The family of the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai says that it will not allow party regalia at his memorial service set for this Saturday at their family home in Buhera.

Family spokesperson Manase Tsvangirai told news reporters on Monday that the family agreed to depoliticise the gathering and make it open to anyone who wants to attend and not make it an exclusive MDC function.

“This is not a political event but a memorial service for a politician who dedicated his life to bring democratic change in the country.

“Everyone is invited, we are not leaving anyone from across the political divide,” Manase said.

“The other thing we would like to highlight is that, we hope and believe that people who are coming for this memorial, should not be seen wearing any political parties’ regalia. Instead we expect people to be wearing the regalia of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.”

Manase added that the family was hoping Zimbabweans would respect their wish.

“This is a memorial and we expect people to respect this family decision by putting branded t-shirts with his face only. This is our wish as a family as a measure of respect to the late Tsvangirai whom everybody called their icon,” said Tsvangirai’s brother.

Manase said security measures have been put in place to avoid unfortunate incidents of violent that happened at the funeral.

“The good thing is at the memorial you get to prepare compared to the funeral, so we expect people to respect the family and remember the late politician was a man who fought for every workers’ rights,” he said.

The rogue youths who were baying for the two’s blood almost torched the hut Mwonzora and Khupe were hiding in only to be saved by the rains.

According to Manase, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also been invited officially to attend the memorial.

“President Mnangagwa has been invited in his personal capacity and on behalf of the government.

“And everyone is invited, as I said before Morgan worked within the government and with nearly everyone,” added Manase.

Government according to Manase is also assisting the family with the expenses towards the memorial.

The State yesterday closed its case in the matter in which Mt Pleasant legislator Samuel Banda (MDC Alliance) is being accused of contravening a section of the Electoral Act by allegedly falsifying his home address so that he could register to represent the constituency.

Banda (43), who is represented by Job Sikhala, yesterday told magistrate Learnmore Mapiye that the complainant and witnesses were aggrieved after he won a ticket to represent his party during the primary elections in which they all participated.

Banda told the court that the complainants, Warship Dumba and Isaac Chidavaenzi, had political scores to settle with him because they wanted his position.

Chidavaenzi lost the position to Banda for parliamentary elections, while Dumba wanted the position, but was relegated to council elections.

“The only truth is that both witnesses wanted to be MDC Alliance candidates. Dumba wanted to be a councillor, while Chidavaenzi wanted to be the MP, but they all lost,” Banda told the court.

“I’m (very) surprised that Chidavaenzi lied that I do not stay at his place of residence, yet I’m still staying at his house. I’m surprised that he lied that he learnt that I registered using his place of residence address on radio. It is so shameful. Even Jesus was disregarded by his fellows. That is why my fellow opposition members are fighting me. They have teamed up with my enemies to say that I lied about my address, which is untrue.”

Mapiye postponed the matter to Monday next week for ruling.

Allegations are that on December 28, 2017 last year during the national biometric voter registration exercise, Banda misrepresented to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that he was staying at number 34 Waller Avenue, Mt Pleasant, Harare, in order for him to register as a voter in that constituency, while in actual fact, he did not reside there.

The State alleges that Banda went on to depose an affidavit of residence for voter registration (Zec Form VR-9) to a Zec commissioner of oaths purporting to be residing at the house.

Through misrepresentation, the prosecution said, Banda was registered as a voter in Mt Pleasant constituency, where he contested for the House of Assembly seat and eventually won.

The State said the Zec forms VR1 and VR9 can be produced as an exhibit.

Peter Kachirika appeared for the State.

NewsDay

SOME foreign elements are plotting violent demonstrations in a bid to overthrow the Government and the police are ready to deal with the perpetrators in terms of the law, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema has said.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Minister Mathema said intelligence revealed a workshop to mobilise and capacitate the civic organisations had already been scheduled for an undisclosed date next month in Bulawayo.

“It is disturbing to note that ZRP and other security services have gathered intelligence to the effect that a group of foreign nationals wants to facilitate a three-day civic organisation workshop in Bulawayo in May 2019.

“The main agenda of the workshop is to mobilise and capacitate civic organisations and individuals to stage purported effective demonstrations and disturbances to overthrow the Zanu-PF Government,” he said.

Minister Mathema warned the people of Zimbabwe against joining the planned violent demonstrations.

The minister said the police were on high alert and measures have already been put in place to thwart the illegal plans.

