Farai Dziva |MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa, who is a devout Christian, has urged the nation to pray for him as he hopes to lead Zimbabwe to prosperity.

In a tweet yesterday Chamisa saluted his supporters for remaining committed to real change in the face of intimidation.

“Change arrives and begins now.Thank you Machinja for an emphatic 13/13 nomination,vote and endorsement as the 2nd President of MDC the People’s party after our Icon the late Dr MT.

Help me pray for the grace and wisdom to lead Zimbabwe to happiness,prosperity and freedom.#Godisinit,” wrote Chamisa on Twitter.

Chamisa is disputing the outcome of the July 2018 polls citing irregularities in the electoral processes.

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has confronted a Chinese company over ” unauthorised ” mining activities in Domboshava.

Mutodi claims the company is clandestinely carrying out quarry mining activities in the area.

Mutodi further claims an MDC A councillor and a senior government official are involved in the illegal mining activities.

“I have prematurely ended my ZITF tour in order to attend to villagers in Domboshava who are claiming a Chinese company is planning to evict 20 000 individuals from their land after it was granted mining rights to extract quarry stones from a hill in their area,” tweeted Mutodi.

Yesterday Mutodi claimed the company was granted mining permission in dubious circumstances.

Picture blast, A jovial Dr Amai Grace Mugabe holding a baby pic.twitter.com/WPBVYbpMut

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 29, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Former Higher education minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has revealed intricate details surrounding the flopped grand coalition between MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and former President Robert Mugabe, saying their failure to secure former Mugabe’s deputy Joice Mujuru led to the failure of the deal.

In a serialised tweets, Moyo said they made efforts to bring Mujuru on board but failed resulting in them abandoning the plan.

“The May 2018 concept was refined in June 2018 to reflect progress made. Concerted efforts to get Dr Joice Mujuru to deputise NC; as a key transitional leader with government & gatekeeping experience & heroic service in the liberation struggle failed!

“After efforts to get Dr Joice Mujuru on board failed, the GRAND National Union concept was ABANDONED. Some parties that had participated in the discussions, took some aspects of the GNU concept & used them to pursue bilateral talks. I’m not privy to how those bilaterals went!,” said Moyo.

5/6 After efforts to get Dr Joice Mujuru on board failed, the GRAND National Union concept was ABANDONED. Some parties that had participated in the discussions, took some aspects of the GNU concept & used them to pursue bilateral talks. I'm not privy to how those bilaterals went!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) April 29, 2019

Zimbabwe’s real estate sector is under immense pressure to review rentals in response to the country’s deteriorating economy, which has resulted in rising operating costs, defaults and voids.

First Mutual Properties MD Chris Manyowa, told Standardbusiness continued macro-economic challenges, which had seen some businesses closing shop, were giving players in the real estate business headaches.

“We are trying to respond to the reality of rentals, which were denominated in US dollars in 2018, but in reality they were coming in RTGS,” he said.

“So, the reality of the matter now is that we are looking after a portfolio, which we should ensure that it preserves value and it is only reasonable to renegotiate rentals.

“When we conclude a renegotiation, it must not be for a very long time because there are a lot of uncertainties in terms of, for how long will the current rentals be sustainable?

“The rent you agree on must be sustainable and your review period has to be fairly short, maybe, say, six months up until we have clarity where things are going.”

Manyowa said the real estate sector had agreed to structure rentals suitable to each location.

“We said going by sectors, we have to say office park tenants can never be looked in the same manner as those renting out offices in the central business districts, as industrial and retail supermarkets there has to be a differentiation.

“It is a properly thought-out process where we will try to make sure that any rent proposals are reasonable and match the business affordability.”

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed property concern Mashonaland Holdings’ finance director Ndangariro Mutizwa revealed that the introduction of the interbank
market rates had led to a change of property valuations from US dollars to RTGS dollar.

“As you are aware, a lot of valuations were denominated in US dollars prior to the monetary policy statement (issued in February),” he said.

“So if you go to Knight Frank or Dawn Property Holdings, they were doing valuations in US dollar.

“The reason why they were doing this is because the RTGS$ and US dollar were at par, but this is no longer in place.

“So, now that we are generating income in RTGS dollar, the valuations will naturally be in RTGS and what needs to happen now is that the property sector needs to play catch-up or they will need to increase rentals such that they can support the valuations.”

Zimbabwe’s property market has shifted notably over the last 18 months as the currency crisis and low investment continue to stunt growth of the sector.

-The Standard

Jane Mlambo| Controversial former Higher education minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has released details of the grand coalition plan between opposition MDC leader and former President Robert Mugabe.

The plan unlike in 2013 when Zanu PF was the leading party for Presidency, had MDC President Nelson Chamisa at the helm due to the shift in political dynamics since the November 2017 coup.

The grand coalition was also to benefit from Mugabe’s influence especially in Mashonaland provinces including his home province of Mash West.

The document, attached below

By Own Correspondent- A 38 year old woman was arrested at Beitbridge border post after she was found in possession of about 200 explosives.

The woman was arrested after the consignment was intercepted by members of the Republic Police and the immigration officers at Beitbridge Border post on Sunday morning.

This is a developing story.Refresh this page for latest updates.

By Own Correspondent- a Chitungwiza man has been hauled to court charged with unauthorised use or possession of debit cards after he allegedly cloned bank debit cards for CABS account holders and transferred a total of $69 000 before he converted the money to his personal use.

Donald Shorai Jima (29), of Zanuyotonga Road in Zengeza, appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko, in Harare who remanded him in custody to today for his bail application.

The complainants in the matter are Amanda Zietsman, John Clark and Valentine Vincent Oldfield, who are all CABS account holders.

It is the State’s case that during March 27 this year, Jima and his accomplices, who are still at large, hatched a plan to clone the complainants’ bank debit cards and they made some balance enquiries into Zietsman’s bank account and discovered that it had over $9 000.

The State alleges that the next day, Jima and his accomplices went to Mahusekwa business centre and approached Wellington Mushonga, who owns two Agribank point-of-sale machines and they swiped a total of $9 000 from Zietsman’s account into fraudulently registered EcoCash numbers.

The gang also made several purchases at Chikwana Hotel, where they purchased expensive beers and also at Millennium Bar and Guzha Chikwana Bar. It is further alleged that on April 13, Jima and accomplices cloned Clark’s bank card details and they went to one Saul Karimbika, who operates hardware at Chikwana and swiped $4 000 to purchase agricultural inputs.

After that, they purchased expensive wines at Chikwana Hotel. On the same day, the gang allegedly cloned Oldfield’s account and they made several purchases at Kebab Drive Inn Night Club, Paramount Bar and Karimbika’s Hardware, totalling $3 300.

The court further heard that on April 15, the accused person together with his accomplices went to Mahusekwa and again approached Mushonga and swiped a total of $9 000 into their fraudulently registered EcoCash numbers.

Jima was arrested on April 26 after he went to Karimbika’s Hardware with printouts from EcoCash to confirm that he had not received the $500 which was still outstanding. The State said in all the transactions, nothing was recovered. Flossy Jambanja appeared for the State.

-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front, Jelousy Mawarire has blasted the First lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa’s exhibition stand at the recently ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

Mawarire tore into the first lady triviliasing her stand at the ZITF and said she had nothing to exhibit.

He said:

“What was it exhibiting? Bedroom paraphernalia to dissuade the President from straying to small houses? This country is a joke.”

Mawarire’s sentiments however irked Gokwe Nembudziya legislator Mayor Justice Wadyajena who retaliated and said Mawarire was being petty, childish and chauvinistic.

He said:

“This is low Cde Mawarire. Why on earth should anybody ever expect mature politics from the youthful or even have hopes of an effective opposition when it’s composed of this type of immaturity and disgusting chauvinism. Everyone loses by perpetuating this bigoted nonsense. Grow up.”

Mawarire however defended his stance tearing into the whole of Zanu Pf as an institution and said:

“What can be more immature  and stupid than having a conjugal position exhibiting at a business expo? Zanu-PF and ED have to grow up, being First Lady is not some form of entrepreneurship warranting exhibition at the trade fair, if you believe it is, you should not only grow up but be wise.”

By Own Correspondent- An Air Zimbabwe plane on Friday gave passengers a huge fright after sparks were observed coming from the engine after it hit birds (an incident known as a bird strike).

The plane was flying from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and landed safely at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Passengers aboard the plane included cabinet ministers who were coming from the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

Air Zimbabwe corporate affairs manager, Tafadzwa Mazonde who was also one of the passengers confirmed the incident in an interview with a local publication on Sunday.

Said Mazonde:

“Bird strikes are common because our planes fly in the birds’ territory. Upon impact, there were some disturbances in the engine but the crew assessed the situation and decided that it was safe to continue with the journey.

Physical inspections were done upon arrival in Harare and it was established that the damage did not compromise the fitness of the aircraft and the safety of the passengers. The same plane is flying as we speak.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Newly appointed Dynamos coach, Tonderai Ndiraya’s first game in charge was a 1-1 against Telone on Sunday.

Dynamos had a player, Godfrey Mukambi, sent off for allegedly using foul player towards the referee.

In his post-match conference, Ndiraya expressed disappointment with Mukamba’s 66th-minute sending off.

Said Ndiraya:

“In the second half, we pushed a bit more, but the disciplinary issues disturbed us. I don’t know what transpired but I suspect it was a case of descent and we had our player dismissed. That’s bad especially when you are in a situation like this.

We had gone for four games without a win, and you have players behaving like this, putting pressure on your team.

Credit to those who remained, they played for over twenty minutes with a man down, and that’s not an easy job.

Having equalised in the 55th minute through Cameroonian Vincent Mbega after trailing from a first-half Munyaradzi Mawadza own-goal, DeMbare was not able to double their goal tally with a numerical disadvantage.-Soccer24

By Own Correspondent- Nurses and other staff members at Chiredzi General Hospital are allegedly selling home brewed Maheu and uncertified frozen water to patients under their care.

The issue came to light after Tafara Pondiwa wrote a letter to the hospital matron, raising concerns about possible health risks for the patients.

Pondiwa is the director of Divine Foundation Trust, a community-based organisation that focuses on career guidance and advocacy.

He wrote:

The problem we are encountering is at the hospital and especially in the wards is the selling of home-made repacked overnight mahewu and frozen water to hospitalised patients by nurses and police officers’ wives, who are putting patients at risk of disease infection.

As an organisation we are worried about the stuff sold because it has come to our attention that they pick used bottles and re-pack them with water and mahewu. We request your office to help us by enforcing and restricting the sale of such food items in hospital wards.

As you can see the hospital stamped this letter acknowledging that they have received it. Now we are going to take further action to put this practice to an end. They have given us a deaf ear, maybe they think they are above the law.

We know the economic situation is not favourable, but we thought nurses, as people who uphold the highest levels of health standards they were going to be the last people to engage in such a practice.

Efforts to get a comment from the hospital’s General superintendent, David Tarumbwa, or the Ministry of Health and Child Care public relations manager Donald Mujiri werefutileby the timeof writing.-StateMedia

Terrence Machocho, a director in Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba’s office has lost a case in which he was trying to evict a Chipinge farmer from his Stilfontein of Umzila Farm.

The matter was heard at the High Court circuit in Mutare by Justice Isaac Muzenda, who ruled against Machocho’s farm grab.

