking in a breaking interview with Simba Chikanza of ZimEye.com on Thursday, Mwonzora rubbished claims by Gutu that the Thokozani Khupe led splinter was accorded rights to the MDC property through the judgement.

“Mr Gutu did not read the judgement; the judgement did not say transfer property it does not talk about property at all. There is no way in the judgement where there is the issue of property or money is talking about this is an extension of the judgement it is not there in the judgement Simba if you look at it. So these are political statements this is political banter and it is not helpful what is important is what the judgement says. What the issue at stake is. What does the judge say, it does not make a judgement on property at all,” said Mwonzora.

Below is the full text of the interview with the beleaguered MDC leader. Mwonzora is widely viewed to have had a hand in the judgement which stripped his long-time rival Nelson Chamisa of the presidency of the party.

SC: Good afternoon honourable Mwonzora. Can you hear me sir? Simba Chikanza here.
Are you happy? Excited?

Mwonzora: Yes.

SC: …with the court verdict Sir, I have been trying to hear (from you), are you in acceptance with the court verdict; are you one of those who are calling for an appeal against it?

Mwonzora: I am not commenting on the High Court verdict Simba. I am sure the spokesperson of the party made a statement on behalf of the party.

SC: Ok so you stand by that statement of the spokesperson?

Mwonzora: I have spoken to you already I have already spoken to you Sir. I have already answered.

SC: But sir, Thokozani Khupe claimed that she was going to be working with you.

Mwonzora: I am sorry I am sorry my friend, I think you should forewarn me if you want to interview me.

SC: Oh I apologise, I thought that I had done that; I had notified your aide when you were in Parliament?

Mwonzora: I did not know.

SC : Would you like us to start right now?

Mwonzora: You know what Simba, I am sorry. I am sorry I may sound rude to you; it is not my nature but I do not want to comment about it.

SC: Thank you sir. I had to ask you because your name is in print. Thokozani Khupe has already has made ownership…

Mwonzora: What are the specific allegations against me maybe I can throw it off?

SC: The allegation against you is that you are behind the High Court defeat of Nelson Chamisa yesterday and also that you are working with Khupe and she has communicated in a statement that you are working with her, this morning.

Mwonzora: Well, you must understand that the High Court application was filed last year in September and in that High Court application I am the 5th Respondent, in other words I am being sued as well and the judgement was against me as well; how can I be behind it and for what reason? This is just a smear campaign by my opponents in the party they always want to find something to blame me when things go wrong. There is a court case the party has lost the court case my own opinion I did communicate my opinion to the leaders of the party on how we could have averted that disaster; but to say that I have anything to do with it it is simply a smear campaign Simba; I have nothing to do with it.
Regarding now what Thokozani Khupe said in her statement, I saw it today; the statement says that she will communicate with the Secretary-General of the party. What it means is right now as we speak there is a court judgement, and in terms of that court judgement there is a certain status which is there until that verdict has been varied; until the court verdict has been overturned, then the status quo as per judgement, so I don’t see anything sinister about that; so she has not communicated with me and unfortunately she has issued a statement but I have not received any formal communication with her.

People lose court cases, they don’t lose court cases because there is Douglas Mwonzora there. This is not the first time that we have lost a court case. We lost the election petition it was not my fault; now that there is a high court case yesterday, how is that my fault?

SC: And, lastly thank you for that. Your having been mentioned by her in her statement, are you not going to respond against it because she has stated… are you not disturbed that she has rushed to mention you?

Mwonzora: Certainly not, I see nothing wrong with that. I see nothing really wrong there because she says that she is going to get in touch with the Secretary General of the party. I am the Secretary General of the party it is when she gets in touch with me that I will appropriately respond to her, remember this is a statement in public I don’t have to respond to it. I will respond to the specific communication that she talks about me in her statement. That is the civilized thing to do in my view. So I am waiting for her communication, and I will respond to it accordingly. But for me to trade conversations with her through the press will not be proper. She simply was not directing this to me, she was directing to the public to inform them that I am the secretary-general of the party when she does that I will speak to her I want to put it up that i do not view her as an enemy, I do not view her as a person that I do not talk to and converse with. So I will talk to her and will hear what she has to say and I will respond.

SC: Are you not concerned Sir. I am sorry that I am repeating it but this is the other bit now which is how other legal experts have interpreted that judgement that it has numerous failures, misdirections that have led to it being seen as a defective judgement?

Mwonzora: Sorry, Simba.

SC: Other legal experts say that the verdict which she is celebrating is a defective judgement, there are numerous misdirections over 12 misdirections and would that not give some sort of position or preposition to you not to even imagine communicating with her?

Mwonzora: I am a legal expert as well. And I see nothing wrong with talking to a person who has said she wants to talk to me in my official capacity as the secretary-general I am not going to close that door, it is not a civilized thing to do and it does not make political sense to me. Now, I have seen a lot of commentaries on the judgement, I agree with some I do not agree with some and so on. And I have looked at the judgement myself, I have my opinion and I have communicated my opinion to the leadership.

SC: In private you communicated all that in private and did not make it public?

Mwonzora: Yes I communicated in private just like I did last year before this matter was even lodged in court;you may want to know that I did convene a meeting involving Dr Khupe, Advocate Chamisa, and Elias Mudzuri, I did commit I did convene a meeting with them in my capacity with the Secretary General and legal advisor and I did give them what I thought was the legal opinion, was the legal position of the party, whether they took or did not take it is another matter; and I also in my capacity as the secretary-general I then advised that they should seek external legal counsel, and get an external legal opinion on the issue; we got that legal opinion, whether they followed it or not is another issue, but the thing is I did what I could in my capacity as Secretary General. Now there will be a lot of comment on a judgement. Some of the comments are political some of them are legal now this in my view when you look at that judgement you will have to look at it from a legal point of view does it make legal sense what are those things that the judge is talking about do they make legal sense? So the fact that a lot of people have commented I saw one comment by a respected academic which showed me that he did not read the judgement. Errm he was rambling and so on I did not expect that from an academic of his calibre he is a person that I respect, and I have privately conversed with him that he should first read things before he comments.

SC: So in essence, you are seeing that this judgement is strong;it is sound basically?

Mwonzora: Well, I have opinion on this judgement that I don’t want to communicate right now to the public I have communicated opinion to my leaders now I won’t tell the leaders what they want to hear; I will tell the leaders the legal position and the legal opinion; that is what I am there for. That is what I am elected to do; I am not defending anything;I am not attacking anything but I think that the analysis of the judgement so far done is poor.

SC: You mean that the analysis that is criticizing the judgement so far is poor?

Mwonzora: The analysis that has been done, it does not criticise the judgement only. Now, what people have been commenting on the judgement… for and against has convinced me in some instances that they did not apply their minds to it; and I am urging all our legal experts to read the judgement first so they can give sound Advice. Now we are unable to get sound Advice from what has been written so far, because it has been done in a poor way.

SC: would you say here that the Threat for instance to seize property by orbit is normal because he has already announced that MDC property is going to be transferred to Khupe. You as the Secretary General would you stand in opposition against that?

Mwonzora: Exactly Simba this is my point; it shows that Mr Gutu did not read the judgement; the judgement did not say transfer property it does not talk about property at all. There is no way in the judgement where there is the issue of property or money is talking about this is an extension of the judgement it is not there in the judgement Simba if you look at it. So these are political statements this is political banter and it is not helpful what is important is what the judgement says. What the issue at stake is. What does the judge say, it does not make a judgement on property at all.

