Farai Dziva|A senior health worker collapsed because health workers have not received their salaries for the past three months.
Government sources yesterday said: “Masvingo General Hospital Primary Counsellor collapsed after being told salaries will come after 2 weeks.
Global Fund supported staff in the Ministry of health have not been paid their salaries for over 3 months. Aids and TB unit bosses have blamed Standard Chartered Bank for the mishap but nurses are getting allowances from The Global Fund in their respective bank accounts.
Many are asking if this is not abuse of office by AIDS and TB Unit by taking over 3000 employees for granted. Data Capture Clerks, Microscopists and Primary Counsellors form the majority of the unpaid lot.”
By Own Correspondent- Sports minister Kirsty Coventry has challenged the country’s football body Zifa to better organise their events in future to avoid deaths and injuries of soccer fans.
The statement follows the death of a female fan in a stampede at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday as people jostled to get into the facility before kick-off.
It is understood the woman who was in the company of her husband suffered injuries after she was trampled upon by fans that had forced the main gate down to gain free entry.
According to the police, a couple of other fans were injured in separate incidents at the stadium.
Zifa employed advance ticket sales system, while those tickets that were sold on Sunday were only sold away from the stadium.
However, there were delays at the gates due to the slow process in scanning the tickets at entry points which caused fans to get agitated as kick-off approached.
Coventry used her Twitter handle to demand better safety procedures from event organisers.
“This kind of thing should never have happened. All events have to have proper safety procedures put in place. We expect everybody to behave properly, but know this doesn’t always happen. The organisers of these events have to be better prepared.”
#RinemanyangaHariputirwi There's now incontrovertible evidence that Mnangagwa got just 33% of the presidential vote in the 30 July 2018 elections. Waiting for Luke Malaba to give the promised "FULLY DRESSED JUDGMENT" to be given "IN DUE COURSE". And a can of worms will be opened! pic.twitter.com/LBMNaW8902
By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf cabinet minister who is on self imposed exile following the November 2017 soft coup on former president Robert Mugabe has claimed possessing evidence that President Emmerson Mnangagwa lost the July 2018 elections.
Moyo dared Chief Justice Luke Malaga to avail the “fully dressed judgement” of the Constitutional court challenge which saw Mnangagwa being declared winner ahead his closest contender MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.
Said Moyo:
“There is now incontrovertible evidence that Mnangagwa got just 33% of the presidential vote in the July 30 2018 elections. Waiting for Luke Malaga to give the promised FULLY DRESSED JUDGEMENT to be given IN DUE COURSE. And a can of worms will be opened.”
Farai Dziva| Zimbabwe’ s Young Warriors are battling it out with the Young Mambas in a make or break AFCON Under 23 qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
Highlanders star Prince Dube is expected to lead the Young Warriors to victory.
Young Warriors coach Tonderai Ndiraya is upbeat about his team’s chances of winning the match.
The two teams drew 0-0 in the first leg and the Young Warriors need to avoid conceding a goal against the Young Mambas.The match is currently underway and the scoreline is still 0-0.
By Own Correspondent_ In his brief to the private sector on Tropical Cyclone Idai induced disaster, Local government minister July Moyo said over 40 000 people were rendered food insecure following the natural disaster which ravaged Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi last week.
Moyo said a total of 40 064 were rendered food insecure in Chipinge, Chimanimani and Bikita, areas which were severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai.
Said Moyo:
“Government recorded confirmed 329 cases of missing people, 186 injuries 38 of which are severe and 52 who were airlifted to Skyline.
A total of 6 788 people were displaced from their homes while 3 500 children were affected by the cyclone induced floods and destruction. Government also recorded 2 000 displaced refugees and 7 703 houses were affected one way or the other by the cyclone. At least 10 bridges were damaged and 40 064 people rendered food insecure.”
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Econet Wireless has pulled out of the Cyclone Idai victim support after Zanu PF grabbed control of the distribution of aid.
There have been reports that Zanu PF officials in Chimanimani have politicised aid and only giving to those aligned to the ruling party.
Below is an unconfirmed report circulating to the effect that the mobile network giant has thrown the towel and ordered its manpower to return to Harare.
Zanu PF members have been spotted in Chimanimani clad in party regalia circling food aid that has been flocking the area since cyclone idai left a trail of destruction to property and homes.
Below is the picture that has made rounds on social media…
By Own Correspondent- Civic society organisations (CSOs) here have called on government to set-up a missing persons database for suspected abduction victims dating back to the Gukurahundi period.
The call was made by CSOs at an enforced disappearances indaba organised by the Habakkuk Trust in Bulawayo last Friday.
Habakkuk trust director Dumisani Nkomo urged government to set up a missing persons database to help bring closure to victims’ families.
Said Nkomo:
“The Gukurahundi issue must be talked about in public. This was highlighted to the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) at State House last week. We should have a detailed database for the missing persons. There is need to put names to those faces of people who died, not just a figure. This will bring closure to the issue of missing persons.”
He added that the database would be used by survivors in terms of economic benefits for the dependents of those who disappeared or who were killed since some left properties.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC has responded to claims that Zanu Pf is diverting aid meant for Tropical Cyclone Idai adding that such acts by the ruling party members were “evil”.
Said MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume:
“Owing to the Zanu PF Military government’s gross negligence and incompetency cyclone Idai hit with no proper mitigation and management plan.
Lives were lost, families displaced, property was destroyed, livelihoods destroyed and many were left homeless.
The citizens of the motherland came together and made sacrifices in an attempt to help fellow countrymen get back on their feet.
It is shameless and evil for the party which failed the people of Manicaland to be raiding the aid.
They lack concern and heart which is why they flew leather couches to sit comfortably in a crisis and mourning zone.
Their leader runs a WiFi government, keeps hiring private jets, sometimes visits the motherland and hears about Zimbabwean problems on Facebook, Twitter and such other platforms.
There must be an immediate stop to the raiding of aid in Manicaland, the people are in need.
The people of Zimbabwe must unite and put a stop to the madness.
Civic society organisations (CSOs) are calling on the government to set-up a missing persons database for suspected abduction victims dating back to the Gukurahundi period.
The call was made by CSOs at an enforced disappearances indaba organised by the Habakkuk Trust in Bulawayo last Friday.
During the Gukurahundi atrocities in the early 1980s, several people in Matabeleland and Midlands were abducted and have never been seen again when the Fifth Brigade was deployed to deal with suspected dissidents.
In the past two decades, many MDC activists, including Patrick Nabanyama, Paul Chizuze and Itai Dzamara disappeared after being abducted by suspected State security agents. Habakkuk trust director Dumisani Nkomo implored the government to set up a missing persons database to help bring closure to victims’ families.
“The Gukurahundi issue must be talked about in public. This was highlighted to the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) at State House last week. We should have a detailed database for the missing persons,’’ Nkomo said.
He added that the database would be used by survivors in terms of economic benefits for the dependents of those who disappeared or who were killed since some left properties. “There is need to put names to those faces of people who died, not just a figure. This will bring closure to the issue of missing persons,” he said.
Nkomo said the missing persons need to be quantified for the nation to be able to come up with means of laying the issue to rest.
Patson Dzamara, brother to the missing journalist-cum-activist Itai, said he now bears the burden of taking care of his abducted brother’s family, while also fighting to ensure that the government is held to account.
“We must talk with one voice. The new dispensation has to be taken to task until such issues have been addressed. If ever this country is to move forward, we must re-engineer our social fabric. For us to deal with this, we need to invoke a truly sincere healing process because we are a wounded lot. Unless we speak out, there is not going to be closure in Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina issues and farm invasions that were done haphazardly,’’ Dzamara said.
Human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who was abducted by State security agents and spent almost three weeks at an unknown detention area in 2008 after being accused of plotting to topple then President Robert Mugabe’s administration.
She said many survivors were still traumatised.
“If you throw a stone in Tsholotsho and other places in Matabeleland, it is likely to hit a widow of a Gukurahundi victim. Up to now, people in Tsholotsho are still traumatised,’’ Mukoko said.
A 35-year-old Chiredzi man, Austine Chitema, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly killed Castina Moyo (71) and skinned her with a machete.
Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula has confirmed the incident.
According to a police report, Moyo of village 4 Chiumburu, under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi and her four-year-old grandchild, were tending their millet field when Chitema of Dumela village under Chief Sengwe, Chiredzi, approached them.
Without provocation, he picked a machete which was lying on the ground and allegedly struck the deceased twice on the neck and several times on the head.
He went on to skin Moyo’s head with the machete, knocked out her front teeth and gouged out her left eye. Chitema then walked away from the crime scene, still armed with the machete.
When Moyo’s two other grandchildren, both aged 10, returned home from the pastures that evening, their four-year-old sibling narrated the incident.
The three siblings informed their neighbour, who immediately notified Moyo’s daughter Kudzai Moyo who resides in the same village. The villagers then teamed up and effected a citizen’s arrest on Chitema after finding him asleep a few metres from the scene of the crime. They handed him over to the police in Triangle, where he is currently in detention awaiting trial.
The deceased’s body was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
By Own Correspondent- Parties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa initiated dialogue are set to meet on Friday to choose the convener.
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chair retired Justice Selo Masole Nare said the talks will continue this Friday.
At least 23 parties which took part in last year’s harmonised elections were supposed to be part of the national dialogue process initiated by Mnangagwa.
However, only 17, including small and insignificant parties, according to poll results, are making the numbers.
Said Nare:
“It’s going to continue on Friday the 29th, we should have held it on the 22nd, but as you know, there were these disasters in the country and the President was running around meeting people and assessing the situation in Chimanimani. Friday I went to his office to hand him the report, our last report. So Friday will be the day when we will go back to discuss the final analysis of the report. The committees have met and produced reports, which we consolidated into one report and it will be presented to the President and then he will present his remarks. The political parties’ gurus will make their remarks on Friday. If everything goes well, they will choose the convener as well, then the meetings will take place in a normal situation, depending on when and where the convener would like to have those meetings.”
Farai Mageva at her swearing in ceremony. File Picture.
Own Correspondent|Kariba Town Council Deputy Mayor Councillor Farai Mageva has refused to be moved into apologising for nude pictures of her that have been circulating on social media.
Mageva had nude pictures of her making headlines on as MDC Alliance WhatsApp chat group after the pictures were leaked into the group without her permission.
Residents of the town quickly demanded that she apologises for the pictures to which she has continue to bow down to.
Mageva has stood her ground saying that she has nothing to apologise for as the images were meant to highlight a medical condition that she has developed.
When reached for comment Mageva said she was not sorry over the publication of the photos she claimed were a private issue with family members.
The photographs were of me and destined to a family group although they leaked into an MDC WhatsApp group.
I have been receiving calls from various people including journalists, but the truth is that the photographs were to show that my heart is swelling.
I visited my doctor who told me that it was an ECO and I saw nothing bad in informing and showing my relatives about such an illness.
As we speak I am not feeling well and many people are wishing me speedy recovery so I do not see the need to apologise to anyone in the community.
By Own Correspondent- Legal think tank Veritas has revealed that the use of alternative currencies remains legal as Statutory Instruments (SIs) 32 or 33 of 2019 do not prohibit their use.
Veritas said companies or citizens can use alternative currencies for pricing, recording debts, accounting and settlement of transactions.
Both SIs 32 and 33 of 2019 were introduced shortly after the 2019 Monetary Policy Statement to legalise the local currency and underscore its uses.
However, Veritas said even if a currency was legal tender, that did not mean its uses should be all inclusive.
“In summary, these provisions say that real time gross settlement systems (RTGS) dollars are currency and that they are legal tender. Neither statutory instrument goes further to say that RTGS dollars must be used for pricing, recording debts, accounting and settlement of transactions. That is important because the fact that a currency is legal tender does not mean that it must be used for all purposes.
Legal tender means a currency which, if offered in payment of a debt, discharges the debt unless the creditor and the debtor have specifically agreed otherwise. So, if a debtor owes a creditor $20, say, the debtor can normally repay the debt by offering $20 in RTGS dollars (because they are legal tender).
If, however, the parties have agreed that the debt should be repaid in US dollars, then the debtor must repay it in those dollars. There is no law in Zimbabwe which invalidates a contract that stipulates payment in a foreign currency. Similarly, there is no law in Zimbabwe that requires prices to be marked up in legal tender or accounts to be drawn up in legal tender.”
According to Veritas, only paragraph 2,3 of the Reserve Bank’s Directive RU 28/2019 makes mention of what RTGS dollars should be used for.
Veritas said:
“The RTGS dollars, shall be used by all entities including government and individuals in Zimbabwe, for the purpose of pricing of goods and services, recording of debts, accounting and settlement of domestic transactions.”
However, Veritas argues that though the central bank’s directive repeats the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya’s statement about the compulsory use of RTGS dollars, the same specific statement did not appear in either SI 32 or 33 of 2019.
