Jane Mlambo| Leader of the smaller United Democracy Movement, Violet Mariyacha has walked away from the national dialogue convened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying the process lacks serious discussion to address the current economic crisis bedevilling the nation.

Mariyacha in a state early this week said Mnangagwa was only concerned about his legitimacy and removal of sanctions at the expense of nation building.

“There is no serious discussion of why the country is in this current economic meltdown, why has Zimbabwe failed to attract foreign investments and what or where are the billions that Zimbabweans were told so and so are bringing into the country from the ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra,” Mariyacha said.

“The report of the last meeting of 8 March, which all participating political parties were being asked to endorse, raises eyebrows.

“There was a view that all political parties should affirm the constitutional legitimacy of the Head of State who was elected and sworn into office and that such a measure would solve the political crisis issue, propel the re-engagement process and lead to possible removal of sanctions.

“This shows that the President is more concerned about his legitimacy and removal of sanctions.”

Mariyacha said of all the three meetings convened by Mnangagwa at State house had no serious discussion of why the country was in its current mess.

A CHIPINGE man, who survived the Cyclone Idai-induced floods, is battling for life in Chiredzi District Hospital after he was brutally assaulted by a South Africa-based man who accused him of bedding his wife.

Josiah Altyson Sithole (age unknown) of Chinyamukwakwa village in Chipinge was brutally attacked by Maxwell Masonga (32) who had come from South Africa to check on his family in the wake of the floods.

This was revealed yesterday at the initial appearance of Masonga before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware. Masonga is facing assault charges and was remanded in custody to April 8 as the State awaits Sithole’s medical report.

Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube told the court that on March 20, Masonga arrived home from South Africa where he is based after the floods hit their village.

On arrival, he was tipped off that Sithole was bedding his wife. Masonga confronted Sithole who denied having an affair with his wife.

He then allegedly struck Sithole with a brick on the head and face several times. Sithole was rushed to St Peter’s Hospital and later transferred to Chiredzi District Hospital.

Newsday

A ZIMBABWEAN truck driver is battling for life at a hospital in Durban, KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa after he was caught up in suspected fresh xenophobic attacks in the neighbouring country.

More than 100 foreigners, among them Zimbabweans, were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge at Sydenham Police Station.

Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro yesterday confirmed that the truck driver, Mr Tineyi Takawira, was admitted to King Edward Hospital after he was stabbed during an attack.

“I can confirm that Tineyi Takawira, a Zimbabwean truck driver is admitted to King Edward Hospital in Durban after he was attacked by protesters in Durban’s Springfield Park informal settlement.The protesters barricaded roads and intercepted truck drivers demanding to see their identity documents and those found to be foreigners were attacked,” he said.

Mr Mukonoweshuro said a Zimbabwean woman married to a Malawian truck driver was among the people who fled to the police station after she was attacked and badly injured.

He said they were yet to ascertain the exact number of Zimbabweans who were attacked and were working with police and relevant authorities in the neighbouring country.

“We believe that there could be a substantial number of our people who were injured during the attacks but we are yet to ascertain the figures. Police have assured us that the situation has calmed down but we will continue to monitor the situation,” said Mr Mukonoweshuro.

The first wave of violence broke out in the Kenville area, north of Durban on Sunday at about 11PM when mobs of protesters burst into the homes of foreigners grabbing property that included beds ,TV sets, pots and baskets before targeting foreign-operated shops.

The protesters, numbering about 100, blocked Sea Cow Lake and Inanda roads using rubble from burnt tyres.

The attacks left three people dead and they are all South Africans.

Two of the victims were shot by a foreign tuckshop owner who opened fire on the mob that was looting his shop.

The attacks on foreigners flared up in Durban between Sunday night and early Tuesday, forcing over a 100 foreigners to flee their homes and seek refuge at a police station.

KwaZulu Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thulani Zwane yesterday confirmed that more foreign nationals sought shelter at Sydenham Police Station on Tuesday night.

“About 70 foreign nationals went to Sydenham Police Station for help on Tuesday night but no serious injuries were reported,” he said.

According to South African media reports, unemployed informal settlement residents are angry because foreign nationals are employed by local companies.

The Durban attacks come barely three days after the South African government launched a national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance .

The attacks targeted at foreign shop owners began on Sunday night at Kenville residential area in northern Durban.

Residents woke up to screams and chants as a mob of people walked through the area overturning refuse bins, cutting down tree branches, burning tyres, looting shops and stoning cars and homes.

Two suspects aged 22 and 28 years have been arrested for public violence and have since appeared at the Durban magistrates’ court

A video is also circulating on social media showing foreigners being attacked and one man is heard speaking in Zulu, saying foreigners are working and the locals are not working.

On Monday, South Africa launched a national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance.

It was launched by the Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister John Jeffery at the St George Hotel in Irene and the event was attended by civil society organisations and government officials among others.

The document was approved by Cabinet last month and will be revised every five years.

The latest attacks evoked ugly memories of the deadly xenophobic attacks of 2015 which displaced thousands of Zimbabweans and other African immigrants living in South Africa following alleged inflammatory remarks by Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who had called for the expulsion of foreigners.

A HARARE man yesterday morning shot and killed his wife and brother-in-law at their Gletwin home following a prolonged marital dispute.

The man, Petros Pomborokani (50), a former Ministry of Health and Child Care employee, has since gone into hiding.

He used a CZ pistol to shoot his wife Olivia Zenda (42) and brother-in-law Robert Zenda (49) in front of his three children, mother-in-law, a relative and a housemaid at around 7am.

The couple had been married for 20 years and has four children aged 19, 12, 10 and eight.

Police recovered two loaded magazines of the pistol at the scene.

Investigations are underway.

The matter is being handled by CID Homicide.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the shooting.

“Investigations carried out so far have revealed that the suspect and his wife had a long marital dispute. He was in the habit of assaulting his wife and had since moved out of their matrimonial home,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said at around 7am, Pomborokani was seen by a relative entering the house while wearing a hood.

“A few minutes later, the relative heard the wife screaming calling for help before gunshots were fired. It is suspected that he first shot the wife before turning the gun on his brother-in-law. He fled the scene,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

A report was made to the police.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged couples to solve disputes amicably and desist from taking the law into their own hands.

“We are however still carrying out investigations to ascertain the origins of the pistol with a view to establish whether it was licensed or not. We also want to establish whether it belonged to the suspect or not,” he said.

Investigations carried out by our Harare Bureau have revealed that Pomborokani was once arrested in 2016 after he kidnapped gospel singer, Mathias Mhere.

He accused Mhere of having an extra marital affair with his wife.

Pomborokani forced his wife to phone Mhere. The wife invited Mhere to the couple’s house.

Pomborokani pointed a firearm at Mhere when he arrived at the couple’s house.

He allegedly forced Mhere and his wife to remove their clothes and held them hostage naked for five hours.

Pomborokani was arrested and appeared before a Harare Magistrate who convicted him. He was fined US$150 or three months in prison. Pomborokani also had two other cases of physical abuse that were reported against him by his wife at Highlands Police Station.

The cases were however withdrawn by the wife. He also has another pending case of attempted murder reported by his wife at Highlands Police Station.

Pomborokani has been moving around in a South African registered vehicle.

State Media

A SOLDIER stationed at the Zimbabwe National Army’s 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange allegedly turned a bar in the town into a war zone where he pummelled patrons on several occasions and stabbed one of them. He went on a spree of beating up people from January 30 up to Sunday this week when he was eventually nabbed.

Benson Gwenzi (29) of 371 Empumalanga appeared before Hwange magistrate, Ms Barbara Phiri.

He was not asked to plead to four counts of assault.

The magistrate remanded Gwenzi out of custody on his own cognisance to tomorrow for start of trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Vumizulu Mangena said Gwenzi sometimes teamed up with friends to assault patrons.

He allegedly committed the crimes between January 30 this year and Sunday when he beat up a neighbour after losing a snooker game.

In the first two counts, Gwenzi and his friend only identified as Captain Nyoni, blocked an entrance to the toilet at the bar and beat up two women who insisted on using the bathroom.

“On January 30 and at KoMpofu Bar in Hwange, the complainant Ms Bonginkosi Ndlovu (34) and her friend Ms Immaculate Mumpande (23), both from Empumalanga, were going to the toilet and found Captain Nyoni blocking the way. The two complainants had a misunderstanding with Captain Nyoni and the accused approached them whereupon he slapped both of them twice on the face,” said the prosecutor.

