Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa yesterday saluted police officers deployed at the memorial of the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying they were doing a great job as opposed to what they have been known for.
Government which was literally running logistical operations of the memorial service including providing food and logistics deployed hundreds of police officers to maintain order at the well attended event.
“If you accept me as a leader you listen to me, allow me to thank the presence of members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who are maintaining order here. .,” said Chamisa.
Jane Mlambo| Barely a few months after bragging or having addressed the fuel shortages in the country, government is now back to square one, with queues getting longer and longer with each passing day.
The situation has become so dire that most service stations in Harare do not have fuel or are dispensing diesel only.
Since August last year, Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a nosedive with prices of basic commodities now beyond the reach of many.
Though there are no shortages of other basic commodities, fuel has continued to be government’s biggest headache as they struggle against skyrocketing foreign exchange rates.
While government would want to hike fuel prices, the thought of another potentially deadly encounter with opposition and civil society groups could be the reason why there is no talk of another price increment.
Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday told party supporters and delegates who gathered at the memorial service for the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he will drag President Emmerson Mnangagwa to dialogue to arrest the biting economic situation facing the country.
Chamisa repeated his call for genuine dialogue warning Mnangagwa against discussing with smaller parties while ignoring the MDC.
By Brian Sedze| There is a significant number of articles expressing opinion that the subtle fight for positions within the Movement of Democratic Change( Alliance) are acts of self destruction, and may split the party.
A split (or formation of new outfits) is inevitable due to the leadership pursuit of and insatiable appetite for a somewhat “divine” right to rule and the obtaining of absolute power. Some with decades in the struggle trenches face retrenchment to political dustbins and wilderness.
What I think is the greatest threat though, is that the congress is likely to deliver a weaker MDC Alliance. Its likely to be a party both deficient in skills, depth and diversity.
The idea in brief is that the party must restructure first before congress and deploy silos reserved for certain groups to ensure strength in diversity. The congress outcome must celebrate diversity by inclusion of women, ensure generational renewal with consensus, build new coalitions to increase capacity, reinforce tribal balance, appease alliance partners, have requisite skills and have a voice across the broad spectrum of society.
The party’s drive for a congress seem driven by desire to tick the constitutionality box and appear to follow certain edicts of obscure democracy principles. I also believe there is also a great desire to obtain absolute power and exorcise the Morgan Tsvangirai ghost.
What should precede the congress is skills or key competence profiling. It is a self serving, pleasing and yet a defeating narrative to blame all election defeats on rigging. The party has skills deficiencies that prevent it from winning and leading. A congress must be designed to ensure obtaining a diversity of skills and voices that enable winning.
There is also a self serving denial of reasons on reduced number of Members of Parliament. The denial is an albatross that prevents audit of the good and the bad of the 2018 elections. The party will hold a congress that will carry forward the bad and may face defeat in the face again in 2023.
It is possible that an audit and skills profiling approach may result in addition of new positions and expansion of the executive. The end justifies the means as expansion is a better evil as it will be informed by obtaining of skills that ensure a strategic fit to deliver a winning team.
Just the level of debate (or non contribution) in parliament is sure enough show of how somewhat the need for a renewal starting from the top is an imperative.
The congress is an attempt to deliver a new winning team using the old structure and a losing formula. A new party design with new skills and strategy may deliver a winning formula. Proceeding with the congress on the backdrop of the old may result in the party being opposition in perpetuity.
In addition to skills it is an imperative that the party has diversity in representations opposed to the abused and myopic notion of a generational renewal. This diversity should look at inclusion of elders, women voices, tribal balance, alliance partners, labour, academics, farmers, industry and commerce.
This proposed diversity seems to have been the foundation of the MDC of 1999. The present scenario has diverted MDC DNA from being a voice of a plethora of society to that of past and present activists.
The congress may fail to deliver strength in diversity which I believe is a requisite in building a strong team to win and lead. It will ensure the party is a government in waiting instead of it being a perpetual opposition. The congress seems to be about ticking the constitutionalism boxes and satisfying some democratic principles, however obscure the principles. To a large extend the rehash of a congress is a path to obtaining absolute power.
First, despite purported superior arguments, policies and ideology the party has shown no aptitude to win the rural and the Mashonaland vote. The congress outcome is likely to entrench those election losses, exacerbate the challenge of rural voter apathy and increase inability to attract first time voters.
What should be placed on their strategic menu instead of a congress is to use the elections breathing space to build more coalitions or mergers with unlike forces with capacity to win the rural vote.
The team so far has risen to its highest level of incompetence and “new” blood with abilities to deliver the rural vote need to be injected at the highest level. This new blood is outside the party.
There seems to be innumerable election cycles were the most common complaint from opposition is rigging, violence, intimidation, abuse of traditional leaders and rules tilted in favour of the ruling party. Its not going to change as its with doubt the ruling party will reform itself out of power.
Coalitions or incorporating new talent from the old ruling party stalwarts may infuse talent, good enough to understand and navigate the rural that terrain. I do not see the MDC winning it alone in the rural areas.
Second, the MDC used to be a melting pot and a voice of widespread interests including academics, civic society, students, industrialists, farmers, labour and so forth.
The present MDC now seems a forte of activists with many of the key players of the 1999 MDC losing their voices. A congress outcome premised on such a hijacked party will fracture the party along the “them” and the “rest of us”.
In addition the party to require a diversity of ideas and show a semblance of a government in waiting. It is pertinent that silos are reserved for professionals in various areas of study like finance, engineering, law, social sciences and many others. It only enhances the quality of decision making and ensure balance and diversity of ideas.
Professionals become a fodder of deploying senior executives to assume government positions like ministries and government technocrats. Chanting of slogans and charisma should be replaced by deploying based on merit and character. The present quality of debate in parliament shows just how disabled the party is in terms of depth.
Third, Generational renewal is a great concept but should ideally be married with inter- general consensus. Voting based on age is not exactly renewal. A party requires wisdom and participation of everyone. Diversity should include the fusion of skill and ideas from the broad spectrum of the society. The new generation must bring the new beyond just age.
The purported new age to drive renewal seem not to show strategic and political edge. It presents themselves as captured by dominant forces in activism and leadership. The new perpetuating economic and social illiteracy on the pretense on political wisdom.
I do not see independence of thoughts, any plausible new agenda and are devoid of new ideas. The new seem to be clique of dedicated slogan chanting bootlickers impervious to new thinking, new ideas and have an entrenched belief in a new version of “one centre of power”. It occurs to others that this generational thing is simply a convenient way to use age to exclude others.
Fourth, without a new structure of the party prior to the congress there is no guarantee of women participation. Without reserved women seats there are no guarantees of women inclusion, participation and inclusion at the top of the party.
This lack of diversity is not good for image and attraction of reputable global partners in politics and business. Women are a key decision making unit more alive to needs of community, women and children. More often than not they bear greatest burden and brunt of misgovernance.
Sixth, some of the leading lights in the MDC Alliance may unfortunately fall by the way side. The present congress structure will not guarantee inclusion of alliance partners like Tendai Biti, Professor Welshman Ncube and maybe others. The MDC will be bleeding depth as a party and as an opposition in parliament. I doubt it’s a great idea to have the present coalition partners outside the decision making matrix.
Seventh, the country is greatly divided along tribes and provinces. There is limited loyalty to a one Zimbabwe. It will be naive to forget that we face uncommon challenges, have different aspirations and we have fragmented visions based on tribes and provinces.
Unfortunate as it may, for cohesion, the congress outcome should ensure tribal balance in its top positions. The party or at worst come up with rotation mechanisms on Vice Presidency.
Seventh, some positions like that of Treasurer and the deputy require certain knowledge, skills and abilities. At times finance also knows and follows skin colour.
The position requires understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, financial engineering, donor engagement and experience in dealing with capital. Unfortunately financial skills can not be obtained through sloganeering but through education and or experience.
Treasury positions must match or exceed donor expectations. This is because there is significant donor fatigue, people have low disposable income and there are no significant innovations on party financing models. This all means party finances may be in tatters to mount for the party to mount a significant challenge against the well oiled ZANU PF.
Donors lay the golden egg. The bravado of broke people sponsoring their struggle is a misplaced strategy. Its a strategy that may lead to capture by a person or closely knit group of people.
The MDC Alliance require a new strategy and new skills. The party should diversify through inclusion and expand its skills set. At moment it does not present itself as a government in waiting.
Brian Sedze is strategy consultant and President of Free Enterprise Initiative. Free Enterprise Initiative is an advocacy in less government, free enterprise, fiscal and public policy.
Correspondent|A Mutoko cellphone thief who was on the run for three years after skipping the border to Mozambique has been jailed for one year.
John Magaso (19) of Tsonga village under Chief Goronga in Mudzi recently appeared before magistrate Tawanda Mtetwa, who slapped him with a custodial sentence.
He will serve seven months in jail after Mtetwa suspended five months on condition he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Prosecutors said on January 29, 2016 at around 9pm, Magaso and two other accomplices stormed Fair Dhewa’s yard and stole a Samsung Note 4 cellphone through the window while the owner was sleeping.
Magaso removed the Econet line, which was in the cellphone and left it on the window before disappearing into the dark.
Dhewa reported the matter to the police, who traced the stolen phone to a neighbour, Forward Dick.
Magaso escaped to Mozambique after hearing about Dick’s arrest and was only arrested after three years
Standard|Thousands of pupils, especially boarders, could fail to return to school when the second term begins on Tuesday due to skyrocketing fees, parents have said.
A number of schools increased fees substantially following the rapid rise in the prices of goods and services since February when the government introduced a new currency.
The introduction of the RTGS dollar by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which discarded its controversial policy maintaining that bond notes were at par with the United States dollar, has stoked inflation.
On average a boarding school, which was charging $700 fees per term is now demanding at least $1 400, a survey revealed.
Some private schools are charging in US dollars with a top Harare school demanding fees of up to $10 800 in local currency or US$2 455, for full boarders.
Day scholars should pay RTGS$6 600 or US$1 500, while weekly boarders must part with RTGS$8 900 or US$2 023.
“We cannot really blame the schools, after all, everything is going up.
“However, the government has a responsibility to ensure that people are cushioned from this price madness,” said Christine Bhowa, who has three children in boarding school.
“In total I need to pay around RTGS$4 000 for all my children and then there is money for transport and their groceries.”
While school fees shot up, salaries for many workers have remained stagnant.
Besides school fees, parents have to contend with high prices of uniforms, with blazers for primary school children now costing $243.
Prices for a pair of school shoes range between RTGS$60 to RTGS$120 and a pair of socks costs RTGS$8.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said civil servants were hardest hit by price hikes.
“Teachers are wallowing in poverty. According to our calculations RTGS$4 000 is an ideal salary for a family of six, but teachers are earning RTGS$452 which is a mere US$90, “he said.
“That is why the teachers are considering going for only a few days per week because it is not easy for them to report for duty every day on such a pittance.