SI 33 of 2019, 4 (1) sub section D, states that: “For accounting and other purposes, all assets and liabilities that were immediately before the effective date, valued and expressed in United States dollars (other than assets and liabilities referred to in section 44C(2) of the principal Act) shall, on and after the effective date, be deemed to be valued in RTGS dollars at a rate of one-to-one to the United States dollar”.
Further, Veritas added that the RBZ directive was not a generally binding law.
“Directives issued by the Reserve Bank become binding only if they are published in the Gazette or if they are served on the persons to whom they apply, or if it is proved that the persons concerned actually knew about them [see section 39 of the Exchange Control Regulations, 1996],” the Veritas analysis read.
“Although this directive seems to have circulated on social media, it has not been published in the Gazette nor has it been served on all traders, accountants and other people who are presumably expected to abide by it. Hence, the directive is not binding on them.”
Already, despite SIs 32 and 33 of 2019, some companies are not adhering to these pieces of legislation, among them the National Foods Holdings Limited, Innscor Africa Limited and Truworths Limited, who have all reported their earnings in United States dollars.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- A Chiredzi man was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly killed an elderly woman Castina Moyo (71) and skinned her with a machete.
The 35-year-old man, Austine Chitema, killed the woman without any provocation.
Chitema reportedly approached the elderly woman who was tending her millet in a field with her four-year-old grandchild.
The accused then picked up a machete which was lying on the ground and allegedly struck the deceased twice on the neck and several times on the head.
Chitema was arrested by villagers who had been alerted over the incident, who then handed him over to the police in Triangle, where he is currently in detention awaiting trial.
Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula has confirmed the incident.
By Own Correspondent- Speaking at a media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa urged Zimbabweans to rely on correct and verified information dispelling rumors of another cyclone in the country.
Mutsvangwa said Cyclone Joanina will not hit Zimbabwe as it is forecast to start and end in the Indian Ocean.
She said:
“It is understandable that people are anxious after the calamity which befell us in the form of Cyclone Idai but it is strongly advisable that people should rely on correct information sources.
The new phenomenon of social media is not an official and authoritative source of information as more often it is replete with rumours, falsehoods and sometimes downright mischief which should be taken with caution.”
She said the Meteorological Department will however continue to monitor for any changes should they occur.
By A Correspondent| Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) director general, Gift Machengete’s bid to temporarily get his passport back for three weeks for government travel was turned down by a Harare magistrate.
The former Central Intelligence Director is facing charges of violating the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (General) Regulations 2018 prejudicing the state of over $1 million.
He had applied for a temporary release of his passport to travel to Tanzania for a workshop and subsequently an Annual General Meeting between today and the 30th of this month. The regulatory boss further requested for a further two weeks until April the 16th on unspecificied government business.
This Monday, Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya ordered him to return the passport on March 30 before a judgement on his application challenging prosecution will be handed down.
Machengete wanted a longer time out of the country but prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga opposed his application on grounds that he had no cabinet approval.
“The accused has not brought cabinet approval to show that he is travelling on government business beyond the 30th of April, until he avails that document, the state challenges his application,” said the prosecutor.
Machengete on his last court appearance applied for charges levelled against him to be dropped after the State altered its charge sheet.
Machengete was facing criminal abuse of office charges but the charge has now been changed to “induce a procuring entity to engage in procurement by a method that is prohibited by the Act.”
Machengete now argues that the new charge does not show a criminal offence.
The ruling was scheduled for this Monday but was postponed after the state indicated that it has not yet filed its submissions responding to Machengete’s claims.
Allegations are that sometime in December 2017, Potraz, a procuring entity, resolved to procure village information centres (CVICs) which were going to be mounted countrywide.
In February 2018, Machengete allegedly wrote to the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) requesting a waiver of procurement regulations to enable the organisation to purchase CVICs through quotations for reasons that it was a specialised area.
The procurement body insisted that Machengete follows laid down procedures in section 30 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act.
A week later Machengete went ahead with his plan and directed Potraz to subsequently purchase the 24 CVICs from B Smart business solutions at $70 682.95 each making a total value of $ 1 494 104, 33 through comparative schedule.
The court heard B Smart Solutions has since erected 20 CVICs and the accused has already approved payments amounting to $1 032 755. 38 without going through the competitive bid procedures.
By Own Correspondent- A Roman Catholic priest caused a planned wedding by a Bulawayo couple to be called off after the groom discovered that he was dating the bride.
Whatsapp chats between Father Itai Mangenda and the would be bride, Rutendo Mudzingwa were discovered by the would-be bridegroom, McDonald Majaya.
Majaya confirmed the development and said:
“I discovered that the two were in a relationship since last year and we have been having misunderstandings with my girlfriend over the issue. This is unacceptable, how can a priest who vowed not to marry interfere with my relationship?
I don’t know what to do because right now, I’m really hurt. This is disturbing especially considering that l was putting my all into the relationship and was thinking of paying something (lobola) in April.”
When Father Mangenda was contacted for comment, he said that Mudzingwa was only a believer he knew.
He said:
“I know her as a believer and l once went to their home to visit her sick grandmother. The correct position is that l am not dating her, she is just a friend unless if befriending people has become a crime.”- StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Inmates at Mutare Remand Prison have raised concern over the inhumane conditions that they are subjected to at the correctional centre and prison officials have appealed for aid to alleviate the dire situation.
The prisoners told a local publication that they have acute shortages of clean water, balanced diet, clothing, and blankets.
This is despite that the country’s first citizen, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is always in the skies using private jets whose costs have been described by analysts as unnecessary for an already ailing fiscus.
Member-in-charge of Mutare Remand Prison, Maplan Kakoto said:
“We need help to be a real correctional service, but the government can’t afford it alone, so we need partners, who can help in any way.”
Prisoners said:
“It’s difficult here. We are overcrowded. There is no space to sleep; sometimes we sleep seated.
We are urging the government to come up with a solution because we will continue to suffer.
… Our diet is not balanced. Sometimes we eat relish without cooking oil. We don’t have adequate blankets and prisoners who are on anti-retroviral treatment are struggling to get medication.”
By Own Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has said that the central bank has stopped giving United States dollars to banks for individuals to withdraw.
The governor said this was because the dollars were being used to fuel the black market.
In an interview with a local publication, Mangudya said:
“Even if we put a lot of money into ATMs, people will take the money and go and sell it because the US dollar is being looked to as an investment as opposed to being a medium of exchange.
So what makes people take money from the ATM is that they want to sell it 50 cents above its value … it has become an industry of selling money but we need to sell products.
… should we put more money into ATMs for people to get money or should we put more money into the industry, which is employing people? It’s better to go for the latter.”-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Zimdancehall artist Wallace Chirumiko whose stage name is Winky D’s video featuring Gemma Griffiths “Mugarden” is number 5 on BBC charts.
The video, which became an instant hit soon after its release on Valentine’s Day this year, amassed close to 15,000 views on YouTube in just an hour following its release.
Winky D is an award-winning Zimbabwe dancehall artist popularly known as the Ninja President or Big Man.
The Big Man” who is also known as Dancehall Igwe is one of Zimbabwe’s Zimdancehall pioneers. He was born in Kambuzuma, Harare and is popular for his poverty biting and poverty protesting lyrics.
A fan jumps into the stadium after failing to get entry through the gates
MINISTER of Youth, Arts, Sport and Recreation Kirsty Coventry has challenged the soccer governing body Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) to better organise their events in future following the death of a female fan in a stampede at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday as people jostled to get into the facility before kick-off.
It is understood the woman who was in the company of her husband suffered injuries after she was trampled upon by fans that had forced the main gate down to gain free entry.
According to the police, a couple of other fans were injured in separate incidents at the stadium.
Zifa employed advance ticket sales system, while those tickets that were sold on Sunday were only sold away from the stadium.
However, there were delays at the gates due to the slow process in scanning the tickets at entry points which caused fans to get agitated as kick-off approached.
Coventry used her Twitter handle to demand better safety procedures from event organisers.
“This kind of thing should never have happened. All events have to have proper safety procedures put in place. We expect everybody to behave properly, but know this doesn’t always happen. The organisers of these events have to be better prepared,” she wrote on her page.
Zifa has released a statement offering condolence to the deceased’s family.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends of a Warriors supporter who passed on after being trampled on at the Warriors match yesterday. May her soul rest in eternal peace. We wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.”
The local football mother body also pledged to speed up entry processes in future.
“We shall continue to work towards making our admission processes at entry points more swift so that recurrence of such unfortunate events can be avoided.”
ZANU PF central committee member and Mashonaland Central provincial council member Martin Mavhangira has died.
He was 68.
Mavhangira, who was an arch-rival to the province’s G40 kingpins Saviour Kasukuwere and his brother Dickson Mafios, died at his home in Bindura on Friday after battling prostate cancer for a long time.
He was accorded a provincial hero status and buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Bindura yesterday.
Party provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe confirmed the death.
“It is a huge loss to the province. He was a workhorse in the party who worked tirelessly for the party. As a province, we want to thank his Excellency the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) for according him the liberation war hero status,” Kazembe said.
“He was a provincial political commissar for the party for almost two decades. He was a principled man and a hard talker, who called a spade a spade. If he saw things getting out of hand, he would say it straightaway, without fear or favour.”
Former Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha described the late Mavhangira as a fighter.
“He was a fighter and we fought the G40 cabal together. We were known for our stance and it is on record that we publicly denounced Saviour Kasukuwere and Mafios and their G40 elements, leading to our persecution, suspension and expulsion from the party during [former President Robert] Mugabe’s era,” Dinha said.
“We were only saved from further retribution and persecution by the timely ouster of the G40-captured regime in November 2017. He [Mavhangira] was a member of the central committee and a long-serving party activist and liberation war collaborator, hence a war veteran. I say go well comrade, namesake and friend.”
Mavhangira is survived by his wife Tsitsi, six children and eight grandchildren.
By Own Correspondent- Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) allegedly spent an estimated RTGs$71 million under Special Projects, all of which were done without going to tender.
The parastatal’s workers have also been accused of looting the parastatal’s coffers by awarding themselves ‘extraordinary’ benefits.
This was revealed when ZINARA management appeared before the Public Accounts Portfolio Committee on Monday.
Chairperson of the Committee, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said:
“There were amazing (extraordinary) perks and benefits, that you have been awarding yourselves as Zinara employees which you have not been acknowledging as payment for purposes of taxation. We see huge amounts of allowances on that wage bill.
I suspect that if you take away the allowances and probably comply with that 2.5 per cent, once you put the allowances, it becomes a very dangerous wage bill.
Zinara has no authority to engage in special projects. We are now aware that Zinara has spent RTGS$71 million on special projects without going to tender.
… There is looting under this creature called special projects.”
ZINARA acting chief executive officer Mathlene Mujokoro dismissed some of the allegations but admitted to incompetence in some instances.
By Own Correspondent- Zanu-PF will not lose sleep or be intimidated by former cabinet minister and G40 stalwart Saviour Kasukuwere’s warning that he is geared to take the party head on.
War Veterans leader Victor Matemadanda told delegates attending an interface meeting between government, war veterans, war collaborators and detainees in Bindura last week that his party will never be intimidated by Kasukuwere’s remarks because he is nothing but a hopeless man.
Said Matemadanda:
“Kasukuwere is saying it will be rough. To who? As a party, we will not lose sleep or be disturbed from making babies by a goat which is rubbing its body against the bedroom walls. Kasukuwere is a hopeless man and there is nothing he can do to the party. Professor Jonathan Moyo thinks he is a great schemer. Let us see him scheme, while out there in the cold, outside the country. Once you are beaten and driven out of the village and you tell yourself that you are going to scheme, what are you going to scheme, don’t fool yourself. They are now saying we have the likes of Mutumwa Mawere. Since you are a professor, why can’t you just write educational curriculums for schools and tertiary institutions where you belong because politics is our game, where we belong. You cannot tell us about penetration ability that is our job.”-StateMedia
Jostling for positions in the MDC has heightened with many high-ranking officials vying for senior positions ahead of the congress coming in two months’ time.
Almost 10 names have been thrown into the ring for the vice-presidents’ positions and while others are reportedly lining themselves for the remaining top positions, among them secretary-general and the youth assembly.
Although the congress process is progressing according to timelines provided in the guiding template, violence has been reported in other areas as some party members try to block their rivals who might influence the selection of other top officials into key positions.
National organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the high number of people expressing interest in some positions was a sign of growing internal democracy and that calls for celebration.
“MDC is like a freedom train and everyone is free to join in, that is what we mean when we say our democracy if flourishing. In some instances, we have even up to 20 people expressing interest in one position and we encourage that as long as people qualify,” Chibaya said.
“The process is moving on well. We have completed the branches and the ward process. This Friday, we will start on the districts before the provincial at a later stage. So far the process has been violence free,” he said.
Insiders said the names popping up for the vice-presidency include Morgen Komichi, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Murisi Zwizwai, Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Theresa Makone, Paurina Mupariwa, among others.