The applicant in the matter was Lameck Bvurere, who cited Machocho as the first respondent, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri as the second respondent, while Gwaradzimba was the third respondent.

An order seen by this publication reads: “The first respondent and those or anyone acting through him be and are, hereby, ordered to restore to the applicant, peaceful and undisputed possession of subdivision 2 Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge district.

“The determination of the applicant complainant currently pending before the second respondent, the issuance of the offer letter in favour of the first respondent by the second respondent in respect of subdivision 2, Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge district, Manicaland province.”

Justice Muzenda further added: “The applicant be and, hereby, ordered not to engage or commence new farming operations and activities in respect of subdivision 2 Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge, the parties are to maintain peace and order towards each other pending resolution of the process mentioned in the entirety of paragraph one of the order.”

The applicant had made an urgent High Court application to stop Machocho from evicting him. In the application, he said the first respondent disturbed his farming operations.

“The first respondent unlawfully and irregularly moved into the applicant’s farming operations on subdivision 2 of Stilfontein of Umzila in Chipinge,”.

“Without lawful cause, the first respondent resorting to self-help has disturbed applicant’s peaceful possession of subdivision 2 of Stilfontein of Umzila farm,” Bvurere said in the application.

He added that Machocho’s actions endangered the economic activities at the farm. Bvurere said he supplies maize to the Grain Marketing Board and was a grower of export macadamia nuts.

-Newsday

Gwanda municipality, which is eyeing city status in a year, has dangled a carrot to investors by giving out an avalanche of incentives to lure investors to the gold mining town.

The town is located 126km south east of Bulawayo, and is the capital of Matabeleland South province.

Council has dangled a 25% discount on land sale, additional 10 % discount for outright cash payment towards land value, 100% removal/waiver of development levies if construction commences within 12 months from day of purchase of land and exemption from payment of council rates for the first 12 months.

Economic centres surrounding Gwanda include Mbalabala, West Nicholson, Filabusi, Esigodini and Matobo.

The town is endowed with natural resources, which include, but not limited to gold ore, lime ore (at PPC Mine), livestock rich grazing land, granite and beautiful geographical landscape for tourism on which it hinges its economic growth.

Despite being endowed with all these resources, the town has nothing to show in terms of development which has prompted the town fathers to line up a number of incentives to woo investors.

In an interview at the local authority’s stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo last week, the town’s economic development officer, Mandlenkosi Moyo said the local authority was in overdrive to woo investors to the gold mining town.

“We have target areas which we are promoting and our theme is ‘infrastructure development to make industry tick” which is aimed at creating a conducive environment for industrial development and sustainable service delivery. We have also improved our road network to be an envy of many, thanks to the Zimbabwe National Road Administration funding,” said Moyo.

He said artisanal miners were the force behind economic growth in the region, producing more than the combined effort of the three big mines in Gwanda namely Blanket, Vumbachikwe and Farvic.

Moyo said the local authority was also targeting to increase hotel rooms in Gwanda as they only stand at 100.

“Gwanda is the capital of Matabeleland South; we do have land set aside for investment in hotels and lodges. We are coming from a background where land was sold to people who had no capacity and we can’t grab the land back. We have another space earmarked for investment in the hospitality and tourism sector, but we are not going to give out to someone without a business profile,” said Moyo.

He also invited investors to invest in quarry mining at Masholomoshe Mountain given that most of the town’s construction aggregate comes from Bulawayo.

Moyo said livestock value-addition chain investors were welcome to come and invest and tap into the large stock of livestock which Gwanda is endowed with.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Former Energy minister Elton Mangoma has attributed charges that he unprocedurally awarded a $3 million contract to a South Korean firm to fabrication, falsehoods and state machinations designed to harass him politically.

Mangoma, who is being charged together with former Zesa chief executive officer Joshua Chifamba and Zent managing director Tererai Luis Mutasa appeared before magistrate Francis Mapfumo.

In his defence, Mangoma, who was represented by Tonderai Bhatasara, said he was just a minister and not an accounting authority in terms of Public Finance and Management Act and denied that it was his responsibility to ensure that tender procedures were followed.

He also submitted that he did not hatch a plan with Chifamba and Mutasa to disregard procurement procedures as the advice was not given to him and was not for him to act on.

Chifamba also denied the allegations saying he never independently engaged the South Korean company, Techpro Company, to partner Zesa Enterprise in a switch gear partnership.

The former Zesa boss, who was represented by Admire Rubaya, submitted that the agreement between the two companies was lawful and his actions were within his line of duties as the group chief executive officer of Zesa Holdings.

He further submitted that there was a clear ploy by those who have arresting and prosecutorial powers to prosecute him for their personal gratification, yet there was no iota of evidence of any criminal misconduct in the manner he acted.

While denying the charges, Mutasa said everything he did was in consultation with the State Enterprise Restructuring Agency, State Procurement Board, the Zesa Enterprises board of directors, Zesa Holdings board of directors and Zesa Holdings legal department.

Mutasa, who is represented by Advocate Givemore Madziko, pointed out that it was wrong for the State to allege that Zesa lost $3 million while in actual fact Zent paid $850 000 to Techpro Company.

The State represented by Zivanai Macharaga then led evidence from the investigation officer Energy Mudandishe.

Allegations are that sometime in 2010, Choi Young of Techno Company met Mangoma at his offices and agreed to enter into a technology transfer partnership between Zesa Enterprises to manufacture switch gears.

Chifamba, Mutasa and Mangoma reportedly connived to by-pass the approval by the committee and the competitive bidding process to favour Techpro Company by making sure that it automatically became the partner in the technology transfer agreement.

The trio is said to have proceeded to award Techpro Company the contract and, as a result, Zesa Enterprises made an initial payment of $850 000 to the South Korean company on the strength of the technology transfer agreement.

It is further alleged that the deliverables of which the agreement sought to achieve were not met at the time of the expiry of the five-year period, resulting in questions being raised over the deal.

Due to the trio’s actions, Zesa Enterprises allegedly suffered a total prejudice of $850 000 and nothing was recovered.

Farai Dziva| Eyebrows were raised at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s church in Borrowdale when it was revealed 3 Catholic priests have been involved in separate car accidents one after the other.

Congregants at the Borrowdale Parish have been stunned by the accidents, according to impeccable sources.

The whole shocking tale was briefly told during mass service last Sunday. The serious incidents were narrated like a joke as the presiding “father” cautioned parishoners saying they should not allow it to spill onto social media.

The development comes after it became public that an anonymous congregant suddenly donated a brand new vehicle to the main church priest. As ZimEye.com revealed 3 weeks ago, the church has refused to reveal the identity of the anonymous donor. On Sunday 28th April, ZimEye battled to get answers from the church.

A priest at the church said:
“Let me tell you in advance that there is nothing mysterious or suspicious about this so I have to tell you before it spills onto social media.”

He continued saying, “Father Mukumba had an accident in Mhondoro. Two priests followed him in different cars and they both had seperate accidents one after the other.”

The two are Father Mark and another whose name was not revealed.
No serious injuries were made public from the three sudden mishaps. Efforts by ZimEye to obtain the reports were fruitless.
It was difficult to establish the time difference between the 3 accidents, but they all happened within hours of each other.

Efforts to obtain health reports of the 3 priests were fruitless at the time of writing.

The only Air Zimbabwe plane,  which  services the Johannesburg-Harare caught fire on its left wing soon after takeoff at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa last night.

According to a statement from the airline,  all passengers are safe as the plane landed  “safely” at RGM airport and provisions have been made for passengers affected.

“All passengers on affected flights please contact our reservations office or airport office for information on arrangements that have been made for you on other airlines. Or to change your booking ,” said the airline in a statement.

In a scary footage shot by one of the passengers,  the planes tail wing exploded in a ball of fire on four times , sending chills in the spines of the passengers.

Passengers on board could be the best are panicking and asking for more information from the flight attendants.

The engine is said to have caught fire after a bird strike and all efforts to land the plane require the aircraft to burn fuel

Below are Twitter feeds currently doing rounds on Social Media

This is a developing story, more details to follow…..

VILLAGERS in Sipepa, Tsholotsho, in Matabeleland North province yesterday witnessed the exhumation of the remains of a villager who was killed during the 1980s political disturbances, as the peace and reconciliation exercise continues.

The exhumation of the remains was done by Ukuthula Trust.

The remains that had been buried near the railway line were now exposed and they will be reburied.

National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) commissioners witnessed the exhumation. In an interview after the exhumation exercise yesterday, Commission Chairperson Justice (Rtd) Sello Nare said they were invited to observe the exhumation by the trust and they went as part of the reconciliation process.

He stressed that the NPRC had not yet started any exhumations.

“We were invited by Ukuthula Trust to witness the exhumation exercise in Sipepa, Tsholotsho.

“Remains of one person were exhumed and they’re set for reburial,” said Justice Nare.

He said as the NPRC their role was to inform people that people could talk about Gukurahundi, share their experiences and contribute towards the healing process.

“President Mnangagwa said people should talk freely about Gukurahundi. This will help us move on as a nation,” said Justice Nare.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Richard Moyo however said he was not informed about the exhumation and the Tsholotsho District Administrator Mrs Gladys Zizhou also said she was not informed.

TWO men, armed with a rifle, allegedly broke into former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Chivhu rural bedroom in Mazhawidza village on Thursday.

The suspects, Simbarashe Chokera (25) of Chivhu and Julias Monera (21) from Buhera, had committed a series of robberies in the Chivhu area before the latter was caught red-handed while carrying mattresses he had stolen from Grace’s bedroom.

The duo appeared before Chivhu regional magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni on Friday facing five counts of armed robbery and unlawful entry charges which occurred in Chief Musarurwa’s area.

They pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody to today for sentencing.

Allegations are that on March 24, Chokera broke into Andrew Gona, a Featherstone farmer’s house and stole a loaded Bruno rifle, ZWL$2 100 cash and a cellphone.

Two weeks later, Chokera and Monera broke into Grace Marimira’s house, pointed the stolen firearm towards her and threatened to shoot her if she resisted.

The complainant managed to escape, leaving the suspects in her house.

They stole R1 400, ZWL$27 cash and some property.

On the other two separate occasions, they waylaid the complainants, Reason Chikumbirike and Beatrice Shindi, who were walking along a footpath and robbed them of their property valued at US$224.

On April 24 at Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe (nee Marufu)’s Marufu family homestead, the two broke into the house, but a family member Revai Marufu, spotted them before they left.

They pleaded with her that they would return the two mattresses they had stolen so that she would not report them to the police.

When Monera entered the house to return the stolen property, Marufu locked him from outside and the matter was reported to the police.

Monera led the police detectives to Hokonya Mountains, where Chokera was hiding.

Police recovered some of the stolen property at the duo’s residence in Chivhu town.

Corrence Chimbadzwa appeared for the State.

NewsDay

A National University of Science and Technology (Nust) second year Actuarial Science student was found hanging at home in Nketa suburb on Friday in a suspected case of suicide.

Misheck Siwela (21) allegedly hanged himself from the roof trusses of the family’s dining room.

Siwela came from Harare to stay with his father’s young brother after securing a place at Nust.

The Chronicle caught up with family members who said they were still in shock and devastated by the death of their son.

Siwela’s aunt, Ms Locardia Vutete said they were shocked by the student’s death as he had not shown any signs of depression.

