SEVEN people were seriously injured after a Toyota Wish they were travelling in was hit by another vehicle after the driver made a turn in front of oncoming traffic.
The accident happened in Headlands. The Mutare-bound Wish which was coming from Harare landed on its roof after the heavy impact.State media
Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Eza Chadzamira has exhorted Chiredzi Town councillors to bury their political differences and close ranks to make sure the sugar-cane growing town attains municipal status by 2023.
He said tugs-of-war along political lines will derail plans to grow Chiredzi Town despite its rich potential, thanks to a vibrant sugar industry.
Addressing guests during the commissioning of a 2,4km road refurbishment project, Minister Chadzamira said the development of a sound road network in Chiredzi was key in the attainment of the province’s $8 billion economy by 2030.
The road project was financed by a $590 000 grant from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara). “The road is a part of the local authority’s 100-Day Plan in response to the clarion call by his Excellency, the President, ED Mnangagwa, on the need to improve delivery of public services and goods,” said Chadzamira.
“The commissioning, therefore, in my opinion is symbolic of the potential Chiredzi and indeed Masvingo has in terms of being a transport and economic hub linking Zimbabwe and the region to foreign markets.
“Let us think outside the box and dream big as we envision the opportunities offered in this region.” Chadzamira said local authorities should improve on the ease of doing business by taking advantage of the current realignment of laws being effected by Parliament.
“We should be alive to the changes in the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and the creation of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, which Government is pursuing,” he said.State media
By Own Correspondent- Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs today visited the Mwenezi District Hospital and was disheartened by the dilapidated state he found the hospital in a ZBC Online report claimed.
Photo Credits: ZBC News Online
Honorable Chidzamira and other government officials were told by the District Medical Officer that the hospital was marred with challenges like water, laundry machines, kitchen equipment, bed linen, and drugs, these are their immediate needs.
According to ZBC News Online:
“It emerged that the running of the instituition is basically in intensive care”.
Most boarding schools in Matabeleland have increased fees to between RTGS$1 200 and RTGS$1 500 a term and many parents said they are contemplating withdrawing their children because they cannot afford the fees.
The parents said school authorities in coming up with the new fees had not taken into account the prevailing economic hardships.
In interviews yesterday, parents said providing for their children for the second term that starts on May 7 is proving to be a challenge as they have to buy winter uniforms whose prices have also been increased.
Government gave schools the go ahead to raise fees after they applied to review fees upwards citing the tough operating environment characterised by increases in the prices of goods and services.
Most boarding schools including Government schools have increased fees to between RTGS$1 200 and RTGS $1 500, up from between RTGS$500 and RTGS $700. Some of the schools that have already increased fees, have informed parents that they might be forced to meet again before schools open for another fees review.
Some private schools have asked parents to pay part of the fees in United States dollars. Day schools also increased fees by more than 100 percent.State media
By Own Correspondent- A 19-year-old woman has been arrested after she assisted her male colleague rape her employer’s seven-year-old minor child who had been left in her custody after her employer traveled to South Africa.
According to a local publication, while the employer was away the maid aided her male friend to rape the 7-year-old.
The child is alleged to have been raped on three occasions. On one of the occasions, the maid and her boyfriend were in the same room where the rape occurred.
On another occasion, the maid is alleged to be the one who instigated the rape. After these horrific crimes, the maid who is from Kambuzuma quit her job and returned to Harare.
However, the abuse came to light when the minor was taken to a hospital after she had experienced health problems.
The police managed to track down the maid, therapist and the maid’s boyfriend. The three appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Crispen Mberewere on Wednesday facing charges of rape. They were not asked to plead and were remanded to April 23 for trial.
In a similar case, another maid was sentenced to 12-years in prison after she assisted a mine worker to rape one of the children who had been left in her charge.-Newsday
ATLETICO MADRID striker Diego Costa refused to train yesterday after being told that his club is to fine him for a verbal outburst in a recent defeat to Barcelona, Spanish newspapers including AS , El Pais and Marca reported.
Atletico and Costa’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Costa has been banned for eight La Liga games by the Spanish Football Federation for verbally abusing referee Jesus Gil Manzano when he was sent off during the 2-0 loss at Barca on April 6, meaning he will play no part in the rest of the season.
AS, El Pais and Marca and others said Costa had learned on Wednesday that he was to be fined for the club for the misdemeanour, and reacted to the news by refusing to train yesterday despite being fully fit.
Atletico’s general manager Clemente Villaverde criticised Costa after the defeat to Barca, which effectively handed the La Liga title to the Catalans.
He said the striker’s behaviour was “reprehensible and seriously damaged the club”, although coach Diego Simeone was more forgiving.
“Costa is an animal who can do things that make us suffer like what happened at the Nou Camp when we really needed him,” Simeone told Goal.com in an interview published yesterday.State media
A neighbour to the man who fell and died on the way to a funeral in Bulawayo has said the community is in a state of shock following the tragedy.
The man said when Crispen Simango left Entumbane on the fateful day, he was drinking beer with his friends.
“They left Entumbane at around 8PM on Monday and were drinking beer. His friends say the incident happened around 11 PM,” said the neighbour.“The guys were sleeping at the back of the UD truck and during the course of the journey, he woke up wanting to urinate. It seems he lost balance and fell and died on the spot. One of the friends banged the truck to alert the driver who stopped a few metres away from the scene. They found him already dead.”
He said when the incident occurred, Simango was going to a funeral following the death of one of his neighbours in Entumbane.State media
By Own Correspondent- A man from Matabeleland South stabbed his mother’s lover accusing him of disrespecting their family by sneaking into his mother’s bedroom.
A local publication reported that Behaviour Moyo (25) suspected that his mother Thandiwe Moyo was having a se_xual affair with Mehluli Sibanda and warned her that he would handle the matter.
His mother did not heed the warning and kept sneaking Mehluli into her bedroom at night.
Unable to handle what was happening, Behaviour confronted Mehluli over the issue. Unfortunately, the situation quickly escalated as Mehluli did not respond well to the accusations resulting in the two engaging in a brawl. It is alleged that Behaviour drew an Okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Mehluli.
Police sources said he stabbed him twice on the chest and once on the head. Mehluli bled profusely and died while he was being rushed to a hospital.-BMetro
A family member who spoke to B-Metro added, He sent us a text message saying I have killed that dog that was sleeping with our mother. If you go along the railway line you will find his lifeless body.
Behaviour has since been apprehended and is now awaiting trial.
A 26-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo was stoned and stabbed to death allegedly by a group of unknown assailants.
Edward Hlanganani from Old Magwegwe suburb was found by a passerby lying in a pool of blood on a tarred road about 200 metres from his home at about 6AM yesterday.
His family told The Chronicle that Hlanganani was brutally attacked on his way home from Marisha Bar in the same suburb on Wednesday night.
He had three deep gashes on the head suspected to have been caused by a sharp object. His face was heavily fractured while his teeth were loose. There was a big stone stained with blood which was on the road, about four metres from the body.
When The Chronicle visited the murder scene yesterday, his body had already been ferried to a mortuary. His wife, Ms Sithatshisiwe Lunga, said her husband left home at around 9PM on Wednesday to buy cigarettes from Marisha Bar.
“My husband left around 9PM to buy cigarettes and then he came back and said I should put his phone on the charger while he would be outside smoking. “He left the house to go buy another packet of cigarettes saying the one he had was finished,” said Ms Lunga who appeared to be shocked.State media
By Own Correspondent- Forget Ndoro (30) was dragged to Chief Nembudziya’s traditional court for impregnating Siphiwe Ndawana (26) and Gertrude Sibanda (29) by their very angry husbands Talent Nhamo and Matthew Njere, respectively.
Ndoro did not deny the allegations and admitted responsibility for the pregnancies in a development which left the community of Mangwere Village under Chief Nembudziya in Gokwe shocked.
The chief confirmed the development to a local publication and said:
“I presided over a matter of a married man who had relationships with two married women resulting in two pregnancies. I don’t take such matters lightly and l ordered him to pay 10 cows for disrespecting other men in such a degrading manner.
When l asked him about the matter he did not deny it. He said his illicit affairs with the two ladies started as a joke before turning into serious affairs.
I told him that he must take full responsibility for his two unborn children. He must also pay all expenses required when the women give birth. The chief also said that he was worried about the increase in the number of extramarital affairs in his area.”-StateMedia
Snakes have been found in Liberian President George Weah’s office, forcing him to work from his private residence, the BBC has learnt. Press secretary Smith Toby told the BBC that on Wednesday two black snakes were found in the foreign affairs ministry building, his official place of work.
All staff have been told to stay away until 22 April. “It’s just to make sure that crawling and creeping things get fumigated from the building,” Mr Toby said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts the office of the president, so it did an internal memo asking the staff to stay home while they do the fumigation,” he said.
The office of the president has been based in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since a fire in 2006 gutted the nearby presidential mansion. A FrontPage Africa news website video shows workers trying to attack the snakes when they appeared near the building’s reception. “The snakes were never killed,” Mr Toby said. “There was a little hole somewhere [through which] they made their way back.” Police and presidential security were seen guarding Mr Weah’s residence in the capital Monrovia. A fleet of vehicles including escorts jeeps were parked outside.
Mr Toby said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started to fumigate on Friday.
“That building’s been there for years now, and [because of] the drainage system, the possibility of having things like snakes crawling in that building was high,” he said.
The president is definitely returning to his office on Monday after the fumigation whether or not the snakes are found and killed, Mr Toby said. BBC
Mutare City Council revenue collection is in a mess as close to half of all the properties in the city are non-existent on the local authority’s billing system.
This means that more than 20 000 families or companies are either living or operating for free in the urban municipality for they have not paid a cent for services and other deliverables.
The shocking figures were revealed by the Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa on Wednesday.
He said council was prejudiced millions of dollars over the years. “The billing system is in a mess and we need to correct it with urgency. These are loopholes that have been bleeding council financially over the years,” he said.
“This shocking anomaly was exposed by our Geographical Information System team which is working with the new ICT manager to capture and update all properties into our database. In Mutare we have a total of 48 843 properties but after the GIS exercise 15 000 of these were there in our database. From the 48 843 only 27 000 were captured in the billing system which means that the remaining figure was not being billed.”
Mr Maligwa said of the 27 000 properties that were being billed only 18 000 were being charged all the utilities council was providing while the remaining 9 000 were not paying for some of the services in unclear circumstances.
“Shockingly, there were about 7 000 properties with negative figures on their accounts running into thousands of dollars which meant that council owed them money. The impression here was that these clients were paying their bills in advance. Paying for services they have not been offered. You will be surprised to see that some of the properties that were not being billed are located right in the Central Business District,” he said.
The town clerk said the local authority was collecting around $2,3 million every month but the figure is expected to rise to about $3 million by July this year and to reach $5 million by year end as council moves quickly to complete the GIS exercise.
“We have done Hobhouse and by end of May we would have finished doing the CBD and industrial area,” he said. – Manica Post
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security manager for Chiadzwa Mine, Mr Benjamin Chinyanga has resigned just a day before the commencement of his disciplinary hearing. The resignation follows a spate of security breaches at the mine.
Mr Chinyanga who is understood to have been on suspension since March 20 this year, is said to have tendered his letter on the of 16 April 2019.
Contacted for comment by Great Dyke New24, ZCDC spokesperson Mr Sugar Chagonda could neither deny nor confirm the resignation of Mr Chinyanga saying the company is set to curb all diamond leakages in line with their zero tolerance to corruption.
“The state diamond miner will leave no stone unturned when it comes to curbing all forms of leakages and pilferage of the precious stones in line with our zero tolerance to corruption policy and our quest to become a world class diamond producer,” he said.
The state-owned company in January fired 80 of its employees, many of them suspected of involvement in diamond ore looting at Chiadzwa.
A breach of security occurred in December 2018 followed by another one in January 2019 with the latest having been recorded in March resulting in the arrest and prosecution of four people who are before the courts.- state media
Farai Dziva|Senior government officials in Masvingo Province attempted to seize donations made by an MDC A official last week.
MDC A losing candidate for Chiredzi West constituency during last year’s elections, John Manganye, donated an ambulance, 30 wheelchairs, three 5 000-litre water tanks, blood pressure testing machines, beds and various other items to Chiredzi Town Council-run polyclinic, sending shivers down ruling party honchos’ spines.
Manganye is also helping with the refurbishment of structures, including repainting of the polyclinic.
Government sources claimed Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister, Ezra Chadzamira initially blocked council officials from publicising Manganye’ s name.
“Chadzamira blocked council officials from mentioning Manganye’s name but he gave in due to incessant protests from angry stakeholders,” a government source claimed.
Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabweans are the saddest people in the world.
Chamisa made the remarks in an interview with a national daily newspaper.
” We are turning 40 next year, it’s time to take stock of the benefits of the liberation struggle to say: how far have we come in fulfilling the gains of the liberation struggle.
The liberation struggle was about the will of the people, one-man, one-vote, it was about sovereignty, land.
How far have we gone in addressing those fundamental questions? We continue to have disputed elections. In 2018, the elections were disputed on account of deprivation of the will of the people; that shows you and that confirms that we have achieved nothing in terms of the ethos of the liberation struggle.
On the land issue, we have not genuinely empowered our people and you see now there continues to be problems around fundamental issues of title.
The land issue continues to be a hanging question. The third issue has to do with prosperity and opportunities for the people of Zimbabwe.
We are the saddest people in the world, we score least on the index of happy people in the world, because of government’s illegitimacy, governance deficit, because of the absence of comprehensive reforms, institutionally, constitutionally, economically and politically these fundamental reforms are lacking,” said Chamisa.
“If you look at our laws we continue to have trails of repression from the Rhodesian times. Look at how people continue to have a police force which is questionable, typical of the Selous Scouts.
We still have deep-seated divisions, you can’t have independence when we have divisions around tribes, when you have unhealed wounds around past challenges, around Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina, erosion of pensions; all those things are wounds on the hearts and minds of people of Zimbabwe.
Independence must mean something, Independence can’t be paper independence, it can’t be rhetoric. It has to be independence in the means of production, independence in the economy, in the ownership of the means of production; those issues have not been addressed.”
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe is likely to face a critical shortage of meat products, it has emerged.
This comes as farmers cry foul over the recent price hike of maize and soya beans and the removal of government subsidies.
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) economist Reneth Mano told a daily newspaper on Wednesday that the livestock industry was at risk.
“By just changing, overnight, the grain marketing policies without consultations to the commercial livestock sector, which has been a major partner of government and GMB (Grain Marketing Board), the farmer has been introduced to a big shock.
Now, there is a risk to the billion dollar industry
And the main threat really is if you are a poultry breeder and you are producing day-olds and you cannot access maize at affordable prices, you may have to cut production.
If you are into piggery, with imported breeding stock, like a lot of our medium and large-scale producers, when you cannot feed pigs you may have to scale down or kill some of them.
“The country has an annual demand of 91 million birds, 266 000 slaughter cows and 140 000 pigs,”said Mano.
Cristiano Ronaldo is demanding a major overhaul at Juventus following Tuesday’s shock Champions League defeat against Ajax.
While his great rival Lionel Messi tormented Manchester United and ensured Barcelona’s presence in the semi-finals of the competition, Juventus threw away a lead and were deservedly beaten by Erik ten Hag’s precocious young side.
Ronaldo, who won three Champions League titles in succession with Real Madrid and appeared in eight consecutive semi-finals, is, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, furious with Juve’s capitulation and unhappy with the rigid tactics employed by Max Allegri.
The 34-year-old’s arrival last summer, at a cost of €112million, was expected to guarantee Juventus’ presence in the latter stages of the competition and, after his hat-trick in the previous round against Atletico Madrid, it appeared as though his signing would reap instant European dividends.
Defeat on Tuesday, however, has left the Portuguese icon devastated with his mother revealing ‘He was very sad. He would have liked to have gone to the final. He will be there for the next one. What did he say to me? ‘Mom I don’t make miracles’.’
Ronaldo is now expecting the Juventus’ hierarchy to oversee a major rebuilding process in the summer to bolster and ageing squad. Paulo Dybala could be sold for up to €100m, ironically to fund a move for the player dubbed ‘the new Ronaldo’, Benfica’s Joao Felix.
The scorer of Tuesday’s midweek defeat Matthijs de Ligt is also high on Juve’s wanted list, as well as Lyon’s all-action midfielder Tanguy Ndombele who is also wanted by Manchester City and Chelsea.
Who will be at Juventus helm at the start of next season, meanwhile, remains a matter of intense speculation with Allegri set for crunch talks this week, despite the 51-year-old insisting he maintains the club’s backing.
Antonio Conte, who has enjoyed a season-long sabbatical following his sacking by Chelsea, has been linked with a return to the Turin giants and has confirmed he intends to return to management imminently.
‘I still don’t know where I will go,’ he told talk show ‘E poi c’è Cattelan’, in an episode that will be aired on Thursday evening.
‘But certainly I’ll choose a team who has a project that convinces me
By Own Correspondent- The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a national day of mourning following a boat accident which left at least 13 people dead and 114 others missing on Monday night in Lake Kivu.
Only 13 people are reported to have been rescued alive.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi announced that he would make it obligatory for passengers on the lake to wear life jackets.
He said this in a statement on Thursday. Tshisekedi said 114 people were still missing following the incident on Monday night, which saw the boat capsize after it left the city of Goma on Lake Kivu’s northern shore.
The motorised vessel was headed for the town of Kalehe to the west. According to the passenger manifest, which does not list stowaways, there were 49 adults and seven children on board the boat, which was reportedly laden with goods.
Frequent boat accidents
Travel by boat is one of the most commonly used methods of transport in the DRC, with the vast country’s thousands of kilometres of waterways linking areas that are otherwise unconnected by roads.
According to a 2016 study by the World Bank, river transport “has become the last resort in many areas, where the more infrastructure-intensive transport networks of roads or railways have broken down, or never existed”.
But boat accidents are a frequent occurrence in the impoverished former Belgian colony, with mishaps typically caused by the overloading of passengers and cargo on dilapidated vessels, some of which are not adequately stocked with life jackets.
At least people 27 people drowned last September when a vessel capsized on a tributary of the Congo River in northern DRC, according to local officials.
The incident took place just two months after 26 people were killed in a separate boat accident on the Congo River in July and 50 others were declared dead after a vessel tipped over in northwestern DRC in May.
Apollinaire Bulindi, an honorary provincial minister and engineer urged Tshisekedi on Tuesday to make good on a campaign pledge to repair the Goma-Bukavu highway that many of the passengers involved in this week’s accident may have taken but is currently unusable, the AFP news agency reported.
But the central government in the capital, Kinshasa, has weak control over remote areas in the country, including the eastern DRC, which is wracked by instability and an ongoing Ebola outbreak that has already claimed 843 lives, according to the country’s health ministry.
A 26-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo was stoned and stabbed to death allegedly by a group of unknown assailants.
Edward Hlanganani from Old Magwegwe suburb was found by a passerby lying in a pool of blood on a tarred road about 200 metres from his home at about 6AM yesterday.
His family told The Chronicle that Hlanganani was brutally attacked on his way home from Marisha Bar in the same suburb on Wednesday night.
He had three deep gashes on the head suspected to have been caused by a sharp object. His face was heavily fractured while his teeth were loose.
There was a big stone stained with blood which was on the road, about four metres from the body.
When The Chronicle visited the murder scene yesterday, his body had already been ferried to a mortuary.
His wife, Ms Sithatshisiwe Lunga, said her husband left home at around 9PM on Wednesday to buy cigarettes from Marisha Bar.
“My husband left around 9PM to buy cigarettes and then he came back and said I should put his phone on the charger while he would be outside smoking.
“He left the house to go buy another packet of cigarettes saying the one he had was finished,” said Ms Lunga who appeared to be shocked.
“I did not think my husband could be the one found dead on the road when neighbours called me to the scene where my husband lay in a pool of blood. No one knows who attacked him”.
Mr Mehluli Mpofu (27), a neighbour, said before Hlanganani was murdered, they went to buy cigarettes at the bar and returned home together.
“I escorted Edward to buy his cigarettes before he was murdered. I never thought he would go back again alone to buy another packet of cigarettes. I wish I had escorted him again, maybe he was not going to be attacked by the gang,” said Mr Mpofu.
Hlanganani’s uncle, Mr Cardinal Dube, said their area was not safe at night and urged people to avoid being out during late hours.
“Our area is no longer safe. We also had a report of another man on the same night who was robbed of his money and cellphone by a gang of men,” he said.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mutasa Rural District Council (RDC) has announced plans to oppose MDC Alliance Mutasa Central ward 10 councillor Franck Chitembwe’s High Court appeal against the decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to hold a by-election for his seat on May 11, according to court documents.
Chitembwe, whose seat was declared vacant following his incarceration for public violence, had filed an urgent High Court application seeking an order to set aside Zec’s decision to hold a by-election next month.
Chitembwe was slapped with a two-year jail term for public violence during the January 14-16 fuel price hike protests before he successfully applied for bail pending appeal last week.
The matter was heard at the High Court Mutare Circuit on Tuesday before Justice Isaac Muzenda, who postponed it to April 24 after indicating that Mutasa RDC chairperson, Tonderai Bandure, who is cited as the second respondent in the application, wants to oppose it.
Chitembwe’s lawyer Chris Ndlovu of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners confirmed the new development to NewsDay yesterday.
“The matter was heard in the chambers at High Court on Tuesday and (Justice) Muzenda postponed the matter to April 24 because Mutasa Rural District Council chairperson was preparing his papers to oppose the application,” he said.
The application also comes after the nomination court sat early this month, with three candidates successfully filing their papers.
Chitembwe cited Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba as the first respondent, while Bandure was cited at the second respondent.
The three candidates — Tanyaradzwa Rose Mukodza (MDC Alliance) Justice Chirimo (NCA) and Magret Tindika (Zanu PF) — were cited as the other respondents.
In his application at the High Court last Friday, Chitembwe said he was seeking the intervention of the court to nullify Zec’s decision to hold the by-election on May 11.
“The first respondent (Zec) has set in motion the process of a by-election in ward 10 of Mutasa Rural District Council. The nomination court has considered and accepted the nominations from prospective candidates,” the application reads.
“Now that I am out of custody and am free to serve my ward and my community, I now seek the honourable court to intervene and set aside the actions of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to hold the by-election in ward 10 of Mutasa Rural District Council.
“In fact, I dare say that at the time the second respondent, Mutasa Rural District Council notified Zec of a vacancy in ward 10 Mutasa Rural District Council, no such vacancy existed.”
In the application, Chitembwe further said: “I had duly filed my notice of appeal and I had not been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty, breach of trust and physical violence.
“Our wish is that the declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of a vacant seat for ward 10 in Mutasa Rural District Council is hereby set aside. The nomination of the third to the fifth respondent as candidates in a scheduled by-election of Mutasa Rural District Council ward 10 be and hereby set aside.
Former Peru president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has according to reports from AFP, passed away. He was urgently taken to hospital on Wednesday as he was said to be suffering from high blood pressure, lawmaker Gilbert Violeta said.
Violeta told RPP radio station the 80-year-old was being treated in intensive care.
He is due to have a cardiac catheter fitted to examine his heart.
Kuczynski was arrested last week and was being held under 10-day preliminary detention until April 20, accused of money laundering.
He is one of four ex-presidents embroiled in various corruption scandals linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht — alongside Ollanta Humala (2011-16) Alan Garcia (1985-90 and 2006-11) and Alejandro Toledo (2001-06).
Garcia died in hospital on Wednesday after shooting himself in the head at his home as police were about to arrest him over the graft investigation.
The public prosecutor accuses Kuczynski of passing laws to favour Odebrecht when he was finance minister during Toledo’s government.
The former Peru president Alan Garcia has been reported dead, he was reportedly died in hospital on Wednesday after shooting himself in the head at his home as police were about to arrest him in a graft investigation, a party official said.
“Alan Garcia has died, long live Apra,” said Omar Quesada, the general secretary of Garcia’s American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (Apra) party.
The prime minister of Mali and his entire government have resigned, following an upsurge of violence in the country.B
On Wednesday, a motion of no confidence was submitted as MPs blamed Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga for failing to handle the unrest.
Last month, scores of herders were killed by a rival ethnic group.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said in a statement that he accepted Mr Maiga and his ministers’ resignation.
“A prime minister will be named very soon and a new government will be put in place after consultations with all political forces,” the statement said.
Mali has been struggling to control violence since Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist extremists gripped the desert north of the country in 2012.