“A lot of people want these senior positions and even some who don’t qualify have their names being thrown into the ring. However, we hope the list might start to get smaller as congress approaches because some people who had promised backing for these leaders are falling by the wayside at the lower structures. As it stands, it’s dog-eat-dog affair,” an insider, who refused to be named said.
As the euphoria engulfs the structures, some dirty tricks have also been the order of the day.
Another tight contest is expected at the presidency where secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora will likely contest Nelson Chamisa as well as vice-president Elias Mudzuri who has reportedly set his eyes for the presidency.
Youth leader Happymore Chidziva will be ceding his position and is expected to battle it out with others, including Job Sikhala and Blessing Chebundo for the deputy national chairperson’s position.
Although Chidziva is likely to have safe passage, he refused to discuss the position yesterday, but urged unity and peace in the run-up to the MDC elective congress in May.
“In an election people differ and as the president has said, this process is going to drag emotions – bitter and sweet it’s going to be – but we must focus on the greater goal, which is to democratically elect our leaders.
“We know the party is going to emerge stronger, but for now we advise our members not to engage in violence. We must abide by the template and at the same time we must be clear on pursuing our national agenda and liberate the country,” Chidziva said.
The youth assembly will likely stage some more drama as many candidates are coming out to take over from Chidziva.
These include current secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa and Makomborero Haruziviishe, among others.
Chinoputsa said his experience will likely count on the position.
“Congress is a time to rejuvenate our party and it’s not time for unnecessary mudslinging and infighting. We have been in the trenches long enough to understand the task at hand and if given the nominations to stand and ultimately lead the youth assembly, we are ready to lead,” he said.
Haruziviishe said the majority of the party supporters being youths, they must, therefore, be entrusted with powerful positions.
“I want to elevate the youth assembly into an inclusive hub of collective youths’ interest articulation whose endgame is to mobilise two million new voters for MDC and president Nelson Chamisa. This will be done through deliberate social, economic and political mobilisation tactics that will see the youths taking on the military junta head-on,” he said.
Jane Mlambo|Norton independent legislator, Temba Mliswa has taken his fight with Zanu PF legislator and land baron Killer Zivhu to another level after posting a picture of a woman he claims sired a baby with the former Chivi council chairperson.
Mliswa said Zivhu used the woman in question, who is the Norton Town Council Engineer to have his paperwork for stands processed while he got extensions.
“When we argue about corrupt individuals its not that we enjoy making unnecessary noise but the nation is suffering due to corruption and such people need to be unmasked as we continuosly push for justice to take its course. I have accused @KZivhu before, it wasnt empty noise.
“As i promised to bring the V11 here is Norton TC Engineer Maramba who sired that baby boy with @KZivhu. Zivhu used this illicit affair to have his paperwork for stands illicitly done, she gave him extensions and has allowed for houses to be built under power lines.
Mliswa has been fighting with Zivhu for some time with both men throwing accusations against each other.
Mliswa has now gone a step further, but questions remain on his decision to post pictures of a woman without her consent and also making serious allegations which smacks of serious disregard for the rights of women.
Own Correspondent|After completing his first term in office and almost doing nothing, Malawi’s president, Arthur Peter Mutharika, has asked Malawians to give him five more years to develop the country to the level of Germany.
Speaking at a 2019 election campaign rally in Mgona ground in Lilongwe on Sunday, Mutharika claimed that if given another five year term to rule the country, Malawi – one of the poorest countries in the world – will be like German which is one of the world’s largest economies.
“Give me five years and I will bring England or Germany to Malawi. Malawi will be like England or Germany in five years,” Mutharika said.
The Malawi leader also faulted the opposition for “pulling him down” on developmental plans.
He said he focuses on development and not politics as others do.
“I am not a politician, those who are politicians are the ones in opposition, I do focus on development,” Mutharika said.
The president made several whistle stops in Lilongwe where he addressed followers of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
At Area 23, Mutharika promised that temporary interns recruited in various Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will be offered an opportunity for permanent recruitment in the public service.
VFREETOWN, Mass. – A Freetown man was arrested for keeping a flat screen TV that was sent to his house by mistake.
35-year-old Nick Memmo described what happened at his Freetown home Monday night when he was arrested for larceny and misleading a police officer.
During a search inside, officers found a 86-inch flat screen mounted to the living room wall.
“They surrounded the house and knocked on the door with flash lights coming through all the windows. They told me to come outside then handcuffed me,” said Memmo.
Memmo admits it was delivered to his home by mistake and he admits police tried to question him about it several days before his arrest.
“I answered what questions I could without putting myself in jeopardy,” he said.
“I said ‘Do I need to hire an attorney?’ and they said I wasn’t under investigation at that point. They were just asking questions. I answered a lot of questions with I don’t know just so I didn’t jeopardize myself,” he said.
Memmo says he bought and paid for this 74-inch flat screen on Amazon.
When a third party shipping company delivered it, they also gave him a larger model TV by mistake.
When asked if he ever thought they made a mistake, and whether he should return it, Memmo said: “I did and I looked into all the laws and said, ‘You know, it’s a scratch ticket. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.'”
“Amazon said I had nothing to worry about. I made no wrong no decisions at that point,” he said.
The shipping company told Boston 25 News they made numerous attempts to contact Memmo before they went to police.
And the shipping company says Memmo signed for the delivery, something that he disputes.
“I have my phone ringing all day. I get calls from Google, website people, I have no reasons to answer all these calls. If it’s not important I just hang up,” he said.
When asked whether he told them he was someone he isn’t, Memmo replied, “No.”
Memmo says if he thought he was going to be arrested, he would have just paid for the extra TV or given it back.
Now, he’s looking at the possibility of jail time.
GWERU magistrate Mildred Matuvi yesterday removed from remand Chiwundura legislator Livingstone Chimina (MDC Alliance) and two other Gweru City Council employees in a case in which they are being accused of allegedly assaulting Zanu PF youths.
Chimina, Charles Machangira and a bus company supervisor Leticia Mteliso are accused of assaulting three Zanu PF activists who stormed Kudzanayi long-distance bus terminus in January to collect ranking fees from transport operators.
Matuvi said the matter would proceed by way of summons after prosecutor, Bernard Nyoni submitted that he would return the docket to police for further investigations.
Nyoni said the State needed to interview more “independent” State witnesses since the incident occurred at a public place at Kudzanai rank.
The trio’s lawyers, Brian Dube and Shepherd Mafa also submitted that the State’s decision to agree to remove their clients from remand was “long overdue” because the trial has been postponed on several occasions under unclear circumstances.
The lawyers also maintained that it was the complainants who must be charged for extortion.
JOSTLING for positions in the MDC has heightened with many high-ranking officials vying for senior positions ahead of the congress coming in two months’ time.
Almost 10 names have been thrown into the ring for the vice-presidents’ positions and while others are reportedly lining themselves for the remaining top positions, among them secretary-general and the youth assembly.
Although the congress process is progressing according to timelines provided in the guiding template, violence has been reported in other areas as some party members try to block their rivals who might influence the selection of other top officials into key positions.
National organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the high number of people expressing interest in some positions was a sign of growing internal democracy and that calls for celebration.
“MDC is like a freedom train and everyone is free to join in, that is what we mean when we say our democracy if flourishing. In some instances, we have even up to 20 people expressing interest in one position and we encourage that as long as people qualify,” Chibaya said.
“The process is moving on well. We have completed the branches and the ward process. This Friday, we will start on the districts before the provincial at a later stage. So far the process has been violence free,” he said.
Insiders said the names popping up for the vice-presidency include Morgen Komichi, Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Murisi Zwizwai, Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Theresa Makone, Paurina Mupariwa, among others.
“A lot of people want these senior positions and even some who don’t qualify have their names being thrown into the ring. However, we hope the list might start to get smaller as congress approaches because some people who had promised backing for these leaders are falling by the wayside at the lower structures. As it stands, it’s dog-eat-dog affair,” an insider, who refused to be named said.
As the euphoria engulfs the structures, some dirty tricks have also been the order of the day.
Another tight contest is expected at the presidency where secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora will likely contest Nelson Chamisa as well as vice-president Elias Mudzuri who has reportedly set his eyes for the presidency.
Youth leader Happymore Chidziva will be ceding his position and is expected to battle it out with others, including Job Sikhala and Blessing Chebundo for the deputy national chairperson’s position.
Although Chidziva is likely to have safe passage, he refused to discuss the position yesterday, but urged unity and peace in the run-up to the MDC elective congress in May.
“In an election people differ and as the president has said, this process is going to drag emotions – bitter and sweet it’s going to be – but we must focus on the greater goal, which is to democratically elect our leaders.
“We know the party is going to emerge stronger, but for now we advise our members not to engage in violence. We must abide by the template and at the same time we must be clear on pursuing our national agenda and liberate the country,” Chidziva said.
The youth assembly will likely stage some more drama as many candidates are coming out to take over from Chidziva.
These include current secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa and Makomborero Haruziviishe, among others.
Chinoputsa said his experience will likely count on the position.
“Congress is a time to rejuvenate our party and it’s not time for unnecessary mudslinging and infighting. We have been in the trenches long enough to understand the task at hand and if given the nominations to stand and ultimately lead the youth assembly, we are ready to lead,” he said.
Haruziviishe said the majority of the party supporters being youths, they must, therefore, be entrusted with powerful positions.
“I want to elevate the youth assembly into an inclusive hub of collective youths’ interest articulation whose endgame is to mobilise two million new voters for MDC and president Nelson Chamisa. This will be done through deliberate social, economic and political mobilisation tactics that will see the youths taking on the military junta head-on,” he said.
ZIMBABWE has dropped two places and is now ranked the 146th happiest country out of 156 nations, which is a strong indictment on the country’s economy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a United Nations report has shown.
According to the UN World Happiness Report 2019, Zimbabwe dropped two places to 146 out of 156 countries, compared to the comparative 2018 report where it was ranked 144.
“It is not unexpected. If you compare where we are now with where we were last year, certainly last year we were in a better place. Certainly, last year, we did not have the fuel queues, last year expectations were much higher than they are now,” Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe director Godfrey Kanyenze told NewsDay on Sunday.
He added: “The longer we go, the more disappointed we are now because it is a crisis of expectations. After the elections, people are expecting results, for the economy to begin to pick up and government to address the challenges affecting us.
“It is quite clear that even the growth projections are going to be revised somewhat…it is not looking good at all and with the recent Cyclone Idai it makes matters worse. It was clear from late last year that we were going to have El Nino induced drought. So, effectively when we look at the economy, last year we did 4% and this year it is projected at 3,1% it just shows GDP (gross domestic product) numbers, but we are not doing well.”
The drop in the country’s ranking comes despite promises made by the Mnangagwa-led administration to bring the economy out of the woods and towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Challenges plaguing Zimbabweans include liquidity crunch, high inflation, low productivity constraining exports and employment opportunities, a tough business climate, high fiscal and trade deficits as well as a poor social contract between the citizens and government.
In ranking the individual indicators in Zimbabwe and other countries, the UN looked at six key variables that contribute to explaining the full sample of national annual average scores over the period stretching from 2005-2018.
“These variables are GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption,” the World Happiness Report 2019 read.
Under these six variables, Zimbabwe ranked 131 under the GDP per capita, social support (110), health life expectancy (135), freedom (96), generosity (141), and corruption (63) out of 156 countries.
“Note that we do not construct our happiness measure in each country using these six factors – the scores are instead based on individuals’ own assessments of their lives, as indicated by the Cantril ladder. Rather, we use the six variables to explain the variation of happiness across countries,” the World Happiness Report 2019 read.
Information ministry secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana did not respond to a message sent to him for a comment on the matter.
Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo with Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general Victor Matemadanda says Zanu-PF will not lose sleep or be intimidated by the recent chilling warnings issued by former party strongman Saviour Kasukuwere and his G40 collegues that they are ready to take the ruling party head on.
Speaking during a meeting with war veterans, war collaborators and detainees in Bindura last week, Matemadanda said G40 members like Jonathan Moyo should not fool themsleves by thinking they are greater schemers than Zanu-PF.
“Kasukuwere is saying it will be rough,” he said. “To who? As a party, we will not lose sleep or be disturbed from making babies by a goat which is rubbing its body against the bedroom walls. Kasukuwere is a hopeless man and there is nothing he can do to the party.
“Professor Jonathan Moyo thinks he is a great schemer. Let us see him scheme, while out there in the cold, outside the country. Once you are beaten and driven out of the village and you tell yourself that you are going to scheme, what are you going to scheme, don’t fool yourself.
“They are now saying we have the likes of Mutumwa Mawere. Since you are a professor, why can’t you just write educational curriculums for schools and tertiary institutions where you belong because politics is our game, where we belong. You cannot tell us about penetration ability that is our job.”
Zimbabwe tobacco buyers improved prices after farmers resisted the low prices.
