Farai Dziva| Harare Giants Dynamos have suffered a suspension blow as their leading striker Ngandu Mangala will miss the game against Walter Magaya’s Yadah FC on Sunday.
Mangala accumulated three yellow cards and will be out on suspension. He joins defender Godfrey Mukambi who is serving a one match suspension.
Black Rhinos’ Wellington Taderera is also on suspension.
Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC A has castigated government bureaucrats for spending ZINARA funds on personal aggrandisement while hundreds are perishing on the country’s roads.
See the MDC A statement below:
Vehicle levies must be returned to councils
The corruption exposed yesterday by the Public Accounts Committee vindicates the MDC’s assertion that the country has been captured by a dangerous group of scoundrels who have converted the state into an arena of self-aggrandizement.
We have made the point consistently that corruption is the biggest single premium on the Zimbabwean Economy.
It boggles the mind how a sane management would decide to give each other tens of thousands of dollars in hairdo allowances, which should have been used on roads.
In a poverty stricken country where the tax payer cannot afford a loaf of bread, thousands of ZINARA funds were spent on gym equipment.
ZINARA is rotten to the core.
The public accounts Committee Chaired by MDC Deputy Chairperson Hon Tendai Biti also exposed that hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid to a software company whose granting of such an obscene contract is deep in murky waters.
It is the same ZINARA which was part of the Dexter Nduna scandal.
The MDC mentions in its SMART policy document that reform of Public Enterprises must be placed at the centre of rethinking the State.
They are an instrument of arbitrage and patronage, they are also to aid and abate Zanu PF’s autocratic agenda. It is unacceptable.
To deal with corruption the MDC restates the following:
We also demand that vehicle levies be returned to local authorities, ZINARA cannot be allowed to continue mismanaging the fund.
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..
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, Voice of Bikita, a Maskingo based network has conveyed condolences to the families of 60 people who perished in a horrific bus accident in South Africa yesterday.
“Sad news- The Masmery bus accident claimed the lives of 60 people
at the Luis Prichard Hill.
Very sad all the people who perished are breadwinners.
Back home people have become victims of the Zanu PF misrule forcing them go out of the
country to for themselves and their families.
To all relatives
family and friends who lost your loved ones we
say don’t worry it shall be well.
May their souls rest in peace
Zororai Murugare
Lala ngokhutula
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa says he hopes South African elections will reflect the true will of the people of that country.
“Join me in wishing all South Africans a credible, successful, peaceful, free and fair elections in their voting processes.
Africa must lead the way in inclusive, transparent and undisputed electoral processes upon unbiased media and truly independent electoral bodies.Shine Africa shine!!
May God bless Africa,” said Chamisa in a statement on Facebook.
By Own Correspondent| At a time when a video emerged of Nelson Chamisa’s opponent, the ZANU PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa boasting that his party is a law unto itself, it is the army, the police and everything one can imagine, the High Court has nullified the appointment by MDC its current leader Nelson Chamisa following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
The sudden verdict also nullified the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs by Morgan Tsvangirai making it out as “unconstitutional.”
Opposition MDC will issue a presser in response to a High Court ruling nullifying the presidency of its current leader Nelson Chamisa.
ZimEye will be livestreaming the press conference.
Refresh this page for latest updates
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:
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the people of Zimbabwe cannot wait for 2023 given the fact that their suffering has become unbearable.
Chamisa has attributed the socio-economic problems bedevilling the country to the disputed results of the 2018 polls.
“Why wait for five years. We must begin the journey with the July 2018 disputed elections so that issues of legitimacy are dealt with, issues of parliamentary reforms are dealt with, (and that there is) political dialogue.
If there is no political dialogue, we say this and we will say it again, we are going to resort to constitutional avenues and platforms around our rights to express ourselves until what we believe to be the legitimate request is acceded,” Chamisa told a daily publication.
Own Correspondent|The South African Independent Electoral Commission said that an elderly voter has died at a polling station in Elandspoort in Tshwane.
Mamabolo said the elderly voter had collapsed and passed on in a voting station in Elandspoort, Tshwane, on Wednesday.
Mamabolo made the announcement during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday.
“As always in the election of this magnitude there are some challenges reported, including an instance where officials arrived late for duty and where materials were delayed. This had all been resolved by 9am,” he said.
“The IEC is sad to report the death of a deputy presiding officer in the Eastern Cape due to illness overnight and extends its condolences to the family. The commission also received reports of an elderly voter who apparently died in a voting station in Elandspoort, in Tshwane, today. Accordingly we express our condolences to the family,” Mamabolo said
Mamabolo said that they experienced a few problems at some voting stations.
“By 11.30am, only 17 voting stations remained unopened due to access challenges, 14 of which are in the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The commission is working very closely with security agencies, supported by government departments, to open the stations as soon as possible.”
Jane Mlambo| Former spokesperson of MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, Linda Masarira has mocked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa following a shocking High Court ruling that nullified the youthful politician’s appointment to the position of vice President by the late party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai as null and void.
Posting on Twitter, Masarira who is no stranger to controversy said;
“He legitimacy what not what not. The legitimate has been ruled the illegitimate. Karma karma karma… Operation Restore Legitimacy. Oh what a wonderful way to start my Wednesday,” Masarira said.
The High Court has also ruled that Chamisa’s subsequent assumption of the MDC presidency following Tsvangirai death was unconstitutional, and has ordered the party to hold extraordinary congress within a month to elect a legitimate leader.
By Own Correspondent- A High Court judge ruled on Wednesday that opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate president of the MDC, further instructing the party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month using its 2014 structures.
The court further ruled that the vice-presidential appointments made by late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai are null and void.
The court has ordered the party to convene an extraordinary congress within a month.
Commenting on the judgement one of the MDC founding members David Coltart said the ruling will be challenged.
More details to follow.
By Farai D Hove| At a time when a video emerged of Nelson Chamisa’s opponent, the ZANU PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa boasting that his party is a law unto itself, it is the army, the police, the army, and everything one can imagine, the High Court has nullified the appointment by MDC Chamisa as the party president following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
The sudden verdict also nullified the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs by Morgan Tsvangirai making ot out as “unconstitutional.”
The High Court has nullified the appointment by MDC of Nelson Chamisa as the party president following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
The party will now have to go back to structures of 2014 and the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs by Morgan Tsvangirai was unconstitutional. BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGEMENT –
By Own Correspondent| At a time when a video emerged of Nelson Chamisa’s opponent, the ZANU PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa boasting that his party is a law unto itself, it is the army, the police and everything one can imagine, the High Court has nullified the appointment by MDC Chamisa as the party president following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
The sudden verdict also nullified the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs by Morgan Tsvangirai making it out as “unconstitutional.”
After realising that Chamisa has virtually won the popular vote within the party’s internal electoral processes, Zanu PF is now hoping to use the courts to pull down the youthful MDC A leader.
Zanu PF hardliners have vowed to relegate the youthful MDC A leader to the political dustbins by ” all means necessary.”
Mnangagwa’s administration is now wading into the internal affairs of the ruling party’s biggest contender in the 2018 July elections in a development which has been described by analysts as testimony that Zanu Pf sympathises with leader of an MDC breakaway faction led by Thokozani Khupe.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
By Own Correspondent- One of Opposition MDC’s founding member, David Coltart, has described today’s High Court ruling as empty thunder and gave assurance that it will be repealed.
The High Court today ruled that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is an illegitimate president.
The ruling said that Chamisa appointment to the position of vice president by Morgan Tsvangirai before the latter’s death was null and void.
Said Coltart in a comment about the ruling:
“It will be appealed. This is what is called a brutum fulmen – ‘empty thunder’, an ineffective order. By the time the appeal is heard a duly constituted Congress of the MDC will have been held and @nelsonchamisa elected. Pathetic interference with the due process of a party.
Hundreds of commuters in Harare were yesterday left stranded after commuter omnibus operators hiked fares in most part of the city, citing fuel shortages.
The Zimbabwe United passenger Company (Zupco) buses, which were introduced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa early this year to solve transport problems have in the past weeks disappeared from the areas they were supposed to be servicing.
From Kambuzuma to town kombis were charging $2, a rise from $1, the same with Waterfalls, while Chitungwiza was $3,50, up from $2. Mufakose to Mbare was $2 up from $1.
A kombi driver who plies the Chitungwiza-Harare route told NewsDay that kombis would hike their fares further if fuels supplies remain erratic.
“There is no diesel, at the few service stations where it is available, one can spend the entire night in the queue and still not get a full tank, which is enough to carry passengers for the better part of the day,” said the public transport operator who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We are turning to the black market where it is very expensive. We have to raise the fares for us to make a profit. Otherwise we would be working all day without getting anything.”
Another kombi driver said the fare hikes were necessitated by fuel shortages.
“If fuel shortages worsen, we will be left with little or no option, but to hike the fares,” he said.
A survey conducted by NewsDay in Harare yesterday showed that few service stations had long meandering queues while some had no fuel at all and in most suburbs in the capital city, many kombis were not operating due to shortages of fuel.
In an interview with one of the Harare commuters, Primrose Chitiyo said she went home late trying to secure cheap transport.
“I am no longer able to cope with the situation. Yesterday (Monday) I went home around 8pm because kombis were charging $2 yet I only had a dollar. I tried to look for cheap transport, but there was none and I had to look for someone who could lend me some money after realising that I could sleep in town,” she said.
Tawanda Guze said the prices had gone beyond their reach for someone who has children commuting to school.
“We are calling for the government to address the situation urgently. This is too much for us. We are already struggling to make ends meet and the fare hikes are making us suffer more. Imagine I have pupils who would want to go to school so they can have a better future,” he said.
But Energy minister Joram Gumbo insisted that there were enough fuel supplies in the country and he attributed the shortages to lack of foreign currency.
“Let me make it clear, my job is to facilitate the importation of fuel into the country. As far as I am concerned, there is enough fuel supplies in to the country, but there are shortages of the foreign currency for service stations to buy it,” he said.
By Own Correspondent- A foreign investor is considering pulling out of the country after its proposed US$2 million diaper manufacturing project in Bulawayo stalled due to a shortage of foreign currency to import raw materials.
In an interview, Masters Diapers Zimbabwe director Mr Nigam Desai, whose project is the first of its kind in the city, said their investor, a Mauritian company, which is registered in South Africa, has given them 30 days up to May 21, 2019 to show progression of the project.
“Recently, we had a meeting with our investors and they expressed concerns on the delay of this project going ahead. It’s now almost one year and they have been very patient but they have now come to the point where they’re considering withdrawing the investment from Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This is due to the fact that the machines have been here in the country for almost a year, the concerns are that the machines are sitting idle, gathering dust and rusting and the technology has been compromised.
“You can’t allow the machinery to sit like this for too long, it’s not generating any income and maybe in two-three years time, the machines will become obsolete because the technology is moving at such a fast pace.”
The foreign investor bought the equipment for Masters Diapers Zimbabwe with the hope that the local company would source its own income or foreign currency to secure raw materials for the project to take off.
The diaper manufacturing business was expected to kick off between November and December last year but still hangs in the balance as Masters Diapers Zimbabwe is yet to secure an undisclosed amount of foreign currency allocation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
Jane Mlambo| A high court judge has ruled that Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate leader of the MDC & that the MDC must hold an extraordinary congress within a month using 2014 structures.
It says the VP appointments by Tsvangirai are null & void.
Interestingly, two years ago a High Court judge ruled that Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri were legitimately appointed as Vice Presidents of MDC.
More to follow…
By Own Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mangudya has predicted that the economy is on the mend following the recent fiscal and monetary measures put in place.
Mangudya said this on Tuesday at the State of the Economy (SoE) Report presentation in Harare.
He said:
We are in transition to a stable economy and a stable economy is required for purposes of increasing growth.
The economy is expected to adjust soon from the recent fiscal and monetary policy measures. We have done very well under circumstances which are so difficult.
As a nation, we have been shaken by policy measures we have adopted, but they are for a good cause to a permanent stable solution. A superstructure which is strong to expand the economy.
The central bank chief added that measures that will bring stability to the economy include reducing the high fiscal deficit, among others.
Said Mangudya:
These include reducing high fiscal deficits, which were translating into the higher money supply, fiscal consolidation, encouraging pricing of goods and services in RTGS$, reducing the huge import bill which is fuelling foreign currency demand.
