Farai Dziva|Pressure groups in Masvingo have called on Emmerson Mnangagwa to lift the ban he imposed on a local NGO.

Government has, through a directive from Mnangagwa suspended the operations of a Masvingo based NGO.

Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development has been banned for allegedly funding public protests.

Officials at the organization have confirmed the suspension is with immediate effect.

Community Tolerance and Reconciliation Development Trust is a youth organization that promotes democracy, development and human rights issues.

Farai Dziva|Senior medical officers at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals have accused Health Minister Obadiah Moyo of telling “blue lies to the nation.”

Last week Moyo blamed restrictive measures imposed on Zanu PF officials – for the shortage of equipment in government hospitals.

Moyo made the remarks at a post Cabinet briefing in Harare.

“As you know, sanctions are severely affecting us but we are trying our best to resolve the critical shortage of equipment in our hospitals.

We met with several medical experts who expressed their views on the current state of affairs in hospital and we are looking into it,” said Moyo.

A medical expert at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Dr Mashumba described the situation at the country’s largest health institution as pathetic.

Senior medical personnel at Parirenyatwa also dismissed Moyo’ s claims as cheap grandstanding.

By Own Correspondent- Residents of Kariba town are up in arms with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) over a baboon menace that has continued unabated.

The residents have threatened to approach the Parliament to register their complaints.

In an interview with a local publication, human rights activist John Chirinda of Patsaka Trust said:

“We want to be informed of what [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority] Zimparks has done to reduce baboons population including efforts by Municipality of Kariba.

Who is accountable to damage of properties, homes, windows and doors, where women and children are being terrorised? There is a need to evaluate wildlife damage to the tourism sector.”

Kariba council spokesperson Gabriel Maziofa said:

“Zimparks should use 0,22 firearms in the township which has a small range, but these are hardly available.

Furthermore, there are legal challenges against the use of firearms in human settlements resulting in baboons overrunning the settlements.

This has resulted in stiff competition for food that has seen them break into homes, stealing from people around the townships.”-Newsday

Movement for Democratic Change vice-president Elias Mudzuri says the party should hold an extra-ordinary congress to elect the successor to founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, who died in February last year, before holding its ordinary congress and the structures that elected Tsvangirai in 2014 should elect his successor.

Current MDC president Nelson Chamisa was humiliated at the congress when he lost the post of secretary-general to Douglas Mwonzora though he went to congress with the support of 11 out of the party’s 12 provinces.

The MDC is planning to hold its congress in May but it is still unclear whether members of the Alliance who broke away from the MDC-T necessitating the 2014 congress will be allowed to contest or not.

Mudzuri told the Standard today: “What is overdue in MDC is an extraordinary congress to elect our late president Tsvangirai’s successor. Our ordinary five-year congress is due in October this year, not in May. All structures from the last congress in 2014 are expected to run office until October. Congress delegates from the 2014 structures are the ones who are expected to elect a substantive successor for the late president Tsvangirai at an extraordinary congress.”

Mudzuri said the party congress was being flouted and this could split the party.

“We have adequate internal dispute resolution mechanisms in the party to able to deal with all disputes that may arise. What is now missing in the leadership are enough leaders who are prepared to protect and uphold the people’s leadership manual as laid down in the MDC constitution.  Some of our leaders are now more preoccupied with getting positions of influence and privilege in the party and government while breaking the people’s charter at the same time. Such a scenario, if not addressed quickly, will always lead into disputes’” he said.

“Splits are a natural product of irreconcilable disputes within an organisation, and the MDC Alliance is not exempt. The only way to avoid such splits from happening is for leaders to follow the constitution, and for the people, through their leaders, to speak out when they notice a problem.”

He also said it was pointless for Chamisa to continue to dispute the election result in view of the Constitutional Court decision. Chamisa argues that he won last year’s presidential election but was robbed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but he lost the election challenge case at the Constitutional Court.

Asked whether he thought that a resolution on the election dispute between Chamisa and Mnangagwa was possible, he replied: “It’s not possible, under the constitution of Zimbabwe, to resolve an election dispute that was heard and settled by the Constitutional Court. I believe the decision arrived at was final, and that there is no other legal remedy.”