The court was told that on February 2 while at the same bar, Gwenzi beat up Mr Majahana Moyo.

It is alleged that Gwenzi had a misunderstanding with Mr Moyo’s friend, Mr Job Mudenda.

Mr Moyo tried to restrain the two and this did not go down well with the accused who slapped him once, the court was told. Mr Moyo tried to flee from the scene and Gwenzi allegedly picked a half brick and hit him on the back.

Mr Moyo fell face down. Gwenzi allegedly advanced and continued beating him up. His unnamed friends ganged up and started kicking Mr Moyo as he lay on the ground. 

Gwenzi allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Mr Moyo on the palm as he tried to block punches from his attackers.

Mr Moyo sustained injuries on the face and right palm. On Sunday, Gwenzi was playing snooker with his neighbour Mr Fungai Chimutu at the same bar.

Gwenzi was angered after losing the game to Mr Chimutu. He took Mr Chimutu’s two samoosas and ate them without paying. 

The court heard that Mr Chimutu asked for his money but instead Gwenzi punched him on the face before slamming him against the wall. 

Mr Chimutu was treated at St Patrick’s Hospital.

State Media

GOVERNMENT has banned political parties from any interference with the distribution of food and other forms of aid to Cyclone Idai survivors in parts of Manicaland.

Responding to questions from senators in the upper house Tuesday, Local Government Minister July Moyo said the catastrophe which killed nearly 179 people with hundreds still missing requires all Zimbabweans to work together.

“In that, anybody who has transport system and going to that area, should surely carry something.

“Unfortunately, if people end up carrying something with a car written Zanu PF, then it becomes grabbing,” he said.

The ban comes after an outcry by villagers that ruling Zanu PF Chimanimani West MP, Nokuthula Matsikenyere, party councillors and youths were distributing food items on partisan lines at the expense of the rest.

Minister Moyo said with immediate effect, no political party activists were going to distribute food items, water and medicines, among the forms of aid, as some of those entrusted to do the job had bad intentions.

“I assure that we do not allow any political interference in the distribution of food; but we have Chimanimani East MP Joshua Sacco who has shown great leadership qualities even if he is a member of a political party. No one has done what this member has done.

“Now we have concluded that from now onwards, nobody takes any food even if we are under pressure. Let us not go beyond what has happened…”

Moyo added, “It might have happened, but we have given instructions that no one gets any food when they are identifying themselves as a political party. Unfortunately, the cars they were using were of a political party.”

Media reports were awash with the news of food grabbing by persons moving in Zanu PF branded vehicles over the weekend, eliciting complaints from the public which felt President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party was riding on the plight of Cyclone victims to score cheap political points.

The minister admitted that some of the donations might have been taken by vehicles with Zanu PF logos.

He said this was unacceptable.

According to the Zanu PF official, government will now be liaising with Civil Protection Unit (CPU), police, army and UN agencies and other reputable organisations or companies to make sure that all donations go to the deserving people.

Cyclone Idai caused by intense tropical storms killed more than 179 people while 329 others are still missing with almost 7 000 families left homeless.

The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are still buried in mud and rubble.

The catastrophe galvanised a local and international effort to donate tonnes of material aid to the victims. 

Zim Mail

By Own Correspondent- Kwekwe City Council has started rolling out installing prepaid water meters throughout the city.

Kwekwe city council installed about 300 prepaid water meters as a pilot project last year and is still monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the new system.

In an interview with the state media, Kwekwe deputy mayor, Shadreck Tobaiwa, said councillors gave the local authority the green light to go ahead with the implementation of the new system and officials were on the ground installing the meters.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Harare City Council has suspended 26 refuse compactor drivers who were using the city’s vehicles for personal business.

Sources who spoke to state media said the drivers would use the compactors without permission and collect waste before taking the trucks to secluded places where they would select materials which can be bought by companies in the recycling business.

This led to garbage piling up in most residential areas, presenting citizens of the capital with a potential health hazard. The offence came to light when the drivers started resisting council procedure to search vehicles on exit and back in station.

Harare corporate communications manager Michael Chideme yesterday confirmed the development, saying investigations were in progress.

Said Chideme:

“We want to establish why they were on a go-slow or why they were not performing their duties. The responsible directors of Works and Human Capital are seized with the matter.”

The picture of a helicopter carrying huge sofas to Chimanimani which ZANU PF denied (was Zimbabwean) last week, has turned out a perfect graphic match with another of ZANU PF green bombers.

When ZimEye.com exposed the development last week, many ZANU PF activists rushed to dismiss the picture claiming that it is from Zambia.

But the below green bomber picture perfectly matches the sofa one. PICTURES:

RT – ZANU PF once said this uniform is not a Zimbabwe National Army uniform and therefore those carrying the sofas in Chimanimani #CycloneIdaiZW were not from Zimbabwe. But more pictures reveal this is pure ZANU PF green bomber uniform. https://t.co/8Wva4jexqV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 28, 2019

By Own Correspondent- An appeal by a fired married teacher who had sexual intercourse with a student from Bubi district was dismissed by the Supreme Court yesterday.

Mxolisi Mhlanga, a former teacher at Majiji High School in Matabeleland North was challenging a decision by his employer to fire him for having an affair with a pupil.

Mhlanga proposed love to a then 20-year-old pupil in 2012 and had sex with her many times in the school’s storeroom, in the bush and near a river in Bubi. He was brought before a disciplinary committee for misconduct and violating a section of the Public Service Regulations of 2000. He was found guilty of improper association with the pupil and discharged from the civil service.

Mhlanga then approached the Labour Court in Bulawayo challenging his dismissal. Justice Mercy Moya-Matshanga upheld the disciplinary committee’s decision.

Mhlanga then filed an appeal at the Supreme Court seeking an order setting aside the Labour Court’s ruling, citing the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as a respondent.

Acting judge of appeal Justice Nokuthula Moyo, who was sitting with Supreme Court Judges Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza and Justice Lavender Makoni on circuit in Bulawayo, dismissed the appeal, saying it lacked merit.

By Own Correspondent- Information and Publicity Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana discouraged citizens from demonstrating adding that they will not help anyone get a job or put anyone into power.

Mangwana was responding to statements by MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who warned that Zimbabwe could face more demonstrations unless the issue of youth unemployment is addressed.

However Mangwana said Government is doing all it can to create employment.

He said:

“From the government side we are doing all that is in our power to ensure that Zimbabweans work. We are reforming in order to create an enabling environment for capital to feel comfortable. We are easing our way of doing business so as to bring efficiencies and cut out unnecessary bureaucratic delays. Regarding unrest and jobs it is very clear that the anarchy avenue is self-defeating in as far as job creation is concerned. The last incitement to unrest we had in January left behind infrastructural ruins and a battered image of the country as a destination to foreign capital. So going down that road will surely not help anyone get a job or put anyone in power for that matter.”-DailyNews

Farai Dziva | MDC A spokesperson Linda Masarira says she is unfazed by relentless social media attacks.

Masarira was attacked by angry social media users for wearing Zanu PF regalia.

She told a daily publication she was shocked by the reaction of social media users.

“I am shocked by the depths of political intolerance shown by some Zimbabweans…the way that most people, especially from the opposition major in trivial issues, leaves a lot to be desired,” Masarira told the publication.

Farai Dziva|MDC A Organising Secretary for Masvingo Urban Gibson Murinye was severely assaulted by drunk party members believed to be sympathetic to provincial chairperson James Gumbi.

Murinye was forced to drop documents containing party information as hooligans severely assaulted him and confiscated documents comprising party regulations.

The MDC A is sharply divided between party president Nelson Chamisa’s supporters and those who want Douglas Mwonzora to lead the party.

Gumbi is a member of the anti-Chamisa camp and is being challenged by former Masvingo Urban MP, Tongai Matutu, according to party insiders.

By Own Correspondent- International Red Cross country director in Zimbabwe Paolo Cernuschi has expressed satisfaction on how Tropical Cyclone Idai relief aid was distributed in Chipinge today (Wednesday).

He said the aid was being distributed transparently and not along partisan lines as claimed by reports.

Cernuschi said he visited Chipinge today.and did not witness any politicisation of food aid.

He said:

“I attended a distribution in Chipinge today for 200 families. Selection was transparent. 2 humanitarian agencies were present. No political statements made or implied. While reports of politicization of #CycloneIdai aid are concerning, I’m happy to have seen none of that today.”