… The decline in monthly inflation since the peak in October 2018 signals dissipation of inflationary pressures.
Inflation has, however, continued to rise as the rate of the RTGS dollar has weakened against the greenback on the alternative market. An acute shortage of fuel has also worsened the situation as foreign currency remains scarce.-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent- Police have launched a manhunt for a man who killed his ex-wife at a farm in Beatrice before setting a hut on fire in an attempt to burn the body on Saturday following a misunderstanding over the upkeep of their two children.
The man whose name is still being withheld is still on the run and his whereabouts are still not known.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident. “We are investigating a case in which a man killed his former wife at Plot 5, Silver Oak Farm in Beatrice. The man had a dispute with his wife and they went on separation.
“The man then went to live in Chinhoyi resulting in the wife falling in love with another man at the same compound,” he said.
He said sometime in March, the man returned from Chinhoyi and started staying at the same compound alone.
Investigations revealed that the ex-wife then started demanding financial support from the man for the upkeep of their two children.
“On the 4th of May, she went to the former husband’s wife and a dispute ensued. The man then killed her with an unknown object which is yet to be identified and then set a hut on fire while the body was inside,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Some alert neighbours extinguished the fire and made a report to the police.
Asst Comm Nyathi urged couples to resolve disputes amicably and not through violent ways.
The latest incident comes after, police are still battling to arrest a 50-year-old Harare man, Petros Pomborokani, who allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife and brother-in-law at their Gletwin home in Harare following a protracted marital dispute in March
The whereabouts of Pomborokani, a former Ministry of Health and Child Care official, are still a mystery amid widespread belief that he could have skipped the country through illegal points. Police have been appealing for information on the whereabouts of Pomborokani, who is suspected to be holed up in South Africa or Namibia.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The High Court has nullified the appointment by MDC of Nelson Chamisa as the party president following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14 2018.
According to the court ruling issued Wednesday, the party has to revert back to its 2014 structures.
The appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as Vice Presidents by Morgan Tsvangirai was also deemed as unconstitutional.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
By Own Correspondent- Thirteen Zimbabweans, including four children, died and 36 others were injured when a Marsmery bus they were travelling in overturned just outside Makhado town in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
The accident occurred on Monday at about 5PM along the N1 highway which is one of the major roads which links South Africa and the rest of the Southern Africa Development Community.
It was not immediately clear where the Zimbabweans were headed to or were travelling from but Marsmery is a Zimbabwean bus company.
Emergency services ER24 spokesperson Mr Russel Meiring confirmed the accident to the South African media.
“ER24 paramedics, along with several other services, arrived on the scene to find the bus lying on its roof off the roadway. Numerous patients were found lying around the scene,” he said.
Mr Meiring said 36 people were treated on the scene and their injuries ranged from minor to critical.
He said several people died on the scene and others succumbed to their injuries at nearby hospitals. Once treated, other patients were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.
Limpopo Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) responsible for Transport and Community Safety Makoma Makhurupetje said the exact cause of the accident is not yet known but reckless driving could be a possible cause.
“I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of 13 Zimbabwean nationals who died late yesterday afternoon when the driver of the bus they were travelling in lost control and overturned on the N1 north, near the Ingwe Hotel in Makhado. I also wish a speedy recovery to others who were injured during the crash,” she said.
“We are deeply concerned about accidents involving buses as they lead to more loss of lives compared to ordinary motor vehicles.”
“The driver and vehicle fitness of long distance cross border buses is also a matter of deep concern to us as this is the third time now that we are losing lives because of long distance buses.”
Ms Makhurupetje said it was high time law enforcement officers stepped up their routine checks on long distance buses to avoid similar accidents.
Limpopo Department of Transport spokesperson Mrs Matome Moremi-Taueatsoala said they will be working with the Zimbabwean authorities to identify and repatriate the bodies.
“The Road Accident Fund (RAF) and the Department of Health will henceforth be working with the Zimbabwe Consulate to deal with the issue of identification of bodies.
“In addition, RAF will handle the repatriation cost,” she said.
The N1 highway has become a death trap as many Zimbabweans are losing their lives on that road.
The latest accident comes a few months after nine Zimbabweans were killed in a road accident in Polokwane when a bus they were travelling in overturned.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Harare City Council (HCC) has warned owners of properties in some of the city’s plush suburbs who built houses that were not approved by council that their structures face demolition if they fail to regularise them in terms of building by-laws.
The targeted structures are in areas such as Belvedere West, Bluff Hill, Borrowdale, Mabelreign, Glaudina, Carrick Creagh, Mt Pleasant Heights, Gletwyn, Crowhill Extension, Grobbie Park, Goodhope, Adlynn and Waterfalls.
Other areas earmarked for regularisation include Dzivaresekwa Extension, Southlea Park, Stoneridge, Eyrecourt, Saturday Retreat, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Glen Norah, Hatcliffe Extension, Budiriro, Mufakose, Kuwadzana, Mabvuku and Tafara.
In a statement, HCC urged those with completed houses that were not approved to visit the planning offices for regularisation.RELATED ARTICLES
“City of Harare is aware that various identified suburbs in areas without certificates of compliance have completed building structures which are occupied without approval of the building plans in violation of the Model Building By-Laws of 1977.
“Owners of such building structures mentioned above are advised to visit Building Inspectorate offices at Cleveland House, Leopold Takawira Street, or their nearest district office for payment of their plan submission and regularisation fees and penalties,” reads the statement.
The city has advised applicants who want to regularise the structures to provide proof of ownership of stand, approved copy of town planning layout, copy of survey diagram, sewer and water reticulation designs among other things.
The local authority has urged residents to comply as it will deploy officers to inspect the houses.
“Teams of our development control officers and building inspectors will soon be visiting all affected suburbs making door-to-door inspections of such properties.
“Residents are kindly advised to cooperate with our inspectors who will be carrying official identification particulars. Failure to comply may result in demolition of such structures and any costs incurred will be recovered from the property owners.”
However, the city said regularisation will not be allowed for properties that were developed on schools, institutions, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive sites.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Zimbabwean sensational gospel artiste Sabastian Magacha has caused an uproar on social media with the outfit he was wearing in a picture posted recently.
Magacha said that the outfit was part of a collection of various items he is yet to release to the public. The outfit has feminine looks and critics have added that it is ungodly for him to wear it.
I am a creative person. The clothing line is one of many creative things that I am working on. The collection has various items that we will release as time progresses, and this particular attire is mostly a suit.
We decided to add a kente tail to give it an African Flair.
For this particular look I took a lot of inspiration from Jesus, who wore robes. My aim is to create something that is global,” he added. Magacha said his dressing may not be welcome to some people, but there are some who appreciate his style.
As someone, who has been in the public glare for over 15 years, I have received a lot of negative and positive comments from people.
I will always appreciate their opinions. My main focus is on God and for me to allow the gift of creativity that He gave me to manifest.See photo below:
Magacha responded to his critics saying that his relationship with God matters the most. He also that his faith is as solid as it can be
By Own Correspondent- Health Minister, Dr. Obadiah Moyo has revealed government’s plans to improve the health delivery system including the nurses’ working conditions.
The Minister was speaking at the Nursing and Midwifery Universal Health Coverage Summit held in Harare on Monday.
He said:
Zimbabwe today has joined other nations by launching this programme which has been adopted by many nations. This comes after we have realised the need to improve nurses’ working conditions and developing marginalised health centres starting with primary health care which serves most rural areas in the country.
There are plans underway for the ministry to empower the least qualified nurses so that fewer complications will be referred to district and provincial hospitals. Under the same umbrella, big health institutions will have at least four qualified doctors, so that patients will be served urgently.
I am addressing this on the nurses’ perspective. My vision is for the health services to have a down-to-top approach where all ideas from the junior health subordinates must be listened to and used by the ministry to make the necessary adjustments.
The disclosure comes when the Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association(ZINA) president Enock Dongo had called upon the government to improve nurses’ working conditions. Issues they raised include salaries and shortage of medical equipment.
Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has hailed the quality of leaders that the party structures have nominated for National leadership.
Writing on his social media platform, Chamisa said the delegates to congress will be spoilt for choice when they take part in the elections.
“I’m so impressed by the calibre of candidates nominated for various senior leadership positions this congress. The quality of debate during the newly introduced campaign debate forums or caucuses is supremely inspiring. Without doubt, congress delegates are spoilt for choice. Politics in MDC and Zimbabwe will never be the same,” said Chamisa.
Meanwhile, the youthful MDC leader has also wished South Africans well as they go to the polls today.
“Join me in wishing all South Africans a credible, successful, peaceful, free and fair election in their voting on Wednesday. Africa must lead the way in inclusive, transparent and undisputed electoral processes upon unbiased media and truly independent electoral bodies. Shine Africa shine!!” May God bless Africa.
By Own Correspondent- The trial of former Information Communication Technology and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira for criminal abuse of office failed to kick off yesterday after the defence team said it was not ready.
The case was rolled over to today. Mandiwanzira is accused of appointing his unqualified personal assistant to the board of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz).
Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, Mandiwanzira’s lawyer argued that he had not been informed about the trial date.
Mandiwanzira’s application for the release of his passport was opposed by prosecutor Michael Chakandida. Mandiwanzira had indicated that business and health were in jeopardy. The prosecutor, however, opposed it saying that the application was not in good faith since there were no confirmed dates on which Mandiwanzira would be visiting China. Chakandida argued:
For the accused to seek a passport basing on engagements that are pending simply shows how the application was made in bad faith.
The State is doubting the authenticity of the document. It has not been furnished with the original by the accused used or the lawyer.
The State fears that if the passport is released the accused will flee from justice.
Mandiwanzira is among several other former top government officials to have been arrested when ascended to the presidency.
Some analysts have however argued that the arrests were only targeted on perceived members of the G40 faction. They also said that no imprisonment has been done since the arrests began.
By Own Correspondent- Kadoma CBD was brought to a standstill recently as cars were speeding and hooting with sex workers singing and chanting obscene songs as a way of paying their last respects to a local hoo_ker who was recently found murdered in her house by a suspected client.
The deceased identified by police as Bridget Envarator Karonga of Katumba Street, Rimuka was buried at Empress in Kadoma.
According to reports by ZwNews. Police recently launched man hunt for a suspect who murdered the 25-year-old woman in cold blood.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said on April 24, at around 11pm, Karonga was spotted at Rumwe Shopping Centre in the company of an unidentified man, who was wearing a green T-shirt and khaki pair of trousers.
The two then reportedly went to Karonga’s house for a night of intimacy.
They were also seen by fellow tenant, Rutherford Gambinya entering the house.
Police said, when Gambinya went to the toilet later that evening, he observed a trail of blood along the passage, stretching from the house’s main door, leading to Karonga’s room.
Gambinya then alerted neighbours who then tried to break the door, but failed and reported the matter to the police.
A police reaction team attended the scene and forced-open the door only to find Karonga lying dead in a pool of blood.
Her body, which was riddled with stab wounds on the chest, was then conveyed to Kadoma Hospital mortuary for a postmortem.
A blood-stained kitchen knife was recovered at the crime scene.
Jane Mlambo| Former Finance minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has been implicated in a land wrangle case by a renowned deceased Harare lawyer Inviolata Dumbutshena who defeated the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in court.
Chombo who during his time as the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing acquired vast tracts of land is alleged to have been the owner of the residential stands behind Strathaven Shopping Centre in Avondale, Harare which the ZDF sought to illegally grab from Invioletta Dumbutshena’s client Mrs Mary Madzima.
According to a ZimEye source, “These residential stands on paper belong to Mrs Mary Madzima but the real owner is Dr. Ignatius Chombo. The legal fees for this Defence were paid by Dr Chombo. Mrs Mary Madzima and Dr Ignatius Chombo are friends and she benefited a lot of favours from him, from supplying uniforms in most government departments including ZRP jerseys.
“Now when Dr Chombo intended to make these residential stands his, he hatched a plan whereby Mrs Mary Madzima would go for an Interview that she intended to acquire the stands in order to construct a crèche for kids.
“Dr Chombo had already spoken to the then Minister of Primary & Secondary Education, Mr. Lazarus Dokora about the issue who then conducted the interview. Mrs Mary Madzima was then promised a residential stand as a token of appreciation in Pomona Borrowdale.
“After the interview the residential stands were then put in Mrs Mary Madzima’s name and she was given a token of appreciation as agreed. What she then did was to register the Pomona residential stand in her daughter’s name, Chiedza Madzima.