ZIMBABWE’S two main political parties, the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC have said in separate statements that they have placed teams on the ground to coordinate Cyclone Idai rescue effort as well as receive donations for onward transmission to the victims affected.

In a statement to the media, the ZANU-PF youth league say they have launched a Youth Local Aid Initiative dubbed “Operation Assist Cyclone Idai Victims.”

The statement reads in part: “A disaster has fallen upon our motherland Zimbabwe. Lives have been lost. Some people are still to receive assistance, with some marooned as rivers are impassable as the road infrastructure has not been spared.

“To the people of Manicaland, especially Chimanimani and Chipinge, the ZANU PF League family stands with you in this most trying period. Take heart and know that we grieve with you.

“In light of this most unfortunate and disheartening natural disaster, the ZANU PF Youth League as part of it’s civic and national national service agenda calls has already initiated donation of essential supplies commencing with the leadership. In addition, some of our Youth League members in Manicaland are currently working with the Civil Protection Unit in Manicaland in the rescue operations. This serves a pertinent clarion call for its membership, affiliate organisations and all progressive citizens both local and in the diaspora to donate towards this cause. The League is mobilising for material donations ( Clothes, food, tents, blankets, etc)

“A collection point has been established at the ZANU PF Provincial HQ in Mutare.Those outside Mutare can drop their donations at any nearby ZANU PF Offices. Harare cadres are advised to drop off their donations at the ZANU PF National HQ.

For any other donations kindly get in touch with the following:

Cde Elizabeth Masuku on 0773457067
Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare;

Cde Tendai Chirau: 0712523652
Sec for Administration Youth League; and

Cde Getrude Mutandi 0772925727
National Secretary for Finance.

The MDC also say they have teams on the ground assisting. A statement from the MDC says: “#CycloneIdia command centers Harare Brilliant Dube : 0783 083363 Ngoni Chimbalu: 0775952734 Kuda Matibhiri : 0772864264 Mike Mataruka: 0773010364 Mutare: Mayor Tandi Blessing: 0772593625 Mayor Zivanai Nyakuchena: 0772521780. Contact for assistance in kind.

“These teams are receiving all donations in kind- those clothes, food, blankets you name it. Everything counts.”

MDC vice-president Elias Mudzuri has given the clearest indication yet that he will challenge the main opposition party’s leader Nelson Chamisa at the party’s congress in May.

Mudzuri (EM), who was elbowed out by Chamisa from the helm of the party following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year, told our chief reporter Everson Mushava (TS) in an exclusive interview yesterday that the party’s founding leader left him with the task of reuniting the MDC.

The former Harare mayor and ex-Energy minister said he was ready to contest any position he is nominated for ahead of congress.

However, he believes the MDC urgently needs to convene an extraordinary congress to elect Tsvangirai’s successor using 2014 structures.

Mudzuri also believes Chamisa’s strategy to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy is ill-advised as their election dispute was resolved by the Constitutional Court in August last year.

He is also not happy about the direction the party is taking and say MDC alliance is not keeping Zanu PF on its toes.

TS: You were recently quoted by the state-controlled media allegedly voicing concern that the MDC faced a split if it did not handle the forthcoming congress well. What prompted you to go public about these issues and had they been discussed internally?

EM: We have adequate internal dispute resolution mechanisms in the party to able to deal with all disputes that may arise.

What is now missing in the leadership are enough leaders who are prepared to protect and uphold the people’s leadership manual as laid down in the MDC constitution.

Some of our leaders are now more preoccupied with getting positions of influence and privilege in the party and government while breaking the people’s charter at the same time.

Such a scenario, if not addressed quickly, will always lead into disputes.

Splits are a natural product of irreconcilable disputes within an organisation, and the MDC Alliance is not exempt.

The only way to avoid such splits from happening is for leaders to follow the constitution, and for the people, through their leaders, to speak out when they notice a problem.