SC: So, lastly let me ask you there are accusations; I am sure you have seen allegations against your character… generally you being that very same person who is standing to gain because now quite frankly Nelson Chamisa has been your nemesis ever since 2014 the very same year to which this judgement extends, the roll back. How could you assure the public here, that you do not stand to gain from a loss in this case of Nelson Chamisa or a de legitimising of Nelson Chamisa [LONG PAUSE]. I think I have lost you there sir.

ABRUPT ENDING ….

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZimEye yesterday spoke to Douglas Mwonzora’s aide at around 3pm and obtained permission to interview the MDC Secretary General before he exited the parliament building. Below was the full discourse with the man who this week was accused of conniving with the judiciary so to crush his enemy of many years, Nelson Chamisa through Wednesday’s high court verdict.

Simba Chikanza (SC) spoke with Advocate Douglas Mwonzora.

SC: Good afternoon honourable Mwonzora. Can you hear me sir? Simba Chikanza here.
Are you happy? Excited?

Mwonzora: Yes.

SC: …with the court verdict Sir? I have been trying to hear (from you), are you in acceptance with the court verdict; are you one of those who are calling for an appeal against it?

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Mwonzora: I am not commenting on the High Court verdict Simba. I am sure the spokesperson of the party made a statement on behalf of the party.

SC: Ok so you stand by that statement of the spokesperson?

Mwonzora: I have spoken to you already I have already spoken to you Sir. I have already answered.

SC: But sir, Thokozani Khupe claimed that she was going to be working with you.

Mwonzora: I am sorry I am sorry my friend, I think you should forewarn me if you want to interview me.

SC: Oh I apologise, I thought that I had done that; I had notified your aide when you were in Parliament?

Mwonzora: I did not know.

SC : Would you like us to start right now?

Mwonzora: You know what Simba, I am sorry. I am sorry I may sound rude to you; it is not my nature but I do not want to comment about it.

SC: Thank you sir. I had to ask you because your name is in print. Thokozani Khupe has already has made ownership…

Mwonzora: What are the specific allegations against me maybe I can throw it off?

SC: The allegation against you is that you are behind the High Court defeat of Nelson Chamisa yesterday and also that you are working with Khupe and she has communicated in a statement that you are working with her, this morning.

Mwonzora: Well, you must understand that the High Court application was filed last year in September and in that High Court application I am the 5th Respondent, in other words I am being sued as well and the judgement was against me as well; how can I be behind it and for what reason? This is just a smear campaign by my opponents in the party they always want to find something to blame me when things go wrong. There is a court case the party has lost the court case my own opinion I did communicate my opinion to the leaders of the party on how we could have averted that disaster; but to say that I have anything to do with it it is simply a smear campaign Simba; I have nothing to do with it.
Regarding now what Thokozani Khupe said in her statement, I saw it today; the statement says that she will communicate with the Secretary-General of the party. What it means is right now as we speak there is a court judgement, and in terms of that court judgement there is a certain status which is there until that verdict has been varied; until the court verdict has been overturned, then the status quo as per judgement, so I don’t see anything sinister about that; so she has not communicated with me and unfortunately she has issued a statement but I have not received any formal communication with her.

People lose court cases, they don’t lose court cases because there is Douglas Mwonzora there. This is not the first time that we have lost a court case. We lost the election petition it was not my fault; now that there is a high court case yesterday, how is that my fault?

SC: And, lastly thank you for that. Your having been mentioned by her in her statement, are you not going to respond against it because she has stated… are you not disturbed that she has rushed to mention you?

Mwonzora: Certainly not, I see nothing wrong with that. I see nothing really wrong there because she says that she is going to get in touch with the Secretary General of the party. I am the Secretary General of the party it is when she gets in touch with me that I will appropriately respond to her, remember this is a statement in public I don’t have to respond to it. I will respond to the specific communication that she talks about me in her statement. That is the civilized thing to do in my view. So I am waiting for her communication, and I will respond to it accordingly. But for me to trade conversations with her through the press will not be proper. She simply was not directing this to me, she was directing to the public to inform them that I am the secretary-general of the party when she does that I will speak to her I want to put it up that i do not view her as an enemy, I do not view her as a person that I do not talk to and converse with. So I will talk to her and will hear what she has to say and I will respond.

SC: Are you not concerned Sir. I am sorry that I am repeating it but this is the other bit now which is how other legal experts have interpreted that judgement that it has numerous failures, misdirections that have led to it being seen as a defective judgement?

Mwonzora: Sorry, Simba.

SC: Other legal experts say that the verdict which she is celebrating is a defective judgement, there are numerous misdirections over 12 misdirections and would that not give some sort of position or preposition to you not to even imagine communicating with her?

Mwonzora: I am a legal expert as well. And I see nothing wrong with talking to a person who has said she wants to talk to me in my official capacity as the secretary-general I am not going to close that door, it is not a civilized thing to do and it does not make political sense to me. Now, I have seen a lot of commentaries on the judgement, I agree with some I do not agree with some and so on. And I have looked at the judgement myself, I have my opinion and I have communicated my opinion to the leadership.

SC: In private you communicated all that in private and did not make it public?

Mwonzora: Yes I communicated in private just like I did last year before this matter was even lodged in court;you may want to know that I did convene a meeting involving Dr Khupe, Advocate Chamisa, and Elias Mudzuri, I did commit I did convene a meeting with them in my capacity with the Secretary General and legal advisor and I did give them what I thought was the legal opinion, was the legal position of the party, whether they took or did not take it is another matter; and I also in my capacity as the secretary-general I then advised that they should seek external legal counsel, and get an external legal opinion on the issue; we got that legal opinion, whether they followed it or not is another issue, but the thing is I did what I could in my capacity as Secretary General. Now there will be a lot of comment on a judgement. Some of the comments are political some of them are legal now this in my view when you look at that judgement you will have to look at it from a legal point of view does it make legal sense what are those things that the judge is talking about do they make legal sense? So the fact that a lot of people have commented I saw one comment by a respected academic which showed me that he did not read the judgement. Errm he was rambling and so on I did not expect that from an academic of his calibre he is a person that I respect, and I have privately conversed with him that he should first read things before he comments.

SC: So in essence, you are seeing that this judgement is strong;it is sound basically?

Mwonzora: Well, I have opinion on this judgement that I don’t want to communicate right now to the public I have communicated opinion to my leaders now I won’t tell the leaders what they want to hear; I will tell the leaders the legal position and the legal opinion; that is what I am there for. That is what I am elected to do; I am not defending anything;I am not attacking anything but I think that the analysis of the judgement so far done is poor.

SC: You mean that the analysis that is criticizing the judgement so far is poor?

Mwonzora: The analysis that has been done, it does not criticise the judgement only. Now, what people have been commenting on the judgement… for and against has convinced me in some instances that they did not apply their minds to it; and I am urging all our legal experts to read the judgement first so they can give sound Advice. Now we are unable to get sound Advice from what has been written so far, because it has been done in a poor way.

SC: would you say here that the threat for instance to seize property by Obert Gutu is normal, because he has already announced that MDC property is going to be transferred to Khupe. You as the Secretary General would you stand in opposition against that?