“These residential stands are still there in the names as given above.
“Right now Invioletta’s mother is furious with Mrs Mary Madzima as she is claiming compensation for the loss of her daughter.
“She is aware that her daughter stood in for a case of land that was fraudulently converted to someone’s name for their benefit,” the source said.
Own Correspondent|After a tumultuous six weeks or so, protests have again flared up in several major townships. Fears that Election Day would be affected have been realised.
As South Africans express their democratic right to vote in the elections on Wednesday, other angered citizens are exercising their rights to protest. In at least three major settlements, demonstrations have kicked off on election day according to media reports from South Africa.
The first reported incidents came from Khayelitsha in Cape Town. Residents had blockaded the road before dawn on Wednesday, with some major roads being closed off to the public as the discontent intensifies over poor service delivery in the region.
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the Western Cape, residents of Plettenberg Bay have also taken to the streets to vent their frustrations. This is affecting the N2 road and traffic is already being forced to take an alternative route.
Although there are no disruptions to report on the N1 or N3, communities serviced by the N2 seem to be the ones vocalising their concerns on Election Day. Protests in Umlazi, Durban flared-up on Tuesday night and continued in Wednesday morning.
From around 5:00, sections of the N2 near Umgababa, Lamontville, Higginson Highway in Chatsworth, Ntuzuma and Mary Thipe Road in Cato Manor have been blighted by burning tyres and debris.
The situation in the townships outside of Durban is arguably the most fraught of the lot – and their protests don’t just involve traffic disruption: SABC reported this morning that two community halls set-up as voting stations have been burned down as part of the demonstrations.
Own Correspondent|Living to his pre election undertaking, opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has cast his vote early making him the first of political party leaders to cast his vote.
The early bird Maimane arrived at the voting station in Soweto just before 7:30 to cast his vote.
Play Video42s
‘This vote is about competence’ – DA’s Maimane casts his vote in Dobsonville
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane joined the queues at the Presbyterian Church in Dobsonville, Soweto to cast his vote.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane placed his ballot paper in a voting box in front of spectators and the media in Dobsonville, Soweto on Wednesday.
“This vote is about saying let Mmusi Maimane run this country so that we can take it forward, so that we can make sure we clean out this country,” says Maimane.
“It is about building a government for all – black, white, Muslim, Christian,” he added.
State Media|Harare City Council (HCC) has warned owners of properties in some of the city’s plush suburbs who built houses that were not approved by council that their structures face demolition if they fail to regularise them in terms of building by-laws.
The targeted structures are in areas such as Belvedere West, Bluff Hill, Borrowdale, Mabelreign, Glaudina, Carrick Creagh, Mt Pleasant Heights, Gletwyn, Crowhill Extension, Grobbie Park, Goodhope, Adlynn and Waterfalls.
Other areas earmarked for regularisation include Dzivaresekwa Extension, Southlea Park, Stoneridge, Eyrecourt, Saturday Retreat, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Glen Norah, Hatcliffe Extension, Budiriro, Mufakose, Kuwadzana, Mabvuku and Tafara.
In a statement, HCC urged those with completed houses that were not approved to visit the planning offices for regularisation.
“City of Harare is aware that various identified suburbs in areas without certificates of compliance have completed building structures which are occupied without approval of the building plans in violation of the Model Building By-Laws of 1977.
“Owners of such building structures mentioned above are advised to visit Building Inspectorate offices at Cleveland House, Leopold Takawira Street, or their nearest district office for payment of their plan submission and regularisation fees and penalties,” reads the statement.
The city has advised applicants who want to regularise the structures to provide proof of ownership of stand, approved copy of town planning layout, copy of survey diagram, sewer and water reticulation designs among other things.
The local authority has urged residents to comply as it will deploy officers to inspect the houses.
“Teams of our development control offcers and building inspectors will soon be visiting all affected suburbs making door-to-door inspections of such properties.
“Residents are kindly advised to cooperate with our inspectors who will be carrying official identification particulars. Failure to comply may result in demolition of such structures and any costs incurred will be recovered from the property owners.”
However, the city said regularisation will not be allowed for properties that were developed on schools, institutions, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive sites.
Own Correspondent|Barcelona’s team bus did not wait for Lionel Messi as it departed Anfield without the Argentine after the Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Messi suffered a miserable night for his club as Liverpool completed a stunning comeback to knock Barca out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Barcelona appeared to have a commanding advantage after securing a 3-0 win in the first leg at Camp Nou last week.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side put four past Barca without reply to book their place in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.
Messi, meanwhile, was required to undergo a doping test immediately after Barca’s crushing defeat at Anfield.
And according to local media, the process took so long that Barca’s team bus headed to the airport while Messi was still at Anfield.
Messi was eventually able to provide a urine sample, while special arrangements were made to reunite the Argentine with the rest of the squad and coaching staff before they travelled back to Spain.
Messi also walked through the mixed zone at Anfield much later than the rest of Barca’s players but said nothing to the media as he was escorted out of the stadium.
Meanwhile, Sergio Busquets has apologised after Barcelona’s humiliating exit.
‘They have been better than us. I apologise,’ said the midfielder.
‘After what happened in Rome, this happened again. It’s tough to go out like this after the first-leg result.
‘Liverpool have been smarter than us, they were faster. I think we had chances to score the goal we needed, but it wasn’t meant to be today.’
Below is the video of ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa boasting that his party is the law unto itself in Zimbabwe. In the footage, Mnangagwa says: “We (ZANU PF) must be respected, we are majority, we are the people, we are the government, we are the army, we are the airforce, we are the police, we are everything you can think of.
“We determine who can do mining in Zimbabwe. We determine who can construct a railway line in Zimbabwe. We determine who can build a road in Zimbabwe, no other party can do so. – CROWD CLAP CLAP”
State Media|WHEN the late Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi’s will was read out last week, a lot of people concluded that the superstar disliked his daughters after it emerged that he had left all his movable and immovable property to his spouse, Daisy, leaving them with nothing.
But an interview that was conducted by Mai Chisamba at Pakare Paye Arts Centre for his 60th birthday six years ago made it clear that Tuku likely did not hate his daughters, but was a man who believed in empowering children and not spoon feeding them.
“Children should work for their own money and not expect handouts from their parents. A child should be empowered so that they are successful in life. A child that is given money or a car by their parent . . . you’ll have destroyed their future. They won’t know how difficult it is to save and buy a car,” Tuku, who died at the age of 66 on January 23, told Mai Chisamba in the interview.
“So when you die, who do you think will keep on dishing out things like that to your child? No one. . . A child should be taught how to get these things on their own.”
With these sentiments, it is now apparent why Tuku deliberately left out his four children Samantha, Selmor, Sandra and Sybil from his last will and testament.
The late Tuku said just because he was successful, it did not mean his children could draw on his accomplishments.
In order to be successful in life, Tuku suggested that children listen to their parents for guidance. He also said parents should learn to support their children’s talents.
“There’s no such thing as a talentless child. All children tell their parents that this is who I am and what I am. Unfortunately as parents, we don’t listen to them because we’re older than them and they can’t advise us, we know better.
“When a child wants something to pursue his talent, you have to buy them. If they want a guitar, buy, a tennis racket or a football, just buy. Support them because in all that, a child will be trying to find what he or she is good at.
“They know what they’re good at and you as parents don’t know,” Tuku once said.
Looking at Selmor, Tuku’s advice seems to be working as she has become her own person and is working hard to build a name for herself through her Selmor and Friends concerts which she is staging nationwide.
She has even managed to convince corporates such as Impala Car Rental to support her. The car rental company recently gave her a new Range Rover for use during her tours.
State Media|THE late national hero Velaphi Misheck Ncube played a critical role in the attainment of the country’s independence and the successful implementation of the Unity Accord, war veterans said yesterday.
The late Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly (NCA) member died last week at the age of 82 after a battle with diabetes.
War veterans yesterday said Ncube’s works speak volumes about his dedication to the country hence he deserved to be accorded the highest honour afforded to former freedom fighters.
Zanu-PF Politburo member and war veteran Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube said Ncube was one of the first pioneers of the war of independence.
“I know him very well. In the early 1960s, he was one of the few brave young men who went to war after realising that it was the only way to win the country from the colonisers.
“He was part of the group that went to Egypt to study, with special focus on sabotage, while others went to China, Algeria and Ghana. After finishing their studies, they went to Zambia but there were no weapons,” said Rtd Col Dube.
He said Ncube was also one of the people who went to Congo to buy weapons, loaded them into trains and smuggled them into the country.
“I joined the war in 1963 and Velaphi was already there. He was jailed for many years after being sold out and was released after independence and went into the party structures.
“Because he loved peace, he played a big role in the implementation of the Unity Accord,” said Rtd Col Dube.
Another former freedom fighter, Christopher Sibanda, said the late national hero was a hard working, straight forward man who loved peace.
“Velaphi was a man of action who never wasted time as far as his work as a politician was concerned. I started knowing him in 1963 when he was spearheading the mobilisation programme to educate people about the liberation struggle.
“He worked day and night and managed to smuggle weapons into the country despite the dangers. He put his life at risk as he worked tirelessly for the country until he was sold out leading to his arrest. He was released when the country attained independence,” he said.
After independence, Sibanda added, Ncube played a pivotal role in the party structures and rallied behind the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo in promoting unity among the people of Zimbabwe.
“Velaphi was one of the comrades who quickly embraced the Unity Accord and went out to the people to explain its significance. He managed to mobilise many people and he played a big role in the formation of structures after the merging of Zapu and Zanu.
“There were a lot of disagreements as the two parties tried to form the structures but comrades like Velaphi were always there to encourage people to be peaceful in the party,” said Sibanda.
War veterans chairman for Bulawayo province Cephas Ncube said he worked with the late Ncube after independence in 1980.
“He was one of the party leaders who worked tirelessly for the revolution to make sure that the country attained independence. He also played a critical role during the implementation of the Unity Accord in 1987.
“After this he continued to work for the party as a member of the district committee, provincial executive, Central Committee and the NCA,” said Ncube.
Another war veteran Zephaniah Nkomo said he worked with the late national hero in 1980 when he was an officer linked with the then Brady Barracks military camp.
“Velaphi was an honest man who always emphasised the importance of safeguarding the country’s interests.
“He was very passionate about the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe hence his involvement in the liberation struggle and the ruling Zanu-PF party,” said Nkomo.
Ncube’s burial has been set for tomorrow at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.
A funeral service will be held at 9AM in Bulawayo today before his body is flown to Harare for burial.
The national hero leaves behind his wife Margaret, nine children, 16 grandchildren and two great grand children.
Mourners are gathered at 70590 Lobengula West in Bulawayo.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention takes note of Mr. Julian Assange’s conviction by a UK court on 1 May 2019, and his sentencing to 50 weeks imprisonment. On 4 December 2015, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted Opinion No. 54/2015*, in which it considered that Mr. Assange was arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the UK.
The Working Group issues the following statement:
“The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is deeply concerned about this course of action including the disproportionate sentence imposed on Mr. Assange. The Working Group is of the view that violating bail is a minor violation that, in the United Kingdom, carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, even though the bond related to the bail has been lost in favour of the British Government, and that Mr. Assange was still detained after violating the bail which, in any case should not stand after the Opinion was issued. The Working Group regrets that the Government has not complied with its Opinion and has now furthered the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange.
It is worth recalling that the detention and the subsequent bail of Mr. Assange in the UK were connected to preliminary investigations initiated in 2010 by a prosecutor in Sweden. It is equally worth noting that that prosecutor did not press any charges against Mr. Assange and that in 2017, after interviewing him in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, she discontinued investigations and brought an end to the case.
The Working Group is further concerned that Mr. Assange has been detained since 11 April 2019 in Belmarsh prison, a high-security prison, as if he were convicted for a serious criminal offence. This treatment appears to contravene the principles of necessity and proportionality envisaged by the human rights standards.
The WGAD reiterates its recommendation to the Government of the United Kingdom, as expressed in its Opinion 54/2015, and its 21 December 2018 statement, that the right of Mr Assange to personal liberty should be restored.”
………………………………..
The UN Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
Telegraph|It may be the Rainbow Nation, but the political history of South Africa has long been writ in black and white.
Quarter of a century after the end of apartheid, however, there is a twist in the script.