Activities at the country’s Tobacco Auction Floors are expected to improve this week following the scrapping of the 2 percent electronic transfer tax on all activities being done at the country’s tobacco floors, with prices being offered for the crop beginning to firm.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe also re-affirmed their commitment to pay farmers their entitlement of 50 percent payment in US dollars in their Nostro FCA and the remainder in local unit at the ruling interbank rate.
The marketing season, which started last week begun on low note, as some farmers adopted a wait-and-see attitude, while others who sold their crop were not happy with the low prices on offer.
The first bale was bought for US$4,50 per kilogramme, which is 40 cents less than the price of the first bale last season. Some bales were sold at low prices such as US$0,20 per kg.
In a snap survey carried out at three auction floors — TSF, Boka Tobacco Floors and Premier Sales Floor, prices ranged between $0,50-$4,60 per kg.
Tobacco merchants and auction floor operators, through the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, requested the Government to scrap the 2 percent tax, arguing it will seriously hurt their margins.
Some of the transactions that are exempted from the 2 percent tax include transfer of funds between an individual’s mobile wallet and or bank account, transfer of funds from mobile money trust funds for the purchase of electricity, transfer of funds to mining houses by the Minerals and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) as well as transfer of money to producers or sellers of gold by Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
Tobacco industry players had argued that their operations were similar to that of the MMCZ and Fidelity Printers and Refiners. As such, they also wanted to be exempted from the tax.
They had also warned that additional costs arising from the 2 percent tax might result in deliberate lowering of prices by the tobacco merchants.
In an Interview with our sister paper, The Herald Business, Boka Tobacco Floors operations manager Mr Moses Bias said they had registered an increase in the amount of buyers who were participating in tobacco buying and prices had also significantly rose from last week’s prices.
“Farmers are excited because buyers have started coming in this week and participating in the buying of tobacco unlike last week where there were other issues which needed clarity (the main one was the two percent which we have negotiated with the Government and this has been agreed on because it had a ripple effect into the transaction of funds from both the merchants and the auction floors).
“Last week we had only three buyers who were participating at the auction floor so there was no real competition because there was a limited number of buyers, but now because of those compliance issues we are now alright. As for today we had seven major buyers who participated in today’s auction.
“Today I have seen a jump in prices from the original $4,35 to $4,60. It is still premature to talk about good prices because the tobacco which is still coming in at the moment is still the low quality primings and the primings usually do not sell much,” said Mr Bias.
David Rhodes, a buyer who also spoke to this publication remained upbeat about the marketing season saying that it is still early and they are expecting that when the good quality leaf comes in prices should go up.
“So far the quality is not too bad, what has been on offer so far is actually nice quality. Farmers are complaining that prices are a bit low but they are starting to come up on a daily basis, today we have noticed quite a bit of increase in prices. We are still not sure whether the farmers are going to be happy to be paid RTGS money.
However, it’s early in the season so what is coming up now is lower storm quality product so when the proper leaf starts coming into the market that is when prices will shoot up and stabilise. Farmers are selling their low stock rippings, you can’t say its sub-standard tobacco but its low quality plant so in a few weeks’ time prices will go up,” said Mr Rhodes.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has reaffirmed its commitment to pay tobacco farmers in the United States Dollars.
Responding to media reports, the central bank in a joint statement with the TIMB said it shall ensure that “all tobacco growers have accessed their entitlement of 50 percent of the net tobacco sale proceeds into their Nostro FCA bank accounts.”
The RBZ also added that, “in addition to accessing cash at a rate of RTGS$0,50 per kg of tobacco sold and up to a maximum of RTGS$300, the small scale tobacco growers, (those growers with 2 hectares and below), are eligible for a United States Dollars cash withdrawal of US$0.10 per kg sold per sale , up to a maximum of US$50 after their Nostro FCA bank accounts have been credited with foreign currency entitlement.”
AIDS activists demonstrate against NAC inefficiency and corruption in this files picture.
The National Aids Council (Nac) sold cars to its excutives for $1 each in October last year, and is now paying the executives $2 000 per month each, for using the same vehicles, since Nac has not yet replaced the vehicles.
This has sparked outrage from stakeholders, who now accuse the managers of scandalously profiteering.
Information gathered by our Harare Bureau indicates that the six Toyota Fortuners were each sold to the directors last year at the book value of $1 each after exceeding the stipulated mileage of 200 000km, in line with the conditions of service of the directors on personal issue vehicles.
The six directors then started receiving at least $2 000 each per month from October to date for using the vehicles for work, further attracting the wrath of stakeholders who say the organisation has several pool cars, which they could have opted for.
The six vehicles were sold together with 10 other Mazda B25 double cab vehicles which were being used by Provincial Aids Coordinators (PACs), which were also disposed of at book value.
Tellingly, the PACs were not given an option to rehire the same vehicles, instead they are using provincial pool cars.
However, Nac communications director Ms Madelina Dube dismissed allegations that the organisation was hiring executives’ vehicles arguing that what they were paying, was an allowance for use of one’s personal vehicle.
“The Board noted that they had a contractual obligation to provide vehicles to the affected employees and resolved to pay an allowance instead of hiring vehicles from CMED at very high rates,” said Ms Dube.
She said Nac last bought vehicles from the Aids Levy in 2011, and the current fleet available was composed of project vehicles from partners.
“Project vehicles come with conditions from the donors and should only be used for project related activities. The Board could therefore not sanction the use of project vehicles for use by staff as condition of service vehicles,” said Ms Dube.
She said further to that, the vehicles in question were procured in 2011 and on average they had a mileage of 400 000 km.
“It is once again important to highlight that the Council has no fleet of cars that can be allocated to non-project activities,” said Ms Dube.
Asked why the facility was only availed to the executives at head office, Ms Dube said “different employees have different conditions of service”.
“It therefore follows that when decisions are made about issues within the Council, each level of employ gets what they are entitled to according to their contract of employment,” she said.
She also said the Nac vehicle policy was derived from the public service vehicle policy as well as international accounting standards on depreciation of assets.
The Nac vehicle policy states that cars should be disposed of after five years and 200 000km. Personal issue vehicles are offered to the driver at book value according to the depreciation policy at the prescribed time of disposal.
Although Nac said all its pool cars were donor-funded, which could not be used by the directors as they wait for their personal issue vehicles to be procured, sources close to the happenings claimed that the same directors use these same cars, when their vehicles go for routine maintenance.
“It is a lie that they cannot use pool vehicles. It is a known fact that when their own cars are not available, they use pool cars. If they have nothing to hide, why are they lying?” said a source who refused to be named.
In January, Government launched an investigation into the operations of Nac over allegations of sexual harassment, corporate sleaze and maladministration.
The probe coincided with the departure of Nac chief executive officer, Dr Tapiwa Magure, after a 14-year tenure.
By Own Correspondent- Food distribution continues to reach villages that were previously inaccessible with some cyclone victims receiving food hampers for the first time, a report by the State Media has revealed.
Sekuru Kenneth Mkwayo from Utseya village in Chimanimani is one of the victims who lost his houses and belongings due to Tropical Cyclone Idai, and he is one of the many who received food aid for the first time following the disaster.
The aid has made him temporarily forget the problem that his family is facing.
Having worked and built his houses and wealth, the dawn of Cyclone Idai’ s first day strike left him homeless and poor.
Sekuru Mkwayo almost broke into tears after receiving food aid.
“After having lost almost all my hard earned belongings, I am truly grateful for receiving this assistance from government.”
Sekuru Mkwayo is not the only one who eagerly waited for government assistance but is among a number of individuals who expressed appreciation for receiving the much needed support.
“The relief assistance comes at a time when we were about to die of hunger. We are very happy to receive the timely assistance,” said another villager.
Food aid and other provisions are now being distributed to all affected villages in Chimanimani with light aircrafts and helicopters distributing provisions to areas that still cannot be accessed by road.-StateMedia
Farai Dziva|Controvereial MDC-T spokesperson, Linda Masarira,has been widely criticized for wearing Zanu PF regalia.
Masarira was pictured wearing a ZANU PF wrapping cloth over the weekend.
Writing on social media about the photo, Masarira defended herself saying :
“The Muroora went kumusha kunoratidzwa ndokubva adii paya ndokukanganwa Zambia kuHarare.
Muroora Abi angu ndokundipa ravo, ndaigodii panga pasina yekutamba… Ndokungoita when you are in Rome you do what the Romans do kikikkkk.”
A Facebook user commented:”
Is this Linda Masarira in Zanu regalia? This is why people say Thoko Khuphe’s party is an extension of Zanu.
Linda Masarira as MDC T spokesperson and a seasoned activist knows the significance of her wearing the regalia of Zanu and not her own party.
To think otherwise is being naive.
( Not sure if this was photoshopped. Linda is a public figure able to deal with fake news if it’s fake!”
Farai Dziva| Warriors experienced coach Sunday Chidzambwa has said captain Knowledge Musona inspired Zimbabwe to victory against Congo Brazzaville yesterday.
Chidzambwa said the 28-year-old played a key role in the 2-0 victory despite missing the bigger part of the preparations due to a groin injury.
The Belgium-based forward needed to pass a late fitness test on Saturday and went on to score a superb volley which took his tally in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers to five goals.
” I’m happy with the medical team because they did very well to manage him from the word go. As you saw he scored a great goal from nothing.
“As coaches we thought we could not leave such a great player on the bench,” Chidzambwa said.
Khama Billiat scored the other goal as Zimbabwe booked their place at the Afcon 2019 set for Egypt in June after finishing on top of Group G with eleven points.
Farai Dziva|Fiery social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa will never transform the country’ s economy.
Taruvinga also castigated the Zanu PF leader for flying around the globe with “dandruff” arguing he is portraying a negative image of the country in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai.
Analysts say Mnangagwa’s numerous trips are insignificant at a time the nation is grappling with the ravaging effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai which has- to date left some communities in Manicaland marooned more than a week after the area was hit by strong winds and rain.
While Mozambique has appealed to neighbouring South Africa to assist marooned citizens in that country, Mnangagwa has gone on an offensive globe trotting spree while citizens are in urgent need of rescue.
Victims of the ferocious cyclone have been left at the mercy of well wishers who to date have availed their own private helicopters to assist.
Mnangagwa’ s so called diplomatic offensive is yet to bring results and of late, he has all but overtaken former President Robert Mugabe in terms of globetrotting.
“Expecting economic recovery under Mnangagwa, when he can carry dandruff to as far as Russia and Kazakhstan, is actually equivalent to expecting growth of horns on a donkey,” declared Taruvinga as he took a swipe at Mnangagwa whose 2018 electoral victory remains a subject of dispute.
The government has allayed fears of another cyclone which has been widely circulated on social media that it will hit Zimbabwe soon.
Speaking at a media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Cde Monica Mutsvangwa urged Zimbabweans to rely on correct and verified information.
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cyclone Joanina will not hit Zimbabwe as it is forecast to start and end in the Indian Ocean.
She said the country’s Meteorological Services Department will continually monitor the weather developments in the Indian Ocean.
“It is understandable that people are anxious after the calamity which befell us in the form of Cyclone Idai but it is strongly advisable that people should rely on correct information sources,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The new phenomenon of social media is not an official and authoritative source of information as more often it is replete with rumours, falsehoods and sometimes downright mischief which should be taken with cautions.
Social media is awash with reports that suggest that the sub-Saharan continent including Zimbabwe will suffer from another cyclone in the near future.
Any information reported in international weather forecast that Cyclone Joanina is gathering momentum in the Indian Ocean and will affect Zimbabwe is not correct.
Cyclones are a weather phenomenon that keep recurring over time and can affect any part of the world.
Whilst Cyclone Joanina is indeed a reality, it is based in the Indian Ocean far away from the African mainland.
Cyclones that affect our part of the mainland mostly originate in the Mozambican channel so far expert evidence suggest that Cyclone Joanina will start and end in the Indian Ocean not even affecting Madagascar which shields the sub continent from the high seas, however, we remain on high alert.
Media Statement|There are three SADC countries which were hard hit by Cyclone Idai. Thousands of lives have been lost in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Many people are still uncounted for, thousands are homeless, and survivors are facing many huddles in getting themselves on their feet once more. They face starvation with no water to drink, they were subjected to serious psychological torture resulting in psychological inflammation. Countless families are homeless, villages were wiped off, roads, clinics, schools and bridges were devoured by the aggressive wind and water.
The MDC contends that a lot could have been done considering there is a whole floor dedicated for disaster management at the SADC head office in Botswana. We have seen individual efforts from member States particularly assistance sent by President Magufuli on behalf of the people of Tanzania. This is much appreciated.
Citizens of SADC countries also coordinated themselves to assist fellow countrymen. We are of the view that an urgent extra-ordinary summit of SADC should be convened with the view to do the following:
1. To set up an intervention framework to deal with urgent needs including food, health, shelter and essential infrastructure.