Mwonzora: Exactly Simba this is my point; it shows that Mr Gutu did not read the judgement; the judgement did not say transfer property it does not talk about property at all. There is no way in the judgement where there is the issue of property or money is talking about this is an extension of the judgement it is not there in the judgement Simba if you look at it. So these are political statements this is political banter and it is not helpful what is important is what the judgement says. What the issue at stake is. What does the judge say, it does not make a judgement on property at all.

SC: So, lastly let me ask you there are accusations; I am sure you have seen allegations against your character… generally you being that very same person who is standing to gain because now quite frankly Nelson Chamisa has been your nemesis ever since 2014 the very same year to which this judgement extends, the roll back. How could you assure the public here, that you do not stand to gain from a loss in this case of Nelson Chamisa or a de legitimising of Nelson Chamisa [LONG PAUSE]. I think I have lost you there sir.

ABRUPT ENDING ….

Farai Dziva|Embattled MDC A Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora says he does not regard Thokozani Khupe as an enemy.

Speaking in an interview with ZimEye.com Mwonzora said:”Well I am not bothered by what Thokozani Khupe has said.In actual fact she merely informed the public about her desire to have a meeting with me, in my official capacity as the Secretary General of the MDC.

With all due respect I do not regard Khupe as an enemy.I have to hear her side of the story.”

“We have lost court cases before and why should I be blamed for the High Court ruling? I think that is not fair to be frank with you.

As far as I am concerned Khupe is yet to contact me formally so I will wait for the appropriate time to respond to her remarks,” added Mwonzora.

Mwonzora is also unmoved by allegations of plotting to topple party leader Nelson Chamisa and he has somehow managed to avoid direct confrontation with the youthful MDC leader.

Farai Dziva|The High Court of Zimbabwe yesterday ruled that Nelson Chamisa should immediately relinquish the post of MDC president.

Following the ruling, Zimbabweans have expressed mixed sentiments on the issue.

See comments below :
Guernzy Surrel Nyandoe:
So these captured courts have ruled that the MDC must use 2014 structures.

Where in the world have we ever heard or seen human run systems remaining stagnant and unchanged for a period as 5 years? Even in draconian political systems structures change with time. Just as it is in this case, Khupe is having her own party.

Trevor Chagonda:
Chamisa should just form a new party and leave the MDC with the so called rightful members. For 2023 there is still time to form a new party and mobilize effectively.

Patrick Zigori:
Is Mphoko not the legitimate Zanu PF president?

Shinga Feresu:
Does Coltrat know all MPs and councillors are going to lose their posts. Next is reelection under Kuphe. There is no MDC A. So all are now illegitimate. They all messed up. Legally they will lose.

Farai Dziva|Controversial MDC T deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu has urged Nelson Chamisa to appeal to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe against the High Court Ruling that reversed his appointment as MDC A leader.

“Today’s political issues are anchored on soft power as opposed to buffoonery and populism. Political strategy entails using brains and not brawn to outwit and outsmart your detractors.

Sell them a dummy and make them believe they have made it before unleashing lethal soft power. A sucker punch,” declared Gutu.

He added :”Any decent lawyer will tell you that when you don’t agree with the ruling of a court of law, you don’t lambast the judicial officer and/or any other court official for that matter.

You simply lodge an appeal against the court’s ruling to a superior court. Simple.”

263chat|Wednesday High Court Ruling which invalidated MDC President Nelson Chamisa as the legitimate opposition leader has opened a can of worms as President Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko power debacle in the wake of Robert Mugabe collapse in November 2017 comes into retrospection.

United Kingdom-based renowned academic lawyer and advisor to the former Premier the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai, Alex Magaisa, has it that under the Zimbabwean constitution former Robert Mugabe’s deputy; Mphoko, should have taken over as President ahead of President Mnangagwa,  who had been fired for lacking probity.

“If someone goes to court and argues that Mr Mnangagwa was illegitimately installed as President in November 2017 and that under Zimbabwe’s Constitution Mr Mphoko should have been the lawful successor in the interim, Justice Mushore might just agree. But I’m NOT going to bet on it!

“Many did not notice what the coup authors did in November 2017 to create a veneer of legality.  Dubious cases were brought to court;  one of them was to declare that the military’s conduct was constitutional and another to declare that Mnangagwa’s firing as VP had been unconstitutional,” Magaisa wrote on his micro-blog Twitter Thursday morning.

Magaisa further laid into the judiciary saying the same High Court was skewed by the November 2017 power transition architects, who intelligently sold the nation a dummy in a bid to clear a way for Mnangagwa ahead of Mphoko.

“In this way, the authors of the coup used the High Court to legally sanitise the coup and incredibly, to reinstate Mnangagwa! This was to pretend that Mnangagwa and Mphoko were at par therefore opening a way for Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe while elbowing out Mphoko.

“The capture of referees is probably the most egregious assault on democracy. They bend to the ruler’s will while the rest are under the spell of legitimacy, believing that referees are impartial, fair and deliver legitimate decisions. One has to overcome that naivety,” he added.

263Chat could not get Zanu PF’s side as party  spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo is in South Africa where he is overseeing polls while secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana were not available.

Meanwhile, early Thursday, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Permanent secretary Nick Mangwana wrote on his micro-blog Twitter distancing President Mnangagwa from court interference charging there is no value for him.

“The way courts are demonised in Zim is highly contemptible. To even accuse President ED of being involved in a judgement with zero political dividend to him smacks of ludicrous paranoia and conspiracy theories reaching fantasy grade. What value would he derive out of this?” he wrote.

Chamisa’s MDC has however treated the court ruling as an empty thunderbolt vowing to progress with the party’s fifth elective congress end of this month for the first time without the party founding father, Dr. Tsvangirai.

Chamisa, who is heading for the congress uncontested, is on the brink of shaking off legitimate controversies surrounding his ascendancy to power in February 2018 after the death of Tsvangirai, who succumbed to the cancer of the colon battle in South Africa on Valentine’s Day.

Own Correspondent|Vehicles and farm equipment belonging to former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s company Gushungo Holdings are set to be auctioned on Saturday.

In a notice by Ruby Auctions, the auctioneer said they had been instructed by their “most valued client” to sell at least 40 vehicles, most of them Toyota D4D off-road trucks.

There were also about 30 tractors and accessories to be sold in-situ at the Gushungo Dairy estate in Mazowe where 80 newly resettled farmers were forcibly removed from the area to make way for a dairy project.

Since being deposed in a coup in November 2017, the Mugabe family’s  business fortunes at Alpha and Omega Dairy have taken a gradual dip, just like most companies operating in the failing economy.

Last year the company reduced salaries and commission fees for its workers before going into this year without paying at all. 

Earlier this week, Alpha and Omega’s southern region sales executive Cassim Asani told journalists that the company’s flagship products such as milk and ice cream were not selling as well as in the past.

“We are producing the products but the rate of uptake in supermarkets is very low because the majority of the people do not have enough buying power,” he said.

Asani added that the company was struggling to raise foreign currency to source ingredients and spare parts for its imported machinery.

“When we want to import ingredients and spare parts, forex is not yet readily available,” he said.

However, in January Alpha Omega Dairy was one of the companies allowed to import duty-free powdered milk. The company has a government agreement where it is meant to import a maximum of 100,000kg of full-cream milk powder a year and a maximum of 50,000kg of skimmed milk powder.

The ambitious project by the former first family was marketed as a beacon of hope for the local dairy industry by the Mugabes when they were in power.