“Zimbabwe is a unique country where everything is determined by government, which is not honouring the collective bargaining process.”
Civil servants were awarded a marginal pay increase last month, but they complain that it has already been eroded by inflation.
The Bulawayo power station “Intuthu ziyathunqa” under dispute.
State Media|THE dispute between the Bulawayo City Council and the government run Zimbabwe Power Company over the ownership of the Bulawayo Power Station has taken a dramatic twist after it emerged that title deeds to the disputed property were transferred to the power utility without the knowledge of council.
This comes despite the local authority previously boldly claiming they had the title deeds to the property and the power utility was in actual fact their tenant.
The power station is historically a land mark building for the City of Bulawayo which in its hay days got the City the nickname “KoNtuthu Ziyathunqa” (a place of smoke) as the power station produced non stop smoke in the production of thermal power that supplied the now defunct city industries with electricity.
It is not clear how the ZPC got to have the title deeds as the power station was constructed and fell under the jurisdiction of the local authority until 1987 when Zesa was given the sole mandate of power generation in the country, taking over from local authorities.
Zesa was then required to pay royalties to the local authority, a matter which has also been subject to controversy after the power utility reneged in paying the royalties to the council, with the debt currently standing at $105 564 101. Over the past few years the council, with the backing of residents, has been pushing to reclaim the running of the power station arguing that not only did they have the title deeds to the station but Zesa was a dishonest tenant.
However, investigations have revealed that the power station’s title deeds have since been transferred to be under the jurisdiction of Zesa, a matter that has caught the local authority by surprise and have made moves to challenge the transfer in the courts of law.
A visit to the deeds office confirmed that the title deeds to the power station were endorsed in July 2017 to Zesa. The local authority’s chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, also confirmed the recent developments revealing that they were in the process of challenging the transfer of ownership in the courts.
“We only got to know of the transfer of ownership last year when we aired our objection in the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera)’s move to renew the Zimbabwe Power Company’s power generation licence for the Bulawayo Power Station.
“Zera informed us that there was an endorsement on our title deeds and indeed when we went to check at the deeds office, we found there was a change of ownership which caught us by surprise because this was done behind our back as we have the original title deeds which is why we are preparing our papers to challenge this illegal endorsement at the courts,” said Mrs Zhou.
Efforts to get a comment from Zesa spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira were fruitless. However, a source from the company in Bulawayo said the station was now under the ownership of Zesa.
“Yes, the title deeds are now under the name of Zesa, just go check with the deeds office,” said the source.
Commenting on the matter, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association acting co-ordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said there was something amiss with the transfer of ownership of the power station which had to be investigated and rectified.
He revealed that they were also taking court action against the power utility to challenge the transfer of ownership arguing that the power station belonged to the residents of Bulawayo and cannot be transferred without the knowledge of residents.
“We are certainly taking court action to ensure that the matter is rectified, our legal team will soon be meeting with council’s legal team to share notes and map a way forward.
“However, we are clear that the property belongs to residents and transferring it to Zesa is illegal. What we will also be challenging is the decision by Zera to renew the power utility’s power generation licence despite both the local authority and us as residents noting our objections,” said Mr Ndlovu.
In December last year, Zera announced in a public notice that it had received an application from ZPC for amendment of the electricity generation licence to be extended by 20 years from 2024.
The licence was also to enable it to produce 120 megawatts of power with 90 megawatts to be fed into the national grid. Residents, through the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association and the Bulawayo City Council, had objected to the application saying they were the owners of the power station. Zera, however, went on to renew the licence last month.
Tensions are high in the Highlanders camp with fans ruining out of patience with both the technical and administrative teams at the club.
State Media|IN what could be an indicator of how relations have deteriorated in the Highlanders leadership, a club executive member has reportedly hired bodyguards to protect him during Bosso’s league encounter against Hwange at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
According to information obtained by Sunday News, the official will have two strongmen looking after his security when Bosso meet Chipangano. It could not be ascertained why the Highlanders executive decided to hire bodyguards to take care of his personal safety.
The move comes at a time when Bosso are having serious problems on and off the field of play.
Highlanders have had a terrible start to the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with the Bulawayo giants having picked up just three points from a possible 15. Bosso are yet to win and have been beaten twice.
Off the field of play, the club is also in turmoil following the suspension of two executive members, vice-chairman Modern Ngwenya and secretary-general Israel Moyo. The two were suspended from their positions by the board, for what the club said was voting against the renewal of chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube’s contract, among other unnamed transgressions and are due to appear before a disciplinary committee.
The Bosso human resources sub-committee had recommended that Dube, whose two- year contract expired last Tuesday, should be allowed to remain in office until the end of the year. Sources said Ngwenya and Moyo voted against extending Dube’s continued stay as the club’s head of secretariat while club chairman Mhlophe wanted the former Highlanders SG’s deal extended. Donald Ndebele, the Highlanders treasurer abstained from voting on the matter while committee member Wisdom Mabhena did not attend the meeting.
“You have one person saying yes, two people saying no, one abstaining from voting and the other not coming for the meeting. What does that tell you about the feelings towards the CEO or the state of affairs in the club leadership as a whole? Of course people have their rights but why abstain from voting in such an important matter and why absent yourself when such a big decision has to be taken? Its food for thought,” said a club member who preferred anonymity.
Reports said the CEO had scored less than the desired marks in the assessment done on his work, but the club’s human resources committee recommended that his contract be extended, due to other reasons. What makes the situation untenable at Highlanders is the fact that the club’s human resources sub-committee is headed by Cosmas Sikhosana, a board member, while in terms of the constitution, all sub-committees report to the vice-chairman. There have also been claims that the club chairman was “too close to the CEO or captured” by a certain section of the club, something that has however, been dismissed as hogwash by the club.
Bosso, welcome back overlapping right back McClive Phiri from a two-match suspension, and Mbongeni Ndlovu who returns from injury. They are hard pressed to conjure a win against the coalminers who are enjoying a purple patch in the league where they have only lost once in five games, losing to defending champions and table toppers FC Platinum. Also coming back from injury is Zambian Nyirenda, giving the coaches plenty of choices upfront.
Midfielder Denzel Khumalo is said to be struggling with fitness, hence his omission from the team, according to technical manager Madinda Ndlovu.
“He played in our first match against Black Rhinos, look for the team sheet. He did not finish the match simply because he is not fit. He will be fine. We will work on it. He is a brilliant player. If he finishes the programme he will be back. He is working on his fitness levels,” said Ndlovu.
STANDARD Chartered has retrenched more than 100 employees with more lay-offs planned as the bank has begun outsourcing some of its operations in Zimbabwe to countries such as Kenya, Malaysia, China and India, it has been revealed.
StanChart, one of the oldest banks operating in Zimbabwe, closed one of its branches in Harare last month as part of the new strategic thrust that insiders said was likely to cost more local jobs.
Insiders said the restructuring had caused anxiety among employees who fear losing their jobs. According to a memorandum to workers written by StanChart’s head of human resources Audrey Mlambo, which is in our possession, the bank will soon retrench another 20 workers.
The reasons given for the retrenchments was the migration of the bank’s operations to its Global Business Services (GBS) centres in Chennai and Bangalore (India), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Tianjin (China).
“Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) runs the majority of its businesses and operations supporting various countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas out of its Global Business Services centres in Chennai/Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur and Tianjin,” reads part of the memo. “These world-class operation hubs enable the bank to run its business and operations with great efficiency and leading-edge controls and service management while maintaining robust business continuity with maximum flexibility with respect to scale.
“As part of continuing review of our strategy and in a bid to improve effectiveness and efficiencies of our business operations, SCB has concluded that the best option is to migrate the country operations from Zimbabwe to GBS centres in India, Malaysia and China.”
A source said another Stanchart branch in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb could soon close down. Stanchart chief executive Ralph Watungwa told Standardbusiness that the bank was evaluating its channels of delivery because branch transaction traffic in Zimbabwe was on the decline.The Standard
A ZANU PF aligned economist, Persistent Gwanyanya has said it is high time the government do away with the multi-currency system.
Speaking at a currency reforms breakfast meeting hosted by the Business Economic Empowerment Forum in Harare, Gwanyanya said, “The foreign currency, in the country, should be channelled towards other priority areas so that we industrialise.
“The best way to go is to use our own currency, which is the trend all over the world. If we look at strides that have been made in the fiscal front, conditions are ripe for our own currency.”
Gwanyanya said the adoption of a local currency will result in the available foreign currency being channelled towards the importation of goods and other developmental projects. He also opined that the abandonment of other currencies will force the local currency to work.
He opposed Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa on the adoption of the Rand. He said that most consumers of goods use the USD insyead of the rand.
He was backed by the elderly former MDC renegade, Mr Eddie Cross who said that adoption of the Rand comes with some obligations.
Cross also said the Rans was rejected by the people.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cocktail of measures to pacify the south-western parts of the country that bore the brunt of the 1980s massacres by the army have been greeted by strident opposition from traditional leaders.
Mnangagwa early this month, through Justice secretary Virginia Mabhiza, announced that the government would facilitate the acquisition of death certificates for Gukurahundi victims and identity documents for survivors.
The government also announced that remains of victims buried in mass and shallow graves would be exhumed for reburial, but chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands say they are against anyone “tampering with evidence of the massacres.”
According to sources, Matabeleland and Midlands chiefs met the Matebeleland Collective (MC), a group of civil society groups that extracted the concessions from Mnangagwa, at a lodge in Bulawayo last Thursday where they made their position known.
From the Midlands chiefs Sigodo, and Mafala attended the meeting while Gampu, Nyangazonke and Ndiweni represented Matabeleland. Nyangazonke, Ndiweni and Mathema in separate interviews said traditional leaders were not against the MC as an independent body, but the process government announced through the group on low it wants to address the emotive issue without any acknowledgement and apology.
“There was a lot of reaction against the MC on why they had the meeting with the president to discuss Gukurahundi in the first place,” Ndiweni said while confirming the meeting.The Standard
MORE than 10 000 villagers in Insiza District in Matabeleland South face eviction from their homesteads after the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement issued them with eviction orders alleging that they were occupying the land illegally.
The affected area falls under Ward 22 in Insiza North constituency with all but a few homesteads in all 27 villages being ordered to vacate the area for illegally occupying the land.
The eviction has, however, seen the ruling Zanu-PF stepping in to seek dialogue, arguing that according to Government policy, evictions can only take place when the people have been given alternative places to move to and that the affected villagers had already invested a lot in the area with some having stayed there for more than 20 years.
In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu said he had approached President Mnangagwa who had made it clear that the evictions should be stopped.
“It’s a sad situation honestly and as a party we are clear in saying that it is not allowed, the party does not accept it and the President has made it clear that it should not go ahead.
“When I first heard of the issue, I immediately spoke to President Mnangagwa who made it clear that whenever an eviction takes place, alternative accommodation should be identified for the villagers.