“My ministry has since directed the Commissioner- General of Police to put in place adequate security measures. The police will thwart any civil disobedience or violent machinations by individuals, political parties and civic organisations under the guise of freedom of assembly and other hidden activities,” he said.

Government has urged people to ignore any demonstration calls.

“Members of the public are accordingly advised to ignore any incitement to violence or participating in unsanctioned gatherings that may cause instability in the country. Any acts of lawlessness should be reported to the nearest police station so that the law is applied without fear or favour,” said Minister Mathema.

Zimbabwe, the minister said, does not need any lecture on democracy and freedom of assembly from foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Minister Mathema said intelligence also show that there were plans to intensify the demonstrations after the MDC-Alliance’s congress.

“My ministry is also aware that there are plans to intensify violent demonstrations in the country after the forthcoming MDC-Alliance congress under the guise that there is economic collapse in Zimbabwe.”

Minister Mathema assured Zimbabweans and foreigners visiting the country or those doing business that their security was guaranteed.

“We have the names of the organisations and the names of the people who want to organise the demonstrations. At an opportune time, we will share their names,” he said.

Price increases and other economic challenges facing the country, Minister Mathema said, were being caused by the MDC-Alliance.

“It must be known that those economic challenges facing the country were brought about by the MDC. The sanctions were brought about by the MDC-Alliance, so it is laughable that we should be accused, as Government, of causing the economic challenges.

“We do not want price increases at all and the Government will do all it can to ensure prices stabilise,” he said.

State Media

The toxicity levels in Lake Chivero have reached alarming levels, twice the stipulated minimum, with Harare City Council spending US$3 million monthly on a cocktail of water treatment chemicals to remove these but which in themselves pose cancer risks to residents.

Even after treatment, Harare water falls short of World Health Organisation (WHO) standards which stipulate that water for consumption should be odourless and colourless.

It has also emerged that over the years, Harare has failed to implement recommendations to stop the deterioration of its water quality.

By contrast, according to an insider with knowledge on running affairs of the city, Bulawayo decommissioned its Khami Dam facility when it reached similar toxicity levels seven years ago.

WHO says the optimum pH (acidity level) varies in different supplies according to the composition of the water and the nature of construction materials used in the distribution system, but is often in the range 6,5 to 9,5.

In general, water with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, while that with a pH greater than 7 is considered basic.

Most industries have no pre-treatment plants and are draining toxic products, poisons, non-biodegradable substances and organic matter into the environment.

A recent study by City of Harare and EMA revealed that the main contaminants are sulphuric acid, caustic soda, ammonium salts, phosphates and sulphates among other organic substances. Additionally, the city pumps raw sewage into its main water source, Lake Chivero.

Asked what Harare was doing since it was disposing of raw sewerage in water sources, Mayor Herbert Gomba said: “We were supposed to rehabilitate our sewer works under the $144 million loan, but since we are still to get the remaining funds we currently considering alternative models like selling off our debts to banks so that we can attend to our dilapidated sewerage infrastructure.”

Water levels at Lake Chivero have also reduced by 10 metres from 28 metres deep due to siltation caused by urban agriculture, while algae has been clogging filters and affecting clarifiers.

Among other causes of the major pollution are stream-bank cultivation, effluent from industries and sewer bursts.

Harare is experiencing its worst water problems in years owing to low rainfall and the shortage of water chemicals.

Lake Chivero is downstream of the capital, while Chitungwiza is within the Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment Area such that most sewers discharge from Harare and Chitungwiza end up in the water sources.

The major settlements that have contributed to the pollution include Harare and the dormitory towns of Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Epworth.

The areas are densely populated and are prone to sewer bursts.

Mayor Gomba said the pollution has been caused by various factors, chief among them Harare’s disposal of untreated and raw sewage into Lake Chivero and urban agriculture.

“Fertilizers which are being applied by urban farmers are finding their way into the water source. The other cause being numerous constructions on wet lands and again the fact that EMA and Upper Manyame Catchment Area and City of Harare have not been working together to make sure that we prevent pollution of the streams that feed in to the water source,” he said.

“We have raised these issues with EMA. They promised that we will do a joint operation to make sure that we arrest that. Again as City of Harare we are looking at coming up with a policy to control urban agriculture because it has numerous consequences. We are looking at how best we can work with national parks to secure the facility, Chivero as a water source.”