Despite an ongoing military drive and a 2015 peace agreement, jihadists still dominate areas huge areas of the country, having migrated from the north to the more heavily populated centre of the country.
The government has come under increasing pressure over its inability to restore stability, particularly after the massacre of 160 Fulani herders in the Mopti region.
Armed with guns and machetes, the attackers appeared to be members of the Dogon ethnic group, which has a long history of tension with the nomadic Fulani people.
The country was shocked by the killings and tens of thousands of people protested on the streets of the capital Bamako on April 5.
The president said in a televised address on Tuesday that he had “heard the anger”.
Former international footballer George Weah is forced out of the President’s office in Liberia after two snakes appeared in a hole in the wall
Liberia’s president and former international footballer George Weah is working from home after two snakes were found in the building that contains his office.
The black snakes were seen this week briefly emerging from a hole in a wall of the reception area of the building in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital.
Deputy press secretary Smith Toby said that the former international soccer star and President Weah was told to stay away until the Foreign Affairs building can be fumigated.
George Weah raises the Golden Ball trophy during his time at AC Milan in 1996Liberia’s President George Weah pictured at the inauguration ceremony of Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar on April 2
The president’s office has been located in Ministry of Foreign Affairs since a fire gutted the presidential mansion in 2006.
The deputy press secretary said his office has opened an inquiry on the matter and a fumigation process has begun to take care of ‘crawling and creeping things.’
It is less than a month since the building was last closed for fumigation between 29 March and 1 April.
‘The snakes were never killed,’ Mr Toby said. ‘There was a little hole somewhere… they made their way back.’
The Executive Protection Service was unable to kill the snakes as they vanished back through the same passage from which they first appeared, a source told FrontPageAfrica.
‘That building’s been there for years now, and [because of] the drainage system, the possibility of having things like snakes crawling in that building was high,’ Mr Toby said.
The president’s office has been located at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, Liberia since a fire destroyed the president’s mansion in 2006. The ministry was closed on Friday after two snakes were seen in the reception area
Liberia is home to poisonous snakes – including black mambas and cobras – and officials are not taking chances.
The 51-year-old president won FIFA ‘s 1995 prestigious Ballon d’Or during his time at AC Milan. He also played for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City during his football career.
Weah assumed the presidency in January 2018 and his swearing in, fittingly, was held at a football stadium.
He and other staff members are expected back in the office – regardless of whether the snakes have been found or not – on Monday, April 22.
State Media reports that the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday congratulated Zimbabwe for attaining 39 years of independence,
The solidarity messages came ahead of today’s 39th independence anniversary celebrations being held under the theme, “Zimbabwe @39—Embracing Devolution for Vision 2030.”
In a letter to President Mnangagwa President Putin congratulated Zimbabwe on the commemoration of the attainment of Independence from Britain, commended the cordial relations between the countries.
“Dear Mr President, Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the National Holiday of your country — the Independence Day,” said Putin
“The Russia-Zimbabwean relations have friendly character that was fully confirmed during our meeting in January in Moscow.
“I am confident that through our joint efforts we will ensure further enhancing of mutually beneficial cooperation in different spheres for the sake of our people’s in the interests of strengthening security and stability in the African continent,” he said.
Putin wished President Mnangagwa good health and success as well as peace and prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa told a gathering at a function to assess progress at Karo Resources Platinum Mine in Mhondoro-Ngezi that President Trump had sent a letter congratulating Zimbabwe.
“With regards to our Independence tomorrow, I am happy that President Trump has sent us a letter to congratulate the people of Zimbabwe for the celebrations we have.
“This is indicative of the re-engagement we have where we say Zimbabwe is open for business. Zimbabwe wants to embrace and be embraced,” he said.
Zimbabwe became independent on April 18 1980 after a protracted 14-year liberation struggle against the minority Smith regime.
The country’s Independence Day is celebrated every year and all provinces will commemorate this day while the main event led by President Mnangagwa will be held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
Officers from the Zimbabwe National Army, ZPCS and the Zimbabwe Republic Police drills went through their drills in preparations for the celebrations. Thousands of people from across the province are set to converge at the stadium where the uniformed forces usually spice up the event with various entertainment activities and displays.
Where we are going now requires us to think and act together as Zimbabweans. Our dire situation is no longer about MDC or ZanuPF but about Zimbabwe.We have a nation to build and a generation to defend.We have the power!
Own Correspondent|MDC Bulawayo province has denied giving their own son, Professor Welshman Ncube a nomination into the MDC presidency choosing to second him into the Secretary General position.
It was generally expected that Bulawayo, which is Ncube’s home city was going to nominate him unanimously for the Vice President a position he has been seconded to by other provinces.
Party President Nelson Chamisa was yet again nominated as the sole presidential candidate. Chamisa now has nine nominations out of 13.
Morgen Komichi, Lilian Timveous and Tendai Biti were nominated as his deputies.
Thabita Khumalo was nominated for the national chair post with Job Sikhala being her deputy. Makokoba MP James Sithole was nominated for the provincial chair beating Nketa MP Phelelela Masuku.
Deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami was nominated for the provincial youth chair ahead of the incumbent Mlandu Ncube.
MDC provincial spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu yesterday confirmed the new list of nominees but said: “If any programme is conducted by the national leadership it becomes national and the national spokesperson is the right person to talk to.”
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said everything went well in the elections.
“Everything went on well, the attendance was huge, the delegates were happy, to see their president, they voted their new provincial executive led by Sithole.
“Everything went smoothly, yes there might be issues here and there on two or three districts but in the end they managed to vote.
“We can’t really talk of manipulation when the votes tallied, we had an electoral college so how can one manipulate votes in that way?” said Mafume.
Farai Dziva|MDC A official Tongai Matutu says he will remain loyal to party leader Nelson Chamisa in spite of the fracas at provincial congress in Masvingo on Tuesday.
See below a statement from Matutu’s campaign team:
We greet you in the name of MDC Masvingo revival.
Our team’s mainspring has always been to revive the Party’s fortunes in the province and attaining provincial leadership was a means to attain our strategic objective.BUT reviving the party’s fortunes is a promise, sure we will.
We were denied victory that we deserved. We were the people’s choice and we had worked for that outcome. We are known and proven fighters for democratic space.. ZANU inozviziva and the setback we experienced has pleased ZANU PF.
We will be busy with the grassroots work in the wards and the branches.. We are going to continue to perfect the art of recruitment and mobilisation initiative..we had started before Congress.
When dust settles, we are going to roll out programs and activities that will be centred around polling stations in the wards province wide.. we shall seek to support and promote anyone or any group of people with a view to revive and grow the Party.
When time comes, we shall as we have always done in the past call upon the contribution of sacrifice, dedication, commitment and above all discipline of our membership grouping to see a revived province in the shortest time possible.
We shall not fight Gumbi and team for the unfairness and undemocratic transgressions they have openly pepetrated on our grouping.. we shall give them space to fly and shine if they can. All we know is that ZANU PF is the opponent we shall focus all our eyes on the ball, we shall not entertain side shows, we shall remain focused on fighting the real enemy.
We are affirmative in our response to call of duty. Yes, we can, Yes we will. Its promise.
Chamisa chete chete,
2023 Chamisa Ku State house,
Chisa Chamisa chisaaaaaa
ZBCTV should be closed because it serves no purpose in Zimbabwe.
If you ask adults and children about their favourite television programmes you will be shocked to note that that less than 2% still watch ZBCTV.
Why should Parliament continue to approve ZBC funding from taxpayers who have rejected the broadcaster?
The programmes on ZBCTV aren’t inspiring, they are boring and outdated.
Most Zimbabweans are prepared to part with their foreign currency to pay DSTV subscriptions.
Nearly all houses in urban areas have satellite dishes, a sign that ZBC has lost its viewership in its own country. Zimbabweans have no source of local national news .Studio 7 has overtaken Radio Zimbabwe and other local radio stations as well.
Farai Dziva|Highlanders FC have issued an update on injured star Mbongeni Ndlovu.
The player was taken to hospital during their Independence Cup victory over arch rivals Dynamos on Thursday.
Ndlovu suffered a head injury in the second half and was immediately rushed to the Avenues Clinic in Harare. But following a medical examination, the full-back was discharged later in the evening.
Highlanders got their goals from Bukhosi Sibanda and Tinashe Makanda in the second period. They won the match 2-0 to lift the Uhuru Cup for the eighth time.
Farai Dziva|Under siege MDC A Secretary General Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora has said the opposition will continue to push for democratic change despite intimidation and harassment.
Mwonzora who stands accused of working with Zanu PF to topple MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has reaffirmed his commitment to democratic processes.
“Caught up with outspoken Tinashe Jonasi at Rotten Raw Magistrates Court recently. He is being persecuted for his beliefs. Was happy to note that his spirit is unbroken.
We should never give up on that which we believe in. One day Zimbabwe will be democratic,”Mwonzora posted on his official Twitter account.
Jonasi made the headlines when he vowed to arrest Emmerson Mnangagwa for violating human rights.
Farai Dziva|Senior government officials in Masvingo Province attempted to seize donations made by an MDC A official last week.
MDC A losing candidate for Chiredzi West constituency during last year’s elections, John Manganye, donated an ambulance, 30 wheelchairs, three 5 000-litre water tanks, blood pressure testing machines, beds and various other items to Chiredzi Town Council-run polyclinic, sending shivers down ruling party honchos’ spines.
Manganye is also helping with the refurbishment of structures, including repainting of the polyclinic.
Government sources claimed Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister, Ezra Chadzamira initially blocked council officials from publicising Manganye’ s name.
“Chadzamira blocked council officials from mentioning Manganye’s name but he gave in due to incessant protests from angry stakeholders,” a government source claimed.
Yesterday Zimbabwe marked 39 years after attaining independence from Britain. It is important to note that I have deliberately avoided the use of the word ‘celebrated’ because there is nothing worth celebrating besides the change of white faces at the top echelons of power.
True to what Fannon referred to as “Black Skin White Masks”, our post independence leaders have learnt everything and forgot nothing from the repressive colonial state.
In fact what our post colonial leaders have done is to strategically position themselves as conduits that link the West and of late the East in this looting spree to siphon our motherland of her precious mineral resources.
Corruption and daylight thievery by the highest office in the land is in full swing under the pretext of ‘mega deals’ and sadly these unholy mega deals will have deleterious ripple effects to future generations who will have to bear the brunt of debt.
From Robert Mugabe’s reign of terror to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s so called new dispensation, repression and coercion is the order of the day.
The more things change is the more they are remaining the same or getting worse in this part of the continent!
In fact the post colonial state has betrayed those who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of freedom and the fundamental principle of ‘One man One Vote’ which was one of the reasons why waged the painful 14 year Second Chimurenga.
39 years on we are still struggling with the ghost of LOMA as repressive laws and statutes like POSA, BAZ and Criminal Law and Codification Reform Act have been deliberately realigned to whip any dissenting voices into their cocoons.
39 years on we still have a government that believes in use of live bullets and Gestapo like tactics in silencing critics and voices of discontentment!
From Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the motherland still has a single television station as a means to stifle freedom of expression!
However there is a ray of hope in that we have an alternative government in form of a party, MDC whose founding principles are deeply rooted in social democracy.
As such the MDC under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa has a duty to extricate the people of Zimbabwe from claws of oppression.
What that means is that the party needs not to fall into the rigours of the vicious cycle by emulating ZANU PF tactics especially when holding own its internal processes.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma is a media practitioner and MDC Youth Assembly National Secretary for Information and Publicity Candidate.
Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa has said Zimbabwe must adopt the South African Rand.
“Let me put the proverbial cat among the pigeons,” said Masiyiwa.
He continued writing, “a loaf of bread in South Africa costs R9.50. It costs R30 in Zimbabwe. 3x!!! Eighty percent of imported goods in Zimbabwe come from South Africa. It’s not uncommon to find those same goods costing anything above three times the cost.
“The people who pay for a lot of goods are Zimbabweans living in South Africa, through their remittances. The cost structure – labour and goods – in Zimbabwe is distorted by the arbitrage of the United States dollar as a currency of settlement for rand imports.”
Writing on Facebook, Masiyiwa said it only makes sense for every business in Zimbabwe to quote their customers for goods and services in the SA rand. “It would go some way to eliminating the dollar arbitrage.”
“This is not the same thing as joining a rand monetary area, or customs union, which is a much more complex process. This one can be done overnight, and even voluntarily,” he said.
PORTO. — Jurgen Klopp admitted he cannot wait to lead Liverpool into a Champions League football semi-final against Barcelona after watching his side crush Porto 4-1 in Portugal on Wednesday night to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory in their last-eight tie.
On a wet night at the Estadio do Dragao, Liverpool weathered an early storm against Porto before scoring from their first attempt just before the half-hour, Sadio Mane prodding home for a goal given after a lengthy VAR review.
Already in control of this tie after a 2-0 win at Anfield in the first leg, Liverpool had effectively killed off Porto there and then, but Mohamed Salah, substitute Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk added further goals after the break.
Eder Militao scored a consolation for the hosts 21 minutes from time, but this was another miserable night for them after they lost 5-0 to the same opponents on this ground a year ago.
Liverpool now march on to a clash with Lionel Messi’s Barca, the first meeting of the clubs since a last 16 encounter in 2006/2007 that the Reds won on away goals.
“I’m looking forward to it. The news that there is a proper football game between Barcelona and Liverpool is great,” said Klopp as his side move a step closer to matching their run to the final a year ago.
By Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa admitted that fighting corruption was not an easy task.
He went on to use the words ‘ deep and wide’ when he was trying to explain the magnitude of corruption at various stages.
According to him, there are corruption elements even in the channels that are supposed to help in uprooting corruption.
“To fight corruption, you need the police to investigate, but there are elements of corruption in the police. Once you get past the corruption in the police, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has to prosecute, but there are also elements of corruption in the NPA.”- Newsday
“Then the case must go to court and there are also elements that are corrupt in the Judiciary, so the fight is so wide and deep.”
Farai Dziva|Khama Billiat wants to use the final rounds of the ABSA Premiership season to prepare for the 2019 Afcon Tournament.
Billiat is set to join Zimbabwe at the continental showpiece in Egypt in two months’ time and is looking to enter the tournament on a good note.
According to KickOff.com, the Kaizer Chiefs striker said: “Definitely, it will give you confidence before AFCON, and you’ll be on top of your game if you actually finish the season strong.”
“Going to such a big tournament with a lot of confidence will help you, and it’s always a player’s aim to be on top of his game.
Also, it’s not only for AFCON, you never know who is watching and what happens after, so every game and every time you’re given a chance, but you also need to be on top of your game – because you’re always as good as your last game.”
Farai Dziva|There are reports that Econet Wireless is incoveniencing its clients by secretly hiking Ecocash and data services tariffs.
There are claims that the tariffs have increased by 80%.
” Econet has increased massively ecocash charges.
I have just sent RTGS$ 10 to a relative and they deducted 29 cents, yesterday it was 16 cents.
Have you heard anything concerning this please?” A disgruntled customer told a weekly newspaper.
Farai Dziva|Prominent human rights activist Prosper Tiringindi believes the country’s independence has lost significance due to gross violation of fundamental rights.
See his argument below:
39 years of independence, yes it is the day but the question is, are we really independent?
Let’s go back to history, during the time of Ian Smith our kids went to school and there was the social welfare to feed the less privileged and we used to receive foodstuffs from government.
There were missionary hospitals that offered free medication.
39 years after independence, no books in schools, even if you have money you will not get medication in hospitals.
By Own Correspondent| Officials in Ivory Coast are destroying 18,000 tonnes of rice that has been declared unfit for human consumption, a report by the BBC has said.,
The shipment of rice, from Myanmar (also known as Burma), had been refused entry at several West African ports in recent weeks, including Lome, Conakry and Accra.
The goods were finally unloaded in Abidjan and then tests were done, which showed there was a problem with the rice.
The BBC reported that the rice was taken to a landfill site.
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe is likely to face a critical shortage of meat products, it has emerged.
This comes as farmers cry foul over the recent price hike of maize and soya beans and the removal of government subsidies.
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) economist Reneth Mano told a daily newspaper on Wednesday that the livestock industry was at risk.
“By just changing, overnight, the grain marketing policies without consultations to the commercial livestock sector, which has been a major partner of government and GMB (Grain Marketing Board), the farmer has been introduced to a big shock.
Now, there is a risk to the billion dollar industry
And the main threat really is if you are a poultry breeder and you are producing day-olds and you cannot access maize at affordable prices, you may have to cut production.
If you are into piggery, with imported breeding stock, like a lot of our medium and large-scale producers, when you cannot feed pigs you may have to scale down or kill some of them.
“The country has an annual demand of 91 million birds, 266 000 slaughter cows and 140 000 pigs,”said Mano.
Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabweans are the saddest people in the world.
Chamisa made the remarks in an interview with a national daily newspaper.
” We are turning 40 next year, it’s time to take stock of the benefits of the liberation struggle to say: how far have we come in fulfilling the gains of the liberation struggle.
The liberation struggle was about the will of the people, one-man, one-vote, it was about sovereignty, land.
How far have we gone in addressing those fundamental questions? We continue to have disputed elections. In 2018, the elections were disputed on account of deprivation of the will of the people; that shows you and that confirms that we have achieved nothing in terms of the ethos of the liberation struggle.
On the land issue, we have not genuinely empowered our people and you see now there continues to be problems around fundamental issues of title.
The land issue continues to be a hanging question. The third issue has to do with prosperity and opportunities for the people of Zimbabwe.
We are the saddest people in the world, we score least on the index of happy people in the world, because of government’s illegitimacy, governance deficit, because of the absence of comprehensive reforms, institutionally, constitutionally, economically and politically these fundamental reforms are lacking,” said Chamisa.
“If you look at our laws we continue to have trails of repression from the Rhodesian times. Look at how people continue to have a police force which is questionable, typical of the Selous Scouts.
We still have deep-seated divisions, you can’t have independence when we have divisions around tribes, when you have unhealed wounds around past challenges, around Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina, erosion of pensions; all those things are wounds on the hearts and minds of people of Zimbabwe.
Independence must mean something, Independence can’t be paper independence, it can’t be rhetoric. It has to be independence in the means of production, independence in the economy, in the ownership of the means of production; those issues have not been addressed.”
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has castigated Zanu PF for distorting the history of the liberation struggle.
Chamisa told a national daily newspaper in an interview the ruling party should not mislead the nation by deliberately distorting the meaning of the liberation struggle.
” They [ZANU PF] want to distort history and rewrite it in their own terms, in their own persuasion, but clearly the struggle of the liberation of our country was not a sole effort.
It was not a partisan effort, it was not a political effort, and it was a people’s effort. The liberation struggle was and still remains a people’s project.
Nobody should appropriate themselves the liberation of this country, this country belongs to its owners and authors being the people under the auspices of the almighty God and nobody is supposed to appropriate the sole proprietorship of our country.
We fought as a people, yes, we used different vehicles, Zanu was one of them, Zapu was another and any other vehicle, that vehicle can’t become the destination. The destination was a liberated Zimbabwe,” said Chamisa.
By Own Correspondent| An environment technician working with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) who is based at Chirundu boarder post is among the four people who died on Independence eve following an accident by a Zambia bound Trip Trans bus.
EMA acting interim board chairperson Christopher Chiindi said they are saddened by the passing on of Prosper Hwenya.
Said Chitindi in a condolence message:
“Gone too soon. EMA will never be the same. We are deeply saddened by the passing on of a colleague Prosper Hwenya in the Trip Trans bus disaster along Harare-Chirundu highway on 17 April 2019. He was a hard worker who was dedicated to environment protection. The vacuum left will be hard to fill.”
The Trip Trans bus was involved in an accident at the 273 kilometer peg near Makuti.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that three people died on the spot around 22.30 on Wednesday night. He said the bus had 31 passengers.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said:
‘The driver failed to negotiate a curve causing the bus to veer off the road and landed on it’s left side. Three of the passengers died on the spot while the fourth was pronounced dead at Nyamakate clinic a few kilometers away from the scene. It is believed those who passed on were trapped by the bus when it landed on it’s side. The injured were transfered to Karoi district and Chinhoyi provincial hospitals where they are said to be in stable conditions although there is one who broke both legs during the accident.”
By Own Correspondent| Speaking to a local publication shortly after the 39th independence day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said Zimbabweans should be patient with the Transitional stabilization Program TSP.
Mthuli said he is counting on several sectors to ease the economic burden.
Said Mthuli:
“The price hikes are unjustified. To the citizens, I say be patient, Rome was not built in one day. We don’t expect positive changes tomorrow or next week or next month, it takes time and they must be patient with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP)
We have to make sure that investors put more money into our mining sector, with different policies for different sectors such as the diamond, platinum and so forth. So we expect this sector to generate jobs and investment of over $8 billion.
“The tourism sector that has been highlighted by His Excellency today will go a long way to create jobs, both in terms of local visitors and international visitors. We are ranked highly in the world because of the quality of our sustainable tourism.”-Newsday
Zimdancehall chanter Enzo Ishall, who dominated the airwaves over the last year with his catchy tunes — Kanjiva and Smart Rinotangira Kutsoka — saw his hard work paying off recently when Kanjiva won the Song of the Year award at the recent National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) ceremony. NewsDay Life & Style (ND) reporter Freeman Makopa recently caught up with the 24-year-old Enzo Ishall (EI), real name Kudzanai Stephen Mamhare, and below are excerpts from the interview:
ND: To start off, how do you feel after winning big at Nama?
EI: I am happy that I won this award at Nama. It means a lot to me. I want to thank God and the fans who continue to support my music. I now have four awards and given the short space of time that I have been in the industry, I really want to thank the Almighty.
ND: Can you take us through your music journey?
EI: I started music in Sunningdale, but we did not have proper studios, so I had to walk to Mbare. I recorded some of my singles in Sunningdale.
ND: How did your parents respond to your inclination to music?
EI: My father was strict about sending us to school and doing music was not on his to-do list. So I did my “O” Levels and passed five subjects before getting seven points at “A” Level.
My father wanted me to go to university and barred me from doing music, but something came up and I did not take university classes. Instead, I continued with my music. At first, I wanted to do law. That’s why I did Arts subjects at “A” level. But now, should I go back, I will do a degree that is related to farming because it is lucrative. If I get my own farm, I will be doing my own things. Farming is profitable.
ND: Who are the brains behind your success?
EI: Kanjiva was the song that made me popular, so I can safely say that’s the one that gave me a breakthrough under the mentorship of DJ Fantan and Levels of ChillSpot Records. And these guys made me who I am today because ChillSpot grooms the best talent in the country.
ND: There are often claims that musicians’ managers tend to pay musicians peanuts while pocketing huge profits. What has your experience been like?
EI: If I had issues with ChillSpot, I would have left. These could be people who want to tarnish the image of managers and record labels because I am getting more than I deserve, and I am happy here at ChillSpot Records.
By Own Correspondent- Forty nine (49) out of a possible 54 affiliates of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) have resolved to support the Supreme Court appeal against a High Court order which nullified the election of the current executive.
The affiliates who met in Kwekwe under the banner of the ZMF Special General Council Meeting resolved to support the Henrietta Rushwaya led executive.
The meeting also resolved that the old executive’s Gweru meeting held 3 weeks ago did not comply with the court order as the old executive did not meet with the general council.
The Council also criticised the former executive’s failure to consult the minister as per the High Court Relief Order. It also frowned upon the unrpocedural registering of the ZMF as a Trust.
Moreover, the former executive was criticised for allegedly trying to register the constitution in a fraudulent manner.
These resolutions were signed off by the federation’s General Council chairman Makumba Nyenje-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- A 9-month old baby in Chivhu died after chocking on maize grains.
The baby picked up the maize grains on the ground and tried to eat them before chocking to death. The grains were reportedly drpped by the mother.
The baby was pronounced dead on arrival at Chivhu General Hospital where he had been rushed to.
Said Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza:
“I confirm the death of a nine-month-old boy, who was chocked by some grains which were dropped by his mother who was eating mealies. We urge parents or guardians to always monitor their children to avoid such incidences. It is sad that we have lost a life in such a way.”-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- Registered commercial bank NMB has introduced a new bank card in the market.
The card, which is based on the NFC technology has no transaction charges.
The card is meant to make transacting faster as it can just be tapped at Point of Sale device to transact. NMB has said that one doesn’t need to be an existing NMB customer to get the card.
Customers can load money onto the card using EcoCash, ZIPIT, KaGwenya or any Zimswitch enabled POS.
Said NMB’s head of digital banking Cloud Nhau:
“People are queuing for cash at banks to make small payments such as bus fares for themselves and their children as well as pocket money or any household use. Cashless payment options such as swiping or using mobile money are not always convenient for these sort of small payments.