On Wednesday, when South Africa votes in a general election, some of the country’s whites will mark their ballots for the African National Congress for the first time. In contrast, a growing number of blacks are set to turn their backs on the party that liberated them from decades of white rule.
One man is responsible for this apparent contravention of the unstated rules of South African politics: Cyril Ramaphosa, the would-be reformer who became the country’s fourth black president in February last year.
For a cautious moderate, Mr Ramaphosa elicits strong passions. To those impatient for a more equitable distribution of South Africa’s wealth, he is sometimes seen as a mealy-mouthed cipher for white business who long ago betrayed the ideals of the black liberation struggle.
For others, he is the one man who could stop the rot in Africa’s most famous party and rescue the country from perdition after years of crippling looting under his predecessor Jacob Zuma.
Among the latter are a surprising number of whites, most of whom usually vote for South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). Peter Bruce, the former editor of Business Day, the country’s foremost financial newspaper, is one of the most prominent of such voices.
Although describing himself as “very much not” a typical ANC voter and admitting he will be “holding his nose” when he casts his ballot for the party, the choice for him is simple.
“We are in the fortunate position of having somebody quite sensible, a very centred, sane and rational person, as president of the ANC at the moment,” he said. “I think it would be a ridiculous thing to turn down the opportunity to try to strengthen his hand.”
There is little doubt that the ANC, as it has in all five previous elections since the dawn of majority rule, will form the next government.
Yet Mr Ramaphosa is vulnerable. Should the ANC’s share of the vote slip substantially below the 62 percent it won in 2014, a powerful alliance of Zuma loyalists and far-left populists within the party could attempt to overthrow him.
The president represents much that they detest, from his investment-friendly instincts to his determination to clean up the rot that took hold of South Africa’s institutions in the Zuma years.
It is precisely that prospect, though, that endears him to many in South Africa’s white-dominated business world.
“Some wealthy whites I know are voting for Ramaphosa,” says Peter Leon, a former DA provincial leader and partner at the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. “They think he is the Gorbachev of the ANC, that he will lead the country out of the wilderness.”
That sentiment is shared, to a degree, even among some white farmers. Causing widespread alarm, Mr Ramaphosa gave his backing last year to an ANC proposal to allow the seizure of white-owned farms without compensation.
In the verdant pasturelands of the Natal midlands, white farmers are nervous that such a move could turn into a Zimbabwe-style land grab.
But even here some, like Grant Warren, who owns a dairy farm making artisanal cheese in the rolling hills of the Karkloof outside the town of Howick, are contemplating voting for the ANC for the first time.
They hope that Mr Ramaphosa can rein in his party’s populist instincts and ensure that land reform is carried out in a measured manner — although many wonder if he is really strong enough to do so.
“I trust him and I would like to vote for him, but I haven’t decided yet,” Mr Warren said as he walked through a field of Red Holsteins.
“When you see the scoundrels on the ANC’s list of candidates you have to wonder if he will be taken out by his own people.”
Finding an equitable solution that still manages to protect property rights in South Africa is one of many challenges Mr Ramaphosa will face in his first full term.
The heady optimism that culminated in Nelson Mandela becoming president 25 years ago on Friday has largely evaporated amid growing anger that South Africa remains one of the world’s most unequal states.
At a convention centre in Nasrec, a Johannesburg suburb close to the township of Soweto, a group of black South Africans tours the ANC pavilion in the building where Mr Ramaphosa was voted in as the party’s leader by the narrowest of margins in December, 2017.
The stirring slogans of the ANC’s Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955, are displayed on exhibition boards: “The people shall share in the country’s wealth,” one declares, “The land shall be shared among those who work on it,” another, “There shall be work and security,” a third.
Stan Masevhe and his friends are unimpressed. All these years later, South Africa’s wealth and land are still disproportionately in the hands of whites. Most blacks still live in squalor. Unemployment stands at 27 percent.
“They have failed to deliver on so many of these promises,” says Mr Masevhe, a government health worker. “Where I live in Limpopo we are still fetching water from the river.”
For the first time, he will not be voting for the ANC, opting instead for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a radical party whose leader Julius Malema calls Mr Mandela a “sell-out”, advocates the seizure of all white farms and proposes the redistribution of wealth through blanket nationalisation.
“Malema is a fresh man with fresh ideas,” Mr Masevhe says. “We need an equal share of the land. The EFF says it will take the land without compensation. That is the way forward.”
Yet, until Mr Zuma became president in 2009, South Africa was taking steps to becoming a fairer society. Black membership of the middle class grew to 50 percent, while 90 percent of households were connected to the grid, giving many black South Africans electricity for the first time.
The progress came to a stuttering halt in the Zuma years. Commissions of enquiry are beginning to reveal the startling amount that was plundered, perhaps in excess of £21 billion.
Economic growth came to a standstill as state-owned enterprises were raided. Eskom, the state electricity monopoly, saw its debt rise tenfold. As a result power cuts have been a near daily event in much of the country, at least until the election campaign began.
Far more farmland could have ended up in the hands of blacks, too — but a lack of access to credit and a failure to offer training to blacks meant that 90 percent of black-owned farms failed and now lie abandoned.
Mr Ramaphosa is trying to repair a rotten legacy, and has begun appointing reputable professionals to senior positions.
But the holdovers from the Zuma era still hold great sway in the ANC, controlling some of its top posts. Many are itching to replace Mr Ramaphosa with one of their own, a chance that could come if the party fares poorly on Wednesday.
Should they succeed, commentators say, the party is likely to embrace at least some of the more radical policies of the EFF — currently the only party projected to increase its share of the vote — if only to distract attention from the resumption of looting.
Given the risk, not all white farmers around Howick are embracing “Ramaphoria”. Should the pro-market DA lose seats there will be even less chance of preventing land seizures, says Robin Barnsley, who owns a large commercial chicken farm with his brother Kevin.
“We’ve been told that Ramaphosa is our only hope but I wouldn’t change the way I vote,” he said. “He will never succeed as long as the upper echelons of the ANC are dominated by the Zuma camp.
“He will go ahead with expropriation. He has to listen to his lieutenants.”
Own Correspondent|South Africa goes to the sixth democratic general election Today (Wednesday) with the scales slightly tipped in favour of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The ‘Rainbow Nation’ held its “first free and fair election” in 1994, shortly after white minority rule was brought to a halt.
The Contenders
The governing ANC’s support has gradually diminished over the years while a party formed by its former youth leader, Julius Malema – the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – has gained a lot of ground.
The white-dominated Democratic Alliance (DA), which has been the main opposition since then, has maintained its strongholds. Nonetheless, the ruling party, embattled as it is, looks likely to retain national governance although voter surveys show that Wednesday’s polls could be its biggest litmus test yet.
The party has been dogged by factional wars, and is still nursing the wounds left by former President Jacob Zuma’s turbulent second tenure. But, with President Cyril Ramaphosa, a much more respected figure, loved by the markets and deemed more or less ‘incorruptible,’ the party is hopeful of a triumphant election.
What are the national elections?
The southern African country holds elections every five years. South Africa has two types of elections: national and provincial elections, and local government elections.
In a national election, voters get to elect a new National Assembly and new provincial lawmakers in each province, also known as the National Council of Provinces. The two chambers combined constitute Parliament.
The country uses the proportional representation method where the number of votes each party gets in the National Assembly and Parliament is determined by its share of the vote. Each party then decides which of its members will fill the seats.
How does SA vote?
Voters choose the party whose policies they relate with rather than an individual candidate. Voting will be done in 22 924 voting stations mostly in schools and community halls. The Electoral Commission led by Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo will preside over the election.
Voting stations open as early as 7:00, before closing as late as 21:00. The votes are tallied overnight and if one party receives over 50 per cent of the vote, it is declared the winners.
Build up to the election
In the run-up to the elections, there was an uproar over the Parliamentary party lists the ANC, DA and EFF submitted.
Campaigns were largely peaceful except for cases of xenophopia a month to the polls which were said to be politically instigated.
Seats for a majority in Parliament
There are 400 seats in the country’s National Assembly meaning a party can hold a majority if they secure 201 seats or more.
If no party gets the seats it can form a coalition with another party to seize control of Parliament. The DA and EFF entered a coalition to take control of Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane during the 2016 municipal election. Fissures have since appeared in the coalitions and ANC is hoping they do not team up again.
The Presidency
Once the winner has been decided, the presidency automatically vests in the leader of the successful party. The inauguration ceremony has been set for Africa Day, May 25, 2019, signalling the beginning of the five year term.
In the video below supporters and members of be Economic Freedom Front party led by Julius Malema took to the streets last night to sing and chant victory songs as they prepare for the national elections. ZANU PF has made a public claim that the African National Congress is going to win.
But who will win this year’s national elections?
By George Mlilo| In what could be a dead end for the convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo, Harare provincial magistrate Mr. Hosea Mujaya has set the 21st May for his trial for bribery.
In court papers, Chivayo allegedly bribed former Zimbabwe Power Company board Chairperson Stanley Kazhanje in an endeavor to get the Gwanda Solar tender. Records narrate that he allegedly transferred $10 000 to Kazhanje towards obtaining the tender
The State had at the beginning dropped the bribery charge when Kazhanje trial commenced.
Following the disclosure by the prosecutor, Mr. Brain Vito that the amalgamation of Chivayo’s case with that of Kazhanje was complete, the magistrate Mujaya set May 21 as the trial date.
The prosecutor also indicated that he would still need some time to serve summons.
Passports are a right and every citizen seeking it must get it; It is the role of government to make sure they provide that right. Internal documents seen by ZimEye show that there is a 15 applications per day cap which still stands. The impeccable documents reveal that- Each province has a 15 application cap with the exception of Harare that issues out a maximum of 20 a day. Harare is the only province with a cap of 20.
Farai Dziva|There is no respite for Zimbabwean citizens hoping to obtain passports as confusion continues at various registry offices across the country.
Well placed sources have revealed only 15 emergency passports are being processed per day, resulting in meandering queues at the registry offices.
Meandering queues have also been the order of the day at Makombe building in Harare where wary citizens have expressed concern at the pace with which the passports are being issued. Said Nyaradzo Nyirenda from Highfield in Harare: “This will open avenues for corruption because it seems those with fat pockets are prioritised at the expense of those who cannot afford to pay bribes. I cannot stay here (in Zimbabwe) and I want to work for my family elsewhere but Mnangagwa’s administration is bent on making sure that i don’t get a travelling document for me to legally leave this country. They are just pushing us to become border jumpers and illegal migrants.” Government is on record saying that passport production had been affected by technical glitches in one of the machines that is used during passport production. The Registrar General is on record saying that the government department was facing a systems failure which was being addressed. However, ZimEye exclusively established that passport production is currently restricted to 15 passports daily due to a myriad of reasons some of which include shortage of passport paper and forex challenges. This according to findings by this publication has forced the Registrar General’s office to downsize their operations, thereby creating a huge backlog. Earlier this year, the Registrar General admitted to parliament that the demand for emergency passports had surged thereby putting pressure on the available dwindling passport paper.Last week government officials in the registry department claimed technical glitches due to systems challenges had been fixed. Printing soon resumed. However it emerged that despite the partial breakthrough, woes have continued.
Internal documents seen by ZimEye show that there is a 15 applications per day cap which still stands. The impeccable documents reveal that- Each province has a 15 application cap with the exception of Harare that issues out a maximum of 20 a day. Harare is the only province with a cap of 20.
A latest comment was impossible at the time of writing.
ZimEye will be following up with the registrar general to establish if and when the situation will improve.
Own Correspondent|Liverpool entered the second leg of the Champions League semifinal on Tuesday facing what was viewed as an improbable 3-0 deficit.
The Reds had the support of the Anfield crowd but were without the services of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino due to injuries. The Reds somehow overcame the long odds and pulled off an incredible 4-0 victory to advance to the Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid, Spain against the winner of Tottenham vs. Ajax.
Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both scored twice, with three of Liverpool’s goals coming in the second half.
Barcelona, meanwhile, crashed out of the Champions League by blowing an enormous lead for the second consecutive season in unbelievable fashion.
After Origi’s first goal in the opening minutes, Liverpool’s dominance continued. The team was stronger on the ball, looked more confident and never gave up, and in the second half everything went right.