He said council will engage its satellite towns to ensure that no raw sewerage is disposed into water bodies adding that Harare itself will also seek partners to rehabilitate its own sewerage treatment works.

WHO guidelines say water for human consumption should be free from chemical contamination. A heavy load for nitrates in water has been known to cause the blue baby syndrome in which young babies turn blue due to lack of oxygen.

Water that is heavily loaded by organic chemicals is also a fertile breeding ground for bacteriological contamination.

Bacteriological contamination of water needs the techniques of a specialist to detect in the form of bacteriological family known as Coli and Ecoli.

A recent study carried out at the University of Zimbabwe, Department of Animal Science, and University Lake Kariba Research Station titled, “A Comparative Evaluation of Carcass Quality, Nutritional Value, and Consumer Preference of Oreochromis niloticus from Two Impoundments with Different Pollution Levels in Zimbabwe” sampled fish from Lake Chivero and Lake Kariba.

Fish were sampled for proximate analysis, carcass quality, and sensory evaluation.

The study found out that fish from Lake Kariba had significantly higher condition factors and lower fillet yields, while fish of length 10-20 cm, from Lake Chivero had significantly more fat.

Lake Chivero fish were darker, greener, and less red while Lake Kariba fish are lighter, less green, and less red.

Raw fish from Lake Kariba were significantly firmer, are less green and redder, had a stronger typical fish odour, and were more acceptable than Lake Chivero fish.

Lake Chivero fish had a stronger foreign fish odour than their counterparts.

Former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni during his tenure admitted that the water pumped by the city into residents’ homes may not be safe for human consumption, and advised consumers to exercise caution until such a time that total quality was assured.

The Environmental Management Agency which is the regulator for raw water could not be reached for comment.

State Media

LOSING MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial executive aspirants have appealed against the way the party carried out the provincial congress which elected a new executive into office and also made nominations for the National Standing Committee members.

In a letter to the party’s national executive, 12 losing candidates blamed party President Nelson Chamisa and organising secretary Amos Chibaya for irregularities they claim besieged the congress.

The 12 losing candidates who include Mr Phelela Masuku, Mr Edious Shumba, Mr Charles Moyo, Mr Thamu Ncube, Ms Sinikiwe Mutanda, Ms Jasmine Toffa, Mr Dingilizwe Tshuma, Mr Edwin Ndlovu, Ms Stella Ndlovu, Mr Mbuso Siso and Mr Samuel Munsaka called for the nullification of the provincial congress results on the basis that it was rigged among other irregularities.

The party held a provincial congress on April 17 ahead of the national congress slated for next month.

Makokoba Member of Parliament Mr James Sithole won the provincial chairman’s post.

In the letter of appeal, the losing candidates argue that the interference by Chamisa and Chibaya benefitted Sithole’s camp.

“The directive given by the president Nelson Chamisa to National Organising secretary Chibaya, on being petitioned at the congress venue by disenfranchised delegates who were refused to participate, was only acceded to after the conclusion of both the youth and women processes effectively denying them the vote and creating complexities for main wing processes by introduction of non-eligible delegates.

“Mpopoma was effectively locked out of participation, and the caucus constituted by Chibaya to address the anomaly calculatedly and mischievously took forever resultantly acceding at the close of the voting process. The cabal of James Sithole and Helen Zviviri (Tsepiso-Mpofu) formed the think tank of the caucus,” reads part of the appeal letter.

They further argued that the provincial congress was illegal as it did not adhere to the party processes, conduct and procedures.

“Take notice that the undersigned Appellants hereby note an appeal on the process and conduct of the procedures employed at the Bulawayo Provincial Congress held at Stanley Square Makokoba, Bulawayo on 17/18th April 2019 pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9 (a); 9 (c (i; v and vi) section 2 (ii; iii; iv; v; and vi) and section 3 (a) and (f) And further take notice that the Appellants’ grounds of appeal are that:- 1. That the congress was not legally constituted for failure of a quorum notwithstanding the districts that were disenfranchised and refused to participate,” reads the letter.

In the Bulawayo congress, party vice president Professor Welshman Ncube was snubbed by the province which did not nominate him to retain the post at the national congress slated for next month.

Instead, the structures nominated Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi and Ms Lillian Timveous for the vice presidency and nominated Prof Ncube for the secretary general’s position.

MDC-Alliance national spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume was not available for comment.