“In this instance some of these villagers have stayed there for over 20 years and they are not occupying areas that are environmentally not meant for resettlement, there is nothing wrong with where they settled at all, so as a party we are saying deal with the other problems but don’t evict these people because they have invested in the area and are contributing to the country’s fiscus through their agricultural activities,” said Mpofu.State media
GREAT Zimbabwe University in Masvingo has come under fire for failing to pay part-time lecturers’ salaries since last year.
Some of the affected lecturers told Sunday News that the university has paid part time lecturers lecturing in one department where one of them has a relative.
“Ideally we are paid from the students’ fees, but we have not been paid for many semesters. Students cannot access their results before paying so it means most paid but we are surprised that the university has failed to pay us.
Last year we got paid for January lectures in December but unlike last year with these inflationary pressures imagine being paid in December after working in January, it is not fair,” said one of the lecturers who requested anonymity.
“We once approached the salaries department and they confirmed that our claim forms are there but they are only waiting for authorisation from the bosses but we wonder why they are not authorising the payments when we worked.”
GZU Lecturers Union president Mr Givewell Munyaradzi confirmed there has been a delay in the payment of salaries for part time lecturers. “At the moment I am not in Masvingo but what I can confirm is that the university has not been paying some of its part-time lecturers,” said Mr Munyaradzi.
GZU spokesman GZU Mr Anderson Chipatiso, however, said the university was paying its workers on time.
“There is no discrimination when it comes to the payment of salaries, all employees are getting their salaries on the 25th of every month. If there are any disgruntled lecturers they are encouraged to use the internal grievances handling system which always yields results,” said Mr Chipatiso.State media
THE Government has moved to break the monopoly in the bread industry through resuscitation of indigenous bakeries that used to operate in various communities, a Cabinet Minister said.
In his independence speech, President Mnangagwa said the Government was committed to address price distortions in all sectors of the economy.
He said one of the ways of doing so was opening of small-scale bakeries. Such bakeries will service their localities resulting in low costs of transport, among others, to ensure that the price of bread is affordable.
In an interview, Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said the Government was interrogating factors that led to the closure of some small-scale bakeries.State media
Parliament will meet tomorrow to finalise shortlisted candidates that will undergo public interviews for appointment to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
One hundred and thirty-three candidates applied to be Zacc commissioners but only 10 will be appointed.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is currently re-jigging institutions and bodies that are pivotal in prosecuting the fight against corruption, which has become increasingly pervasive in both the public and private sector.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda told The Sunday Mail that the vetting process for those eligible for public interviews was almost complete.
“We have been conducting a very rigorous vetting exercise of the applicants. As you may be aware, we closed the window for members of the public to raise objections against the candidates on March 26. So since then, we have been doing a thorough screening. The vetting is now almost complete,” said Mr Chokuda.
“We are almost done, and from as early as next week (this week), we will be good to go, I do not want to be specific on the date, just in case there may be any delays.”
Some candidates have since dropped out, while others have failed to meet the grade.
“Out of the 133, there are some who failed to make the grade, but I am not at liberty to release their names.”
A source, who is a member of Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO), said the legislature’s policy-making body will meet tomorrow to finalise the candidates.
“We are meeting on Monday to tie up the shortlist of candidates. After the shortlist, we will then be able to publish the names that have been successfully selected to take part in the public interviews . . .
“There are many who failed the vetting process because of their previous records.There are also others who voluntarily withdrew. It is likely that those who withdrew had been nominated by other people in the first place, rather than out of their own volition.”
It is believed that the CSRO has been conducting a gruelling and rigorous vetting process for the past six weeks.
However, when the window for objections was opened, several red flags were raised on some of the applicants.
Notably, some Zacc commissioners controversially flagged 16 aspirants as unsuitable to be considered for the onerous job.
Former commissioners of the Mr Job Wabhira-led commission left office in January.
The Constitution stipulates that Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) members “must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge of and experience in administration”.
Once the public interviews are done, the remaining candidates will be whittled to 12 names which will be forwarded to President Mnangagwa for consideration.
In a special Independence Day interview with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) recently, President Mnangagwa pledged to untiringly fight corruption as the vice was “deep-rooted”.
“I now realise that corruption is deep-rooted. I thought that by pronouncing that let’s fight corruption those who are corrupt will fear and stop; it’s not like that. It’s so rooted that you have to fight it from A to Z. (In) most systems, structures and institutions, there is an element of corruption,” said the Head of State.
Fighting corruption is considered to be integral to the country’s march to attain an upper middle-income economy by 2030.- state media
BELARUS is set to establish a state-of-the-art dairy facility in Zimbabwe to improve national milk production, as President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy yields more dividends, according to Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri.
The President visited some Euroasia nations in January and Minister Shiri said that enabled him to take the opportunity to negotiate the deal with officials in Belarus.
He said during his stay he was impressed by Belarus’ dairy industry and engaged officials from the Eastern Europe country to consider setting-up a relatively similar model in Zimbabwe.
“I also had the opportunity of visiting a state-of-the-art dairy farm and there was only one individual employed to work on the farm, which had over 2 000 dairy cows and everything else was computerised and I hope one day we will have something close to that here in Zimbabwe.
“From there we went to a factory where they produce a whole range of dairy products and after that we persuaded them to come and have a similar set-up here in Zimbabwe for both dairy farm and a dairy processing facility,” Minister Shiri said.
He said a delegation from Belarus recently visited the country on a feasibility study.
“We have since received a delegation going around the country and they promised that they are going to establish such a facility. So we are looking forward to that day that our friends are going to invest in the dairy industry, though we wouldn’t want it to be highly computerised because we need a lot of our people to be employed.
Whilst technology is a good thing, I don’t think we have reached that stage where we will want everything to be done by computer or to be automated…,” said Minister Shiri.State media
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum let slip a chance to consolidate their lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership league table, after the Zvishavane-based outfit were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Herentals side.
Instead, Hwange or ZPC Kariba have been gifted an opportunity to leapfrog the champions, when the two face struggling giants Highlanders and Dynamos in their respective matches this afternoon.
Needing a win to ease the early pressure from the Coal miners as well as ZPC Kariba– both teams which have lost once at this stage of the campaign- Pure Platinum were left to rue a string of wasted chances in a match best remembered for Herentals tenacity rather than the champions’ pedigree.
Herentals produced a spirited performance, and were clearly the happier of the two camps. With yesterday’s draw, FC Platinum still look the early pacesetters with 14 points from six matches, but in the case of winning their matches today, either Hwange FC or ZPC Kariba now have the power to dislodge Pure Platinum play.
Both are on 12 points from five matches. Herentals came into the game, boosted by their impressive record in the last two games against Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum where they picked a vital four points. State media
The latest wave of price increases, experienced in Zimbabwe in recent weeks has not only been confined to basic goods but have also affected medical services.
Health insurance appears to have been dealt the heaviest blow. This follows the increase of subscription fees by medical aid societies by between 30 and 40 percent. An additional 400 percent is imminent.
In a statement the Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe (Ahfoz) chief executive officer, Shylet Sanyanga said service providers have made numerous requests for a further review of the subscriptions.
“A number of the providers have also approached the association to submit requests for additional or new increases to the current tariffs for various reasons. The increases range between 50 percent and 400 percent,” Sanyanga said.
She said the request is coming just after a recent upward review 40 percent.
“Regrettably, the contributing medical aid members and employer groups had to bear this increase. “Judging from member feedback, another round of contribution increases so soon would be unaffordable for medical aid members, employer groups and health funders.” State media
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has urged people in Chipinge to leverage on banana production to grow their provincial economy in line with Government’s devolution programme.
Speaking to villagers affected by Cyclone Idai at Ngaone Village, the First Lady said Manicaland province had favourable climatic conditions for horticulture.
Over the years, small-scale banana farmers in Ngaone have failed to secure markets for their produce. “I heard that you produce bananas here. I want you to form associations so that you can work in groups. We will help you to secure markets,” she said.
The First Lady said the area needed a good road network to enable farmers to transport their produce. She promised to engage Government to facilitate the rehabilitation.
“Roads should be fixed so that you can easily transport your bananas. This way, we will reduce the possibility of middlemen fleecing you by buying your produce at cheap prices.
“However, for you to reach those markets with your produce, you need a good communication network. I have been advised that there is very limited network coverage here. I will engage the telecommunications companies so that they install more boosters in this area. Our progress cannot thrive without communication,” said the First Lady.
The community, she added, cannot continue relying on handouts as they would not last long, adding that youths had a big role in economic development.State media
A ZANU PF aligned economist, Persistent Gwanyanya has said it is high time the government do away with the multi-currency system.
Speaking at a currency reforms breakfast meeting hosted by the Business Economic Empowerment Forum in Harare, Gwanyanya said, “The foreign currency, in the country, should be channelled towards other priority areas so that we industrialise.
“The best way to go is to use our own currency, which is the trend all over the world. If we look at strides that have been made in the fiscal front, conditions are ripe for our own currency.”
Gwanyanya said the adoption of a local currency will result in the available foreign currency being channelled towards the importation of goods and other developmental projects. He also opined that the abandonment of other currencies will force the local currency to work.
He opposed Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa on the adoption of the Rand. He said that most consumers of goods use the USD insyead of the rand.
He was backed by the elderly former MDC renegade, Mr Eddie Cross who said that adoption of the Rand comes with some obligations.
Cross also said the Rans was rejected by the people.
Cabinet is this week set to debate a comprehensive package of reform proposals drawn up by a high-level committee set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month, which, if adopted, will trigger the roll-out out of epoch-making political and economic reforms that will define a prosperous future for the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Political and Electoral Reform has since produced a working document outlining reforms prescribed by some election observer missions, the Motlanthe Commission and the ongoing political dialogue.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who chairs the committee, told The Sunday Mail that the working party charged with coming up with the proposals “has concluded its work”. “The working party produced a working document on all the things that we need to do as part of implementation of the political reform which we are working on,” said Minister Ziyambi.
“Very soon we are going to present a memorandum to Cabinet outlining the things that need to be done. “Within the next week or two we should be doing that. . . “But the working party has concluded its work and we think we are making good progress.State media
In the below video ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused the MDC party of squandering Chinese loan money.
“We had loan extended to Harare City Council by the Chinese for sanitation and water reticulation. That money was used to buy cars and other luxuries as well workshops that had nothing to do with sanitation,” said Mnangagwa
"We had loan extended to Harare City Council by the Chinese for sanitation and water reticulation. That money was used to buy cars and other luxuries as well workshops that had nothing to do with sanitation…". pic.twitter.com/h8yqBnLVWk
This money being spoken of is from 2014 . So this has nothing to do with this Mayor. The money from 2012-2014 period was transferred into an off shore account . The Harare mayor at the time Bernard Manyenyeni launched an investigation into allegations the town clerk who had used part of a Chinese loan meant for water projects to buy 26 luxury vehicles without authorisation from the city . Manyenyeni suspended the town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi, but the move was blocked by local government minister Ignatius Chombo.