2. To review the challenges faced by the department on disaster management at SADC and provide necessary support.
3. To deal with rescue missions specifically in countries lacking in capacity.
4. To put in place urgent mitigation and management measures with information of yet another storm looming.
These being purely people issues, the MDC hopes the absence of the cynicism that comes from perpetual immersion in the region’s plague infested waters of politics, will give optimism that leadership will be provided.
MDC Councillors walked out of a prayer meeting for Cyclone Idai victims at Harvest House International Church in Bulawayo after a senior pastor at the church began openly praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa while giving his sermon.
The city Fathers led by Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni (pictured) felt offended after Pastor Frank Kunda said President Mnangagwa was gifted with “foresight and visionary leadership”.
Councillors Mlandu Ncube , Sikhululekile Moyo, Shadreck Sibanda, Donaldson Mabutho, Arnold Batirai, Pilate Moyo and Tawanda Ruzive, who were all elected on an MDC ticket, scrambled for the exit after the men of cloth sang Mnangagwa’s praises.
“The behaviour offends against the spirit of unity and diversity in the city and more particularly in that, we had been invited to pray for Victims of Cyclone Idai. There was, with respect, no need to politicise the process. It was a call to duty,” Councillor Mguni told media house CITE.
“People must distinguish a political party business from a government function”.
Also present at the sermon were minister of state Judith Ncube, Provincial Administrator Khonzani Ncube, Acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou and Zanu PF politburo member Absolom Sikhosana.
Cllr Mguni said after they walked out, Minister Ncube tried to do damage control by telling Reverend Sarah Nyathi, who is the wife to the founder of the church, Dr Collin Nyathi, that the Mayor had asked to be excused.
Contacted for comment, Harvest House International Church founder Bishop Colin Nyathi said he was not part of the sermon but there were no political statements said during the prayer meeting.
“My wife was there and would have told me if any problems were encountered. She reported the service was interesting and the mayor even stayed for lunch. We do not make any political statements at our church,” he said. — CITE
The tales of those who witnessed the severity of Cyclone Idai may never be told as many lost their lives but one young pregnant mother from Chimanimani found grace as despite being marooned.
She was able to deliver her baby, thanks to the heroic feat of the husband.
Heroes and heroines are men and women who combat adversity through feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength and the story of a Chimanimani couple perfectly fits this honour.
Marooned and left helplessly stuck on a tree branch Tariro Guvakuva never expected that the shock of Cyclone Idai would trigger labour pains even under such incomprehensible circumstances.
Today admitted at Chipinge hospital where she is nursing her bouncing baby boy, Tariro tells the story of how her husband for that moment became a midwife to save her and the unborn child from a near death encounter.
The story of the young mother brings a little cheer at a time many were not as fortunate as her.
Befittingly so the couple has named the baby Anesu assumedly to say God is with us for indeed his grace located them.
Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc in Manicaland Province and left hundreds dead with thousands displaced.
By Own Correspondent| A Bulawayo woman Cherish Muchegwa sustained serious injuries after she was bitten by her landlord’s five dogs.
The attack , left her seriously injured and hospitalised at Mater Dei Hospital before she was transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) as she could not afford the bills at the private hospital.
Her husband Joseph Masaiti told a local publication that his wife survived the horrific dog attack leaving her with serious injuries on her legs and hands.
Masaiti said his wife was attacked by the dogs two weeks ago and is still hospitalised.
The owner of the dogs was identified only as Mlalazi. Her son Benacious Mlalazi said it was not true that they were not helping the family with medical bills.
Mlalazi said the family has been heavily involved in the case from the day of the incident. He said they were also not sure how the dogs attacked Muchegwa as she has lived at the house for nearly two years.
There was drama at opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s former school Victoria High School in Masvingo recently when parents nearly exchanged blows with the school head during an annual general meeting (AGM) after he proposed to hike fees to $1 000 from $570 for boarders.
Victoria High School in Masvingo
Day scholars pay $184.
The proposed hike irked parents and this reignited allegations that they have been levelling at the school head, Mr John Muzamani, of maladministration and running down the once elite school.
The parents complained that the school was proposing a fees hike when its books have not been audited for the past two years and there was no budget for this school term.
A parent with a child who is in form three called on the provincial education director to reign in Mr Muzamani or transfer him to another school.
“We appeal to the powers that be to transfer Mr Muzamani from Victoria High School as a matter of urgency, preferably to a rural school, he said. We no longer have confidence in his leadership because he has run down this school.”
Another parent charged that the school’s academic performance had deteriorated due to the headmaster’s lack of leadership skills.
“This school used to be one of the academic powerhouses in Masvingo, but is now pale shadow of its former self, it is now a joke, he said. As it is, we are told, there are no Science teachers at Advanced Level.
“The pass rate has drastically dropped with the school failing to score more than 50 percent at both Ordinary and advanced Level every year.”
Mr Muzamani told the parents that the school was performing poorly because it was accepting average pupils.
“I am appealing to parents to allow us to increase fees to at least $1 000 so that we can be able to provide for the pupils up to the end of this term, he said. As for the poor results, it is you parents who give us average pupils and should not expect teachers to perform miracles.
“You can call me names but do not forget that it is me who remain with your children. My employer is fully aware of what is happening here.”
At this point, some parents stood up and advanced towards Mr Muzamani, saying he was being arrogant because he was threatening to deal with their children after the AGM in apparent reference to his earlier statement.
It took the intervention of the provincial Schools Inspector, Mr Cosmas Musasa, who was standing in for the provincial education director at the AGM, to calm the situation.
Mr Musasa appealed to parents to cooperate with the school authorities, as their children’s education was at stake.
“I appeal to you parents to appreciate the school authorities’ efforts in making sure your children get the right education. This is a boarding school where boarders are paying $570 while day scholars pay a paltry $184,” he said.
Jose had been in Buzi, home to nearly 120,000 people, and moved to higher ground fleeing the raging flood waters unleashed by powerful cyclone Idai 10 days ago.
But soon it was not high enough.
She survived by scaling onto the roof of a local administrator’s office, but 446 other of her compatriots were not so lucky.
Authorities fear the toll will be more than 1,000 in one of the worst storms to hit southern Africa.
Jose lives in Beira, which was also smashed by Idai, but had gone to Buzi to visit her mother.
Now she has to check if her husband, left behind in Beira, is safe.
She spoke at Beira port just after disembarking from a boat from Buzi where many people had by the weekend started picking up pieces of their lives as the waters receded and the sun came out.
Survivors are not only dealing with immediate needs of food, shelter and healthcare.
Joaquin Joao Chidja, 16, managed to salvage prized possessions: family photos. He dries them on the roof of a commercial building where he climbed when flood waters rapidly rose.
‘Water covered everything’
Joao Zakaria, 42, is still haunted by the viciousness of the cyclone which also left a trail of destruction in neighbouring Zimbabwe where more than 250 people were killed, and bridges and roads ripped apart.
There are “lots of dead (people), we can’t even count”, he says.
Zakaria vividly remembers the velocity of the water as it swept past his neighbourhood and mourns on behalf of his neighbour.
“There was a man, he had 40 cows and he lost all of them. Forty! Imagine. Everybody lost everything,”he says.
“There was lots water with dead bodies and snakes, I have never seen anything like this in my life.”
The father of four, who survived by climbing up a tree, remembers the floods back in the year 2000 that claimed 800 lives, saying that was nothing compared to Idai.
“I have never seen anything like that, even the elders have never experienced something like that, it’s new.
” In 2000 there was flooding but (the water) was up to the shoulder-level only.
“But this time …the water covered everything,” he says.
But as a rainbow appears in the sky, more people start to venture outside into the wet and muddy streets of Buzi — 30 kilometres southwest of Beira — to try pick up pieces of their lives.
Some mop thick layers of mud off the floors of their homes while others dry wet laundry on sagging electricity power lines that were blown down by the force of the cyclone which produced wind gusts of close to 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph).
Around 2,000 people have been rescued from Buzi, a town which aid agencies feared had been wipped out by the floods.
strs-sn/bp
1/3 Around 2,000 people have been rescued from Buzi, a town which aid agencies feared had been wipped out by the floods in Mozambique2/3 Survivors of the cyclone gather to wait for relief aid at Buzi in Mozambique3/3 Mozambicans try to move forward after deadly cyclone
Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his late wife Irene.
The Inkatha Freedom Party announced that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s wife, Princess Irene Audrey Thandekile Buthelezi, passed away “peacefully” on Monday at KwaPhindangene, KwaZulu-Natal.
She leaves behind her husband of almost 67 years, their children Prince Ntuthukoyezwe Zuzifa, Princess Phumzile Nokuphiwa and Princess Sibuyiselwe Angela, and many grandchildren.
“The family requests that our privacy be respected as the necessary arrangements are made for the funeral, the date for which will be announced in due course.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
“We thank our many friends and supporters for their love, prayers and condolences in this painful time.
“Our greatest solace is in knowing that Princess Irene Buthelezi has been received by her Lord. By His grace, she rests in peace,” said the party in a statement.
Paul Nyathi|Reports just received from sources with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, indicate that the Priscilla Chigumba led commission is set to appoint Retired soldier, Utoile Silaigwana, as the new substantive Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) chief elections officer.
According to the sources, Silaigwana who has been acting in the position was recommended for the job following an interview held last week in which he was interviewed by a panel led by Chigumba who he right-handed in the heavily disputed 2018 elections.
Other candidates who contested include Bangajena Benjamin, Benhura Abigail,Chiyangwa Benjamin, Goneso Stephen, Machona Jairos, Mangwiro Robert and Nyamanhare Eurita.
The Panel comprised of Chigumba, ZEC Deputy Chairperson Emmanuel Magade, Commissioners Qhubani Moyo, Joyce Kazembe,Daniel John Chigaru, Sibongile Ndlovu, Netsai Mushonga, Faith Sebata, Ngoni Kundidzora.
Interview documents leaked to the media reveal that Silaigwana got a 63% from Chigumba, Magade gave him 80 %, Kazembe (87%), Chigaru (87%), Ndlovu (86%), Kundidzora (78%), Sebata (77%), Mushonga (62%) while Moyo awarded him 90%.
Silaigwana is one of the disputed numerous former members of the Defence Forces working at ZEC. Opposition parties have been calling for the removal of the former army personnel for the demilitarization of ZEC.
Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left the country for Johannesburg South Africa on yet another private jet putting himself at the risk of fresh public rebuke.
Mnangagwa, who Zimbabweans have already nicknamed Scarfmore Tongombeya because of his numerous flights around the world left Zimbabwe from Robert Mugabe Airport shortly after 3pm and landed at Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg at 4:40pm in an Airbus A319-119CJ Elite hired from Malaysia.
Touchdown … Mnangagwa’s Airbus A319 landing at Lanseria Airport on Monday
Mnangagwa is attending a SADC Solidarity Conference on Western Sahara, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. The conference will confirm the region’s support for the decolonisation of the occupied territory and for the holding of a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people.
He was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, senior Government officials and service chiefs.
On Thursday last week, Mnangagwa hired an Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite from Dubai with registration A6-CAS at an estimated cost of US$200,000 based on the owners’ US$12,500 hourly rate.
MDC spokesman Jacob Mafume said that Mnangagwa, who has faced public criticism for his love for travel on expensive private jets, would rather be anywhere else than Zimbabwe.
“People are using their bare hands to dig for their relatives in the disaster hit districts of Chipinge and Chimanimani, but the man who runs the country keeps finding scarce foreign currency to hire private jets,” Mafume said.
“SADC has not yet held an emergency summit to respond to the cyclone which has killed over a thousand people and left tens of thousands homeless in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa, but they are happy to convene a solidarity conference over far-flung Western Sahara.
“It is clear Mnangagwa would rather be anywhere else than be here at home, where people are crying out for leadership. Zimbabweans deserve a leader who will put them first.”
The visit to South Africa is the 30th foreign trip Mnangagwa has undertaken by private jet, and his third to South Africa, since assuming office in December 2017.
Paul Nyathi|Hugely followed and trusted Zambian Prophet, Shephered Mesala, has urged countries in the SADC region to pray untiringly as one of the countries will lose its Vice President through death.
Mesala made his prophecy just over twenty four hours before sickly Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was rushed to a local hospital with health challenges.
In his many foresight prophecies, Prophet Mesala says “Pray for SADC regional countries there is a country which is about to mourn its Vice President in the SADC region due to a slow poison because due to the threat posed on the new agenda, pray for leaders in Africa so that this national mourning can pass that country”
He also urged the people of Botswana to have confidence in the incumbent President.
“Coming to Bostwana, dont change the leadership, God still wants to use the current President. Dont do it out of politics that you want a change you might invite hunger, continue with the same leadership,” emphasised Prophet Mesala.
Farai Dziva| The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has described the death of a female soccer fan yesterday as tragic.
The soccer fan was killed during a stampede at the National Sports Stadium.
The middle-aged woman died in a concentrated stampede at the entrance into the stadium as people jostled to get inside before the beginning of the match.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends of a Warriors supporter who passed on after being trampled on at the Warriors match yesterday.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
We wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.