Minutes after coming on, Wijnaldum finished this ball inside the box to make it 2-0, leaving Liverpool a goal away from potentially forcing extra time:
Then just three minutes later, Wijnaldum did it again with a header goal:
As the match seemed destined for extra time, Liverpool caught Barcelona napping with a corner kick incoming. Trent Alexander-Arnold walked away from the ball as if he was giving up the set piece, but then he quickly saw Origi all alone and took it, setting up an absolutely jaw-dropping fourth goal:
With that, the comeback was complete and Barca fell short of its goal, as it has done each of the last four UCL seasons.
Goal scorers
⚽ Liverpool – Origi (7′)
⚽ Liverpool – Wijnaldum (54′)
⚽ Liverpool – Wijnaldum (56′)
⚽ Liverpool – Origi (79′)
By Farai D Hove| Scores of people complained Zimbabwe Republic Police officers yesterday threw teargas gas canisters at them in the capital city.
Although a comment from the police could not be obtained at the time of writing, several impeccable sources complained of this development and one journalist captured the below video in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, the permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana said in a tweet that, “the ZRP has embarked on reform, rebranding and modernisation. Their conduct at Mr Tsvangirai’s memorial has been widely praised. They are retraining and embracing new technologies for effective policing. A few old habits will die hard but the political will is there.”
DID YOU WITNESS THE TEARGAS ATTACK? – Send your story videos and pictures to ZimEye.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday implored the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) nations to stick to their collective position on sustainable elephant conservation management and reject machinations by powerful nations to impose a ban on legal ivory trade as this disregards spirited efforts and investments by the affected nations.
Mnangagwa said this while addressing delegates at the Kasane Elephant Summit 2019 in Botswana, where two other African leaders spoke strongly about the need for Southern African nations to benefit from their natural resource.
The summit, which ended yesterday, was held under the theme: “Towards a Common Vision for the Management of Southern Africa’s Elephants”.
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will in June host the inaugural AU/UN Wildlife Summit which presents KAZA nations an opportunity to share views on unlocking value from wildlife.
“As we approach CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of fauna and flora), let us therefore, resolutely affirm our collective position on sustainable elephant conservation management. Let us boldly speak with one voice, in the best interests of our communities. The ‘one size fits all’ banning of everything under CITES, disregarding the good efforts and investments by our respective Governments is neither sustainable nor desirable,” said Mnangagwa.
“Elephants are arguably a symbol of success in conservation strategies in our region and a key draw card to our tourism industry. It is most opportune that we are meeting to reflect on this important species as well as recalibrate our strategies to ensure that appropriate benefits accrue to our nations and respective communities.
“The savanna elephants which are predominantly found in southern Africa constitute approximately 50 percent of the continent’s elephant species. This bears testimony to our region’s success in championing sustainable conservation programmes that are expanding the elephant habitat,” he said.
Mnangagwa said it is equally imperative that the global community considers the voices and concerns of countries that are successfully conserving these species. Poverty eradication, economic empowerment and the improvement in the quality of life of rural communities can only be enhanced if countries are allowed to trade and benefit from natural resources.
“We will continue to honour our obligations and play our part in strengthening collaboration within the KAZA framework, our National Elephant Management Plan and the African Elephant Action Plan. To this end, 13 percent of our land area is protected under the Transfrontier Conservation Area and Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE), which we are set to invigorate to reduce human-elephant conflict. My Government has since increased the area where wildlife conservation is recognised as a viable land use,” said Mnangagwa.
The summit was attended by President Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), President Edgar Lungu (Zambia) and President Hage Geingob (Namibia). President Juao Lourenco (Angola) was represented by the country’s Minister of Tourism.
Botswana has the highest elephant population in Africa followed by Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and Angola.
The KAZA range measures about 520 000 square kilometres and hosts three quarters of the 415 428 elephants found in Africa.
The summit raised concern about the upsurge in elephant poaching in Africa, with an analysis report by the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) revealing that Africa experienced the highest levels of elephant poaching in 2011.
Ivory laundering peaked between 2012 and 2013, and though there are signs of decline.
It was noted that despite pressure on poaching, African elephants continue to live outside protected areas, posing additional challenges for wildlife authorities, as levels of human-wildlife conflict continue to escalate.
A moratorium on international trade that was put in place between 2009 and 2017 has failed to tame illegal ivory trade, as the vice actually increased during the period.
Ivory stocks held by KAZA range states have continued to grow and efforts by these countries to manage their populations are subjected to biased international media scrutiny that ignores the plight of rural communities who bear the brunt of living with elephants.
“Addressing human-wildlife conflict continues to be a priority of my Government. We are continuously strengthening the law enforcement to combat internal and cross-border wildlife crime. My Government stands ready to increase its participation in regional anti-poaching strategies. I encourage all of us to continue to implement robust and versatile mechanisms in our elephant conservation toolbox,” said Mnangagwa.
It was noted that legal international trade in live elephants and their products is increasingly prohibitive despite Appendix Two listing permitting commercial elephant trade.
More worryingly, plans are underway to make it more difficult to import hunting trophies into the European Union and the US. – state media
By Dorrothy Moyo| The state owned Herald newspaper yesterday reported that Great Britain has commended Zimbabwe government reforms when the ambassador had only given a nod to promises to reform which are just on paper.
Speaking after a meeting with Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu at the Zanu-PF Headquarters yesterday, British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson said, “we had a good opportunity to discuss the UK-Zimbabwe relationship and I was able to assure the chairman (meaning Secretary for Administration) of the UK’s commitment to seeing Zimbabwe succeed and our desire to see Zimbabwe along its pathway to a more prosperous, peaceful and democratic future,” she said.
“I was able to express our support for the reforms the President has laid out on the economic and political side and that those reforms are meaningful and sustained and to say the more Zimbabwe is able to reform, the more the UK is able to engage and support that reform process. We had a very productive discussion around those issues.”
Obert Mpofu said the discussions centred on Government’s reform agenda.
“The discussion we had this morning revolved around reforms; constitutional reforms, the land policy, the Motlanthe Commission, economic issues to do with the sanctions, the issues to do with our currency and other related issues,” Obert Mpofu said.
“But I can assure you that the meeting was very helpful in terms of issues topical between us. On the issue of the Commonwealth, the ambassador spoke strongly about the need for Zimbabwe to go back to the Commonwealth.”
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday officially opened an early cervical cancer detection and treatment centre at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where women will be screened for free in a move aimed at fighting the silent killer.
The Chinese government, through Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, partnered with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and donated the equipment to be used.
The First Lady, who was on Monday appointed Health and Child Care Ambassador, has been leading in the fight against cancer urging women to get tested for cervical and breast cancer.
She led by example when she got screened for cervical and breast cancer at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), as a way of motivating women to do the same.
Her awareness campaigns saw over 100 000 women undergoing cervical cancer screening last year.
Officiating the event yesterday, the First Lady urged women to take advantage of the newly opened clinical camp and get screened early.
“I salute the collaborative efforts by the two sister hospitals — Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital — in alleviating the scourge of cervical cancer which, according to statistics from the Zimbabwe Cancer Registry, is the most common cancer among women,” she said.
“Today is a significant day for me as I witness two great hospitals from different parts of the world walking the talk in addressing this global health challenge.
“As such, I would like to commend the kind gesture made by China through Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital to continue partnering Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in this noble cause.
“I have also noted that Harare tops the provinces in terms of the number of women with confirmed cervical cancer. It is therefore befitting that this screening and treating camp is done here at an institution in Harare,” she said.
The First Lady thanked the Chinese government for donating the equipment.
“I would like to appreciate the equipment that you donated to this organisation and other resources that you have channelled towards this programme.
“The developed world has managed to reduce the incidents of cervical cancer through the use of cytology-based screening, a great breakthrough and one of modern medicines.
“Of the 275 000 cervical cancer deaths recorded globally annually, 85 percent occur in developing countries. Our efforts in the Third World to replicate similar results have not taken us anywhere near our wishes due to a number of reasons among them lack of resources.”
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said he was happy that cervical cancer, which is a dreaded non-communicable disease among women, was receiving much attention in the country.
“I want to assure you that my ministry will continue to fight this scourge and we shall not relent in this fight,” he said.
“This is the third time in three consecutive years that such a clinical camp has been held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and we hope that this phase will see over 3 000 women being screened and some receiving the necessary treatment.
“I am happy that the First Lady continues to distinguish herself in the area of health and child care. We are proud of her good work.”
Speaking at the same event, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun said: “In response to the call for assisting in health delivery in developing countries including Zimbabwe, President Xi Jinping announced at the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Summit that China will implement 100 maternal and child health projects in developing countries, especially in Africa.
“This commitment is echoed by the presence of the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa today whose devotion in women and children’s welfare has strengthened our faith in contributing towards Zimbabwe’s public health undertaking.- state media
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday toured the Kazungula Bridge which anaysts say will divert Zimbabwe’s trade traffic business. A government media report claims Zimbabwe will benefit from the Kazungula project despite the fact that hundreds of millions of trade are to be diverted away from Zimbabwe.(SEE PICTURE MAP BELOW)
The bridge links Zambia and Botswana to assess progress on the US$253 million infrastructure that is meant to enhance trade for Zimbabwe’s neighbours through diversion from Zimbabwe..
The state media reported that Zimbabwe under Mnangagwa has joined the Kazungula Bridge project across the Zambezi River in phase two of works last year.
The report continues stating in full: that Zimbabwe joined Botswana and Zambia, and the three countries have agreed to set up a one-stop border post with offices in Zambia and Botswana sides.
The decision has been hailed as iconic by economic experts. President Mnangagwa toured the bridge alongside President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), President Edgar Lungu (Zambia) and President Hage Geingob (Namibia).
The 932-metre long infrastructure over the Zambezi River is about 78 percent complete. The representative from the contractor, Daewoo E & C were optimistic that they will complete the project as scheduled in 2020.
Once complete, the bridge will not only boost trade and commerce, but further enhance the economic activities and prospects of other land-locked countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The bridge will contribute to regional growth through increased traffic along the North-South corridor and reduce transit time from three days to half a day.
It will also facilitate trade through reduced transit time for freight and passengers, reduced time-based trade and transport cost as well as improved border management operations arising from the one border facility.
From Kazungula Bridge, President Mnangagwa headed for the Kasane International Airport and returned home.
Mnangagwa flew to Victoria Falls where he is expected to officially open the International Chrome Development Association (ICDA) conference today.
An Indian businessman previously reported for private dealings with Emmerson Mnangagwa has had his business jet and a helicopter impounded in Botswana.
Zunaid Moti’s aircraft was briefly detained in Botswana after being made available to opposition leader Duma Boko for election campaigning by a South African businessman.
City Press reported on Sunday that the aircraft were made available to Boko, of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), for campaigning by businessman Zunaid Moti.
They were impounded by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (Burs) for alleged customs contraventions.
Moti’s lawyer, Ulrich Roux, said the pilots were not aware of new customs regulations in the country – an explanation that was ultimately accepted and the aircraft were allowed to return to SA on FridayADVERTISEMENT
TimesLIVE reported on Wednesday that Botswana had banned Bridgette Radebe, energy minister Jeff Radebe’s wife, from entering the country visa-free. Local media had accused her of allegedly “meddling” in the country’s politics.
Moti, a controversial business tycoon, was arrested in Germany in 2018 after Russian authorities issued a ‘red notice’ for him.
Roux said, at the time, that the notice was not authorised and vetted by Interpol’s general secretariat. “Since August 2017‚ Moti has been subject of a litany of spurious and fraudulent claims made by a known member of the Russian mafia‚ presently resident in Dubai,” he added.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly confronted defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula over his unhappiness about having to use private jets owned by Moti in 2018.
He used the leased aircraft to fly to Botswana. He wanted to know why private aircrafts were repeatedly leased for his travels. – Timeslive
The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has been paying two salaries for two chief executive officers for the past 12 months, while thousands of United States dollars were spent on hairstyle, food hampers, and gym allowances for managers, legislators heard yesterday.
Zinara has also been paying a salary for suspended chief executive officer Mrs Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa since June 2018 together Mrs Mathlene Mujokoro, who is the acting CEO.
It also emerged that Zinara spent US$4 000 on each director in buying and installing gym equipment at their residences, but the road authority went on to pay monthly subscriptions for their gym at upmarket clubs in Harare.
More than US$60 000 was also spent on hairstyle allowance with one boutique pocketing more than US$25 000 on having hair done for Zinara female managers.
