Jane Mlambo|Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa is losing sleep over the state of the economy saying it is proving difficult to be a perfect leader in a country where people are hungry, unhappy and disappointed.

Posting on Twitter yesterday, Chamisa said sleeping peacefully when Zimbabwe is burning has proved to be very difficult for him.

” It’s so difficult to sleep peacefully when OUR ZIMBABWE is in such a disaster. It’s so so hard to be a perfect leader with many people in such deep trouble. It’s so harassing to lead hungry,unhappy and disappointed people upon shattered dreams, unmet aspirations & dashed hopes,” said Chamisa.

It’s so difficult to sleep peacefully when OUR ZIMBABWE is in such a disaster. It’s so so hard to be a perfect leader with many people in such deep trouble. It’s so harassing to lead hungry,unhappy and disappointed people upon shattered dreams, unmet aspirations & dashed hopes.

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) April 24, 2019

WHEN the inevitable messy ending came, it was rough — the public rejection by his fans, the psychological trauma of watching them cheer the opponents and the brutality of the confirmation he was yet another horrible gamble that backfired spectacularly.

His face had been transformed into a source of some sickening abuse on social media, his nickname was now being ridiculed as symptomatic of the man, and all his crippling weaknesses, and his profile had been battered by the negativity generated by a marriage made in hell.

Lloyd Chigowe walked alone for one last time carrying the identity of “Dynamos coach,” on Easter Monday, seeking the sanctuary of the dressing rooms as the mob hurled him with all sorts of insults, his lanky figure a symbol of hate for many and a picture of resignation for others.

The ultimate image of failure, consumed by the demands of the dream job he had always fancied, swallowed by the challenges that come with coaching this DeMbare, itself a pathetic imitation of the original Dynamos, the one which once ruled this kingdom.

All the bravado he had shown in the recent past, including terming himself the “Special One,’’ lost in the moment of failure and a sharp contrast to that queer smile he used to flash after his fire-fighting mission last season ended in an obscure triumph of beating relegation.

Some reports even say he wore a mask on Sunday, which is hard to deny given the rampaging mob outside who were demanding a pound of his flesh, to escape from the stadium, which until these Glamour Boys started to become a punching bag, represented their Theatre of Dreams.

What can’t be disputed is that he fled from everyone — the media who were waiting for him to explain how everything had fallen apart so spectacularly, the opposing coach who was waiting for a handshake and the mob baying for his blood.

He probably also fled from MaBlanyo, this figure of hate and failure, which had sleep-walked into a job that was clearly bigger than the sum of the parts of its football knowledge.

-State Media

The Norton MP Temba Mliswa has begun campaigning for a return of “the November 2017 spirit”.

The development comes barely 2 days after Mliswa said the military run Joint Operations Command must move in to control prices.

Below were Mliswa’s Tweets:

1/Independence Reflections..I recall the unity of purpose of 18Nov 2017 where people of all colours, races, political affiliations, non political, security forces, government etc marched in solidarity to remove RGM; that’s the spirit that’ll turnaround Zim, together we’re strong!

2/ ZANUPF had their chance but alone can’t get Zim out of the doldrums, it just doesn’t have the capacity and is riddled with corruption. Emmerson Mnangagwa as a democratic reformist, it’s now time to put the best team forward for Zim just as the Presidential Advisory Committee

3/ For as long as we have a wholly ZANUPF Government we won’t move. Trevor Ncube, Shingi Munyeza, Emmerson Mnangagwa magnanimity & leadership must be shown by embracing everyone. He needs performers and the current Cabinet lacks traction.

By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga is in Bulawayo where he is attending the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Business Conference.

Finance and Economic Development minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndlovu and Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando are also in attendance.

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

By Own Correspondent| Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati has revealed that the police have launched a manhunt for Vhanda Madhevere who fled after allegedly strucking his colleague Edson Jonasi with an axe at Glenbroke Farm, Concession on Tuesday last week.

Speaking to to a local publication, Masikati said:

We have launched a manhunt for Vhanda Madhevere (age not given), who reportedly struck Edson Jonasi with an axe once on the head after he had been advised by the complainant not to use harsh words on his superiors.

The incident happened around 7pm. After committing the alleged crime, Madhevere disappeared from the scene while Jonasi was rushed to Concession Hospital where he is currently admitted.

By Own Correspondent| Chegutu residents are currently demonstrating demanding the resignation of the entire council management for failing to address service delivery issues especially perennial sewage issues.

The placard holding residents this morning beseiged the local authority’s Town House demanding the immediate resignation of the entire management led by Town Clerk Alex Mandigo.

According to the resident,Mandigo has failed in his mandate in a development which they allege has seen the town experiencing perennial water and sewer challenges since 2008.

They accuse council management of prioritising their salaries and allowances at the expense of service delivery to rate payers.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

Refresh this page for latest updates.

By Own Correspondent| Tragedy struck a Harare family after four members of the Chikosha family were arrested over the weekend for assaulting and killing a family member following an undisclosed misunderstanding.

Tapera Alexander Chikosha (77), his children Panashe (20) and Kudakwashe (16) and his wife Netsai Mamhare (44), appeared before Mbare Magistrate, Kudzai Zihove who granted them $100 bail each and remanded them to April 30.

The state alleges that the incident happened on April 12 this year in Old Highfield.

It is the state’s case that the accused teamed up and assaulted Peter Chikosha over an undisclosed misunderstanding.

The victim is believed to have sustained severe injuries from the assault. A sympathiser offered to send him to Highfield Polyclinic for medical examinations where he was pronounced dead upon admission.-Newsday

Chegutu residents are currently demonstrating at Town House calling for the immediate ouster of the entire management led by Town Clerk Mr Alex Mandigo whom they are accusing of failing to address perennial water & sewer challenges since 2008 when the town was hit by cholera

VIEW PICTURES BELOW….

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority subsidiary ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) plans to install cameras on transformers to curb theft and vandalism, a top official has said.

Recently, the company announced that it was losing at least three transformers every night to vandalism and theft.

In an interview, ZENT acting managing director Mr Burutsa Mandipezano said the initiative is aimed at reducing theft of power infrastructure across the country, a situation he described as worrisome.

“We want to support Government by ensuring that every transformer in the country will have a tracking chip that can be tracked if a transformer is stolen.

“We will also set up hidden cameras that will take pictures of thieves and people who vandalise transformers because the rate of vandalism is worrisome,” he said.

Mr Mandipezano said consumers can also help reduce theft and vandalism of transformers by ring fencing them with spikes.

“It’s not our duty alone to prevent theft of transformers. Consumers are also encouraged to help by ring fencing the transformers using spikes so that it becomes difficult for thieves to get in and steal,” he said.

Theft of electricity infrastructure such as copper wires and transformers remains a huge problem which continues to present challenges to Zesa.

Last year, Zesa, announced that it has lost transformers worth about $20 million and hundreds of copper cable rods to theft and vandalism, which resulted in the power utility setting up a whistle-blower initiative to reward those who report suspected theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.

-State Media

The highly respected Paramount Chief of the Ndiweni people in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland province, Chief Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni, has spoken out strongly against the government’s decision to evict popular Ntabazinduna white farmer and photographic safari operator, Brian (Buz) Davies and his wife Carol from their property.

The couple was served with an eviction notice on April 9 by a former employee, Floyd Ambrose, despite his signing a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Davies family in 2014.

The eviction notice was issued by the magistrate’s court in Bulawayo and they were given just six days in which to pack up and leave.

According to the agreement, the Davies family moved back into their safari lodge, which Ambrose had ruined through negligence and neglect, while Ambrose moved into the Davies’s remaining homestead in 2014.

Mr and Mrs Davies lodged an urgent appeal on Friday, April 12, which was set down by the court for April 17, but they have now been informed that it will only be heard on April 29.

Their once highly successful farming enterprise, located at Ntabazinduna, about 30km northeast of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, has been in the family for more than 66 years. It was purchased legally by Mrs Davies’s grandfather, Jack Parsons, in 1953.