Using political leverage in 2009, the Mugabes, through proxies, forced Nestlé Zimbabwe – the local subsidiary of the Swiss company – to buy milk from them despite the milk not meeting minimum standards required by Nestlé.

Addressing a Zanu-PF crowd at his birthday party, Mugabe instructed his then indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere to start with Nestlé when embarking on company seizures because they refused to buy his milk.

“Nestlé refused to buy milk from Gushungo dairies. I told Kasukuwere to begin with them and tell them he was sent by me. We should deal with them; let them get out of the country,” Mugabe said.

But despite preferential treatment the company failed to bring back the glory years of the dairy sector which at its peak in the 1990s produced an average of 260 million litres of milk.

Last year, the country’s milk producers came up with an underwhelming 70 million litres of raw milk against a demand of 120 million litres.

The deficit is covered by milk imports from SA. As such government has since engaged a state-run Belarus milk enterprise with the hope of setting up shop in Zimbabwe.

Correspondent|MDC-T Deputy President Obert has threatened that his party will move in to recover all the party assets that are in the custody of the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa.

Gutu’s statements comes after a High Court judge on Wednesday delivered a ruling that Chamisa is not the legitimate President of MDC.

“There shall be very, very serious and far-reaching implications and repercussions following upon Justice Edith Mushore’s judgment handed down yesterday.” Gutu said. “Party assets and funds that are presently in unlawful hands shall be recovered. Absolutely no doubt about that!”

Gutu told the MDC that if they agree with the court judgement they must not attack the court but lodge an appeal.

“Any decent lawyer worth his/salt will tell you that when you don’t agree with the ruling of a court of law, you don’t lambast the judicial officer and/or any other court official for that matter. You simply lodge an appeal against the court’s ruling to a superior court. Simple!”

Farai Dziva|Embattled MDC A Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora says he does not regard Thokozani Khupe as an enemy.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Speaking in an interview with ZimEye.com Mwonzora said:”Well I am not bothered by what Thokozani Khupe has said.In actual fact she merely informed the public about her desire to have a meeting with me, in my official capacity as the Secretary General of the MDC.

With all due respect I do not regard Khupe as an enemy.I have to hear her side of the story.”

“We have lost court cases before and why should I be blamed for the High Court ruling? I think that is not fair to be frank with you.

As far as I am concerned Khupe is yet to contact me formally so I will wait for the appropriate time to respond to her remarks,” added Mwonzora.

Mwonzora is also unmoved by allegations of plotting to topple party leader Nelson Chamisa and he has somehow managed to avoid direct confrontation with the youthful MDC leader.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva| The MDC Youth Assembly has described yesterday’ s High Court ruling as a clear attempt by Emmerson Mnangagwa to coax Zimbabweans after “stealing the 2018 polls.”

See the MDC Youth Assembly statement:
The MDC Youth Assembly hereby re-affirms that the legitimate President of the MDC is President Nelson Chamisa.

The choice of President Chamisa is the best choice that was done by the MDC.

President Chamisa is our constitutionally and legitimately chosen leader as per our Party’s Constitution.
The MDC Youth Assembly is happy with preparations for Congress so far and nothing will stop the People’s Movement from proceeding with its legitimate processes.

The Youth Assembly is impressed by the performance and discharge of duty by President Chamisa, including but not limited to the successful integration of Alliance Partners and maintaining stability and massive growth of the party resulting in winning 2.6million votes in the elections.

President Chamisa is the most popular political figure in the country and the court of public opinion points to him as the most trusted and loved political leader in Zimbabwe.

We note that it is Mnangagwa’s strategy to shed-off his illegitimacy stigma by casting aspersions on our legitimate leader, President Chamisa.
Mnangagwa is trying to run away from his 2018 defeat and is restless and has made many attempts against the People’s President, which are notably:

1) Attempted to increase Presidential age limit to 53 just to exclude President Chamisa and failed
2) Recognized Khupe as the main opposition leader for dialogue at the exclusion of President Chamisa and the process has failed.

3) Attempted to sponsor candidates to challenge President Chamisa at congress and failed
4) Attempted to tarnish and blackmail President Chamisa through the State Media and failed
5) Now trying to impose a process for the MDC, and it will fail.
President Chamisa is the Party and National President and not a court President. We will not allow anyone to choose a leader for us.
President Chamisa is the People’s President, the People’s Choice.
MDC 5th Congress: Defining a New Course in Zimbabwe!
Brian Dube
National Youth Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|Controversial MDC T deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu has urged Nelson Chamisa to appeal to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe against the High Court Ruling that reversed his appointment as MDC A leader.

“Today’s political issues are anchored on soft power as opposed to buffoonery and populism. Political strategy entails using brains and not brawn to outwit and outsmart your detractors.

Sell them a dummy and make them believe they have made it before unleashing lethal soft power. A sucker punch,” declared Gutu.

He added :”Any decent lawyer will tell you that when you don’t agree with the ruling of a court of law, you don’t lambast the judicial officer and/or any other court official for that matter.

You simply lodge an appeal against the court’s ruling to a superior court. Simple.”

Farai Dziva|MDC founding member and lawyer, David Coltart has described the High Court ruling that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency as “empty thunder.”

Journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono said :” I am not a lawyer, I expect lawyers to give us their views in due course.”

Coltart referred to the judgement as “a brutum fulmen – ‘empty thunder’, an ineffective order.
He also called it a “pathetic interference with the due processes of a political party.”

Farai Dziva|Hard-hitting social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has said Emmerson Mnangagwa is evidently manipulating the courts in an attempt to consolidate his grip on power.

“Mnangagwa cannot dictate using the courts what should happen in the MDC.

Nelson Chamisa’s appointment as a substantive president was constitutionally done by the National Council and the Congress will ratify the decision on 24 May 2018.

The party has moved on, Nelson Chamisa was nominated unopposed. This is Mnangagwa’s dark agenda of trying to destroy the movement. Stop interfering in the party’s internal processes,” said Taruvinga.

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has allegedly gone into hiding amid reports that party youths are baying for his blood over his links with the High Court ruling that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s appointment.

According to reports, Mwonzora is believed to have decided to stay away from public places and is also shunning the party headquarters for fear of being attacked.

This follows a ruling by the High Court of Zimbabwe that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency of the party, with journalist Hopewell Chin’ono insinuating on social media that Mwonzora had the High Court judgement a week before it was delivered.

A group of party youths, popularly known as the Vanguards, have also been seen surrounding party vice President Elias Mudzuri’s Milton Park home in Harare, singing derogatory songs. The youths accused Mudzuri of undermining Chamisa, saying Mudzuri sponsored the High Court application by a Gokwe MDC official which resulted in yesterday’s ruling.

ZOOMZimbabwe understands a report has been made to the police regards Mudzuri’s safety and the disturbance of peace at his home at lunchtime Thursday.

ZOOMZimbabwe has received information that Starman Chamisa, a relative of Nelson who is also the legislator for Mbare, is at the centre of an operation hunting for Mwonzora.

“Starman Chamisa has been tasked with hiring thugs that should find and beat up Mwonzora,” a source close to the developments told ZOOMZimbabwe.

“This followed a social media post by Chin’ono that linked Mwonzora to the leak of a High Court ruling to a NewsDay journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, last week,” the source said.