The concerns I raised had much to do with party members as they had with ordinary supporters.

There was a worrying rise in unhealthy discourse in public domains like social media, which might have been wittingly or unwittingly sparked by some senior members of our party who should probably have known better.

TS: What do you think the party needs to do to emerge stronger from the congress?

EM: Strength comes from numbers, and the numbers are the people who subscribe to the common vision and ideology of the party.

So to gain more strength, the party needs to refocus its vision and ideological values to attract more numbers.

There is urgent need to recalibrate the opposition in Zimbabwe, and to align it with the people’s changing needs and circumstances.

We need to reset our ideological bearings to resonate with the people.

This way, we will be able to bring more people into the party, and to emerge stronger.

There’s also need for the party and its members to channel all their operations through the constitution, keeping within the tracks of democracy.

We have a duty to right the many wrongs of the last three decades through doing what is right, to exceed where Zanu PF lacked and succeed where they failed.

This is how our party can emerge strong, through the image of democracy and constitutionalism we will be respected and even imitated by other parties.

TS: After Tsvangirai’s death you were engaged in a tussle for the control of the MDC with Chamisa and early this year you were targeted for attending a meeting with Mnangagwa. Have you ever felt isolated and frustrated by those internal conflicts?

EM: I’ve not felt isolated at all, the people have always been clear about what they want.

It’s not possible to be isolated when the party’s structures are fully behind you. I felt a little frustrated when the constitution was not being followed.

When the late Morgan Tsvangirai left for South Africa on his last journey (may his soul rest in peace), he appointed me in front of other standing committee

members to act on his behalf as president of the party until he returned.

When he passed on, after all burial proceedings were done with, I enquired from the party’s organs between congress about the best route to take for the party in view of the fact that VP Chamisa was claiming to have also been appointed acting president by the late president via a tweet.

On realising that a leadership dispute would negatively affect our party, elections were very near, I talked with Dr (Thokozani) Khupe, who had been elected VP from our last congress, to take over the reins of the party and to call for an extraordinary congress that would choose president Tsvangirai’s successor.

The constitution was very clear on what should happen when a president dies or resigns from office, but things didn’t go according to plan.

There was a general attack and purging of some senior party members by some unruly members of the party.

Some of the attackers were rumoured to be from outside the party.

In politics you go through bumpy rides and this was not the first one.

I experienced persecution and violence at the hands of (the former president Robert) Mugabe including an attack at my home.

It gave me greater strength and resolve to fight for what I believe is right.

In fighting for what is right, you are never isolated or alone, there are always others right there with you and urging you on.

My visit to State House was a constitutional obligation according to the standing rules of Parliament.

There was nothing unusual about that visit since my visit was above board. The event was national, it was not a Zanu PF event.

TS: Your name has been mentioned among those who might challenge Chamisa at the May congress. What is your reaction to such speculation?

EM: If nominated to stand for my party, I am more than ready to serve my party and my country.

I am also ready to unite the party. it’s a task that our late icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai left me when we met for the last time at hospital in South Africa.

I have said this before and you have given reason for me to repeat it! I will make a public statement at the right time.

There are processes that must be observed and followed.

I don’t know which position I’ll be nominated for, so I, like everyone else, will have to wait for the nomination process.

TS: How is your relationship with Chamisa following the leadership contest last year?

EM: My relationship with Chamisa is cordial.

TS: ln your opinion, is the MDC Alliance delivering on its 2018 election manifesto, and if not, what do you think is lacking?

EM: If we are delivering anything, we are certainly not doing enough. A lot more should be done.

The problem with what happened after the elections is that we had never budgeted for a loss in the elections, which in my opinion was more easier to win than lose.

Our election promises were as a result biased towards a win (read through our Alliance agreement).

So far I believe as a party we have failed our members and the nation at large.

We are not the government of the day. We are not in power and so there is a limit to what we can deliver through Parliament and councils.

In Parliament we do not enjoy a majority. The urban councils we control have not been spared by the downsliding economy of Zimbabwe.