Anyone can get a TapCard with or without an NMB bank account. Unlike the standard swipe card, the TapCard utilises near field communication (NFC), which does not require any network for transactions to be processed, making it possible for use anywhere, especially in remote places that include those that many buses go to.”
NFC based bank cards are yet to gain traction in Zimbabwe. They are however already mainstream in countries in the region and globally.-TechZim
By Showbiz Reporter| ZimEye is receiving messages that pole dancer, Bev Sibanda was allegedly beaten up by soldiers just after pouring super brew onto a military boss.
While details were sketchy, sources told ZimEye the incident happened at Top Dollar Night Club in Nyamhunga.
Bev was performing throughout night, the report says.
Violence broke out and a male witness told ZimEye his phone handset was damaged in the melee.
Bev Sibanda – file
” I could not retrieve my pictures because my phone handset was damaged in the violence,” he said.
The attack on the dancer was graphically narrated in the following words”
“Kwarohwa munhu kuKariba last night, Bev wekutamba achinyadzisira arohwa nema soja ku Top Dollar Nyamhunga. [Bev who is famous for immorality, was thoroughly beaten up last night]
By Own Correspondent- A Bulawayo man who was transporting his employer’s children in a van branded Sincere Security was badly beaten up by an angry mob on Thursday after they mistook him for a child trafficker.
Sources privy to the developments allege that the four children were playing in the back of the van, and some people erroneously took their noise to be a cry for help.
An angry mob of people at Fife Street and 5th Avenue quickly accosted the van and forced open the doors.
When the mob saw the four children in the back of the van, they accused the driver of kidnapping the kids and started assaulting him. After badly assaulting him, the mob took the man to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The parents of the children later came to the police station where they cleared up the matter.
The assaulted man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident urging the public not to beat up suspects but take them to the nearest police station.
He said:
“They should have just brought him to a police station and allowed the law to take its course instead of beating him up.”
Below are some videos which erroneously propagated the false accusations against the unfortunate man.
Below is a video which was doing the rounds on social media:
Jane Mlambo| cabinet minister, Energy Mutodi has demanded that government re-introduces price controls as a way of cushioning the poor from business people.
Mutodi who is no stranger to controversy since his appointment as deputy minister of information, media and broadcasting services argued that Zimbabwe without a currency of its own, price controls were the only way to protect the people.
For a country that has no currency of its own, no competitive industry & no jobs, price control is the way to go in order to protect the poor. It’s very unfortunate that cabinet has not foreseen this but it’s time we take necessary steps. Happy 39th Birthday Zimbabwe.
Price controls have never been an effective way of controlling business operations with the move resulting in massive shortage of basic commodities when it was implemented in 2008-9.
Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2030 vision of a middle income country saying its another fiction just like the previous mantras such as housing for all by 2000.
Responding to a Twitter user on the vision 2030, Chamisa said:
They used to tell us of ‘housing for all’ and ‘health for all’ by 2000.We are now in 2018 yet without houses and health for the majority of Zimbabweans.They have the courage to tell us another fiction about 2030.
By Own Correspondent- Nicole Musiyarira has been crowned Miss Africa University 2019 and automatically qualified for the Miss Tourism Manicaland finals which have been slated for July 2019.
Musiyarira’s beaming smile and striking exquisiteness did not only capture the eyes and hearts of the adjudicators but also scores of people who attended the glittering pageant at a local hotel last Saturday.
Miss Tourism Manicaland license holder Caroline Marufu Buwu, whose stock in the modeling industry rose after bringing the crown to Mutare last year when Tafadzwa Jaricha came out tops in the national finals said the pageant kick-started the journey to search of the new queen.
“Most of the contestants came from the educational institutions in and around Manicaland. This pageant presented an opportunity for me to see the calibre of models available this year. Yes, I definitely found few potential models,” she said.
Auditions for aspiring models between ages 18 and 24 will be held on 27 and 28 April 2019 and May 4 and 5, 2019 at the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority offices at Zimra Building.
The dress code will be black jeans, white tops and heels.
The provincial finals will be held on July 27 in Nyanga under the theme: “Zimbabwe at work”.
“This year’s edition of Miss Tourism Manicaland comes in the wake of Cyclone Idai which has seen families lose their loved ones and their homes. Businesses and tourist places in the province have been affected as well.
This event is a remembrance of the disaster, a time to celebrate with those that survived the ordeal as well as to thank those that gave selflessly to the affected families. It gives us an opportunity to highlight, rebuild and hopefully heal and revive the gem that Manicaland is,” she added.
By Own Correspondent- The Rainbow Tourism Group has completed the refurbished of Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo at an estimated cost of $2.5 million.
The refurbishment, which was focused on plumbing was done on time for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which is taking place next week.
Said Rainbow Tourism Group operations director, Tichawona Hwingwiri:
“This is the first major plumbing refurbishment of this hotel since it was built in 1952. We have modernised our in-room guest bathrooms, which have been completely over-hauled and redesigned with new modern fixtures to deliver an enhanced bathroom experience,
The plumbing technology which we have installed at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel is called Mepla (metal and plastic).It is the latest technology in the world. Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel is one of the first institutions in Zimbabwe to use this technology.”-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Informal miners who allegedly murdered two soldiers in a fight over sex workers in Bindura last week have been hauled to court facing murder charges.
The duo Alexio Gumbato (36) and Job Chitsvimbo whose age was not given, are part of a gang of gold panners called MaShurugwi and they appeared in court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody.
The deceased, Shaw Tizora (33) and Tawanda Garega (35) were killed using knives while their third colleague is reportedly critical and is admitted at Bindura Provincial Hospital.
BULAWAYO informal traders on Monday besieged council offices to register their anger over plans to double vending licence fees, saying they were already struggling to pay the current levies.
The decision to increase the fees is likely to see vendors pass on the costs to consumers, who already bear the brunt of the rising cost of goods and services.
If approved, vendors will pay ZWL$28 monthly in licence fees up from ZWL$13,50, while flower and curio vendors will pay ZWL$28 up from ZWL$15.
Percy Mcijo, Street Wise Informal Traders Association director, said instead of increasing the current rates, council should explore other avenues of generating revenue as well as adopting austerity measures.
“There is a lot of money out there which is not being collected. Council should regularise other vendors outside the city centre and collect money from them.
The ward retention funds should also take care of some of the council services,” he said.
Effie Ncube, the National Consumer Rights Association advocacy and campaign manager, urged the council to adopt austerity measures in the face of economic challenges in the country.
“In terms of austerity measures, residents want to know what council is doing to cut costs. Council should suspend the funding of all non-essential services until the economy has improved. Increasing rates under the current situation is akin to creating a vicious cycle which will eventually lead to instability,” Ncube said.
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association official Lewis Jones urged council to improve its service delivery first before increasing rates.
“As vendors, we are not happy with the services which we are getting from council. Some of our vending areas do not have ablutions facilities,” Jones noted.
In a position paper, the Bulawayo Vendors Trust (BVT) said the proposed increase would not be fair if the council is not willing to reduce its own costs.
“The increase is too high considering that the consumers’ salaries have not been increased to adjust to the price increases. Stakeholders suggested that council should increase vending licenses or bays by only 15%,” the BVT noted.
Council finance director Kimpton Ndimande told the vendors’ representatives that the increment had been necessitated by the lack of foreign currency and the high price of fuel, water chemicals and goods that have been pegged at parallel market exchange rates.
By Own Correspondent- MDC Deputy Treasurer, Charlton Hwende is leading the nominations for the Secretary-General post ahead of the party’s congress in May.
Hwende currently has 8 nominations out of the 11 nominations that have been held so far.
Other contestants for the post – current Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora, Ncube, and Daniel Molokele – all have one nomination each.
Hwende had initially indicated he was not interested in contesting the SG post.
He said he was looking forward to the increased amount of work the position comes with.
Said Hwende:
“Kana tamu office nguva ye Twitter panenge pasisina basa rakawanda (Once I’m in office there will be no time for Twitter. There is a lot of work to do.”
Hwende secured nominations from the provinces of Harare, Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Midlands, Mashonaland West and North America.
– Poison inside Emmerson Mnangagwa’s flesh, how far?
By Chris Tongogara| On the back page of the secret notes of the November coup is a mastermind that puts three military generals at the forefront of a future Zimbabwe. It was prepared in 2015 when Gen Douglas Nyikayaramba appeared in the Herald and Sunday Mail papers telling Robert Mugabe’s minions, the G40 the land between the Limpopo and Zambezi belongs to military elite. The events following afterwards were carefully scripted from the KG7 barracks. Emmerson Mnangagwa would get special features at the European Union where he was quickly and successfully taken off the sanctions list in events that saw him quickly being “poisoned” just so he could become President Of Zimbabwe. It was a military operation that has seen the gunners seizing State House and now 16 months after the coup, will the Gwanda poison continue to sustain Mnangagwa’s presidency?
The below article series profiles what is set to happen hereafter in Zimbabwe.
From the White City bombing, whither now? As the nation nears commemorating the first annivesary of the so called “assassination attempt” on Mnangagwa last year in June, the generals appear in a sudden turn. The army bosses, it has emerged, are not happy that Mnangagwa is not maintaining his part of the bargain to relinquish power to his now deputy Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga.
Sources privy to the developments revealed that the army bosses are also not happy that the man who is at the helm of power is demoting by promotion senior army chefs.
Mnangagwa who now faces a war from two fronts, the intelligence and the army, last week spoke saying there are people who do not want him to continue as president.
Recently, Mnangagwa promoted two Brigadier-Generals to the rank of Major-General and one Air Commodore to Air Vice-Marshal in accordance with Section 15(1) (B) (Chapter 11:02) of the Defence Act.
The newly promoted Major-Generals namely Kazirai Tazira, William Dube and Air Vice-Marshal Biltim Chingono join other recently promoted army chefs namely Air Lieutenant General Martin Chedondo, Lieutenant General Douglas Nyikayaramba, Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe and Air Marshal Sheba Shumbayawonda.
“The promotions aims at neutralizing the army by bringing on board new faces,” said the source.
Suggestions that the Chiwenga gunners are standing against Mnangagwa were last week shot down by Mnangagwa’s nephew, Temba Mliswa who described them as “dreaming.”
Mliswa said there are no such factional fights. He also said Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga are actually “inseparables.”
“Anyone who ever dreams that there are factions in ZANU-PF is a pathetic dreamer. ED and Chiwenga are inseparable.
“To pin any hopes on perceived factions in ZANU-PF is not only retrogressive, it’s folly,” Mliswa said.
But the bloody events running from June 2018 reflect the very opposite of Mliswa’s claims. A sophisticated hand grenade used only by the military was flung towards the presidium at the White Stadium last year. The grenade is the type that kills only two people while injuring the rest, and while some sources allege it was meant to assassinate Mnangagwa, others say it was Chiwenga and his wife who were targeted. The investigation into who did it has somewhat collapsed. Was this grenade meant for members of the presidium, or it was someone else?
ANOTHER SHARP OPPOSITE
Some analysts point to another opposite: They allege that it was infact Mnangagwa faction members who did the White City act in order to freeze up the military threat. They point to how Emmerson Mnangagwa managed to escape the bombing without a speck of dust on his skin. They see this as evidence that he was fully aware of the military attack. This allegation once again does not have any supporting evidence apart from verbal testimonials making the allegation. It is said that the military officers behind the White City bombing were all “sent to sleep,” as alleged.
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN HEREAFTER?
Emmerson Mmangagwa Mnangagwa last Thursday cautioned young people to be wary of party cadres with unbridled ambitions who may want to cause disunity in the ruling revolutionary organisation, Zanu PF, The Herald reported.
His remarks came while addressing the Zanu-PF National Youth Assembly in Harare where he also disclosed that his leadership will never allow “mafia-style” handling of Zanu-PF issues and urged party members to follow laid down procedures when settling grievances.
“If any members or structures of the party have any grievances, the laid-out rules, regulations and procedures must be followed,” said Mnangagwa.
“I know of some comrades who have been suspended or expelled, but no procedures were followed. That is not proper. When we are dealing with party issues you put aside your personal differences with the persons concerned. You must obey and follow the rules and procedures of the constitution, otherwise you will find yourselves in the wrong. Divisive, opportunistic or mafia-style handing of party affairs will never be accepted. You may feel that you are smart, but let me tell you this party, Zanu-PF, is always smarter.”
Over the past few months, votes of no confidence have been passed against some officials of the party’s national youth league executive recently and reports of similar actions were being initiated in other provinces.
The Zanu-PF Politburo put a stop to the unprocedural acts which had affected the youths’ leader Pupurai Togarepi, Deputy Secretary Lewis Matutu, Administration Secretary Tendai Chirau, Admire Mahachi and Mercy Mugomo. – I SHALL CONTINUE IN THE UPCOMING ISSUE
FOUR Harare man have been arrested after they were implicated in a syndicate that manufactured fake drivers’ licence discs as well as forged ID documents.
The four also manufactured fake passports at an office in the Harare central business district.
Tonderai Mashonganyika (42), John Chipawa (43), Farai Mambemba (37) and Kirthmore Magqoka (45) appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko on Tuesday, who dismissed their application for bail.
They were remanded in custody to April 28.
It is alleged the accused persons forged several driver’s licence discs which they sold to unsuspecting prospective drivers.
The State alleges one of the victims, Tapiwa Dangaranga was arrested while in possession of the fake driver’s licence and he implicated Chipawa, Mambemba and Magqoka.
The trio was arrested and led to the recovery of more fake driver’s licence discs, fake identity cards, defensive driver’s certificates and class 1 journeyman certificates.
The State alleges fake driver’s licences for Wendy Gwara, Sibanengi Sibanda, Ian Malison, Arineshito Makocha, Mpanda Rumbidzai, Lovejoy Chibaya, Sindiso Ncube, Edson Majaka, Godknows Chipunza, Rusere Julia, Tapfuma Moila, Mubvumbi Philimon, Kitikiti Moses, Munyanyi Laston and a Zimbabwe passport for Nota Blessing, among other documents were recovered from the suspects’ office.
Jane Mlambo| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called for unity of purpose to extricate Zimbabwe out of the dire situation the country is currently trapped in.
Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said Zimbabwe requires all Zimbabweans to think and act together.
” Where we are going now requires us to think and act together as Zimbabweans. Our dire situation is no longer about MDC or ZanuPF but about Zimbabwe.We have a nation to build and a generation to defend.We have the power!”
Where we are going now requires us to think and act together as Zimbabweans. Our dire situation is no longer about MDC or ZanuPF but about Zimbabwe.We have a nation to build and a generation to defend.We have the power!
Chamisa has been unequivocal in his call for a genuine and open dialogue to move the country forward.
He has snubbed an invitation for dialogue from President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanding a neutral convener or guarantee from the regional and continental bodies such as SADC and the African Union.
By Ndaba Nhuku|Zanu as the ruling party, with all state resources under it, and with ears and eyes everywhere, was not going to leave it’s main rival, the MDCA conduct a peaceful Congress. But by nature, any political Congress would never be peaceful.
It causes stress and strains in parties, and at times it splits them. Congress chooses next leadership who define next political life of the party. Thus rival organisations will watch closely and try to influence. Whilst the party generally is expected to choose strong candidates who can make it grow and defeat it’s rivals, it’s opponents want the opposite to happen; to see it weakened by having weak unpopular leaders.
The rivals would be happy to trash strong leaders and support weak ones. Strong rivals like Zanu would not hesitate to openly support weaker compromised leaders it knows it will benefit from.
Zanu would not hesitate to cause confusion and try to mar rival organisation Congress. Thus it would have been naive to expect a smooth sailing MDCA Congress.
As it is, in all provinces, districts and branches, not only Zanu, but other opposition parties and individuals are advocating for preferred weak candidates and political friends they know are not strong MDC cadres to take up positions.
It would be naive of MDC leadership and aspiring candidates to think that they are only dealing with internal party processes only. The external caucuses and influence, including bribery to get certain candidates fielded is real. The Alliance is under severe threat from ZANU PF secret operatives who are trying to hijack the Congress to deliver not only a lame duck president, but to produce a severely weakened party leadership that will be easier to defeat. All the structures of the party are under threat and being infiltrated. Worse so outside Zim, is the South African USA and UK provinces which are robust by virtue of their networks, elite class, population size and financial muscles.
MDC cadres must therefore work harder to ensure that the Congress elects candidates who are not just representative of its future goal, but are thirsty and hungry enough to unwaveringly fight to attain to that goal; wrestling power from Zanu by all means necessary.
MDC Congress must produce candidates who embrace those who have been passionate about our late icon President Morgen Tsvangirai for inclusivity and diversity and who are pro-Alliance to ensure regeneration and growth. MDC did not just become an Alliance overnight, there are many individuals who have been calling for opposition parties to unite and deal with Zanu as one for a long time. These are the individuals who have the passion to deliver deliver total reintegration and growth beyond the the alliance partnership to include the silent majority who are out there in the wilderness.
These are the focused individuals who worked with the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and many others to ensure that the parties formed the Alliance. Leaving them outside party structures is what Zanu wants because a united Alliance is a threat to Zanu.
Even some groupings with few fiercely vocal individuals have suddenly found resources to trash MDC Congress and tarnish the images of some of its leaders. There may be some who were opposed to the Alliance on principle, but are passionate as opposition leaders and willing to work with what is now a reality before them; the Alliance that is now evolved into the original MDC. The Congress must accommodate them all.
MDC must not let Zanu and it’s baby groupings define and determine MDC leadership and aims. By allowing Zanu to interfere and have an influence in the Opposition structures, the party would have given over its aims to Zanu.
Zanu will thus ensure the Opposition remains where it is; legitimate and making noise but “losing” elections! A Zanu influenced Opposition leadership will serve the essence of democracy without any democracy being proactised in the country. If Russian influence could be a headache in the US presidential elections, then why can’t Zanu do more damage to a naive inward looking opposition focused on leadership positions without examining the strength of its aspiring leaders?
I hope the MDC Congress will come up with leaders that will propel the party ahead, unify everyone and ensure it wins the next elections or take over power when ZANU PF implosion the not to distant future. It’s time the party focused on its entire leadership and not the president only (Chamisa Chete Chete), as was the case in the 2018 elections.
MDC, as a people’s project, will move ahead of all to achieve the vision and aim of wrestling power from Zanu and delivering on our new Zimbabwe, the land of ‘milk and honey’. Structures should not be about attaining power within the party, but about designing a formular for not only beating Zanu at elections, but also taking over power a running a stable government that delivers
Jane Mlambo| An unidentified Harare man yesterday made a brave move to visit the National Sports Stadium where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was addressing the Independence day commemorations holding a placard demanding money or a job from the country’s number one citizen.
Unlike thousands who attended the mega event to celebrate Zimbabwe’s uhuru, this man in picture saw it as a grand occasion to expose how the government has failed young people who are jobless and impoverished.
By Ndaba Nhuku| Zanu as the ruling party, with all state resources under it, and with ears and eyes everywhere, was not going to leave it’s main rival, the MDC conduct a peaceful Congress. But by nature, any political Congress would never be peaceful.
It causes stress and strains in parties, and at times it splits them. Congress chooses next leadership who define next political life of the party. Thus rival organisations will watch closely and try to influence.
Whilst the party generally is expected to choose strong candidates who can make it grow and defeat it’s rivals, it’s opponents want the opposite to happen; to see it weakened by having weak unpopular leaders. The rivals would be happy to trash strong leaders and support weak ones.
Strong rivals like Zanu would not hesitate to openly support weaker compromised leaders it knows it will benefit from. Zanu would not hesitate to cause confusion and try to mar rival organisation Congress. Thus it would have been naive to expect a smooth sailing MDC Congress.
As it is, in all provinces, districts and branches, not only Zanu, but other opposition parties and individuals are advocating for preferred weak candidates and political friends they know are not strong MDC cadres to take up positions. It would be naive of MDC leadership and aspiring candidates to think that they are only dealing with internal party processes only. The external caucuses and influence, including bribery to get certain candidates fielded is real.
The Alliance is under severe threat from ZANU PF secret operatives who are trying to hijack the Congress to deliver not only a lame duck president, but to produce a severely weakened party leadership that will be easier to defeat. All the structures of the party are under threat and being infiltrated. Worse so outside Zim, is the South African USA and UK provinces which are robust by virtue of their networks, elite class, population size and financial muscles.
MDC cadres must therefore work harder to ensure that the Congress elects candidates who are not just representative of its future goal, but are thirsty and hungry enough to unwaveringly fight to attain to that goal; wrestling power from Zanu by all means necessary.
MDC Congress must produce candidates who are passionate about the Alliance agenda and those who embrace values of our late icon President Morgen Tsvangirai and founding president Gibson Sibanda, who always fought for inclusivity and diversity.
Having people who are pro-Alliance in the incoming MDC cockpit will land a massive body blow to our enemies of progress and ensure regeneration and growth beyond imagination. MDC did not just become an Alliance overnight, there are many individuals who have been calling for opposition parties to unite and deal with Zanu as one for a long time.
These are the individuals who have the passion to deliver deliver total reintegration and growth beyond the the alliance partnership to include the silent majority who are out there in the wilderness. These are the focused individuals who worked with the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and many others to ensure that the parties formed the Alliance.
Here in the UK, we have people like David Kadzutu, Njabulo Ngwenya, Crispen Chamburuka, Phil Noble, Suzzet Kwenda and Stanford Biti, who have been at the forefront of the alliance agenda. Leaving them outside party structures is what Zanu wants because a united Alliance is a threat to Zanu. Even some groupings with few fiercely vocal individuals have suddenly found resources to trash MDC Congress and tarnish the images of some of its leaders.
A few have also been urging MDC to abandon it’s long-held belief in tribal and gender balance in exchange for cronyism and praise singers. There may be some who were opposed to the Alliance on principle, but are passionate as opposition leaders and willing to work with what is now a reality before them.
Therefore, the Alliance that is now evolved into the original MDC must be brave enough to embrace and accommodate everyone into the big tent as equals and without prejudice. The Congress must remain a broad church that celebrates and not suppress construction criticism, hence must accommodate them all as equals.
MDC must not let Zanu and it’s baby groupings define and determine MDC leadership vision and aims. By allowing Zanu to interfere and have an influence in the Opposition structures, the party would have given over its people’s project to Zanu.
Zanu will thus ensure the Opposition remains where it is; legitimate and making noise but “losing” elections! A Zanu influenced Opposition leadership will serve the essence of democracy without any democracy being proactised in the country.
If Russian influence could be a headache in the US presidential elections, then why can’t Zanu do more damage to a naive inward looking opposition focused on leadership positions without examining the strength of its aspiring leaders?
I hope the MDC Congress will come up with leaders that will propel the party ahead, unify everyone and ensure it wins the next elections or take over power when ZANU PF implosion the not to distant future. It’s time the party focused on its entire leadership and not the president only (Chamisa Chete Chete), as was the case in the 2018 elections.
MDC, as a people’s project, will move ahead of all to achieve the vision and aim of wrestling power from Zanu and delivering on our new Zimbabwe, the land of ‘milk and honey’. Structures should not be about attaining power within the party, but about designing a formular for not only beating Zanu at elections, but also taking over power a running a stable government that delivers.
MISCONDUCT CHARGE: EDMUND RUGARE MBOKO On 1 August 2014 the Chief Magistrate appointed a disciplinary committee to conduct a disciplinary hearing in a matter involving Mr R.E Mboko EC NO 1529564T a general hand at Mbare Magistrates Court. The committee comprised of the Chairman Mr T. Makunde who was Provincial Head Mash-East Province, committee member Mr Nzou who was the Human Resources Officer at Marondera Magistrates Court and Committee Member, Mr N.Korora, an Accounting Assistant at Marondera Magistrates Court. The matter was very straight forward and to the point but as has become the habit of the Chief Magistrate, he phoned the Chairman directing him to avoid passing a discharge verdict when the member had been convicted of corruptly and dishonestly receiving US$2400-00 from a client with a promise to assist in processing a marriage certificate and a resident permit. The member received the money and converted it to his personal use. Again in a clear case of abuse of office, the Chief Magistrate obstructed the course of justice to serve his runner and long-time friend Mr Mboko from dismissal. Fortunately, the Acting Secretary Hon Makarau noticed the anomaly and used her discretion as provided for in the regulations to substitute the committee’s verdict with that of a discharge.