The mayor announced the probe during Thursday’s council meeting after it emerged that the local authority has used $8 million of the $144 million loan facility from China. – Tich Mulamba
Two court officials from Hwange Magistrates’ Court died on the spot while others were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in burst its tyre and veered off the road along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road yesterday.
The two were part of a group of seven officials from the Judicial Services Commission who were travelling in a vehicle, an Isuzu twin-cab belonging to area prosecutor-in-charge of Matabeleland North Province Mrs Martha Cheda, who was also injured in the accident.
They were travelling from Hwange to attend a wedding of a colleague in Matsheumhlophe in Bulawayo when the accident occurred at the 60km peg near Insuza. Officer Commanding Police in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Edgar Dhliwayo confirmed the accident which occurred yesterday morning.
He, however, said details were still sketchy. “I can confirm that we received a report about an accident that killed two people while others were injured. I can’t give more details as yet as we are waiting for a report from a team that went to attend the scene,” said Chief Supt Dhliwayo.
He said the deceased’s bodies whose names are withheld as their next of kin were yet to be informed yesterday, were ferried to the mortuary while the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.
One of the deceased was a prosecutor while the other was an office administrator at the Hwange Magistrates Courts.
When Sunday News got to the scene yesterday afternoon police forensic experts had already combed over the accident scene, with one officer standing guard over the twisted metal wreckage of the twin-cab. Sunday News
MDC Harare Province National Candidates Caucus meeting.
Denford Ngadziore
All Aspiring Candidates with nominations at various national positions are advised to come and present their manifestos to Harare Metropolitan Province Congress delagates tommorow (Sunday 5 May 2019)
Time 10am @Morgan Tsvangirai House.
The following are Congress delagates to attend the caucus meeting
Harare Metropolitan Province Executive members (Portfolio Secretaries) from all wings.
2.District Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Organ from all wings.
3.All Ward Chairpersons Mainwing only
Harare Metropolitan Province Members of Parliament MPs
Please note the meeting will start with Constitutional review committee consultation process then candidates Caucus meeting.
This process will be presided over and facilitated by an Independent commission working with our Secretariat and security department.
Inserted by
Harare Metropolitan Province Youth Secretary Cllr Denford Ngadziore
Condolences are pouring in from all corners following the passing of EFF leader Julius Malema’s grandmother, Koko Sarah Malema.
Malema on Saturday tweeted a tribute to his grandmother, who passed away on Saturday morning.
“Our pillar of strength has fallen, the great tree that provided cooling shades of comfort, love and stability have been uprooted, forever, from our lives. I love you, my confidant…” Malema said.
The ANC sent a message of condolences to Malema and his family.
“The ANC has learnt with sadness about the passing of Koko Sarah Malema, the grandmother to Mr Julius Malema, the leader of the EFF. The ANC conveys its deepest condolences to the Malema family.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during their moment of grief. Koko Sarah Malema’s life must be celebrated. She was a pillar of strength for her family. May the soul of Koko Sarah Malema rest in eternal peace,” said the ANC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also conveyed his message of support.
“This bereavement is felt more sorely because of the special relationship Mr Malema enjoyed with his grandmother. I too have fond memories of Koko Malema following an opportunity I had to speak to her when she was in hospital. It is my hope that Mr Malema will draw strength from his beloved grandmother’s values and her presence in his life.”
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: “To my fellow Brother, Leader of the EFF @ Julius_S_Malema I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing of your grandmother. We all know very well how much your grandmother meant to you and as such I pray with you and wish you strength.
Other politicians and public figures also paid their respects on social media.
The entire EFF Family is deeply hurt by the untimely passing of our mother and grandmother Koko Sarah Malema
Words cannot express the sense of loss we feel.She is us and we are her
She raised an African Giant and the future President of South Africa with her bare hands
To my fellow Brother, Leader of the EFF @Julius_S_Malema I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing of your grandmother.
We all know very well how much your grandmother meant to you and as such I pray with you and wish you strength.
Heartfelt condolences @Julius_S_Malema and family on the passing of your beloved grandmother Gogo Sarah Malema. May you find solace in the great love and delightful moments you
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza lauded his 12-year-old daughter and gave her money at May Day ceremonies designed to honour the country’s top workers.
“Head of state Pierre Nkurunziza gave an envelope (of money) to his daughter Naomie Nkurunziza, who has been behaving well at home,” state broadcaster RTNB said in an overnight tweet, without specifying the amount.
“Pierre Nkurunziza says that she is hard-working and loves Burundian culture and sport,” it said.
The May 1 ceremonies, which took place at a sports stadium at Rumonge, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the capital Bujumbura, saw Nkurunziza hand out awards to senior state officials, farmers, the national football team, a judo champion, governors and district administrators.
The decade-old tradition has also seen Nkurunziza reward one of his sons, Jonathan — who was aged five at the time — his wife, Denise Bucumi, and one of their nannies.
Burundi has been in turmoil since the president announced in April 2015 that he intended to stand again for the presidency. He was re-elected in July of that year.
Violence claimed at least 1,200 lives and displaced more than 400,000 between April 2015 and May 2017, according to estimates by the International Criminal Court which has opened an investigation.
Civil society activist Pacifique Nininahazwe, who lives in self-imposed exile, said in a tweet that Nkurunziza’s awards to his family “remind me of (Ugandan) dictator Idi Amin, handing out military decorations to his five-year-old son!”
“What resemblences there are between these two Kafkaesque, blood-stained tyrants,” he wrote.
Nkurunziza’s spokesman, Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, told AFP “acknowledgement (of hard work) is not something that is exclusive to the state or to organisations — it’s more a reflex that everyone should have.”
The money that the president gave his daughter “came from his own pocket,” he said.
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa did not win the 2018 polls but he was appointed by the Constitutional Court.
Chamisa made the remarks at the Memorial Service for Morgan Tsvangirai today.
Mnangagwa, Chamisa said, was appointed by a court and not the voters.
“Dialogue is the only answer. But we told Mnangagwa that if he’s stubborn, we will resort to using the constitution which gives us the rights. We have the crowds.
No one voted for Mnangagwa and that’s why we contested the results at the Constitutional Court. You know it! He was just appointed. It is known. He was appointed by the ConCourt and not by you.
So we said, this problem is what we now have to deal with. We have to deal with it so that as we remember Tsvangirai, the reforms he fought for, are what we want to see – Electoral reforms, Political reforms. But also, what the people voted for should be respected so that we lead the people because that’s how they voted.
We won’t go back on this, no matter what happens. After that, the country can move forward. We would the implementation of a legitimate government chosen by the people. As soon as we’re done with the Congress, I’m going out into the region to ask them to come and help,” said Chamisa.
Relatively unknown ZANU-PF National Consultative member and Misheck Velaphi Ncube has been declared a National Hero.
Ncube died on Tuesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he had been admitted with a diabetes-related ailment.
ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu made the announcement to the family on Saturday evening.
He was one of the pioneer guerrillas under the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra).
Zanu-PF Bulawayo province applied for the national hero status and the party politburo acceded to the call.
Ncube joined the liberation struggle in the early 1960s.
He is among the first ‘Group of 12’ to undertake military training in Egypt in 1962.
In 1966, he and his colleagues took advantage of the political instability in the Congo where they raided the Congolese rebels, poisoned them before looting their weapons.
His mission led to the first smuggling of weapons into Southern Rhodesia.
He also served a jail term for his activities at Grey Prison, now known as Bulawayo Prison.
Daily News|IT is the battle of the titans in the MDC as party bigwigs vying for the three vice presidency posts defied the National Council to withdraw from the race ahead of the party’s congress later this month in Gweru.
Eight candidates, namely Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Morgen Komichi, Lilian Timvoes, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and Tracey Mutinhiri are all vying for the party’s three vice presidency slots.
Party’s spokesperson Jacob Mafume told the Daily News that none among the bigwigs have withdrawn from the cluttered race to deputise Nelson Chamisa who is now waiting to be anointed when the party congregates from the 24th to the 26th of this month.
“We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections,” said Mafume.
After a national council meeting last weekend, the MDC resolved that candidates who had been nominated were supposed to build consensus among themselves and minimise friction.
“All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building,” read part of the resolutions.
However, the die is cast as all the candidates start to campaign for a fight that will either prop them up the political ladder or completely off the radar if they lose.
Mafume said as things stand the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has already started the process of producing ballots.
“Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestations which will be superintended by the ZCTU. The Electoral Commission shall then produce ballots on every position where more than one candidate decide to contest. The positions to be contested include the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general and treasurer-general,” said Mafume.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to those pet owners during this terrible incident,” it added.
‘Terrifying’ moment
One passenger on the plane, Cheryl Bormann, described the “terrifying” moment it slid off the runway.
“The plane literally hit the ground and bounced – it was clear the pilot did not have total control of the plane, it bounced again,” she told CNN.
Image captionAt least 50 firefighters helped rescue people from the aircraft’s wing
“We were in the water. We couldn’t tell where we were, whether it was a river or an ocean,” she said, adding that she could smell jet fuel leaking into the river.
In a news conference, Captain Michael Connor, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, said it was a “miracle” that there had been no serious injuries or fatalities.
Miami Air International is contracted by the US military for its twice-weekly “rotator” service between the US mainland and Guantanamo Bay, Bill Dougherty, a base spokesman said.
Officials say the people on Friday’s flight included civilian and military personnel.
It said it was providing technical assistance to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident.
The aerospace giant has been under increased scrutiny following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 planes – a different model to the one involved in the incident on Friday.
Gospel Musician, Fungisai Zvakavapano was involved in a car accident but escaped with no injuries. She took to her Instagram to thank God and also announced she will be releasing a new album titled ” The Prophetic Ancient Voice”.
Here is what she wrote:
So the devil is failed liar again, I decided to attend our ZAOGA Explo Crusade in Chipinge last Eve before coming to the Cyclone Survivors fundraising event at Queens Hall in Mutare today. And a herd of cattle happened!! Kindly joined the cause in Mutare today and bring everything you can to Queens Hall.
Thank you for your prayers l know l could have been carried lifeless from the scene in a silver thing that l saw at the police station, but God preserved my life and l don’t take it lightly, I may not make it there today but kindly celebrate this escape by bringing your donation to Queens Hall today.
A 6th sense tells me God found it worthwhile to preserve this gift, so l have the chance unveil The Prophetic Ancient Voice Album and l believe God it will change the face of Christian music and the Zim Music industry in general. Watch the space… All my love God bless you…
Correspondent|Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front youth leader Pupurai Togarepi today threatened to name and shame public officials and government ministers who are sabotaging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic recovery programme.
Writing in the Herald Togarepi said there were some senior civil servants who were living in luxury forgetting why they were in government who were making reckless statements that tarnished the thinking in ZANU-PF or Mnangagwa.
“Yes, there are some public officials we are not even proud to associate with as the ZANU-PF Youth League, these people are in the habit of starting fires that they cannot douse, these people, soon, we will name and shame them and ask the party to recall them from whatever posts they are basking in,” he said.