Mr and Mrs Davies are the son-in-law and daughter of the late Peter Parsons, who was chairman of Colcom, the commercial subsidiary of the National Pig Breeders’ Co-op, which was set up in 1943 and was a forefather of pig production in Zimbabwe.

The Parsons/Davies family was the largest pig producer in the country, with over 12,000 pigs, a large cattle herd, a commercial crocodile farm and a well-established and very successful photographic safari operation.

With the permission of Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni’s father, the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, they built Chief’s Lodge on the top of Ntabazinduna Hill, a famous historical site that is important in the Ndebele culture. Chief Ndiweni named the Davies family custodians of Ntabazinduna Hill and the family promised to preserve it.

The family employed more than 350 staff who, together with their families, were wholly reliant on income generated from the farming and photographic safari operations.

The employees and their families – more than 2,000 people in total – were all housed on the farm. The Parsons/Davies family built a school for the employees’ children, which is still supported by the Davies family.

Chief Ndiweni expressed his anger at the eviction and told the media that the College of Amakhosi and the Ndebele nation totally and emphatically rejected the eviction.

“It is an eviction that will never be accepted and will continuously be challenged on the ground, locally, regionally and internationally,” he said.

The College of the Amakhosi has called for the US government and the European Union to increase the targeted sanctions and travel bans placed selectively on members of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

“Relaxing or removing the sanctions upon this administration will only serve to make life even harder for the local people,” Chief Ndiweni said.

“A good administration would never in a million years proceed with such an eviction, which is a disaster for the family concerned and the local people,” he stressed. He said he would do everything in his power to block the eviction.

Prominent Bulawayo-based human rights lawyer and former minister of education in the coalition government (2009-2013), David Coltart, has described the eviction as senseless.

“This is just ludicrous – the so-called new dispensation says that land invasions have stopped and yet this family is being forced from their home and business,” he said.

“This (Chief’s Lodge) is a tourist facility, located near Bulawayo’s airport … it is only 21 hectares and was a lodge until it was trashed by the same person trying to take it over again. Buz and Carol Davies have been renovating the lodge over the last few years with a view to opening it again, but now out of sheer greed a Zanu-PF-connected person wants it,” Coltart added.

Despite Mnangagwa’s reassurances, efforts to grab productive agricultural enterprises are continuing at a time when the country is once again experiencing severe drought conditions in certain districts, as well as the devastating consequences of the 19-year farm chaos.

On February 28, the United Nations and Zimbabwean authorities launched a massive appeal for US$234m for more than five million people – around one third of the population – who are in need of urgent food due to drought and a weak economy.

This amount was increased to US$613 million following the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai which battered the east of the country during mid March. Of this, about US$300 million would be required for food aid. Mnangagwa has now admitted that the number of people needing urgent food aid has risen to 7.5 million, almost half of the population, both rural and urban.

Zim Situation

In a case that reeks of corruption, 215 drums or 43 000 litres of tar have gone missing at a Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development deport in Chivhu.

The missing tar is for one of the government’s major projects to expand the delapidated Harare-Beitbridge Highway .

The value of the missing tar is RTGS$1 million.

Mashonaland East Police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the case of the missing tar but could not say when it was stolen.

Minister of Transport Joel Biggie Matiza said he was in a meeting when contacted for comment.

The Mirror has established that Chivhu Deport received 250 drums of tar each holding 200 litres on March 4; 5 and 6.

The security details safeguarding the storage place were not advised to also protect the drums.

On April 8, Tendai Nyangwande who is a clerk at the depot visited the site and found out that 215 drums were missing and then made a police report.

The police have have not ruled out an inside job.

Own Correspondent|An Assistant Inspector based at Rimuka Police Station in Kadoma was recently found dead in his car parked at a filling station in the town.

Sources indicated that Assistant Inspector Kudzai Musarara was found in his car with severe head injuries in the early hours on Good Friday.

Doctors pronounced him dead on arrival at Kadoma Central Hospital. Police have since launched a murder investigation.

The police officer was laid to rest at his home in Guruve on Monday.

ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa has been spotted being pushed in a wheel chair into a Harare bound plane at Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo raising concerns on his health.

Dabengwa who has been in South Africa for treatment has not been seen in public since he left for South Africa late last year.

A friend of family revealed that he has a liver disease which normally causes fatigue, weakness and weight loss. Dabengwa was wheeled to a FastJet plane to Harare on Monday morning while being supported by his wife, Zodwa.

Dabengwa pulled out of ZANU PF in 2009 and revived the old ZAPU that was led by the late Joshua Nkomo. ZAPU was signed into ZANU PF in 1987 and Dabengwa was appointed Home Affairs Minister.

Dabengwa is among ZAPU members who were detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison from 1982 to 1986, accused of plotting to overthrow the government of former Prime Minister Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority subsidiary ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) plans to install cameras on transformers to curb theft and vandalism, a top official has said.

Recently, the company announced that it was losing at least three transformers every night to vandalism and theft.

In an interview, ZENT acting managing director Mr Burutsa Mandipezano said the initiative is aimed at reducing theft of power infrastructure across the country, a situation he described as worrisome.

“We want to support Government by ensuring that every transformer in the country will have a tracking chip that can be tracked if a transformer is stolen.

“We will also set up hidden cameras that will take pictures of thieves and people who vandalise transformers because the rate of vandalism is worrisome,” he said.

Mr Mandipezano said consumers can also help reduce theft and vandalism of transformers by ring fencing them with spikes.

“It’s not our duty alone to prevent theft of transformers. Consumers are also encouraged to help by ring fencing the transformers using spikes so that it becomes difficult for thieves to get in and steal,” he said.

Theft of electricity infrastructure such as copper wires and transformers remains a huge problem which continues to present challenges to Zesa.

Last year, Zesa, announced that it has lost transformers worth about $20 million and hundreds of copper cable rods to theft and vandalism, which resulted in the power utility setting up a whistle-blower initiative to reward those who report suspected theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.

State Media

GOVERNMENT yesterday signed an investment deal worth more than $5 billion with a Chinese steel manufacturing giant, Tsingshan, for the setting up of a new steel plant in Mvuma and to bankroll a number of mining activities in the country.

The deal is set to create at least 30 000 jobs.

Tsingshan and Zimbabwe signed a memorandum of agreement, which served as an addendum to an initial agreement signed in June last year between the two parties.

Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando and the chairman of Tsingshan Mr Chen Shangsong, signed the documents as President Mnangagwa and other senior Government officials witnessed.

Briefing the President on the development, Minister Chitando said the first phase of investment will see the injection $2 billion.

“The initial phase is valued at $2 billion and the value for the second phase, as the projects are implemented, will depend largely on the feasibility studies which will be carried out, but we are looking at between $5 billion and $10 million.

“We are looking at employing 20 000 for ferrochrome project and another 10 000 on the other projects, giving us a total of 30 000 jobs,” he said.

The steel manufacturing plant, the Minister said, would require significant increase in key feed stock minerals namely iron ore, nickel and coal.

To that end, Government has allocated the company special mining rights.

Since June last year, Minister Chitando said, Tsingshan has made significant progress in implementing the deal.

“In terms of the MoU signed around June last year, the Zimbabwean Government committed to providing resources to Tsingshan in the form of chrome, nickel, iron ore and coal resources.

“Since then, Tsingshan has concluded the expansion drive of 100 000 tonnes of ferrochrome at the Selous plant.

“It has started resource evaluation at the coal special grant in Hwange. It also started resource evaluation at the special grant in Mvuma area.

“Conclusions in terms of the company’s granting of nickel concessions were done,” said Minister Chitando.

The minister said the initial project is set to establish a two million tonne steel facility in the Mvuma area, of which one million tonnes will be carbon steel and the other 1 million tonnes being stainless steel.

Minister Chitando said yesterday’s MoU expanded scope of the original agreement in a number of respects.