“Misheck’s father is my husband’s brother and we have been staying with him since he got a place at Nust. I was shocked to hear of his death because when l left for South Africa on Monday he did not show any signs of depression,” she said.

Ms Vutete said the family had been looking up to him as he had a promising future.

“His mother died when he was in Grade Four and his father never married another woman as he chose to take care of his two children. On many occasions l told him never to forget his father but it is painful that he chose to repay his father this way,” she said.

Ms Vutete said before locking himself in the house to commit suicide, Siwela took his clothes out for washing and destroyed his cellphone.

She said Siwela did not leave any note except a piece of paper with his friend’s mobile number in his pocket.

“When we dialed the number, the friend came immediately. We hear the friend is one of the colleagues he participated with in school politics as they contested posts in the student representative council (SRC). Maybe the friend has an idea of what could have led him to commit suicicide” she said.

Ms Vutete said Siwela’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem. She said they are not yet sure about burial arrangements as they need to organise with the family.

“His father is in Harare and the family comes from Mhondoro. We are not yet sure because we hear their funeral policy does not cover people who commit suicide,” she said.

Siwela’s aunt said Nust officials visited the family and assisted with some money for funeral expenses.

Nust communications and marketing officer Mrs Lindiwe Nyoni said the institution was saddened by the student’s death. “We are deeply saddened as we lost one of our students at a time the students are preparing for end of semester examinations. There is no doubt he had a bright future given that he was pursuing one of the high rated degrees at our institution. We are together with his family during this difficult period,” she said.

Last year in September, a second-year Finance student was found hanging in his hostel at the institution.

In November during the same year, a first year Statistics student Blessing Mangena was crushed by a train in an alleged suicide.

State Media

Former Bulawayo South Member of Parliament and MDC national executive member Mr Eddie Cross says President Mnangagwa’s administration has not received due credit for reforms that he has undertaken in the past years, especially in the international media.

Mr Cross, who last week on Thursday had a talk at the Cape Town Press Club where he addressed the South African journalist fraternity on Zimbabwe’s transition from former President Robert Mugabe to President Mnangagwa in November last year and its aftermath, yesterday told the Sunday Times that President Mnangagwa had taken Zimbabwe on a path of transformation.

He took the opportunity to boldly declare his confidence in President Mnangagwa’s ability to move Zimbabwe from the quagmire of the past leadership.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Mnangagwa will take Zimbabwe down a different route. And I think in the past nine months (since the election) he’s not received sufficient recognition from the international media for what he’s actually achieved,” Mr Cross was quoted in the Sunday Times yesterday.

The former legislator also expressed confidence and optimism that President Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF Government would turnaround the country’s economic fortunes and political standing.

He also heaped praise on President Mnanagwa’s political reforms. “There would be no engagement from the international community if a political reform agenda is not adopted or followed. In his (President Mnangagwa’s) view, we had to have legitimacy recognised by the international community in order to put the country back on its feet. We were really quite surprised at the strength of his view,” he said.

Government and the International Monetary Fund are working on macro-economic policies and structural reforms that will underpin the country’s Staff Monitored Programme.

The SMP will be monitored on a quarterly basis and aims to implement a coherent set of policies that can facilitate a return to macro-economic stability.

IMF team leader in Zimbabwe Mr Gene Leon said the successful implementation of the SMP will assist in building a track record and facilitate Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the international community. The SMP, Mr Leon said, would be anchored on Government’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme.

Mr Cross also queried the reluctance by the international media to recognise President Mnangagwa’s achievements.

“[But] what more does this guy have to do, except stand on his head, to really persuade the world that Zimbabwe is on a new path? We were so far out of the field economically that we couldn’t expect to remain a player internationally. But in six weeks, we had a surplus. The International Monetary Fund couldn’t believe it. And from September onwards, we have run a surplus.”

The administration adopted a ballooning debt overhang which was driven by significant increase in Government overdraft at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, from US$1,4 billion in December 2017 to US$2,5 billion by September last year.

Mr Cross added: “Zimbabwe has gone from a 40 percent deficit to a balance of payments surplus; by end of next quarter Zim will have a floating currency. Amazing economic achievement done in nine months; (I am) not a fan of Mnangagwa … but he is putting Zimbabwe on a new progressive path.”

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, in condemning a wave of unjustified price increases from an unscrupulous business community, recently revealed that Government was doing very well on the fiscal front.

He said Government was solvent and running surpluses averaging at least $100 million since September last year when the new Government was sworn in. The Finance and Economic Development Minister said in January, Government recorded a surplus of $102 million, February $85,5 million, taking into account cushioning of civil servants while in March, the surplus doubled to about $200 million.

State Media

By Own Correspondent- A woman, Munira Abdulla, in the United Arab Emirates woke up from a coma after 27 years.

She fell into the coma in 1991 following a road accident. that injured her brain. She was with her 4-year-old son when the accident happened and he survived with minor bruises. She was aged 32 then.

She awoke from her coma recently, after 27 years. She is still being treated at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Her now 32-year-old son, Omar, spoke to UAE newspaper The National:

“I never gave up on her because I always had a feeling that one day she will wake up.”

The woman is said to have now spoken with her family and even recited some verses from the Quran.-SkyNews

By Own Correspondent- In an earth-shaking revelation, several well-known people, from in and outside Zimbabwe, to include but not limited to prophets, traditional healers, musicians, businesspeople, footballers, politicians and “money-changers”, are said to be included in a list of people who received so called “supernatural powers” from the late Sekuru Charles Makhuyana Ndunge.

Sekuru Ndunge who passed away a few weeks ago at his South Downs, Chipinge, home after suffering from diabetes complications, was popular for so called healing as well as providing “supernatural powers”.

Jabulani Ndunge (44), the heir-apparent to the Ndunge throne, said his family is in possession of a list, with names of all those who were attended to by his late father.

Sekuru Ndunge, who passed away three weeks ago, aged 87, was famous in the sub-region for healing as well as providing “super-natural powers” to those who needed them.

Jabulani, now trading as “Sekuru”, said the list they have, included contact details, especially cellphone numbers, of those who attended his father’s court.

“On the issue of having in our possession a list of people who consulted my father, there is nothing amiss as even hospitals have similar records. That is how we even operate here.

“These famous prophets, they would come and ask for whatever they wanted. What they requested for is what they were given. And some of the traditional healers that are popular, they would also come for ‘strengthening’. Football teams and some footballers, businesspeople, especially those who are into car sales and money-changers, were regular visitors here,” narrated Jabulani, who added that his father would assist some of his clients while he watched.

He added that some prophets from the apostolic sect, as well as some church leaders, were regular visitors at Ndunge’s court.

“My father used to have over 10 million customers spread from across the whole world. Now from such an extensive reach of customers, would it be wrong to come across Government leaders, politicians, or any other celebrities? Those are the majority on our list.

“But as per doctor-patient confidentiality, I am not able to give you these books of records or names, so that you can see for yourself because you might come across your brother’s or father’s name.

“These records are safely locked away in a briefcase which was left by my father.”

Jabulani said everyone who passed through his father’s court would have his/her name, address, problems presented as well as the remedy offered and the payment due.

“I am not sure if you guys can go to a hospital or clinic and be offered the clinical records? Same here, we cannot give you such records but know that we have such records.”

Jabulani said even if prophets came to his father for powers, he saw nothing amiss as the prophets sought the same powers that his father had, and served the same God, to heal sick people.

“Even the famous prophets from other countries, they would come to my father to seek his help. Even if they sought super-natural powers, they would get them.”

He said because of fear or being shy to be seen and noticed, most of these famous people would consult his father in the dead of the night or early dawn.

He said those who sought super-natural powers were told in advance the implications of the powers they were seeking.

On the rumours that some people were rushing to take back “things” to Sekuru Ndunge, in the aftermath of his passing away, Jabulani said it is true that many were making a beehive to Chipinge.

He dispelled some of the rumours though: “There are some who are alleging that the mountains here in South Downs are now full of snakes, hyenas, tokoloshis, as well as sacks full of traditional herbs from people who are dumping them. That is unfounded.

“But those who are coming for extra powers, we are helping them as I am the one who was helping my father. Some of the powers were left with me as well. Those who used to frequent here would remember seeing me with my father for the past 20 years or so.”

He said in the two weeks preceding Cyclone Idai, Sekuru Ndunge had made a prophesy about a natural disaster, a prophesy which he did not understand.

“He called me into his courtyard and said, ‘look at that big fish, if you don’t catch it, it will bring lots of rains and cause destruction’.

“I couldn’t understand what he was saying and I didn’t even see the fish. Which means he was foretelling the coming of the cyclone as he had links with mermaid spirits.”

He says his father’s legacy is continuing through him and his sister, Nyerai Ndunge, who has always been a healer. He said some of his brothers are also traditional healers, though they are operating in neighbouring Mozambique

By Own Correspondent- Two Zimbabweans were recently arrested and have appeared in court in South Africa for masterminding Pastor Alph Lukau’s infamous resurrection of a Zimbabwean man Elliot Moyo.

Nkululeko Dlamini (35) and Silungisani Grace Sibanda (41) appeared before Johannesburg Magistrate Court facing fraud charges in connection with the resurrection.

The event which took place in February this year shocked people as Elliot claimed to have been resurrected by Pastor Alph Lukau of Alleluia Ministries though. Lukau later denied he had resurrected Elliot, claiming the man was already alive when he came even though he was in a coffin.

The two Zimbabweans have been found to possibly have faked identity documents.

Said a court official:

Prosecutor Mzamo Mathe told the court that the details contained in Dlamini’s Zimbabwean passport and his SA identity document were not the same. The facts on the accused’s ID are inconsistent with his SA ID.

We are trying to make sense of the documents. We are asking for a postponement to understand what we are dealing with because we have someone who is in possession of two names.

Brighton “Elliot” Moyo eventually died and is buried in Dandanda Village, Lupane.-StateMedia

Farai Dziva|Controversial MDC T deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu says the people of Zimbabwe are preoccupied with enumerating problems instead of exploring countless business opportunities in the country.

Gutu insists he is not in any way sympathetic to Zanu PF but he calls himself a true Zimbabwean patriot.

Gutu is also on record saying no amount of pressure will push him to denigrate his motherland.

“Business opportunities abound, even in Zimbabwe where some people seem more preoccupied with identifying and enumerating problems instead of spotting and creating business opportunities.

Smart people always identify opportunities before they’re terrified by challenges,” declared Gutu.

Farai Dziva|Prominent journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono has proposed that elections should be postponed for 10 years in Zimbabwe.

This he argues, will enable stakeholders to focus on nation building and reconstruction.

“Elections have bcome a problem that has sunk us into vicious violence, unreformed state institutions, political and economic strife.

Let us do away with them for 10 years and focus on reconstruction,” argued Chin’ono.

Change arrives & begins now.Thank you Machinja for an emphatic 13/13 nomination,vote and endorsement as the 2nd President of MDC the People’s party after our Icon the late Dr MT. Help me pray for the grace and wisdom to lead Zimbabwe to happiness,prosperity & freedom.#Godisinit

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) launched the special anti-corruption courts with fanfare slightly more than a year ago, but a cocktail of challenges is retarding the prosecution of graft-accused suspects.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba, while opening the 2018 legal year in January last year, announced the judiciary would open the specialised courts throughout the country to prosecute corrupt individuals.