Togarepi called on government ministers to update the nation on what they were doing as Mnangagwa had publicly stated that “we must no longer merely survive, now is the time for us to blossom, thrive and prosper as a nation, as a people”.
“We would like to call ministers, and other stakeholders in key sectors of the economic, be it service delivery or economic players to open up and appraise the nation on the progress they have made if any, and the challenges they face in executing their roles.
“It is trite that the party is supreme to government, but, and worryingly so, some civil servants view the party with disdain and a condescending attitude, forgetting that they are in a ZANU-PF government.
“We challenge ministers to open up, just as ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ and periodically inform the nation through various forms of the media what they will be doing, their failures and success.
“We want accountability in all sectors and that should start in ministries that remain closed to public scrutiny and engagement even when the President himself is accessible.”
Togarepi said that the following sectors and players should update the nation periodically:
Energy in particular fuel sector
Food sector industry
Monetary Authorities
Transport
Information
Parliament
Anti-Corruption
Justice System
“Our people deserve better from all public and private institutions as both are designed to serve the people of Zimbabwe not the other way round. Some pronounce policies that are inconsistent with the President’s thrust to turn around the economy while others have become saboteurs to the President’s vision. That must stop now,” he said.
Togarepi said all those who receive foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should be audited and the results must be publicised.
Those who abuse the foreign currency allocation scheme should go to jail and banned from future allocations.
All those breaking the country’s laws should be brought to book. Violent characters and sponsors of anarchy should face the full wrath of law. Non-governmental organisations sponsoring regime change should be banned immediately.
“We cannot continue to be romantic with those interfering with our politics, leaving their mandate,” he said.
“We would like to see all corrupt elements at whatever level going to jail whatever their social standing. Parliament should also play its part and enact laws that protect the general public from economic saboteurs. We do not expect double standards from parliamentarians and any corrupt legislator has no role in the august House, but rather a place in Chikurubi.
“The time to confront those working against the President’s vision is now. We want answers now otherwise these purveyors of doom will destroy the hope created by the New Dispensation.”
There were anxious moments on Sunday evening after news broke that an Air Zimbabwe plane was spotted with “an engine on fire” after taking off from OR Tambo airport.
To add to the drama, it was reported that the plane – a Boeing 767 – was too heavily laden with fuel to return to the airport and would instead continue on its perilous journey to Harare.
The whole episode conjured up images of the scene from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, where King Julien’s battered old plane is launched into the air with black smoke pouring from the port engine.
But such comparisons would be unfair – Air Zimbabwe has an unblemished safety record in its 39-year history.
Its pilots, unlike the penguin pilots in the Madagascar film, have a reputation for excellence. So much so that Deputy Agriculture Minister Vangelis Haritatos even offered to give one Air Zimbabwe captain a farm when he calmly piloted the plane to Harare after it suffered a dramatic bird strike on Friday evening in Bulawayo (it was an eventful weekend).
However, the Sunday incident appears to have been more serious than initially thought. Unconfirmed reports say engineers have had to replace the damaged engine, and flights are only due to resume on Thursday.
The unnerving episode, filmed by one passenger, is not going to boost confidence in Air Zim, already derided by many locals as “Scare Zim”.
Critics say the airline, which had a healthy stable of planes at independence but is now down to the stricken 767, is a potential death trap. That’s a name they also give to notoriously ill-equipped and poorly-stocked state hospitals, which are avoided by some top government officials who fly abroad for their own hospital treatment.
It all comes down to mismanagement, one former Air Zimbabwe pilot told me. He said the 20-something-year-old 767 is being overused on the airline’s short regional and domestic routes, when in fact it’s designed for long-haul flights with regular maintenance checks. He compared it to taking a fancy Mercedes-Benz limousine on trips to the rural areas.
It hasn’t escaped the attention of locals that President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself doesn’t fly Air Zimbabwe. Instead, he uses a luxury jet brought all the way from the United Arab Emirates. He says the plane is lent to him by the Crown prince of Abu Dhabi “whenever I want to travel”. Mnangagwa used the plane to travel to Bulawayo on Friday, a 40-minute flight.
But Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi confirmed to one local newspaper what many have long suspected: that Mnangagwa doesn’t fly on the national flag carrier because it’s “unsafe for the presidium”.
On social media Zimbabweans are justifiably outraged, saying if the airline isn’t safe for the president, it isn’t safe for anyone.
2 weeks ago ZimEye caught up with the original Crocodile Gang leader William Ndangana’ s Secretary Patience Olivier (PO) in the UK. Below were excerpts of the interview:
QN: Guess who we are with today: this is the original crocodile gang leaders secretary. This is the original crocodile, garwe gang. To those who are young and have been studying history you have heard of the crocodile gang, you have heard Emmerson Mnangagwa describing himself as a crocodile, this lady is none other than William Ndangana’s secretary.
PO: She is here, William Ndangana’s secretary is here!
QN: But now if Emmerson Mnangagwa hears that William Ndangana’s Secretary is here won’t he get enraged?
PO: Even if he gets angry what can he do because William is now dead they killed him.
QN: but then once again the crocodile seems is still here and is standing right next to me!
PO: the Croc is truly still alive and it is now screaming: Chinja, Maitiro!
vaTsvangirai told me, we are now going to remove the hunger Robert Mugabe gave us, we need a transitional authority after removing Mugabe. But they betrayed him. This is the trouble that befell us. WATCH LIVE HERE: https://t.co/JkBWBDW1Cxpic.twitter.com/SxVElua4wD
Today We Remember a DEMOCRAT! Outstanding AFRICAN Statesman, Revolutionary, Freedom Figher, Great Leader! Dr. Captain Morgan Richard Tsvangirai! May your Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. #TsvangiraiMemorial ?? pic.twitter.com/00zMKoOyTx
— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) May 4, 2019
while dodging former VP Mphoko's pension, Govt is dishing out thousands in pocket money for Tsvangirai's kids, is @edmnangagwa sincere? @ProfJNMoyo@InfoMinZW
Addressing hundreds of citizens gathered for the memorial service for the late MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai at his rural home in Buhera, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said the late icon was a true democrat who never faltered.
Narrating the journey he travelled with Tsvangirai, Chamisa said the late founding President of the opposition Movement never kept a grudge and was a unified.
Said Chamisa:
president Morgan Tsvangirai never kept a grudge he used to forgive, before he left he united us says @nelsonchamisa
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to visit the Mbare Flats in Harare. The flats, which are owned by the Harare City Council, are some of the most dilapidated and overcrowded accommodation flats in the country.
Said the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting today:
Monday 6 May 2019 His Excellency President Mnangagwa will tour the refurbished Matapi Flats in Mbare
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) May 4, 2019
By Own Correspondent- Despite being encouraged to do so by the party’s National Council, no MDC senior official has withdrawn from the race to become one of the 3 Vice Presidents of the party.
A council meeting last weekend encouraged nominated to build consensus and minimise friction. Ideally, they are supposed to talk amongst themselves with the objective of some of them withdrawing from the race.
However, none of the 8 candidates for the VP positions has withdrawn. The 8 are Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Paurina Mpariwa, Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Lilian Timvoes, and Tracey Mutinhiri.
Said party spokesperson Jacob Mafume to the Daily News:
We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections.
All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building. Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestation,-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent| Speaker after speaker revealed how the late MDC icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai placed the nation first ahead of personal interests at the ongoing memorial service for the MDC founder currently underway at his rural home in Buhera.
Watch the video below to hear this man recite a poem in memory of Tsvangirai:
Own Correspondent|MDC President Nelson Chamisa, now officially elected unopposed as founding President Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor has assured MDC supporters and affiliates that he has not diverted the party in any way from the late Tsvangirai’s vision.
Opening his address at the memorial service of the late democracy and human rights fighter, Chamisa assured the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Secretary General Peter Mutasa that the opposition party is still very much a labour party born out of the Workers Unions.
Chamisa’s sentiments came after Mutasa challenged the MDC leadership to take the MDC back to Its founding values and objectives.
The opposition MDC was founded in 1999 by the leaders of the ZCTU then Gibson Sibanda and Morgan Tsvangirai.
The memorial services is being held at the Tsvangirai homestead in Buhera where he was buried in February last year.
Thousands of MDC supporters from across the country are attending the service which is under ZimEye.com Livestreaming on Facebook.
Own Correspondent|Daughter to the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai, Vimbai Tsvangirai has declared his late father as a God fearing man who gave his all for the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the on-going memorial service of the MDC founder who died on Valentine’s Day last year, Ms Tsvangirai said that his father is resting comfortably in Heaven after dedicating all his life for a worthy cause.
The memorial services is being held at the Tsvangirai homestead in Buhera where thousands of MDC supporters have gathered dressed in the party regalia regardless of the Tsvangirai family requests for people not to wear political party regalia.
The service is being run live by ZimEye.com on Facebook.
A 34-YEAR-OLD man appeared before a Chivhu regional magistrate on Tuesday, facing allegations of aggravated indecent assault for sodomising a mentally-ill man.
Emmanuel Makaranga pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Fadzai Mutombeni.
Prosecutor Corrence Chimbadzwa told the court that on February 10, in the early hours of the morning, Makaranga saw the complainant, who is of no fixed abode, sleeping on a pavement at
the Chivhu Location Shopping Centre.
He took him to his residence in Chivhu location, where they shared a bed.
When the complainant fell asleep, Makaranga allegedly had sexual intercourse with him once, without his consent.
The complainant then woke up and asked Makaranga what he was doing to him, but did not get any response. The complainant then left the residence.
Later that day, the complainant informed another resident who advised him to report the matter to the police, leading to Makaranga’s arrest.
Makaranga was remanded to today for continuation of trial.
Soccer24|National team captain Knowledge Musona has sent a touching message to his wife Daisy after she earned a tertiary education qualification.
The Belgium-based Warrior could not hide his joy and took to Social Media to congratulate his other half. In the message, the forward said:
“My future Ambassador.Im so proud of you my wifey Your hardwork has paid off and all i can say is The Sky is the Limit.Keep going.Beauty with Brains????????Congratulations my love ❤️”
Now, with his Belgian campaign over, Musona’s focus has been shifted to leading Zimbabwe at the 2019 Afcon which kicks off in Egypt from 21 June and runs until the 19th of July.
The Warriors will play their first game against the hosts on the opening match-day.
This would be Musona’s first match at an Afcon tournament as the captain. He finished the qualifiers with five goals, just two behind top scorer Odion Ighalo of Nigeria and will be hoping to carry that form to Egypt.
By Nelson Chamisa|Yesterday I was in Gutu for the Sikhala memorial. Today, I am at Humanikwa village as we remember a Democrat who gave his all to all for a better Zimbabwe.We’re in Buhera at Dr MT’s rural home in memory of an outstanding African statesman, a great leader,a revolutionary,veteran trade unionist & humble family man whose legacy we forever cherish.Salute!!