FULL TEXT
– FULL UNEDITED COPY –
RE: TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION TO THE JUDICIARY SERVICES COMMISSION
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
INRODUCTORY REMARKS
In his inauguration speech, President Emmerson Mnangagwa identified corruption as one of the main impediments to the country`s economic growth and declared zero tolerance to the scourge. Mnangagwa then swiftly went on to establish a Special Ant-Corruption Unit housed in his office. All this was done to improve efficiency in the fight against all forms of graft and to strengthen the effectiveness of national mechanics for the prevention of corruption.
The Chief Justice Luke Malaba who heads the judiciary on his part has supported the president and declared as quoted in the Chronicle of 6 October 2018 that he will leave no stone unturned in his endeavor to fight corruption within the country`s Judiciary. Speaking during the commissioning of three new courtrooms at the Bulawayo High Court, Malaba said it was disheartening to note that corruption continues to rear its ugly head in the country, particularly within the Judiciary.
He warned judicial officers and lawyers against engaging in corruption, saying those involved will be harshly dealt with.
“There is a terrible scourge called corruption and as the judiciary, we maintain our stance that cases of corruption must be dealt with decisively by the courts. I want to make it clear to all and sundry, whether you are a lawyer, judge or magistrate that it is our duty to deal decisively with cases of corruption,’’ he said.
Malaba said the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) has embarked on an in-house training programme to curb the scourge within the organization.
“We have, on our part, embarked on a programme of continuous judicial education and training to inculcate into judicial officers the necessary values for fighting corruption,” he said.
IS THE JSC WALKING THE TALK OR THEY ARE MERELY PAYING LIP SERVICE ON THEIR COMMITTMENT TO FIGHT THE SCOURGE CALLED CORRUPTION?
Whilst we applaud the Chief Justice for taking every opportunity during public appearances to castigate corruption; the vice is deeply entrenched in his own department.
It is actually more pronounced right at his door step with his most trusted senior managers and the secretariat deeply embroiled.
Private investigations will confirm that corruption is rife at the top echelons of the JSC involving high-ranking state officials who have become filthy rich overnight as shall be more fully discussed below. The members of the JSC secretariat comprise of very powerful and influential individuals. Their word is law such that no subordinate member of the commission dares to challenge even some of their unlawful instructions. If you refuse to comply, they can demote you, transfer you to the remotest part of the country or even create spurious allegations against you and then constitute a Kangaroro Disciplinary Tribunal that superintends over your exit.
There is evidence of well-coordinated and intricate teamwork in these corrupt activities involving Mr Guvamombe the Chief Magistrate, Mr Chikwana the Acting Secretary and his Deputy Mr Mutevedzi which backdates to 2013.The cases of corruption include instructing to finalize matters in a particular or preferred way, nepotism in the employment of staff, hiring own companies or colleagues companies to conduct auctioneering services for the Sherriff and sexual abuse of female staffers in return for lucrative appointments. In other instances some shelf companies are awarded contracts say to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances.
One thing for sure is that the Chief Justice knows that the Chief Magistrate is very corrupt because at least he has said it in public in his meetings with magistrates. Further, the estranged wife of the Chief Magistrate Angeline Guvamombe has also brought to the attention of the JSC secretariat and the Chief Justice a dossier of the man’s numerous corruption allegations but these have been swept under the carpet. What perhaps the Chief Justice does not know is that the Secretariat from the Acting Secretary to the Sheriff of the High Court is probably the most corrupt institution in the whole country. The Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana himself had several corruption complaints raised against him to the Acting Secretary and Chairman of the JSC, the Prosecutor General and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
All these organs are seized with these complaints but for some unknown reasons, all these state organs have remained silent. The only thing that the commission did was to order the immediate termination of the contracts for some of the auctioneering companies linked to the top Brass that were corruptly appointed. One of these numerous complaints was made by Ruby Auctions in 2014 and resuscitated in 2017 but it was swept under the carpet and never investigated. This renders the President and the Chief Justice’s clarion call to fight corruption within in the Judicial Service Commission in particular and the nation in general laughable. If anything it renders the whole process a child’s play. It shall be the attempt of this paper to try and demonstrate the rot in the JSC starting with the Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe.
1. THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE-MISHROD GUVAMOMBE
The Chief Magistrate Mr Guvamombe is the one who supervises all magistrates and the administration of the inferior courts. He is often described by scribes in media circles as a shrewd and veteran magistrate who has a zero tolerance to corruption. In public he fights the scourge like hell but in practice he is the chief architect of corruption in the justice delivery system with special reference to the inferior courts.
During the first quarter of this year, the Chief Justice, the Acting Secretary and the Chief Magistrate went on a whirlwind tour of the provinces where he had meetings with all the magistrates and members of the supporting staff discouraging them from engaging in corrupt practices. Of particular interest is that in most those meetings, the Chief Justice was very candid with the Chief Magistrate in front of his subordinates. For example, in Harare and at Holliday Inn Hotel the Chief Magistrate was told point blank to stop forthwith the habit of phoning magistrates instructing them to finalize matters in a particular way and to stop demanding bribes from litigants.
The Chief Justice was after all very correct when he admonished the Chief Magistrate to stop the habit of phoning magistrates instructing them to finalize matters in a particular way and to stop demanding bribes from litigants. There is need to do an inquiry on this subject matter on all provincial stations because ninety percent of the corruption cases are going to be tried in the Magistrates Court. They say a fish rots from the head and if the Chief Magistrate is corrupt then then the whole campaign to fight corruption will be derailed from the onset. Private investigations have so far confirmed the Chief Justice’s assertions before magistrates that the Chief Magistrate interferes or obstructs the administration of justice by telling magistrates how to determine matters placed before them. A case in point is that of The State v Maranjisi &Anor CRB 547&673/15 which was tried at Plumtree Magistrates Court on 8 September 2015.
(a)THE STATE v MARANJISI & ANOR CRB 547 & 673/15
In that case the accused appeared before Mr Philimon a magistrate at Plumtree Magistrates Court facing one count of unlawful possession of gold without a licence in violation of section 3 (1) of the Gold Trade Act (Chapter 21:03). The respondents faced an additional count of smuggling in contravention of section 182 of the Customs & Excise Act (Chapter 23:02). Respondents both pleaded not guilty. At the close of the state case the respondents applied for discharge at the close of the state case. In a clear case of abuse of office the trial magistrate was phoned a record seven times by the Chief Magistrate during the course of the trial wherein he was instructed to grant the application and immediately issue a disposal order for the gold .The trial magistrate acting on those instructions granted the application for discharge and acquitted the respondents even before the state had responded to the application. All the people who were in court on this particular day from the Court orderly, interpreter, prosecutor, defence counsel and the magistrate may be interviewed and they will confirm this. The call history of the trial Magistrate on the 8th day of September 2015 can also be used to confirm this.
(b)MISCONDUCT CHARGE: EDMUND RUGARE MBOKO
On 1 August 2014 the Chief Magistrate appointed a disciplinary committee to conduct a disciplinary hearing in a matter involving Mr R.E Mboko EC NO 1529564T a general hand at Mbare Magistrates Court. The committee comprised of the Chairman Mr T. Makunde who was Provincial Head Mash-East Province, committee member Mr Nzou who was the Human Resources Officer at Marondera Magistrates Court and Committee Member, Mr N.Korora, an Accounting Assistant at Marondera Magistrates Court. The matter was very straight forward and to the point but as has become the habit of the Chief Magistrate, he phoned the Chairman directing him to avoid passing a discharge verdict when the member had been convicted of corruptly and dishonestly receiving US$2400-00 from a client with a promise to assist in processing a marriage certificate and a resident permit. The member received the money and converted it to his personal use. Again in a clear case of abuse of office, the Chief Magistrate obstructed the course of justice to serve his runner and long-time friend Mr Mboko from dismissal. Fortunately, the Acting Secretary Hon Makarau noticed the anomaly and used her discretion as provided for in the regulations to substitute the committee’s verdict with that of a discharge.
(c )SYSTEMATIC MISUSE OF THE VICTIM FRIENDY COURT (VFC) FUNDS THROUGH DOUBLE DIPPING AND UNDERHAND PROCUREMENT PROCESSES
On 6 December 2013, the Independent newspaper covered a story in which the Chief Magistrate, his deputy now Acting Deputy Secretary Munamato Mutevedzi and Acting Chief Registrar now Acting Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana were embroiled in misuse of the Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) funds. VFC is funded y Save the Children and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to promote children’s rights and for swift delivery of justice in cases involving minors who are victims of sexual or physical abuse. Copy of the story from the Zim Independent newspaper cutting is attached hereunder.
According to the story, the allegations came to light through an internal memorandum from the then VFC Coordinator Idine Magonga copied to the Secretary JSC ,Save the Children, the President’s office, Unicef and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights which detailed the allegations. In the memo dated 18 June 2013, Magonga protested that his summary dismissal was meant to sweep cases of abused donor funds in the department under the carpet.
Documents supplied to the Independent newspaper at the material time implicated the Chief Magistrate,his deputy Munamato Mutevedzi, the Registrar of the Supreme Court Walter Chikwana and the fired VFC National Coordinator Idine Magonga .According to the report, the officers are alleged to have on various occasions claimed from the VFC travel and subsistence allowances in cash while they attended functions fully paid for by government or other organisations. On 28 November 2013 for example, Guvamombe and Chikwana received allowances of US$225 each purportedly to do a three –day evaluation of the VFC in Mutare. However, at the same time the two are said to have attended a Magistrate Association meeting in the town fully funded by the Association. Payments vouchers would suggest that the officials received money for staying in private residences but made no claims for transport costs.
On other occasions they would allegedly raise payment vouchers for companies falsely said to have provided services to VFC and share the cash. In other instances some shelf companies were awarded contracts by the VFC to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. To further raise suspicion, the officials would in all instances seek the VFC’s bankers FBC to release the money in cash instead of bank transfers to the suppliers of Services. Guvamombe,Chikwana and Magonga were signatories on most of the payment vouchers and letters of instruction to FBC to provide the cash
Despite the fact that these criminating allegations were brought to the attention of the authorities and publicised in the media, they were swept under the carpet with the suspects being promoted to senior posts in the JSC.The question is are we really committed to fighting corruption from the above or we are merely paying lipservice?
2. ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY MUNAMATO MUTEVEDZI
Mr Munamato Mutevedzi is one of the very Senior Managers in the Judicial Service Commission occupying the post of Acting Deputy Secretary-Legal Affairs. He is the man who preaches the gospel of cleansing corruption within the corridors of the JSC but his hands are dirty. They are always found deep in the cookie jar. Apart from being embroiled in the misuse of the Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) funds together with the Chief Magistrate and the now Acting Secretary, the man is not new to controversy. He should be rotting somewhere in prison but for some unexplained reasons, he is a survivor.
(a)THE STATE v FREDRICK MUTANDA CRB8384/11 AND 8385/11
On 21 December 2011 Mr Mutevedzi who was Provincial Magistrate in charge of Rotten Row was caught red-handed with photographic evidence readily available at a service station along Chiremba Rd meeting with an accusing and discussing a pending court ruling which had been prepared before the parties had completed their addresses. From the facts of the matter,Mr Mutevedzi attempted to influence the court’s decision in the above matter. This information is not based on speculation or a state of conjecture where proof thereof is lacking. There is solid evidence on the matter as can be gleaned on pages 4 & 5 of the cyclostyled Judgment in the matter of Fredrick Charles Mutanda V The State and Kudakwashe Jarabini SC 55/13 as per Malaba DCJ (As he was then) attached hereunder. The Boss as he is affectionately called in the JSC cycle was not even suspended or charged for this dishonorable conduct. Instead he was even promoted to among other things supervise and monitor the vice corruption amongst his subordinates. My foot! They say a prison is a place where big criminals keep their younger ones. True to that adage, Mr Mutevedzi is very eloquent in denouncing other people when it comes to corruption issues but typical of a preacher who preaches that which he does not practice, he is no a saint.
(b) STAND NUMBER 13875 GALLOWAY PARK, NORTON
In this matter in some yet to be unraveled corrupt deal, Mr Munamato Mutevedzi received a residential stand in the plush Galloway suburb of Norton from Jemina Gumbo when he was still Provincial Magistrate in charge of Rotten row Magistrate .He has since developed the stand with funds corruptly acquired from the numerous corrupt deals in the JSC and that is where he is currently staying. Paperwork from Norton City Council can be used to confirm this.Attached is copy of pictures to this house.
3. STHEMBINKOSI MSIPA
(a) AWARDING OF CONTRACTS TO FRIENDLY SHELF COMPANIES IN RETURN FOR KICKBACKS
Mr Msipa is the Acting Deputy Secretary Admiration. He is very calm and unassuming but very corrupt.It is on his desk that shelf companies are awarded contracts say to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. There is a company trading by the name of G-star which is given virtually all contacts at all the four High Courts to do tiling ,construction of guardrooms ,Installation of workstations, installation of security devices at High Courts, tiling and shelving in return for kickbacks. It has become part of the JSC family and is untouchable and uncontestably allowed to compete against itself. At times it is allowed to contest itself under different names whereas it is one and the same company .One day it is called G-star and the other day it will be called Falcon Pvt(Ltd) .So at the end of the day whichever company wins the tender, it remains G-star. You will only be able to notice when the same staffers appear for each and every project awarded albeit under different shelf companies. The Registrar, the Deputy Registrars and the Administration Managers are simply instructed by My Mr Msipa to do the paperwork and give contracts to this company ONLY. His word is law.
(b)NEPOTISM AND FAVOURATISM
Three quarters of appointments made in the JSC from 2013 to date are either acquaintances relatives or friends of Mr Chikwana, Mr Msipa and Mr Mutevedzi. The majority of these relatives and acquaintances are then corruptly elevated to senior positions in the JSC.A simple staff audit and inquiries within the departments in the JSC will confirm this. The net effect of this nepotism is that efficiency in the various JSC departments is compromised when competent people are sacrificed and overlooked at the expense of relatives who are given an unfair advantage. How is this done? These guys wield a lot of power and authority in the JSC. As indicated earlier on their word is law. If they say jump you don’t question. You simply have to question how high. So what they do is if they want to employ people they write a passionate plea to the Chief Justice explaining how dire the situation in a particular has become.
The Chief Justice will take the issue to the Judicial Commission and once they get treasury concurrence that is the end of the matter .Mr Chikwana as the Acting Secretary will then advertise the posts and appoint the interviewing panel. On the day of the Interviews, the members of the interviewing panel are then called for a pre interview briefing where they are told of the names of the preferred candidates. When the interviews eventually take place it will be a dead rubber. That is how they have managed to fill all posts with their friends and relatives.
(c) SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARRASSMENT
Linked to this aspect of nepotism and favouratism is the issue of sexual harassment. It is again the same characters: Msipa ,Chikwana and Mutevedzi who sexually abuse female staffers in return for lucrative appointments. A case in point is that of ****** ****** *****a. This lady was employed in the I.T department at the Supreme Court. Sometime in June 2018 the Chief Justice ordered that she be charged for participating in primary elections.
When the Secretariat tried to charge her she went berserk at the JSC headquarters shouting that no one could charge her since MR Chikwana the Secretary and his deputy Mr Msipa had severally taken turns to sexually abuse her. She even threatened to describe their manhood in front of the JSC staffers. The charges were immediately dropped and a month down the line she was promoted to the lucrative post of Website Administrator.
Mr Mutevedzi also did the same to one of the married Deputy Registrars at the Labour Court Kudzai Mumbengegwi.
Although Kudzai spurned the sexual advances, it remains one of the most documented cases of sexual harassment in the JSC which need to be probed further. The JSC is aware of it, her husband and several other relatives know about this but Mutevedzi is allowed to remain in post and harass other people’s children, wives and prospective spouses willingly, in a clear case of abuse of office .This only serves to show how this vice is deeply entrenched in the JSC and how urgently it must be addressed to protect the vulnerable woman species in the JSC which is under threat by these powerful men. They certainly need urgent protection.
4. WALTER TAMBUDZAI CHIKWANA
Walter Tambudzai is the Acting Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission. He denounces corruption by the day but he drinks, eats and sleeps corruption. In fact he is the most corrupt officer in the Judicial Service Commission to the extent that during the period ranging from 2012 to date a period of less than 6 years he has amassed wealth which an owner of a lucrative gold mine can only dream to own.
For example he is now a proud owner of a storey house in Glenlonrne, to pay off the Ministry of Local for a house in house in Southerton, a drinking hall (club) in Rusape ,he owns more than 100 herd of cattle on a farm jointly run by him and his brother in Matebeleland North, both of them own an earth moving and road making equipment that comprises of caterpillars ,graders ,front and Perry loaders that were bought from Mbada Diamonds by his brother who was ironically corruptly appointed auctioneer in that sale by none other than his brother Walter through the Sheriff. He together with his deputies Mutevedzi and Msipa are also involved in the nepotism and favouratism that sees the employment of his relatives and friends as described above. He is also involved in the corrupt appointment of auctioneers in the Sherrif’s office .He is also the chief architect of establishing and awarding shelf companies contracts say to build and refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. He is also involved in cases of sexual abuse of prospective job seekers and JSC employees in return for lucrative postings within the organization.
(a) CORRUPTION IN THE APPOINTMENT OF AUCTIONEERS & RECEIVING FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM AUCTIONEERS
Mr Chikwana,Mr Mutevedzi and Mr Mcduff Madega the Acting Sheriff have corrupty amassed wealth through the office of the Sherriff .Most of the company that are put on the panel to sell both movable and immovable property are either linked to his friends and relatives or those of Mutevedzi and Madega.This scheme has been in place since 2013 when as the then Chief Registrar he convinced the then Chief Justice Chidyausiku to take over the operations of the then Deputy Sherriff to the JSC as a revenue making mechanism for the organization. Because these members of the JSC Secretariat are compromised, you will find that at one point the Sheriff’s charges and fees that are used by auctioneers at one point especially between 2015-2017 were extortionate and not affordable. These were proposed by Martin Chikwana the elder brother to the Acting Secretary, forced onto the Sherriff and approved by Mr W.Chikwana .To note however is that these charges were not even supported by the law. They were merely plucked from the air for the sole purposes of profiteering since the Acting Secretary and his Deputies are beneficiaries.
To their credit the Lawyers observed this and raised complaints against the Sheriff to the very Secretary. Credit should be given to the lawyers especially those in Bulawayo with some raising the fact that Mr Chikwana was severely compromised because of his brother Martin’s visible dealings with Hollands Auctioneers in Bulawayo.The matters were discussed in the Commission together with some other related complaints against Mr Chikwana .However due to his growing influence, the JSC only ordered for the termination of various auctioneering companies linked to the Acting Secretary and the reviewing of the Sheriff’s fees and charges so that they may comply with the law. They were asked to advertise for the appointment of new auctioneering companies but to date there is no guarantee that some of the old companies were reincarnated albeit using different names. These guy will do all it takes to make money. It is the process of appointment that is very funny and ease to manipulate. The very same interested parties who comprise of the Acting Secretary and his Deputies are responsible for appointing the selecting team which is led by none other than the Sherriff another interested party and beneficiary. How are the appointments for the Auctioneers made?
Like employment interviews in the JSC ,these ate predetermined .The preferred auctioneers are advised in advance and they meet the requirements ahead of others .Mr Madega is then sent to a Mr Gweme of the Estate Council of Zimbabwe to go and obtain a recommended list to me considered for appointment. He will be told to recommend all their preferred companies and add one for himself. Like the interviewing processes for JSC employees again the Sheriff and his team will after receiving the applications visit the respective premises of the applicants for assessment for academic purposes because the preferred list would have been made in advance. The visits will be a dead rubber or a delayed match. Using the above process, Mr Chikwana has managed to appoint the following auctioneering and he drives material and financial benefit from all of them. This can be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. Further financial transactions of a similar nature can also be tracked from his wife’s bank account or that of his brother Martin. It is further supported by the vast properties that he has managed to acquire during his 6 year stint at the helm of the JSC.
(1) HOLLANDS-MUTARE AND BULAWAYO
This is an ancient auctioneering company formed in 1902.It is based in Mutare and fronted by a Whiteman but when it comes to their contract with the Sheriff, the Kingmaker is Martin Chikwana the brother to the JSC Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana. He is the many responsible for the Sheriff’s dealings with Hollands in Mutare and Bulawayo. The auctioneering company also does auctioneering business of movables in Mutare and both movables and immovable property in Bulawayo. As indicated earlier on Mr Chikwana drives both material and financial benefit from Hollands Auctioneers. This can also be supported by the vast empire that he has managed to build during a very short period. It is because of the connections between Hollands Auctioneers and the office of the Sheriff that Mr Chikwana has managed to build a storey house in Glenlorne, to pay off the Ministry of Local for a house in Southerton, acquire a drinking hall (club) in Rusape ,buy more than 100 herd of cattle on a farm jointly run by him and his brother in Matebeleland North. He and his brother Martin also managed to acquire earth moving and road making equipment that comprises of caterpillars ,graders ,front and Perry loaders that were bought from Mbada Diamonds by his brother who was ironically corruptly appointed auctioneer in that sale by none other than his brother Walter Chikwana. Mr Chikwana as indicated earlier on drives both material and financial benefit from Hollands Auctioneers. The matter is very easy to investigate since the payments pass through different electronic platforms leaving behind an electronic trail. This can also be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. Further financial transactions of a similar nature can also be tracked from his wife’s bank account or that of his brother Martin.
NB-Hollands’s contact for movables in Bulawayo was terminated in July this year following complaints to the Commission raised by lawyers. However they are still selling immovable property in Bulawayo.
(2) TWO MUZAYA t/a as HOLLANDS
In Masvingo they used to trade as Two Muzaya but with Martin and Walter Chikwana being the major beneficiaries. All they did was to use Hollands registration documents to sanitise their operations but the two are the individuals behind the company. They benefit directly from the operations of this company up to August 2018 when the JSC forced them to close shop following numerous complaints from members of the public.
(3) TANTES AUCTIONEERING-GWERU
This company was appointed to the Sheriff’s panel of auctioneers in 2016 at the instance of the Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana.In another case of clear abuse of office Mr W Chikwana using his vast powers and authority ordered the Sheriff to give the company a contract. The company belongs to Martin Chikwana‘s wife. The company did not even meet the JSC’s minimal requirements for it to be put on the panel.
NB-Tantes’s contact for movables in Gweru was terminated in July this year following complaints to the Commission raised by lawyers.
(4) DREW AND FRAISER
This is another Auctioneering company which was appointed to the Sheriff’s Panel of auctioneers for immovable properties in 2016.The auctioneering company is run by one Mrs Euphrasia Mupedzisi cell number 0772903358 a relative of the Acting Secretary. Just like in all other cases mentioned above Mr Chikwana drives both material and financial benefit from Drew&Fraiser Auctioneers. This can also be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. To get further information, one simply needs to audit of Drew & Frasier’s account.
CONCLUSION
This is just but a tip of the iceberg. The list is endless .These people make a killing through these corrupt deals because they get 5% of the purchase price of every property sold with each auctioneer given an average of 40 properties to sell. They also make it a point that if it is the turn of their companies to sell they ask Madhega to look for the files in which valuable properties from posh suburbs were attached and are due for sale. If there is a genuine desire to flush them out, a forensic audit of all the Auctioneering companies contracted to the Sherriff one would be able to identify which company is linked to Mcduff Madega the Sherriff since 2013 can be done. From their financial statements one can easily dictate which companies are linked to Chikwana or Mutevedzi, which one is linked to Gweme of the Real Eastates Council of Zimbabwe .These people make real money because they get 5% of the value of the property sol with each auctioneer given an average of 40 properties to sell. That can be achieved by doing a through financial audit of all the companies. To note however is that there are some very few genuine companies that are appointed on merit and this is done for the obvious reason of sanitising the corruption. There can be no success in fighting corruption if the Judiciary an important and critical player is superintended by this kind of corrupt leadership. They say a fish rots from the head. We need to cut the head first if we are to achieve anything.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Officers ready to “deal” with protesters guided by POSA.
By Veritas Zim|There have been reports in the State-owned press that the Government was planning to repeal the “toxic” Public Order and Security Act [POSA] and replace it with a new Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill which would “open up democratic space”. The new Bill has now been published in the Gazette and is available on the Veritas website.
What are the differences between the draft Bill and POSA?
There are very few differences between the Bill and POSA – depressingly few, in fact. After the excited fanfare in the State-owned press about how far-reaching the Bill would be, we expected rather more than this.
The Bill makes some up-dating changes to the provisions of POSA: for example, “Commissioner of Police” has been changed to “Commissioner-General of Police” and “Police Force” to “Police Service”. But apart from those the only changes we can find are the following:
Clause 1 (Short title)
The title of the Bill is slightly more emollient than POSA’s.