By Own Correspondent| Thieves reportedly stole sprayed vegetables, in a development which could turn tragic if the vegetables are sold to unsuspecting residents.

The vegetables were stolen from Helena Schools.

Said the school in a message circulating on social media:

WARNING: Helena schools alerts the residents in Ruwa that sprayed vegetables were stolen last night from the school garden thus, we are in fear that innocent souls may be affected.We are of the opinion that the thief stole these vegetables with the intention to sale since they were stolen in bulk….HELENA SCHOOLS AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT.

By Own Correspondent- A senior Zanu Pf official has revealed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to resume his “thank you rallies” as soon as the situation permits.

Speaking to a local publication, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said Mnangagwa will resume the rallies as soon as the situation permits:

“As soon as his schedule allows, he will resume the rallies, the cyclone issue takes precedence. He will advise as soon as the situation permits. The commissariat is ceased with that matter.”

Mnangagwa cancelled his rally which was scheduled for last Saturday in Shurugwi, Midlands Province, in order to attend to the cyclone disaster, which left at least 179 people dead, thousands other homeless and over 40 000 food insecure.- DailyNews

By Own Correspondent- Government will conduct a census using official records to ascertain the number of people who have been staying in communities that were affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

This comes as South Africa yesterday dispatched a team of 12 people — including police officers and sniffer dogs — to Manicaland Province to help with rescue and recovery efforts of corpses suspected to be buried under debris of collapsed building following Tropical Cyclone Idai.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba spoke about the census on Monday while apprising UNFPA representative Dr Esther Muia of the situation in the affected areas.

Dr Gwaradzimba said there was a large number of people who have not been accounted for since the disaster struck, making it difficult to rely on assumptions.

“We have got a number of people who died and it is very difficult to ascertain the exact number,” she said.-StateMedia

VIDEO: Thousands Cyclone Victims Denied Food Aid By ZANU PF https://t.co/0QbqfjPjzv via @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/WtPADrbv3N

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) March 27, 2019

By Own Correspondent| The family of a United Kingdom based former MDC organising secretary for Marondera is living in fear following threats and harassment from suspected state security agents.

Joyce Mutengezwana, the former MDC stalwart fled the country in 2007 after she had come to see where her husband was laid to rest.

The husband Amoine Mazvidza was allegedly murdered by suspected state security agents in August 2006 at the height of the Zanu Pf terror campaign against opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) stalwarts.

Said Mutengezwana:

“Amoine was found murdered in Goromonzi, his crime was supporting the Movement for Democratic Change and it cascaded to my father who was also abducted in 2008 for being an MDC activist.”

Upon her return to the United Kingdom Joyce had challenges at the airport after her boarding pass “disappeared” in a development which sent shivers down her spine.

She said:

“As I was returning to the UK state security agents hid my boarding pass at the airport. They had issued a warrant of arrest against me only to be released after some confusion between the agents.

My family has been subjected to Zanu PF victimisation each time there has been demonstrations in Zimbabwe and in 2016 my son was abducted and tortured for being part of Pastor Evan Mawarire’s this Flag Movement.”

After a tip off from an MDC legislator her family fled to South Africa in 2016 only to return after the ouster of Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

“After receiving a tip off from an MDC legislator, my family which included my parents, my brother, two children, fled to South Africa only to return after the ouster of Mugabe because they felt the country was safe.”

Thinking that they were now safe with the onset of the so called “new dispensation”, one of Mutengezwana’s sons was beaten up during the January 2019 protests and sustained serious injuries.

The family is living in fear of victimisation as memories of how their father died are still fresh.

Farai Dziva|MDC A Organising Secretary for Masvingo Urban Gibson Murinye was severely assaulted by drunk party members believed to be sympathetic to provincial chairperson James Gumbi.

Murinye was forced to drop documents containing party information as hooligans severely assaulted him and confiscated documents comprising party regulations.

The MDC A is sharply divided between party president Nelson Chamisa’s supporters and those who want Douglas Mwonzora to lead the party.

Gumbi is a member of the anti-Chamisa camp and is being challenged by former Masvingo Urban MP, Tongai Matutu, according to party insiders.

By Own Correspondent- Police in Masvingo have launched a manhunt for two Chiredzi brothers who allegedly fatally assaulted their brother-in-law.

The two brothers, Levison and Enock Hlongwane of Chigalo Village under Chief Sengwe allegedly assaulted Clever Shimbini (33) of the same village to death with open hands and booted feet.

The victim died a day later and was buried without reporting the matter to the police.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident.

Said Ass Insp Dehwa:

“I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving two brothers and a brother-in-law in Chiredzi.

The deceased was fatally assaulted by his brothers-in-law who then disappeared from the scene.

The family of the deceased then buried the body without notifying the police.”

Police say that on the fateful day, the two brothers passed through Shimbini’s yard who was drunk around 7 pm.

Shimbini confronted them, accused them of trespassing and slapped both in-laws, who then responded in kind and left him vomiting and writhing in pain.

Shimbini died the following day on the way to a clinic and his family made a U-turn, buried him without reporting to the police.

However, acting on a tip-off, a neighbourhood watch committee members reported the matter to Chikombedzi Police.

Police went to the homestead and confirmed the burial but failed to locate the Hlongwane brothers.-StateMedia

Farai Dziva
Police in Masvingo are looking for two brothers who brutally killed their brother-in-law.

The two brothers, Levison and Enock Hlongwane of Chigalo Village under Chief Sengwe in Chiredzi allegedly assaulted Clever Shimbini (33) of the same village to death with open hands and booted feet.

The victim died a day later.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving two brothers and a brother-in-law in Chiredzi.

The deceased was fatally assaulted by his brothers-in-law who then disappeared from the scene.

The family of the deceased then buried the body without notifying the police,” said Dehwa.

“The two brothers passed through Shimbini’s yard who was drunk around 7 pm.
Shimbini confronted them, accused them of trespassing and slapped both in-laws, who then responded in kind and left him vomiting and writhing in pain.

Shimbini died the following day on the way to a clinic and his family made a U-turn, buried him without reporting to the police.”

However, acting on a tip-off, neighbourhood watch committee members reported the matter to Chikombedzi Police.

Police went to the homestead and confirmed the burial but failed to locate the Hlongwane brothers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The death toll has risen to 172 people and 327 are still missing, according to government reports.

• About 270,000 people have been affected by flooding and landslides.

• Nearly 4,500 people are displaced and at least 16,000 families are in need of shelter assistance.

• The majority of health care facilities in Chimanimani district are inaccessible.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

At least 172 deaths have been reported and 327 people are reportedly missing in Zimbabwe following flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai’s trajectory, according to the Ministry for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting. The death toll is expected to rise as areas previously cut-off become reachable by road and the full extent of the damage becomes known.

Humanitarian partners estimate that 270,000 people were affected by flooding and landslides, when local rivers and their tributaries burst their banks, inundating homes and schools and causing considerable damage to property and livelihoods.

Out of the 270,000 affected people, nearly 240,000 are in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
Nearly 4,500 people are displaced, according to the Government. About 16,000 households are in need of shelter assistance in Chimanimani (8,000 households), Chipinge (3,000 households), Buhera (1,000 households) and Mutare (4,000 households). A temporary camp has been established at Skyline, and two additional temporary camps will be established at Wengezi and Ngangu.

The displaced people in Chimanimani are currently sheltering at Ngangu primary and secondary schools, Chimanimani Hotel and Ngangu clinic.

According to a rapid assessment conducted on 18 and 19 March, the majority of health care facilities in Chimanimani district were inaccessible, including the district hospital Mutambara Mission and access to the provincial hospital is limited due major destruction of roads and bridges. Facilities of Chipinge district are all accessible.

Disruption of essential health, HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, food and other social services may lead to increased vulnerability of people living with HIV: inability to adhere to treatment; risk of malnutrition, opportunistic infections and disease outbreaks; leading to poor health and in some cases mortality.

An HIV rapid assessment is planned to better understand the actual impact of the cyclone on HIV programs, people living with HIV and AIDS-affected households.

The flooding compromised access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene practices in both rural and urban areas, which is increasing the risk of water-borne diseases. The country is facing an outbreak of cholera and typhoid since September 2018.

By Own Correspondent- Local government minister July Moyo has refuted allegations that his party Zanu Pf is diverting food aid meant for Tropical Cycone Idai victims.

Moyo said it is not possible that aid targeting cyclone victims could be diverted adding that the reports that came out in the media were being peddled by MDC activists.