State Media|A 78-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi has been arrested for allegedly raping his 15-year-old niece for about four years while threatening to kill her if she exposed him.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape and was remanded in custody to May 6 for provision of a trial date.
The prosecutor, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, said from 2016 to February this year, the man raped his niece several times.
“On the first occasion in 2016, the grandfather summoned his niece to his homestead. As she got into his yard, he dragged her by the hand to his bedroom hut. He ordered the minor to remove her clothes and raped her once.
“He threatened to kill the minor if she told anyone about the matter,” he said.From that time on, the grandpa would follow the minor whenever she went to fetch water or firewood and continued to rape her, the court heard.
The matter came to light in February when the minor told an uncle about the ordeal. The court heard that the girl’s uncle told her mother and grandmother and she was taken to Nkayi District Hospital for a medical examination. The matter was also reported to the police. A medical report showing that she was raped was compiled and will be produced in court.
Jealous Mawarire (left) with former President Robert.
Correspondent|National Patriotic Front Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire has defended the decision by MDC to elect Shadreck Mashayamombe who is former Zanu-PF Harare province secretary for commissariat to the position of secretary for mobilisation committee in the MDC and Jappy Jaboon who was the ruling party’s Masvingo province secretary for commissariat for the position of secretary for strategic projects (intelligence committee).
The MDC has recently come under fire from its fierce critics who are accusing it of being captured by the ex-G40 members.
Said Mawarire, “The Cdes have done NO WRONG. They haven’t abandoned the fight for democracy but just changed stations. Iconic freedom fighters like General Mujuru crossed floors from Zapu to Zanu but remained steadfast in fight for a free Zim. We wish cdes Jaboon and Mashayamombe well in their new positions.”
Mashayamombe and Jaboon are former members of NPF.
Shadreck Mashayamombe being addressed by former First Lady Grace Mugabe at a ZANU PF Rally
Some MDC members are saying the election of the two violates the party’s constitution. For anyone to assume a position in the party, they must have served at grassroots level for more than five years.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said that constitutional provision does not apply because Mashayamombe and Jaboon are coming in as alliance partners.
“They are coming in as alliance partners, remember they were candidates for MDC in last year’s harmonised election and if they were good enough to sit in Parliament representing MDC they are also good enough to be in structures,” Mafume said.
95-year-old , Melita Gordon has been smoking weed for 85 years, now even her doctor is encouraging her not to quit.
She now lives Maroon Town, Jamaica, and is approaching her 100th birthday.
Melita Gordon, 95, has no intention of quitting a habit that has stayed with her for a major portion of her life, smoking marijuana. Even with the protestation of her children and other relatives, the senior citizen insists that her life is not going up in smoke.
The diminutive Gordon, who stands at four feet, eight inches, reinforced her point by relating the view of her medical practitioner that her journey to 100 would have been cut short had she thrown down her loyal pipe and marijuana long ago.
“When mi go a doctor him say him nah tell mi fi stop smoke marijuana, because if mi stop, him a go lose mi,” Gordon told 18 Karat Reggae.
Melita Gordon with her mbanje plant
Gordon, who is from Falmouth in Trelawny, became hooked on the habit of smoking marijuana when she was “baptized” in the practice by her parents, Michelle Jones and Richard Gordon, both of whom smoked marijuana.
She would serve as the designated lighter by the time she was approaching age 10. But she was having her own smoking episodes, outside of the knowledge of her biological elders.
“A because mi start light the weed fi dem why mi start smoke,” Gordon explained.
All through elementary school she continued smoking marijuana and when she started having her nine children, seven of whom are still alive, there was no letting up.
Even while she sold wares outside Maldon Primary School and worked at times at the now closed Maroon Town banana boxing plant, she became known as the pipe lady who pulled no punches in defense of her habit.
Strangely, her husband of over 50 years, Manuel Gordon, was one who stayed far from marijuana.
“Him never smoke at all, the only thing him do was drink beer, but him never try force mi fi stop,” she told 18 Karat Reggae of the man who died eight years ago after making it to age 100 years, six months and 12 days.
There is no special reason for her being hooked on marijuana, although she will readily admit that smoking marijuana relaxes her and helps her to think more clearly.
With pressure mounting from family members, including her daughter with whom she lives, to quit, she has proposed a compromise by reducing her smoking to once a day, a far cry from when she would smoke marijuana all day long.
President Mnangagwa loads garbage into a truck during a national clean-up campaign in Chitungwiza yesterday.
State Media|President Mnangagwa yesterday took Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko and the MDC run municipality to task over perennial water shortages which are affecting residents and production in nearby industries.
The Head of State and Government also took a swipe at some Government officials for not taking part in the national clean-up exercise, saying they did not deserve to serve under his administration.
President Mnangagwa was in Chitungwiza yesterday for the monthly clean-up exercise where companies and residents complained that they were getting tap water only two days a week. He later took part in a clean-up exercise in St Mary’s.
He first toured Flysterv, a company that recycles plastic waste to produce materials used in making polyester and employs people from Chitungwiza. Flysterv officials complained to President Mnangagwa in the presence of Mayor Maiko that the never ending water shortages were affecting production.
President Mnangagwa told the Mayor to approach his office for assistance as concerted efforts were needed in solving problems bedevilling residents.
“The challenge they presented to me Cde Mayor is that they are getting water twice per week,” he said.
“I don’t know the reason. I appeal to you Mayor, because you haven’t appealed to me, to find a day when you are free and come and sit with me down and present your challenges. What we can do to end the crisis we can, what we are unable to do we will tell you. Don’t just be quiet because if they were getting enough water every week they would produce and employ more people.”
He urged council officials to find sites where residents can deposit their garbage before city trucks come to collect it. Mayor Maiko welcomed President Mnangagwa’s invitation, admitting that the municipality was failing to deal with the water shortages.
“The issue of water is something critical in waste management Mr President,” he said.
“Chitungwiza, with its population of around 400 000 people, does not have its own source of water. That’s why we are trying to appeal to your highest office. We have a project that we have lined up and we need your support such that this project comes into fruition. Since you have invited me, I will be knocking on your door.”
On Government officials not taking in the clean-up campaign, President Mnangagwa said: “Before I came here, I checked in some Government departments and saw some seated, forgetting that the President has said every first Friday of the month civil servants should come out and clean their surroundings. Vanga vakatogara zvavo kuti tekeshe (They were relaxing). I said let me go because you don’t want to be clean but as someone advocating for cleanliness, I foresee myself remaining in Government with those who want a clean environment.”
President Mnangagwa urged more companies to emulate waste recycling being done by Flysterv, saying such projects were reducing the country’s import bill.
“This excellent project besides helping to clean our cities and municipalities is giving jobs to our people at household level,” he said.
“Our people can pick up waste, bring it here and earn some income. Beyond that, this factory processes waste into new products which again reduces our import bill. I am glad that this technology has come to Zimbabwe. More companies should venture into this business and spread across the country.”
He called on the people to continue embracing the monthly clean-up exercise, adding Harare had transformed immensely owing to the programme.
“It doesn’t mean it is Government but it is because of those people who have heeded the call to clean our environment,” he said.
President Mnangagwa was accompanied to the clean-up exercise by Ministers Prisca Mupfumira (Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry), Owen Ncube (State Security) and Obadiah Moyo (Health and Child Care).
Julius Malema addressing an EFF rally on Workers Day.
SA News Agents|For two long hours, his supporters had been whipped into a fervour with revolutionary slogans, thumping music, and warm-up speeches at a packed stadium in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg.
Finally, their leader appeared, emerging from a German limousine and taking a lap of honour around the venue, milking the roars of approval flooding down from the stands.
“Forward to victory in 2019 – forward,” the crowd chanted ahead of Wednesday’s general elections.
Malema, the self-styled “commander-in-chief” of the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, wore the party’s signature red beret and was surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards known as “defenders of the revolution.”
The radical left EFF, South Africa’s third biggest party, hopes to make major gains in the election if the ruling ANC pays the price of deep public disenchantment over delays in poverty eradication since apartheid ended in 1994.
“He is the only one to feel our pain. He is the only one to help the people,” said Steven Chauke, 58, a local man who has been unemployed for 16 years.
“Over the last 25 years, the ANC has never worked for the people, only for themselves. He’s the one who is going to liberate us.”
One week before the election, Malema chose to hold his 1 May rally in friendly territory.
How the EFF’s support base has grown
Alexandra – known to locals as “Alex” – is a congested and poverty-stricken neighbourhood close to the contrasting wealth of Johannesburg’s Sandton financial district.
It has suffered badly from the failures of ANC rule – massive unemployment, non-existent public services, crime and corruption.
Such issues allowed Malema, who was once an ANC youth leader, to form his own party in 2013 and build it within a few years into a growing force within South African politics.
“Alex is the home of the EFF, the home of the poor,” he told the crowd. “Don’t go to some decorated places… Alex is what South Africa looks like.
“Today Alex says: ‘enough is enough’.”
Up in the stands, Kukie Ijeo, 47, from Hillbrow – another of Johannesburg’s toughest districts – lapped up Malema’s speech.
“We don’t have anything, we need jobs, we need houses, we need water, electricity, land, education,” she said.
“We just want everything promised in our (post-apartheid) constitution – but nothing has changed yet.”
Malema relentlessly targets ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa over the country’s economic tribulations, the ruling party’s many corruption scandals, and Ramaphosa’s alleged favouring of the country’s white minority – which still hold most of the wealth.
The EFF’s policy is to grab land from largely white owners — individuals and companies – to give to poor blacks.
“We must expropriate land without compensation and give it to the people of Alexandra to build their own houses. Let’s share the wealth of South Africa,” Malema told the rally.
Malema calls for calm
“Let us build a solid foundation for an African child so that an African child will grow up not being scared of a white counterpart,” he said, touching on the incendiary topic of race relations in South Africa.
“I have no problem with white people at all, I’ve a problem with them being treated special,” he told AFP during the campaign, dismissing accusations of anti-white racism.
“No white is going to be killed or beaten up under an EFF government. It will never happen, but they will have to come down from their high horse,” he said.
Malema’s approach appears to be working as he builds support among the young and poor.
The EFF won eight percent in nationwide municipal elections in 2016 and polls suggest it could win between 10 and 15 percent in the 8th May General Elections.
Malema, aged just 38, sees himself as the next president of South Africa, though analysts doubt this will happen.
“The EFF will do well, something around 10 percent, maybe above,” Frans Cronje, head of the Institute of Race Relations, said.
“But they can’t get much more than that because the majority of this country is moderate conservative.”
Not all black South Africans are sold on Malema’s fiery rhetoric and outlandish promises.
“He is like all politicians,” Respect Nethananai, 34, an Alexandra resident, grumbled. “He just wants power.”
Malema appears unwilling to temper his rhetoric, despite having been hauled before a tribunal for hate speech – saying his party would not seek the slaughter of whites “at least for now”.
In typical defiant fashion, he ended his May Day speech by singing the anti-apartheid struggle song “Kill the Boer (farmer)”, which has previously landed him in legal trouble.