Writing on social media last night, Chin’ono said: “Weeks ago I urged Wamba (Nelson Chamisa) and the MDC to accommodate Mukoma Douglas Mwonzora after he had been rejected by the MDC branches in his quest to lead the main opposition party.

“Today he stands accused of having known ahead of time about the exact nature and contents of today’s court ruling that nullified Wamba’s Presidency.

“Senior MDC folks are saying that he told a Newsday journalist about it and that they chose to keep quiet to see how it will pan out.

“In a toxic political environment like this one, I urge Mukoma Douglas Mwonzora to clear his name. ‬Did he tell a Newsday Journalist or not about the contents of today’s judgement?

“Is he the source referred to in Blessed Mhlanga’s tweets? Did he mention the ruling days ago and it’s nature and contents?”

-Online

The outspoken businessman sensationally claimed that the rumours that Ginimbi and Miss V Candy are dating were false but it was obvious that the two were having s.e.xcapades. Chivayo made these claims on a comment on the microblogging site Instagram. Harare businessman and socialite Wickell Chivayo has spoken out on the Ginimbi Miss V Candy dating allegations, claiming that the two might be frequently having s.e.x.

” In my view knowing Genius to be a businessman and Mrs V Candy being a prominent DJ I really don’t think they are dating at all. However, it can only be obvious that they are most probably having s.e.x maybe just 5 or 6 times a week which really doesn’t mean anything to two big names in the entertainment industry. To guys like Ginimbi s.e.x is a hobby, just like sport (playing tennis, soccer etc.)”

This comes after rumours surfaced earlier this week that the radio personality Miss V Candy, real name Nonhlanhla Thuthani, was dating businessman Genius Kadungure, after she was captured on several occasions at the businessman’s Domboshava mansion wearing different outfits.

-Online

Jane Mlambo| Former President Robert Mugabe’s farm equipment has been advertised for auction in what signal a collapse of the once thriving business run by the former first family.

The items on offer includes over 20 motor vehicles, an almost similar number of tractors and accessories that includes disc harrows among others.

The items will be auctioned this Saturday the 11th of May by Ruby Auctions at their premises in Waterfalls.

A male student at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), was on Wednesday night run over and killed by the institution’s bus.

The incident occurred during a stampede, with students trying to board the bus.

The bus is said to have been in motion as the driver was in the process of parking it properly when the student fell down and critically injured.

The injured student was initially taken to Chinhoyi General Hospital but later referred to Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare.

He, however, succumbed to his injuries en route to Parirenyatwa.

The incident was confirmed by Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara.

The name of the deceased student has not yet been revealed.

-State Media

PARLIAMENT yesterday demanded to know how $9 million, allegedly extended to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) for the repair of silos, was used.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena grilled GMB chief executive officer Rockie Mutenha over the issue and the progress made so far in repairing silos that store grain.

Wadyajena said GMAZ chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara had indicated to the committee that GMAZ gave GMB $9 million in 2017 for rehabilitation of silos, and even pointed out that they had an agreement with GMB that the amount would be offset through grain.

GMAZ spokesperson Garikai Chaunza was also mentioned by Wadyajena as having indicated that as GMAZ they were waiting for an audit report indicating how the $9 million was used.

But Mutenha denied that GMB had received money for repair of silos from GMAZ, adding that they never entered into any loan agreement with anyone.

“We did not sign any contract with anyone and as far as we are concerned we did not receive money from anyone, other than Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe,” Mutenha said.

“The funding for repair of silos came from two sources and $6 318 627 came from Treasury through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe from the grain procurement account and $1 016 281 came from GMB funds, giving a total of money paid for repair of silos at $7 334 909,” he said.

Mutenha said the $7,3 million for silos repairs was paid to a company called Adherechem. But the committee demanded that Mutenha must produce the contract between GMB and Adherechem, and papers which showed the shareholding structure of Adherechem.

The GMB boss said in 2017 they submitted a list for rehabilitation of all 12 silos in the country in Karoi, Magunje, Mukwichi, Lions Den, Banket, Norton, Chegutu, Concession, Chiweshe, Murewa, Bulawayo and Aspindale. The tender was won by Adherechem.

“The job for the first 10 concrete silos was completed by October 12, 2018. For the steel silos in Chiweshe and Mukwichi, they needed to remove old steel and put new sheets, and these were completed in April this year,” he said.

Wadyajena then asked Mutenha to explain how RBZ allocated $27 million to GMAZ for wheat and maize purchases when it was a private entity and not the parastatal responsible for grain purchases.

“The RBZ said we cannot have parallel structures to import wheat and we were told to allow them (GMAZ) to bring wheat. The RBZ governor said GMAZ was already running it and we cannot have two parallel structures,” Mutenha said.

-Newsday

VOA|Zimbabwe has clamored for outside investment in recent years, but villagers north of the capital are resisting a Chinese mining project they say will spoil the environment and fail to bring them much benefit.

The villagers are from Domboshava, a rocky area north of Zimbabwe’s capital, and they are disputing a Chinese company’s decision to start quarry mining.

Seventy-year-old Florence Nyamande is among those saying no to the proposed project by Aihua Jianye Company.

“The Chinese are the money mongers of Zimbabweans. They take riches here, they take it to China. They do not develop our places. So we do not need them here,” Nyamande said. “Seriously with a deeper heart, seriously with a mind, we are disappointed. We said ‘No’ and ‘No’. That is multiplicated (multiplied) ‘No.’”

​The villagers do not think Aihua Jianye will create the 500 jobs in the area it promised. They also say the quarry mining will leave large ponds filled with dirty water.

Zimbabwe Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi – who is the parliament member for the area – is also against the $500 million quarry mining project.

He says he is not going against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra that “Zimbabwe is open for business.”

“It is open to business, but not to business that is gong to affect our environment. We want to preserve the environment. We want our community to develop, yes. But let our environment remain intact. We cannot have a situation come here take the proceeds, enjoy it in other countries, yet our people remain poor,” Mutodi said.

Mutodi notes the Chinese company has advertised for only 40 jobs in the area, less than one-tenth of what it promised.

Percy Mudzidzwa, whose company GeoGlobal Environmental Solutions is representing the Chinese firm, rejects allegations that 20,000 people would be affected by the 33 hectare mining project.

Some locals say the project will affect a graveyard and a natural spring. Mudzidzwa says that is not so.

“Not even a grave is going to be moved. But there is a misconception. We proposed that that the graves be fenced. There is a spring, which is above the grave site, we proposed that the spring be fenced too,” Mudzidzwa explained.

Now the project waits for the country’s Environmental Management Agency to make a final call if the Chinese company can go ahead.

Own Correspondent|An overly excited MDC-T leader, Thokozani Khupe has hit the road running in embracing the controversial High Court ruling which declared Nelson Chamisa as illegitimate President of the opposition.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Khupe said she was ready to seek audience with party secretary general Douglas Mwonzora to take over the opposition party.

“This victory not only vindicates Dr Khupe and those in the MDC that have always stood for principle over political expediency but it’s a victory for all democratic forces and the rule of law in our country,” said Khupe.

The full statement reads as follows:

Dr Thokozani Khupe, welcomes and accepts today’s judgement of the High court of Zimbabwe in Harare.

This victory not only vindicates Dr Khupe and those in the MDC that have always stood for principle over political expediency but it’s a victory for all democratic forces and the rule of law in our country.