He said this while addressing the media Tuesday at a Harare venue.

Said Moyo:

“….I know you (media) can sensationalise…..but yes there is one activist, a former MDC Mayor who has been present at Wengezi from day 1….As for diverting food aid, that cannot be a thing that is allowed. I know that the instruction is that we have said do not divert this food aid. We have said we do not want to politicise this aid. Nobody should be carrying food in their party cars and that we have said it clearly and that instruction is very clear.”

By Own Correspondent- A woman from South Africa had a se_xual relationship with her own brother for 16 years because they believed it made them rich.

This was after the siblings were given a get-rich plan by a sangoma.

The woman said she was 27 and her brother was 29 when they went to a sangoma for advice to make money.

She said the sangoma gave them muthi that got them all hot and excited and instructed them to have se_x every week.

She said they were desperate and did what he said.

But now the woman from Villa Lisa in Ekurhuleni is 42 and she is broke and sad.

She said she and her brother had lived reasonably well. They bought a house, got involved in some businesses and had cash.

But after her brother died in February 2018, she slowly started losing the wealth and is now left with only her house.

“What hurts me the most is that my brother died with our wealth. I wish we had a plan if something like that happened.”

She said the sangoma told them they must have se_x at least once a week, but they enjoyed it and made it a daily event.

“I only had one boyfriend in my life, but when I started sleeping with my brother there was no reason for me to have a boyfriend. My brother provided with the best se_x and wealth.

“I know it’s strange but our parents died when we were young so we had to look after each other.”

She said she tried suicide by overdosing on pills.

“I started hating myself and everyone around me. I hated them for saving me from my suicide, but at some point I had to stand tall and fix my life.”

She couldn’t get a job. She searched for the first sangoma but couldn’t find him so she asked another sangoma to help. But he couldn’t help her.

“I don’t want to die broke. I need help.” she said

Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) is shocked and traumatized by the levels of mistrust, hate and gross partisanship taking place in Manicaland at a time that unity and compassion is needed the most to insulate the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai.

The social and mainstream media has been inundated and awash with pictures and videos of distressed calls from Cyclone Idai victims requesting for help and relief, especially in the ravaged areas of Chimanimani and Chipinge districts .Zimbabwe experienced torrential rainfall caused by Cyclone Idai from the 15^th to 17^th of March 2019 which caused high winds and heavy precipitation in Chimanimani and Chipinge.  The majorities of the affected families in these districts survive on subsistence farming and have little or no alternative source of income. The cyclone Idai has worsened the dire food situation.

PYD has been part of the various civic society organizations and local community stakeholders who have been sharing information for the public and well-wishers to understand the gravity of the damage so as to provide basic relief and intervention. Whilst the humanitarian response from the local, national and international level has been overwhelming and touching, this is being soiled by heartless political vultures that are bending on wanting to score political value and mileage over a natural disaster such as Cyclone Idai.

PYD Director, Mr Claris Madhuku expressed dismay at some of the events that are already taking place in Chimanimani and Chipinge

“I have witnessed political jostling of men and women, some in their political party regalia wanting to control the food relief by using their partisan emotions and discretion. This is inhumane and must be condemned for shaming the morality of the nation” Madhuku fumed

Although the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services who is also Senator for Chimanimani Monica Mutsvangwa has refuted the allegations that there were Zanu PF structures, including former trainees of the Border Gezi who have denied food aid to victims purported to be supporting the opposition, evidence is overwhelming. 

PYD has observed that the issue of food aid and relief in rural communities has been at the Centre of local politics in rural Zimbabwe. Food aid has always been used as a weapon of influence and patronage rather than broader social justice and empowerment objectives. As community-based organization, PYD is fully aware that this practice will have negative effects on community development which is likely to result in increased vulnerability and the deepening of social insecurity to the victims of Cyclone Idai. Divisive politics during this disaster period must be discouraged because it makes communities vulnerable and deprived from genuine livelihood support by government.

Platform for Youth Development has also observed that the politicization of food relief is negatively affecting women and children in Chimanimani and Chipinge. Cynthia Gwenzi who is the Gender and Wellness Officer for PYD noted that

 “When partisanship is used on food relief, it is the women and children who are disadvantaged the most because they will have no one to represent them without being exposed to the vulnerabilities of patronage and abuse. In most cases, partisanship leads to physical force which then discriminates women and children” Cynthia Gwenzi suggested

Cyclone Idai has affected Chimanimani and Chipinge districts the most by disrupting water and sanitation facilities, damaging road networks, cutting power supply and displacing people including loss of life. According to the Inter-Agency Rapid Assessment/Appraisal Update on Cyclone Idai disaster, 29 000 households were affected in Chimanimani and 21 000 households in Chipinge. At the same time, 8000 people were displaced in Chimanimani whereas 3000 were also displaced in Chipinge. The Cyclone Idai has inflicted damage to 37% (121 000) of the Chipinge rural population which are now in urgent need of food assistance with a total of 77% (114 000) also requiring food assistance in Chimanimani. The statistics from the inter agency rapid assessment update pose a grim picture as the source of livelihoods were wiped out as indicated by 24000 hectares of dry land that have been destroyed in Chipinge and 300 hectares in Chimanimani also facing the same fate. The death toll for Manicaland Province stands at 259 with over 300 people still missing.

PYD has always raised this issue of partisan food distribution due to the fact that the victims are in dire need of emergency relief to the counter debilitating effects of cyclone Idai. To curb against this embarrassing situation, all political party structures must be removed from the food distribution process in favor of professional persons who are linked to those donating the aid.

Jane Mlambo| Prominent Gweru lawyer, Tinomudaishe Chinyoka has defended the use of Zanu PF regalia and vehicles during food distribution in Chimanimani saying those making noise about the issue are stupid.

Chinyoka who is no stranger to controversy said Zanu PF supporters and vehicles were only involved in charity work, that has nothing to do with politicisation of aid for cyclone idai disaster.

” The idea that someone wearing a #ZanuPF shirt or driving a #ZanuPF branded vehicle shouldn’t be involved in aid distribution is just plain stupid. So those wearing Nike T-shirt’s r okay? What’s a tshirt got to do with charity work? Matununu evanhu, kuda kubatira democracy pamsoro,” said Chinyoka while posting on Twitter.

The idea that someone wearing a #ZanuPF shirt or driving a #ZanuPF branded vehicle shouldn’t be involved in aid distribution is just plain stupid. So those wearing Nike T-shirt’s r okay? What’s a tshirt got to do with charity work? Matununu evanhu, kuda kubatira democracy pamsoro

— ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? (@TinoChinyoka) March 27, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Daring cattle rustlers have become a menace in Umguza district where they are stealing cattle and donkeys at night, slaughtering the animals and selling the meat in Bulawayo.

Newly-resettled farmers in Maraposa, Redwood, Stella and Makondo are the most affected.

A villager from Redwood, Richard Matshona, who spoke to a local publication said:

“They took two cattle from Mabhena’s homestead and slaughtered them along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, just a few metres from the homestead, and left a national identity card belonging to one deceased person.

During the same night, they stole one beast from Sibanda’s homestead and three cattle were stolen from Makwelo’s homestead. They also took four donkeys.”

A police source confirmed reports of cattle rustling in Umguza District.

Said the source:

“We are still making investigations as these people left no spoor because they slaughtered the animals and carried the carcasses away. No arrests have been made so far.”

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Spiwe Makonese, could not comment on the matter as she was out of office.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| MDC president Nelson Chamisa is in Gaborone, Botswana, as part of his party’s regional engagements.

Writing on social media, Chamisa said:

“I’m grateful for the warm welcome I have received in Gaborone where I’m currently visiting as part of our regional engagements as we seek an urgent solution to our challenges as Zimbabweans.

We are part of the bigger African family, African counsel and support is fundamental.

I’m also humbled by the kindness and empathy shown by our neighbours at a time of tragedy in Zimbabwe. We are one people and we share the burden of our challenges.

That is why we engage and share counsel, helping us see the whole picture and our respective place and role in it.”

By Own Correspondent- The trial of Prophetic Healing and Deliverances (PHD) Ministries led by Walter Magaya, which is accused of evading paying income tax for sales valued at $28 706 040, kicked off Tuesday with the church denying the allegations.

PHD Ministries representative Nelson Marimo, who appeared before Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya, pleaded not guilty to four counts of violating the Income Tax Act, saying the church only received donations, tithes, offerings and contributions from its members, which he said were not taxable.