Two months down the line, five such courts — three at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and two at Bulawayo’s West Commonage Magistrates’ Court — were announced to have started operating under the supervision of the chief magistrate and, below him, 12 magistrates, while promises were made to get more operational in Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.

Among the senior regional magistrates who have undergone special training to handle corruption cases, investigations revealed, are Hoseah Mujaya, Elijah

Makomo, Estere Chivasa and Nyasha Vitorini.

So far the prosecutors who have handled the matters using authority from the Prosecutor-General’s Office include Brian Vito, Zivanai Macharaga, Michael

Chakandida, Tapiwa Godzi and Vernanda Munyoro.  

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has also hired senior lawyers to prosecute matters in the specialised courts.

Instead of the five courts slated for Bulawayo and Harare, however, only two are operational 13 months after, The Standard — working in collaboration with

Information for Development Trust — found out.

And there are no indications more will be opened any time soon even though the JSC said plans were underway to spread the specialised trial rooms to the major cities of Mutare, Gweru and Masvingo.

The decision to set up the specialised courts, JSC secretary Walter Chikwanha told this publication, was an administrative move to fight graft — which is so rampant that Transparency International and other perception indices have lumped Zimbabwe among the 20 most corrupt countries in the world for a long time — without going through the ordinary roll.

The idea of specialised courts did not start when President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over power from Robert Mugabe through a military-led coup in November 2017,

but when the current head of State was Justice minister, Chidhakwa said.

“The starting point of setting up the anti-corruption courts was sometime back when the current president was still minister of Justice, Legal and

Parliamentary Affairs,” he said.

“We came up with a protocol following adequate consultations with other stakeholders who are involved in the administration of justice such as the police, the

National Prosecuting Authority and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.”

According to Chikwanha, corruption cases are getting priority for processing in the courts that have received a facelift and have been furnished with

computers, recording gadgets, air-conditioners and new furniture, courtesy of funding from the European Union and the International Commission of Jurists.

Available statistics show that, by December last year, the anti-corruption courts had recorded a total of 52 cases, of which 23 were deliberated upon and

completed, while 29 remained pending and were at various stages of trial.

The special courts started off on a high note and recorded convictions in several high-profile cases, but most of these successes were confined to Harare.

Former Energy minister Samuel Undenge was tried in Harare, convicted and sentenced to an effective two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for criminal abuse of office after he wrote a letter directing the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to engage a private company Fruitful Communications Company, to provide public

relations services to the power utility without following due processes.

Fruitful Communications directors Psychology Maziwisa and ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation news anchor Oscar Pambuka were jailed for an effective three and

half years each in the same case for duping ZPC of over $12 000.

Another conviction by the Harare court was the former acting chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), Moses Julius Juma,

who, after escaping prosecution for a long time under former president Robert Mugabe’s government, was slapped with a two-year jail term when he was found

guilty of criminal abuse of office by engaging a private company, Tax Management Services, without going to tender.

Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority employees, Tendai Hombiro and Moses Nyango, were also sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment each after they were convicted of undercharging goods belonging to the wife of Energy minister Joram Gumbo, Eristinah, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Self-styled prophet Gathry Chiredzero, also known as Madzibaba Gathry, was jailed for 12 years and six months for masquerading as a Central Intelligence

Organisation operative and stalking Mnangagwa for unknown reasons while armed.

Claudius Muzvimba, a former Zimbabwe Republic Police officer based at Avondale Police Station in Harare, was convicted of fraud for using several fake traffic

offence receipt books and converting the money to personal use.

He was slapped with an effective 15 months’ jail term.

Several other former employees in government and quasi-government departments were also convicted after the establishment of the specialised courts, but, as

records show, the steam seems to be gradually running out,

Former Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, after he allegedly allocated 1 799 residential

stands to private land developers without the authority of the Local Government ministry, has a long-pending corruption case.

This case, though, is not being tried by the special courts, but the Gweru Magistrates’ Court.

Exiled former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo is also set to stand trial on criminal abuse of office charges and for allegedly defrauding

the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund of over $400 000.

Sources within the judiciary and legal experts say well-heeled suspects are using complex tricks to stop or frustrate their prosecution at the Magistrates’

Courts, which are fast turning into onlookers rather than referees in graft trials.

Appealing to higher courts has become a favourite trick for the suspects.

Former University of Zimbabwe vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura was charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer involving the awarding of a Doctor of

Philosophy degree to former first lady Grace Mugabe, but his trial was frozen by the High Court pending appeal.

Former Mines minister Walter Chidakwa and his permanent secretary Francis Gudyanga are also set to be tried on allegations of criminal abuse of office, after

they allegedly deliberated on a mine dispute appeal without the jurisdiction to do so.

The appeal was allegedly in connection with the mine claim ownership dispute between Midway 21 Gold Mine, owned by K & G Syndicate represented by Herbert

Hwekwete, and Clifton 15 Mine owned by a Mugangavari.

Chidhakwa and Gudyanga allegedly criminally nullified the determination in favour of Mugangavari and their trial was temporarily stayed by the High Court.

Former Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, who is facing a plethora of criminal cases involving corruption, fraud and criminal nuisance, is still on remand

after his trial was also temporarily suspended pending his High Court challenge.

The same court recently acquitted Former Information and Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira of criminal abuse of office after allegedly

engaging a South African firm, Megawatt Company, to provide services to NetOne without going to tender.

But the NPA, through prosecutor-general Kumbirai Hodzi, has appealed against the acquittal.

Intratreck Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd director Wicknell Chivayo was also acquitted after leapfrogging the special courts by taking his case to the High Court.

He had been charged with defrauding ZPC after receiving $5 million to work on the Gwanda solar power project, but did not carry out any meaningful progress

and was being accused of money-laundering as well as violating exchange control regulations.

The Special Anti-Corruption Unit that is housed in Mnangagwa’s office insists Chivayo is guilty and has appealed against the High Court acquittal.

While Moyo has escaped into exile, his erstwhile ally and ex-cabinet minister, Walter Mzembi, who is also facing several corruption charges, has had his case

dragging for a long time because he has been out of the country, purportedly to receive medical treatment.

Two other former Cabinet ministers, Saviour Kasukuwere and David Parirenyatwa, are awaiting trial too for abuse of office and the former is reportedly out of

the country.

Those technicalities aside, the special courts have failed to gain momentum because they are poorly funded, it was established.

“We need enough resources in order to ensure that our justice delivery system is not compromised,” Chikwanha said.

“Dealing with graft matters is not that easy and it needs collaboration with all other stakeholders to effectively fight the scourge.”

The special courts are being funded from the same budget that was allocated to ordinary courts, which the JSC feels is inadequate, it emerged.

The JSC is struggling to find money to set up more courts, in addition to funding accommodation, transport and remuneration needs of staff, investigations

revealed.

Involved magistrates, prosecutors and ancillary staff dealing with corruption cases remain poorly paid as they are receiving bare salaries like the rest of the

civil service where the average worker takes home around $500.

“We cannot have a situation whereby our judicial officers are renting properties, some of which are owned by criminals,” Chikwanha said.

“Sometimes judicial officers that do not own vehicles are offered transport by offenders.”

Funding woes aside, prosecution of graft suspects has been muddied by lack of clarity on the jurisdiction of the anti-corruption courts, a criticism that was

echoed by University of Zimbabwe law lecturer and senior lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, who hinted that there was selectivity in the choice of those that appeared on the special roll.

“Corruption is a very sophisticated offence, which needs to be dealt with effectively without looking at one’s political affiliation,” he said.

“However, in the Zimbabwean situation, we seem to not to appreciate how to tackle such issues.

“We cannot talk of fighting corruption by arresting former ministers, former government officials and businesspeople who were suspected to have committed

corruption almost a decade ago while other individuals who are committing the very same offences are being protected by the system.”

A senior official in the office of the Prosecutor-General’s Office expressed fears that, despite officers dealing with corruption getting expert training, some

of them were well-known for taking bribes to throw cases.

Hodz, last week indicated the prosecutor who was handling the Mandiwanzira case, Edmore Nyazama, had been suspended after “deliberately” mispresenting to him

that he had opposed the former minister’s application for exception to alleged criminal abuse of office, resulting in the acquittal.

Chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe is currently on suspension for offering law studies internship to Mandiwanzira and Kasukuwere despite them facing trial for

alleged corruption, but he has pushed for his matter to be tried at the High Court rather than by his subordinates at the magistrates’ court.

And Mnangagwa recently admitted that corruption ran deep at the courts, the prosecuting authority and within the police.

Standard

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.

“We took all that criticism on board since we are the sounding board for the concerns of the people.

“For us, we had to meet them to find out what they were saying and doing.

“However, our position is absolutely very clear that there must not be a single exhumation under any circumstance.

“That is premature; we are saying there is a known record internationally of undertaking this process wherever genocide has taken place. Rwanda for example.”

Ndiweni said the exhumations that are expected to start in Tsholotsho this week would contaminate the evidence.

“I repeat: Absolutely under no circumstances must there be a single exhumation,” he said.

“The minute you do that you have tainted the evidence, you have corrupted the evidence. That evidence will not be accepted in a court of law.

“The minute you do that there will never be any truth-telling.”

Mathema from Matabeleland South said traditional leaders expected truthtelling and acknowledgement of the massacres to be central in resolving the Gukurahundi issue.

“As chiefs, this is part of the conversation that we will take on board, and try and meet the government of the day on how to formulate a roadmap on addressing

Gukurahundi,” he said.

“We have been engaging the MC, but we are clear that there must, first, be an acknowledgement and an apology and we then move forward. There must be

truthtelling.

“How do you even say you are addressing Gukurahundi without an acknowledgment? What are you addressing? As for the victims, how do you ask them to forgive

without apologising?

“They apologise to who, and for what? That must be very clear.”

Nyangazonke weighed in saying the chiefs wanted a meeting with Mnangagwa.

“As chiefs, we are saying we want to independently meet the president about this, and do things differently,” he said.

“We feel chiefs are better placed to handle this as they have a constituency unlike the MC, as, for example, on exhumations, on whose land will this take

place?

“Some of the things that the MC agreed on with government cannot be undertaken without the blessing of the chiefs.

“The Gukurahundi issue is becoming a dog-eat-dog matter, a money-making project.

“For us, it is not about the money, but that [addressing Gukurahundi] is our role as the chiefs to undertake. We are going to be different in the way we

address this.”

The traditional leaders said the people who suffered most from the brutal campaign by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade were in the rural areas, but they were not consulted.

“Gukurahundi happened in the communal areas, under our jurisdiction, not in towns where they agreed on some of the formulas of addressing it,” Nyangazonke

said.

“It is their right, and we cannot stop them, but when they come to the communal areas, to our areas of jurisdiction, they will understand what we mean.”

Jenni Williams, one of the MC coordinators, also confirmed the meeting, but said they would continue engaging the traditional leaders for a solution to the

Gukurahundi issue.

“We have had many meetings with chiefs over the past years on Gukurahundi,” she said.

“The engagements have been ongoing, and last week’s meeting is no different.

“We will continue to do so, also with other stakeholders. That is an ongoing conversation.”

The MC met Mnangagwa at the Bulawayo State House last month where they made demands that government must address issues arising from Gukurahundi.