Farai Dziva|A senior member of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association has called on Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa to resolve their political differences to save the nation from the current economic abyss.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association political commissar, Francis Nhando told a daily paper dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa would break the economic impasse.

“If there is any leader who thinks he or she can solve the problems we have without the help of others then that’s delusional.

Only a united front that involves all Zimbabweans including the opposition coming into government is the solution.

We have done it before and there was remarkable economic growth. Things only began to slide back to where they were before the inclusive government (when parties) decided that they wanted to go it alone and terminated the arrangement.

We simply need to work together not this blame game that we are seeing, blaming sanctions but all the sanctions were in place when the unity government worked magic on the economy,” said Nhando.

Farai Dziva|Former MDC A MP Eddie Cross has attacked the media for failing to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms, a South African paper has reported.

While in South Africa Cross chided the media for failing to appreciate Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms.

“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.

… There would be no engagement from the international community if a political reform agenda is not adopted or followed.

In his (President Mnangwagwa’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,” Cross told The Sunday Times.

Own Correspondent|First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa appears to be on the run to break all of Grace Mugabe’s records.

In a shocking move, the flamboyant wife of the President ran an exhibition stand at the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.

The stand left many people shell shocked on what Auxilia Mnangagwa is really up to.

Former President Robert Mugabe aligned party NPF’s spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire blasted the first lady for running the stand claiming that the Office Of The First Lady can not exhibit at the fair describing it as just a “conjugal position.”

What can be more immature & stupid than having a conjugal position exhibiting at a business expo? Zanu-PF & ED have to grow up, being First Lady is not some form of entrepreneurship warranting exhibition at the trade fair, if u believe it is, u shld not only grow up but be wise. https://t.co/myouz1iVwk

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) April 28, 2019

What was it exhibiting? Bedroom paraphernalia to dissuade the President from straying to small houses? This country is a joke. https://t.co/hTmrGi7NKc

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) April 28, 2019

Boeing company was lambasted by the most powerful figure in Dubai aviation for failing to keep airlines updated on the grounding of the 737 Max jetliner, of which 14 have been delivered to the Persian Gulf emirate.

“Communication with Boeing could be better,” Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said Monday in a briefing at the 2019 Arabian Travel Market convention.

“We want to know exactly what’s happening, the details. There are still areas that aren’t being answered 100 percent yet.”

Sheikh Ahmed, who is president of Dubai’s civil aviation authority and chairman of Emirates the world’s biggest long-haul airline, said he’ll be seeking compensation from Boeing for the idling of the planes at sister short-haul operator FlyDubai which has ordered 175 in total, and could approach Airbus SE about switching to the European company’s competing A320neo model.

It’s especially galling to be out of the loop since FlyDubai is one of the biggest customers for the Max, said Sheikh Ahmed, who is also a board member of the United Arab Emirates aviation authority, one of nine such bodies that are looking into the safety of the plane, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The panel was due to meet for the first time today.

Boeing needs to be clearer about when the Max will fly again after crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia led to the grounding, according to Sheikh Ahmed, who said he’s concerned about further delays for European Aviation Safety Authority approval of changes to a suspect anti-stall system, and for pilot re-training.

“I have to really see what assurance I will be getting,” he said. “I didn’t ground the 14 aircraft because I wanted to do it. Even if I wanted to fly this aircraft I won’t be able to.- Bloomberg

By Own Correspondent- The University of Zimbabwe has issued a statement notifying students admitted for the August 2019 intake that the deadline for the payment of deposit had changed.

The Notice that was posted on the Academic Institution’s page read as follows:

2019 Accepted students

August 2019 intake notice

The University of Zimbabwe wishes to advise successful applicants for August 2019 intake of the following important change:

Deadline for payment of deposit has been changed from 28 June 2019 to 31 May 2019

Exiled former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has released the draft of the failed alleged Grand National Union that was supposed to create an electoral pact between former President Robert Mugabe and MDC leder leader National Chamisa together with other small parties.

To DOWNLOAD the full document CLICK HERE (PDF, less than 1 MB).

Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, has shockingly revealed that all pharmaceutical storerooms in government health facilities in Matabeleland up to provincial level are “empty”.

The country has been facing severe drug shortages due to foreign currency shortages, while socially disadvantaged patients are at the receiving end as they go for some time without accessing medication neither can they afford to purchase from pharmacies.

Dr Moyo admitted the lack of drugs was a challenge for his ministry, as it had to fill up the stocks from the district centres going all way to hospitals in the country’s southern region.