This came out yesterday when Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to give evidence on an audit report prepared by Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri as he unearthed the historical corruption that obtained at the parastatal before the new administration of President Mnangagwa.
Committee chairperson Mr Tendai Biti (MDC-Alliance) said they had been informed that Zinara was paying salaries for both Mrs Masiyiwa-Chamisa and Ms Mujokoro.
“As we speak now, negotiations between that CEO and the board are in progress to make sure that they come to an agreement. There is a process of scouting for a new CEO for this organisation. These are processes that are going on which are not being made public, sooner we will have a new structure, once we have a substantive CEO,” said Minister Matiza.
Dzivaresekwa MP, Mr Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC-Alliance) asked why conducting negotiations with Mrs Masiyiwa-Chamisa and not disciplinary proceedings if there was any offence that she committed.
“When there is a report of corruption and maladministration and when you hear that there are negotiations with the former CEO, what comes into our mind is a golden handshake that is going to be given. We were expecting to see heads roll, but you now have a softer approach unless you are saying the board suspended a wrong person,” said Mr Mushoriwa.
In response, Minister Matiza said while he concurred with the concern the board was seized with the issue and a lasting solution would be found.
Marondera Central MP, Mr Caston Matewu (MDC-Alliance) questioned why Zinara paid US$4 000 as gym allowance for each director, but went on to pay subscriptions at different clubs.
“How can you buy gym equipment for their homes and at the same time pay their subscription at a club,? said Mr Matewu.
Mr Biti said according to the audit, management got US$3 000 each for corporate wear for the year under review, two directors that were paid in excess of what was approved in the contract of employment among other issues.
“Our concern is that we do not see a satisfactory position by the Minister of ensuring that measures have been taken to stop the rot. It is not enough, with all due respect, just to say that we have a new board.
“We would have thought that there must be evidence of action taken against employees, we have interviewed them and they are very arrogant and they are still there. How do you continue giving the same company money when it has failed to perform? What have you done to go to those companies that performed, but did not perform, like Badon?
“We are not hearing a convincing story going forward arising out of the omission of the past. I can assure you, although I am not a prophet, that the 2018 and 2019 audit report will be talking about the same thing,” said Mr Biti.- state media
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
GEORGE CHARAMBA SAYS THERE IS ADEQUATE FUEL IN ZIMBABWE | AS ZANU PF SAYS RAMAPHOSA IS WINNING, BALLOT PAPERS PICKED ALONG ROADSIDE | MNANGAGWA SAYS ZANU PF IS THE LAW, THE POLICE, THE ARMY, ETC
| GOVT TAKEN TO COURT OVER BOND NOTES |
IS FORTUNE CHASI REVENGING ON GRACE MUGABE? |Posted by ZimEye on Tuesday, 7 May 2019
WATCH LIVE: If Chamisa Joins Mnangagwa In A GNU As Edwin Proposed, Will Zimbabwe’s Economy Improve? https://t.co/iXjuSN3VQa via @ZimEye
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 7, 2019
US based Chimurenga musician Dr Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has roped in former Oliver Mtukudzi drummer and manager Sam Mataure as his band manager.
Mukanya confirmed Mataure’s appointment on Monday.
“Yes we have engaged Sam Mataure as the Blacks’ Unlimited band manager.
“I think you know that this one, (Blessing) Vava is a writer but he is still our publicist.
“We have more finished music to give our fans,” he said.
Mukanya and his nephew Kurai Bvumoramukanya
Mukanya said Mataure’s appointment comes at the right time as they are set to release new stuff.
“Very soon, we will be releasing music plus videos.
“Every day, we produce songs to our growing fans
“Any disciplined and God fearing people can work with Mukanya and Blacks Unlimited Company and owe we are working with Sam,” he added as he applauded Matuare who once managed the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits.
Meanwhile, Mukanya blessed his nephew Kurai Bvumoramukanya who is following in his footsteps.
He also commented on Kurai’s video trending on social media whilst he was performing one of Mukanya’s songs.
“There is nothing wrong with Kurai going ahead with our Chimurenga music culture type, zvinongodakushinga chete.
“It is our African culture of protecting and progressing our legacy.”
He added:
“Chimurenga is music for the people and from the people, not your music from yourself, hence Kurayi must be brave.
“Chimurenga music is our heritage, no one will say do or not do it, let him do it, asi ashinge ehee.”
Kurai thrilled a Chimurenga fans Zivai Guvheya’s album launch.
After his performance, Kurai was mobbed by fans.
Timeslive|The IEC confirmed on Monday it was aware of ballot boxes found on the side of the road in Limpopo.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) is investigating a video on social media showing ballot boxes lying on the side of the road in Limpopo.
“We’re aware of this issue and have found it was an isolated incident. Please note these are unopened/unused ballot boxes and that they would have been replaced at the voting station by now,” the IEC replied to a tweet informing them of the video.
Errence Mash posted a video on Facebook he took on Sunday after he saw a box on the side of the road while driving on the R36 towards Tzaneen. He was about 8km outside the town.
Mash said the box, with a label indicating it weighed 2.8kg and contained three ballot boxes, was sealed. In the video he lifts up a part of the carton and the IEC logo is visible.
“I don’t know how they are going to work,” Mash comments.
In a follow-up video, Mash drove back to see if the boxes were still there on Monday morning – and he found them untouched.
“They are sealed, sealed, very sealed.”
The police have since contacted Mash who escorted them to where the box was. It is now in their possession.
Founding Secretary General of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Professor Welshman Ncube stands in a pole position to win party vice presidency post in the party’s 5th elective congress slated for this May, political analysts have said.
Professor Ncube is battling for the second top job in the party alongside renowned human rights lawyer Tendai Biti, outgoing vice president Elias Mudzuri and long standing party loyalist Morgen Komichi.
However, it is Ncube, political analyst Vince Musewe has it that regional political dynamics often come into play for any political organization that considers a diversified market.
“Any organization which wishes to represent the interests of society must at least ensure that its leadership reflects the diversity of that society. That will create more traction with its target market. But more importantly, ensure that the leadership takes decisions that are well informed and represent that society. The danger is quality of leadership could then be compromised in trying accommodate regional representation,” Musewe said.
Professor Ncube, who is one of the founding members of the MDC from 1999, broke away from the party in 2005 following a fallout with the party founding father, the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai on a number of issues.
Regardless of historical briefings, Professor Ncube since his readmission into the party, has spoken with a committed voice underpinned by conviction to change for a new Zimbabwe. This has given him a plus in his quest for the second top job in the party, an insider have said.
“The man is an asset to the party and indeed a solid matured cadre who understands the historical foundation of the MDC. He offers a sound thinking to proffer a new direction for the party in its quest for people’s freedoms in the country,” the source said.
As a man bestowed with a forgiving heart, Tsvangirai before his death in the run up to the 2018 elections opened the door to all MDC prodigal sons to return to the party to wage a democratic war against Zanu PF under a big tent vision coined the MDC Alliance.
The move also saw the return of opposition stalwart and renowned human rights lawyer Tendai Biti, Job Sikhala among others.
263chat
Farai Dziva | A few days after suffering a heart attack, legendary FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been released from the hospital.
The 37-year-old former Real Madrid shot-stopper fell at the club’s training ground and was taken to hospital where he received medical care.
Messages of good wishes poured in from many footballers across the globe as news of the former Spanish international’s condition filtered through.
In a statement, Casillas thanked the football world for the support.
“Thank you for the thousands of messages of support and affection I received. I feel much better, and now it will be rest for a couple of weeks or months, I do not know, but the most important thing is to be here,” read the statement.
“Thank you all. I do not know what the future will be, but the most important thing is to be here. I’m able to speak and transmit to everyone as I am and how I feel. Thank you very much and see you soon,” continued the statement.
Farai Dziva| Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Match-day 7 fixtures will be played this weekend.
Saturday, May 11:
Chicken Inn vs Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium)
Harare City vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro Stadium)
ZPC Kariba vs Ngezi Platinum Stars (Nyamhunga Stadium)
Mushowani Stars vs Black Rhinos (NSS)
Sunday, May 12
Yadah vs Dynamos (Rufaro Stadium)
Triangle United vs CAPS United (Gibbo Stadium)
TelOne vs FC Platinum (Luveve Stadium)
Herentals vs Manica Diamonds (NSS)
Hwange vs Chapungu (Colliery Stadium)
Farai Dziva|Outspoken MDC T deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu says he is unmoved by “spurious and false allegations” against him.
Gutu argues he is being attacked on social media for his “insatiable love for his country.”
“For resolutely and persistently defending and upholding Zimbabwe’s national interests such as the removal of sanctions and promotion of the ongoing national dialogue, I have been wrongfully and unfairly branded a ‘sell out’.
I’m actually fortified by these false and spurious allegations,” argued Gutu.
He added:”National dialogue isn’t about discussing power-sharing. No. It’s not about that. It’s about discussing and debating topical political and socio-economic issues with a view towards establishing a progressive, prosperous, tolerant and fully democratic nation state in Zimbabwe.”
Read Full Text Below
The ruling elites and their allies in the business world have launched a brutal onslaught on the working class under the anti-people austerity measures.
The freezing of salaries at a time when prices of basic goods and services have shot up by up to 400% since January have condemned the working class too extreme poverty. Abductions, torture, detentions and harassment of the workers who speak out against exploitation is the legacy of the so-called new dispensation.
These measures have rendered public services provision dysfunctional, in the education sector, a catastrophe is looming as teachers are incapacitated and parents cannot afford fees and learning materials for their children.
A survey conducted by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ has revealed that 60% of rural teachers interviewed are still to secure bus fares to travel back to their stations.
The teachers are failing to pay tuition fees for their children and can’t secure basic food supplies for their families. The teachers are not psyched for the learning calendar which begins tomorrow.
The parents interviewed have indicated that they are failing to secure tuition fees and teaching material for their children.
ARTUZ notes with disgust the insincerity of our government in addressing the challenges confronting the working class.
The government has consistently celebrated an over $100 million budgetary surplus for the past four months but is failing to invest in production and public services. The government is blowing the revenue in executive luxuries including chartering private planes.
Our Union fights for labour justice and improved access to quality education in rural schools. The new dispensation is passionately fighting against the realization of our vision. Labour injustice is on the rise and access to education in rural schools is being curtailed.
We registered our discontent with the Public Service Commission and Ministry of Finance on 15 April through a letter titled salary increment reminder.
In the letter, we reminded them of the need to pay our salaries in United States Dollars or market equivalent to cushion our members from the ever-rising cost of living. The government never responded to our reminder as has become the norm.
We have been pushed to the corner and we have to fight back. We urge all teachers to go back to their stations, login but do not undertake any duties.
We are going to completely withdraw our labour within the first two weeks. We will only report for duty for two weeks per month.
Consultations are underway to come up with a calendar of protests. We are glad that teachers are now more united than ever.
We call upon the government to urgently review teacher salaries to safeguard our education sector from collapse.
We warn yellow Unions in the education sector to desist from the culture of diluting the teachers’ struggle through posturing and sharing misleading information. We will expose all sell outs.
To the APEX council, we have run out of patience and we will not fold our hands while you mess with the lives of the working class. The APEX council must stop masquerading as representing our interests otherwise they will face the vengeance of the agitated workers.
The first week we are all logging in but no one is working. On Friday 10 May we will announce a clear way forward if the government fails to engage us.
Teachers uniting against austerity!
Pay us a living wage now!!!
By Own Correspondent- A gold mine tunnel collapsed on Monday in Matobo, Matabeleland South, and trapped 18 miners.
The government, through the Ministry of Information, has confirmed that 5 bodies have been retrieved from the mine while an unknown number suspected to be still trapped underground. The statement reads:
Following a gold rush at Nugget Mine in Mat South, the disused mine collapsed trapping at least 5 people inside.
5 Bodies and a helmet suspected to belong to a 6th individual have been retrieved. Investigations are underway. Govt condoles with the families of the deceased.
Nugget Mine is situated on National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority land 35km south of Bulawayo. It has been at the centre of ownership disputes since 2012.
ALPHA Omega Dairy, a company owned by former President Robert Mugabe is singing the blues with operations at below capacity and low uptake of its products in the market.
The former Zanu PF strongman was pushed out by the military and his party to resign from the presidency in 2017 after 37 years in power.
The company’s southern region sales executive Cassim Asani told NewsDay that the uptake of their products in supermarkets was very low.