Marimo, who was represented by Admire Rubaya and instructed by Oliver Marwa and Everson Chatambudza, said PHD Ministries, as a church, did not carry any trade through any company or other statutory corporation. He added that the church did not generate any taxable income through operating guest houses or accruals from any investments.

“The accused denies generating taxable income through selling church regalia, anointing oil, and holy water or from conducting any trade in the manner alleged. All the monies received by the accused are exempted from income tax considering that all these receipts and accruals are donations, tithes, offerings and contributions from its members, nothing more than that,” Rubaya submitted.

“The accused person disputes the alleged financial statements allegedly from Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, purporting that there were sales amounting to $28 706 040 in the manner alleged or at all. The accused will challenge the extraction of any evidence from such disputed documents.”

On the count where Magaya and wife Tendai allegedly received $2,4 million and $$954 522 respectively, the defence said the amounts in question were not covered by the definition of remuneration in terms of the 13th schedule of Income Tax.

The defence claimed the amounts were for loan repayments and the couple’s bank accounts were used as conduits for easy accounting purposes. Marimo said the allegations were simply to embarrass the accused person and they were clearly designed to destroy the church.

The State represented by George Manokore led evidence from Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) chief investigation officer Tinashe Madakadze, who told the court that PHD Ministries registered with the tax agency on October 20, 2014 as a voluntary church organisation.

Madakadze told the court that he wrote two letters to PHD Ministries asking for information, but the letters were not responded to, leading to them raid their computers in terms of sections of the Income Tax Act.

The Zimra official told the court that he went on to ask for further information from the banks which hold accounts for the church.

Allegations are that sometime in October 2018, Madakadze conducted tax investigations on PHD Ministries and recovered financial statements from the church computer covering the period 2013 to 2017.

The State alleges that the accused did not declare or submit income tax returns for the said period to Zimra in violation of the Income Tax Act.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- South Africa’s police service in partnership with a non-governmental organisation Gift of the Givers, on Tuesday presented four sniffer dogs to assist in identifying and retrieving dead bodies in Chimanimani and Chipinge folowing the ravaging effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai.

Addressing the media Tuesday, Local government minister July Moyo confirmed that government had no capacity to locate the buried dead bodies since they did not have sniffer dogs.

He however said government had made an appeal to neighbouring South Africa for the sniffer dogs and President Cycril Ramaphosa’s administration was sending two teams to assist .

“We do not have those type of dogs to assist in sniffing the dead bodies… but South Africa is bringing teams including these sniffer dogs,” said Moyo.

The 4 sniffer dogs were presented to the country’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mphakama Mbete.

Speaking to journalists in Harare on Tuesday, Ambassador Mbete said:

“In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, members of the South African government and Gift of the Givers have come here largely at the request of the government of Zimbabwe.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted me and indicated that what they needed currently were sniffer dogs and South Africa has sent a team of people to assist in this regard.”

Freelance journalist Edmund Kudzayi on Tuesday appeared in court facing charges of possessing a camouflage umbrella.

Kudzayi, who is the editor for Kukurigo News, an online media outlet, pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful possession or wearing of camouflage uniforms, as defined under section 32 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when he appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba.

The freelance journalist, who is represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, was arrested on February 22 at a police check-point along Domboshava Road in Harare after he was allegedly found in possession of a camouflage umbrella with a pouch in his vehicle. 

When trial commenced Tuesday, Shava filed an application for exception to the charges, wherein Kudzayi denied committing the offence as alleged by the prosecution.

The journalist returns to court on Wednesday 27 March for the continuation of his trial.

His arrest in February came after the Zimbabwe National Army announced that it was conducting a snap search in residential areas for military regalia, which it alleged was stolen during the 14 January mass protests.

Kudzayi rose to fame in 2014 after he was arrested and accused of being the shadowy character running the Baba Jukwa Facebook page.

In the run-up to and after the July 2013 elections, the Facebook page would publish highly sensitive and classified information about the ruling Zanu-PF party and meetings held by VVIP officials.

African News Agency (ANA)

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,

Please be advised of and invited to join us in celebrating the life of Inviolata “Vee” Dumbutshena daughter of Mr. T. Mukute and Ambassador T. Dumbutshena as follows:

• Monday, 25th March 2019: Join us to pass your respects at 5 Denis Close, Helensvale, Borrowdale and a church service led by Bishop Dambaza from Upper Room Ministries at 18:30hrs
• Tuesday, 26th March 2019: 15:00hrs – Chapel Service at Moonlight Funeral Assurance, 138 Herbert Chitepo Ave, Harare (opposite the Passport Office)
  • From the Chapel Service we will proceed to Borrowdale, where the late Inviolata Dumbutshena will lie in state at 5 Denis Close, Helensvale, Borrowdale. Church service at 19:00hrs

Wednesday, 27th March 2019

• 09:00hrs Final Church Service for the late Inviolata Dumbutshena to take place at 5 Denis Close, Helensvale, Borrowdale.
• Departure for Glen Forest at 10:00hrs
• Burial at Glen Forest, 11:00hrs
• 13:30hrs Luncheon at 5 Denis Close, Helensvale, Borrowdale

Please accept this kind intimation for an amazing, vibrant young lady gone too soon.

“Had a hugely enriching engagement with H.E Ian Khama,the former President of the Republic of Botswana. So fulfilling to tap and drink from this well of wisdom. Fixing African problems to make all African countries citadels of democracy and prosperity is key!#leadershipmatters” Nelson Chamisa said.

By Own Correspondent| Former ZBC news anchor Oscar Pambuka’s wife of six years Nyasha Makota has filed for divorce.

Makota approached the courts seeking the nullification of the duo’s marriage vows arguing that her marriage with Pambuka had irretrievably broken down.

Pambuka was early this year convicted and jailed 6 and a half years for duping Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) of over $12 000. He was however, sentenced to three and a half years after part of the sentence was made to run concurrently.

According to court papers, the two got married on June 21, 2013 in Harare under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) and their marriage was blessed with two children.

Nyasha wants custody of the children with Pambuka enjoying reasonable access to them every weekend. She wants Pambuka to pay US$150 per child for maintenance while she covers school fees.

The matter is pending.-Newsday

The rising stench of decomposing Cyclone Idai victims buried under debris at Ngangu in Chimanimani is now helping the recovery of bodies with residents saying sniffer dogs will quicken the pace of recovery of their missing relatives.

NewsDay yesterday witnessed the body of a boy aged around 12 years being retrieved from debris of a house washed away by floods at Ngangu township’s new stands after being guided by the stench, two weeks after the cyclone wreaked havoc in the Eastern Highlands.

Residents failed to positively identify the body of the boy who was covered in blankets, suggesting that he was washed away while in his sleep.

According to a villager Tatenda Zhambe, some residents were looking for hardware equipment believed to be buried under the debris when they were suddenly chocked by the stench.
Soldiers involved in the rescue operation later came and retrieved the body.

“We are now being guided by the stench to recover our relatives. There are a lot of people buried under these huge rocks and mud,” Zhambe said.

“We call on government to bring sniffer dogs as quickly as possible. I lost two sisters and we don’t know where they are.”

Zhambe said sniffer dogs would help to get more bodies – estimated to be over 100 – dug up before they deteriorate further.

In what reads like a sad horror tale, residents near the most affected parts of Ngangu – where mud and boulders slid from the nearby mountains and destroyed dozens of houses – are now scouring the area, identifying where stench is emanating from before digging up.

Meanwhile, most parts of Chimanimani continued to receive aid, but some residents were complaining that undeserving beneficiaries were getting priority over victims.

At Border Timbers, some villagers broke a security gate to gain entry into the premises in the hope of getting food aid that was being dropped off by two South African helicopters.

The villagers claimed they had been locked out because their names did not appear on the list of beneficiaries.

Some relief agencies were also taking foodstuffs to affected areas following the repair of the Charter-Ngangu Road.

NewsDay

Zimbabwe is too divided politically and needs a national dialogue to settle the political standoff between Zanu PF and MDC before the 2023 elections, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said.

Chamisa said the much-needed electoral, political and economic reforms must be put in place in order to heal deep divisions in the electorate before the next polls.

“What we can’t afford to do is to go into any other election without resolving the political dispute. We have to ensure that we restore the sanctity of the vote. What the people voted for must be respected,” Chamisa told NewsDay recently.