Human rights groups say at least 20 000 people died after former president Robert Mugabe unleashed the Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands in 1983 to

track down dissidents that are said have numbered less than 100.

The killings only ended when Zapu, led by late vice-president Joshua Nkomo, whose supporters were the main target of the pogrom, agreed to merge with Mugabe’s

Zanu PF in 1987.

Mngangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba recently caused a furore when he told this publication in an interview that Gukurahundi was a war, pitting two armed

sides.

He was reacting to accusations that Mnangagwa was an architect of the killings.

Standard

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa will hold its elective congress in May, and four of the candidates for the vice presidency are females, Tracy Mutinhiri, Paurina Mpariwa, Lynette Karenyi Kore, and Lillian Timveos.

The female candidates say they are a force to reckon with as they are very experienced politicians, while some have occupied powerful posts as ministers in government.

Mutinhiri (TM), Timveos (LT), and Karenyi Kore (LKK) told our senior parliamentary reporter Veranda Langa (VL) that they are confident of winning because they are powerhouses in their own right.

The three also feel that the party now needs to respect its constitution and ensure gender parity even in the presidium where there are four positions for party president and three VPs. Below are excerpts from the interview.

VL: Can you briefly introduce yourself, what is your background and areas of experience?

TM: Tracy Mutinhiri is a mother of two and a grandmother of one child left by my first daughter who passed on in 2016.

Educationally I hold a PhD in International Marketing, having also degrees in Business Administration, diploma in Business Administration, various certificates in fields such as marketing and public relations and others.I have worked in the corporate world for many years. I worked for the United Nations for many years. I was also a diplomat for many years.

With all that experience that I have gained over this period of time, I feel it is time to give back to the community, to assist my fellow women to raise their livelihoods and to raise the livelihoods of our children, most of them who are disadvantaged.

I was expelled from Zanu PF where I held two ministerial positions, one deputy minister for Indigenisation and the other one was deputy minister for Social Services — a post that I carried during the government of national unity.

Both these posts gave me exposure on how government business is run and how we network with other governments and other institutions around the world.

LT: Since the formation of the MDC, I climbed the ranks from Zvishavane district treasurer to shadow minister of Home Affairs, and now I am the party secretary for domestic affairs and senator for Midlands province, as well as chairperson of the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on HIV/Aids and chief whip in the Senate.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa appointed me alternative secretary and spokesperson for domestic affairs, a role which I use effectively to articulate the MDC position on crucial issues and to keep government in check.

I work hard to maintain unity and cohesion in the Midlands South province, where I was treasurer for two congressional terms until I was elected into the national executive.

Together with my husband Michael Timveos we have four children and they consistently showed courage, resolve and leadership during the most dangerous times in Zimbabwe’s democratic struggle.

I was born in 1973 in Kwekwe and attended Vainona High School in Harare.

In my academic studies I obtained qualifications in accounting and administration, which was vital to begin a family business.

I am a successful businesswoman and director of Rainbow Early Childhood Development Centre and I provide funeral assistance to the less privileged, as well as embark on cancer awareness programmes.

LKK: I joined the MDC in 1999 and in 2003 I was elected councillor for Mutare ward 16.

In 2007 I was elected MP for Chimanimani West and out of 20 MPs I was the only female from the province.

Out of 100 MDC MPs I was also the only female from a rural constituency.

During the Seventh Parliament I chaired the local government portfolio committee and was a member of the Speaker’s panel.

In 2014 I was elected national chairperson for the Assembly of Women, which position I am currently holding.

During the 2018 elections I got into Parliament through the proportional representation (PR) quota.

I have done a lot of developmental projects for Chimanimani like building clinics, renovating schools, constructing vending sites, and chicken and goat rearing projects.

During my tenure as chairperson of the MDC Women’s Assembly, I encouraged women and families to vote.

VL: We understand there is a tight race for those aspiring to be vice-presidents in the party, why do you think that one of them must be a woman?

TM: It is now international best practice to involve women in decision-making bodies, take it from the United Nations and other countries where they have women leaders in high positions.

It is important to balance power because women’s issues are only understood by women and mostly children’s issues are understood by women.

So when there is a woman in the presidium, it is easier to influence decisions where women issues and others are addressed.

Women’s issues are mostly understood by women. Our situations are the same, be it at grassroots or at the highest level, so it is important that a woman is involved in the decision-making body.

This will help also to balance power, we are talking of companies, institutions and so on, and there must be balance of power. Moreover women love peace and where there is peace, there is progress.

LT: It is obvious we must have gender balance as a government-in-waiting and we need to set an example.

The constitution, which is the supreme law of the country, is clear that we must have 50/50 representation in all decision-making positions.

I know we are not yet there, but this is the beginning towards achieving gender parity.

There is need for implementation of the constitution to achieve gender parity so that we push the agenda for women and youths to participate in politics. There is nothing for us without us.

LKK: I strongly feel that one of the VPs in the MDC must be a woman because we have a party policy of gender equality and that young women and girls and the youth must be promoted. In the MDC presidium we expect to see gender parity, starting from the VPs’ posts going down to the wards.

We feel that amongst the three VP posts one of the positions must be reserved for a woman.

In all fairness, I would say that there should be at least two females in the presidium.

We cannot have four males only in the presidium — it does not make sense at all. We must have 50/50 gender parity, or at least one should be a female.

VL: Specifically, what are you bringing on the table that can help the party in the event that you win?

TM: I am a seasoned politician with lots of experience so I am bringing my experience having worked with women in Zanu PF where I was the national commissar.

I understand the problems of the grassroots woman and having been a diplomat and a worker of the UN, I can also understand how other organisations are progressing on issues to do with programmes for women.

Basically my experience will enrich the MDC party, my exposure will also help market the MDC party and economic policies. I will be able to reach out to the international community.

LT: I have a great vision for Zimbabwe to ensure it achieves the status of democratic states.

I will work hard to ensure that the government is accountable to the people.

I am a very outspoken person on issues such as human trafficking, corruption within the police force and political violence, and I can bring that experience to the party as a leader.

My cancer awareness campaigns have led to the setting-up of a state-of-the-art cancer testing centre.

I have also initiated several housing projects in Zvishavane, which is testimony to my hard work.

That is the wealth of experience that I bring to the table. I am going to be a selfless leader who represents women and youth well.

I will do my best to enhance and surround myself with women. I will have an open-door policy whereby I will be available to party members, including women.

LKK: I strongly feel that a female with the experience I have in politics will ensure there is gender mainstreaming within the party.

I will be more like a unifier in the party and ensure that I rebrand the party so that there is more respect for females.

I will participate more in policy formulation to ensure all party policies are gender-sensitive and that our party is able to woo middle class Zimbabweans that are afraid to join politics.

I am currently studying for a Bachelor of Science in Development Studies and I will use that to promote democracy within the party.

Part of my 10-point plan includes respect for others, effective communication within the party, humility, leading by example, uniting the party, and solidarity with party members in jail.

VL: Are you happy with the status of the ordinary woman in Zimbabwe? What are you going to do to uplift fellow women in the country and the party?

TM: Being a woman first is so important in any society and putting a woman in a position of leadership brings peace and stability in a nation or political organisation.

I was born in a rural set-up and I understand the needs of a rural woman.

Also look at it this way: women constitute the majority of our population in the country and if I was to be voted with my background as someone raised in a

rural set-up who knows what they went through from morning to evening and also having graduated from many institutions and the exposure that I have, I feel I

am the best candidate.

There are problems with child- headed families as well and the burden of single women who are failing to fend for their families.

Our economy is so challenging, but women have to work for their families.

The whole burden of the economy falls on women. If I am elected, this is one of the issues that I will seriously look into.

Women need to be empowered. The issue of unemployment is close to my heart.

We have women who tirelessly work for their children to go to school and those same women continue to work for their graduate children because there is no

employment. That must change.

We will rise as women to push for an agenda that will push our country forward, which will emancipate the whole country to the satisfaction of everybody.

LT: Women must be in the presidium. I am not happy with the state of women in the country.

The economy has affected the majority of our women and there is a lot of poverty in the country.

Women need to be empowered from grassroots up to the national level, through projects and capacity building.

The 50/50 gender parity can only be achieved through capacitation.

LKK: The issue is that women do not have the resources to compete with men during the elections, however, once I am in the MDC presidium I will make sure that

the voices of women are heard.

There is need for capacity building of women so that they perform better in politics.

Right now most women are affected by fear of violence and it hinders them from participating in politics.

I will certainly uplift women, even those in jails because I have been imprisoned before and I know the terrible conditions of female prisoners.

I will ensure that our political female prisoners in jails are well catered for and their children, together with other female prisoners.

VL: Do you think it is possible for MDC to win over Zanu PF and remove them from power with women in the levers of power and why?

TM: It is very possible to defeat Zanu PF. As I said before, women have the biggest number in this country and they are the same people who feel the heat of

economic meltdown.

If necessary reforms that MDC is asking for are implemented and the ground is made even for all political parties with freedom of expression being observed,

then the next election is for president Chamisa.

LT: Oh yes, we have always won elections and you should know that women voters are more than male voters. We need serious electoral reforms and these are what

I will push for their implementation when I am VP.

LKK: I strongly feel that it is possible to win with females at the helm of power within the MDC.

What is needed first is to deal with electoral reforms and make sure that the playing field is level.

If political violence, the issue of assisted voters — most of whom are women — rigging, a clean voters roll and other electoral reforms are addressed, then

change will certainly come.

Women are genuine and honest, and with more females in power the nation will surely develop.

Standard

Own Correspondent|The opposition MDC has completed nominations for Standing Committee members by all the 13 provinces ahead of the party’s elective congress set for next month.

Below is the final list of people who will go into the election process at congress except President Nelson Chamisa who has been nominated by all provinces unopposed.

President:

Nelson Chamisa – Unopposed and duly elected as President to be endorsed by congress.

Vice Presidents: Three to be elected one of who must be a woman for gender balance and probably one to be from Matabeleland for regional balance.

Morgen Komichi, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Lilian Timveos, Paurina Mpariwa, Tracy Mutinhiri, and Lynette Karenyi-Kore.

Secretary – General:

Chalton Hwende, Daniel Molokela, Welshman Ncube and Douglas Mwonzora.

Deputy Secretary-General:

Concillia Chinanzvavana, Settlement Chikwinya, Daniel Molokela and Caston Matewu.

National Chairperson:

Tabitha Khumalo, Gabbuza Joel Gabuza, and Bekithemba Mpofu.

Vice Chairperson:

Happymore Chidziva, Bheki Sibanda, Job Sikhala , Costa Machingauta and Tendai Biti.

Treasurer General:

David Coltart, Tapiwa Mashakada, Tendai Biti and Tabitha Khumalo.

Deputy Treasurer:

Tapiwa Mashakada, Markam Rusty, Gift Banda, Earthrage Kureva, Murisi Zwizwai and David Coltart.

National Organiser:

Amos Chibaya and Job Sikhala.

Deputy National Organiser:

Settlement Chikwinya, Morgan Ncube, Paul Madzore, Jacob Mafume

National Spokesperson:

Jacob Mafume, Luke Tamborinyoka,

Deputy National Spokesperson:

Luke Tamborinyoka, Brian Dube, Kunashe Muchemwa, Ruth Labode, Jacob Mafume and Thabitha Khumalo.