Clause 6 (Appointment of responsible officers for public meetings)
Words have been added to subclause (1) to the effect that persons who are appointed as organisers of public meetings are to be regarded as conveners for the purposes of Part II of the Bill. This makes the clause a little tidier, but does nothing more.
Clause 7 (Notice of gatherings)
A reference in POSA to “facsimile numbers” has been updated to refer to cellphone and e-mail numbers. That is the only change. In all other respects the requirement to give notice of public gatherings will remain the same.
Clause 8 (Consultations, etc., re holding of public gathering)
Under this clause a regulating authority (a senior police officer) will have to notify the convenor of a public procession or demonstration within three days of receiving the convenor’s notice that the procession or demonstration can go ahead, if the regulating authority has no problems about it causing disruption or disorder. Under section 26 of POSA no time-limit is specified, so convenors can be kept in suspense until the last minute before being told about the regulating authority’s attitude. The clause also differs from section 26 of POSA in that a proviso is added to subclause (3). The proviso is incomprehensible. In all other respects the clause is virtually identical to section 26 of POSA, so it retains the existing anomaly that convenors of a demonstration must give at least seven days’ notice to the regulating authority and, if the regulating authority has problems about possible disruption or disorder, he or she must invite the convenors to a consultative meeting at least seven days before the demonstration – which means there cannot be a consultative meeting if the convenors have given the minimum seven days’ notice.
Section 27 of POSA (Temporary prohibition of public demonstrations)
This section has been omitted from the draft Bill. It authorises a regulating authority to prohibit for up to one month the holding of public demonstrations within a particular police district. The Constitutional Court recently declared the section to be unconstitutional and void. Obviously therefore the section could not be incorporated into the Bill.
Clause 14 (Carrying of identity documents)
This clause differs in a material respect from its equivalent in POSA. Section 32 of POSA empowers a police officer to arrest a person who fails to produce an identity document upon being requested to do so, and to detain the person until his or her identity is verified. This clause is not so draconian. It states that if a person cannot produce his or her identity document immediately upon being asked for it by a police officer, he or she must be given up to seven days within which to produce it at a police station, failing which he or she is guilty of an offence. The clause is intended to bring the law into line with a Supreme Court judgment delivered in 1997, and in one respect it does: the judgment held that a statutory provision which – like section 32 of POSA – made it an offence not to produce an identity document on demand was unconstitutional, and clause 14 omits that provision. On the other hand, the 1997 judgment also said that a statutory provision which empowered the police to stop people at random and demand their identity documents was unconstitutional in that it inhibited freedom of movement. Clause 14 contains this provision, thus ignoring the 1997 Supreme Court judgment.
Clause 18 (Defence Forces assisting police)
This clause will rectify the constitutional defects in section 37 of POSA by ensuring that the President, rather than the Minister of Defence, authorises the deployment of soldiers to assist the police in maintaining law and order, as required by section 213 of the Constitution. The clause will also oblige the President to inform Parliament within seven days after deploying the Defence Forces, in accordance with section 214 of the Constitution.
Conclusion
That is the sum total of the differences we can find. The provisions of POSA have been copied slavishly in the Bill so that ‒ apart from what is noted above ‒ all POSA’s undemocratic features have been retained. For example:
The Police will still be entitled to ask political parties for lists of members or office-bearers who attend meetings of the parties’ committees or other structures [clause 5(8) of the Bill].
People will not be allowed to hold public gatherings without giving the Police written notice: seven days’ notice in the case of processions and demonstrations, five days in the case of public meetings. As in section 25 of POSA, the notice will have to specify details such as “the exact and complete route” of a procession or demonstration and “the number and types of vehicles, if any,” that are to take part in the procession. Anyone who fails to give notice will be guilty of a criminal offence and liable to imprisonment for up to a year [clause 7 of the Bill].
If the Police are not given notice of a gathering then, as in POSA, the conveners will be civilly liable for any damage or injury occasioned by any public disorder or breach of the peace occurring at the gathering [clause 12 of the Bill]. This will be so even if the damage or injury was caused by counter-demonstrators or people who were not under the conveners’ control.
And, perhaps out of fear that the Bill does not repeat all the undesirable features of the existing law, the drafter has omitted a clause repealing POSA ‒ so POSA will remain in force even after the Bill is enacted.
The draft Bill is not new wine in an old bottle: it is the same old wine in the same old bottle with a new label stuck on it.
By Farai D Hove| MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has said he met the disgraced self proclaimed activist Tinashe Jonas.
Mwonzora with Tinashe Jonas
Writing on Friday morning, Mwonzora said he “caught up with outspoken Tinashe Jonasi at Rotten Raw Magistrates Court…
“He is being persecuted for his beliefs. Was happy to note that his spirit is unbroken. We should never give up on that which we believe in. One day Zimbabwe will be democratic. “
Media Statement|GALZ joins the nation in commemorating 39 years of independence from minority rule. GALZ applauds the courageous efforts of men and women, past and present that have fought and continue to fight for the total liberation of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is in dire need of healing from the wounds of her past and present challenges. The current political and social environment does not help to rebuild the confidence of the nation and the world towards Zimbabwe returning to peace and stability. Zimbabwe’s political leaders need to provide leadership in overcoming Zimbabwe’s challenges in areas such as violence, unemployment, education and health rather than fostering antipathy and intolerance. The immediate challenge the nation is facing is overcoming these social deprivations.
GALZ is concerned by the prevailing harsh economic environment that has impacted negatively on Zimbabwean citizenry. This situation has affected the Zimbabwean populace’s ability to enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms which are a key tenant of Independence. Despite the greats strides taken to ensure total independence and equal opportunities for all Zimbabweans by Government and various stakeholders, GALZ notes that a large section of the population still experiences difficulties in enjoying the fruits of this hard-won Independence that they are entitled to as equal citizens in Zimbabwe.
We encourage the President to strive to create an environment of tolerance and respect among Zimbabweans and that all citizens are treated with dignity and respect. We call on the leadership to desist from making statements and actions likely to promote hate and prejudice. Zimbabwe needs to transition from a period characterised by hate, violence and economic suffering and move towards national healing.
It is time the Zimbabwean Government reflects seriously on its thinking around human rights for all including those of its LGBTI citizens and speedily implement measures which proactively encourage a culture of meaningful human rights protection in this country.
MDC Deputy Treasurer, Charlton Hwende has overtaken the outgoing Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora nominations for the top post.
This comes as party’s congress in May draws nigh. Statistics so far reflect Hwende leading with 8 nominations out of the 11 provincial nominations that have been held.
Trailing behind are: Douglas Mwonzora, Welshman Ncube, and Daniel Molokele l, who all have one nomination each.
Hwende has secured nominations from the provinces of: Harare, Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Midlands, Mashonaland West and North America.
The party will hold its UK congress in Leeds on Saturday.
By Own Correspondent| A video showing a van belonging to Sincere Security Company which was apprehended by citizens in Bulawayo for suspected child trafficking has gone viral.
In the video, a mob is shown forcing open the doors of the security van where several minors some of whom were crying and all of whom appear to be below seven years old emerge.
The van was allegedly stopped by a kombi driver who saw one of the children continuously waving and crying through the tiny vehicle window.
The kombi driver reportedly told the driver of the Sincere Security vehicle to stop before the mob forced open the door where the minors were retrieved.
It has however emerged that the angry mob were left with an egg in the face after taking their “culprit” to Bulawayo Central Police Station where it was established that the man was just transporting his boss’s children in a company van.
The guard whose name could not be established was- according to police sources- taking the children to meet their parents.
He was parked near the market along 4th avenue when someone shouted that there were kidnapped children in the vehicle.
Vendors ganged up immediately and started banging on the car demanding the release of the “captives.”
A witness revealed that the crowd shouted that children had been disappearing in the city and the security company could be a syndicate responsible for the disappearances.
“The driver got out of the vehicle to explain and the crowd descended on him with kicks and punches. If someone had not suggested that they should take him to the police, he could have been killed.
“Zimbabweans are a dangerously angry lot nowadays, probably due to a failed government and growing poverty. They are capable of killing if they get a chance to vent their emotions,” said the witness.
The witness said scores of vendors boldly marched into the police station like they expected a civic award for bravery or something.
“The way they sneaked out quietly was worthy of any comedy reel. The father of the children came to clear up the issue and suddenly everyone realised they could be arrested for their vigilante actions on an innocent man. A ‘quiet’ stampede started for the door and the charge office was cleared within minutes,” said the witness who preferred anonymity.
Below is the religious- political propaganga concerning the Zimbabwean bird symbol which MDC President Nelson Chamisa condemned on Wednesday afternoon.
“That Zimbabwean bird symbol is part of our problem. We must deal with institutional idolatry,” Chamisa said.
The below Sunday Mail hit was used by ZANU PF to justify election rigging in the 2013 elections and the assassination of four Zimbabwe Electoral Commission employees who include its Director Of Information Shupikai Mashereni.
The article claims that the Zimbabwe bird landing was first in modern history. It states:
The landing of the “Zimbabwe bird” at his homestead is only the third such occurrence in the country’s history. “The first message was when the Zimbabwe bird led the people from Guruuswa during the First Chimurenga. The second one was during the Second Chimurenga and this is now the third such incident to be recorded.
The article then proclaims that the nation was under invasion from an enemy. “Tikasangwara, nyika inoyenda. (If we are not careful, we will lose this country.) “We fought the war and attained independence, but there is a danger that the enemy will reverse the gains we made.”
FULL TEXT:
SUNDAY MAIL:
Bizarre events as Zimbabwe bird lands
Saturday, 06 October 2012 23:51
Chief Chiweshe and spirit medium Katombo Kanyai display the Zimbabwe bird which landed at the spirit medium’s homestead.
Villagers in the Ramahoro area under Chief Chiweshe were left stunned after the area’s spirit medium, Sekuru Katombo Kanyai, reportedly talked to lions, baboons and a snake after a traditional ceremony.
The bizarre events are said to have occurred days before the symbolic fish eagle, which is the official Zimbabwe bird, landed at the medium’s homestead.
Sekuru Kanyai’s homestead is believed to be Mbuya Nehanda’s former residence.
Traditionalists believe the landing symbolises “great things to come” as legend has it that the emblematic bird rarely lands on the ground.
Chief Chiweshe Joseph Chigariro confirmed the mysterious events which have left many people in the area baffled.
“Soon after the bira (traditional ceremony) which we organised for the national army, a delegation of baboons visited the site of the bira known as Pamuchakata Wambuya Nehanda, where they held a tête-à-tête with the spirit medium in a language which I could not comprehend,” said the chief.
Chief Chiweshe claimed that later in the day Sekuru Kanyai held meetings with a pride of lions which he said had been sent to deliver the same message as the baboons.
“Not in my seven years as the chief of this area have I witnessed a phenomenon of this nature.
“I could clearly see and hear that the medium was communicating with the animals, but I could not comprehend how they were communicating because the language they were speaking is alien to me. It was a strange language,” he said.
Sekuru Kanyai emphasised that the landing of the “Zimbabwe bird” at his homestead is only the third such occurrence in the country’s history. “The first message was when the Zimbabwe bird led the people from Guruuswa during the First Chimurenga. The second one was during the Second Chimurenga and this is now the third such incident to be recorded,” he said.
Sekuru Kanyai said it was important to note that the Mazowe area is of historical significance since it was the area where the First Chimurenga, spearheaded by Mbuya Nehanda, Chief Chiweshe and his brother Hwata, sprang from. “The message these happenings are bringing is that people must get back to traditional ways of doing things to stop rampant starvation which is currently bedevilling the nation,” he said.
Sekuru Kanyai said modernisation has resulted in traditional leaders being looked down upon.
“In this era the judgments of chiefs are reviewed by young magistrates educated by the colonial system which is a far cry from the chiefs of the older days, who were the custodians of the law and all liberties,” he said.
The spirit medium also castigated the sprouting of numerous church organisations which castigate traditional culture as evil.
“I’m not against the religious system, but I’m against the bad ways in which these religious organisations are operating.
“These church organisations are labelling spirit mediums as evil spirits, yet we all know that there is one God and we all belong to Him and have different ways of praying to Him,” said Sekuru Kanyai.
During his interview with The Sunday Mail, the spirit medium was “visited” by a pangolin, another revered animal whose sighting is always linked to mystery.
“This is another message from the heavens,” said Sekuru Kanyai in reference to the pangolin.
“I will be approaching the relevant authorities to deliver this message . . . tikasangwara, nyika inoyenda. (If we are not careful, we will lose this country.) “We fought the war and attained independence, but there is a danger that the enemy will reverse the gains we made, so it’s for the good of every Zimbabwean to take heed of what the ancestors are saying.”
A ZANU PF member has claimed in court that his arrest on charges of stealing party regalia and $100 from a colleague is a result of internal fights.
This was revealed by Prosper Sithole (42), of Plot 3, Lot 8 under Chief Mutema in Chipinge, during the start of his trial before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to Thursday next week for continuation of trial.
In his defence, Sithole claimed the allegations emanated from the rivalry which existed between Chipinge Central legislator Raymore Machingura and the party primary elections losing candidate, Dorothy Chitima’s supporters.
“I belong to Zanu PF together with the complainant, Ivy Mhlanga, but trouble started last year during the party’s primary elections. The complainant was supporting Dorothy Chitima, while I was supporting the eventual winner, Raymore Machingura, who is now MP for Chipinge Central,” Sithole said.
“The allegations are politically-motivated. The other issue is that she was the School Development Committee chair and she was voted out in my favour, so she’s a bitter person.”
Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube said on August 16 last year, Mhlanga was invited to attend a party meeting at Paidamoyo Business Centre.
Sithole was also part of the meeting.
During lunch hour, Sithole allegedly went to where Mhlanga was seated at the back of a party vehicle while having lunch.
He noticed some Zanu PF T-shirts which were in Mhlanga’s bag and demanded that she distributes them to party supporters present, but the complainant allegedly refused.
Sithole allegedly grabbed the bag and ran away but returned it later. Mhlanga later reported that her Zanu PF T-shirts and $100 were missing and reported the matter to the police, leading to Sithole’s arrest.
Another African strongman is gone. After 30 years at the top, Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir was finally ousted a week ago and arrested following months of protests.
This, to a large degree, was an uprising by women: just as it happened in Algeria, leading to autocratic Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s fall barely two weeks earlier.
And, indeed, women played a key part in the Arab Spring of 2011, which led to the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.
The case of Sudan’s revolutionary anti-Bashir women was made juicier by the fact that the key closed Facebook that drove, never started with any political ambitions.
It was started by Sudanese women to catch their cheating husbands, and hound their mistresses.
FOOT SOLDIERS
It morphed into a political action platform, and given that it had developed underground, it grew teeth without Bashir’s secret police catching up on it — until it was too late.
Other African governments will have taken note, so you can expect that there will now be greater state interest in things like Kenya’s famously controversial closed Facebook group “Kilimani Mums”.
But there is more. Sudan or Algeria’s women weren’t the first up the African revolutionary road. We noted previously that in the anti-colonial struggle, subversive women were the secret weapons, whose heroism has been written out of history.
The Mama Mboga in Nigeria and Tanzania, to pick two cases, became important foot soldiers of the nationalist struggle because they were doubly marginalised — by the colonial economy and patriarchy.
BUSINESS
The result: Because they functioned in the informal economy, they were subject to less intimidation and pressure than the men, who could be sacked and lose free government housing and status.
But the colonialists — and today’s African dictators — cannot stop women from selling vegetables on obscure roadsides or their backyards. In the colonial era, Mama Mboga contributions became a vital source of party funding.
The marginalisation of women and informalisation of their work is playing out the same way today.
You can deny a trading licence to an opposition man, and send tax authorities to harass his business out of existence. But how can you stop his wife from baking a birthday cake for the neighbour’s child?
CODING
Secondly, the masculine state has got fairly good at confronting other male rivals in politics.
It often takes little more than going and outshouting and calling them names on a TV panel, and beating them down with propaganda in the media. And you buy the stubborn ones off.
Yet women’s closed social media groups use idioms and speak a language that’s alien to the male political species.
Besides, too many men still win arguments with women the old-fashioned way — of power and violence. Most find it hard to muster a poetic tongue-in-cheek rebuttal.
The concentration of women in the Mama Mboga economy, however, makes ruling parties very vulnerable in unexpected ways, because of the way patronage works.
ROPE TAX
Top politicians, PSs, their business allies and party bigwigs eat at the top: dams, bridges, roads, and juicy contracts.
By the time the small ruling party official and politician in the ward gets his cut, he’s left with shaking down hawkers, market women, and peasants carrying their sack of potatoes or leading their goat to the market.
In Uganda, a big source of corruption for low-level rural officials is something dubbed the “rope tax”.
As soon as you throw a rope around your cow’s or goat’s neck and walk on the road, you could be considered to no longer be grazing your animal, but to have monetised it for the market, and a local official could collect a “rope tax”.
When women stop selling mandazi and roasted peanuts in the market, and take to chanting anti-government slogans on the streets, so much trouble can follow.
SURVIVAL
Almost immediately, patriarchal society gets impaled on its sexist logic that men are supposed to provide in return for some level of obedience from women.
But if you can’t provide bread, like Bashir failed to do, what is left of your source of authority?
Secondly, the informal economy network on which the grassroots structures of ruling parties and low-level security machinery parasites vanishes and with that goes the foundation of the regime.
Bashir’s political demise taught us, once again, that you can survive a protest in the pampered sectors of the economy — for example by airport workers or doctors.
However, it’s hard to survive action by marginalised groups like market traders, or those whose voices never get heard in mainstream media, but thrive on WhatsApp and closed Facebook groups.
Our dictators will soon need new models of repression.
RE: TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION TO THE JUDICIARY SERVICES COMMISSION
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
INRODUCTORY REMARKS
In his inauguration speech, President Emmerson Mnangagwa identified corruption as one of the main impediments to the country`s economic growth and declared zero tolerance to the scourge. Mnangagwa then swiftly went on to establish a Special Ant-Corruption Unit housed in his office. All this was done to improve efficiency in the fight against all forms of graft and to strengthen the effectiveness of national mechanics for the prevention of corruption.
The Chief Justice Luke Malaba who heads the judiciary on his part has supported the president and declared as quoted in the Chronicle of 6 October 2018 that he will leave no stone unturned in his endeavor to fight corruption within the country`s Judiciary. Speaking during the commissioning of three new courtrooms at the Bulawayo High Court, Malaba said it was disheartening to note that corruption continues to rear its ugly head in the country, particularly within the Judiciary.
He warned judicial officers and lawyers against engaging in corruption, saying those involved will be harshly dealt with.
“There is a terrible scourge called corruption and as the judiciary, we maintain our stance that cases of corruption must be dealt with decisively by the courts. I want to make it clear to all and sundry, whether you are a lawyer, judge or magistrate that it is our duty to deal decisively with cases of corruption,’’ he said.
Malaba said the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) has embarked on an in-house training programme to curb the scourge within the organization.
“We have, on our part, embarked on a programme of continuous judicial education and training to inculcate into judicial officers the necessary values for fighting corruption,” he said.
IS THE JSC WALKING THE TALK OR THEY ARE MERELY PAYING LIP SERVICE ON THEIR COMMITTMENT TO FIGHT THE SCOURGE CALLED CORRUPTION?
Whilst we applaud the Chief Justice for taking every opportunity during public appearances to castigate corruption; the vice is deeply entrenched in his own department.
It is actually more pronounced right at his door step with his most trusted senior managers and the secretariat deeply embroiled.
Private investigations will confirm that corruption is rife at the top echelons of the JSC involving high-ranking state officials who have become filthy rich overnight as shall be more fully discussed below. The members of the JSC secretariat comprise of very powerful and influential individuals. Their word is law such that no subordinate member of the commission dares to challenge even some of their unlawful instructions. If you refuse to comply, they can demote you, transfer you to the remotest part of the country or even create spurious allegations against you and then constitute a Kangaroro Disciplinary Tribunal that superintends over your exit.
There is evidence of well-coordinated and intricate teamwork in these corrupt activities involving Mr Guvamombe the Chief Magistrate, Mr Chikwana the Acting Secretary and his Deputy Mr Mutevedzi which backdates to 2013.The cases of corruption include instructing to finalize matters in a particular or preferred way, nepotism in the employment of staff, hiring own companies or colleagues companies to conduct auctioneering services for the Sherriff and sexual abuse of female staffers in return for lucrative appointments. In other instances some shelf companies are awarded contracts say to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances.
One thing for sure is that the Chief Justice knows that the Chief Magistrate is very corrupt because at least he has said it in public in his meetings with magistrates. Further, the estranged wife of the Chief Magistrate Angeline Guvamombe has also brought to the attention of the JSC secretariat and the Chief Justice a dossier of the man’s numerous corruption allegations but these have been swept under the carpet. What perhaps the Chief Justice does not know is that the Secretariat from the Acting Secretary to the Sheriff of the High Court is probably the most corrupt institution in the whole country. The Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana himself had several corruption complaints raised against him to the Acting Secretary and Chairman of the JSC, the Prosecutor General and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
All these organs are seized with these complaints but for some unknown reasons, all these state organs have remained silent. The only thing that the commission did was to order the immediate termination of the contracts for some of the auctioneering companies linked to the top Brass that were corruptly appointed. One of these numerous complaints was made by Ruby Auctions in 2014 and resuscitated in 2017 but it was swept under the carpet and never investigated. This renders the President and the Chief Justice’s clarion call to fight corruption within in the Judicial Service Commission in particular and the nation in general laughable. If anything it renders the whole process a child’s play. It shall be the attempt of this paper to try and demonstrate the rot in the JSC starting with the Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe.
1. THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE-MISHROD GUVAMOMBE
The Chief Magistrate Mr Guvamombe is the one who supervises all magistrates and the administration of the inferior courts. He is often described by scribes in media circles as a shrewd and veteran magistrate who has a zero tolerance to corruption. In public he fights the scourge like hell but in practice he is the chief architect of corruption in the justice delivery system with special reference to the inferior courts.
During the first quarter of this year, the Chief Justice, the Acting Secretary and the Chief Magistrate went on a whirlwind tour of the provinces where he had meetings with all the magistrates and members of the supporting staff discouraging them from engaging in corrupt practices. Of particular interest is that in most those meetings, the Chief Justice was very candid with the Chief Magistrate in front of his subordinates. For example, in Harare and at Holliday Inn Hotel the Chief Magistrate was told point blank to stop forthwith the habit of phoning magistrates instructing them to finalize matters in a particular way and to stop demanding bribes from litigants.
The Chief Justice was after all very correct when he admonished the Chief Magistrate to stop the habit of phoning magistrates instructing them to finalize matters in a particular way and to stop demanding bribes from litigants. There is need to do an inquiry on this subject matter on all provincial stations because ninety percent of the corruption cases are going to be tried in the Magistrates Court. They say a fish rots from the head and if the Chief Magistrate is corrupt then then the whole campaign to fight corruption will be derailed from the onset. Private investigations have so far confirmed the Chief Justice’s assertions before magistrates that the Chief Magistrate interferes or obstructs the administration of justice by telling magistrates how to determine matters placed before them. A case in point is that of The State v Maranjisi &Anor CRB 547&673/15 which was tried at Plumtree Magistrates Court on 8 September 2015.
(a)THE STATE v MARANJISI & ANOR CRB 547 & 673/15
In that case the accused appeared before Mr Philimon a magistrate at Plumtree Magistrates Court facing one count of unlawful possession of gold without a licence in violation of section 3 (1) of the Gold Trade Act (Chapter 21:03). The respondents faced an additional count of smuggling in contravention of section 182 of the Customs & Excise Act (Chapter 23:02). Respondents both pleaded not guilty. At the close of the state case the respondents applied for discharge at the close of the state case. In a clear case of abuse of office the trial magistrate was phoned a record seven times by the Chief Magistrate during the course of the trial wherein he was instructed to grant the application and immediately issue a disposal order for the gold .The trial magistrate acting on those instructions granted the application for discharge and acquitted the respondents even before the state had responded to the application. All the people who were in court on this particular day from the Court orderly, interpreter, prosecutor, defence counsel and the magistrate may be interviewed and they will confirm this. The call history of the trial Magistrate on the 8th day of September 2015 can also be used to confirm this.