He made these revelations while meeting senior staff from Mpilo Hospital last week who had pointed out that although they received drugs from National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) the quantities were low.

“The hospital has a 60 percent supply of vital medicines, which is higher than before but still fall short from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe prescribed regulation of stocking 80 percent of vital medicines. For essential medicines we have a drug supply of 85 percent,” said Mpilo Chief Pharmacist, Faith Sinoia.

In response, the minister acknowledged that the supply of drugs was a necessity and assured the hospital that they will receive their drugs.

The minister added that NatPharm also had to supply health facilities in Matabeleland North and South which were still waiting for their allocation.

“All our storerooms are empty, in all our district clinics and health centres. We have to fill up the stocks from the lowest tiers – the districts, move to the provincial centres then to the main referral hospitals. It will take a long time as we have to fill these big buckets,” he said.

To address the drug shortage, the ministry would employ a targeted approach where it would go step by step to supply the centres, a move it will use to when supplying medical equipment as well.

“NatPharm went to tender and received $191 million worth of drugs, of which stock worth $80 million had been released. So far $25 million of the $80 million has been paid. We will keep pushing NatPharm so that health institutions’ receive their daily products. Once we satisfy Matabeleland provinces, we can move on to other provinces,” Dr Moyo said.

He added that NatPharm will need to replenish its stocks.

“We envision a situation where once our hospitals are stocked up then NatPharm as the source remains with stocks too.”

According to reports more than 80 percent of medicines in Zimbabwe are imported and they heavily rely on foreign currency while those manufactured locally also require active ingredients which are imported (needing foreign currency).

CITE

Own Correspondent|Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200, registration Z-WPF performing flight UM-462 from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Harare (Zimbabwe) with 98 passengers and 9 crew, was climbing out of Johannesburg’s runway 03L when the crew declared “Mayday Mayday Mayday” and requested to stop climb at FL090 and return to Johannesburg.

The crew advised they had left hand engine (PW4056) surges. While turning south on radar vectors the engine recovered, the crew subsequently reported the fault had cleared and they had normal operation about 10 minutes later, they wanted to continue to Harare. The aircraft climbed to FL390 and continued to Harare where the aircraft landed safely about 90 minutes after departure.

Johannesburg’s ATC had alerted emergency services, who had assumed their stand by positions, had halted departures and sent arrivals into holds for the emergency return. After the crew had reported the fault had cleared ATC resumed operations at Johannesburg Airport and stood down emergency services.

Ground witnesses reported they saw the aircraft repeatedly banging and emitted streaks of flame, while the aircraft was turning south the surges stopped. The aircraft turned north again and climbed out of sight.

The aircraft was transporting callsign AZW-303 (UM-303), the previous inbound flight’s callsign from Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) to Johannesburg.

Air Zimbabwe has confirmed that one of its aeroplanes experienced a “malfunction” in one of its engines, causing a brief fire during a flight from OR Tambo international airport to Harare on Sunday evening.

The airline said in a statement that its Boeing 767-200ER aircraft servicing flight UM462 experienced a malfunction in one of its engines, which caused a “brief” tailpipe fire.

The carrier said the malfunction did not threaten the continuation of the flight or the safety of the crew and passengers on board, and that the aircraft landed safely in Harare at 20:35h.

Air Zimbabwe confirmed that their engineers have started their investigation into the incident. “We regret to inform our valued passengers that this incident may result in a disruption of our normal schedule.”

In March, the struggling national airline said that its only aircraft, which services all its routes, had to undergo engine repairs and could not be fixed in time for all flights to be carried out as normal.

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has congratulated himself for winning a lengthy battle with a Chinese company he claims has been carrying out illegal mining activities in Domboshava.

Mutodi won the battle against the company following Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention.

Earlier Mutodi chronicled how he singlehandedly fought for the protection of villagers in the area.

The company intended to evict 20 000 villagers in the area as it sought to create space for its operations, according to Mutodi.

” President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come to the rescue of Domboshava villagers who were facing eviction. A Chinese quarry mining firm Aihua Jianye intended to force the villagers out of their land.

The President has ordered that the firm stops mining activities in the area known for its rock art and as a tourist attraction,” said Mutodi.

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|Former MDC A MP Eddie Cross has attacked the media for failing to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms, a South African paper has reported.