We shall continue to work towards making our admission processes at entry points more swift so that recurrence of such unfortunate events can be avoided,” said ZIFA in a statement.
Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC A has called on SADC to convene an extraordinary summit to discuss the disastrous effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai.
See the party’ s statement below:
There are three SADC countries which were hard hit by Cyclone Idai.
Thousands of lives have been lost in Mozambique,Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Many people are still unaccounted for,thousands are homeless, survivors are facing many huddles in getting themselves on their feet once more.
They face starvation with no water to drink, they were subjected to serious psychological torture resulting in psychological inflammation.
Countless families are homeless, villages were wiped off, roads, clinics, schools and bridges were devoured by the aggressive wind and water.
The MDC contends that a lot could have been done considering there is a whole floor dedicated to disaster management at the SADC head office in Botswana.
We have seen individual efforts from member States particularly assistance sent by President Magufuli on behalf of the people of Tanzania. This is much appreciated.
Citizens of SADC countries also coordinated themselves to assist fellow brothers and sisters.
We are of the view that an urgent extra-ordinary summit of SADC should be convened with the view to do the following:
1.To set up an intervention framework to deal with urgent needs including food, health, shelter and essential infrastructure.
2.To review the challenges faced by the department on disaster management at SADC and provide necessary support.
3.To deal with rescue missions specifically in countries lacking in capacity.
4.To put in place urgent mitigation and management measures with information of yet another storm looming.
These being purely key issues, the MDC hopes the absence of the cynicism that comes from perpetual immersion in the region’s plague infested waters of politics, will bring optimism.
MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Controvereial MDC-T spokesperson, Linda Masarira,has been widely criticized for wearing Zanu PF regalia.
Masarira was pictured wearing a ZANU PF wrapping cloth over the weekend.
Writing on social media about the photo, Masarira defended herself saying :
“The Muroora went kumusha kunoratidzwa ndokubva adii paya ndokukanganwa Zambia kuHarare.
Muroora Abi angu ndokundipa ravo, ndaigodii panga pasina yekutamba… Ndokungoita when you are in Rome you do what the Romans do kikikkkk.”
A Facebook user commented:”
Is this Linda Masarira in Zanu regalia? This is why people say Thoko Khuphe’s party is an extension of Zanu.
Linda Masarira as MDC T spokesperson and a seasoned activist knows the significance of her wearing the regalia of Zanu and not her own party.
To think otherwise is being naive.
( Not sure if this was photoshopped. Linda is a public figure able to deal with fake news if it’s fake!”
By Own Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who was this weekend spotted at a local hospital after a fresh health scare is currently at home recuperating.
Chiwenga’s motorcade was spotted on Sunday, at the Avenues Clinic in Harare where inside sources claimed that he was treated and taken back home.
However, the sources claimed that Chiwenga may be taken back to India for further medical check ups.
The former Commander Defence Forces has been struggling with his health ever since his ascendancy to the Vice Presidency in a development which has been described by analysts as punishment for toppling the former leader Robert Mugabe through the soft coup.
Chiwenga torched a storm in South Africa, where he was reportedly seeking treatment after his health deteriorated with protestors demanding that he returns back to Zimbabwe and get treatment from local hospitals.
The protestors accused him and the country’s leadership of crippling the country’s health delivery system because they can afford to fly internationally for medical care using state resources.
He was then airlifted to India, where he spent over a month before flying back to Zimbabwe after his health had improved.
I agree with you when you call other aspirants Zanu PF.
Thus MDC propaganda and in Zanu PF they call them Mhandu .Thus Politics .Imimi murikureva kuti MDC without Chamisa as a president is not MDC here???.
Why can’t you learn Politics from S.A.We have D.A from Tony Leon to Hellen Zille now Musi Maimane yakatowedzera kukura D.A yacho now yavanema local govt hobho .
Chandisingawirirane nemi vanhu chekuda kutinyebera kuti chembere dzava dza Chamisa kumamisha not kuti dze MDC.That is wrong .
We are forgetting kuti Mugabe akarovera bhora Kuna Chamisa pa last election.
That number is there because of G40 and Mugabe sympathizers not kuti they loved Chamisa no it was bhora musango number 3 .
So I’m not saying Chamisa akaipa sitereki no .But he must exercise and respect the Constitution of a movement he wants to lead .Kana akakundawo musarudzo ndizvozvo musangano woinda mberi .Akakundwa ndizvozvo futi musangano woinda mberi.Mbeki chaiye akaitwa recalled ne ANC ,Zuma also but ANC iripo panyanga now.
What you need to teach MDC Top Ldrship is that ,a congress does not mean enemity.After congress they must shake hands and accommodate each other as simple as that.That is how I see it.Rodwell Shambamuto
By Own Correspondent- Wife to the suspended Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe, Angeline has sued her husband’s “small house” demanding $100 000 in adultery damages.
Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe
In her court papers filed at the High Court, Angeline, the former officer commanding the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Support Unit (informally called the Black Boots) alleged that Sheila Mandiseka deliberately entered into an adulterous relationship with her husband, Guvamombe, despite knowing that the two had a valid and subsisting marriage.
Angeline went on to say that Mishrod and Sheila went on to have unprotected s_ex on a number of occasions which resulted in the birth of a child. She is now demanding $100 000 for loss of comfort in society and services of her husband due to the affair.
The lawsuit comes at a time when Rudo Boka was recently awarded US$50 000 by the High Court after she sued her husband’s small house.
The small house in that particular case, one Lorrain Chitereka, has since approached the High Court seeking rescission of judgement and also seeking a stay of execution arguing that the US$50 000 is too astronomical.
Guvamombe was suspended from his job as he is facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
By Own Correspondent- Sports minister Kirsty Coventry has congratulated Zimbabwean swimmer Donata Katai for breaking the 100 meters Backstroke African Junior record at the just ended national swimming competitions in South Africa.
Katai, a young swimmer from Mashonaland, broke Kirsty Coventry’s backstroke record which she set in 1998.
She was part of the Zimbabwean team competing at the South Africa National Junior Championships at Kings Park Pool in Durban.
A form 3 student at Gateway High in Harare. Katai swam 1 minute 5.6 seconds,taking more than one and a half seconds off Coventry’s record set in 1998.
Farai Dziva|Following the confirmation of the death of a female soccer fan at the National Sports Stadium, another male supporter is in a critical condition after falling from the terraces at the same venue yesterday.
A Zimbabwean woman died in a stampede at the spacious stadium before the AFCON qualifier pitting the Warriors with the Red Devils of Congo.
The Warriors won the match 2-0 and booked their place at the 2019 AFCON Tournament.
In another sad incident it has been reported that the male soccer fan who was visibly drunk fell from the terraces and landed awkwardly on the concrete.
“A visibly drunk male supporter fell from the terraces and landed on concrete at the end of the Zimbabwe-Congo match in Harare on Sunday, March 24. Medics say he is unlikely to make it,”ZIFA sources said.
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe has the highest number of Tropical Cyclone Idai casualties, it has emerged.
Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has disclosed that latest reports indicate that Zimbabwe has the highest number of people who were killed by the raging cyclone.
“Understanding Cyclones and the Associated Geomorphological Processes – the case of Cyclone Idai Global pressure patterns are a function of spatial temperature variations,” said Mutodi.
“Cyclone Idai Update: UN figures show Zimbabwe has the highest number of deaths due to Cyclone Idai with 259 casualties compared to Mozambique 242 and Malawi 56.
Land slides made the situation worse in Zimbabwe. There are fears the cyclone will return within days,” added Mutodi.
Self exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has scoffed at media reports that contemporary musician Jah Prayzah whose song Mudhara Achauya was booed at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Moyo said could only say “Chaora Chinhu”
SUPER STAR JAH PRAYZAH EMBARRASSED AT WARRIORS MATCH YESTERDAY AS FANS REJECTED HIS 2017 "MUDHARA ACHAUYA" HIT SONG.
Farai Dziva|Fiery social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa will never transform the country’ s economy.
Taruvinga also castigated the Zanu PF leader for flying around the globe with “dandruff” arguing he is portraying a negative image of the country in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai.
Analysts say Mnangagwa’s numerous trips are insignificant at a time the nation is grappling with the ravaging effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai which has- to date left some communities in Manicaland marooned more than a week after the area was hit by strong winds and rain.
While Mozambique has appealed to neighbouring South Africa to assist marooned citizens in that country, Mnangagwa has gone on an offensive globe trotting spree while citizens are in urgent need of rescue.
Victims of the ferocious cyclone have been left at the mercy of well wishers who to date have availed their own private helicopters to assist.
Mnangagwa’ s so called diplomatic offensive is yet to bring results and of late, he has all but overtaken former President Robert Mugabe in terms of globetrotting.
“Expecting economic recovery under Mnangagwa, when he can carry dandruff to as far as Russia and Kazakhstan, is actually equivalent to expecting growth of horns on a donkey,” declared Taruvinga as he took a swipe at Mnangagwa whose 2018 electoral victory remains a subject of dispute.
ZANU PF has pulled all the stops in a bid to win Bulawayo’s ward 28 by-election set for Saturday, deploying top party officials from its commissariat department, led by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi to electioneer.
Local businessman Kidwell Mujuru is the ruling party candidate.
Mohadi donated 60 tonnes of maize and 30 tonnes of rice to Cowdray Park residents at a campaign rally on Friday, ahead of the March 30 by-election – a first in years in the city that a member of the Presidium came out for a local government election.
The by-election comes at a time when the ruling party is undertaking a major restructuring exercise in Bulawayo and Harare, following the dissolution of their structures on the back of a poor showing in the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections.
Zanu PF has struggled to win parliamentary and council seats in Bulawayo and Harare.
Mohadi, who leads the restructuring exercise in Bulawayo, said the ruling party was pulling all the stops to win elections in urban centres, starting with the ward 28 council seat which was left vacant following the death of the MDC Alliance’s Hapson Ncube in December last year.
“Since 2000, we have been losing, both general and local authority elections to the opposition. It boggles the mind to see Zanu PF losing elections to the MDC,” Mohadi said.
“This must come to a stop. Let us make sure that the situation changes, starting with Cowdray Park.
“Let’s also give this young man a chance by voting for him. We will show you what government is capable of doing for its people,” he added.
Top party officials present at the rally were secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, deputy national commissar Omega Hungwe, former ministers Mike Bimha and David Parirenyatwa the secretary for indigenisation and health respectively, politburo members Tshinga Dube, Absolom Sikhosana and Angeline Masuku and other top officials from the party’s commissariat department.
More than 12 candidates successfully filed their nomination papers for the by-election. Former councillor Collet Ndlovu from the MDC Alliance is also seeking re-election.
Jane Mlambo| Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has questioned the ruling on controversial businessman, Wicknell Chivhayo who was recently acquitted by the Harare Magistrates over Zimbabwe Power Company tender scam.
Mliswa who appeared puzzled that Chivhayo had been cleared of any wrong doing said he will study the judgement before making his conclusion but upset at how the matter was concluded.
I have seen the recent judgement in the Wicknell Chivayo/ZPC case and I'm questioning a lot of it. However sticking out is the question whether Chivayo is the problem or its ZPC itself.
By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today travel for the SADC Solidarity Conference in Pretoria South Africa..
This was revealed by Presidential spokesperson George Charamba in an interview with a local publication.
The conference is being held in solidarity with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)
Said Charamba:
“……the aircraft you are talking about came in on Thursday and has been here preparing to take the president to South Africa for the Sadc Solidarity Conference on Western Sahara, scheduled for 25-26 March 2019 in Pretoria.
….. the aircraft was here already and it took the president to Bulawayo since it did so at the same charge that it had billed the state to take the president to South Africa. We booked the aircraft to be here until it brings back the president from the summit on Tuesday.”
By Own Correspondent- Norton member of Parliament Temba Mliswa was involved in a car accident while coming from prominent Harare lawyer Inviolata Dumbutshena’s funeral.
Mliswa said the accident occurred when the other driver failed to give way for his vehicle.
The outspoken legislator escaped unscathed from the accident.
Said Mliswa:
“Have just been involved in an accident whilst coming from receiving the body of Vee Dumbutshena who passed away this week. The person failed to give way. Thank God we are alive but people should not drink and drive.”
Dumbutshena was killed in a horrific accident along the Masvingo to Harare road.
The crash happened at an intersection between Chatsworth and Mvuma.
By Own Correspondent- Reports say a second cyclone has brought winds and torrential rains to coastal regions of Australia.
Cyclone Veronica (category four system) has made landfall in the western territory of Australia, 48 hours after Cyclone Trevor brought destruction in the Northern territories as a category four system.
After lingering approximately 95km off the Australia’s North-West coast, Authorities say it has made landfall in Australia causing heavy rainfall and large waves threatening to cause widespread flooding.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology says the area stretching from Karratha to Port Hedland was enduring gale-force winds of more than 125km/h, causing trees to snap and minor power outages.