(b)MISCONDUCT CHARGE: EDMUND RUGARE MBOKO
On 1 August 2014 the Chief Magistrate appointed a disciplinary committee to conduct a disciplinary hearing in a matter involving Mr R.E Mboko EC NO 1529564T a general hand at Mbare Magistrates Court. The committee comprised of the Chairman Mr T. Makunde who was Provincial Head Mash-East Province, committee member Mr Nzou who was the Human Resources Officer at Marondera Magistrates Court and Committee Member, Mr N.Korora, an Accounting Assistant at Marondera Magistrates Court. The matter was very straight forward and to the point but as has become the habit of the Chief Magistrate, he phoned the Chairman directing him to avoid passing a discharge verdict when the member had been convicted of corruptly and dishonestly receiving US$2400-00 from a client with a promise to assist in processing a marriage certificate and a resident permit. The member received the money and converted it to his personal use. Again in a clear case of abuse of office, the Chief Magistrate obstructed the course of justice to serve his runner and long-time friend Mr Mboko from dismissal. Fortunately, the Acting Secretary Hon Makarau noticed the anomaly and used her discretion as provided for in the regulations to substitute the committee’s verdict with that of a discharge.
(c )SYSTEMATIC MISUSE OF THE VICTIM FRIENDY COURT (VFC) FUNDS THROUGH DOUBLE DIPPING AND UNDERHAND PROCUREMENT PROCESSES
On 6 December 2013, the Independent newspaper covered a story in which the Chief Magistrate, his deputy now Acting Deputy Secretary Munamato Mutevedzi and Acting Chief Registrar now Acting Secretary Mr Walter Chikwana were embroiled in misuse of the Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) funds. VFC is funded y Save the Children and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to promote children’s rights and for swift delivery of justice in cases involving minors who are victims of sexual or physical abuse. Copy of the story from the Zim Independent newspaper cutting is attached hereunder.
According to the story, the allegations came to light through an internal memorandum from the then VFC Coordinator Idine Magonga copied to the Secretary JSC ,Save the Children, the President’s office, Unicef and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights which detailed the allegations. In the memo dated 18 June 2013, Magonga protested that his summary dismissal was meant to sweep cases of abused donor funds in the department under the carpet.
Documents supplied to the Independent newspaper at the material time implicated the Chief Magistrate,his deputy Munamato Mutevedzi, the Registrar of the Supreme Court Walter Chikwana and the fired VFC National Coordinator Idine Magonga .According to the report, the officers are alleged to have on various occasions claimed from the VFC travel and subsistence allowances in cash while they attended functions fully paid for by government or other organisations. On 28 November 2013 for example, Guvamombe and Chikwana received allowances of US$225 each purportedly to do a three –day evaluation of the VFC in Mutare. However, at the same time the two are said to have attended a Magistrate Association meeting in the town fully funded by the Association. Payments vouchers would suggest that the officials received money for staying in private residences but made no claims for transport costs.
On other occasions they would allegedly raise payment vouchers for companies falsely said to have provided services to VFC and share the cash. In other instances some shelf companies were awarded contracts by the VFC to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. To further raise suspicion, the officials would in all instances seek the VFC’s bankers FBC to release the money in cash instead of bank transfers to the suppliers of Services. Guvamombe,Chikwana and Magonga were signatories on most of the payment vouchers and letters of instruction to FBC to provide the cash
Despite the fact that these criminating allegations were brought to the attention of the authorities and publicised in the media, they were swept under the carpet with the suspects being promoted to senior posts in the JSC.The question is are we really committed to fighting corruption from the above or we are merely paying lipservice?
2. ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY MUNAMATO MUTEVEDZI
Mr Munamato Mutevedzi is one of the very Senior Managers in the Judicial Service Commission occupying the post of Acting Deputy Secretary-Legal Affairs. He is the man who preaches the gospel of cleansing corruption within the corridors of the JSC but his hands are dirty. They are always found deep in the cookie jar. Apart from being embroiled in the misuse of the Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) funds together with the Chief Magistrate and the now Acting Secretary, the man is not new to controversy. He should be rotting somewhere in prison but for some unexplained reasons, he is a survivor.
(a)THE STATE v FREDRICK MUTANDA CRB8384/11 AND 8385/11
On 21 December 2011 Mr Mutevedzi who was Provincial Magistrate in charge of Rotten Row was caught red-handed with photographic evidence readily available at a service station along Chiremba Rd meeting with an accusing and discussing a pending court ruling which had been prepared before the parties had completed their addresses. From the facts of the matter,Mr Mutevedzi attempted to influence the court’s decision in the above matter. This information is not based on speculation or a state of conjecture where proof thereof is lacking. There is solid evidence on the matter as can be gleaned on pages 4 & 5 of the cyclostyled Judgment in the matter of Fredrick Charles Mutanda V The State and Kudakwashe Jarabini SC 55/13 as per Malaba DCJ (As he was then) attached hereunder. The Boss as he is affectionately called in the JSC cycle was not even suspended or charged for this dishonorable conduct. Instead he was even promoted to among other things supervise and monitor the vice corruption amongst his subordinates. My foot! They say a prison is a place where big criminals keep their younger ones. True to that adage, Mr Mutevedzi is very eloquent in denouncing other people when it comes to corruption issues but typical of a preacher who preaches that which he does not practice, he is no a saint.
(b) STAND NUMBER 13875 GALLOWAY PARK, NORTON
In this matter in some yet to be unraveled corrupt deal, Mr Munamato Mutevedzi received a residential stand in the plush Galloway suburb of Norton from Jemina Gumbo when he was still Provincial Magistrate in charge of Rotten row Magistrate .He has since developed the stand with funds corruptly acquired from the numerous corrupt deals in the JSC and that is where he is currently staying. Paperwork from Norton City Council can be used to confirm this.Attached is copy of pictures to this house.
3. STHEMBINKOSI MSIPA
(a) AWARDING OF CONTRACTS TO FRIENDLY SHELF COMPANIES IN RETURN FOR KICKBACKS
Mr Msipa is the Acting Deputy Secretary Admiration. He is very calm and unassuming but very corrupt.It is on his desk that shelf companies are awarded contracts say to refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. There is a company trading by the name of G-star which is given virtually all contacts at all the four High Courts to do tiling ,construction of guardrooms ,Installation of workstations, installation of security devices at High Courts, tiling and shelving in return for kickbacks. It has become part of the JSC family and is untouchable and uncontestably allowed to compete against itself. At times it is allowed to contest itself under different names whereas it is one and the same company .One day it is called G-star and the other day it will be called Falcon Pvt(Ltd) .So at the end of the day whichever company wins the tender, it remains G-star. You will only be able to notice when the same staffers appear for each and every project awarded albeit under different shelf companies. The Registrar, the Deputy Registrars and the Administration Managers are simply instructed by My Mr Msipa to do the paperwork and give contracts to this company ONLY. His word is law.
(b)NEPOTISM AND FAVOURATISM
Three quarters of appointments made in the JSC from 2013 to date are either acquaintances relatives or friends of Mr Chikwana, Mr Msipa and Mr Mutevedzi. The majority of these relatives and acquaintances are then corruptly elevated to senior positions in the JSC.A simple staff audit and inquiries within the departments in the JSC will confirm this. The net effect of this nepotism is that efficiency in the various JSC departments is compromised when competent people are sacrificed and overlooked at the expense of relatives who are given an unfair advantage. How is this done? These guys wield a lot of power and authority in the JSC. As indicated earlier on their word is law. If they say jump you don’t question. You simply have to question how high. So what they do is if they want to employ people they write a passionate plea to the Chief Justice explaining how dire the situation in a particular has become.
The Chief Justice will take the issue to the Judicial Commission and once they get treasury concurrence that is the end of the matter .Mr Chikwana as the Acting Secretary will then advertise the posts and appoint the interviewing panel. On the day of the Interviews, the members of the interviewing panel are then called for a pre interview briefing where they are told of the names of the preferred candidates. When the interviews eventually take place it will be a dead rubber. That is how they have managed to fill all posts with their friends and relatives.
(c) SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARRASSMENT
Linked to this aspect of nepotism and favouratism is the issue of sexual harassment. It is again the same characters: Msipa ,Chikwana and Mutevedzi who sexually abuse female staffers in return for lucrative appointments. A case in point is that of Rujeko Macheka Madzinga.This lady was employed in the I.T department at the Supreme Court. Sometime in June 2018 the Chief Justice ordered that she be charged for participating in primary elections.
When the Secretariat tried to charge her she went berserk at the JSC headquarters shouting that no one could charge her since MR Chikwana the Secretary and his deputy Mr Msipa had severally taken turns to sexually abuse her. She even threatened to describe their manhood in front of the JSC staffers. The charges were immediately dropped and a month down the line she was promoted to the lucrative post of Website Administrator.
Mr Mutevedzi also did the same to one of the married Deputy Registrars at the Labour Court Kudzai Mumbengegwi.
Although Kudzai spurned the sexual advances, it remains one of the most documented cases of sexual harassment in the JSC which need to be probed further. The JSC is aware of it, her husband and several other relatives know about this but Mutevedzi is allowed to remain in post and harass other people’s children, wives and prospective spouses willingly, in a clear case of abuse of office .This only serves to show how this vice is deeply entrenched in the JSC and how urgently it must be addressed to protect the vulnerable woman species in the JSC which is under threat by these powerful men. They certainly need urgent protection.
4. WALTER TAMBUDZAI CHIKWANA
Walter Tambudzai is the Acting Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission. He denounces corruption by the day but he drinks, eats and sleeps corruption. In fact he is the most corrupt officer in the Judicial Service Commission to the extent that during the period ranging from 2012 to date a period of less than 6 years he has amassed wealth which an owner of a lucrative gold mine can only dream to own.
For example he is now a proud owner of a storey house in Glenlonrne, to pay off the Ministry of Local for a house in house in Southerton, a drinking hall (club) in Rusape ,he owns more than 100 herd of cattle on a farm jointly run by him and his brother in Matebeleland North, both of them own an earth moving and road making equipment that comprises of caterpillars ,graders ,front and Perry loaders that were bought from Mbada Diamonds by his brother who was ironically corruptly appointed auctioneer in that sale by none other than his brother Walter through the Sheriff. He together with his deputies Mutevedzi and Msipa are also involved in the nepotism and favouratism that sees the employment of his relatives and friends as described above. He is also involved in the corrupt appointment of auctioneers in the Sherrif’s office .He is also the chief architect of establishing and awarding shelf companies contracts say to build and refurbish courtrooms under unclear circumstances. He is also involved in cases of sexual abuse of prospective job seekers and JSC employees in return for lucrative postings within the organization.
(a) CORRUPTION IN THE APPOINTMENT OF AUCTIONEERS & RECEIVING FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM AUCTIONEERS
Mr Chikwana,Mr Mutevedzi and Mr Mcduff Madega the Acting Sheriff have corrupty amassed wealth through the office of the Sherriff .Most of the company that are put on the panel to sell both movable and immovable property are either linked to his friends and relatives or those of Mutevedzi and Madega.This scheme has been in place since 2013 when as the then Chief Registrar he convinced the then Chief Justice Chidyausiku to take over the operations of the then Deputy Sherriff to the JSC as a revenue making mechanism for the organization. Because these members of the JSC Secretariat are compromised, you will find that at one point the Sheriff’s charges and fees that are used by auctioneers at one point especially between 2015-2017 were extortionate and not affordable. These were proposed by Martin Chikwana the elder brother to the Acting Secretary, forced onto the Sherriff and approved by Mr W.Chikwana .To note however is that these charges were not even supported by the law. They were merely plucked from the air for the sole purposes of profiteering since the Acting Secretary and his Deputies are beneficiaries.
To their credit the Lawyers observed this and raised complaints against the Sheriff to the very Secretary. Credit should be given to the lawyers especially those in Bulawayo with some raising the fact that Mr Chikwana was severely compromised because of his brother Martin’s visible dealings with Hollands Auctioneers in Bulawayo.The matters were discussed in the Commission together with some other related complaints against Mr Chikwana .However due to his growing influence, the JSC only ordered for the termination of various auctioneering companies linked to the Acting Secretary and the reviewing of the Sheriff’s fees and charges so that they may comply with the law. They were asked to advertise for the appointment of new auctioneering companies but to date there is no guarantee that some of the old companies were reincarnated albeit using different names. These guy will do all it takes to make money. It is the process of appointment that is very funny and ease to manipulate. The very same interested parties who comprise of the Acting Secretary and his Deputies are responsible for appointing the selecting team which is led by none other than the Sherriff another interested party and beneficiary. How are the appointments for the Auctioneers made?
Like employment interviews in the JSC ,these ate predetermined .The preferred auctioneers are advised in advance and they meet the requirements ahead of others .Mr Madega is then sent to a Mr Gweme of the Estate Council of Zimbabwe to go and obtain a recommended list to me considered for appointment. He will be told to recommend all their preferred companies and add one for himself. Like the interviewing processes for JSC employees again the Sheriff and his team will after receiving the applications visit the respective premises of the applicants for assessment for academic purposes because the preferred list would have been made in advance. The visits will be a dead rubber or a delayed match. Using the above process, Mr Chikwana has managed to appoint the following auctioneering and he drives material and financial benefit from all of them. This can be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. Further financial transactions of a similar nature can also be tracked from his wife’s bank account or that of his brother Martin. It is further supported by the vast properties that he has managed to acquire during his 6 year stint at the helm of the JSC.
(1) HOLLANDS-MUTARE AND BULAWAYO
This is an ancient auctioneering company formed in 1902.It is based in Mutare and fronted by a Whiteman but when it comes to their contract with the Sheriff, the Kingmaker is Martin Chikwana the brother to the JSC Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana. He is the many responsible for the Sheriff’s dealings with Hollands in Mutare and Bulawayo. The auctioneering company also does auctioneering business of movables in Mutare and both movables and immovable property in Bulawayo. As indicated earlier on Mr Chikwana drives both material and financial benefit from Hollands Auctioneers. This can also be supported by the vast empire that he has managed to build during a very short period. It is because of the connections between Hollands Auctioneers and the office of the Sheriff that Mr Chikwana has managed to build a storey house in Glenlorne, to pay off the Ministry of Local for a house in Southerton, acquire a drinking hall (club) in Rusape ,buy more than 100 herd of cattle on a farm jointly run by him and his brother in Matebeleland North. He and his brother Martin also managed to acquire earth moving and road making equipment that comprises of caterpillars ,graders ,front and Perry loaders that were bought from Mbada Diamonds by his brother who was ironically corruptly appointed auctioneer in that sale by none other than his brother Walter Chikwana. Mr Chikwana as indicated earlier on drives both material and financial benefit from Hollands Auctioneers. The matter is very easy to investigate since the payments pass through different electronic platforms leaving behind an electronic trail. This can also be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. Further financial transactions of a similar nature can also be tracked from his wife’s bank account or that of his brother Martin.
NB-Hollands’s contact for movables in Bulawayo was terminated in July this year following complaints to the Commission raised by lawyers. However they are still selling immovable property in Bulawayo.
(2) TWO MUZAYA t/a as HOLLANDS
In Masvingo they used to trade as Two Muzaya but with Martin and Walter Chikwana being the major beneficiaries. All they did was to use Hollands registration documents to sanitise their operations but the two are the individuals behind the company. They benefit directly from the operations of this company up to August 2018 when the JSC forced them to close shop following numerous complaints from members of the public.
(3) TANTES AUCTIONEERING-GWERU
This company was appointed to the Sheriff’s panel of auctioneers in 2016 at the instance of the Acting Secretary Mr Chikwana.In another case of clear abuse of office Mr W Chikwana using his vast powers and authority ordered the Sheriff to give the company a contract. The company belongs to Martin Chikwana‘s wife. The company did not even meet the JSC’s minimal requirements for it to be put on the panel.
NB-Tantes’s contact for movables in Gweru was terminated in July this year following complaints to the Commission raised by lawyers.
(4) DREW AND FRAISER
This is another Auctioneering company which was appointed to the Sheriff’s Panel of auctioneers for immovable properties in 2016.The auctioneering company is run by one Mrs Euphrasia Mupedzisi cell number 0772903358 a relative of the Acting Secretary. Just like in all other cases mentioned above Mr Chikwana drives both material and financial benefit from Drew&Fraiser Auctioneers. This can also be tracked from his ZB and MBCA Accounts. To get further information, one simply needs to audit of Drew & Frasier’s account.
CONCLUSION
This is just but a tip of the iceberg. The list is endless .These people make a killing through these corrupt deals because they get 5% of the purchase price of every property sold with each auctioneer given an average of 40 properties to sell. They also make it a point that if it is the turn of their companies to sell they ask Madhega to look for the files in which valuable properties from posh suburbs were attached and are due for sale. If there is a genuine desire to flush them out, a forensic audit of all the Auctioneering companies contracted to the Sherriff one would be able to identify which company is linked to Mcduff Madega the Sherriff since 2013 can be done. From their financial statements one can easily dictate which companies are linked to Chikwana or Mutevedzi, which one is linked to Gweme of the Real Eastates Council of Zimbabwe .These people make real money because they get 5% of the value of the property sol with each auctioneer given an average of 40 properties to sell. That can be achieved by doing a through financial audit of all the companies. To note however is that there are some very few genuine companies that are appointed on merit and this is done for the obvious reason of sanitising the corruption. There can be no success in fighting corruption if the Judiciary an important and critical player is superintended by this kind of corrupt leadership. They say a fish rots from the head. We need to cut the head first if we are to achieve anything.
The State yesterday moved to declare its witness, George Washaya, as hostile for siding with former Health minister David Parirenyatwa in his decision to relieve NatPharm managing director Flora Sifeku from her position.
Washaya, who was testifying before deputy chief magistrate Elijah Makomo, yesterday disowned his statement, which was recorded by the police.
The witness told the court that he took Parirenyatwa’s directives as a collective decision by the ministry and not an individual directive.
He said the former Health minister wanted the good of NatPharm because the company, under Sifeku, was failing to reach the 100 days goal set by the new dispensation.
Washaya said he erred when he signed the minutes and statement without consulting his lawyer, saying he did not know that what he was doing had legal implications.
He further referred to Parirenyatwa as the best minister ever, but prosecutor Brian Vito labelled his testimony as assumptions which were not backed by facts.
Washaya, however, continued to defend Parirenyatwa, saying he did nothing wrong and that he did a lot for the board for it to doubt his opinion.
The prosecutor then asked the court to impeach the witness, saying he was siding with the accused person, but Parirenyatwa’s lawyer, advocate Deepak Mehta, said the witness was speaking the truth and the State must not force him to lie to the court.
Makomo postponed the matter to April 25 for the ruling on the application.
According to the State, on June 4 this year, Parirenyatwa acted contrary and inconsistent with his duties as a public officer by directing Washaya to end Sifeku’s contract with NatPharm as managing director, in the process showing disfavour to her.
Gabriella Engels sits during a press conference at the AfriForum Offices in Centurion shortly after being assaulted by Grace Mugabe
South African lobby group AfriForum says the neighbouring country’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has applied for the extradition of former First Lady Grace Mugabe to face trial for assaulting a model, Gabriella Engels, in August 2017.
The extradition application comes after the Gauteng High Court last year stripped Grace of her diplomatic immunity granted to her by former International Relations and Co-operation minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Although the NPA refused to comment on the issue, AfriForum head of private prosecutions Gerrie Nel said Grace’s prosecution would start soon, and the lobby group would be monitoring the case.
“The Foreign States Immunities Act (1981) explicitly excludes the granting of immunity to Heads of State who are guilty of the death or injury of people in South Africa. Grace Mugabe, as the wife of a former Head of State, could, therefore, in no way claim the diplomatic immunity to which she appealed,” Nel told a South African newspaper.
“We hope that the prosecution of Grace Mugabe will commence shortly and we will monitor the case. AfriForum gets involved in issues like this to ensure that people with political power do not get away with committing crimes.”
Nel, who is formerly a prosecutor with the NPA, said he would apply for a nolle prosequi (formal notice of abandonment by a plaintiff or prosecutor of all or part of a suit) certificate should the NPA fail to prosecute.
The certificate would allow AfriForum to go by the route of private prosecution.
But contrary to AfriForum’s assertions about Grace’s extradition, the NPA was coy, with its spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku simply saying: “No comment,” according to media reports, and Ndivhuwo Mabaya, spokesperson of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco), professed ignorance to the purported extradition.
The extradition means Grace will have to be sent to South Africa, where she is accused of committing a crime, to face trial, but this would depend on whether the Zimbabwe government would agree to that.
Zimbabwe’s Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday said he would not comment on a wish.
“They are applying, it means there is nothing yet. We cannot comment on a wish. We will comment when the time comes.”
Grace’s lawyer, Walter Chivore, also refused to comment.
“No comment,” he said.
Lawyer Moses Nkomo said extradition is on the basis of the bilateral treaty between Zimbabwe and South Africa, where the two countries should agree that if someone commits a crime, they will make them available for prosecution.
“In the case of Zimbabwe and SA, they do not have that bilateral treaty, but according to the Extradition Act, Zimbabwe is bound by international obligations and so, the applicable international Extradition Treaty will be the Sadc Protocol on Extradition. Because both Zimbabwe and SA are members of Sadc, they are bound,” Nkomo said.
“Zimbabwe and SA can use the Sadc mechanism. In terms of that treaty, the request of the extradition must be done through formal channels, in writing and supporting documents transmitted through the right channels, which is in this case the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is where AfriForum will have difficulties. Extradition cannot be done through private prosecution.”
AfriForum is a non-governmental organisation whose aim is to protect the rights of minorities.
Engels in 2017 accused Grace of viciously assaulting her after finding her partying with Mugabe’s son, Bellarmine Chatunga, at a posh hotel in Johannesburg. But Grace claimed she did so in self-defence after the model charged at her with a knife.
She, however, did not have her day in court after she was granted diplomatic immunity, which enabled her to leave South Africa.
A year later, AfriForum successfully challenged Grace’s diplomatic immunity soon after Mugabe was ousted from power by his former deputy and now President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, with the help of the military.
THE High Court yesterday put on ice an application filed by disgruntled opposition MDC members to stop next month’s elective congress, which is likely to see Nelson Chamisa succeeding the late Morgan Tsvangirai as the party’s substantive leader.
MDC members, fronted by Elias Mashavire, were seeking an order to bar the party’s May 24 congress and, instead, have an extraordinary congress to elect Tsvangirai’s successor, but they were forced to withdraw their urgent High Court application before Justice Esther Muremba.
Chamisa, who is on the verge of clinching the mandate to lead the main opposition after securing nominations of almost all the party’s provinces, has dismissed the applications as “machinations of darkness”.
The Gokwe-based Mashavire, represented by lawyer Ashel Mutungura, launched a renewed bid to stop the congress and force the party to first deal with an extra-ordinary congress, which they say is provided for in the party’s constitution following the death of Tsvangirai last year.
In an interview yesterday after the court hearing, Mutungura said the matter was heard before Justice Muremba, who urged them to wait for the judgment by Justice Edith Mushore, who heard the matter last month.
“We have been waiting for judgment for more than one month now before Justice Edith Mushore and today, the judge said she was not going to give us two judgments because the other judgment could be out any moment,” he said.
“She said why don’t you write to the judge to get that judgment?” Mutungura said.
Justice Muremba’s decision was based on the basis that it would not be prudent to proceed because her judgment might also take time yet the one pending might be released any time soon.
Mashavire argued that Chamisa, as the party’s interim leader, had no power to call for an ordinary congress before the MDC holds an extra-ordinary congress to confirm him as the leader.
The application cited Chamisa as the first respondent, while vice-presidents Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri, secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora and national organising secretary Amos Chibaya were also cited.
Chamisa said the party was forging ahead with congress arrangements and would not be swayed by “enemies of democracy who are only wasting the courts’ time”.
“We have budgeted for machinations by merchants of darkens, by apostles of retrogression and retrogressive acerbic negative politics,” he said.
“We have in-built resilience to deal with such chaos, such false kites that are thrown in order to shift us from the focus.
“We are focusing on the ball, our task is to play the ball and not the man, and that’s the tragedy of certain politicians; they mark the man, instead of marking the ball and that somebody wants to go to court is their right, but we have a resolution in the party, that if you have grievances, if you are a party member, peruse and exhaust domestic remedies because we have them in abundance.”
He insisted that internal grievance handling mechanisms were sufficient and described the case as cheap politicking and unfortunate sideshows.
“We will deal with that because we are a party that operates on the rule of law and we respect individual rights. You can see that it’s malicious and it’s meant to stroke the egos of those who may feel that they are suffering injuries out of democracy because democracy has a tendency of inflicting blows, particularly if you are a non-democrat,” Chamisa added.