But he changed the lyrics to “Kiss the Boer” – a joke that triggered raucous delight from his faithful followers.
State Media|THE Zanu-PF Youth League is yet to receive a formal resignation notice from its political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu following his social media statements highlighting his departure from the youth wing last week, an official has said.
Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu yesterday said the party will not act on social media statements and will wait for formal communication from Tsenengamu.
He said the party has been keenly following Tsenengamu’s shenanigans as he has been defying the party’s polices by going against the leadership’s stand point on a number of issues on social media.
Tsenengamu is popular for once declaring that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was ordained by God to lead the country.
He said disciplinary action will be taken against him. Matutu refused to comment on the rumours that Tsenengamu risks expulsion from the party. “We are yet to receive an official communiqué from Cde Tsenengamu who took to social media and resigned from his commissariat post in the Youth League. Until we do so, we will stand guided by the party policy on such matters,” he said.
“Besides his unofficial resignation, the party has been following with interest the series of social posts challenging party policies, for example on land redistribution, compensation of white farmers and most recently his call for elderly party members and leaders to ‘open up space’ for young people.
“This on its own shows that Tsenengamu has no respect for party leadership and its policies and if found guilty, disciplinary action will take place. I can however not comment on rumours on the street that he will be expelled or not. That’s for the party to decide.”
Tsenengamu is said to be the face behind the dismissed vote of no confidence which almost toppled the top five youth league leadership.
His recent post read: “Am 36 and ready to move on from youth into the main wing. After six days of work creating earth, our God took time to rest, even some of our madalas (old guard) must rest and pave way for the young. Makarwa kurwa kwakanaka chizororaiwo tiwanewo pekupinda (you have fought a good fight, open up the space for us). It’s time to blend youth with experience.”
In a Press statement by the Youth league on Tuesday, warning shots were sent to Tsenengamu.
“We note with concern social media statements attributed to the secretary for the commissariat in the Zanu-PF youth league Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu. Our leader and President ED (Emmerson Dambudzo) Mnangagwa’s pronouncements reflect the thinking in Zanu-PF as a whole. With respect to the voice of the majority, any expression to the contrary is in our view rebellious and thus warrants due censure or punishment,” read part of the statement.
“Grandstanding and strutting like a peacock is a cheap political gimmick, meant to grab attention from corrupt renegades and also pursue selfish agendas . . . it is unfortunate that our own can be found among the greedy lot who are now selling out the party.”
In the statement the Youth League suggested Tsenengamu might have turned mole as part of a plan by a faction that was active in the party and aligned to former President Mr Robert Mugabe known as G40.
“We are aware that we have the likes of G40 in our midst but even so because of our vigilance we will not lose the fight but rather the axe will descend mercilessly on counter-revolutionaries and their foreign handlers,” the statement added.
“We are the vanguard of the party and it is therefore our duty to make sure that the party is safe from infiltrators and informers, those who have ears to hear take heed.”
The Youth League called for members to respect the leadership and use proper channels of communication to air their views.
Manica Post|BEREAVED families were duped thousands of dollars by unscrupulous undertakers and administrators at Mutare’s Yeovil Cemetery who sold them graves at the burial ground at exorbitant rates in a scandal believed to have started some years back.
Officially, the main Yeovil Cemetery is considered fully occupied but mourners with fat pockets were asked to fork out up to $3 000 to have their departed ones laid to rest at the exquisite graveyard.
After greasing the palms of undertakers and administrators, graves were dug out in carefully left out portions of the yard and the burials were done clandestinely.
To hide the vice, another grave is selected and paid for to council outside the main cemetery at very low rates which will be simultaneously filled up at the same time the actual burial will be taking place in the prime grave yard.
In council records, the deceased is said to be buried outside the main cemetery.
Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said the grave that was filled up with no corpse will be dug up again and sold to another family and the money pocketed once again.
“At the end of the day what we have in our records regarding the graves, their numbers and the deceased does not match. Complications then arise in situations whereby a family comes years later to locate a grave. In the absence of markers which might be removed by wild animals, families end up erecting tombstones on wrong graves in the event that they seek assistance from the office because the records are wrong,” he said.
Mr Maligwa said the local authority has gathered enough evidence and those implicated will soon face the music.
“A lot of people are involved in this scandal. We have collected evidence and we are working on the modalities. Some of the people who are involved in this filthy enterprise of defrauding mourners did not want to go on leave.
“They did not want to take annual leave days because they feared that if they go away, the scum will be exposed. Instead of comforting relatives who would have lost their loved ones these people actually stole from them. That’s un-African,” he said.
A MAN from Mapani area in Zezani, Beitbridge almost lost his manhood after his wife bit off a chunk of it during a fight.
According to a source, Sibangilizwe Ngamula’s marriage was always on the rocks.
At one point his wife deserted him and went to her parents’ home only to return two weeks ago to talk things over with her husband who had just returned from South Africa where he works.
But her hope turned into despair as things took a nasty turn.
“The couple had been having problems over infidelity. Ngamula used to accuse his wife of seeing other men in the area while he was in South Africa. Last week an argument arose over house keys,” said a family insider.
The source went on to say at the height of the argument his wife punched him on the face, grabbed his genitals and twisted them.
“She grabbed his genitals and twisted them. He fell down wailing in agony but there was no one to help him,” he said.State media
A World Cup 2022 venue dubbed the ‘v@gina stadium’ has been unveiled after becoming the first to be completed from scratch ahead of the tournament.
The 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar and work is completed on the 40,000-seater venue.
Mail Online reports that the Al Wakrah stadium will host matches up to the quarter-finals and contains innovative cooling technology to bring temperatures down for the 40,000 fans.
It was designed by the late British-Iraqi architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, who died suddenly of a heart attack in 2016, aged 65.When her plans were first released in 2013 they were said to have been inspired by the flowing shape of a dhow boat, a traditional Arabian pearl diving and fishing vessel.
The drawings were topped with a structure resembling the sails of a dhow. But the images went viral with commentators suggesting the stadium looked more like a woman’s private parts.
At the time Dame Zaha was angry at the comparison, saying: ‘It’s really embarrassing they come up with nonsense stuff like this. What are they saying? Everything with a hole in it is a vagina? That’s ridiculous.’Iraqi-born Hadid – whose other works included the Aquatics Centre at the 2012 London Olympics, the MAXXI Museum in Italy and the Guangzhou Opera House in China – added: ‘If a guy had done this project there wouldn’t have been the same level of criticism’.
As well as the shape of the stadium, which is 12 miles south of the capital, Doha, being designed to keep out the desert heat, Al Wakrah will also use a revolutionary new air-conditioning technology to bring temperatures down to around 72F for fans and players.
This is done by piping cold air through 100 ventilation units into the stadium, which has a 92m retractable roof to provide shade to the pitch.
The tournament has already been moved to the winter months to avoid the searing summer temperatures in the Gulf.
As part of the tournament’s legacy, when the World Cup is over the top tier of the stadium will be dismantled and shipped to the developing world.
In its promotional material, Aecom, the firm that won the Al-Wakrah contract with Zaha Hadid Architects, said of the designs: “Inspired by the dhow boat that carried generations of local fishermen and pearl divers, the stadium weaves together Qatar’s past with it progressive vision for the future.
“Sustainable materials and practices will be used throughout the stadium and the pitch and spectator stands will be cooled to a perfect temperature for football.”
But some critics thought the unintentional comparison with female genitalia was for the good.
One said: “In a world where sport and vaginas very rarely come together with such prominence (see every UK female footballer’s salary versus every UK male footballer’s salary)’, the likeness ‘can only be a good thing.
“After all why not have 45,000 people crammed inside a woman’s reproductive system? It’s not like they haven’t been there before.”
Qatar is producing eight stadiums for a 32-team World Cup, although FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said he would like to expand the tournament to 48 teams, which would involve Doha co-hosting with an Arab neighbour.
He has admitted the chance of this is small because of a Saudi-led blockade of Qatar, but “worth trying”.
The Khalifa International Stadium, which was built in 1976, has already been unveiled for the tournament following redevelopment.
HARARE-BASED church leader and losing presidential aspirant in the 2018 elections Emmanuel Moyana, who is founder of the Emmanuel Global Ministries International and Multi-People’s Democratic Party (MPDP), is at the centre of controversy amid revelations that he allegedly preys on young successful women.
Moyana, who is also leader of the Emmanuel Embassy Ministries International in Botswana, is accused of flirting with temptation by not walking his talk as a man of God.
Bishop Moyana courted controversy when he reportedly left his family to co-habit with a Harare woman (name withheld for ethical reasons) who made headlines in 2004 after being allegedly paid to enter into a marriage of convenience with a Nigerian who wanted to secure a residence permit.
The woman in question who is also a hairdresser openly confirmed to B-Metro that she dated Bishop Moyana for more than two years before their love boat hit its turbulent waters.
“I know him as my ex-boyfriend. We started dating in 2017 and separated in February this year. During that time I was also aware that he was dating another woman in Victoria Falls and they had a child together but that didn’t affect me much since the two of us didn’t have a child together.”
She said the last straw was when she discovered that the two, Moyana and the Victoria Falls-based woman, were planning to marry.
In a complaint document, sent to B-Metro by some aggrieved parties suspected to be members of his church, Moyana is also alleged to have used Holy Scriptures to prey on a Victoria Falls-based woman who is also a pastor and employed by one of the safari companies in the resort town.State media
THE Zanu-PF Youth League is yet to receive a formal resignation notice from its political commissar Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu following his social media statements highlighting his departure from the youth wing last week, an official has said.
Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu yesterday said the party will not act on social media statements and will wait for formal communication from Tsenengamu.
He said the party has been keenly following Tsenengamu’s shenanigans as he has been defying the party’s polices by going against the leadership’s stand point on a number of issues on social media.
He said disciplinary action will be taken against him.
Matutu refused to comment on the rumours that Tsenengamu risks expulsion from the party. “We are yet to receive an official communiqué from Cde Tsenengamu who took to social media and resigned from his commissariat post in the Youth League. Until we do so, we will stand guided by the party policy on such matters,” he said.State media
By A Correspondent| Angers flared yesterday when the Chitungwiza mayor broke party protocol to title the man who unleashed the military on innocent civilians and killed 7 people just so to change election results, Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 1st August last year, President. Mnangagwa is on the state broadcaster ZBC’s LIVE broadcast presiding over the declaration by his office to use the military to change poll results.
Mayor Lovemore Maiko (MDC) said this while speaking of the water crisis in the dormitory town. This was during Mnangagwa’s visit to the town.
Maiko said Chitungwiza does not have its own source of water, exacerbating the crisis. He said,
“The issue of water is something critical in waste management Mr President.
“Chitungwiza, with a population of around 400 000 people, does not have its own source of water.
“That’s why we are trying to appeal to your highest office. We have a project that we have lined up and we need your support such that this project comes into fruition.