While in South Africa Cross chided the media for failing to appreciate Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms.

“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.

… There would be no engagement from the international community if a political reform agenda is not adopted or followed.

In his (President Mnangwagwa’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,” Cross told The Sunday Times.

Controversial former Zanu PF politician, Temba Mliswa has come to the defense of the struggling national airline, Air Zimbabwe saying the company has excellence in execution of duty.

Mliswa singled out Captain Chiwara for their professionalism when their flight hit a flock of birds on their departure from Bulawayo on Friday last week.

1/ One thing that can’t be taken away from the pilots @airzimbabweUM is their excellence in execution of duty. I commend Cpt. Chiwara&crew for their professionalism when their flight hit a flock of birds on departure from Byo on Friday.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) April 29, 2019

2/ Cpts like Muzenda, Mparuri, Matimba, Petros etc were a credit to the carrier & it’s unfortunate that their remuneration like many sectors, hasn’t matched their dexterity&efficiency. Their track record is exemplary

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) April 29, 2019

Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has dismissed the reburial of the remains of victims of Gukurahundi atrocities as an attempt by Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ilk to conceal the truth about Gukurahundi atrocities.

Moyo believes the reburial process is an attempt by Mnangagwa to hoodwink the international community.

“A #gukurahundi exhumation with no truth and no justice. What are the facts of the case? Even key local authorities are in the dark.

State media still refer to gukurahundi as political disturbances. Now clear the reburials are meant to bury the truth about what happened. Scandalous!” Moyo argued.

Farai Dziva|A senior member of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association has called on Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa to resolve their political differences to save the nation from the current economic abyss.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association political commissar, Francis Nhando told a daily paper dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa would break the economic impasse.

“If there is any leader who thinks he or she can solve the problems we have without the help of others then that’s delusional.

Only a united front that involves all Zimbabweans including the opposition coming into government is the solution.

We have done it before and there was remarkable economic growth. Things only began to slide back to where they were before the inclusive government (when parties) decided that they wanted to go it alone and terminated the arrangement.

We simply need to work together not this blame game that we are seeing, blaming sanctions but all the sanctions were in place when the unity government worked magic on the economy,” said Nhando.

By Own Correspondent- The Government will this week meet with bakers and millers to discuss the recent increase in bread prices which it feels is unfair and unjustified.

The development aims at mapping the way forward to come up with an affordable price for consumers.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Vangelis Haritatos confirmed the development recently.

He said Government will be meeting bakers this coming week to solve the issue of bread price which is now beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.

Said Haritatos:

“As Government we believe in engagement and so in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce we intend to meet with the representatives of the National Association Bakers of Zimbabwe to bring in their bakers so that we can talk openly to see why they had to increase their price and what the Government can do to reduce the price.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Authorities in Mashonaland West have expressed concern at the rising number of uncollected bodies at mortuaries which are failing to cope with the high number of uncollected corpses.

The situation has also been worsened by shortages of mortuary facilities at most of the Government hospitals in the province whose refrigeration facilities are old and not functioning properly.

Chegutu District Hospital, which had the highest number of uncollected bodies together with Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, recently conducted paupers’ burials for 12 uncollected bodies.

Provincial health services administrator Godwin Tauya said paupers’ burials are conducted when bodies have spent up to 21 days in the mortuary.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care also conducts the paupers’ burials in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare.

Said Tauya:

“There are 19 bodies that are waiting paupers’ burial after those 12 at Chegutu Hospital were buried on April 17. The unclaimed bodies will be due for burial if they exceed 21 days without anybody coming to claim them or known their identities.”-StateMedia

Do you think Mnangagwa and his administration will use their national airliner AirZim following the recent fire incident of an AirZim plane from OR Tambo to Robert Mugabe International Airport?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 29, 2019

Farai Dziva|Former MDC A MP Eddie Cross has attacked the media for failing to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms, a South African paper has reported.

While in South Africa Cross chided the media for failing to appreciate Mnangagwa’s commitment to reforms.

“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.

… There would be no engagement from the international community if a political reform agenda is not adopted or followed.

In his (President Mnangwagwa’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,” Cross told The Sunday Times.

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has congratulated himself for winning a lengthy battle with a Chinese company he claims has been carrying out illegal mining activities in Domboshava.

Earlier Mutodi chronicled how he singlehandedly fought for the protection of villagers in the area.

The company intended to evict 20 000 villagers in the area as it sought to create space for its operations, according to Mutodi.