“The initial MoU targeted the production of ferrochrome specifically for consumption in the Mvuma area, but it is now targeting the production of a million tonnes, which is for both local consumption and for export.

“The initial MoU targeted the production of coke specific for consumption in the Mvuma area, but the new one is targeting consumption in Mvuma and for export worldwide.

“In addition to the conversion of coal to coke, the MoU also provides for the research for Tsingshan to produce chemicals from part of the coke to be produced,” said Minister Chitando.

He added that the MoU provides for the construction of a 600 megawatts power plant in two phases of 300 megawatts each.

In terms of the MoU, Tsingshan will also be involved in lithium mining and value addition.

They also agreed to revamp the railway system to transport the products.

“The MoU also includes Tsingshan looking into the possibility of working with the Government and other investors in exploring the upgrading of the railway to the port or the construction of a new railway line, whichever will be established to be more economically feasible.

“It also provides for the establishment of a dedicated port along the coast which will handle production coming from various operations in Zimbabwe,” said Minister Chitando.

Tsingshan chairman, Mr Chen, hailed the Zimbabwean Government for support saying his company intended to invest more in the country.

State Media

Farai Dziva |Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has run out of ideas to turnaround the country’s economy, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has said.

Biti has also predicted a total demise of the country’s economy.

In an interview with Daily News last Wednesday, Biti said:”I predict that by the end of June this year, it (the black market forex rate) will be 1:10 … in other words, people are becoming poorer and poorer.

Bad economic mismanagement is the theft of people’s savings and this has been created by Mthuli Ncube and his team.”

Farai Dziva|Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira seized the pulpit during the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Easter celebrations and urged the congregants to support Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chadzamira stunned the congregants when he abandoned the guiding theme and began to propagate Zanu PF ideologies.

Chadzamira said he was aware of the fact that all ZCC members would vote for Mnangagwa in the 2023 polls and beyond.

“We are proud of you and we know that you all support President Mnangagwa.

As you know, our President is a visionary, as such he needs your support in his efforts to transform the country’s economy,” said Chadzamira.

Below were the live comments as 28,000 Zimbabweans converged to listen to the crocodile gang leader, William Ndangana’s secretary spoke to ZimEye on Saturday afternoon. VIDEO:

TENSION between Zanu PF and war veterans continue to simmer after former freedom fighters stormed out of the Independence Day celebrations in Bindura last Thursday after their leader was blocked from occupying a position at the top table.

The acrimonious relationship was laid bare after the provincial war veterans’ chairman Sam Parirenyatwa was denied the opportunity to be among the top leaders during the celebrations.

This comes amid revelations that Zanu PF provincial structures are not happy with a recent directive to have war veterans occupy commissariat positions thoughout the party structures, in line with a resolution made during a central committee meeting on November 19, 2017 when former President Robert Mugabe was recalled from the party.

The war veterans have also been at loggerheads with the party’s leadership and early this year, threatened to picket against top Zanu PF chefs that include Obert Mpofu, Patrick Chinamasa and David Parirenyatwa, among others working at the party headquarters in Harare.

The former combatants have also petitioned the national Zanu PF leadership, including the President’s Office over what they called were their differences with the Zanu PF leadership.

But things got to a head in Bindura last Thursday when the war veterans provincial chairman was blocked from taking a seat at the top table by security details.

Parirenyatwa refused to entertain questions. “I am not going to comment,” Parirenyatwa said.

Many people who attended the celebrations told NewsDay that they were left tongue-tied over the unusual incident.

Sources said the situation was tense and it was unusual that war veterans stormed out of the celebrations that largely recognise their efforts in liberating the country.

“As proceedings were kicking off, someone announced that a certain vehicle had its lights on and the driver

was supposed to attend to the problem immediately. The vehicle belonged to Parirenyatwa, who was already at the high table,” a war veterans official who requested anonymity disclosed.

“He went on to attend to the vehicle, but when he returned he was stopped from getting on to the high-table by suspected Central Intelligence Organisation operatives. He tried to reason, but was told he was unfit to be among the provincial leaders.”

The official added: “This didn’t go down well with him and other war veterans. They confronted the operatives who clearly disclosed that they were acting on orders from their bosses who were working with the Zanu PF provincial executive.

“An altercation ensued in full glare of those who were close and in no time, some of the war veterans started shouting that they were not going to take the matter lightly. Although people didn’t expect it, they left the celebrations, leaving those at the high table hugely embarrassed.”

Bindura is one of Zanu PF’s hotbeds where the war veterans demonstrated against former President Robert Mugabe before he was deposed in a coup in November 2017.

Recently, the war veterans accused the Zanu PF provincial executive of imposing the party’s commissar and of unfairly and corruptly parcelling out land, among other accusations. They claimed this was a calculated move to sideline them and silence them for their criticism over the manner in which the province is being run.

Contacted for comment, Mashonaland Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga said she was not aware of the development, saying she only arrived to perform her duties and was too busy to observe who was present or absent.

“When I arrived, I only did my job and had no time to observe who was at the high table or not. In fact, some of the items on the programme were aborted because of rains,” Mavhunga said.

Asked if she was aware of the growing rift between the party’s provincial structures and the war veterans, Mavhunga said: “I am not aware of that.”

-Newsday

MDC will spend close to $2 million on 6 000 delegates who will attend a crunching May 24 electoral congress in Gweru as the party seeks to chart a new way forward following the death of its founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.B

The congress, which will either make or break the MDC, will most likely confirm Nelson Chamisa as new party president after the youthful leader managed to bag 12 nominations from 12 provincial congresses held so far. One province, South Africa, is still outstanding.

Other political players will still face cliff hanger fights as they battle to remain politically relevant in the party and country as battle lines have already been drawn on the influential positions of vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer general and spokesperson with party heavy weights set to trade pound for pound.

Chamisa confirmed that 6 000 delegates will decide the fate of close to 30 party stalwarts who are looking to find place in the 10 member standing committee directly elected at congress.

“We have a membership of over a million people, but as we go for congress we will only have 6 000 delegates attending in a representative capacity, but we want to ensure that the leaders are acceptable not just to our members of the 6 000 delegate, but also to the general populace. This is why we are opening a campaign season in the form on town hall meetings,” said Chamisa.

Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume could not confirm the actual figures the party will have to mobilise for its congress, but said it will run into millions.

“Treasury is working on the figures, but we can’t even conclusively say how much will be used because prices are changing on a daily bases and, therefore, it becomes difficult to say, but it will run into millions,” he said.

The party, which is struggling financially, said it will largely rely on its members and other well-wishers to fund the congress.

“We have to rely on our members and well-wishers, especially seeing that government is withholding our share from the Political Parties Finance Act, we have not been given our money so we will find alternative ways,” Mafume said.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| Parents and the local community in Chibuwe, Chipinge are up in arms against Chibuwe Primary School head and School Development Committee chairperson over abuse of the BEAM scheme funds.

According to a dossier circulating in the community and in possession of ZimEye, the parents are livid over what they said is an unholy alliance between the school head Mr Noel Mashava and SDC Chair Phainas Bote who have failed to explain how they used funds from BEAM.

This is amid reports that some of the pupils who are on the school list had actually paid their own tuition after the school threatened to send them back home over non-payment of fees.

“The school received the funds early this year or in December last year.

“The school head then connived with BOTE who happened to be the then outgoing SDC chairperson to sign for the withdrawal of the funds and quickly made unclear payments through bank transfers.

“This was even done without the knowledge of the then acting deputy headmaster Musikavanhu who has now left the office.

“More-so, the beneficiaries of this facility are yet to receive their receipts as proof of payments.

Unfortunately some of these beneficiaries were even forced to pay for their own tuition fees since the BEAM funds were not availed on time,” reads the damning dossier.

The community complained that the school is struggling against shortage of books, furniture and other essentials yet the two find it good for themselves to fatten their pockets at the expense of benefiaries.

“furniture is still a nightmare for many pupils despite the fact that the school is situated in the midst of a well resourced community.