This judgement is also a damning indictment to the many so called legal scholars in the broader 
democratic movement who for the past years like the disgraced biblical Pontius Pilate looked the other way when the movement was veering off our founding values with such alarming impunity.

Justice Edith Mushore, reminded us again what it is to be Zimbabwean by choosing courage and integrity over bigotry, misogyny, cowardice and mobocracy. It is therefore not surprising that those who seek power through violence and fraud are not able to successfully impeach her “Ratio decidendi” and are descending to their lowest weapon of choice which is personal insults and attacks on our judiciary.

Dr Khupe will soon be contacting the SG of the party, Dr Mwonzora, and other elected leaders to see how best they can implement the ruling of the High Court.

Dr Khupe has noted and welcomes the intention by some to appeal the judgment as this will give the superior courts an opportunity to confirm the universal rights of all Zimbabweans to fair and just
administrative justice within any social organisation of their choice.

Dr Khupe demands all members of our movement to unite and be magnanimous at this time irrespective of their chosen side in this debacle.

Honourable Advocate Nelson Chamisa, and those close to him must not be verbally abused or belittled in any way, shape or form. He remains an indispensable leader of our movement and to that end he deserves the uttermost respect from all disciplined cadres of our movement.

Issued by Khaliphani Phugeni
On behalf of
Dr T Khupe (President)

A poster circulating on social media with forgotten former vice President Phelekezela Mphoko as the ruling Zanu PF candidate in the 2023 elections.

Mphoko was fired from Zanu PF in 2017 following a military coup that resulted in the elevation of Emmerson Mnangagwa and the coup master-minder Constantino Chiwenga.

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has praised South African election commission (IEC) for the transparent manner in which they are running the elections hailing how all participating political parties have direct access to the portal receiving results from polling stations.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa blasted the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for denying them access to the results server.

“Unlike with ZEC in Zim, the IEC of RSA results center is fully transparent. The management system works & each party has direct access to the portal receiving results from the polling stations.This works & no V11s are alterable.We demanded but were denied access to the server.”

State Media|THE High Court has dismissed a petition by losing MDC Alliance candidate for Bulawayo South Mr Muvirimi Francis Mangwendeza who was challenging Zanu PF candidate Mr Rajesh Kumara Indukant Modi’s victory in last year’s harmonised elections.

In his petition filed at the Bulawayo High Court citing Cde Modi and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) as respondents, Mr Mangwendeza alleged that the polls were tainted with irregularities.

Mr Mangwendeza, through his lawyers Ncube Attorneys, sought an order nullifying the results of the July 30 harmonised elections for the Bulawayo South seat. 

He wanted the seat to be declared vacant.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa ruled that the petition lacked merit and failed to meet the required legal standards.

“In casu, a reading of the petition gives an impression that the petitioner did not have a chief elections agent or polling agent. There is no mention of their role, observations or any complaints received or made by them on the alleged irregularities,” he said.

In dismissing the petition, Justice Mabhikwa said Mr Mangwendeza failed to prove to the court the alleged malpractices and irregularities which he claimed affected the outcome of the election.

“No cogent explanation has been given as to why the first respondent (Mr Modi) should be so punished. Accordingly, it is ordered that the petition is dismissed with costs on ordinary scale. The election result for the National Assembly seat for Bulawayo South Constituency pronouncing the first respondent as duly elected winner, stands,” ruled Justice Mabhikwa.

Mr Mangwendeza contested with several other candidates from other political parties as well as independent candidates.

In his founding affidavit, he said on July 3, Zec allegedly published a malicious statement declaring that he was part of the 24 people who had withdrawn from the race without his knowledge and verification. 

He argued the statement de-campaigned him as those who supported him would have thought he was no longer in the race. 

Mr Mangwendeza said his loss in last year’s July 30 election was largely due to Zec’s declaration, claiming to have discovered the anomaly on July 28 during the inspection of ballot papers.

“The election for the Member of the National Assembly seat for Bulawayo South on July 30, 2018 was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Electoral Act and such mistake or non-compliance did affect the outcome of the election. The election of the first respondent (Mr Modi) in such an election therefore cannot stand and has to be set aside,” he said.

Mr Mangwendeza said during the inspection he realised that some ballot papers for the MP did not have his name on them as a candidate. 

Mr Mangwendeza said on July 29, it turned out that more ballot papers had his name missing in ward 21 and ward 6.  He said Zec indicated that their system was fool-proof, but it turned out that this was not the case as it emerged that not all the ballot papers in question were cancelled.

MDC Statement 8 May 2019|We have just been advised of the High Court of Zimbabwe judgement issued by Justice Edith Mushore today.

We fundamentally disagree with the judgement.

The choice of leaders of any political party, the world over is the sole preserve of the members of that party.

It can never be a judicial process. Equally, the actions, activities and programmes of a political party, being a voluntary organisation whose existence is protected by the Constitution, is the sole preserve of the members that party.

In the past few months, over 500 000 members of the MDC have been involved in a process of electing their leaders at lower levels, from branch to the province. More particularly, over 10 200 branches, 1 958 wards, 210 districts and 13 provinces have been elected.

In just a few weeks’ time, the MDC will complete the process of democratically electing its leadership at a Congress convened in terms of its Constitution.

Strangely, Justice Mushore’s judgement contradicts and totally ignores an earlier judgement of the High Court which ruled on the case of Murimoga versus the MDC.

We are fully aware of the machinations and strategies being deployed by the Mnangagwa administration to destabilize and destroy the people’s project.

We reiterate that Emmerson Mnangagwa is illegitimate and no amount of diversionary tactics will change this fact.

For the avoidance of doubt, preparations for the main Congress are at an advanced stage and 6 800 delegates will attend. That process is irreversible. We shall hold a historic and joyous Congress under the theme: Defining a new course for Zimbabwe.

All roads lead to Gweru.

Jacob Mafume

MDC Spokesperson

State Media|The Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) has urged the Harare City Council to respect residents’ rights and follow the legal route when demolishing houses that were built without its approval.

Council recently warned owners of such properties that their structures faced demolition if they failed to regularise them in terms of city building by-laws.

CHRA director Mrs Loreen Mupasiri-Sani told the media yesterday that they were concerned about the complete disregard for the law by the City of Harare when carrying out demolitions.

She said council should first find an alternative place for the people likely to be affected by the demolitions.

“CHRA is deeply concerned by the complete disregard of the law by the City of Harare when executing house demolitions around the capital. They are creating a major humanitarian disaster because residents are not only left homeless but are exposed to various diseases as well,” she said.

“Inasmuch as we do not condone illegal housing structures, we note with concern that the City of Harare has failed to respect citizens’ constitutional right of freedom from arbitrary eviction as enshrined under Section 74 of the country’s supreme law.

“Arbitrary evictions not only violate the right to shelter but the right to life, which is enshrined under Section 48 of the Constitution. With regards to the illegal structures, the City of Harare’s Planning Department is equally to blame as they have been complicit on issues of double allocation of stands and of housing stands on wetlands.

“Corruption and abuse of power thus remains the main issues fuelling the sprouting of illegal structures in Harare,” she said.

In an interview with state media over the proposed demolitions yesterday, Harare City Council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said council’s preoccupation was not on demolitions but on giving security of tenure to residents through regularisation of their houses and to ensure that they pay for services which they have been enjoying for free.

He, however, said those who settled on wetlands, spaces reserved for the construction of schools, hospitals, clinics and business will be removed so that those pieces of land can be tirned over to their original purposes.