“Business for the first quarter of this year was not as it was last year. On our side, we are pushing as a company because we want to be viable, 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,” Asani said.
“So from our market research and market intelligence, we have discovered that people want to buy products but they are not buying or buying limited quantities”.
Asani said schools which used to be their top customers for dairy products like yoghurt and ice creams had altered their diets because of the economic hardships.
During Mugabe’s time in power, the company was touted as a model of success of the land reform programme Zimbabwe embarked on at the turn of the millennium.
Asani said the company’s operations were being hindered by foreign currency shortages.
“…when we want to import ingredients and spare parts, forex is not yet readily available. So this is our biggest challenge and as a result, we are limited in our operations because of that. Sometimes, we end up having to raise prices to keep us viable like everybody else.”
“We hope authorities are working on that (availing forex) so that our economy returns to its green days. We haven’t laid down any staff. Our capacity utilisation is not bad. For now we are at 58%, we have not been running juices due to packaging material challenges but we have managed to secure something. We are now running juices and we expect our capacity utilisation to go up,” he said.
“We are a company that runs professionally and we are an equal opportunity competitor in the market. We face the same challenges like other companies face.”
Last May, State-owned media reported that the company was facing eviction from its rented Harare offices over $29 134,22 arrears.
-Newsday
Farai Dziva|Transport Minister Joram Gumbo has said RBZ Governor John Mangudya has the answers to the cause ot erratic fuel supplies in the country.
According to Gumbo the erratic fuel supplies are a result of a shortage of foreign currency to pay the international suppliers.
Gumbo said :” The buck stops with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) which allocates foreign currency.
I only provide fuel and it is in the country; the one who buys the fuel is Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya.
The fuel is there but if there is no foreign currency to access it then the international suppliers will not give us the fuel; it is that simple.”
“The problem is with foreign currency allocation and unless the situation improves then the queues will continue to increase.
I may only come in when the situation demands and ask the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) to release fuel from the strategic reserves.”
Government has confirmed that five bodies have been retrieved from a gold mine in Matobo, Matebeleland South where 18 miners were reportedly trapped last week.
Through the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, government said the deaths followed a gold rush at Nugget Mine in Matebeleland South.
“5 Bodies and a helmet suspected to belong to a 6th individual have been retrieved. Investigations are underway.
“Government consoles with the families of the deceased.”
Nugget Mine is situated on National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority land 35km south of Bulawayo has been at the centre of ownership disputes since 2012.
Farai Dziva| Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, who is known for his penchant for releasing controversial statements has sensationally claimed there adequate fuel in the country.
In spite of long winding queues that are seen at service stations across the country, Charamba believes the congestion is a result of ” jostling for cheap fuel.”
There is adequate fuel in the country, it is just that we can’t afford it. Fuel suppliers in the country, such as Trafigura and Glencore have fuel stocks running into millions but those millions have to be paid for in terms of foreign currency,” claimed Charamba.
“As such can we say there is no fuel in the country? The major challenge is that people cannot afford to purchase fuel,” added Charamba.
Farai Dziva| MDC official Ian Muteto Makone has turned down nominations for the post of deputy secretary general.
See below Makone’s letter : May I take this chance to apologize to my fellow comrades and friends- who nominated me for the position of Deputy Secretary General -for declining their nominations at this particular point in time.
I came to make this decision after careful consideration which was motivated by my undying love for our movement.
There are three fundamental reasons why I decided not to contest for the position of DSG.
1)The first reason, which is in my view the most important is the need to have a well balanced management committee in terms of gender. Gender equity and equality is indeed an ideal that is sacred in principle in our party and as a loyal and committed cadre of the party, I decided to lead by example and show people that I put the party ideals ahead of my personal interests at all material times. It is my hope to see a management committee that has 50% males and 50% females as this will promote the inclusion of women as a disadvantaged group of society in decision making.
2) The second reason is that as an elected official of Bindura municipality, I would want to focus my efforts on service delivery in my town. So being a member of the management committee would divert my focus of uplifting my community.
3)The last reason is that I am already a member of the provincial executive as such I don’t see any reason why I should be greedy and contest for another position in the structures of the party, I would rather continue to serve the movement at provincial level until the people decide to deploy me further. Apart from the reasons I have mentioned above, my age still allows/permits me to contest in the next congress for any position in the national youth Assembly.
In light of the reasons I have indicated above, I saw it prudent to let my beloved sister Bridget take the position of DSG. I trust she will be able to deliver in the position.
Yours Truly
Councillor Ian Muteto Makone
Mash Central Provincial Youth Secretary General.
ITALY RESPONDS TO EMERGENCY NEEDS IN ZIMBABWE
HARARE – The Italian Government has contributed €250,000 to respond to the needs of communities affected by Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. The contribution, provided to the World Food Programme (WFP), will support immediate food needs in the worst-affected areas of the country.
An estimated 250,000 people in seven districts of Zimbabwe were directly affected by Cyclone Idai, which made landfall in Zimbabwe on 15 March 2019, severely disrupting livelihoods and intensifying existing critical food security needs.
“We are pleased to be able to make this contribution in partnership with WFP,” said Ambassador of Italy, Carlo Perrotta. “This was especially made possible with the valued support of our Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re. In her words, ‘Cooperation – as implied by the term itself – is a way of working together for something tangible.
That something is part of our future.’”
Many people affected by the cyclone were already considered food insecure, with some 5.3 million people in need of humanitarian aid nationwide from now through June, following economic instability, an erratic rainy season and long mid-season dry spells that severely impacted crops.
“WFP is grateful for the generous contribution from the people of Italy, which has made it possible for vulnerable households to meet their food and nutrition needs in such difficult circumstances,” said WFP Zimbabwe Country Director, Eddie Rowe. “Even in the face of disaster, WFP is working to support the achievement of a Zero Hunger Zimbabwe. We will continue to work with affected communities to ensure their immediate needs are met, whilst mobilizing to support them as they rebuild their lives.”
The contribution by the Government of Italy comes at a time when WFP is starting a three-month programme of general food distributions to cyclone-affected populations in May, targeting 220,000 people across five districts: Chimanimani, Chipinge, Buhera, Mutare and Bikita.
The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions lthrough sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.
By Own Correspondent- MDC stalwart who was eyeing the Vice Presidency post and was nominated to contest for the position at the forthcoming elective congress has turned down the nomination.
Paurina Gwanyanya-Mpariwa, turned down the nomination for the post of vice president of the party ahead of the May 24-26 elective Congress.
She has decided to contest for the position of women assembly chairperson after being nominated for two different positions.
This was confirmed by the party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, who said:
“She just withdrew from contesting for the VP post and opted for women’s assembly chairperson. She was nominated for both posts.
While the MDC will have three vice presidents, one position was reserved for a woman.
As of now, Lillian Timveos, Lynnette Karenyi-Kore, and former Zanu PF MP Tracy Mutinhiri will all be looking forward to clinching the post.-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent- Top Bulawayo lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa has pledged to donate fuel to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to assist them in arresting more teenagers who are involved in beer binge parties known as Vuzu parties.
Police arrested scored of teenagers in the past days and recovered erection pills, condoms and weapons.
Said Mazibisa:
“We need to restore legal parental discipline to curtail juvenile delinquency, create reformatory schools and stiffer sentences for drugs both dealing and possession.
Anyone with ZRP numbers l want to donate 20 litres for more raids on Vuzu Rubbish Parties. Some of us are ready and willing to effect citizen arrests.”
Mazibisa added that the failure to discipline the children was a recipe for disaster.
“This rubbish view of treating future leaders and citizens like eggs and small gods in the name of civilization is a recipe for disaster. Some of us who are die hard advocates for the rod and iron fist till university are calling for an overhaul of the matrix for raising children.
I would rather be remembered as a tough father than a moron raising idiots who would never amount to anything useful in the world or God’s Kingdom.
“Pampering kids with money and no curfews you will reap bountfully. I will rather be arrested by an earthly government than defy God who gave me a mandate to raise my kids as up right citizens. To all law makers most of us who are products of the supposed old system know respect for elders and ourselves not this vuzu nonsense.”
Bulawayo children have a record of getting drunk especially during the last day of Trade Fair where there seen roaming around town.
The arrest of the children revealed that they lack parental guidance since most of the parents are in diaspora.
By Own Correspondent- Tuesdays are a day when the nation is addressed and given an update regarding Cabinet deliberations and decisions.
It remains to be seen whether the post cabinet press conference will be held today following the recent trip by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is in Botswana for the Elephant Summit.
Mnangagwa, who chairs cabinet and okays cabinet deliberations is away and the ministry of Information and Publicity (Tuesday) revealed that Vice President Kembo Mohadi is the acting president during Mnangagwa’s absence.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged members of the public to comply with all customs clearance procedures at the country’s ports of entry.
This follows the arrest of two suspected smugglers of a motor vehicle from South Africa. The police said in a statement:
The ZRP has arrested 02 suspects for smuggling a motor vehicle from South Africa.
The incident occurred on 6/5/19 along the Masvingo – Beitbridge road where a Nissan Hardbody registration number FS56 CV GP was intercepted by the police at a roadblock near Bubi.
The 02 occupants failed to produce the Temporary Import Permit in respect of the vehicle.
One of the suspects claimed ownership of the vehicle although the vehicle documentation reflects another name. The suspects are in police custody and investigations are in progress.
The police would like to urge members of the public to comply with all customs clearance procedures at the country’s ports of entry.
NewsDay|ALPHA Omega Dairy, a company owned by former President Robert Mugabe is singing the blues with operations at below capacity and low uptake of its products in the market.
The former Zanu PF strongman was pushed out by the military and his party to resign from the presidency in 2017 after 37 years in power.
The company’s southern region sales executive Cassim Asani told NewsDay that the uptake of their products in supermarkets was very low.
“Business for the first quarter of this year was not as it was last year. On our side, we are pushing as a company because we want to be viable, 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,” Asani said.
“So from our market research and market intelligence, we have discovered that people want to buy products but they are not buying or buying limited quantities”.
Asani said schools which used to be their top customers for dairy products like yoghurt and ice creams had altered their diets because of the economic hardships.
During Mugabe’s time in power, the company was touted as a model of success of the land reform programme Zimbabwe embarked on at the turn of the millennium.
Asani said the company’s operations were being hindered by foreign currency shortages.
“…when we want to import ingredients and spare parts, forex is not yet readily available. So this is our biggest challenge and as a result, we are limited in our operations because of that. Sometimes, we end up having to raise prices to keep us viable like everybody else.”
“We hope authorities are working on that (availing forex) so that our economy returns to its green days. We haven’t laid down any staff. Our capacity utilisation is not bad. For now we are at 58%, we have not been running juices due to packaging material challenges but we have managed to secure something. We are now running juices and we expect our capacity utilisation to go up,” he said.
“We are a company that runs professionally and we are an equal opportunity competitor in the market. We face the same challenges like other companies face.”
Last May, State-owned media reported that the company was facing eviction from its rented Harare offices over $29 134,22 arrears.
Farai Dziva|There is no respite for Zimbabwean citizens hoping to obtain passports as confusion continues at various registry offices across the country.
Well placed sources have revealed only 15 emergency passports are being processed per day, resulting in meandering queues at the registry offices.
Last week government officials in the registry department claimed technical glitches due to systems challenges had been fixed.
In Masvingo hundreds of people hoping to obtain passports left registry offices in dismay after being told to wait for at least another month in spite of the fact that they should have collected their documents last year.
“This is beyond our control, our hands are tied mate,” a government official at the registry offices in Masvingo lazily concluded.
Own Correspondent|Legendary Musician Diana Ross is fuming after airport authorities violated her during a routine airport screening process.
Ross said on Twitter that she felt ‘violated’ by an airport screener who touched her between her legs after she performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over the weekend.
In a series of tweets on Sunday, the Motown legend said she blames the Transportation Security Administration for a screening at the New Orleans airport that makes her want to cry.
‘OK so on one hand I’m treated like royalty in New Orleans and at the airport I was treated like sh*t,’ the songstress tweeted.
‘Let me be clear, Not the peiple [sic] or Delta BUT TSA, was over the top !! Makes me want to cry !!!’ she added.
It is not clear if Ross reported the incident to TSA.