“The school has a printer and a photocopier that also service the community on certain charges but the money is not booked down..how it is used is another question,” further reads the dossier.

The deals are such that Chamisa will guarantee Mudzuri retains his vice president’s post and Mwonzora settles for the secretary-general post with both rallying behind him.

MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s secret deals with the party’s secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and one of his vice presidents Elias Mudzuri on the hand so that both do not contest him for the presidency at their next congress has been received with mixed views.

Both Mudzuri and Mwonzora were potential challengers who may have given in because of a possible backlash from some of Chamisa’s militant lieutenants. Some political and social analysts said they supported Chamisa’s move saying even in established democracies, political negotiation is an established concept employed to reach a political agreement.

They said by negotiating with the two, Chamisa is showing magnanimity and leadership rather than zero-sum politics. Others are, however, of the opinion that while this negotiation would signify a maturing democracy in the MDC Alliance; it was made for the image built of an invincible Chamisa whose legitimacy would have been severely damaged.

They said the fact that there were incidences of intra-party violence means there are unresolved internal issues that the movement must find time to reflect upon and become a united, well-coordinated political party that can mount a serious intellectual and social-economic alternative to Zanu-PF.

They added that true leadership should pass through the test of popularity and ideas, not coercion as having been alleged by some of the MDC Alliance officials. Political analyst MacDonald Lewanika, while he is not sure of the credibility of these backroom deals, he believes it is not a bad thing after all.

“Democracy is not just about to contest it is also about to comprise and accommodation, and carrying everyone along. This way the MDC preserves its best and brightest in leadership after all leadership is not about positions it is about the disposition of leadership and real leaders can lead from anywhere. At least this way the MDC will have sound leadership at different levels.”

Journalist Stanley Kwenda said while there’s no doubt that Chamisa is the most popular of the three candidates, for the sake of the party, it was a good move for the three to negotiate.

“At the end of the day, this will avoid the splits we have seen in the past. Even the two men know that Chamisa has the momentum, so I wouldn’t say they were dribbled but rather they took a decision in the best interest of their party.

“In the end it’s the party that wins and the millions of people who voted Chamisa in the last election. The sooner they get this congress out of the way the better because they have other important issues to do with such as electoral reforms. 2023 is not that far, they can’t afford to waste more time,” said Kwenda.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said Chamisa is doing well, trying to unite the party ahead of this Congress that can leave the party more divided than united.

“He is demonstrating political maturity by not seeking vindictiveness and total destruction of his party adversaries post-congress. He is rising above the misguided elements in his party who saw the death of Mudzuri and Mwonzora’s careers post-congress. He is being a leader. “Democracy is not only about contested polls but it can also be negotiated freely and fairly and win-win outcomes realised. He is doing right. This is what Morgan Tsvangirai would have done,” said Saungweme.

Social analyst Rashweat Mukundu said politics is not only about contest but the negotiation and alliances and both Mudzuri and Mwonzora realise that they are no match for Chamisa judging by the on-going nominations. “It is however in Chamisa’s interest that the two remain in the MDC and that fractions are limited as much as possible; this is part of building a stronger MDC.”

Social analyst Precious Shumba however, believes negotiations by their very nature are a compromise on principles, values and beliefs.

“They always come after a protracted contest for supremacy, and when you see protagonists negotiating and sharing positions and promising each other certain things, it means that the democracy has been compromised to the extent that it becomes an elite pact to be on the feeding trough.

“Power by all means necessary is a major worry in African politics, and the MDC Alliance should be the leading light in promoting democracy that promotes freedom of choice, right to contest for its membership, and guarantee freedom after speech.”

He said the MDC is called the movement for democratic change, meaning they are a mass-driven social-political movement that is inspired by democratic values and principles in their conduct as an organisation and the officials have to be demonstrating their democratic credentials.

“If however, the negotiations took place at the instigation of their different sets of followers, it means that the MDC Alliance leadership of Mwonzora, Chamisa and Mudzuri timely responded to an expressed need for compromise to maintain the party’s unity.

There is apparent intolerance in the rank and file of the followers as shown in the different reports of violence against perceived enemies of their respective leaders.

“In politics, there are vested interests to pursue and protect, and I am certain that Chamisa was the one who was under more pressure to be uncontested at their congress because if he was going to be contested by Mwonzora or Mudzuri, it would have meant that a significant portion of the MDC Alliance base has divided loyalty,” said Shumba.

He added that because if they went in to July 2018 elections with him as their candidate, and at their first congress following their founder’s death, the expectation would have been for more candidates coming forward to express their interest in the Presidency of their Party, without anyone being seen to be victimised for expressing a mere desire to lead the movement.

Shumba said it would have been more democratic if Chamisa did not attend the provincial congresses when he was an interested party.

“The principle of democracy should be anchored on the right of individuals to make informed choices on their leadership without apparent coercion in the form of raising hands as a way of voting. The vote should remain a secret and that way we are able to evaluate one’s real and genuine support.

“Secondly, if it were possible to invite nominations from the floor during the congress, with no threats to life, democracy in the movement would have come out of age. As it stands, there is possibility that the negotiations were simply done to silence Mwonzora and Mudzuri, while designed to guarantee Chamisa an uncontested position at Congress, thereby maintaining a fallacy of invincibility.

That is a danger to both the movement and democracy as a concept of transparency and accountability.” Shumba said his view is that the negotiations are a process of making sure that Chamisa is thought to represent in full all MDC Alliance followers without allowing that hypothesis to pass the test of democracy.

“My expectation was that since the MDC Alliance is always very critical of Zanu-PF, they would invite such electoral bodies like the Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the Election Resource Centre and their close ally Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions to conduct their elections in a free and fair manner to demonstrate what they really desire for Zimbabwe so that we all appreciate what we are missing as citizens without them as the ruling party.

“In another view, Mwonzora and Mudzuri are being saved from their political dustbin. The negotiations may be seen as a way of saving their positions from being taken by other party officials who have been nominated to those positions. Because if they do not manage to hold any position of leadership, they will be forgotten outside the movement and will find it difficult to mount a formidable comeback,” said Shumba.

Zimetro

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Nelson Chamisa has given President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national dialogue a chance before unleashing a typical rollercoaster protest across the country a move he said is aimed at compelling the 76-year-old Zanu PF leader to come to the negotiation table.

Chamisa said the country needs dialogue urgently as the living conditions continue to deteriorate amid economic collapse as prices of basic commodities continue to skyrocket on the back of disputed elections which spilled in the constitutional court with the 41-year-old former minister’s application dismissed for lack of evidence.

Speaking to Voice of America’s Studio 7 on Monday night, Chamisa insisted that the July 2018 election is still an open chapter whose results remain contested in the political spheres although the constitutional court upheld Mnangagwa’s victory whose result Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) revised more than twice.

“The dialogue that we want is that which will bring all hands on the deck to look into what happened on the 30th of July 2018’s general elections. What we have seen is that (Mnangagwa) do not want to talk but he will come. We are just finishing our congress thereafter we will be focusing on working to improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

The opposition which is currently seized with its internal electoral processes ahead of its fifth elective congress slated for this May, is understood to be planning to roll mass protests across the country to compel the Zanu PF led government to come on the dialogue table.

Chamisa lashed at Mnangagwa saying Robert Mugabe’s successor is not Father Christmas who can just serve out political positions charging that positions should not be the focus.

“One person cannot make things work in a country. Mnangagwa is not Father Christmas, he is not baba Harare. He is not father Zimbabwe who just dish out positions. People voted for us and for change therefore their will must be respected. We must sit down and discuss how we should return the country to the majority rule.

“I was not elected by the people to go into parliament but to lead people in restoring their dignity through improving the economy and political freedom of the nation. The issue is not about positions but people’s welfares,” Chamisa said.

Mnangagwa called for dialogue mid-January 2019 after the popular stay away protest brought the country to a halt with security forces unleashed on civilians leaving a trail of bloodshed.

Chamisa however, snubbed the dialogue call citing that Mnangagwa was not fit to convene a dialogue let alone coming up with point of references for the discussions.