Own Correspondent|Zanu-PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has scoffed at what he called the MDC’s attempt to involve the ruling party in its internal affairs after the High Court nullified the appointment of Nelson Chamisa and Eng Elias Mudziri as party co-vice presidents and directing the party to hold an extraordinary congress a month after the date of the order.

Speaking to state media after the shock High Court Ruling, Khaya Moyo, claimed the ruling by the High Court was purely an internal matter of the MDC and his party has no role in it.

“The court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leadership is purely an internal matter within the MDC,” he said.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with Zanu-PF and its visionary leader Cde ED Mnangagwa as insinuated by its spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume. It is clear from the court proceedings that the applicant is an MDC member. Zanu-PF is too principled a party with a revolutionary history to engage in MDC shenanigans.

“President ED Mnangagwa is too pre-occupied with matters of the state economy as evidenced by the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra and vision 2030.”

The High Court ruled that the decision by the late MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai to hand-pick two additional vice presidents was illegal and that the party should hold an extraordinary congress within a month using 2014 structures.

This follows an application by Gokwe district organising secretary Elias Mashavire challenging the 2016 decision by the late MDC-T leader who chose Chamisa and Engineer Mudzuri as his other deputies on top of Dr Thokozani Khupe, who had been voted in the congress of 2014 .

Chamisa and Khupe went their separate ways following the death of Mr Tsvangirai in February, last year.

At the time, Khupe insisted she was the bona fide MDC-T leader because she was the only one elected party vice president at congress.

Yesterday, Justice Edith Mushore ruled that the appointments by Tsvangirai Chamisa and Mudzuri as party co-vice presidents three years ago was invalid.

Chamisa and Mudzuri were listed as second and third respondents in the matter.

“The appointment of second (Chamisa) and third (Mudzuri) respondents as deputy presidents of the MDC party were unconstitutional and therefore null and void,” said Justice Mushore.

“The appointment of the second respondent as acting president and president of the MDC party were unconstitutional and therefore null and void.”

In addition, the judge ruled that all the decisions made under the Nelson Chamisa administration are invalid and he cannot preside over party matters.

“All appointments and or reassignments and all actions of the second respondent in his purported capacities as deputy/acting or incumbent president were unconstitutional.

“The first respondent (MDC) be and is hereby ordered to hold an extra-ordinary congress after the lapse of at least one month after the date of this order.”

MNANGAGWA: “We’re a country endowed with vast natural resources and a huge growth potential …”

EDWIN: “This country is endowed with resources, with abilities, with capacity we must use all our potential …”

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday literally leaked speech passages used by the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s son Edwin during the latter’s father’s memorial.

At the weekend as ZimEye reveals, Edwin Tsvangirai caused a scene when he read from a white paper passages which have since been resounded by Mnangagwa.

There was drama when Edwin was humiliated on stage as he said, “let us all conclude by saying our country is not in a good place.

“But there is Hope. This country is endowed with resources, with abilities, with capacity we must use all our potential for the progress of this country. Let me stress one little point, let me just say this so that you understand this, there is a gratitude I want to extend to those who have made contributions. I want to praise the government I want to praise president (Emmerson Mnangagwa).

LOUD BOOING FROM STAGE.

Edwin: “No please listen to me, pay attention to me. Listen to me, listen to me.”

CROWD SCREAMS: GET AWAY, GET AWAY!

Yesterday, Mnangagwa was found resounding passages of Edwin’s speech. Mnangaagwa was assuring investors that they can have access to and repatriate their dividends. He was opening the 35th International Chromium Development Association (ICDA) conference in Victoria Falls. Mnangagwa said: “We’re a country endowed with vast natural resources and a huge growth potential particularly in the chrome and platinum group of metals mining sub sectors. As our country accelerates its modernisation and industrialisation agenda, the development of these mining sectors will be given greater attention in our bid to accelerate economic growth. 

“In response to market expectations and global best practices, we continue to make responsive laws to reform our business operating environment through policies that are transparent, consistent and predictable.

“We’ve implemented the amendment of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and investors are also free to choose to partner with locals on mutually beneficial and agreed conditions. All investors are free to repatriate their dividends in accordance with our laws.”

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party, ZANU PF has said it is too busy to be interested in removing Mnangagwa’s nemesis, Nelson Chamisa from his party headship.

This was uttered by ZANU PF national spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo. Moyo spoke following allegations that ZANU PF influenced yesterday’s High Court verdict which declares that Nelson Chamisa does not at all occupy his position of MDC president.

Yesterday, Justice Edith Mushore ruled that the appointments by the late Morgan Tsvangirai of Mr Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri as party co-vice presidents three years ago was invalid.
Mr Chamisa and Eng Mudzuri were listed as second and third respondents in the matter.
“The appointment of second (Chamisa) and third (Mudzuri) respondents as deputy presidents of the MDC party were unconstitutional and therefore null and void,” said Justice Mushore.
“The appointment of the second respondent as acting president and president of the MDC party were unconstitutional and therefore null and void.” 
In addition, the judge ruled that all the decisions made under the Nelson Chamisa administration are invalid and he cannot preside over party matters.
“All appointments and or reassignments and all actions of the second respondent in his purported capacities as deputy/acting or incumbent president were unconstitutional.
“The first respondent (MDC) be and is hereby ordered to hold an extra-ordinary congress after the lapse of at least one month after the date of this order.”
This means the party’s national council has to go back to the status quo and follow dictates of their constitution to deal with the upcoming congress.
It also means that Mr Chamisa cannot preside over the congress because he was an ordinary card-carrying member of the party before his surprise elevation.

Commenting, Khaya Moyo said, “The court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leadership is purely an internal matter within the MDC.”

He continued saying, “it has absolutely nothing to do with Zanu-PF and its visionary leader Cde ED Mnangagwa as insinuated by its spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume. It is clear from the court proceedings that the applicant is an MDC member. Zanu-PF is too principled a party with a revolutionary history to engage in MDC shenanigans. 

“President ED Mnangagwa is too pre-occupied with matters of the state economy as evidenced by the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra and vision 2030.” – state media

Farai Dziva|Only MDC members have the mandate to elect the party leadership, spokesperson for the opposition party Jacob Mafume has said.

Mafume was addressing an urgent news conference at Morgan Tsvangirai House in the capital today.

The opposition party invited members of the media fraternity to the urgent news conference following a High Court ruling ordering MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa to cede the presidency.

“MDC members have the mandate to elect the leadership of the party, according to the Constitution.

As such preparations for the Congress are progressing regardless of the High Court ruling.

As far as we are concerned the party’s internal processes cannot be determined by external influence,” said Mafume.

Farai Dziva|The MDC A has described the country’s education system as pathetic and chaotic.

See below the MDC A statement on the country’s education system:

Right to education under threat as schools open

As the second school term of 2019 starts there are problems at every angle.

The teachers are disgruntled, the cost of living has increased beyond their reach and wages remain the same.
Calls to pay them in US dollars continue to fall on deaf ears and the teacher pupil ratio is still strenuous on the part of the educator.

Conditions of service are becoming worse by the day and safety nets are suffering the blow of a mismanaged economic mismanagement.

Problems with medical aid are increasing by the day and those going for retirement are facing eroded pensions, same as the ordeal described in the Justice Smith Commission Report of 2017.