The MDC leader said several years of hate politics, violence and poverty had pushed Zimbabweans to the edge leaving a nation that is deeply divided, insisting that these wounds can only be healed by genuine political dialogue and a transitional mechanism.

“This is a deeply divided country. We have to come together and say how do we move forward on the fundamental and comprehensive reforms we want to see — on nation-building, peace-building and on resolving the economic questions,” he said.

Despite losing a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge on the contested presidential election results, Chamisa said the dispute was far from over and he was willing to force for a settlement with President Emmerson Mnangagwa through demonstrations.

“This dispute does not get resolved because the ConCourt has declared, it has to be resolved politically because the dispute is political, it’s not legal anymore. Mnangagwa is the one that is purporting to be the President of the country, but we want people to be respected, let there be political dialogue.”

“If Mr Mnangawga is not willing to dialogue, we are going to deal with him on the streets. We have the constitutional right to do so — to occupy the streets. When the people feel that we have to occupy the State and when they are ready we will be availed,” he said.

Chamisa, a lawyer, has been asked to respect the ConCourt ruling which endorsed Mnangagwa’s election, but he insists that the ConCourt delivered law and not justice.

“Sovereignty of Zimbabwe resides in two institutions, the people as a sovereign authority and also the Constitution . . . the court ruled, the court is not a court of justice, it’s not just a court of the truth, it’s a court of law. The law took Mr Mnangagwa to be President, but it does not take away what the people voted for and that dispute has to be resolved,” he said.

The commission of inquiry into the post-election violence led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, recommended an internationally assisted dialogue noting that Zimbabweans were deeply divided.

Mnangagwa on setting up the commission said he would implement the resolutions by the commission, but instead of getting international mediation he has opted for local solutions, which he is leading.

The MDC, facing its own internal challenges ahead of a watershed congress in May, has refused to sit on the table with Mnangagwa on his own terms and conditions saying such talks would be meaningless.

NewsDay

Television personality, Oscar Pambuka’s six-year-old marriage to Nyasha Makota has hit a rocky patch with the wife instigating divorce procedures.

Makota recently filed divorce papers, arguing that her marriage with Pambuka had irretrievably broken down to such an extent that there was no prospect of restoration of a normal relationship.

According to the court papers, the two got married on June 21, 2013 in Harare under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) and their marriage was blessed with two children.

“The plaintiff (Nyasha) avers that the marriage relationship between the parties has irretrievably broken down to such an extent that there is no prospect of restoration of a normal marriage relationship between them in that the parties have developed irreconcilable differences over the years, the parties have lost love and affection for each other, the parties have not been living together as husband and wife for over 12 months,” Nyasha said in her declaration.

She added that during the subsistence of the couple’s marriage, they acquired a few household items which they shared upon their separation and it was just and equitable that each party retains property that was in his or her possession.

However, Nyasha said it was in the best interest of the minor children that their custody be granted to her with Pambuka enjoying reasonable access to them every weekend. She demanded that Pambuka should pay US$150 per child for their upkeep.

“It is also in (the) best interest(s) of the minor children for the parties to contribute to their welfare as follows, that the defendant (Pambuka) makes a monthly contribution of US$150 per child while the plaintiff will cover for the rest of the expenses, that the defendant pays school fees for all the minor children while the plaintiff will be responsible for the rest of the school needs,” she said.

The matter is pending.

NewsDay

OPPOSITION MDC deputy national chairman and constitutional lawyer Tendai Biti told a Durban audience on Tuesday night that Zimbabwe invented state capture and South Africans merely refined it.  

Biti was speaking at the Hilton Hotel during the launch of the book Democracy Works – Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage, hosted by the Xubera Institute for Research and Development, Brenthurst Foundation and Pan MacMillan South Africa. 

“I come from a country called Zimbabwe, in respect of which for 39 years, power has been monopolised by a political party called Zanu-PF, on which decision making has been based on the desire and agenda for power retention and the desire and agenda for personal aggrandisement. 

“That which you call state capture, we invented it in Zimbabwe, you just refined it,” said Biti, to laughter from the crowd.  

Biti, Brenthurst Foundation director Greg Mills, former president and CEO of the Washington DC-based Newseum Jeffrey Herbst, and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo authored the book. 

Herbst was not at the launch, but former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – who wrote the forward – joined the other authors at the Hilton. 

Also on the panel of speakers was leader of South African political party Women Forward, Nana Ngobese-Nxumalo, who is the granddaughter of Nobel peace laureate Chief Albert Luthuli. 

Biti said that while writing the book, the connection between sustainability, development and democracy was made clear.

“Here in the southern African region, the superiority of that narrative should be so self-evident.” 

He said that almost four decades after independence, 75% of Zimbabweans lived on USD1.25 per day.  “In fact, the majority are living in extreme poverty, surviving on less than 35 US cents a day, which is equivalent to R5.”   

He said that 39 years after independence, only 30% of Zimbabweans had access to clean water. This was thanks to “the exclusion of consent, monopolisation of power and the denial of political space and denial of the right to choose”.  

It was easy as a South African to “adopt whinging and whining” and forget where citizens had come from and what was there before – apartheid, exclusion and lack of consent, Biti said.

“Some of you don’t know what is north of the Limpopo and some of us live north of the Limpopo. Democracy is key, the capacity to choose is key.”

5He said the democracy Zimbabwe “craved”, and which the book spoke of, was more than an election day every five years.  “Democracy must be substantive, it must be more than mere mascara and lipstick. That is why the issue of making a democracy with economic development is key. The issue of ensuring that that democracy actually uplifts the ordinary citizen from poverty is key.

“Democracy must be guaranteed and safeguarded by a number of things, the first one is a good constitution. Here in South Africa, you have a decent constitution, one which recognises the citizen,” he said.

There could be no democracy without the citizen, civil society, change, powerful trade unions and an independent judiciary, said Biti. “Where I come from, the judiciary is an extension of the ruling party.”

Corruption was a threat to democracy, he said, as it was a tax that was paid by citizens. It was a fundamental issue that had to be addressed when focusing on the sustainability of democracy.

— African News Agency (ANA)

By A Correspondent| Just as the nation continued its struggle with the cyclone Idai crisis for which the ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed a 2 day moaning for victims, his own officials have been caught on camera taking away food aid delivered by a helicopter.

The crime scene is a bushy chopper landing spot in Chipinge, our source tells ZimEye.com. “Do not take zanu-pf lightly when they tell you that their strongholds are in the rural areas, don’t mess with them because this is exactly what they mean – food aid,” they continue.

In the below video, as a white helicopter touches down, a very long queue of 4 x 4 party trucks have already arrived up to fill up their … with the food aid. The food stuffs are mainly mealie meal packs donated for the cyclone survivors.

Towards the end of the footage it becomes apparent that the helicopter will make several trips and until perhaps all the trucks are filled up. While the quantum of food aid taken away inside these party tracks is not clear, our source continues to explain:

“When you hear at election time the government talking about assisted voters, this is what they mean – all this food aid is being taken to only registered voters. Those who are not on the list of recognised individuals will not receive anything. This is how it is done,” our source continues to explain.

“The registered voters are told that if they do not comply they will be struck off even social welfare benefits. This includes food handouts.

“ZANU PF will not allow you to deliver food aid to the victims. They order you to send it through the district administrator. The DA will then contact the chiefs and the ZANU PF leadership, and the chiefs are not the ones who draft this list, it comes from the ZANU PF chairperson.

“This has been the system since the year 2000,” our source concludes.

ZimEye reveals that the individuals named behind this scheme are: Provincial Women’s League Chairperson, Dorothy Mabika, Provincial Vice Chairperson for Manicaland Province, Tawanda Mukodza, the National Secretary for Finance Youth League, Thasin Dube. Efforts to obtain a comment from ZANU PF headquarters were impossible at the time of writing.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZANU OF looting cyclone food aid pic.twitter.com/Y4fZQMILFq

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 27, 2019

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Farai Dziva| A Bulawayo clergyman has sensationally said Emmerson Mnangagwa is a God given leader.

The preacher’s remarks resulted in chaotic scenes during an interdenominational Cyclone Idai memorial prayer meeting. Pastor Frank Kunda openly castigated opposition political parties.

What was supposed to be a service to remember hundreds of people who were killed by Cyclone Idai turned into a ZAPU PF event.

“Pastor Kunda said Mnangagwa was God and he further said opposition parties are enemies of the State and God,” said an MDC A official.

“That was unexpected from a senior pastor like him; Imagine he turned the emotional Sunday service into a Zanu PF praise rally.”