In response, Mnangagwa said he observed Chamisa’s democratic right not to be part of the dialogue which other political players attended but later on significant opposition leaders like Noah Manyika and Nkosana Moyo among others pulled off.

All Africa

Mpofu was quoted by state media as saying that consultations to pave way for the constitution’s amendment were already underway.

Zanu PF has begun a process of amending the party and country constitution to consolidate their grip on power, Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu has said.

“Consultations that will pave way for the amendment of the constitution have been sanctioned by the politburo. So we have already put in place a committee which is working on the modalities.

“For example, the positions of secretaries are out-dated and they will be amended up to the praesidium,” said Mpofu.

Farai Dziva |Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has run out of ideas to turnaround the country’s economy, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has said.

Biti has also predicted a total demise of the country’s economy.

In an interview with Daily News last Wednesday, Biti said:”I predict that by the end of June this year, it (the black market forex rate) will be 1:10 … in other words, people are becoming poorer and poorer.

Bad economic mismanagement is the theft of people’s savings and this has been created by Mthuli Ncube and his team.”

There are reports circulating on social media indicating there is an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in the country.

Bovine TB usually affects animals such as cattle, but it can affect practically all mammals causing a general state of illness, coughing and eventual death. It can be transmitted from animals to humans as well as to other animals.

Transmission of the Bovine TB:
The disease is contagious and it is spread by contact between infected domestic animals such as cattle, and humans.

Usually, the disease is spread by animals or humans inhaling infected droplets which are expelled from the lungs by coughing.
Infection can also occur from direct contact with a wound that might happen during slaughter.

It is also believed by most people that calves and humans can also become infected by ingesting raw (unpasteurized) milk and other dairy products from infected cows.

It is possible for an infected animal to spread to many others and humans before the disease is detected. The symptoms do not show quickly.

Some of the Bovine TB Symptoms In Humans:
Young children infected typically have abdominal infections and older patients have swollen and sometimes ulcerated lymph glands in the neck.State media

Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has urged MDC A officials to desist from jostling for positions and focus on the 2023 elections.

” I Expect those contesting for power to shape the political trajectory of the MDC post Tsvangirai with OPEDS in major newspapers articulating the new thinking, political program to wrestle power, reform the state from failing Ruka Chivende and KRINIC,” said Dr Ruhanya.

“Back in Joburg. Been watching MDC Congress processes in Zim. Not seen any thread on ideas by those contesting for power at their provincial and district congresses.

Everyone wants power; to do what with that power;no counter hegemonic program to the failing Zim regime.”

By Own Correspondent- Former G40 kingpin and Zanu Pf Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has scoffed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration describing it as a “wilting banana republic which has reached a point no return.”

Said Prof Moyo in a series of tweets:

“The wilting started from the very beginning and it progressively got worse and reached a point of no return with the November 2017 military coup that restored the Mgagao 1975 fiasco, which led to the 1980 rot in the first place: then gukurahundi, Esap, Warvets payout, DRC and history!”

Diamond looting: Lacoste. Command Agriculture looting: Lacoste: Dema looting: Lacoste. Africa Chrome looting: Lacoste. Treasury Bill looting: Lacoste. This and more was pre-coup. As for their post coup looting, don’t even start to mention. Their wives, children and clans have joined!”

When asked if his statement were sour groups because he was envious of Mnangagwa and whether it was Mnangagwa who forced him to exile, Moyo said:

“Come on. How can I envy someone whose only known real job before he joined his murderous politics was a COURT INTERPRETER in Zambia?

“Don’t confuse Mnangagwa with Chiwenga. After all, Mnangagwa was himself a fugitive when Chiwenga’s maurading soldiers forced me into exile during the November 2017 military coup. The record is clear and the story is coming soon!”

34 people escaped death by a whisker when a Greyhound bus travelling from South Africa to Bulawayo caught fire this morning at the 35 km peg along the Beitbridge Bulawayo road.

Policemen on the ground said further investigations into the incident were underway though they suspect mechanical fault.

“According to the driver, he saw some smoke from the back of the bus where the engine is located.”

“He then stopped in the middle of the road and opened all the doors for the passengers to get out. They managed to escape with a few goods but the bus and the rest of the goods were reduced to shells,” said one police officer.

In November last year 42 people were burnt to death when a bus travelling from Zvishavane to South Africa caught fire near West Nicholson along the Bulawayo Beitbridge road.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| On the weekend of 15 – 17 March 2019, both Chimanimani and Chipinge districts suffered multiple destruction from Cyclone Idai with survivors needing shelter, water, food, medication and blankets. There was massive death and destruction of property and infrastructure in the two districts. However, on 20 April 2019, Platform for Youth Development (PYD) held a community prayer meeting at Checheche growth point in remembrance of Cyclone Idai victims. The prayer meeting was focused on restoring and maintaining hope in the affected communities, at the same time allay the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

“We carry strong sentiments and beliefs about our relatives and friends who fell victims to the devastating Cyclone Idai, and as the Ndau people we were raised to love, serve, and honour our fellow people no matter what the situation. Cyclone Idai destroyed families, individual lives as well as our community fabric.” Claris Madhuku told the gathering.

“The clean-up campaign and the prayer meeting is a symbol of hope as we recover from the Cyclone Idai disaster. As a Christian clergy, we are to play an important role in identifying individuals with challenges in facing with the reality of the Cyclone Idai disaster and we are prepared to offer support to the victims.” Added Rev Joseph Mugidheya of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ).

The prayer meeting was a collaboration between PYD and religious leaders in Chipinge district as a collective effort to provide both material and emotional/spiritual support to Cyclone Idai victims. PYD strongly believed that the community prayer meeting was a strategy for reducing the victim of Cyclone Idai’s trauma. Survivors of a devastating phenomenon of the stature of the Cyclone Idai usually feel guilty about loved ones who lost their lives and property lost. Thus, a community prayer meeting helped by reducing survivors’ guilt and increasing their hope for future life.  In PTSD, the acceptance of a spiritual power normally leads to a spiritual awakening which, in turn, can assuage survivor guilt. From the speeches and prayer outline that was conducted during the meeting, it became evidently clear that the survivors of Cyclone Idai had found refugee in the community safety net and empathy.

“For those of us who were left suffering after the disaster, the prayer meeting is the first step in giving us the strength and hope to carry on living.” Said Mrs. Irene Kaitu (56 years), one of the Cyclone Idai survivors

Cynthia Gwenzi, PYD Gender and Advocacy Officer stated that the Cyclone Idai had a gender perspective in its trail of disasters. “Women feel powerless in decision– making process. Powerlessness in decision – making increase their social and psychological vulnerabilities and women are at risk of falling into deeper poverty post Cyclone Idai.” She said.

The meeting was well attended by both the Christian community and other civic leaders within the Chipinge district. The community applauded PYD for taking the initiative to remember the victims of Cyclone Idai as well as invoking a collective effort in offering spiritual and moral support to the survivors.

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF strategist Professor Jonathan Moyo has denied he solely crafted the controversial Public Order and Security Act(POSA).

Moyo virtually distanced himself from the draconian act that was used to muzzle dissenting voices- especially members of the Movement For Democratic Change.

Moyo tweeted:”@BitiTendai
@DavidColtart as respected lawyers & MPs when POSA was debated & enacted by Parliament on 31/1/02, you can help set the record straight on which minister steered POSA into law.

Now even ZanuPF mouthpieces are parroting the entrenched lie about POSA and me!”

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has pleaded with Zimbabweans in the diaspora to return and support the economic recovery programme.

Mnangagwa made the call at the Independence Day commemorations at the National Sports Stadium.

” I am aware that some of our citizens are currently spread across the Diaspora.

The raft of reforms we have started should enable some of them to return home and assist in building our nation.

On foreign relations, the engagement and re-engagement policy with all countries in the international community, based on mutual respect, is progressing well.

Various strategic engagements have resulted in the signing of numerous bilateral cooperation agreements and concrete investments.