A TSA spokesperson responded to the incident on their website saying they were aware of Ross’ screening experience at the New Orleans airport this morning. The spokesperson also said an initial review of the surveillance footage “indicates that the officers involved with Ms. Ross’s screening correctly followed all protocols, however, TSA will continue to investigate the matter further.”
Farai Dziva|UMAA Institute, a private school, has come to the rescue of stranded St Charles Lwanga School.
The pupils could not get the assistance they desperately needed from the Roman Catholic Church.
Speaking in an interview with ZimEye.com last night, Dr Cleopas Kundiona of UMAA Institute confirmed the school agreed to offer accommodation to the stranded pupils.
“I can confirm that we have accommodated pupils from St Charles Lwanga school, after being informed about their sad predicament.
“We are doing our level best to assist the pupils although we are facing our own challenges.
“We hope to partner with several well wishers as the pupils still need help,” said Dr Kundiona.
Jane Mlambo| Deputy Information minister, Energy Mutodi has lashed at the Chinese investors in Zimbabwe saying they have a bad reputation everywhere.
This follows clashes between the Goromonzi villagers and some Chinese investors who are alleged to have bribed the local chief and Councillors to get land for their project.
Mutodi said the community had rejected the project.
“The project has been condemned because the people involved in the whole issue, the district administrator, councillor and a company called GA Global did not do prior consultations with the people, now the firm has been going around trying to convince people to give in but that has failed,” he said.
“Their plan has failed (because) the Chinese have a bad reputation in other areas, where they have a record of not leaving anything meaningful for the locals. They do not develop, but rather leave a trail of destruction. The area they are targeting is a heritage conservation area and it is where the Bushmen did rock paintings so it must be protected for the future generations. There is need for further archaeological researches and many people stand to gain from that, so it is impossible for them to do their business here,” Mutodi said.
Tomorrow, South Africans will go to the polls to vote for a government of their choice. This will be the sixth time since the historic elections of 1994 which formally ended the system of apartheid rule.
We, the authors of this article, will be voting for the African National Congress (ANC). Admittedly, all of us have been members and activists of the ANC since our youth. This does not however mean that our decision to vote for the ANC was arrived at through the medium of blind loyalty.
Our starting point is that the right to vote came at the very highest premium in terms of human suffering and the cost to life itself. It is a right we cannot take for granted; in fact, it is one of the crucial indicators of the humanisation of the majority of South Africans. The fact that we have had successive elections since 1994 is testimony to the ANC’s commitment to the democratic process.
ANC members and non-members alike know that in recent years, the ANC had lost its way and become its own worst enemy. However, we believe that the ANC’s 54th national conference held in December 2017, which elected a new leadership with president Cyril Ramaphosa at the helm, gave the ANC and South Africa the possibility to close the sorry chapter of the previous years.
The conference was by no means a perfect gathering. Its outcomes reflected the struggle between many tendencies that are deeply rooted in our society and the world over – the most prominent being the idea that access to political power is a shortcut to wealth for incumbent political leaders versus another which holds that in a representative constitutional democracy such as ours, leaders exercise power on behalf of the people.
And so began the slow but contested process of renewal within the ANC and our government. That this process was initiated from within the ANC itself is of particular significance, for it suggests that the movement’s abiding tradition of loyalty to the people and the country runs deep and will not easily yield to the dictates of predatory rent-seekers.
The ANC election manifesto captures this when it makes the important and honest acknowledgement that: “… we have learned the harsh impact of corruption on society and the economy. We have witnessed the loss of integrity in some of the institutions of state, business and political and other organisations. We have learned hard lessons about the vigilance needed to stop lawlessness, greed and selfishness from taking root.”
Reassuringly, the manifesto further commits the ANC “to work with our people to address this cancer in our society”.
Unprecedented redistributive expenditure
Despite its acknowledged problems and challenges, the ANC has since 1994 done a great deal to redress the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. It has effected unprecedented – in the history of South Africa and many other countries – redistributive expenditure such as social grants, free and subsidised housing and passed an avalanche of progressive labour and other legislation, and has managed to keep a historically divided nation together.
These measures required commitment, resolve and a measure of legitimacy without which the ANC would not have been able to carry the political cost it has naturally had to endure in sections of its constituency and differently disposed loci of power in our diverse society. We are convinced that no political party besides the ANC possesses this strength which is an important guarantor for the stability and cohesion of our country.
The speed with which we must resolve the enduring triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment requires all sectors of our country to work together in the national interest which, properly understood, serves each sectoral interest. The overall stability we have enjoyed in the last 25 years demonstrates that a renewed ANC is capable of re-asserting the kind of leadership that can help to surmount our challenges, but the party evidently cannot deliver on national goals acting alone.
Better investment in the economy
So, a matter that receives scant attention in public discourse is that since 1994, there has not been sufficient investment in the economy. Government, business and labour have failed to unite around a growth and development agenda. Higher levels of investment are required to generate inclusive growth and employment opportunities, particularly for our youth.
The long-term stability and cohesion of the country require sound economic policies and the kind of cooperation which will enable us to respond strategically to our country’s myriad socio-economic challenges. The failure to build a developmental consensus amongst our social partners has fuelled a growing tendency for populist sound and fury. We shudder to think of what will become of South Africa if this failure were to persist in the next five years and destructive, populist forces were to begin to dominate our politics.
A new era of hope
The ANC manifesto commits itself to a new era of hope and renewal; a New Dawn. We are convinced that if we all rise to the solemn responsibility that history has placed at our feet, we stand a chance to bequeath to future generations a proud and enduring gift of a South Africa which truly belongs to all who live in it.
In the weeks, months and years ahead, members of the ANC and South African citizens as a whole, should stand ready, and unapologetically, to bang the tables in every nook and cranny of our society whenever things go wrong.
South Africans must draw strength and inspiration from the rich global history of struggle which inspired successive generations of freedom fighters over the centuries, including the struggle against slavery from which we learnt from one of its leaders, Frederick Douglass, who said on August 3, 1857:
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
Our people’s grinding poverty must continue to gnaw at our consciences and spur us forward, forcing us to keep faith with the correct and noble goal of the total emancipation of the people.
We therefore urge you to join us in voting for the ANC tomorrow.
Sports minister Kirsty Coventry has posted the first image of her newly born daughter Ella on Twitter.
The baby was born on the 3rd of May 2019.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW…
News24|At least 13 Zimbabweans, including four children, were killed in a bus accident in Limpopo on Monday, authorities said.
According to ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring, the accident happened at about 17:00 on the N1, north of Louis Trichardt.
“ER24 paramedics, along with several other services, arrived on the scene to find the bus lying on its roof off the roadway. Numerous patients were found lying around the scene,” he said.
He added that 36 patients were treated on the scene and their injuries ranged from minor to critical.
Several patients died on the scene and others succumbed to their injuries at nearby hospitals, Meiring said.
Once treated, other patients were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.
Condolences
Transport and Community Safety MEC in the province, Makoma Makhurupetje, conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased.
According to the department, the deceased were Zimbabwean nationals.
Makhurupetje said no conclusive evidence was found to establish the exact cause of the accident although reckless driving was not ruled out as a possible cause.
“We are deeply concerned about accidents involving buses as they lead to more loss of lives compared to ordinary motor vehicles. The driver and vehicle fitness of long-distance, cross-border buses is also a matter of deep concern to us as this is almost the third time now that we are losing lives because of long-distance buses. It is about time that our law enforcement officers step up their routine checks on these buses to prevent these kind of accidents from happening” Makhurupetje said.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) is investigating a video on social media showing ballot boxes lying on the side of the road in Limpopo.
“We’re aware of this issue and have found it was an isolated incident. Please note these are unopened/unused ballot boxes and that they would have been replaced at the voting station by now,” the IEC replied to a tweet informing them of the video.
Errence Mash posted a video on Facebook he took on Sunday after he saw a box on the side of the road while driving on the R36 towards Tzaneen. He was about 8km outside the town.
Mash said the box, with a label indicating it weighed 2.8kg and contained three ballot boxes, was sealed. In the video he lifts up a part of the carton and the IEC logo is visible.
“I don’t know how they are going to work,” Mash comments.
In a follow-up video, Mash drove back to see if the boxes were still there on Monday morning – and he found them untouched.
“They are sealed, sealed, very sealed.”
The police have since contacted Mash who escorted them to where the box was. It is now in their possession.
-Sunday Times
At least 13 Zimbabweans, including four children, were killed in a bus accident in Limpopo on Monday, authorities said.
According to ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring, the accident happened at about 17:00 on the N1, north of Louis Trichardt.
“ER24 paramedics, along with several other services, arrived on the scene to find the bus lying on its roof off the roadway. Numerous patients were found lying around the scene,” he said.
He added that 36 patients were treated on the scene and their injuries ranged from minor to critical.
Several patients died on the scene and others succumbed to their injuries at nearby hospitals, Meiring said.
Once treated, other patients were transported to nearby hospitals for further care.C
Transport and Community Safety MEC in the province, Makoma Makhurupetje, conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased.
According to the department, the deceased were Zimbabwean nationals.
Makhurupetje said no conclusive evidence was found to establish the exact cause of the accident although reckless driving was not ruled out as a possible cause.
“We are deeply concerned about accidents involving buses as they lead to more loss of lives compared to ordinary motor vehicles. The driver and vehicle fitness of long-distance, cross-border buses is also a matter of deep concern to us as this is almost the third time now that we are losing lives because of long-distance buses. It is about time that our law enforcement officers step up their routine checks on these buses to prevent these kind of accidents from happening” Makhurupetje said.
-News24
THE battle for political survival in the opposition MDC went a notch up on Sunday when party heavyweights nominated for positions in the executive council unveiled their manifestos before the Harare provincial delegates for the elective congress scheduled for later this month.
Party leader Nelson Chamisa, who was nominated unopposed, sat and watched candidates charm-voting delegates as campaign season officially opened.
Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Welshman Ncube face each other for the two slots to deputise Chamisa, while the other slot has been reserved for a female member.
The post drew the most interest as the party heavyweights put their best foot forward.
Biti told delegates that he had a strategic plan to win the rural vote, saying congress presented the MDC faithful an opportunity to chart a new direction and declare an end to years of opposition politics.
“The 2019 congress of the MDC, the fifth congress, is going to be very important for the party. It is an opportunity for starting new dialogue with the people of Zimbabwe. It is an opportunity for the people of the MDC to show to the people of Zimbabwe that we are tired of being an opposition,’ Biti said.
“The party must focus on rural areas and in order to gain State power, we need to go to the village in Humanikwa, in Chiendambuya, in Dotito, so we need to change strategy.”
Komichi, who was a conduit to the rise of Chamisa to power in the MDC following the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last year, banked on his years of loyalty and stay in the party as his ticket to power.
“I have stayed with the party, and I have gained two names, General Mao and Abrahama. What does General Mao mean? It means the greatest strategist; Abrahama means good leader. A good leader is a good follower,” he said.
Underfire Mudzuri, who at one time was eyeing the presidency, but only got nominated for the post of vice-president by a single province, stood in space to defend his position, saying he was a pillar of the opposition.
“I believe that I am a massive pillar of the party, which has never been shaken. The corner of the house does not get removed for no reason,” he said.
Ncube also described himself as a strategic think-tank, whose main purpose would be to help Chamisa in giving the party direction.
“I will do all I can, all in my power to render all assistance to president Chamisa. One of the tasks of the president, which has not been spoken to a lot, is the task of providing strategic direction; in short, the task of thinking, Mr president, I will think with you, if necessary to think until it hurts,” he said.
Other contestants, including secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, hoping to pull a Houdini act again to follow his stunning 2014 win, also pitched his manifesto at the closed-door meeting before taking questions from delegates.
David Coltart was back at the MDC headquarters following years of absence to also pitch his manifesto against Tapiwa Mashakada, who has also been nominated for the post of treasurer-general.
The party will take its next meeting to Gweru on May 10, where candidates will meet delegates and defend their bid to be part of the standing committee.
MDC Midlands provincial party spokesperson Takavafira Zhou confirmed that the province will be having its caucus this Friday.
“All the national members nominated for posts in the standing committee have confirmed that they will be coming for the provincial caucus. On our part as a province we are done with inviting members in the province who will be delegates at the congress. So it will be all systems out on the day,” he said.
The provincial caucuses are a new campaign strategy introduced by the MDC, where all candidates who have been nominated for various posts ahead of the congress will be subjected to public debate and space to articulate what they offer.