Chamisa was expected to be challenged by Mwonzora and Mudzuri, but so far, none of them have received nomination for the presidency.
Mwonzora, who has since received one nomination for secretary-general, on Sunday last week surprised party supporters after declaring that he was putting his weight behind Chamisa through an agreement that would see him retain the secretary-general post.
Many MDC die-hard supporters and loyal members are alleging being sidelined in favour of newcomers, most of whom caused serious damage to the party when they acrimoniously left following splits.
Zanu-PF youths from Harare Province yesterday marched from Zanu PF Headquarters to the National Sports Stadium to mark the country’s 39th Independence.
Zanu-PF Youth League deputy political commissar Tafadzwa Mudzamiri commended the youths who thronged the Zanu-PF Headquarters saying that this was a clear indication that youths are committed to their party and are patriotic.
“I would like to applaud the youths for coming in their numbers for the Independence solidarity march, this indicates that they are committed to serving both our party Zanu-PF and our nation Zimbabwe at large.
“We are celebrating the 39th Independence under the visionary leadership of our party’s First secretary and President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. This is a clear message to the youths that they must be patriotic and exemplary especially in terms of nation building,” he said.
Zanu-PF secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi thanked the youths for coming up with a unique way of celebrating the country’s independence.
“To Zanu PF youths I say well done and happy 39th Independence celebrations for leading the way, but these celebrations are not a Zanu-PF affair, but are for the whole country. Independence is not partisan as purported by others, this is a national issue so we expected to have all the youths as long as one is a Zimbabwean.”
Zimbabweans at the National Sports Stadium for the country’s 39th Independence Celebrations.
OPPOSITION MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa would have been the first to benefit from a proposal to adopt the Commonwealth Parliamentary system that would have seen the creation of an office of the Leader of Opposition, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
However, Chamisa according to Mnangagwa rejected the offer. The Zanu PF leader, was speaking in a televised interview with State broadcaster ZBC, on the eve of Zimbabwe’s 39th independence anniversary, Wednesday night.
“We don’t have it here in Zimbabwe (the Commonwealth Parliamentary system). This is why initially I had proposed that whoever is the leader of the opposition, whether he is in Parliament or outside, we should make such a provision, such that they are recognised as an official Leader of the
Opposition in Parliament and they are accorded that status,” Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa said his offer was thrown back at him.
“But those (MDC leader Nelson Chamisa) who could have benefitted from that felt that they didn’t want to be spooned fed, they must get things for themselves.
“I said very good, so if you do not want to be given recognition in Parliament and you want everything by yourself, it’s okay,” the President said somewhat wistfully.
Mnangagwa added that the offer was his way of recognising his rival’s position in society given Chamisa’s showing in last year’s presidential elections. The 41 year-old opposition leader came a close second with 44.3 percent of the vote to Mnangagwa’s 50.8 percent.
“Because the fact that you will become of the officially Leader of the Opposition, it’s a recognition that you have some following, you have some share in the electoral system which is significant and in any case you should be recognised.
“But that was denied,” said Mnangagwa.
Chamisa rejected the election outcome and argued it had been rigged in Mnangagwa’s favour. An attempt to have the result overturned at the Constitutional Court, fell flat for lack of evidence to back the rigging claims. But the opposition leader maintains to this day that he won.
The MDC leader has again rejected calls for dialogue from Mnangagwa under a platform that includes all presidential candidates in last year’s polls but instead has demanded a situation superintended by a “neutral arbiter.”
Said Mnangagwa: “When I took office I said let bygone be bygones, I must leave by that principle.
“So my view is lets us differ on how to run government, how to build the bridge, how to build a school, how to craft an economic policy, how to run agriculture, lets differ but we should all remain
Zimbabwean and remain united.”
He said dialogue between people who do not agree “is a good thing its good therapy between contestants.”
In rejecting Mnangagwa’s offer, Chamisa argued he was the legitimate leader of the country instead and should be allowed to govern.
“They are saying they want me to go to Parliament and I said: ‘Are you sick?’ I was elected to go to State House and not Parliament. Hold forth because we are not easily convinced. I have no fear because I know you are solidly behind me,” Chamisa said then.
The family of a Zimbabwean student in China, Brendon Anesu Gumbo is asking assistance to cover medical bills amount to $5,000.
The student, Brendon, was in a coma after suffering lung failure and is currently admitted at Red Cross Hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
Said his mother Demetria Gumbo: “Brendon got a lung infection three months ago that is early January 2019 and we only got to realise it a week back when he had lung failure and immediately got into a coma. We thank God that he has managed to allow him to open his eyes on his hospital bed showing some recovery. This improvement brings some relief to his family and friends
“The family is trying to make sure that he gets all the medication that he needs however, it is not so easy and funds are running short for him to continue on the life saving machines. It is our engraved plea, from the bottom of our hearts, in solace with the family that you assist with prayer for Brendon and any amount that you can give if possible for us to help give life to him. We would be very grateful for your support in this time of need. Thank you may God bless your gift and add more to that which you have given.”
The MDC joins the people of Zimbabwe in celebrating 39 years of Independence.
In commemorating the day, it is important to highlight that the status quo brings to question the agenda, values and ethos of the liberation struggle.
Zimbabweans are still in the trenches sadly fighting for the following issues which were the basis of the liberation agenda.
1. The land question 2. Universal suffrage – the principle of one man one vote 3. Transformation of the lives of Zimbabweans.
Thirty nine years after the liberation struggle, land ownership is still a question for discussion. Those politically connected to Zanu PF just wake up with an offer letter and displace a fellow citizen. New invasions are still the order of the day. Those who occupy pieces of land only do so at the benevolence of the ruling elites.
This is without mentioning that land has been reduced to a dead Capital carrying only use value with no exchange value.
The MDC makes the point that four decades of independence is enough to give title to the beneficiaries of the land reform, facilitate mechanisation of farms and adapt from dependency on rain fed agriculture.
On transformation, black Zimbabweans are subjected to unpalatable suffering by those who hijacked the agenda of the liberation struggle for personal gain. The majority are living in abject poverty, millions have fled a warless country, millions are unemployed and the gap between the rich and the poor keeps widening.
Access to healthcare is now a pipe dream, the public health delivery system is broken and hospitals have been turned into death traps.
Hundreds of Zimbabweans are dying of curable diseases and stress related ailments.
The same applies to education. An unacceptable number of children is dropping out of school.
The health system itself needs a complete overhaul.
Hundreds of thousands are still walking ten kilometres to the nearest primary school. Some of the schools are not even worth the name. The men and women manning those schools are disgruntled and neglected. They show up every day, and yet are offered an insult as wages.
The same applies to any other public service institution.
Those controlling the State have converted it into an arena for personal enrichment. They are not concerned about the rest.
On the political front, Zanu PF has ensured that they oppose what the liberation was all about. They murder dissent, rape women, abduct those who disagree and steal elections.
The democratic space is closing by the day, there is no freedom of the press, journalists like Zenzele are arrested for producing a documentary and some like Dzamara are made to disappear and calls to account for him are ignored.
There is blatant abuse of raw state power, the gun is now directing politics.
The people of Zimbabwe are however resilient. They will turn out victorious, as we celebrate 39 years of Independence we encourage every Zimbabwean to keep the faith and focus on reclaiming the agenda of the liberation of the motherland.
President Nelson Chamisa and the entire MDC leadership are committed to ensure Zimbabweans enjoy their independence and this can only be achieved through the 5 point plan as proposed by the people’s President.
MDC 5th Congress: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
“The general rehabilitation of roads has seen more visible results on both city and country roads.”
FULL TEXT: I welcome you all who are gathered here to celebrate our 39th Independence Anniversary. I also extend a warm welcome to the multitudes assembled at various venues throughout Zimbabwe and those compatriots following this event via different media platforms.
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This is a joyous day for all of us, as one nation, one people! Congratulations Zimbabwe, Makorokoto, Amhlophe! Long live Zimbabwe. God Bless Zimbabwe!
No matter where you are, today we celebrate our Independence Day, we celebrate our land and our people. Our freedom, independence and the proud heritage left for us by our departed heroes and heroines who paid the supreme sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.
We have within our blood, the traits of bravery, valour and resilience passed on to us by generation upon generation of our departed.
As we reflect on the path we have walked and the road ahead, we must draw lessons from the actions of our freedom fighters and the principles that guided them.
Over the years, through sweat, struggle and tribulations we have survived and never surrendered or lost our hope.
Today as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us honour the values that underpin it. These values must drive us forward. We can no longer afford to be concerned with mere survival. Let us instead seek to blossom, thrive and prosper as a nation, as a people, towards a brighter future in the Zimbabwe we all want.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
We celebrate our Independence anniversary under a heavy cloud of grief and sorrow due to the Cyclone Idai disaster. The cyclone has indeed left a grievous scar which will be with us for long time to come.
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We mourn with the governments and the people of the sisterly republics of Mozambique and Malawi who also lost precious lives due to Cyclone Idai.
I would like to once again thank the nation for the collective response to Cyclone Idai and the generous contributions to the relief efforts.
The exceptional display of gallantry, compassion, patriotism and corporate responsibility exhibited by various stakeholders is proof that if we are united in love and common purpose, nothing can prevail against us in nation building and reconstruction.
I particularly thank our brothers and sisters in Mozambique for according dignity to the remains of our people who were swept onto their territory. Similarly, I wish to extend our profound appreciation to the Heads of State and Government of SADC and Africa in general, for their love and tremendous support.
Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to Heads of State and Government, the United Nations family and other distinguished dignitaries from the broader international community for their overwhelming support, goodwill and selfless generosity during our time of loss and need.
I wish to, however, mention in particular countries like China, UAE, USA, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa and many others who donated several quantities of medicines, tents, food and non-food items. This proves that we remain one big family, despite our distinct geographical locations.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Let us consolidate our hard-won independence through disciplined focus on the development of the economy and improvements in the quality of life of all our people.
For Zimbabwe to prosper and attain Vision 2030, we need the collective efforts of all citizens at home and abroad. While our friends and investors may assist us, the ultimate obligation to turn around our fortunes lies with us, using our own God-given natural endowments and abilities.
To this end, my administration continues to engage a broad spectrum of our society to help sharpen Government’s perspective on issues across the socio-economic and political spectrum. This inclusive approach will enable us to accelerate the pace of the modernisation and industrialisation of our country.
The implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, has since gathered momentum.
My Government remains committed to address distortions in all sectors of the economy. We have made an upward review of producer prices of maize, soyabeans, wheat and cotton. Wheat supplies are set to improve, while the establishment of small-scale bakeries will be facilitated to enhance more affordable bread prices.
The setting up of Silo Foods Company will further see increased availability and affordability of many basic commodities throughout the country.
In the fuel sector, we are adopting long- term strategies to stabilise both the availability and pricing of the product. The introduction of a market-based exchange rate system is expected to stabilise the economy, in the long run.
However, Government is alarmed by the recent wanton and indiscriminant increases of prices which has brought about untold suffering to the people. This conduct by stakeholders in business, industry and commerce is inhumane, unethical, and unpatriotic and goes against the grain of economic dialogue which the Second Republic has espoused. Government remains determined to restore the purchasing power of all workers.
I want to once again reassure our citizens that the Land Reform Programme is irreversible. We fought for the land and we will never ever regret taking back our land. Neither will we ever betray our fellow comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice for this land and now lie buried in marked and unmarked graves within our borders and beyond.
Our Constitution binds us to compensation in respect to improvements effected on the land before acquisition. This will be done as and when resources are available.
Legacy issues related to the programme such as multiple farm ownership, disregard for maximum farm size, allocation of grazing land and unclear boundaries among others, must be addressed head on, without fear or favour.
The Land Audit Report is expected to help return order in this respect. Where possible, some of those still in need of land will be considered thereafter.
In view of the centrality of agriculture as a key sector in stimulating the modernisation and industrialisation of our economy; my administration is now focusing on unlocking value from the land and ensuring maximum productivity.
Foremost in this regard is the need to provide security of tenure, facilitate access to capital for farmers and generate sufficient raw materials for the revival and growth of the industrial sector.
The negative impact of climate change entails that we undertake adaptive responses that will enhance our resilience. As a result of this year’s drought considerable quantities of grain in our Strategic Grain Reserves will be availed so that none of our people die from hunger.
I urge all our community leaders and Members of Parliament to avail information about those communities in critical need of assistance.
Meanwhile, my Government is always grateful to the United Nations Country Team in Zimbabwe and other international partners for their timely interventions to mitigate the impact of the drought. In the medium to long term, Government is quickening dam and weir construction, the repair of breached dams and the desiltation of dams and rivers.
Irrigation development around underutilised water bodies such as Tugwi-Mukosi Lake will gather momentum. DDF and local authorities will continue to be provided with additional rigs to accelerate borehole drilling so that our people do not have to walk long distances to fetch water.
To address the challenges besetting the livestock sub-sector, Government is increasing financial support towards the procurement of essential vaccines against high impact diseases. In addition, over 60 veterinary doctors have been deployed countrywide.
The resuscitation of the Cold Storage Company (CSC) is now on track. Productivity on ARDA farms will continue to be increased with subsidiary focus on value addition. I wish to applaud private sector players who have heeded the call to support Government programmes to increase productivity and viability in the agriculture sector. This resulted in increased output in wheat, soyabeans, tobacco and cotton, among other crops.
The mining sector is a major conduit for investment inflows and a promising source of employment creation. A number of multimillion-dollar mining investments are underway in most parts of the country’s provinces.
These include mining projects such as the Prospect’s Arcadia Lithium Project; Tsingshan Consolidated Mining Product; Karo Resources and the Great Dyke Investments Platinum Mining Project. Invictus Energy Project in Muzarabani is increasingly becoming promising.
Such investments will help in the economic empowerment of many communities throughout the country and also result in the expansion of our road, rail, communication, energy and housing infrastructure.
We applaud the small-scale miners who are making meaningful contribution to the country’s revenue inflows. My administration will continue to tirelessly facilitate increased participation of locals in the mining sector through appropriate policy instruments and support.
A National Diamond Policy is now in place and will see the transparent and accountable exploration, value addition and marketing of the country’s diamonds. ALROSA and AFEC will partner Government to bring about optimum benefits, world-class systems, technology and skills into the sub-sector.
In line with our Independence theme of “Embracing Devolution for Vision 2030”, and in the spirit of our long held position of indigenisation and economic empowerment; communities must benefit from the natural resources endowments in their localities.
The tourism and hospitality sector continues on an upward growth trajectory, recording total arrivals in 2018 which surpass the highest figures in 1999. As commendation for this development, international players have named Zimbabwe the “Sustainable Tourism Destination for 2019” and ranked us number 3 “Must Visit Destination” in the world.
Information Communication Technologies are the nerve centre of socio-economic transformation in this era of the digital and knowledge-driven economy. In March this year, I commissioned the National Backbone Fibre Link in Beitbridge. The establishment of that infrastructure will position us as a regional ICT hub and act as a catalyst for ICT-based industries and business.
The initial batch of innovation, incubation hubs within State universities have been set up to help modernise and leapfrog our economic development. This initiative will be complemented by the construction of industrial parks in each province.
I am also pleased to announce the resuscitation of the apprenticeship programme to train technicians and artisans. All our polytechnic colleges will also be capacitated to produce technical skills for our growing economy.
These multi-thronged reforms and modernisation of higher education should lead to the development of a strong research, innovative, artisanal and engineering cadres, which must vault our industrialisation agenda.
The jobs, jobs and more jobs that we desire to create are a function of a thriving agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and ICT sector, among others.
Comrades and friends;
Government is in the process of formulating a Renewable Energy Policy to facilitate the development of a diverse portfolio of renewable and clean energy solutions. We also urge our people to embrace clean energy products.
In the meantime, work towards implementation of the Batoka Hydroelectric Plant is now at the Environmental Impact Assessment stage. Construction work at the Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project has begun, creating thousands of jobs and will see an addition of 600MW into the national grid upon completion. The Rural Electrification Programme has resumed in earnest since 2018.
These efforts in the energy sector will ultimately increase our national energy output; facilitate the growth of our manufacturing sector; propel industrialisation of the economy, as well as ensure the growth of rural industry systems.
In our quest to position the country as a transportation and communication hub, given its central location in the sub-region, Government is implementing projects to enhance the country’s connectivity by road, rail and air transport routes.
The dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Road, the Harare-Bulawayo Road and Harare-Mutare Road is gaining traction.
We continue to engage possible investors for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls-Kazungula Highway. The general rehabilitation of roads has seen more visible results on both city and country roads.
To enhance trade facilitation, a One-Stop Shop Border Post will be established in Victoria Falls and another at the Beitbridge Border Post. Meanwhile, the modernisation and upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post is now proceeding in earnest.
The commuting public has been at the mercy of errant kombi operators for a long time. Government has now stepped in to alleviate the plight of the commuters through the reintroduction of buses under the banner of ZUPCO. We are increasing the ZUPCO fleet so that affordable bus services are extended to all areas, especially in rural areas.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
My Government awaits the comprehensive report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Sale of State land which will see the reorganisation of the current unplanned settlements so that our people have acceptable habitations.
Relatedly, we have begun the urban renewal programmes, starting with the populous suburbs of Mbare in Harare, Makokoba in Bulawayo and Sakubva in Mutare. The renewal programme is anchored on the Smart City concept and will see the involvement of the private sector.
The construction of the New Parliament Building is fast taking shape. The rehabilitation, construction and modernisation of our courts is ongoing and will enhance more convenient and accessible delivery of justice.
In the housing development sector, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is constructing housing units as part of efforts to reduce the national housing backlog. Some private financial institutions have partnered Government in the construction of student accommodation and learning facilities at State universities.
My administration will make sure that no child has to walk more than 5km to a primary school. We will, thus, quicken the construction of more schools, particularly in marginalised areas such as parts of Matabeleland and Mashonaland Central provinces.
E-learning and learning of science subjects in schools across the country is being promoted. I call upon the service providers in the ICT industry to make the cost of bandwidth more affordable to institutions in the education sector.
The health of our people is a critical indicator of their quality of life. Government is making steady progress in revamping the health delivery system. We will accelerate the ongoing negotiations with stakeholders to guarantee adequate provision of affordable medicines and medical supplies in our hospitals.
In December 2018, I launched the National Clean-up exercise to raise awareness on the need to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment through collective action. I wish to thank the nation for embracing this very important initiative, and further invite all those still to come on-board to do so.
Local authorities and the corporate sector should adhere to safe disposal of all waste and the provision of clean water and functioning sewer reticulation systems to prevent disease outbreaks in our communities.
Sports, Arts and Culture not only promote health and well-being, but have increasingly become a source of livelihood for many people. A more coordinated approach must be accelerated to grow the sector, improve governance and end piracy.
We congratulate our national soccer, cricket and other teams for the successes they scored in the immediate past and encourage them to work harder for future glory and in defence of our national brand.
Comrades, Fellow Zimbabweans;
The youth and women are an important constituency in the country’s socio-economic development agenda. To this end, a dynamic training programme was rolled in 2018 to provide youths with appropriate technical and entrepreneurial skills.
This process is being complemented by the entrepreneurship development programme under the India-Africa Incubation Centre, which will be rolled out to all the country’s 10 provinces.
The Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank and Empower Bank must now open branches in all provinces to be closer to traditionally marginalised beneficiaries. Government will monitor the number of loans issued and quality of businesses supported to empower women, youth and veterans of our liberation struggle.
SMEs are important to the development of our economy. As such over and above meeting the demands of the local markets, sustainable economic growth will only be achieved through export-led production by SMEs. Government remains seized with the need to construct appropriate working spaces for SMEs.
As we reform the economy, my Government will continue to put in place safety nets to protect the vulnerable groups in our society. The need to empower people with disabilities is being given due attention. The distribution of grain to food-insecure households, inclusive of those in urban areas, is underway.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Political reforms and the entrenchment of democratic tenets, the rule law, good governance and an orderly society remain a priority to my administration. In pursuance of this, we are accelerating our legislative reforms to ensure that our laws conform to the Constitution.
This will see the introduction of new legislation in relation to public security, protection of privacy and access to information, among other laws.
I would like to commend the Security Services for their continued loyalty and defence of the Constitution and the nation. We specifically commend our Defence Forces for the role they played during the recent Cyclone Idai disaster.
Law and order are important ingredients of our national peace, development and prosperity, as well as for the orderly enjoyment of constitutionally enshrined rights.
Government is presently facilitating the re-equipping and retraining of the police service to make the force more equipped to deal with present-day policing requirements.
We are rolling out the automated Fingerprints Identification System across the country for the speedy identification of offenders and completion of criminal investigations. The police and other partners are also installing the Electronic Traffic Management System, which is expected to help reduce road carnage.
A Ministerial Taskforce has been constituted to spearhead the process of implementing the broad recommendations of both the Election Observer Missions and the Motlanthe Commission Report.
The Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption (ZACC) is being reconstituted. The incoming members should execute their mandate with diligence, honesty and integrity. Corruption in whatever form and by whosoever, will not be condoned. We must all individually and collectively prevent, report and fight corruption wherever it occurs.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Recognising that we are a unitary but diverse State, the Second Republic will seek to facilitate the development of marginalised communities in all our activities. We are steadfast in our commitment to fully implement the devolution system. Treasury has so far allocated a total of $310 million to facilitate the devolution programme.
The philosophy that “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” should reflect in the manner all public institutions are managed. Under my leadership, public servants will continue to be appointed based on merit, while the reform and profitability of public enterprises will be accelerated.
The restructuring of some key entities such as ZESA, GMB and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has begun.
The 59 approved projects under the newly established Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority is testimony of the successful implementation of the ease of doing business reforms.
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 co-operation 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 development potential, free from any hindrances.
I am aware that a notable part 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.
As a listening President, my ear will remain attentive to all Zimbabweans as we join hands for greater social cohesion and unity. I commend the progressive-minded leaders of political parties, who are part of the National Political Parties Dialogue.
This is the hallmark of mature, responsible and patriotic leadership, which puts national interests ahead of selfish ambition. The platform will enable us to have conversations that will help us to develop our country.
Comrades and Friends, Fellow Zimbabweans;
As we celebrate this 39th Independence Day anniversary, I call on us a nation to recommit ourselves to build a legacy of peace, love, unity, harmony and development. Let us continue to diligently and honestly work hard in our various spheres, not just for our families, but for the good and prosperity of our great country.
Together we are building a new economy. We are building a new future, we are building a new Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe shall surely rise again. We are moving on, our future is bright. Forward ever, backward never! Our prosperity is certain!
Happy Independence Day Zimbabwe!
Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe!
God bless you all!
God bless Zimbabwe!
I thank you!
I welcome you all who are gathered here to celebrate our 39th Independence Anniversary. I also extend a warm welcome to the multitudes assembled at various venues throughout Zimbabwe and those compatriots following this event via different media platforms.
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This is a joyous day for all of us, as one nation, one people! Congratulations Zimbabwe, Makorokoto, Amhlophe! Long live Zimbabwe. God Bless Zimbabwe!
No matter where you are, today we celebrate our Independence Day, we celebrate our land and our people. Our freedom, independence and the proud heritage left for us by our departed heroes and heroines who paid the supreme sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today.
We have within our blood, the traits of bravery, valour and resilience passed on to us by generation upon generation of our departed.
As we reflect on the path we have walked and the road ahead, we must draw lessons from the actions of our freedom fighters and the principles that guided them.
Over the years, through sweat, struggle and tribulations we have survived and never surrendered or lost our hope.
Today as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us honour the values that underpin it. These values must drive us forward. We can no longer afford to be concerned with mere survival. Let us instead seek to blossom, thrive and prosper as a nation, as a people, towards a brighter future in the Zimbabwe we all want.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
We celebrate our Independence anniversary under a heavy cloud of grief and sorrow due to the Cyclone Idai disaster. The cyclone has indeed left a grievous scar which will be with us for long time to come.
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We mourn with the governments and the people of the sisterly republics of Mozambique and Malawi who also lost precious lives due to Cyclone Idai.
I would like to once again thank the nation for the collective response to Cyclone Idai and the generous contributions to the relief efforts.
The exceptional display of gallantry, compassion, patriotism and corporate responsibility exhibited by various stakeholders is proof that if we are united in love and common purpose, nothing can prevail against us in nation building and reconstruction.
I particularly thank our brothers and sisters in Mozambique for according dignity to the remains of our people who were swept onto their territory. Similarly, I wish to extend our profound appreciation to the Heads of State and Government of SADC and Africa in general, for their love and tremendous support.
Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to Heads of State and Government, the United Nations family and other distinguished dignitaries from the broader international community for their overwhelming support, goodwill and selfless generosity during our time of loss and need.