We, however, call for the unconditional removal of the illegal and unjustified economic sanctions imposed on us so that our nation can realise its full developmental potential, free from any hindrances,” said Mnangagwa.

Farai Dziva|Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira seized the pulpit during the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Easter celebrations and urged the congregants to support Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chadzamira stunned the congregants when he abandoned the guiding theme and began to propagate Zanu PF ideologies.

Chadzamira said he was aware of the fact that all ZCC members would vote for Mnangagwa in the 2023 polls and beyond.

“We are proud of you and we know that you all support President Mnangagwa.

As you know, our President is a visionary, as such he needs your support in his efforts to transform the country’s economy,” said Chadzamira.

Jane Mlambo| A Twitter user, Runyararo Diana has ignited war on the popular social media platform after posting that the new government under President Emmerson Mnangagwa had made strides in reducing the cost of living in the country.

Diana argued that when Mnangagwa assumed office, bread was USD$0.90 cents before going down to USD$0.70 cents.

She also said fuel which was being sold for US$1.36 was now at US$0.75 among other examples cited.

By all standards. HE President Mnangagwa has made long strides in reducing the cost of living in Zimbabwe.

Bread was US$0.90 now US$0.70
Cooking oil was US3.20 now US$2.67
Chicken Inn was US$3.50 now US$2.25
Petrol was US$1.36 now US$0.75
Rent for a family of 4 US$300 now US$98

— Runyararo Diana (@DianaRunyararo) April 22, 2019

The post which has over 700 comments has attracted backlash from Twitter users who questioned the logic behind the post considering that most people are paid in the local RTGS currency and not United States dollars Diana made reference to.

Tell me you are joking. Did you type this in your sober state of mind or under the influence of some substance?

— Mphini Dube (@MphiniSir) April 22, 2019

Salaries were USD$500, now they are USD$150…. But it's your Tweet, go on sis

— Phinias Shonayi (@phiniassZW) April 22, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Former MDC secretary for Legal Affairs David Coltart has defended ex-Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo on allegations that he was involved in the drafting and steering of the notorious Public Order Security Act.

In a tweet posted on Tuesday Coltart said:

“As I recall it was Patrick Chinamasa who steered POSA through parliament with great support from the then speaker of parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa.”

Professor Moyo added, “And the Minister of Home Affairs was John Landa Nkomo.”

The issue began when Moyo invited Coltart and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti to respond to ZANU PF Patriots who had said, “Jonathan Moyo’s  POSA is gone. Government last Friday gazetted the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill to replace the POSA in line with its commitment to open up democratic space and align laws with the constitution as part of the reform agenda of the Second Republic.” 

By Own Correspondent- Harare City Council has revealed that the local water authority’s water production levels are depressed adding that available chlorine gas can only last the next two days.

Said Harare City Council in a statement:

“We have enhanced engagement with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe over the timely release of forex to companies that import water treatment chemicals from South Africa and China. Currently our water production is very depressed.

We are managing only 100 million litres against a daily average of 450 million litres. Our available stocks of chlorine gas can only last us for two days.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has promised to release an initial US$150 000 towards the importation of chlorine gas. We use a tonne of chlorine gas daily. Chlorine is used as a disinfectant to kill bacteria in the water.

The City requires US$3 million every month for the purchase of water purification chemicals.

The other chemicals we use are activated carbon for removing odours, alum sulphate and sodium silicate for removing solid particles, lime for pH regulation, sulphiric acid to reduce pH, HTH for removing algae and ammonia for chlorine retentionin the reticulation system.

Stocks of the other chemicals are also at depressed levels.

By Own Correspondent- Rural public institutions are set to receive a major boost after the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) revealed that it will electrify them for free.

This was revealed by REF public relations and marketing executive Johannes Nyamayedenga who said:

“The decision to electrify public institutions for free was arrived at by REF board after realising that some schools and communities were facing financial challenges to fund the project.

We have a facility where we offer 100 per cent capital subsidy, he said. People do not pay for the construction of lines, but only for internal wiring of their buildings and connection fees to the ZETDC.

Those who qualify for this facility are primary and secondary schools, Government extension offices, chiefs’ homesteads and Government departments such as police posts, District Development Fund, Agritex and Department of veterinary services offices among others.

This is only done for the administration block, science laboratories and computer laboratories to ensure pupils and students can learn in a conducive environment.

Nyamayedenda said that as of now, REF has managed to electrify more than 4 000 schools, among other structures in the rural areas. He said:

“The authority has electrified 2 699 primary schools, 1 359 secondary schools, 874 rural health centres, 411 Government extension offices, 244 chiefs’ households, 952 business centres, 774 small scale farms, 1175 villages and 803 other institutions.”-StateMedia

Police are still battling to arrest a 50-year-old Harare man, Petros Pomborokani, who allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife and brother-in-law at their Gletwin home in Harare following a protracted marital dispute last month and is threatening to kill more people through international phone calls.

The whereabouts of Pomborokani, a former Ministry of Health and Child Care official, are still a mystery amid widespread belief that he could have skipped the country through illegal points.

Police have appealed for information on the whereabouts of Pomborokani, who is suspected to be holed up in South Africa or Namibia.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said investigations were still in progress.

“The suspect is still on the run and we are still looking for him,” he said.

Sources close to the investigations said there have been rumours that Pomborokani is being spotted in some nightclubs in Gletwin and other areas.

Pomborokani is also alleged to be threatening to kill all those he suspected of once having an extra marital affair with his late wife, Ms Olivia Zenda.

A statement obtained from police states that Pomborokani is threatening to kill several people using international cellphone numbers.

-State Media

Mayor of Harare Councilor Herbert Gomba confirmed today that City of Harare is producing less than 100 megalitres per day. This amount of water is further reduced by physical losses through burst pipes which ranges around 45% of the daily water production. This means that Harare Metropolitan Province is receiving at most 50 megalitres per day against daily demand of 800 megalitres which can surge to 1200 megalitres during the hot season.

The above figures confirms that Harare Metropolitan Province has a looming potable water disaster.

The Mayor of Harare further stated that the dangerously low amount of water available to residents is chiefly caused by scarcity of forex to purchase water treatment chemicals.

Community Water Alliance will soon engage the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr. John Mangudya so that there is consistent and period supply of chemicals which should never be elicited by interventions of Civic Society Organizations. It should be an obligation that Dr. Mangudya should fulfil and respect religiously. Dr. Mangudya should completely stop playing games with people lives and health by urgently availing forex needed for water treatment chemicals. This should be the case in all Local Authorities and it has to be consistent.

The impeding disaster on water delivery confirms our position that water delivery now requires stakeholders approach which break the sectoralization approach that has dominated water interventions for the past decades. CWA will soon expedite the process of ensuring that the Water Technical Committee composed after the January 2019 Harare Metropolitan Province Water Conference, meets and address the impeding disaster.

By Farai D Hove| The exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo on Monday declared himself innocent of the draconian Public Order And Security Act.

Writing in the afternoon, Prof Moyo, who is on record abusing the Itai Dzamara family’s sympathisers saying they must be arrested for reporting on his abduction, said, “Hon Tendai Biti and Hon David Coltart, as respected lawyers & MPs when POSA was debated & enacted by Parliament on 31/1/02, you can help set the record straight on which minister steered POSA into law. Now even Zanu PF mouthpieces are parroting the entrenched lie about POSA!”

Prof Moyo was supported by Coltart who replied saying, “as I recall it was Patrick Chinamasa who steered POSA through Parliament with great support from the then Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa.”

But is Jonathan Moyo innocent? On the 15th Jully 2015, Moyo tweeted saying anyone who has reported that Dzamara was abducted must be arrested for causing alarm and dispondency. “Those who say Dzamara was abducted must prove their claims or be charged of causing alarm and dispondency,” Prof Moyo tweeted.

By Own Correspondent- War veterans have called for unity among Zimbabweans in order to deal with the deteriorating economic situation.

Spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, Douglas Mahiya has sought to absolve the ruling ZANU PF party for superintending over the economic decay.

He shifted the blame onto the “enemy”.

Said Mahiya:

“It is not the fault of the ruling party or government, but it is the fault of the enemy who has made inroads and advanced in tactics to ensure that the economy doesn’t perform because of sanctions and many other issues that are being unleashed to the Zimbabwean people.

It is up to us as a nation to advance and force the enemy to retreat by uniting. It is time to unite and set aside our differences and confront the enemy so that we achieve our goals and at least have food on our tables.”

Over the past several months, ZANU PF has resorted to the Mugabe-era tactic of blaming Western countries for anything and everything negative.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- MDC president Nelson Chamisa’s alleged Machiavellian deals with party rivals have drawn mixed responses from political analysts.

Chamisa reportedly made secret deals with his likely challengers at the May Congress, secretary general Douglas Mwonzora and vice president Elias Mudzuri.

The deal entails that Chamisa retains his post unchallenged with both Mwonzora and Mudzuri retaining their posts.

MacDonald Lewanikwa is of the view that such deals are not bad at all since politics is no longer a zero-sum game. He said:

Democracy is not just about to contest it is also about compromise and accommodation, and carrying everyone along.

This way the MDC preserves its best and brightest in leadership after all leadership is not about positions it is about the disposition of leadership and real leaders can lead from anywhere.

At least this way the MDC will have sound leadership at different levels.

A social analyst, Precious Shumba is not enthused by backroom pacts, which he considers compromise principles, values and beliefs.

Said Shumba:

They always come after a protracted contest for supremacy, and when you see protagonists negotiating and sharing positions and promising each other certain things, it means that the democracy has been compromised to the extent that it becomes an elite pact to be on the feeding trough.

Power by all means necessary is a major worry in African politics, and the MDC Alliance should be the leading light in promoting democracy that promotes freedom of choice, right to contest for its membership, and guarantee freedom after speech.

If however, the negotiations took place at the instigation of their different sets of followers, it means that the MDC Alliance leadership of Mwonzora, Chamisa and Mudzuri timely responded to an expressed need for compromise to maintain the party’s unity.

There is apparent intolerance in the rank and file of the followers as shown in the different reports of violence against perceived enemies of their respective leaders.

In politics, there are vested interests to pursue and protect, and I am certain that Chamisa was the one who was under more pressure to be uncontested at their congress because if he was going to be contested by Mwonzora or Mudzuri, it would have meant that a significant portion of the MDC Alliance base has divided loyalty.

Shumba added that Mwonzora and Mudzuri may have saved their political careers by agreeing to the deals. He said:

My expectation was that since the MDC Alliance is always very critical of Zanu PF, they would invite such electoral bodies like the Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the Election Resource Centre and their close ally Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions to conduct their elections in a free and fair manner to demonstrate what they really desire for Zimbabwe so that we all appreciate what we are missing as citizens without them as the ruling party.

In another view, Mwonzora and Mudzuri are being saved from their political dustbin.

The negotiations may be seen as a way of saving their positions from being taken by other party officials who have been nominated to those positions.

Because if they do not manage to hold any position of leadership, they will be forgotten outside the movement and will find it difficult to mount a formidable comeback.-DailyNews

By Wilbert Mukori_ As far as Mnangagwa is concerned last year’s elections were free, fair and credible. He has invited opposition parties, civic society and all other interested parties to a national dialogue to discuss the country’s worsening economic situation, etc. on condition that the participants recognise him as the legitimately elected president of the Republic.

So far Nelson Chamisa and one or two other opposition leaders have refused to attend the national dialogue because he refused to accept Mnangagwa’s legitimacy. He has now softened his stance. 

“MDC-Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa has made a major climb-down on his hardline stance against inter-party dialogue and called for an engagement between him and President Mnangagwa to tackle national challenges affecting the country,” reported Bulawayo 24. 

“In a clear about turn, Mr Chamisa said he was willing for a direct engagement with President Mnangagwa to discuss political, economic and social issues affecting the country, while the party’s spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume said they were willing to compromise on their previous demands.” 

Some of the demands by the MDC-Alliance described by some political analysts as bizarre included the establishment of a Transitional Authority to run Government.

Other demands included opening up debate on President Mnangagwa’s legitimacy which has long been concluded by the Constitutional Court which upheld his election victory after Mr Chamisa approached the superior court challenging the July 30, 2018 election results. 

Mr Chamisa posted a conciliatory message on his twitter account at the weekend where he called for people to rise above party politics.

Nelson Chamisa and his MDC Alliance, like all the other opposition parties and candidates who participated in last year’s elections, knew that Zanu PF was going to rig the elections. They knew what since the 2013 rigged elections not even one meaningful reform was implemented and with no reforms it was clear Zanu PF will rig the 2018 elections. And they did.

Legitimate?

Compromise! What is there to compromise about? Whether or not Mnangagwa and his regime are legitimate is not a matter of what Mnangagwa, the sell-out opposition or anyone else says but what the historic facts say.

Last year’s elections were a repeat of the 2013 elections complete with the same glaring flaws and illegalities. 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote only for Mnangagwa to promise after the vote they will get the vote next time.

The public media remained the exclusive monopoly of the Zanu PF. Zanu PF operative and local leaders used state aid and resources to coerce the voters, especially in the rural areas, to attend party rallies and then to vote for the party’s candidate. 

ZEC Independence

ZEC failed to release a verified voters’ roll although this is a legal requirement. The regime increased the number of polling stations from 2 000 in 2008 to 9 000 in 2013 to over 11 000 last year. ZEC failed to make public some of the polling station results although this was another legal requirement. 

ZEC was also required by law to keep a record of all voters who refuse to vote in both the parliamentary and presidential race; again there was no such record. There were over 70 000 more ballots cast in the presidential race than in the parliamentary one. Ever the blind could see the elections was being rigged!

“The electoral commission (ZEC) lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Zimbabwe Election Observer Mission’s final report. 

“Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”

In short Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF party are illegitimate because last year’s election process was pregnant with flaws and illegalities, errors and irregularities, etc. It simply beggars belief how anyone could ever judge such a flawed and illegal process free, fair and credible. And if the process failed to meet international standards of free, fair and credible; how could the result be anything else other than illegitimate. 

You Are Illegitimate!

Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is a result of 39 years of criminal waste of the nation’s human and material resources by the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime. As much as Mnangagwa would like to give the impression that he has transformed Zimbabwe since taking over from Mugabe following the November 2017 military coup. The truth is Zimbabwe is still a pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs. 

By blatantly rigging last year’s elections Mnangagwa has confirmed Zimbabwe is still very much a pariah state governed by an illegitimate regime. Even if Chamisa join all the other opposition parties and candidates and proclaim Mnangagwa the legitimate president, that will not change the reality that he is illegitimate.  

As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state, there will be no meaningful economic recovery because no local and foreign investor or lender will ever want to do business with a pariah state. No one!

Mnangagwa is illegitimate because last year’s elections were not free, fair and credible. It was clear from the start that the elections would be rigged. No one in the opposition camp should participated, they did out of greed. It is the same greed that have the opposition taking part in these Zanu PF led national dialogue. 

Chamisa, you are now ready to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate president in return for a seat on the gravy train. This is not the first time MDC have sold out and Mnangagwa knew you would sell-out. Still both Mnangagwa and yourself can delude yourself that Mnangagwa is now legitimate, he is not, and that the compromise will deliver any meaningful economic recovery, it will not! 

“We need to put an end to these economic problems for the sake of ourselves and our children,” maintains Chamisa.

Zimbabwe’s economic problems will remain, indeed will get worse, as long as the country remains a pariah state. We need to cures ourselves of the curse of corruption, vote rigging and illegitimate regimes by acknowledging the problem of vote rigging and dealing with it and not selling-out by pretending the illegitimate is legitimate!