I, however, think we have to think outside the box and not be handcuffed by excuses. We have to do better and we owe it to Zimbabweans to do better.

TS: Is the MDC Alliance playing its role in keeping the ruling party in check?

EM: My view is we are not playing the proper role of an opposition party and that we lack that patriotic spirit for our country.

Yes, we have our reservations on how the elections were held, but I still think we must be rational and be able to see to it that the welfare of our people takes priority ahead of everything.

People are suffering and there is need for all Zimbabweans to be united and to work together for the good of the nation.

We can lead and serve our people, even without state power if we do our things well.

As I said before, we don’t have a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

It makes our job harder and more challenging, but the job can be done without doubt.

We can pressure Zanu PF in and outside of Parliament.

Our MPs, senators, councillors have to up the ante by upping their game.

We have to be sharp and keep our eyes on the ball at all times, avoiding distracting side shows.

History will judge us harshly if we do not keep Zanu PF in a pressure cooker.

TS: Do you think a resolution on the election dispute between Chamisa and Mnangagwa is possible?

EM: It’s not possible, under the constitution of Zimbabwe, to resolve an election dispute that was heard and settled by the Constitutional Court.

I believe the decision arrived at was final, and that there is no other legal remedy.

TS: In your opinion, why do you think was the reason Chamisa performed better than the MPs and how can it be addressed in future elections?

EM: When we went into the election Zanu PF was greatly divided.

There were many instances where some Zanu PF supporters voted for their preferred MPs in Zanu PF, but on the presidency they voted for VP Chamisa.

Thousands who had been staunch supporters of Robert Mugabe chose to vote for VP Chamisa for president.

TS: What do you think needs to be done with our politics as a country to come out of the economic mess we are in?

EM: We need to redefine our role as the opposition party in Zimbabwe so as to remain relevant to the needs of our people.

We must put the needs of our people and country ahead of our needs as leaders, both in government and in the opposition.

It’s easier to find solutions when there’s comprehensive dialogue among the people about our challenges as a nation.

TS: Chamisa hinted that one of the VPs should be a woman, what is your view regarding that?

EM: That is in line with our constitutional demand of including women in all positions of decision-making. It was a very commendable hint.

TS: Are you happy with how the branch congresses are being held and do you think the party is going to hold an incident-free national elective congress?

EM: An incident-free election is impossible when the constitution is not being followed.

What is overdue in MDC is an extraordinary congress to elect our late president Tsvangirai’s successor.

Our ordinary five-year congress is due in October this year, not in May.

All structures from the last congress in 2014 are expected to run office until October.

Congress delegates from the 2014 structures are the ones who are expected to elect a substantive successor for the late president Tsvangirai at an extraordinary congress.

Correspondent|Retailers have hiked petrol and diesel prices by up to 8 cents per litre, adding to the burden of consumers dealing with record prices and amid rising political pressure on the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government.

The marginal increase comes just two months after government more than doubled the cost of petrol to $3,31 a litre and diesel to $3,11 a litre, sparking violent protests.

A report by the Daily News on Sunday says a survey in Harare showed the price of petrol was hiked to $3,37 a litre, while diesel was raised to $3,19 a litre

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) communications officer Gladman Njanji said the increase has been necessitated by a recent revision in excise duty. At the beginning of the month, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) hiked customs and excise duty by threefold after government gazetted Statutory Instrument 32 of 2019, which legalised RTGS dollars as legal tender.
“These figures take into account the revised excise duty and represent maximum Freight on Board (FOB) prices.

“Operators may however, sell at the prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages,” Njanji said.
With effect from March 11, Zera recommended a fuel maximum pump price of $3,19 and $3,37 per litre for diesel and petrol respectively.

The authority also recommended that with effect from Monday, fuel retailers can charge up to $3.20 for diesel and $3.38 for fuel.
The increase comes at a time when the fuel crisis still persists, with fuel queues having resurfaced in most parts of the country.

Correspondent|MDC vice president Elias Mudzuri says he believes Chamisa’s strategy to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy is ill-advised as their election dispute was resolved by the Constitutional Court in August last year.