Industrial Action is looming.
On the other hand, some parents are being made to pay school fees in US dollars either in full or part of it. The government has stubbornly refused to adopt holistic and genuine currency reforms.

Some will have to downgrade schools for their children, while some in poor families will even drop out.

There is everything wrong with the system and unfortunately children are made to suffer. Their rights are being taken away by an inconsiderate cabal whose agenda is that of power retention and self- aggrandizement.

The right to education provided for in the Constitution is no longer guaranteed.
It is a total reversal of the gains of the liberation struggle. There is also the issue of poor education facilities, pupils walking long distance to the nearest school and an unfair disadvantage for those attending school in neglected parts of the country.

The MDC suggests the following be done urgently:

1. Use part of the current forex revenue streams to pay teachers and civil servants.
2. Declare free primary education
3. Ensure access to qualify secondary education including rescucitating the BEAM facility.
4. Attend to conditions of service including upgrading education facilities especially in rural areas as well as rationalising teacher student ratios.
5. Urgent reform of NSSA and a holistic solution to the safety nets of civil servants.
   MDC 5th Congress: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
   Jacob Mafume
   MDC National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|The big question many Zimbabweans are asking is whether Auxillia Mnangagwa deserves to be a health ambassador.

Mrs Mnangagwa was recently appointed health ambassador because of her passion for the well being of the people of Zimbabwe, according to state media reports.

See below comments on Mrs Mnangagwa’ s appointment as health ambassador:
Addie Sikuza:
I think the paediatric doctor who cried because of the health conditions in hospital deserves to be the Ambassador, not this woman.

Nozipho Bakani Gumede:
Shuwa this is like Mr Bean buying himself Christmas presents, posting them to himself…

Kerita Tawana Choga:
Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one’s view’s and by trying to make it objective, and by considering each and every one’s valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say.

Pana Pana:
Yes yes we all know that but ukaona kangoma koririsa soooo

Kel Kevin:
Zimbabwe comedy series, they removed Doctor Amai and inserted Amai Doctor..

By Own Correspondent- First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s role in state affairs has come under scrutiny from observers who claim that she is interfering with government business.

Mnangagwa recently railed at bosses at the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), a state-run enterprise, over the unavailability of medicines in hospitals while they are in stock at the warehouse.

She has, however, defended her actions as a health ambassador. Said Mnangagwa:

I have been a health ambassador for quite some time and my role is to help the vulnerable in whatever possible way.

When I made a visit to NatPharm, I had asked the Minister of Health (Obadiah Moyo) to accompany me so that I could appreciate their operations.

It is unfortunate that he was in a meeting. He sent a representative.

Meanwhile, University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said that is is not unusual for first ladies across the world to be involved in humanitarian work.

Said Masunungure:

During the first days of Mnangagwa’s rule, he promised to keep his family away from State matters and he managed to do so in the run-up to the elections.

But now, he might need to reconsider certain things and ensure his wife does not get too much attention and compete with him in State papers.

First ladies the world over are known for humanitarian work and giving a human face to the State. They are there to do social work and that is what Auxillia should focus on. She must continue with her humanitarian work and not try to venture into governance issues.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Opposition Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa is still receiving specialist treatment in India for an undisclosed ailment, party officials confirmed yesterday.

Dabengwa was airlifted to the south Asian country in April, after having received medical attention in South Africa since November 2018.

The Zapu leader, who has not been seen in public in months due to his failing health, recently underwent surgery in the neighbouring country, before he was flown to India.

His family has been tight-lipped on his health status, pleading for privacy.

Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa confirmed Dabengwa was still hospitalised in India.

“Dabengwa has had tests run on him as of Friday (last week) and we await results, which should come through in the next five or seven days. Meanwhile, he is being monitored as we wait for the test results after which the doctors will advise the way forward,” Maphosa told Southern Eye.

Maphosa was also mum on what Dabengwa is suffering from.

Maphosa last month said the former Home Affairs minister “often complained of fatigue owing to his failing health condition” before he was flown to India for specialist treatment.

Dilapidated infrastructure, lack of machinery and drugs, a brain drain and inhibitive costs in the country are forcing many Zimbabweans to seek medical attention in foreign lands, especially South Africa and India.

The former Home Affairs minister has not been active in Zapu politics and planned to step down at the party’s upcoming congress.-Newsday

By Dr Nkululeko Sibanda| The judgement is not just confusing it is confused, it not just inconsistent, it is congested, it is not just absurd, it is also impossible to interpret, the Court can not say it has been fulfilled, it is thus impractical and unenforceable.

For example, how would you determine the pre-2014 structures. Some of those people have left the party and are now working for other parties.

Whose list will the Court be willing to accept? Are they planning to storm our Congress and prevent it from going forward?

Even the party it refers to can be a problem, the constitution they are referring to is itself something likely printed by Jongwe Printers and Publishers.

After putting the past nail on the economy’s coffin Mnangagwa, is destroying every institution with the zeal of a mindless child.

He is destroying the Army, Airforce, Police and this is the one of the last nails couts’ of the coffin. The Courts just lost all legitimacy by wading into politics in such an obvious manner.

We will have nothing by the time President Chamisa gets to State House if it does not happen within short order.

We have just been advised of the High Court of Zimbabwe judgement issued by Justice Edith Mushore today. We fundamentally disagree with the judgement. The choice of leaders of any political party, the world over is the sole preserve of the members of that party.

It can never be a judicial process. Equally, the actions, activities and programmes of a political party, being a voluntary organisation whose existence is protected by the Constitution, is the sole preserve of the members that party.

In the past few months, over 500 000 members of the MDC have been involved in a process of electing their leaders at lower levels, from branch to the province. More particularly, over 10 200 branches, 1 958 wards, 210 districts and 13 provinces have been elected.

In just a few weeks’ time, the MDC will complete the process of democratically electing its leadership at a Congress convened in terms of its Constitution.

Strangely, Justice Mushore’s judgement contradicts and totally ignores an earlier judgement of the High Court which ruled on the case of Murimoga versus the MDC.

We are fully aware of the machinations and strategies being deployed by the Mnangagwa administration to destabilize and destroy the people’s project. We reiterate that Emmerson Mnangagwa is illegitimate and no amount of diversionary tactics will change this fact.

For the avoidance of doubt, preparations for the main Congress are at an advanced stage and 6 800 delegates will attend. That process is irreversible. We shall hold a historic and joyous Congress under the theme: Defining a new course for Zimbabwe.

All roads lead to Gweru.

Jacob Mafume (MDC National Spokesperson)

Farai Dziva|The big question many Zimbabweans are asking is whether Auxillia Mnangagwa deserves to be a health ambassador.

Mrs Mnangagwa was recently appointed health ambassador because of her passion for the well being of the people of Zimbabwe, according to state media reports.

See below comments on Mrs Mnangagwa’ s appointment as health ambassador:
Addie Sikuza:
I think the paediatric doctor who cried because of the health conditions in hospital deserves to be the Ambassador, not this woman.

Nozipho Bakani Gumede:
Shuwa this is like Mr Bean buying himself Christmas presents, posting them to himself…

Kerita Tawana Choga:
Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one’s view’s and by trying to make it objective, and by considering each and every one’s valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say.

Pana Pana:
Yes yes we all know that but ukaona kangoma koririsa soooo

Kel Kevin:
Zimbabwe comedy series, they removed Doctor Amai and inserted Amai Doctor..