I wish to, however, mention in particular countries like China, UAE, USA, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa and many others who donated several quantities of medicines, tents, food and non-food items. This proves that we remain one big family, despite our distinct geographical locations.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Let us consolidate our hard-won independence through disciplined focus on the development of the economy and improvements in the quality of life of all our people.
For Zimbabwe to prosper and attain Vision 2030, we need the collective efforts of all citizens at home and abroad. While our friends and investors may assist us, the ultimate obligation to turn around our fortunes lies with us, using our own God-given natural endowments and abilities.
To this end, my administration continues to engage a broad spectrum of our society to help sharpen Government’s perspective on issues across the socio-economic and political spectrum. This inclusive approach will enable us to accelerate the pace of the modernisation and industrialisation of our country.
The implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, has since gathered momentum.
My Government remains committed to address distortions in all sectors of the economy. We have made an upward review of producer prices of maize, soyabeans, wheat and cotton. Wheat supplies are set to improve, while the establishment of small-scale bakeries will be facilitated to enhance more affordable bread prices.
The setting up of Silo Foods Company will further see increased availability and affordability of many basic commodities throughout the country.
In the fuel sector, we are adopting long- term strategies to stabilise both the availability and pricing of the product. The introduction of a market-based exchange rate system is expected to stabilise the economy, in the long run.
However, Government is alarmed by the recent wanton and indiscriminant increases of prices which has brought about untold suffering to the people. This conduct by stakeholders in business, industry and commerce is inhumane, unethical, and unpatriotic and goes against the grain of economic dialogue which the Second Republic has espoused. Government remains determined to restore the purchasing power of all workers.
I want to once again reassure our citizens that the Land Reform Programme is irreversible. We fought for the land and we will never ever regret taking back our land. Neither will we ever betray our fellow comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice for this land and now lie buried in marked and unmarked graves within our borders and beyond.
Our Constitution binds us to compensation in respect to improvements effected on the land before acquisition. This will be done as and when resources are available.
Legacy issues related to the programme such as multiple farm ownership, disregard for maximum farm size, allocation of grazing land and unclear boundaries among others, must be addressed head on, without fear or favour.
The Land Audit Report is expected to help return order in this respect. Where possible, some of those still in need of land will be considered thereafter.
In view of the centrality of agriculture as a key sector in stimulating the modernisation and industrialisation of our economy; my administration is now focusing on unlocking value from the land and ensuring maximum productivity.
Foremost in this regard is the need to provide security of tenure, facilitate access to capital for farmers and generate sufficient raw materials for the revival and growth of the industrial sector.
The negative impact of climate change entails that we undertake adaptive responses that will enhance our resilience. As a result of this year’s drought considerable quantities of grain in our Strategic Grain Reserves will be availed so that none of our people die from hunger.
I urge all our community leaders and Members of Parliament to avail information about those communities in critical need of assistance.
Meanwhile, my Government is always grateful to the United Nations Country Team in Zimbabwe and other international partners for their timely interventions to mitigate the impact of the drought. In the medium to long term, Government is quickening dam and weir construction, the repair of breached dams and the desiltation of dams and rivers.
Irrigation development around underutilised water bodies such as Tugwi-Mukosi Lake will gather momentum. DDF and local authorities will continue to be provided with additional rigs to accelerate borehole drilling so that our people do not have to walk long distances to fetch water.
To address the challenges besetting the livestock sub-sector, Government is increasing financial support towards the procurement of essential vaccines against high impact diseases. In addition, over 60 veterinary doctors have been deployed countrywide.
The resuscitation of the Cold Storage Company (CSC) is now on track. Productivity on ARDA farms will continue to be increased with subsidiary focus on value addition. I wish to applaud private sector players who have heeded the call to support Government programmes to increase productivity and viability in the agriculture sector. This resulted in increased output in wheat, soyabeans, tobacco and cotton, among other crops.
The mining sector is a major conduit for investment inflows and a promising source of employment creation. A number of multimillion-dollar mining investments are underway in most parts of the country’s provinces.
These include mining projects such as the Prospect’s Arcadia Lithium Project; Tsingshan Consolidated Mining Product; Karo Resources and the Great Dyke Investments Platinum Mining Project. Invictus Energy Project in Muzarabani is increasingly becoming promising.
Such investments will help in the economic empowerment of many communities throughout the country and also result in the expansion of our road, rail, communication, energy and housing infrastructure.
We applaud the small-scale miners who are making meaningful contribution to the country’s revenue inflows. My administration will continue to tirelessly facilitate increased participation of locals in the mining sector through appropriate policy instruments and support.
A National Diamond Policy is now in place and will see the transparent and accountable exploration, value addition and marketing of the country’s diamonds. ALROSA and AFEC will partner Government to bring about optimum benefits, world-class systems, technology and skills into the sub-sector.
In line with our Independence theme of “Embracing Devolution for Vision 2030”, and in the spirit of our long held position of indigenisation and economic empowerment; communities must benefit from the natural resources endowments in their localities.
The tourism and hospitality sector continues on an upward growth trajectory, recording total arrivals in 2018 which surpass the highest figures in 1999. As commendation for this development, international players have named Zimbabwe the “Sustainable Tourism Destination for 2019” and ranked us number 3 “Must Visit Destination” in the world.
Information Communication Technologies are the nerve centre of socio-economic transformation in this era of the digital and knowledge-driven economy. In March this year, I commissioned the National Backbone Fibre Link in Beitbridge. The establishment of that infrastructure will position us as a regional ICT hub and act as a catalyst for ICT-based industries and business.
The initial batch of innovation, incubation hubs within State universities have been set up to help modernise and leapfrog our economic development. This initiative will be complemented by the construction of industrial parks in each province.
I am also pleased to announce the resuscitation of the apprenticeship programme to train technicians and artisans. All our polytechnic colleges will also be capacitated to produce technical skills for our growing economy.
These multi-thronged reforms and modernisation of higher education should lead to the development of a strong research, innovative, artisanal and engineering cadres, which must vault our industrialisation agenda.
The jobs, jobs and more jobs that we desire to create are a function of a thriving agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and ICT sector, among others.
Comrades and friends;
Government is in the process of formulating a Renewable Energy Policy to facilitate the development of a diverse portfolio of renewable and clean energy solutions. We also urge our people to embrace clean energy products.
In the meantime, work towards implementation of the Batoka Hydroelectric Plant is now at the Environmental Impact Assessment stage. Construction work at the Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project has begun, creating thousands of jobs and will see an addition of 600MW into the national grid upon completion. The Rural Electrification Programme has resumed in earnest since 2018.
These efforts in the energy sector will ultimately increase our national energy output; facilitate the growth of our manufacturing sector; propel industrialisation of the economy, as well as ensure the growth of rural industry systems.
In our quest to position the country as a transportation and communication hub, given its central location in the sub-region, Government is implementing projects to enhance the country’s connectivity by road, rail and air transport routes.
The dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Road, the Harare-Bulawayo Road and Harare-Mutare Road is gaining traction.
We continue to engage possible investors for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls-Kazungula Highway. The general rehabilitation of roads has seen more visible results on both city and country roads.
To enhance trade facilitation, a One-Stop Shop Border Post will be established in Victoria Falls and another at the Beitbridge Border Post. Meanwhile, the modernisation and upgrading of the Beitbridge Border Post is now proceeding in earnest.
The commuting public has been at the mercy of errant kombi operators for a long time. Government has now stepped in to alleviate the plight of the commuters through the reintroduction of buses under the banner of ZUPCO. We are increasing the ZUPCO fleet so that affordable bus services are extended to all areas, especially in rural areas.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
My Government awaits the comprehensive report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Sale of State land which will see the reorganisation of the current unplanned settlements so that our people have acceptable habitations.
Relatedly, we have begun the urban renewal programmes, starting with the populous suburbs of Mbare in Harare, Makokoba in Bulawayo and Sakubva in Mutare. The renewal programme is anchored on the Smart City concept and will see the involvement of the private sector.
The construction of the New Parliament Building is fast taking shape. The rehabilitation, construction and modernisation of our courts is ongoing and will enhance more convenient and accessible delivery of justice.
In the housing development sector, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is constructing housing units as part of efforts to reduce the national housing backlog. Some private financial institutions have partnered Government in the construction of student accommodation and learning facilities at State universities.
My administration will make sure that no child has to walk more than 5km to a primary school. We will, thus, quicken the construction of more schools, particularly in marginalised areas such as parts of Matabeleland and Mashonaland Central provinces.
E-learning and learning of science subjects in schools across the country is being promoted. I call upon the service providers in the ICT industry to make the cost of bandwidth more affordable to institutions in the education sector.
The health of our people is a critical indicator of their quality of life. Government is making steady progress in revamping the health delivery system. We will accelerate the ongoing negotiations with stakeholders to guarantee adequate provision of affordable medicines and medical supplies in our hospitals.
In December 2018, I launched the National Clean-up exercise to raise awareness on the need to maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment through collective action. I wish to thank the nation for embracing this very important initiative, and further invite all those still to come on-board to do so.
Local authorities and the corporate sector should adhere to safe disposal of all waste and the provision of clean water and functioning sewer reticulation systems to prevent disease outbreaks in our communities.
Sports, Arts and Culture not only promote health and well-being, but have increasingly become a source of livelihood for many people. A more coordinated approach must be accelerated to grow the sector, improve governance and end piracy.
We congratulate our national soccer, cricket and other teams for the successes they scored in the immediate past and encourage them to work harder for future glory and in defence of our national brand.
Comrades, Fellow Zimbabweans;
The youth and women are an important constituency in the country’s socio-economic development agenda. To this end, a dynamic training programme was rolled in 2018 to provide youths with appropriate technical and entrepreneurial skills.
This process is being complemented by the entrepreneurship development programme under the India-Africa Incubation Centre, which will be rolled out to all the country’s 10 provinces.
The Zimbabwe Women’s Micro-Finance Bank and Empower Bank must now open branches in all provinces to be closer to traditionally marginalised beneficiaries. Government will monitor the number of loans issued and quality of businesses supported to empower women, youth and veterans of our liberation struggle.
SMEs are important to the development of our economy. As such over and above meeting the demands of the local markets, sustainable economic growth will only be achieved through export-led production by SMEs. Government remains seized with the need to construct appropriate working spaces for SMEs.
As we reform the economy, my Government will continue to put in place safety nets to protect the vulnerable groups in our society. The need to empower people with disabilities is being given due attention. The distribution of grain to food-insecure households, inclusive of those in urban areas, is underway.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Political reforms and the entrenchment of democratic tenets, the rule law, good governance and an orderly society remain a priority to my administration. In pursuance of this, we are accelerating our legislative reforms to ensure that our laws conform to the Constitution.
This will see the introduction of new legislation in relation to public security, protection of privacy and access to information, among other laws.
I would like to commend the Security Services for their continued loyalty and defence of the Constitution and the nation. We specifically commend our Defence Forces for the role they played during the recent Cyclone Idai disaster.
Law and order are important ingredients of our national peace, development and prosperity, as well as for the orderly enjoyment of constitutionally enshrined rights.
Government is presently facilitating the re-equipping and retraining of the police service to make the force more equipped to deal with present-day policing requirements.
We are rolling out the automated Fingerprints Identification System across the country for the speedy identification of offenders and completion of criminal investigations. The police and other partners are also installing the Electronic Traffic Management System, which is expected to help reduce road carnage.
A Ministerial Taskforce has been constituted to spearhead the process of implementing the broad recommendations of both the Election Observer Missions and the Motlanthe Commission Report.
The Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption (ZACC) is being reconstituted. The incoming members should execute their mandate with diligence, honesty and integrity. Corruption in whatever form and by whosoever, will not be condoned. We must all individually and collectively prevent, report and fight corruption wherever it occurs.
Fellow Zimbabweans;
Recognising that we are a unitary but diverse State, the Second Republic will seek to facilitate the development of marginalised communities in all our activities. We are steadfast in our commitment to fully implement the devolution system. Treasury has so far allocated a total of $310 million to facilitate the devolution programme.
The philosophy that “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” should reflect in the manner all public institutions are managed. Under my leadership, public servants will continue to be appointed based on merit, while the reform and profitability of public enterprises will be accelerated.
The restructuring of some key entities such as ZESA, GMB and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has begun.
The 59 approved projects under the newly established Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority is testimony of the successful implementation of the ease of doing business reforms.
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 co-operation 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 development potential, free from any hindrances.
I am aware that a notable part 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.
As a listening President, my ear will remain attentive to all Zimbabweans as we join hands for greater social cohesion and unity. I commend the progressive-minded leaders of political parties, who are part of the National Political Parties Dialogue.
This is the hallmark of mature, responsible and patriotic leadership, which puts national interests ahead of selfish ambition. The platform will enable us to have conversations that will help us to develop our country.
Comrades and Friends, Fellow Zimbabweans;
As we celebrate this 39th Independence Day anniversary, I call on us a nation to recommit ourselves to build a legacy of peace, love, unity, harmony and development. Let us continue to diligently and honestly work hard in our various spheres, not just for our families, but for the good and prosperity of our great country.
Together we are building a new economy. We are building a new future, we are building a new Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe shall surely rise again. We are moving on, our future is bright. Forward ever, backward never! Our prosperity is certain!
Happy Independence Day Zimbabwe!
Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe!
God bless you all!
God bless Zimbabwe!
I thank you!
“There are typographical errors, which are akin to kindergarten stuff.”
Wicknell Chivayo
The Supreme Court on Wednesday blasted the State over clumsy work in its appeal challenging the acquittal of businessman Wicknell Chivayo of the $5,6 million fraud charge involving Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC)’s Gwanda Solar Project.
The State was seeking leave to appeal against the decision of the High Court absolving the businessman and his company Intratrek Zimbabwe of any criminal liability in the Gwanda solar project.
Justice Bharat Patel expressed his disquiet over the manner the State’s heads of argument were crafted, describing them as “the most appalling heads of arguments I have ever seen.”
Lead prosecution counsel Ms Sheron Fero for the Prosecutor-General’s Office had asked for a postponement to file fresh heads of argument. She dissociated herself from the heads of argument, which she also described as “kindergarten stuff”.
“I request your indulgence to file different heads of argument to correct the anomalies that are there,” she said. “There are typographical errors, which are akin to kindergarten stuff.”
The State also conceded that the points raised by Mr Chivayo’s lawyers on the validity of the State’s application were valid and that the PG’s office would need time to consider the appeal.
Said Mr Fero: “I also looked at the substance of those heads and noted that they do not articulate the issues for purposes of this application. The defence has raised valid points in respect of the validity of the application itself, which I believe in the interest of justice, we need to craft proper heads.”
When Justice Patel sought an explanation as to who had crafted the heads of argument, both Ms Fero and Mr Zivanai Macharaga, also from the Prosecutor General’s Office, distanced themselves.
Justice Patel agreed to have the matter postponed after Ms Fero told him that she wanted time consider the matter carefully. – state media
Mnangagwa yesterday said Zimbabweans will only consolidate their hard-won independence through unity and focusing on economic development that will lead to the attainment of Vision 2030.
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was moving on and would “surely” rise again with the implementation of initiatives espoused in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).
He made the remarks while addressing thousands of people who gathered at the National Sports Stadium to celebrate Independence Day.
Mnangagwa said while investors may come in to assist, the ultimate obligation to grow the economy lay with Zimbabweans.
As such, he added, collective efforts were needed. “Let us consolidate our hard-won independence through disciplined focus on the development of the economy and improvement in the quality of life for all our people,” Mnangagwa said.
“For Zimbabweans to prosper and attain Vision 2030, we need the collective effort of all citizens at home and abroad. While our friends and investors may assist us, the ultimate obligation to turnaround our fortunes lies with us, using our own God-given natural endowments and abilities. To this end my administration continues to encourage a broad spectrum of our society to help sharpen Government’s perspective on issues across the socio-economic and political spectrum. This inclusive approach will enable us to accelerate the pace of the modernisation and industrialisation of our country. The implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme has since gathered momentum.”
Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans should recommit themselves to building a new economy.
“As we celebrate this 39th Independence Day anniversary, I call upon us a nation to recommit ourselves to build a legacy of peace, love, unity, harmony and development,” he said.
“Let us continue to diligently and honestly work hard in our various spheres not just for our families but for the good and prosperity of our great country. Together we are building a new economy.
“We are building a new future, we are building a new Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe shall surely rise again. We are moving on, our future is bright. Forward ever-backward never! Our prosperity is certain.”
Applauding progressive political parties involved in the National Political Parties Dialogue, President Mnangagwa said he would remain attentive to all Zimbabweans for greater social cohesion and unity.
“I commend the progressive minded leaders of political parties who are part of the National Political Parties Dialogue,” he said,
“This is the hallmark of mature, responsible and patriotic leadership, which puts national interests ahead of selfish ambition. The platform will enable is to have conversations that will help us to develop our country.”
Mnangagwa said people should always draw lessons from those gallant fighters who brought the freedom being enjoyed today.
“As we reflect on the path we have walked and the road ahead, we must draw lessons from actions of our freedom fighters and the principles that guided them,” he said.- state media
A 37-year old man from Entumbane suburb in Bulawayo, who is suspected to have been drunk, fell off a moving truck and died on the spot in Fort-Rixon while on his way to a neighbour’s funeral, police confirmed yesterday.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said the incident happened on Monday at about 11PM.
She identified the deceased as Crispen Simango. “The driver was driving from Bulawayo to Fort-Rixon with an unknown number of passengers on the truck on their way to a funeral. When he reached Village 5 in Fort Rixon, Crispen Simango stood up and fell off the moving vehicle and died on the spot. He was bleeding from ears and nose,” said Chief Insp Makonese.
She said the case was reported at Mbembesi Police Station and the body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospital for postmortem.
“Those using trucks should make sure that their passengers are seated inside the car and not on the edge. We discourage people from playing and dancing to loud music while vehicles are in motion,” said Chief Insp Makonese.
A neighbour to the deceased said when Simango left Entumbane on the fateful day, he was drinking beer with his friends. “They left Entumbane at around 8PM on Monday and were drinking beer. His friends say the incident happened around 11 PM,” said the neighbour.“The guys were sleeping at the back of the UD truck and during the course of the journey, he woke up wanting to urinate. It seems he lost balance and fell and died on the spot. One of the friends banged the truck to alert the driver who stopped a few metres away from the scene. They found him already dead.”
He said when the incident occurred, Simango was going to a funeral following the death of one of his neighbours in Entumbane.-state media
A woman from Bulawayo has been convicted of kidnapping her distant relative’s baby to support her lie to her husband that she had borne him a son.
Vionce Ndlovu (26) of Njube suburb has two other children – both girls – with her husband who does not live with her and was not named in court.
She told him she was pregnant about two years ago and would take her relative’s baby boy whenever her husband visited and pretended it was hers.
When her husband came for a longer visit, she kidnapped another relative’s baby boy to cover up her lie.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Bulawayo Regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza after pleading guilty to a kidnapping charge on Wednesday.
“You are sentenced to 12 months in prison, six months suspended on condition that you do not commit a similar offence in the next five years and the remaining six months are suspended on condition that you serve 210 hours of community service from April 22,” said the magistrate.
Passing sentence, Mr Mabeza said: “The court has considered that you are a first offender, you pleaded guilty from the start saving time but, however, the offence you committed is not acceptable no matter what motivated you or how long you kept the child. You have troubled the parents of the child and again the court has considered that you have a four-month-old daughter.”
Agreed facts are that on April 10 this year at around 4PM, Ndlovu went with her younger brother to the complainant, Ms Gaynor Bwanya’s house in Iminyela suburb.
Ms Bwanya is the mother of the child who was kidnapped. Prosecuting, Ms Tarisai Kamema said Ndlovu told her brother to lure Ms Bwanya’s 21-month-old child outside while she distracted her.
“She instructed her brother to take the child to a house where she would collect him later,” said Ms Kamema.
“Ndlovu remained at the house until Ms Bwanya decided to check on her child. They both looked for the boy but he could not be found”.
She said Ndlovu pretended not to know where the boy was and insisted on continuing the search and reporting the matter to the police. – state media
By Ndaba Nhuku| Zanu as the so called ruling party, with all state resources under it, and with ears and eyes everywhere, was not going to leave it’s main rival, the MDCA conduct a peaceful Congress. But by nature, any political Congress would never be peaceful. It causes stress and strains in parties, and at times it splits them. Congress chooses next leadership who define next political life of the party. Thus rival organisations will watch closely and try to influence. Whilst the party generally is expected to choose strong candidates who can make it grow and defeat it’s rivals, it’s opponents want the opposite to happen; to see it weakened by having weak unpopular leaders.
The rivals would be happy to trash strong leaders and support weak ones. Strong rivals like Zanu would not hesitate to openly support weaker compromised leaders it knows it will benefit from. Zanu would not hesitate to cause confusion and try to mar a rival organisation’s Congress. Thus it would have been naive to expect a smooth sailing MDCA Congress. As it is, in all provinces, districts and branches, not only Zanu, but other opposition parties and individuals are advocating for preferred weak candidates and political friends they know are not strong MDCA cadres to take up positions.
It would be naive of MDCA leadership and aspiring candidates to think that they are only dealing with internal party processes only. The external caucuses and influence, including bribery to get certain candidates fielded is real. The Alliance is under severe threat from ZANU PF secret operatives who are trying to hijack the Congress to deliver not only a lame duck president, but to produce a severely weakened party leadership that will be easier to defeat. All the structures of the party are under threat and being infiltrated.
Worse so outside Zim, is the South African USA and UK provinces which are robust by virtue of their networks, elite class, population size and financial muscles.
MDCA cadres must therefore work harder to ensure that the Congress elects candidates who are not just representative of its future goal, but are thirsty and hungry enough to unwaveringly fight to attain to that goal; wrestling power from Zanu by all means necessary. MDCA Congress must produce candidates who are passionate about the Alliance agenda and those who embrace values of our late icon President Morgen Tsvangirai and founding president Gibson Sibanda, who always fought for inclusivity and diversity. Having people who are pro-Alliance in the incoming MDC cockpit will land a massive body blow to our enemies of progress and ensure regeneration and growth beyond imagination.
MDCA did not just become an Alliance overnight, there are many individuals who have been calling for opposition parties to unite and deal with Zanu as one for a long time. These are the individuals who have the passion to deliver deliver total reintegration and growth beyond the the alliance partnership to include the silent majority who are out there in the wilderness. These are the focused individuals who workedwith the late Morgan Tsvangirai, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti and many others to ensure that the parties formed the Alliance. Here in the UK, we have people like David Kadzutu, Njabulo Ngwenya, Crispen Chamburuka, Phil Noble, Suzzet Kwenda and Stanford Biti, who have been at the forefront of the alliance agenda.
Leaving them outside party structures is what Zanu wants because a united Alliance is a threat to Zanu. Even some groupings with few fiercely vocal individuals have suddenly found resources to trash MDCA Congress and tarnish the images of some of its leaders. A few have also been urging MDC to abandon it’s long-held belief in tribal and gender balance in exchange for cronyism and praise singers.
There may be some who were opposed to the Alliance on principle, but are passionate as opposition leaders and willing to work with what is now a reality before them. Therefore, the Alliance that is now evolved into the original MDC must be brave enough to embrace and accommodate everyone into the big tent as equals and without prejudice. The Congress must remain a broad church that celebrates and not suppress construction criticism, hence must accommodate them all as equals.
MDCA must not let Zanu and it’s baby groupings define and determine MDCA leadership vision and aims. By allowing Zanu to interfere and have an influence in the Opposition structures, the party would have given over its people’s project to Zanu. Zanu will thus ensure the Opposition remains where it is; legitimate and making noise but “losing” elections! A Zanu influenced Opposition leadership will serve the essence of democracy without any democracy being proactised in the country. If Russian influence could be a headache in the US presidential elections, then why can’t Zanu do more damage to a naive inward looking opposition focused on leadership positions without examining the strength of its aspiring leaders?
I hope the MDCA Congress will come up with leaders that will propel the party ahead, unify everyone and ensure it wins the next elections or take over power when ZANU PF implosion the not to distant future. It’s time the party focused on its entire leadership and not the president only (Chamisa Chete Chete), as was the case in the 2018 elections. MDCA, as a people’s project, will move ahead of all to achieve the vision and aim of wrestling power from Zanu and delivering on our new Zimbabwe, the land of ‘milk and honey’. Structures should not be about attaining power within the party, but about designing a formular for not only beating Zanu at elections, but also taking over power a running a stable government that delivers.