” President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come to the rescue of Domboshava villagers who were facing eviction. A Chinese quarry mining firm Aihua Jianye intended to force the villagers out of their land.

The President has ordered that the firm stops mining activities in the area known for its rock art and as a tourist attraction,” said Mutodi.

By Trevor Saruwaka| Ward 10 of Mutasa Central* is a strong anti-Zanu PF area which has been successively won by MDC candidates since 2008 to date.

This ward is where Mutasa Central MP Trevor Saruwaka of Saruwaka village hail from. Other opposition stalwarts from this ward are the Tsunga brothers, Hons Regai and Arnold who are from Manyonho village.

Regai is the current Mutasa South legislator whilst Arnold served as the Chikanga-Dangamvura MP from 2013-14.

Hon David Tekeshe (current MP for Makoni Central) also comes from Ngwende village in the same ward whilst Hon Sibonile Nyamudeza (MP for Chipinge East 2008-13 and 2018 to date) comes from Samaringa village.

Ward 10 is, therefore, an MDC fortress which the opposition has no plans to relinquish any time soon.

Nothing is new for Ward 10 since this is not the first time an MDC Councilor has failed to complete his term of office. Owen Mbona served only two years of his term in 2008. He was recalled by the Party after he was found guilty of diverting food aid from Plan International to his personal benefit. Afterwards he crossed the floor to join Zanu PF, a party which tolerates and promotes corruption. He was a key member of the campaign team for the former Zinwa CEO n Zanu PF Parliamentary candidate who was defeated hands down in last year’s plebiscite despite his brazen vote-buying antics which included distributing bicycles, blankets, buying beer n splashing money to unemployed youths. It simply didn’t cut.

Ironically, the current Zanu PF candidate, Margaret Tindirika, is a former MDC member who switched parties after being walloped at the 2013 primary elections by the persecuted and out-going MDC Clr, Frank Chitembwe. She came a distant 3rd in that race after Clr Chitembwe and incoming Clr, Rose Tanyaradzwa Mukodza. She joined Zanu PF around 2016 out of frustration because she was very low in the packing order for MDC. To MDC this election is a delayed match whose results are already known. Come 12 May, MDC-A’s Rose Mukodza is going wake up the new Ward 10 Councilor.

As I write this piece Zanu PF has gone into high gear in its deceit, lies, threats and political gamesmanship. A Zinara grader on ZEC assignment to maintain roads and improve accessibility ahead of elections is now being claimed and attributed to Zanu PF. This is very shameful. Village heads and Headman Muponda/Mtetwa have now been instructed to coerce their subjects to vote for Zanu PF. As part of this ploy they have also been promised to be taken to

Nyadzonya n Chimoio shrines for them to appreciate the gravity of the contest ahead. After visiting these sites they are expected to be tough enough to ensure a Zanu PF victory in their wards.

Meetings called by village heads on the pretext that government will be issuing maize are turning out to be Zanu PF rallies as this perennial losing Party’s functionaries seize the opportunity to address the people. Zanu PF can nolonger call a meeting on its own but through traditional leaders and government agencies like *Agritex, GMB n Social Welfare* departments.

The people of Ward 10 are clever enough to know that Zanu PF is the author of all their problems. They know that Zanu PF is responsible for:
1) the poor condition of Jombe road and other roads in the ward
2) astronomical cost of bread n transport to Hauna and Mutare
3) joblessness of thousands of school leavers and unemployed adults who spend the days loafing at Mutisi, Masere, Paunganwa and Nyabadza* business centres among others,
4) stealing and partisan distribution of government food aid and inputs at Masere Warehouse including Cyclone Idai donations
5) murdering of innocent people in the streets of Harare on 1 August 2018 and in the aftermath of the ZCTU stayaway in January this year
6) lack of medicines at Samaringa and Honde Mission clinics and shortage of doctors at Hauna Hospital.
7) introducing worthless bond notes, RTGS$
8) erosion of pensions and unavailability of cash in the banks
9) unaffordable school fees and imposition of the unfunded new curriculum
10) lying that life is going to get better yet it is becoming harder by the day

They are also aware that Zanu PF engineered the arrest of the popularly elected and hard working Clr, Frank Chitembwe, on false allegations so that they create an opening for themselves. The people of Ward 10 know all this. On the 11th of May they are going to show it in a way Zanu PF will undoubtedly understand.

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

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