By Pius L Huruva| Eyebrows were raised at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s church in Borrowdale when it was revealed 3 Catholic priests have been involved in separate car accidents one after the other.

The whole shocking tale was briefly told during mass service last Sunday. The serious incidents were narrated like a joke as the presiding “father” cautioned parishoners saying they should not allow it to spill onto social media.

The development comes after it became public that an anonymous congregant suddenly donated a brand new vehicle to the main church priest. As ZimEye.com revealed 3 weeks ago, the church has refused to reveal the identity of the anonymous donor. On Sunday 28th April, ZimEye battled getting answers from the church.

“Let me tell you in advance that there is nothing mysterious or suspicious about this so I have to tell you before it spills onto social media,” the priest said.

He continued his narration saying, “Father Mukumba had an accident in Mhondoro. Two priests followed him in different cars and they both had seperate accidents one after the other.”

The two are Father Mark and another whose name was not revealed.

No serious injuries were made public from the three sudden mishaps. Efforts by ZimEye to obtain the reports were fruitless.

It was difficult to establish the time difference between the 3 accidents, but they all happened within hours of each other.

Efforts to obtain health reports of the 3 priests were fruitless at the time of writing. ZimEye is investigating.

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa wants any talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to yield electoral reforms and an economic rescue package for the country, it has been revealed.

According to a memo to party structures obtained yesterday, Chamisa insists that he won the presidential elections against Mnangagwa, but wants a resolution to the political impasse.  

Chamisa told the coalition’s structures that although “the people’s victory was stolen”, he had been “broadly mandated” by the MDC national council to talk to rivals on stringent conditions that include having acceptance of his victory as well as the upholding of the “people’s result”.

“On 29 August 2018, the national council met in Harare at Morgan Tsvangirai House, to review the situation and consider its position and way forward,” he wrote.

“The president is broadly mandated to engage all stakeholders, local and international, in dialogue with the scope of dealing with the current impasse arising from a stolen election and to resolve related governance issues.”

However, Chamisa said “any such dialogue by the party must and shall be anchored on a five-point plan (that) includes return to legitimacy and democracy — the respecting of the win and will of the people, respecting the true outcome of this election”.

“Instituting reforms that allow for the holding of truly free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe. The reforms must include electoral reforms, political reforms, and constitutional and legal reforms,” he said.

Chamisa has refused to acknowledge that Mnangagwa won the July 30 elections as he accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of rigging the polls.

After the Constitutional Court threw out the opposition leader’s petition challenging the election results, there has been speculation that Zanu PF and MDC Alliance will engage in talks to find a political solution to the poll dispute.

Chamisa, without confirming whether talks between the two rival parties were already underway, said dialogue must be centred around reviving Zimbabwe’s struggling economy.

“We need to come up with an immediate shared and robust economic rescue plan to deal with the deteriorating economic situation and the social security and humanitarian situation,” he said.

“We have to build our nation, foster healing, peace and reconciliation and this we can by dealing with the rule of law, protection of human rights and good governance issues.”

Chamisa said the dialogue must also deal with “democracy hygiene issues and with the debt challenge”.

Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said the ruling party was not under any pressure to negotiate with Chamisa as it controlled Parliament.

“Who does he think he is? He is a citizen of Zimbabwe and President Emmerson Mnangagwa is willing to talk to any progressive citizen without pre-conditions,” he charged when asked for a comment about Chamisa’s conditions.

“He [Mnangagwa] has the mandate of the people to govern this country and not from Chamisa.

“He must realise that he is a leader of an opposition party that is a minority in Parliament. We can ignore him and nothing will change.”

Mangwana said Chamisa had no power to set Mnangagwa any conditions for dialogue.

“He has absolutely no right to set conditions for dialogue because Zanu PF and the president will not tolerate such nonsense,” he said.

“He must realise that the mandate to govern comes from the people and not in dialogue.”

The results of the presidential elections announced by Zec showed that Chamisa got 44,3% of the vote translating into 2,1 million votes.

Mnangagwa received more than 2,4 million votes, which translated to 50,67%.

Chamisa, however, claims he has evidence that he got 2,6 million votes and was “the legitimate president of the country”.

Meanwhile, Phillan Zamchiya, a political commentator, told a Mass Public Opinion Institute post-election public seminar last week that Mnangagwa and Chamisa needed to find each other.

He said Mnangagwa still suffered from a legitimacy crisis even after he was sworn in as president, while the opposition was under pressure from the international community to work with the new government.

“At the moment the legitimacy of Mnangagwa is heavily contested by the opposition, and even though the Constitutional Court ruled in his favour, it did not resolve the issue of his political legitimacy which is still being contested,” Zamchiya said.

He said Sadc and the European Union wanted Zimbabwe to move on even if the elections were seen as flawed.

“If the opposition rejects dialogue, then they lose out,” Zamchiya said.

“The opposition will be perceived as being prevented to do so by narrow partisan interests and they will lose their key constituency such as churches. 

“The main opposition won 81% of urban local authorities, and they might fail to deliver due to tensions with central government, and so an all-inclusive dialogue with politicians, churches, students, business and labour is important.”

Mnangagwa recently said he was open for dialogue with Chamisa.

-The Standard

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has reserved one of the Vice Presidents seat for a woman after the Women Assembly pushed for a quota system in the Presidium.

“The National Council also resolved to reserve a seat for a female Vice President and modalities for the same shall be finalized by the Electoral Commission.” Party Spokesperson Jacob Mafume said in a statement.

Three men, Professor Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and Morgan Komichi, were leading in the nominations for the Vice Presidency.

Commenting on the resolution MDC National Executive member Maureen Kademaunga said:

“I would like to congratulate the MDC leadership for the progressive decision to reserve a seat for a woman V.P. This is a way of ensuring that women are guaranteed of at least one slot in the Presidium.

” It is also encouraging that at the close of nomination yesterday, 4 women and 4 men stand nominated for the position of Vice President and a woman was also nominated for the position of National Chairperson. 

The nexus between women’s participation in public life and a nation’s economic and political development is well documented. 

“Ensuring 50/50 in the echelons of political parties is the foremost avenue to achieving 50/50 in government.”

The MDC Congress which is scheduled for May is running under the theme, Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe.

Trade unions from across the divide have threatened to roll fresh protests if President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government does not address the deepening economic problems facing the country.

The Zanu PF-aligned Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) alongside the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) issued the threats ahead of May Day celebrations this week,

ZFTU secretary-general Kennias Shamuyarira said Mnangagwa must act before schools reopen next week or face protests

“It is time the president took a position and say enough is enough,” he said.

“The workers are suffering; in fact, the civil servants who are toiling for his administration are going home empty-handed.

“If these businesspeople are his friends, since we have seen him meet them several times, he must tell them that they should stop this nonsense or the people will react.”

He said the ZFTU would take its May Day celebrations to Beitbridge where they hope to address mostly workers drawn from ranches, conservancies and commercial farms.

“Our theme this year is very simple, we are saying ‘cartels and proxies of international monopoly capital, your time is up’. We are saying these cartels should just stop this nonsense,” he said.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa (pictured below), who is facing treason charges after calling for a stayaway in January to protest against a steep increase in

fuel prices, said workers were being pushed against the wall.

“They may arrest union leaders, even kill them as we know that they have the capacity to do so, as long as the situation remains as it is, the people will

act and they will act according to the dictates of the law,” he said.

“They shall demonstrate, they shall petition and this they will do in a bid to force the government to act.”

Mutasa said they were giving Mnangagwa up to next month when schools reopen to address the economic crisis.

“Our theme is that ‘we are at a crossroads! Unite! Fight neoliberalism and austerity’,” he said. “We are saying the capitalists who have taken over this

government should not be allowed to play around with our rights as workers.”

The January ZCTU stayaway saw Mnangagwa unleashing the army leading to the death of 17 people and the arrest of more more than 1 000 people for looting.

Scores of unionists, civil society activists and opposition legislators were charged with treason after they were linked to the protests.

-The Standard

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi, who is also a Member of Parliament has lambasted an MDC A councillor and a District Admistrator in his Constituency for conniving to ” steal from poor villagers.

Mutodi accused MDC A
councillor Tapiwa Murima and District Admistrator Prisca Dube of stealing $ US 600 000 after fraudulently selling a local hill to a Chinese company.

Mutodi tweeted: “A meeting at Zimbiru Pri. Sch with Domboshava residents today has revealed that MDC Councillor Tapiwa Murima and a corrupt DA Prisca Dube are behind the sale of Garimo Hill to Chinese quarry miners.

US $600k, 4 cattle & goats were paid. The MP and villagers were not consulted.”

By Own Correspondent- The government, through Grain Marketing Board (GMB), is setting up retail shops to sell basic foodstuffs.

The retail shops are meant to compete with private operators that the government has accused of profiteering by raising prices of goods unjustifiably.

121 shops under Silo Foods (a commercial division of GMB) will be stocked with basic foodstuffs. The government has reportedly injected $70 million into GMB to enable the production.

The shops themselves are called Country Feeds and about 25 are already operational throughout the country. GMB depots will also serve as shops.

GMB will, however, also continue supplying private owned shops that have been retailing its products.

In January, government-enabled its transport company, Zupco, to introduce buses on various commuting routes around the country. The move was meant to counter private transport operators that were accused of profiteering at the expense of commuters.-StateMedia

United College of Education (UCE)  a teachers college which is located at Matabeleland North Province in Hwange is inviting applications from pupils who want to train and become primary teachers for May intake 2019.

Applications are invited from people who want to study a three-year Diploma in Education.

The Entry Requirements are as follows:

• A minimum of 5’01evel passes including English Language and Mathematics with grade’C’ or better.
• Application Procedures:
• Application forms can be downloaded from the UCE website www.uce.ac.zw or at Thomas Coulter Annex in Hwange town.
• Attach certified copies of the birth certificate, national identity card/valid passport, academic certificates and marriage certificate (where applicable).
• Completed application form should be submitted to UNITED COLLEGE OF EDUCATION OR THOMAS COULTER ANNEX (HWANGE) not later than Friday, 3 MAY 2019.
• Only one application form per candidate should be submitted.
• The application form is NOT FOR SALE
  N.B. CHINAMBYA AND TONGA FIRST LANGUAGE SPEAKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

All correspondences should be addressed to:
The Principal United College of Education
P. O. Box 1156, Bulawayo (0292) 200137
www.uce.ac.zw

By Own Correspondent- In a very bizarre accident, which reads like a scene from a Nollywood movie, a 35-year-old married man’s manhood mysteriously vanished after he failed to pay a commercial s.e.x worker for services rendered.

Kudzi Muteragombe (35) of GoodHope farm in Mazowe is said to have experienced severe pain in his groin before his private organ apparently ‘disappeared’ following the dispute.

Muteragombe then asked his female friend, Angel Mabhekani (37), to accompany him to Glendale Police Station to file a police report.

However, the police were unable to assist. Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati told The Standard,

As police, we do not deal with such matters, but we heard some police officers examined him and it appeared as if his MANH00D was missing before they advised him to seek medical attention. Unfortunately for Muteragombe, the thigh vendor who is said to have been new to the area is reported to have fled from the area after people started talking about the incident.

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF legal affairs secretary and party representative in the political party dialogue, Paul Mangwana has conceded that there is room for improvement within his party’s internal processes as a way of ensuring that there is democracy.