“Since you have invited me, I will be knocking on your door.”
Commenting on the development, analyst Chris Chidarikire said the mayor must be fired. He told ZimEye,
“I think the Chitungwiza mayor shud be recalled and disciplined for calling Dambudzo HE. He is not president unless MDC position has changed. I am a soldier and discipline is vital. Words have consequences.
“MDC position is clear on stolen presidency if he doesn’t know it then he is not part of the movement.
“It’s either the party in my opinion states that we have lost the claim of presidency. That is why l am against Congress; Because at the moment Dambudzo was cornered , Congress is a distraction. By nature congress is divisive even in a democratic party because people campaign against each other while enemy is re energising and reinventing.
“As a soldier if you have your enemy pinned to a corner you don’t retreat and send soldiers to rest and holiday . You continue when the enemy falls dont get him up finish him coz when you turn your back he will stab u in the heart.
“Sometimes democracy does not work Chamisa needed to be brutal like what he did to Khupe. He needed to be dictator in pushing for regaining presidency or pressuring Dambudzo to negotiation table. Least he can get is prime minister but with Executive powers.”
GOVERNMENT has allocated $10 million towards the construction of district hospitals in Bulilima and Umzingwane to improve access to health services in Matabeleland South Province.
Presenting a social services and poverty reduction subcommittee report during a Provincial Development Committee meeting on Thursday, the subcommittee’s chairperson, who is also Matabeleland South provincial social welfare officer, Mr Totambirepi Tirivavi, said the projects are expected to start this year.
“The Government has allocated $5 million for the construction of a district hospital in Bulilima and another $5 million towards construction of a district hospital in Umzingwane.”State media
A 78-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi has been arrested for allegedly raping his 15-year-old niece for about four years while threatening to kill her if she exposed him.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape and was remanded in custody to May 6 for provision of a trial date.
The prosecutor, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, said from 2016 to February this year, the man raped his niece several times. “On the first occasion in 2016, the grandfather summoned his niece to his homestead. As she got into his yard, he dragged her by the hand to his bedroom hut. He ordered the minor to remove her clothes and raped her once.
“He threatened to kill the minor if she told anyone about the matter,” he said.From that time on, the grandpa would follow the minor whenever she went to fetch water or firewood and continued to rape her, the court heard.State media
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent an 11-member team led by Zanu-PF secretary for finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa to observe the South African national elections to be held next Wednesday.
In a statement yesterday, party secretary for information and publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said the team includes former Senate President Cde Edna Madzongwe, Zanu-PF deputy secretary for youth affairs Cde Lewis Matutu, secretary for business liaison Cde Sithembiso Nyoni.
Other members of the delegation are Cdes Amon Murwira, Mike Madiro, Monica Mavhunga, Fortune Chasi, Mail Nkomo and Caroline Tsitsi Mugabe. “The delegation leaves for South Africa tomorrow (today),” said Cde Moyo.
The ruling ANC has won the majority vote since the country attained independence in 1994 under the late Nelson Mandela who became the country’s first black President. A record 48 political parties will be contesting in this year’s polls.
The most prominent challengers to the ANC are the Democratic Alliance (DA) led by Mr Mmusi Maimane and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) fronted by Mr Julius Malema.State media
Five family members from Taderera Village in Buhera and an as yet to be identified fellow passenger died in a road accident when a Toyota Grand Hiace they were travelling in failed to negotiate a curve and overturned at the 106-kilometre peg along the Chivhu–Nyazura Road.
The accident occurred on Thursday morning.
The vehicle was carrying 11 passengers.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
He said five of the deceased from Taderera Village, Chief Makumbe in Buhera, had been identified.
“The deceased are Erina Masisimani (29), Mukudzei Masisimani (3), Peter Masisimani (38), Beauty Masisimani (12) and Elias Masisimani (25),” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the accident occurred around 11.30am when the 32- year-old driver failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle.
“The vehicle than veered off the road and overturned twice before landing by the roadside on its wheels. Two people died on the spot, three on admission at Murambinda Hospital while the other one died at Mutare General Hospital,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the driver and five other passengers sustained serious injuries and were admitted at Murambinda Hospital.
“The ZRP urges motorists to negotiate road curves patiently and reduce speed accordingly. They should also take into consideration the state of the roads and be able to safeguard lives,” he said.State media
The Tsvangirai family spokesperson, Manase Tsvangirai, has told the state media he appreciates the assistance they are receiving from the Mnangagwa government.
He said, “As the Tsvangirai family, we are very grateful to President Mnangagwa and the Government for the continued support that they have been rendering to us starting from the illness of my brother in South Africa up to date when we are holding a memorial service for him.
“I am sitting on my brother’s homestead right now, there are two graders clearing the road, tents and being pitched, Government has pledged to provide food that will be served to more than 5 000 people expected to come.
“Had it not for Government, I do not think that as a family we would have been able to manage this memorial.
“Of course, there are other individuals who have come to assist in some way but the Government, led by President Mnangagwa, has assisted us in a big way to ensure that the event succeeds.
“Right now, the Government is paying tuition fees for Mr Tsvangirai’s children in Australia and South Africa.
“Government rendered help to us from the illness of my brother in South Africa up to his death.
“It provided air tickets for people who went there, paid hospitals bills, ferried the body to its burial including the food, just to mention a few. We remain grateful to President Mnangagwa.”
By A Correspondent| Angers flared yesterday when the Chitungwiza mayor broke party protocol to title the man who unleashed the military on innocent civilians and killed 7 people just so to change election results, Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 1st August last year, President. Mnangagwa is on the state broadcaster ZBC’s LIVE broadcast presiding over the declaration by his office to use the military to change poll results.
Mayor Lovemore Maiko (MDC) said this while speaking of the water crisis in the dormitory town. This was during Mnangagwa’s visit to the town.
Maiko said Chitungwiza does not have its own source of water, exacerbating the crisis. He said,
“The issue of water is something critical in waste management Mr President.
“Chitungwiza, with a population of around 400 000 people, does not have its own source of water.
“That’s why we are trying to appeal to your highest office. We have a project that we have lined up and we need your support such that this project comes into fruition.
“Since you have invited me, I will be knocking on your door.”
Commenting on the development, analyst Chris Chidarikire said the mayor must be fired. He told ZimEye,
“I think the Chitungwiza mayor should be recalled and disciplined for calling Dambudzo HE. He is not president unless MDC position has changed. I am a soldier and discipline is vital. Words have consequences.
“MDC position is clear on stolen presidency if he doesn’t know it then he is not part of the movement.
“It’s either the party in my opinion states that we have lost the claim of presidency. That is why l am against Congress; Because at the moment Dambudzo was cornered, Congress is a distraction. By nature congress is divisive even in a democratic party because people campaign against each other while enemy is re energising and reinventing.
“As a soldier if you have your enemy pinned to a corner you don’t retreat and send soldiers to rest and holiday . You continue when the enemy falls dont get him up finish him coz when you turn your back he will stab u in the heart.
“Sometimes democracy does not work; Chamisa needed to be brutal like what he did to Khupe. He needed to be dictator in pushing for regaining presidency or pressuring Dambudzo to negotiation table. Least he can get is prime minister but with Executive powers.”
The Guardianship of Minors Act is set to be changed after the Cabinet this week passed principles that will guide the drafting of a Bill.
The amendments will reportedly give men and woman co-guardianship of children born out of wedlock.
Under the current law, only the mothers have guardianship to children born out of wedlock.
The fiery Harare lawyer and gender activist, Jessie Majome, revealed the proposed changes saying, “This is an exciting development and to all men with children outside wedlock, you must shape up and rise to theresponsibilities of a guardian.
“It means fathers, not married to their children’s mothers, will also be equal guardians.”
Once passed into law, fathers who are ordinarily absent will be expected to perform other duties like taking leave days to nurse the sick children, the same way mothers do.
Harare lawyer, Wellington Pasipanodya of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners said that the current law is oppressive to single mothers. He said: “The law as it stands is oppressive to single mothers. Absent fathers have caused so much emotional suffering due to their insensitivity when it comes to the welfare of their fathered children.” – state media
Ukuthula Trust, which was responsible for the recent successful exhumation and reburial of a Gukurahundi victim in Tsholotsho, says it is ready to assist families rebury their loved ones as part of efforts to find closure and ensure national healing.
An expert in the field of pathology and exhumations, the organisation last week assisted in the exhumation of the remains of a couple that was killed in Tsholotsho at the height of the disturbances in 1983.
The exhumation was done at Nkwalini Village in Sipepa, Tsholotsho.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Josphat Tshuma, a legal practitioner with the organisation, said families and communities were free to approach them for assistance in exhuming the remains of their loves ones.
His remarks came as Vice President Kembo Mohadi, speaking at the National Defence University, said the national healing and reconciliation process has contributed to the country’s security by removing social threats while building and fostering sustained peace and national cohesion.State media
A miner from Filabusi has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting a mine owner four times following a dispute over a pool ball that went missing during a game.
Xolani Ncube (35) of Mlenja area allegedly shot Samuel Donga, who was the owner of Marvel Mine in Filabusi, three times in the chest and once on the arm with a Ross revolver.
Ncube fled from the scene after committing the crime but handed himself to the police after five days.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a murder charge and was remanded in custody to May 16.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Ncube surrendered himself at the police station on Tuesday after he had been on the run for five days.
She said Ncube had an altercation with Donga’s employees after a black ball went missing during a pool game.
“On 24 April Ncube was playing a pool game at Marvel Compound with Donga’s employees when the black ball went missing and he accused them of stealing it which resulted in a misunderstanding,” she said.
“Donga later heard about the matter and went to Ncube’s home in a bid to resolve the dispute. Donga arrived at Ncube’s home and accused him of attacking his workers. This didn’t go down well with Ncube who drew a Ross revolver from his waist and shot Donga three times in the chest and once on the left arm. Donga died on the spot and his body was taken to Filabusi District Hospital Mortuary.”
Miss Nare said Ncube fled from the scene and went to his rural home where he hid the firearm and proceeded to Gwanda. She said on Tuesday, Ncube surrendered himself at the Gwanda Urban Police Station CID department. She said he led police to his rural home in Filabusi where he had hidden the firearm and it was recovered. – State Media
President Mnangagwa has once again come to the rescue of the family of former Prime Minister and MDC founder, the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, by providing financial and logistical support for the latter’s memorial service in Buhera today.
Government yesterday dispatched two graders to clear the road linking Murambinda Road to Mr Tsvangirai’s homestead and will provide food for over 5 000 people expected to throng Humanikwa Village for the memorial ,service.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the assistance was consistent with President Mnangagwa’s commitment to unity and peace.
“It is in the spirit of oneness that President Mnangagwa is showing this gesture. You might also need to know that the Tsvangirai family invited President Mnangagwa to the memorial service and obviously he will respond appropriately just as he did during the funeral wake when he sent me and Cde Oppah Muchinguri to represent him,” said Mutsvangwa.State media