The northern area faced similar conditions on Saturday when Cyclone Trevor entered the remote communities of Numbulwar and Borroloola.
Many locals had already taken precautions and reinforced their homes with sandbags and stocked up on food and water supplies.
Reports say Cyclone Veronica was a category four system but it downgraded during the weekend whilst Cyclone Trevor was ravaging the northern area of Australia.
Australian meteorologist Steph Bond says the two cyclone occurrences were unusual.
“It really is quite unusual for two cyclones to happen at the same time, particularly two very strong systems,” said Bond.
There has been no report of injuries, or destruction of infrastructure in both regions.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Thokozani Khupe’s spokesperson, Linda Masarira posted pictures of herself wearing Zanu Pf regalia.
Commenting on the photo, Masarira however said she put on the wrapping cloth after being given the regalia by a fellow daughter in- law while she was at her in- laws. She said this was after realising that she had not brought one of her own. According to Shona tradition, an in- law is supposed to wrap a cloth around her waist as a sign of respect.
Said Masarira:
The Muroora went kumusha kunoratidzwa ndokubva adii paya ndokukanganwa Zambia kuHarare meaning the daughter in law went to her new husband’s rural home to be introduced and what does she do, she forgets her wrapping cloth or Zambia in Harare. Muroora Abi angu ndokundipa ravo, ndaigodii panga pasina yekutamba meaning a fellow daughter in law gave me hers and i had no option but take it… Ndokungoita when you are in Rome you do what the Romans do kikikkkk.
By Own Correspondent- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has donated US$500 000 to three member countries that suffered the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai, namely Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
Chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo finally left for his United States base after three months of speculation over his stay in the country.
Mukanya, as the musician is popularly known, came for his national tour in December and had been holed up in the country for longer than expected after his tour proved to be a massive flop.
He was expected to leave at the beginning of the year, but had to stay for three more months in a development that he linked to losses he incurred during the tour.
After the publicised national tour, Mukanya continued holding more shows to raise funds to pay the band that he used in the country.
Many arts critics questioned Mukanya’s lengthy stay in the country with some suggesting that he could have returned home for good.
In an interview before his departure, the musician said he wanted to make sure that everything was in place before he goes back to the US.
“I had a band that was supposed to get paid. I invited these guys to help me during the tour, but things did not go according to plan. The promoter I worked with failed organise our tour according to plan and we ended up having huge losses. There was no way I could go back to US without paying people that I worked with. I had to organise other shows to get money to pay them,” said Mukanya.
“We have now settled all bills and I have to go back to the US to be with my family. I will come back home when another opportunity for a tour beckons. This is my home and most of my fans are based here. I will come back as soon as we work on anothertour.”
By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga’s motorcade was on Sunday spotted at the Avenues Clinic in Harare, where he normally seeks medical care before flying out of the country.
Zimbabwe’s Vice President normally flies out to either South Africa or India every time he is unwell for “specialists care” which is not available in the country.
It however could not be immediately established if Chiwenga was indeed hospitalised at what remains as one of the country’s best health centres.
Said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity:
“Yes it was his motorcade but I cannot comment further on whether it was him or not seeking medical care.”
Information gathered by ZimEye however suggested that Chiwenga could be flying back to India soon for medical care.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for more.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba told The Standard in an exclusive interview yesterday that the Airbus A318-100, which flew seven hours and 16 minutes from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to be in position in Harare before Mnangagwa’s flight to Bulawayo on Thursday, remained in the country ahead of another foreign trip by Mnangagwa to South Africa tomorrow.
“Then coming to the Bulawayo issue, the aircraft you are talking about came in on Thursday and has been here preparing to take the president to South Africa for the Sadc Solidarity Conference on Western Sahara, scheduled for 25-26 March 2019 in Pretoria,” Charamba said.
“We booked the aircraft to be here until it brings back the president from the summit on Tuesday. If you were going to check, the aircraft is currently at the tarmac of the domestic flights and it is cheaper to hire the aircraft for days than to hire it on the day when the president wants to fly out.”
Since he took over through a military-assisted process in 2017, Mnangagwa has projected himself as a simple leader who wants to cut costs, but instead he has often used hired private jets for most of his foreign trips.
Last week he had to use a hired jet for a local trip to Bulawayo where he met civil society members, raising questions on his sincerity to tackle public expenditure.
Charamba said his boss was committed to costcutting and his officials were feeling the pinch.
“Let me pre-empt you; I know you would want to ask why not use scheduled flights for the president. Here is the tricky issue. One, it is very risky to do that for both the president and the airline. In this case, we are talking of a national airline which has one aircraft to service all its routes. If the president was to use a scheduled flight, it means that all the luggage in that flight will be opened and subjected to search by our security systems,” he said.
Britons already enjoyed the warm weather on Sunday (pictured by Brighton Beach)
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Own Correspondent: If you are in Britain its time to DUST off the barbecue and hang up the trusty winter coats as you look set to bask in a three-month heatwave the Zimbaabwean style – with highs of 26C possible next month.
Plumes of warm air from Africa are expected to send temperatures “well above average” for spring, with bookies slashing odds on Britain’s hottest ever spring.
A British Met Office spokesperson told British media at the weekend that “For March-May, above-average temperatures are more likely than below-average.
“The probability UK average temperatures will fall into the warmest of our five categories is 50 per cent. The coldest category is 10 per cent.
“Some long-range prediction systems indicate an increased chance of high pressure to the south of the UK.”
The Weather Outlook’s Brian Gaze added: “With computer models strongly favouring a warm spring, there is potential for the record for the hottest spring to be challenged.
“Highs of 26C are likely in April. Plumes of warm air from Africa are expected.
“And there is an increased chance of a hot and settled summer due to the trend for more high pressure, which brings hot conditions in summer.”
This week will be pleasant for most, with sunny spells across the country. There will be isolated showers in the north and west.
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: “It is warming up – it’s not going to be exceptionally warm but it’ll be better than the past couple of days.
“On Monday it will be around 13C, which is slightly cooler than the 15C we had on Sunday, but won’t feel too bad.
“A band of high pressure will mean it will be dry across most of the country, with patches of cloud in some places but with sunny spells.
“The best sunshine will be in the south and east, continuing through to Friday.
“Some of northern Scotland could see some drizzle but that won’t affect many people.
“The weather will turn a bit more unsettled by the weekend, but it should be turning nicer as we head into April.”
The warm weather comes just a week after flooding blighted the north, with heavy rainfall and high river levels in the Midlands and northern England.
By Own Correspondent| A picture showing a vandalised railway line is doing the rounds on social media in a development which has sent fears of a looming disaster.
While it could not be immediately established where this picture was taken, citizens here allege that the vandalised railway line is somewhere in Zimbabwe.
Help us identify this place.
We however publish below some of the readers comments.
Own Correspondent|Scott Walker, one of the most innovative and enduring songwriters of the 20th century, has died aged 76.
The news was announced by his label, 4AD. “For half a century, the genius of the man born Noel Scott Engel has enriched the lives of thousands,” a statement read. The cause of death has not been announced.
Walker first came to fame in the mid-1960s in the group the Walker Brothers, before creating a string of acclaimed solo albums – Scott I to Scott IV – that are regarded as some of the most adventurous and boundary-pushing pop albums of the era.
He then moved further out to the periphery of the music scene, with an increasingly experimental run of albums, including 1995’s Tilt and 2006’s The Drift, which reflected on Mussolini’s mistress, Srebrenica and 9/11.
His most recent work was music composed for the Natalie Portman movie Vox Lux.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa will continue hiring expensive private planes when he is travelling until the government gets him a dedicated presidential jet or until the country has a functioning national airline.
This is the message coming from Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba who was responding to questions on why Mnangagwa was using expensive private jets. Mnangagwa recently hired a US$12 500/hour private jet from Dubai in order to travel to Bulawayo. He has also received criticism for hiring a one of a type US$74 000 per hour Swiss Luxury jet.
Charamba went on to justify why senior government officials get treatment outside the country when they are sick saying that it is part of their conditions of service. Below is an excerpt of Charamba’s interview with Xolisani Ncube (XN) of The Standard,
XN: So for how long are we going to be hiring private jets for the president, Cde Charamba?
GC: Until such a time we have a presidential jet or a functioning national airline with a fleet of aircraft. At the moment, our economy cannot sustain the purchase of a presidential jet. Imagine what would happen if the president decides to get a presidential jet. Definitely it would cause an uproar. So until such a time when our economy can sustain the purchase of a presidential jet or we have a national airline with many aircraft, we shall always resort to hiring of private jets. The idea to buy a presidential jet is part of our plans in the long to medium-term, but for now, our economy cannot allow us to do that.
XN: You have explained well on the presidential jet and why the state hires, how about the VPs (vice-presidents), why not use scheduled flights? We have seen them being flown using hired private planes, at whose cost?
GC: This is part of conditions of service for the top three. Even ministers, if their conditions of service stipulate that they should be airlifted whenever they need medical attention at the expense of the state, it must be done. Even top civil servants, if their benefits include airlifting, there is nothing that we can do to change that, it is in their contracts.
Educate me guys, so 40 000 voted in Chimanimani now we hear that the population of chimanimani including children is estimated 20 000 how come? Madinga eZanu akanganwa kuti they fabricated maths ne ZEC now vaku taura. You see God I think brought this cyclone to reveal something.
Educate me guys, so 40 000 voted in Chimanimani now we hear that the population of chimanimani including children is estimated 20 000 how come? Madinga eZanu akanganwa kuti they fabricated maths ne ZEC now vaku taura. You see God I think brought this cyclone to reveal something.
Prominent gospel musician Ivy Kombo last Friday returned home after a 12-year absence.
Kombo relocated to the UK in 2006 and only returned home once in 2007 before returning to the United Kingdom again.
She is in the country to set the ground for the return of Nguva Yakwana gospel concert.
Kombo arrived in the country last Friday with her husband Admire Kasi.
“We are back home to organise a big function that will remind people of the good old days. Nguva Yakwana was a popular brand and we need to bring it back. We are working on the groundwork to bring back the festival,” said Kombo.
Norton Member of Parliament who is also the boss of the deceased lawyer’s sister, posted that he was involved in an accident on his way from receiving the body of Vee Dumbutshena who also died in a road accident on Saturday.
Mliswa did not suspect foul play though, he said the Honda Fit driver failed to give way resulting in a collision.
Have just been involved in an accident whilst coming from receiving the body of Vee Dumbutshena who passed away this week. The person failed to give way. Thank God we are alive but people should not drink and drive. pic.twitter.com/xuo09B11oC
Chaotic scenes from the stadium where the lady died in the stampede.
ZimEye.com sources have indicated that the Warriors fan who died at National Sports Stadium in Harare just before the match between Zimbabwe and Congo Brazzaville on Sunday has been identified Mai Tadiwa.
According to the sources who spoke with conviction, the lady (pictured) was based in Mutare and was also a CAPS United supporter. Mai Tadiwa died in the presence of her husband, who she had invited all the way from South Africa to come so they could go watch the game together as she had bought him a ticket.
She died after a stampede on Gate 3.
A close relative of hers said “This lady had invited her hubby to travel all the way from South Africa to watch the Warriors match as she had bought him the ticket.
The warriors fan who was unfortunately killed at the stadium as identified by sources close to her.
“The husband obliged and was there at the stadium when tragedy. She was trampled by fans who were scaling the security fence.”
An official at Zimbabwe Football Association confirmed to the BBC that a supporter was killed in a stampede outside the national stadium in Harare before kick-off in the crucial match against Congo Brazzaville.
Despite the tragedy, the qualifier went ahead as scheduled with Zimbabwe winning 2-0 to seal their place at Egypt 2019.
Khama Billiat, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a well-struck free-kick to put Zimbabwe 1-0 up.
His Belgium-based captain Knowledge Musona added a second 16 minutes later, pouncing on a defensive error to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
Congo Brazzaville tried to get back into the match but could not overcome a powerful and resilient Warriors team.
The victory makes it back-to-back Nations Cup appearances for Zimbabwe who played at Gabon 2017 after an 11-year absence from the finals.
ZimEye.com reader says Zim now needs a President and ministers after getting a soccer coach and players
ZIMBABWE’S Warriors chose the perfect way to cheer the nation’s spirits when they powered their way to the 32nd African Cup of Nations finals following a deserved victory over Congo (Brazzaville) at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
The country is still in mourning following the deaths of hundreds of people and loss of property caused by the devastating Cyclone Idai.
Sunday Chidzambwa’s men, who arrived at the stadium needing only a draw to secure a successive qualification, found the victory that brought smiles on the nation and cheered spirits through a goal each by Khama Billiat and captain Knowledge Musona.
The Warriors wore black armbands and a minute of silence was observed before the start of the match in honour of the victims of the cyclone.
Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry saluted the Warriors for their victory and dedicating their win to the Cyclone victims.