By: Nomusa Garikai: “In Zimbabwe, we are currently undergoing our own struggle of light over darkness. As we walk the road of transformation and reform, we are guided by our Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings of forgiveness, peace, love and take comfort from his victory,” said Mnangagwa in his East Message

This is just wishful thinking! Here is a regime that promised to hold free, fair and credible elections only to blatantly rig the elections. 

Mnangagwa promised “zero tolerance on corruption” and one year and half later has failed to arrest even one of the big fish. He has since admitted that “corruption is deep-rooted”. Of course, it is deep-rooted; he and his fellow ruling elite leaders are the godfathers of corruption! 

“For a while the challenges we face are significant, we are resolute in our faith that with hard work, sacrifice and unity we too will triumph. May the Almighty protect and bless our land,” he continued.

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political hell-hole because of 39 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and tyrannical Zanu PF rule. The regime has managed to stay in power regardless of the people’s democratic wish for meaningful regime change because it rigged elections. 

Zimbabwe’s economic and political mess is a man-made problem; mismanagement, corruption, etc. are problems of bad governance. It is, per se, within our mortal power to end this mess by replacing the bad government with a good, competent and accountable government. 

It is ironic that Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF cronies are the ones who have created the de facto Zanu PF dictatorship, ruthlessly imposed it on the nation and ruthless resisted its dismantling. His solution is that we must have faith and work hard. Have faith in what? In Zanu PF’s voodoo economic policies delivering economic recovery regardless of the corruption, mismanagement, etc.! 

After 39 years of Zanu PF misrule with disastrous consequences it will be insane to expect the regime to delivery economic recover. 

If Zanu PF is allowed to stay in office until 2023 the regime will rig that year’s elections too and retain Zimbabwe’s pariah state status complete with the economic meltdown we see today. No doubt Zanu PF will be arguing the nation to work even harder, suffer even more heart-breaking hardship as part of the “austerity for prosperity” and never to lose faith in the regime delivering economic prosperity, its Vision 2030 Middle Income status. 

Vision 2030 is nothing but a mirage and after 39 years of chasing mirages; it is madness to continue. As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs economic recover much less prosperity will remain a mirage.  

“Our own struggle of light over darkness!” Our struggle is for democracy over dictatorship. The only sure way to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship is for Mnangagwa et al to step down so allow the appointment of an interim administration that will be entrusted to implement the democratic reforms the nation has been dying for all these years.

A World Food Programme (WFP) was yesterday involved in an accident at Nyautsa Bridge in Chipinge.

Details of the accident have not been availed to ZimEye

VIEW PICTURE BELOW…

By Own Correspondent- Ousted Zanu Pf Spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo has revealed how the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe ill treated colleagues during the liberation struggle.

Speaking to a local publication, Gumbo said Mugabe would punish others for merely having a diverging view.

Said Gumbo:

“We were treated like dogs. We spent at least three months detained in holes dug in an open place which were closed from the top at about 5 pm, only to be reopened the following morning.

The holes were six metres deep and four metres wide. It was hell on earth and we all thought we were going to die.

At one point the holes were filled with soil and only our heads were left protruding out. But we all survived the ordeal.”

Gumbo was incarcerated alongside the likes of the late Henry Hamadziripi, former police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri, former ZBC chief executive Happison Muchechetere and Mukudzei Mudzi.

By A Correspondent| ZANU PF members are fuming over plans to officially announce party president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s neice, Lydia Heather Mudhari as the Zimbabwe consul to Scotland.

Sources inside ZANU PF UK confirmed the development to ZimEye as some threatened to “pour jecha” on Mnangagwa’s niece.

Zimbabwe is opening the consulate at a time when it is closing numerous embassies across the world, where is the logic?, ZANU PF sources fumed speaking to ZimEye.

“Mudhari has been assigned the post, and it now awaits public announcement,” an impeccable source told ZimEye.

Heather Mudhari’s appointment was also confirmed by senior sources in ZANU PF. Although a government announcement was unavailable, the local ZANU PF leader, Marshall Gore was already referring Scotland based Zimbabweans to Miss Mudhari for assistance with passport documents, however saying the official setup is yet to be done.

For a person to be appointed an ambassador, they need to have first undergone special training for over a year and sources questioned why Heather Mudhari has been rushed to the post without the requisite training.

Our undercover investigations involved a test using a real case of a Glasgow based woman desperate for an ETD to travel for her mother’s funeral in Harare.

ZimEye believes the consulate service was now already functioning by Monday morning and the official position was only twisted after senior ZANU PF officials noticed that ZimEye has opened an investigation.

“Where and when did she do training for the post?,” a top ZANU PF member questioned.

Mudhari was contacted and she her tone of voice sounded “street level, rough” while responding.

She did not deny that she now carries the title, “ambassador.”

“Can you call the embassy in London” she said in response after answering to the salutation which was repeated thrice to her ears.

She then abruplty dropped the phone while the client was still speaking. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY –

The planned office address for the embassy could not be established at the time of writing.

By Own Correspondent- An 18 year old Filabusi man allegedly fatally struck his 18 year old neighbour with a brick on the head following a misunderstanding over his 13 year old girlfriend.

Carlson Ndlovu (18) of Zamanjalo Village found Mbongiseni Sibanda (18) at his girlfriend’s home on Friday last week and questioned him on his intentions.

A fight allegedly broke out and the two traded heavy blows.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said Sibanda was arrested and was assisting police with investigations. 

He said:

“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred in Filabusi area on Friday.

Mbongiseni Sibanda went to Carlson Ndlovu’s girlfriend aged 13-years at around 2PM and borrowed a cell phone and promised to return it. At around 7PM, Sibanda went back to the juvenile’s home to return the cell phone and while he was there Ndlovu arrived and found them talking.

Ndlovu confronted Sibanda demanding to know what he was doing at his girlfriend’s home which resulted in a misunderstanding. Sibanda fled from the homestead and Ndlovu pursued him.

This forced Sibanda to retaliate and he picked up a brick and struck Ndlovu on the back of his head.”

Chief Insp Ndebele said Ndlovu died on the spot as a result of the heavy blow.

He said police were called to attend the scene and Sibanda was arrested while Ndlovu’s body was taken to Filabusi District Hospital Mortuary.

Chief Insp Ndebele said it remained a cause for concern that murder cases were being recorded over trivial issues. He urged members of the public to desist from resorting to violence to resolve disputes.

He said:

“It’s alarming that we continue to record murder cases over trivial issues. Like in this case these youngsters had a fight which resulted in loss of life just because one was speaking to the other’s girlfriend. When people are faced with disputes they should resolve them amicably and not resort to violence.”

By Own Correspondent- Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa are likely to meet at the memorial service for the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai set for May 4 in Buhera.

Tsvangirai, who succumbed to cancer of the colon on February 14 2018 is set to be remembered at his rural home in Buhera early next month.

Family spokesperson, Manase Tsvangirai said preparations were at an advanced stage for the memorial and invitations had been sent to many individuals and institutions.

Despite having dedicated his life to fighting Zanu-PF, Tsvangirai’s family said they would like everyone including Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF to attend.

The family of the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai revealed that they had invited both government and Zanu-PF party to the former Prime Minister’s memorial.

“This is not a closed session,” Manase said.

“This memorial is open to everyone be it political parties, churches, individuals or other organisations, everybody is being invited. The reason is that Morgan made friends with everyone during the Government of National Unity, so we cannot be found singling out some people that they must not attend. Even Zanu-PF is invited. We have send invitations through the right protocol channels.”

Manase added: “We also invited President Emmerson Mnangagwa, we sent through the invitation and an accompanying letter. Morgan was a former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and not of a party and because of that there is no way we can have selected people to attend.

“Morgan worked for Zimbabwe and we are saying everyone, be it the President, government officials and war veterans and other political parties are invited. This is going to be a very big function.”

Before his death, Mnangagwa and other senior government officials paid a courtesy call on Tsvangirai at his house in Harare. He was also given a State assisted funeral. MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the party has no problem with Zanu-PF or any other person attending the memorial of their founding leader.