GWERU – A girl from Gweru, Tariro Shumba (21) was stabbed and killed with a knife by her stepfather while trying to persuade the latter from assaulting her mother.

The incident happened at Mataga area at around 9pm on Sunday and Police are looking for the suspect who is at large. 
Midlands Province Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident.

The accused is Aaron Moyo (44) of Maromo Village, Chief Mataga in Mberengwa and the deceased’s mother is Colletta Ncube.
“I can confirm that on March 17, 2019 at around 9pm Moyo stabbed his stepdaughter with a kitchen knife and she died on the spot”, said Mukwende.

Sources said the suspect came back home and found his wife sleeping in their bedroom as usual and he woke her up and ordered her to leave the bedroom. He told the wife to go and sleep with her daughter but did not state the reason why,” said Mukwende.

Ncube did not dispute or question her husband’s orders, so she left the bedroom but Moyo allegedly followed her holding a knife and now asked her to leave their homestead.

The incident woke up the deceased and she tried to calm the accused but he got more aggressive, picked up a log and started to beat the deceased all over the body.
The deceased and the mother ran away but Moyo followed and caught up with the deceased and allegedly stabbed her twice before he fled from the scene.
A report was made to the Police.

Xenophobia has once again hit then and the victims had to run for their lives. With just the clothing on their backs, a group of foreign nationals fled from their homes in Durban to seek shelter in a police station after they were attacked early on Tuesday morning.

Five babies were among the group of about 50 men and women.

KwaZulu-Natal police said residents were protesting at the Burnwood informal settlement in Sydenham at 2 am.
“They were forcing the foreign nationals out of their homes. No one was injured or assaulted. Police had to intervene and monitor the situation,” said Lt-Col Thulani Zwane.

However, Satish Dhupelia of the local community policing forum said that five people were assaulted and were taken to the hospital.

“Around 2.30am, residents living in the Burnwood informal settlement started banging and kicking open the doors of shacks belonging to foreign nationals,” he said.

He said the foreigners had been living in the settlement for “a number of years”. It is believed that a group of unemployed South Africans living in the settlement were angry that they had jobs.

“The police are expected to negotiate with the protesters to try to resolve this so the group of people can go back to their homes,” said Dhupelia.

With the assistance of the public, Dhupelia was able to secure meals for the displaced group. “They have nothing. They are at the police station with nothing but the clothing on their backs,” he said.

On Monday truck drivers operating in the vicinity of the Durban port were caught in a blockade by a group of people protesting against poor working conditions and local truck companies employing foreign nationals.

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FOUNDER of #ThisFlag citizens’ movement Pastor Evan Mawarire has been admitted into the 18th cohort of 2019 Yale World Fellows Program.

Yale World Fellows is an international fellowship program at Yale University for mid-career emerging leaders who have distinguished themselves in their profession, discipline, or geographic region. Each year, between fifteen and twenty participants, known as World Fellows, reside at Yale for the fall academic term.

Welcoming the selection, Mawarire said he felt honoured.

“I’m most honored and thankful to be selected among only 16 emerging leaders globally for the 2019 Yale World Fellows program at Yale University. The challenges we face today mean we must seek new ways and new partnerships to bring change to our regions.” 

The Yale University has profiled Evan Mawarire as a Zimbabwean clergyman who founded #ThisFlag Citizen’s Movement to challenge corruption, injustice, and poverty in Zimbabwe. 

“The movement empowers citizens to hold government to account,” says the university. “Through viral videos, the movement has organized multiple successful non-violent protests in response to unjust government policy. For his work, Evan was imprisoned in 2016, 2017, and 2019 and charged with treason. 

“His message of inspiring positive social change and national pride has resonated with diverse groups of citizens and attracted international attention. Evan has addressed audiences at The Atlantic Council, Yale Association for African Peace and Development, Harvard University’s Human Rights Centre, The Oxford Union (UK), the Oslo Freedom Forum, and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights & Democracy. Foreign Policy named him one of the 100 global thinkers of 2016. The Daily Maverick named him 2016 African person of the year. 

“Evan is a 2018 Stanford University fellow of the Centre for Democracy Development and the Rule of Law. He is a nominee of the 2017 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression awards and the 2018 Swedish government’s Per Anger Prize for democracy actors.” 

An open data innovator from China, a Nigerian Olympian and sports advocate, and a Chilean National Geographic environmental activist are among the 16 women and men who have been selected as 2019 World Fellows.

This cohort brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 346 Fellows, representing 91 countries. This year marks the 18^th cohort of World Fellows.

The World Fellows program is Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative and a core element of Yale’s ongoing commitment to internationalization. Each year, the University invites a group of exemplary practitioners from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

The mission of World Fellows is to cultivate and empower a network of globally engaged leaders committed to making the world a better place. The program is part of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, which prepares Yale students for global leadership and service through its master’s program in global affairs, master of advanced study in global affairs and undergraduate major in global affairs.

The full list of selected fellows is given below:

Simidele AdeagboOLYMPIAN, ADVOCATE, AND ENTREPRENEUR	Ahmed AlbasheerCOMEDIANTHE ALBASHEER SHOW
Katrin EggenbergerHEAD, COMMUNITY OF CHAIRPERSONSOFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM	Feng GaoDIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDEROPEN DATA CHINA
Beverly Lorraine C. HoSPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTHDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – PHILIPPINES	Wajahat S. KhanFOUNDER AND CEOPIVOT CONSULTING
Nicolás MassotMAJORITY LEADERCHAMBER OF DEPUTIES – ARGENTINE NATIONAL CONGRESS	Evan MawarireFOUNDER#THISFLAG CITIZEN’S MOVEMENT
Wanjiru MukomaEXECUTIVE DIRECTORLVCT HEALTH	Alex MuñozPRISTINE SEAS DIRECTOR FOR LATIN AMERICANATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Ali SharwanFOUNDERRESILIENT COMMUNITIES ORGANIZATION	Olena SotnykMEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF UKRAINETHE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE
Rebecca SullivanAUTHORWARNDU	Diego A. TituañaSECOND SECRETARYPERMANENT MISSION OF ECUADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Neha UpadhyayaFOUNDERGUNA ORGANICS	Cristina Vélez ValenciaSECRETARYSECRETARIAT OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION – BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA

By Own Correspondent| Police and officials here have begun looking for alternative accomodation to temporarily house foreign nationals displaced during a “xenophobic attack” at a Durban informal settlement.

Fifty people including five babies fled to the Sydenham police station when their unemployed neighbours in the Burnwood informal settlement kicked down their doors at 2am.

By midday, the number had swelled to more than 105 people reported a local South African publication.

While community members rallied around the group to provide meals, police and city officials scrambled to find shelter for the evening for the group.

“We are looking for a council-run hall so they have somewhere to stay tonight. We are confident that we will find something,” said Sydenham community policing forum spokesperson Satish Dhupelia.

Stanley Chilembu from Malawi told TimesLIVE that the displaced group was “left with nothing”.

OPPOSITION leader Nelson Chamisa, pictured, has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa and government that the high levels of unemployment could lead to yet another civil unrest unless they quickly address the deepening economic crisis.

This comes as the stabilisation measures unveiled by government are threatened by drought and the recent tropical Cyclone Idai whose scale of destruction has added pressure to Treasury.
Zimbabwe is facing a severe drought which aid and relief agencies say will leave five million needing food support in the ravaged communities.

In an interview with the Daily News, Chamisa warned that the deepening economic crisis and runaway unemployment could spark yet another fury from long-suffering youths.
“The plight of young people is a threat to the national stability, youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb that has to be resolved in the context of national dialogue and engagement,” Chamisa said.

The youthful opposition leader also said Mnangagwa’s foreign trips appeared to be misplaced “because they were not bringing anything tangible”.
“I am getting worried with his trips it seems he is not appreciating the problems that Zimbabwe has, especially the young people,” he said.

In January this year, police and soldiers were engaged in running battles with protesters who flooded the streets of Harare, Bulawayo and other towns — to protest the steep fuel price hikes which were announced by Mnangagwa ahead of his tour of Eastern Europe.

Mnangagwa, who was feted like a king when he replaced ousted former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017, initially lifted the mood of crisis-weary Zimbabweans who were hopeful at the time that he would turn around the country’s economic fortunes.