Mangwana suggested that the country’s elections body may need to run political party elections in order to ensure that democracy starts at grassroots level within political parties before it cascades nationally.

Said Mangwana in an interview with a local publication:

“Yes, …..but there is a lot of requirement for improvement. In fact, democracy should start with the political parties and one proposal which we do have, which we also have to share with other political parties, is that it may make sense for the national electoral board to actually run the internal political processes of political parties like they do in South Africa. You have the electoral board managing internal political processes because if you don’t have democratic internal processes then you do not produce candidates who are liked by the electorate from an internal political party perspective. So we may need to change and improve the internal political processes.”-Standard

By Own Correspondent- The Government has come up with a comprehensive consultative strategy with its employees that will see an establishment of a platform for engagement, every fortnight, on issues affecting the workers and a periodic review of their salaries.

It is understood that the meetings, every fortnight, will be chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and are part of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF).

The first meeting is set for next week. The purpose of the meeting is to come up with the agenda for technical committees in preparation for the fully fledged TNF. A TNF Bill is now before Parliament.

In an interview ahead of the International Workers’ Day commemorations this week, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Sekai Nzenza said Government was also working on introducing non-monetary incentives for its employees such as housing, transport and medical insurance.

“We are quite excited about the TNF Bill. It is a step in the right direction and it is set to help both parties in the long run. The Bill has been outstanding for seven years and I hope that by the end of May, it will have passed through the National Assembly.

We have been trying to improve our relations with workers since the disturbances that took place in January such that we are now meeting regularly with both Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) and Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union (ZFTU).

“I met with the unions last week and we agreed that the meetings be held fortnightly. The government recently reviewed civil servant salaries with effect from April 1 and we are going to have another salary review in July this year. The cost of living adjustment will, however, run up to December this year. We are also in the process of introducing low-income houses and this is at an advanced stage.”

Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union (ZFTU) secretary-general, Mr Kennias Shamuyarira said relations between Government and workers are improving.

“There have been commendable steps that Government has been taking such the TNF Bill. Last week, we met with Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Sekai Nzenza and we agreed that trade unions, which means ZCTU, ZFTU and the Minister will be meeting every fortnight to discuss matters of interest that will be put forward in the TNF. The next meeting is on Thursday, the week after May Day.”

Government has been putting in place measures to improve the welfare of its employees. Recently, civil servants got the green light to import vehicles duty-free as part of non-monetary incentives. The duty-free scheme is covered by Statutory Instrument 52 of 2019 and will see those with 10 years in service qualifying. In addition, a $60 million housing facility for civil servants was unveiled as part of the non-monetary incentives.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- In a bizarre incident, a church in Kwekwe has come under the spotlight after it was found in possession of a coffin, a human skull and other human remains which its leaders claim are used for ritual purposes.

The church leadership has also failed to explain the source of the remains. The national leader of Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds’ Grand Master, James Chigwedere, revealed that it was their religion’s requirement to keep human remains in temples throughout the country.

In a statement recorded by police, Kwekwe church leader, Marthinus Pretorius also agreed with Chigwedere that their religion prescribes that they keep human remains in the church.

“Police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton, Kwekwe. A search was conducted and the team discovered an empty wooden coffin, a skull and two radius bones on top of the cabinet in a room at the back of the church. Annandale referred police to Marthinus Pretorius.

He was contacted on his cellphone and indicated that the skull and bones were for religious purposes left by previous Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds church members.

He said the remains were over 75 years old. Pretorius referred police to James Chigwedere the Grand Master of all Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds churches in Zimbabwe who stated that it was their religion’s requirement to keep the skulls and bones in their temples,” reads a police statement.

Pretorius was dragged to court last Thursday facing charge of violating a corpse. He appeared before Gweru magistrate, Mr Phineas Murandu. He pleaded not guilty and the matter was remanded to 7 May for trial.

For the State, Mr Fredrick Macheza alleged that the church was found in possession of human remains whose source is not known.

He said in 2016, police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton Kwekwe. A search was conducted leading to the recovery of the human remains. The remains were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where they were examined by pathologists who confirmed that they were human remains. This led to Pretorius’ arrest.-StaeMedia

By Own Correspondent- A gang of four armed robbers pounced at a Salvation army church in Kwekwe, which is home to President Emmerson Mnangagwa where they tortured the church pastor and his family before looting cash amounting to US$400, $700, property, groceries, laptops and the church vehicle.

The car was however later recovered at Halfway where the robbers dumped it.

Although acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mkwende professed ignorance over the matter saying she was yet to get information, the church’s public relations officer, Captain Victor Mafukidze, confirmed the robbery saying it was the latest in a spate of robberies targeting their church lately.

Captain Mafukidze said their church has of late witnessed four robberies in a space of a month.

“Yes, I can confirm the robbery in Mbizo, Kwekwe which has become the latest in a number of robberies targeting our church. “We are living in fear as we are now a target of armed robbers. I don’t know who told them that we keep money but the truth is that people are now using plastic money and we also bank all the cash that we receive,” he said.

Captain Mafukidze said another pastor who had come from Uganda, where he is based, to attend a funeral, was pounced on in Harare a week ago and the robbers took away cellphones and cash.

The church’s second in command was also a victim at OK Mart Harare where they took away cash and cellphones while another one took place in Kadoma where the robbers left the house empty after they got away with the household property.

Captain Mafukidze said plans were underway to enhance security at their churches including keeping vicious dogs and installing cameras. A Sunday News crew also visited the church premises in Mbizo and listened to the horrendous tale of what pastor Major Martin Chitsiko’s family went through during the robbery.

Mrs Chitsiko said the robbers, four in number, scaled the pre-cast wall before removing burglar bars using a crowbar and gained entry into the house.

“It was around 1am and our two daughters were sleeping in the spare bedroom when one of them saw a torch on the window. But since we stay near Mbizo Polyclinic, she just thought maybe it was one of the ambulances that usually ferry patients to the institution, little did she know they were robbers,” she said.

After gaining entry into the house through the window, the robbers headed straight to the main bedroom where they tied the couple’s hands and legs. “The other robbers went to the girls’ room where they again tied the girls’ hands and legs using their body tops.

“They started beating us up with a hoe handle demanding cash. We gave them all we had and they kept demanding more saying they wanted the church money but we kept telling them that we bank all the church funds,” she said, fighting back tears.

Mrs Chitsiko said the robbers ransacked the bedroom searching everywhere but could not find any more money.

After being convinced there was indeed no more cash, the robbers took property and loaded it into a Toyota Gaia car which was parked outside and drove off, leaving the doors locked and the family still tied and traumatised.

“They took away all our cellphones, blankets, groceries, a brand new two-plate gas stove and its tank as well as two laptops and drove off. Our eldest daughter, however, managed to untie herself and came to our rescue. We then notified parishioners who stay nearby who helped make a police report,” she said.-StateMedia

Prominent Harare lawyer Douglas Coltart has tweeted that he has been called for questioning by police in connection with an Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union meeting where four leaders were allegedly abducted by state security agents.

In a video message posted on Twitter Coltart asked for prayers from the public.

I have been called for questioning at Harare Central Police this morning in connection with the meeting yesterday from which 4 teachers (including ARTUZ Sec-Gen @RobohChere) were abducted and beaten by CIO and later handed over to the police. Would appreciate your prayers. ?? pic.twitter.com/2QD99jEKf5

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) April 28, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Traditional leaders from Mashonaland have conducted rituals at Silvermoon and Cricket 3 mines in Battlefields Kadoma meant to cleanse the area following February’s mine disaster.

28 artisanal miners perished after flood waters cascaded into the mines, washing down miners down the shafts.

Mashonaland West provincial Chiefs Council chairperson Senator Chief Ngezi (Peter Pasipamire) said that there were five spirit mediums who were involved in the cleansing ceremony.

He said:

After the catastrophic disaster at Battlefields, five spirit mediums came and conducted a cleansing ceremony at the mine. There are reports of mysterious sightings of snakes near the mines and those are bad signs.

To avert a similar disaster, the cleansing ceremony was necessary since many lives were lost.

Locals were also given time to interact with spirit mediums and participated in the proceedings. The ceremony was completed successfully.

While five chiefs, namely Chiefs Chivese, Musambakaruma, Neuso, Nhume and Nemakonde were conducting the rituals, Mhondoro-Ngezi district administrator Mrs Fortunate Muzulu said that illegal mining activities by gold panners were dangerous. She said:

There is life threatening illegal mining activities taking place in Muzvezve Constituency especially at Pingu where miners are under Claw Dam, which is dangerous.

We have engaged relevant authorities like Environment Management Agency, Mines and Mining Development Ministry, the police and other stakeholders to resolve the issue urgently.-stateMedia

The MDC National Council met today, the 27th of April 2019, and reviewed the Congress progress.

The Council received a report from the organising department.

The report included the completion of 11 200 branch Congresses,1 958 Ward Congresses,210 District Congresses and 13 Provincial Congresses.

All nominees have been given up to Tuesday 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.

The Electoral Commission shall then produce ballots on every position where more than one candidate decides to contest.

The positions to be contested include the President, Vice President, National Chairperson, Secretary General and Treasurer General.

The report included results of the nominations conducted at Provincial Congresses for the three wings of the party including the Women and Youth Assemblies.

A report from the National Ind ependent Electoral Commission was also presented detailing how elections were conducted.

The Party mandated the Commission to organise Caucuses for those contesting each other to table before members and the public what they will offer the party and country if elected.

These debates shall be open to the public, the media and shall be streamed live on the Party’s official social media platforms for everyone to see.

The Commission shall appoint independent moderators for these debates.

The National Council also resolved to reserve a seat for a female Vice President and modalities for the same shall be finalized by the Electoral Commission.

Finally, the Council gazetted the calendar which includes the following: the 3rd of May (Sikhala Memorial), 4th of May (Morgan Tsvangirai Memorial) and the Caucuses to run from the 5th to the 20th of May 2019.

The Congress is running under the theme, Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe.

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Own Correspondent|Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni got deity treatment in Zimbabwe despite having very tainted political record back home.

The leader of troubled NRM ruling party in Uganda was received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare by his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa along side several senior Government officials, service chiefs and several African diplomats.

Zimbabwe’s ruling party Zanu PF apologists literally worshipped and showered praises on the East African longest serving leader.

Museveni was greeted with a 21-gun salute and inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by members of the Presidential Guard.

“The president has travelled to several countries but never been like this,” a senior government official who escorted Museveni said.

Museveni arrived in Zimbabwe on Thursday leaving behind “a country in flames” with his government crashing down opposition parties ahead of elections set for 2021.

Notably, Museveni ordered for the arrest of young musician cum-politician Bobi Wines for allegedly speaking in against him.

Throughout his lavish stay in Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF comrades never challenged Museveni to sort out human rights abuses at his hands back in his country.

VICE PRESIDENT GEN. CONSTANTINO CHIWENGA’s cousin, the street preacher, Talent left Kwekwe in a huff last week after congregants who had gathered at an open space in Mbizo 5 Shopping Centre to listen to the word were angered by his political rants and threatened to manhandle him.

The man who is on record complaining of being attacked by the VP and the military, had to be whisked away by his security after congregants who had gathered at Chitubu, Msimbe Shopping Centre on Easter Sunday, were angered by the political rants from the clergyman.