More importantly the triumph also came on the second of the two days of mourning which had been declared by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Minister Coventry said she was proud at the way the Warriors had absorbed the pressure of playing at home and securing their win.
“I am very proud of the team, they had a lot of pressure coming into the game and they played so well, the possession was always ours, they were in full control. And I am very proud of them.
“I think it’s been an amazing win for Zimbabwe especially with what the country has gone through over the last week. The boys were playing with everybody in mind and I think that has made it really special.
“The boys were wearing the black bands in honour of everyone that lost their lives or homes and they felt that it was extremely important for them to win not just for the country but for all of those people that are struggling in Manicaland. So they went above and beyond today and they have made us extremely proud,’’ Coventry said.
Principal director in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation Benson Martins Dube also welcomed the win which guaranteed the Warriors a place among the 24 countries that will line-up at the Nations Cup tournament in Egypt in June.
“I am very happy about what the boys have done for us especially at this time when we are in mourning. They have really done us proud,’’ Dube said.
Former Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president Tommy Sithole, who was also among the strong crowd estimated at 55 000, noted that in tough times such as those brought about by the cyclone, a nation needed something that went some way to cheer their spirits.
“Well I think this is absolutely fantastic. We deserved to win, we were at home and we had everything going for us, the crowd.
“We need this at this particular time of grief that has befallen all of us. So we needed something to pep us up and the boys came to the party, it is fantastic.
“We have got at least something to cheer. We are of course in grief, we have lost hundreds of our own people, we have lost property but this is something to cheer, it is something we should be all happy about.
“Of course we are not forgetting what’s happened in the East, we are not forgetting about our comrades and friends in Malawi and in Mozambique but this is a little bit of a cheer and we thank God for it and we thank our boys for it,” said Sithole.
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) at the weekend confirmed the latest figure of 154 deaths, while 187 remained unaccounted for.
About 4 884 were completely displaced, while 136 were still marooned with 162 injured.
“The death toll for the Cyclone Idai-induced floods continues to rise. The following is an update on Cyclone Idai as at 22nd March 2019. A proper assessment has not yet been undertaken due to access challenges. The domestic and international appeal document for assistance is being finalised and is scheduled to be launched on Tuesday 26 March 2019 (tomorrow). Access to the affected areas has improved following the clearing of the road from Chipinge to Chimanimani Town. Weather conditions have also improved despite some intermittent rainfall episodes in the affected areas. Search and rescue efforts are underway, in difficult conditions,” said CPU in a statement.
A body of a cyclone victim being fished out from flooded river
Zimbabwe ended two days of national mourning at the weekend with little sign of a nation struck by grief after nearly 200 people died in the aftermath of cyclone Idai.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Saturday and Sunday as days of national mourning.
National flags flown at half-mast were the only sign of respect by the state accorded to victims and survivors.
There were no state activities organised and radio and television stations appeared to continue with their normal programming. Local government minister July Moyo said individuals had to take the two days of mourning to reflect on the tragedy at family level.
“Government is not necessarily spearheading the two days of national mourning. I think the president’s intention was to have people reflecting at family level and also use the days to source aid for the survivors,” he told Times LIVE.
“The only thing that the government did is to fly our national flags at half-mast and for us to work on a Sunday in respect of both the victims and survivors. But there is no specific program conducted by government.”
James Mupfumi, a lecturer and director at the Centre for Research and Development, said that on a national day of mourning the state broadcaster was showing cartoons.
On Sunday morning, Mnangagwa attended at a church service at Malbereign Methodist church in Harare.
Some residents in Chimanimani said they were disappointed that the tragedy did not appear to resonate with those outside the area.
“We have not heard of anything that the government has set aside for the two days. But we are mourning our friends and relatives who have died and others who are still trapped,” said Veronica Mabuto of Skyline in Chimanimani.
Chipinge ward 14 councilor Briton Nyasine, who saw his house destroyed, also said that communities felt neglected. “It is our tradition that we mourn together as a family, community and nation when disaster strikes. But right now, we feel alone,” said Nyasine.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa however claimed they were continuously airing programmes both on television and radio on the natural disaster.
Spokesperson for the Movement for Democratic Change Jacob Mafume said government had not shown enough moral support to the relatives of the hundreds of people who had died.
“This is not a two-day mourning event … The national TV and newspapers spend more time mourning one person than they do hundreds and hundreds of people. We see a government attending to international meetings as if everything is business as usual,” he said. — TimesLIVE
By A Correspondent| It was on the 18th March 1975 when Africa’s first London bar barrister, Herbert Chitepo died in a car bomb explosion which was clearly an assassination, one of many others to happen years later – from Tongogara to Ndangana, to Mahachi to Chindori-Chininga. The accident scene on Saturday afternoon in Chatsworth/Mvuma road which killed Zimbabwe’s fiery young lawyer, Inviolata Dumbutshena sent shockwaves throughout the community. The young and powerful Inviolata, 34, died barely a few months after defeating the Zimbabwe National Army in a High Court land battle, the family told ZimEye.com.
If her death was not of a classic Chitepo bomb or a traditional puma collision, what was it?, most news readers repeated the question on Sunday.
Looking at her background, Involata is the granddaughter of Zimbabwe’s former chief justice, Enoch Dumbutshena, the latter who clashed with Emmerson Mnangagwa over the Gukurahundi extrajudicial killings the ZANU PF leader was personally responsible for in the early 1980s. Justice Dumbutshena’s children have since taken up the legal profession following after him.
(READERS NOTE: Some of the pictures from this accident are distressing to those of a nervous disposition)
LATEST VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Inviolata had a successful law firm which has two branches in Bulawayo and in Harare. She was on her way from South Africa through Bulawayo, when she decided to use the Masvingo, Mvuma road back to the capital city.
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The sad incident happened at a sharp curve spot between Chatsworth and Mvuma.
Sources told ZimEye advocate Dumbutshena was with a friend in the same car.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
She was traveling from Masvingo towards Mvuma when her Toyota Rav4 was later found virtually shapeless just 15 metres away from the main road. Newsreaders questioned the shape of the car after the accident saying it did not appear reflective of a genuine collision especially one that happens within 15 m of the main road. There were several pieces of debris scattered all over the place around the vehicle in what some alleged could be the aftermath of an explosion. This belief was reinforced by the late lawyer’s sister who on Saturday evening told ZimEye, “when we got to the accident scene having driven from Harare, we only saw her car and there was nothing else to suggest that there had been a collision.”
This testimony would later shift as the same source a day later sounded out that she later witnessed fresh pictures of a gonyet (haulage truck) visuallyindicative that there was a genuine collision.
She however insisted that she still believes that the accident was a stitch up job by men in power to end Inviolata’s life.
THE ACCIDENT.
During the ZimEye.com program on Sunday morning, some contributors previously unknown to ZimEye joined in to say they had witnessed the accident and they believe that it was a genuine collision. One of them named, Beauty Joseph provided the below pictures saying the haulage truck had a head on crash with the Toyota RAV4, resulting in the smaller vehicle ending up landed in the bushy area near the road.
Ms Joseph said her findings are supported by the fact that there is a sharp curve in the road and the RAV4 was traveling too fast while approaching the haulage truck. The accident was caused by failure to slow down and improve judgement due to the blind spot, she told ZimEye.
But could this not be the very reason why an assassin would choose such a spot to commit murder?, another contributor told ZimEye.
Ms Joseph told ZimEye when they arrived at the scene, “the truck driver was busy making calls. No one was injured from the truck.” This is not to indicate that he was part of a plot.
WHO COULD WANT TO HURT HER?
The family told ZimEye, beyond the land dispute with the Zimbabwe national Army High Court case which she won in in December, Inviolata had gained a reputation for handling sensitive cases involving men and women in high places.
” Her law firm was now well trusted for handling sensitive cases of high profile people,” another family source told ZimEye.
As in the ZNA case, she represented a female client. (ZimEye is making a follow up investigation on this.)
She had also received a prestigious award for excellent legal services as video footage reveals.
Meanwhile, as a post mortem is underway, mourners are gathered at the family home in Borrowdale, Harare.
Inviolata Dumbutshena’s car after the accidentAdvocate Inviolata Dumbutshena’s car after the accident
CRACKS in the late superstar Oliver Mtukudzi’s family appear to be widening over his music legacy, with his daughter Selmor seemingly on the receiving end of planned attacks.
Although she refuses to speak ill of her stepmother, Daisy, the songstress sheds tears when she speaks of her father. Mentioning her family politics or Daisy’s name makes Selmor uncomfortable and breaks the conversation.
“When it comes to that issue, I can’t comment. All I can talk about is the music,” she told the Daily News on Sunday in an interview last week.
On March 29, Selmor will stage a mammoth gig in honour of her late father at Andy Miller Hall in the capital.
Dubbed “Selmor and Friends”, she will be supported by the original Black Spirits members Never Mpofu and Picky Kasamba among others.
There are unconfirmed claims that the likes of Kasamba have been approached by the rival faction for them to ditch Selmor’s camp.
While Selmor will be at Andy Millar Hall, there will be a counter attraction in South Africa on the same night, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CIJF) where Tuku will also be commemorated.
Tuku was supposed to perform at this event and a promotional video has since been shared on his Tuku Music official social media pages.
The video was done before the superstar’s death and several people have questioned its circulation now, with some seeing it as a plot to scuttle Selmor’s event.
The remaining members of Tuku’s Black Spirits will perform in South Africa on the day. Last month, Daisy was subjected to severe attacks after a statement was shared on their social media trashing “… any events or gatherings that are being held in the name of the Mtukudzi family as we are still grieving”.
This was viewed again as an attack on Selmor who, together with her sister Sandra, performed at a concert in Jo’burg in honour of the late musician.
The statement said the CIJF will be the first tribute concert sanctioned by the Mtukudzi family which again was interpreted as a dig at Selmor’s proposed March 29 Andy Miller Hall gig. Away from all the family drama, Selmor said she is not there to recreate Tuku or fill his shoes but to uphold his legacy.
“As much as I cannot fill and fit into my father’s shoes — considering he was a giant in the music industry — all I want is to make people remember him through me as I perform some of his songs. There is no way I can recreate Tuku,” she said.
She has hailed her relationship with Kasamba and Mpofu who attended her luncheon to promote the forthcoming gig, shedding tears while hugging Picky.
“The relationship is still starting and I hope we will make something concrete in the near future provided things keep going on well,” she said.
On the other hand, Kasamba told the Daily News on Sunday that Selmor needs their experienced hands in her career.
“She really needs that support for her to make it big in life. We are here to help her achieve what she wants to achieve with music,” Kasamba said.
Tuku died on January 23 at a private Harare hospital in the capital after battling a heart ailment, according to the family. He made history by becoming the first musician to be declared a national hero by the government, although he was buried at his rural home in Madziwa. Daily News
Touching, She walked from Mbare to Highlands to make her donation of all her pots and plates.
Own Correspondent|Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa has promised a house and a $1,000 lifetime allowance to the elderly woman who walked to Presbyterian Church in Highlands, Harare, carrying her donations to Cyclone Idai victims.
The house will be built anywhere she wants in Zimbabwe will be solar powered and with flowing, clean water, said Masiyiwa, adding that he admires people who ACT in times of a crisis.
Masiyiwa made the revelations on his official Facebook page when he said: “Gogo came to GIVE! This is the biblical “widow’s mite.
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…”
Masiyiwa made the stunning revelations in his Facebook page article titled: Reflection: A disastrous cyclone hit Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
He said: “May I take a moment to express my deep condolences to all affected by this tragedy. Our Econet and Higher Life teams are doing what we can to help support relief efforts, but a huge rebuilding effort will be required in all the countries affected.
“Cyclone Idai caused not just loss of life, but also loss of livelihoods. March is harvest season and whole crops were wiped out with countless livestock drowned. Floods and winds destroyed businesses, schools, clinics, churches, roads and communications infrastructure. It is a shocking disaster with whole parts of towns in Mozambique under water! National GDP growth will obviously be affected in these countries.
“When I heard of the arriving storm I immediately cancelled my trip and reached out to the type of people I know who have deep empathy. “What can I do to help?” soon became “What can WE do to help?”
Strive Masiyiwa has also been paying for the fuel of all the helicopters that rescued marooned villagers in the eastern highlands during the flood, including Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters.
He said: “Find common cause with people who want to ACT, even if you have differences with them. If a fire is burning at your house will you chase away someone who turns up with a water bowser because you have an existing fight with them?
“After receiving a report of people stuck in trees and on rooftops waiting to be rescued, someone on my team asked: “Does anyone know someone who knows how to rescue people from raging rivers?” Then someone had an idea. “Let’s ask the guys who do white water rafting in Victoria Falls…”
“So we called them. Next they all packed their boats into a big truck and drove to use their skills plucking people from trees and rooftops. The company which organized the operation is called Shearwater Zimbabwe and they even added a helicopter to help with the rescue.”
Econet has also provided millions of dollars in funds as well as critical goods and foodstuffs, medicines and equipment for use by the cyclone victims.