However, the post-July 30, 2018 election shootings — which left at least six civilians dead when the military used live ammunition to quell an ugly demonstration in Harare’s central business district (CBD) — and dozens of deaths during this year’s fuel riots, as well as the subsequent vicious clampdown of dissenting voices — are seen as having dented his international image significantly, in addition to harming his chances of getting financial support from Western countries.

Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi said Mnangagwa was working hard to attract investors but the opposition was “choosing to criticise him for the sake of gaining relevance”.
“The opposition is overlooking what government is doing. We are creating wealth…the president has hosted South Africa and Botswana and travelled to other countries.

“The message that we are getting is that we are going to get development partners. We have taken measures towards reducing costs…trying to instil confidence in investors and laying the foundation for them,” Mutodi said.

“There is no need for people to demonstrate because demonstrations are retrogressive. We know the opposition want to manipulate every situation to remove the government.
“Those in the opposition should know that the law will take its course and those who are on the wrong side of the law will be punished,” he added.

Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of a ginormous economic crisis which sparked riots in January when protesters who headed calls for a stay-away by labour unions clashed with heavily armed security forces, leading to several deaths.

Property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was destroyed and looted in the mayhem which ensued, after a three-day strike call by labour unions.

At the same time, security forces unleashed a brutal crackdown against the protesters, the opposition and civil society leaders, in a move which received wide condemnation in the country and around the world.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is currently in Botswana on a re-engagement drive to “find solutions to the challenges facing Zimbabwe.”

Chamisa says he feels well-received in the neighboring country whose leader Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi was in Zimbabwe during the last week of February for the inaugural Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).

“I’m grateful for the warm welcome I have received in Gaborone where I’m currently visiting as part of our regional engagements as we seek a urgent solution to our challenges as Zimbabweans. We are part of the bigger African family, African counsel and support is fundamental,” Chamisa revealed Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m also humbled by the kindness and empathy shown by our neighbours at a time of tragedy in Zimbabwe.We are one people and we share the burden of our challenges.That is why we engage and share counsel, helping us see the whole picture and our respective place and role in it,” he added.

Chamisa did not meet the Botswana President when he visited in Zimbabwe.

The MDC leader also indicated he was going to doorstep South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa who visited Zimbabwe barely two weeks after Masisi for the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission. Ramaphosa, however, left without meeting Chamisa.

Neither the MDC leader nor his party have been forthcoming with information regarding which government or party officials Chamisa has met in Botswana.

BARELY a day after Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa indicated that he was going to reward the granny who carried gifts on her head all the way from Mbare to Highlands in Harare, there are fears that Masiyiwa might reward the “wrong” Gogo.

Two different-looking images of the elderly woman, who has been identified as Plaxedes Dilon aka Gogo Magombo in the State media, have since emerged. With a new house at  and a lifetime $1,000 monthly allowance in the offing, it is important that the “right” Gogo that Strive Masiyiwa refers to in his Facebook post gets rewarded.

As this report shows, there is a real and present danger that a “wrong” Gogo may be rewarded as the circumstances of the two elderly ladies are strikingly similar.

Version 1

A Sunday Mail article identified the selfless elderly woman as 70-year-old Gogo Magombo from Block C, Mbare Flats. The paper says she has been a widow since 2008 and was born in 1948 in Chegutu. She said she has never been to Chipinge and has no relatives there, but was touched when she heard the plight of cyclone survivors on radio.

“I have never been to Chipinge or Chimanimani all my life. I do not have relatives in that part of the country. I come from Uzumba. However, when I heard of the cyclone, I knew I had to do something. Being able to feel each other’s pain and to carry each other’s burden is what makes humanity great and better than other species.”

Born Plaxedes Dilon in Chegutu in 1948, Gogo Magombo, as she is known by her peers, is not rich. On Monday, the great grandmother of nine walked all the way from her humble lodgings – a single room subdivided by a curtain that separates the kitchen space from the bedroom area – in Mbare to Star FM studios to deliver a bagful of clothes.

Version 2

The Highlands Presbyterian Church, on March 19 at 7:45PM, posted on its Facebook page that: “This gogo had no 50c for combi, walked the whole way from Mbare to Highlands just to donate her pots to give to people in Chimanimani.”

The article publishes her image as the one given below, but does not go on to identify the Gogo by her name, which sort of complicates the argument:

Many Zimbabweans were touched by granny’s gesture, and several went into the Facebook comments section requesting for granny’s EcoCash number or banking details so that they could thank her for her kindness.

A response by the Presbyterian church Facebook administrator shows that they did not have her details or name right away. Below is the mugshot of one of the conversation with well-wishers looking for granny’s contact details, and the response the church gave.

A scroll down the thread failed to locate a response by the church giving the name or contact details of the granny. An inquiry by message to the church has also not been responded to, 24 hours later.

Which Gogo is Masiyiwa willing to reward?

Strive Masiyiwa’s Facebook post is clear which Gogo he intends to reward. At the end of his post, which he published on 20 March at 6:06 PM, Masiyiwa attaches the picture of the same Gogo on the Presbyterian Church Facebook page, and he credits the same page for the image, saying: Image Credit: Facebook page of Highlands Presbyterian Church – Harare.

But there is a small problem…

While both the Gogos in the Sunday mail and on the Presbyterian church Facebook page are clearly indicated to have walked from Mbare (we even placed it in bold above for emphasis), the Gogo in Strive Masiyiwa’s post walked from Fiyo (street parlance for Highfields). Says masiyiwa: “Gogo walked all the way from her home in Fiyo because she didnt have money for a combi but she packed her saga on her head and walked to Highlands to donate the saga full of pots….”

Could Masiyiwa have missed this glaring detail? The Facebook post on the Presbyterian Church from which he acknowledges he took the accompanying photo, has just one sentence and clearly states the lady walked from Mbare. It reads: ‘”This gogo had no 50c for combi, walked the whole way from Mbare to Highlands just to donate her pots to give to people in Chimanimani.”

Highfields to Mbare is a distance of 7km, requiring one to walk for not less than an hour, according to Google Maps:

But since no other Gogo has been so far reported to have walked from Highfields, we can assume Masiyiwa made an error on the lady’s place of residence. Let’s focus on the place where the “two ladies” took their gifts.

In the Sunday Mail article, the lady took her gifts to Star FM studios, which is just along Simon Mazorodze Road, not too far from where the Sunday Mail granny lives. The Presbyterian church lady, who also lives in Mbare, delivered her presents to the church’s premises in Highlands, which is very much across town.

Another key distinguishing feature is the kind of gifts each lady gave. The Sunday Mail Gogo donated clothes which she intended to sell at her vending stall. The Presbyterian Gogo donated pots and other kitchen utensils.

However, we thank both Grannies (if indeed they are different persons) for their random acts of kindness towards the cyclone Idai victims. It is easy to take an armchair and start criticizing those putting in a pound of their money or belongings to this cause, yet quite hard for many to chip in with some assistance.

As Strive Masiyiwa says: “She gave more than us all! What she did is one of the most remarkable acts of compassion I have ever seen! When this is over, I’m going to find her, and invite her to come and see me, if possible:

“Then: I will spend time in prayer with her! Then I will BUILD HER A HOUSE, ANYWHERE SHE WANTS IN ZIMBABWE! It will have solar power and running water! Then: I WILL GIVE HER A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $1000 for life!

“Why? I admire people who are moved to ACT in a crisis! God bless you, if you are moved to ACT as she did. It is not about how much you have.

“How many young men, and even women in their cars watched her carry that sack, and never asked to help? This is how you miss the Angel of God…”

As one reader Last Mashipe said to ZOOMZimbabwe, “These two grannies are clearly not the same but pane tsoro irikutambwa apa, the real person might not get the prize!”

Zz

By Own Correspondent| Tropical Cyclone Idai brought Zimbabweans together in a unique way but recent reports alleging that Zanu Pf stalwarts are diverting the aid for victims of the natural disaster are disturbing.

Jacob Ngarivhume implored the ruling party to stop such evil acts.

He said:

“Tropical Cyclone Idai brought Zimbabweans together in a unique way. But we will always have President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu Pf to spoil it for the nation with reports of Zanu Pf members looting food aid and distributing aid based on affiliation to the ruinous party. This evil should stop.”

#CycloneIdaiZW brought Zimbabweans together in a unique way. But we will always have @edmnangagwa and @ZANUPF_Official to spoil it for the nation with reports of Zanu Pf members looting food aid and distributing aid based on affiliation to the ruinous party. This evil should stop

— Jacob Ngarivhume (@jngarivhume) March 26, 2019