The Apostle made a name for himself with sermons conducted along First Street in Harare with most of them containing less word of God and too much politics.

Mbizo Member of Parliament Mr Settlement Chikwinya confirmed that the controversial clergyman, had to scurry for cover as the disgruntled crowd accused the man of God of turning the church service into a political rally.

“I understand Prophet Chiwenga had a sermon at Chitubu Centre in Mbizo. I did not attend but what I gather is that he was harassed by some youths. It must be understood that Prophet Chiwenga normally preaches gospel that is perceived to be political,” said Mr Chikwinya.

A worshipper who attended the service, Mr Andrew Munyathi of Mbizo 5 said all hell broke loose when the Apostle started insulting the Zanu-PF leadership.

“People were angered when he started insulting the ruling party leadership. Remember Kwekwe is the home of President Mnangagwa, I think he had forgotten that and people wanted to manhandle him. To make matters worse, it was Easter and people were hungry for the word of God and he starts insulting leaders including the President, that is totally unacceptable, not here in Kwekwe,” said Mr Munyathi.

State Media

In a trend that is now turning very routine, beverage manufacturing company, Delta Corporation has increased the prices of clear and opaque beer by at least 20 percent.

Delta corporate affairs executive Ms Patricia Murambinda said the increase in wholesale prices was across the board, with wholesalers now expected to charge $3 for Delta’s pint brown bottle beers, Carling Black Label, Lion and Castle larger. A pint of green bottle beers like Zambezi and Pilsener will now be $3,50.

At the weekend most retailers had already increased their prices, with a quart of Zambezi Lager going for $8 up from $6 while a quart of Castle lager, Black Label now costs $7 up from $5. Pints were still largely unavailable.

“We have increased our prices. Opaque beer prices have gone up. Chibuku Super is $3 and Scud is $2. The increase is on the wholesale prices. The increase is across the board and the increase across the brands is about 20 percent. Our increase is lower than the Interbank Exchange Rate,” she said.

Ms Murambinda said the price adjustments were done to keep track of the Interbank Exchange Rate.

“We are closely monitoring the Interbank Exchange Rate. So all the adjustments that we are making to our prices are made with the interbank rate in mind,” she said.

Nonetheless, the price increase comes in the back of warnings from the Government against wild speculation and wanton price increases by retailers. But Ms Murambinda said the increases were not done unilaterally, as the company consulted widely before effecting the prices.

“Whenever we increase our prices we do so after extensive consultation. We have been working closely and consulting with both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce,” she said.

DESPITE the release of 3 000 prisoners through the Presidential Amnesty last year, Zimbabwe’s prisons are still overpopulated, with the country’s correctional facilities carrying 2 382 inmates above their recommended capacity.

Figures released by the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held in Bulawayo last week showed that as of last week, Zimbabwe’s prisons had 19 382 prisoners against a carrying capacity of 17 000. Of these 18 928 of those inmates are male, of which 15 508 have already been convicted while
3 421 are still waiting for the finalisation of their court cases.

The figures showed the country has 458 female inmates, with 273 of those serving substantive prison sentences while 185 are on remand. The country has 113 juvenile prisoners, with 105 boys and eight girls incarcerated. A total of 69 inmates are at the country’s only open prison facility in Connemara, Gweru. ZPCS also has 316 detained mental patients and 408 criminal mental patients.

In an interview, ZPCS spokesperson Chief Correctional Officer Meya Khanyezi said the country’s prison population was always swelling because of people in remand waiting for the finalisation of their cases.

She said one of the ways in which pressure on the country’s correctional facilities could be relieved was by facilitating projects that give inmates skills to function and flourish beyond prisons walls.

“The solution is for the community to partner with us because we are saying we are promoting development through corrections. We have an open door policy and we are saying people should come on board and help us. However, most of the money that we need comes from the society but society is reluctant because of the crimes that these people would have committed. We’re saying these people deserve forgiveness so that both they and their victims move on,” she said.

Chief Correctional Officer Khanyezi said the ZPCS had shifted focus, as the country’s prison services were no longer solely punitive but instead put more effort in rehabilitating prisoners under their watch.

“We now want to create an environment in which we rehabilitate prisoners rather than just punish them. We’re saying that we want to take away your freedom and not your life. You don’t have to end your life because you have been incarcerated. You will just continue with it but your freedom is what we withdraw because of your crimes,” she said.

Chief Correctional Officer Khanyezi said through various vocational activities, the ZPCS was encouraging prisoners to think of life after prison.

“You don’t have to abandon your fatherly duties because of prison. You can continue providing through the various programmes that we have. We usually reduce the number of years that people serve keeping in mind their behaviour in prison,” she said.

While life in prison can be tough, Chief Correctional Officer Khanyezi said the ZPCS was doing its best to ensure inmates had a semblance of a normal life while behind bars.

“Recently, for example, we took those prisoners serving at least 40 years and over to ZBC. These are people in our choir. It was fantastic to see the looks on their faces because in prison they have no mirrors so they were surprised by the way they now look because they have not seen themselves in a long time. Such occasions show the effort being made by the ZPCS to make sure those in our custody remain human and don’t get completely alienated from society,” she said.

Despite the overwhelming majority of prisoners being men, Chief Correctional Officer Khanyezi said female inmates seemed to be the most alienated from society, as they were not showered with the affection and care that their male counterparts receive.

“The problem we have is the female segment of our prison population. With men you usually find they have one or two visitors coming but that is not the case with women. They rarely have visitors because they have been abandoned. It’s not the same for men. They get visits from their spouses. Maybe it’s because men can go on with their lives after their wives go to prison but women seem more steadfast and the way they behave when their husbands are ill is the same way they behave when they are in prison,” she said.

State Media

IN a bizarre incident, a church in Kwekwe has come under the spotlight after it was found in possession of a coffin, a human skull and other human remains which its leaders claim are used for ritual purposes.

The church leadership has also failed to explain the source of the remains. The national leader of Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds’ Grand Master, James Chigwedere, revealed that it was their religion’s requirement to keep human remains in temples throughout the country.

In a statement recorded by police, Kwekwe church leader, Marthinus Pretorius also agreed with Chigwedere that their religion prescribes that they keep human remains in the church.

“Police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton, Kwekwe.

A search was conducted and the team discovered an empty wooden coffin, a skull and two radius bones on top of the cabinet in a room at the back of the church. Annandale referred police to Marthinus Pretorius. He was contacted on his cellphone and indicated that the skull and bones were for religious purposes left by previous Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds church members.

He said the remains were over 75 years old.

Pretorius referred police to James Chigwedere the Grand Master of all Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds churches in Zimbabwe who stated that it was their religion’s requirement to keep the skulls and bones in their temples,” reads a police statement.

Pretorius was dragged to court last Thursday facing charge of violating a corpse. He appeared before Gweru magistrate, Mr Phineas Murandu. He pleaded not guilty and the matter was remanded to 7 May for trial. For the State, Mr Fredrick Macheza alleged that the church was found in possession of human remains whose source is not known.

He said in 2016, police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton Kwekwe. A search was conducted leading to the recovery of the human remains. The remains were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where they were examined by pathologists who confirmed that they were human remains.

This led to Pretorius’ arrest.

CHIMANIMANI residents have implored Government to expeditiously deploy the Registrar General’s department on a mobile registration exercise to enable them replace identity cards and birth certificates that were swept away by Cyclone Idai-induced floods.

They also want Government to facilitate easy access to death certificates for their relatives killed by the cyclone and academic certificates for school leavers.

Residents who spoke to The Manica Post this week said their documents were swept away by Cyclone Idai, which also killed more than 360 people and displaced thousands of people, last month.

Villagers said the Government should relax conditions when replacing lost identity cards and birth certificates.
Mr Alderman Muchadziya (52), of Ngangu, whose family lost all their belongings together with identity documents, said the Government should deal with the issue urgently.

“Five members of my family were left without IDs, birth and academic certificates. These critical documents were soaked in the muddy floods which hit the district, and Government should urgently facilitate replacement of these documents.

“We are appealing for the Government to deploy a mobile registration exercise in Chimanimani to speedily issue new identity cards and birth certificate, while Zimsec should be directed to do the same to those who lost their academic certificates to the natural disaster. This issue is critical because we are currently facing some difficulties when collecting aid due to the absence of identity cards. We are also of the opinion that the RG’s department should scrap any fee because the majority of us are struggling,” he said.

Mr Lazarus, Maregere of Machongwe area said the mobile registration exercise was urgently needed as hundreds of people in Chimanimani have no proof of identity.

“We have nothing to identify ourselves officially, and such a situation is a recipe for disaster. It is a legal requirement for anyone above 16 to possess a national identity card, and here, we are without IDs.

After our particulars were swept away by floods, and when we went to Chipinge intending to collect new IDs, we were surprised to be referred back to Chimanimani district. We are facing serious challenges to get to Chimanimani as some roads are still untrafficable. There is no readily available public transport to get there,” he said.State media

THE price of fuel has slightly gone down after the Government announced an increase in the blending ratio of petrol from five percent to 10 percent last week.

In a notice, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority said starting tomorrow the maximum pump prices for diesel will be $3,21 per litre while that of Blend (E10) will be $3,35 per litre. Some garages had increased the prices of petrol to around $3,50 per litre in the past weeks.

“Please note that these figures take into account the revised excise duty and represent maximum FOB and pump prices for different fuels. Operators may, however, sell, at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages,” said Zera.

The review came at a time the Government has urged the public to disregard social media reports concerning the operations of the State. Minister of Energy and Power Development Dr Joram Gumbo, said the public was widely being misled by rumours on social media and the Government had absolutely no intention to increase the price of fuel.

“I want to assure the nation that the Government, since the changes of fuel in February this year, has no intention at all to change the price of both products, which are diesel and petrol. Prices will remain constant. Prices can only change on FOB by a cent or two depending on what happens at buying,” said Dr Gumbo.
He said the nation should not depend and be misled by rumours on social media.State media

Three men reportedly kidnapped a male adult in Mutare Central Business District and drove him along Mutare-Chimanimani road where they forced him to be intimate with a woman before harvesting his semen.

It is suspected the semen could have been wanted for ritual purposes. It is understood that the men, who were using an unregistered Toyota Wish vehicle, first drugged the victim who is said to be a soldier stationed at 3.1 Infantry Battalion Gimboki.

Manicaland police spokesperson assistant inspector Luxon Chananda confirmed the incident adding that; “We have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.”
It is alleged that the victim had returned, in the evening, to Mutare from Rusape and was looking for transport to Dangamvura.

An unregistered black Toyota Wish pulled over and its driver offered him transport.
Upon entering the car, he victim noticed that there were two other men on board.
Reports show that the driver passed a road turning to Dangamvura and continued driving in the direction to Chimanimani.

Upon asking why they had skipped the turn, one of the male passengers drew a pistol and ordered the victim to comply with their demands.

The vehicle was driven for about 10 kilometres before making a turn into a dirt road.

The suspects then assaulted the victim, removed a plaster which was on his wrist before drugging him.

At that point, a woman driving a Toyota Fortuner arrived at the scene.
The victim was them bundled into the back seat of the Toyota Fortuner where the woman became intimate with him.
After the act, the suspects collected the victims’ semen and drove away.State media