“It’s not possible, under the constitution of Zimbabwe, to resolve an election dispute that was heard and settled by the Constitutional Court. I believe the decision arrived at was final, and that there is no other legal remedy,” Mudzuri said in an interview published by the Standard.

Mudzuri accused party leader Nelson Chamisa of not following the party constitution following the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February 2018.

“What is now missing in the (MDC) leadership are enough leaders who are prepared to protect and uphold the people’s leadership manual as laid down in the MDC constitution. Some of our leaders are now more preoccupied with getting positions of influence and privilege in the party and government while breaking the people’s charter at the same time. Such a scenario, if not addressed quickly, will always lead into disputes.

“Splits are a natural product of irreconcilable disputes within an organisation, and the MDC Alliance is not exempt. The only way to avoid such splits from happening is for leaders to follow the constitution, and for the people, through their leaders, to speak out when they notice a problem.

“The concerns I raised had much to do with party members as they had with ordinary supporters. There was a worrying rise in unhealthy discourse in public domains like social media, which might have been wittingly or unwittingly sparked by some senior members of our party who should probably have known better.”

The former Harare mayor also expressed unhappiness over the way Chamisa handled affairs after Tsvangirai’s death.

“(After Tsvangirai’s death) I felt a little frustrated when the constitution was not being followed. When the late Morgan Tsvangirai left for South Africa on his last journey (may his soul rest in peace), he appointed me in front of other standing committee
members to act on his behalf as president of the party until he returned.

“When he passed on, after all burial proceedings were done with, I enquired from the party’s organs between congress about the best route to take for the party in view of the fact that VP Chamisa was claiming to have also been appointed acting president by the late president via a tweet.

“On realising that a leadership dispute would negatively affect our party, elections were very near, I talked with Dr (Thokozani) Khupe, who had been elected VP from our last congress, to take over the reins of the party and to call for an extraordinary congress that would choose president Tsvangirai’s successor.

“The constitution was very clear on what should happen when a president dies or resigns from office, but things didn’t go according to plan. There was a general attack and purging of some senior party members by some unruly members of the party. Some of the attackers were rumoured to be from outside the party.

“In politics you go through bumpy rides and this was not the first one. I experienced persecution and violence at the hands of (the former president Robert) Mugabe including an attack at my home. It gave me greater strength and resolve to fight for what I believe is right.

“In fighting for what is right, you are never isolated or alone, there are always others right there with you and urging you on. My visit to State House was a constitutional obligation according to the standing rules of Parliament. There was nothing unusual about that visit since my visit was above board. The event was national, it was not a Zanu PF event,” Mudzuri said.

He however described his relationship with party president Nelson Chamisa as “cordial”. He said it was commendable that Chamisa has said one of the vice presidency positions must be given to a woman.

On whether he will challenge Chamisa at congress, Mudzuri said: “If nominated to stand for my party, I am more than ready to serve my party and my country. I am also ready to unite the party. it’s a task that our late icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai left me when we met for the last time at hospital in South Africa.

“I have said this before and you have given reason for me to repeat it! I will make a public statement at the right time. There are processes that must be observed and followed. I don’t know which position I’ll be nominated for, so I, like everyone else, will have to wait for the nomination process.”

Mudzuri was quick to point out that what was due in the MDC is an extraordinary congress where only the presidency is vacant, as no congress was ever held following Tsvangirai’s death. He says the main Congress must have been held in October this year.

“What is overdue in MDC is an extraordinary congress to elect our late president Tsvangirai’s successor. Our ordinary five-year congress is due in October this year, not in May. All structures from the last congress in 2014 are expected to run office until October. Congress delegates from the 2014 structures are the ones who are expected to elect a substantive successor for the late president Tsvangirai at an extraordinary congress.”

The MDC will hold its Congress on 24 May, running up to the 26th. Besides Mudzuri, party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is expected to also challenge Chamisa.

War veterans say sanctions are Zimbabwe’s number one enemy and it is high time for Zimbabweans from all walks of life including the opposition MDC party to join hands in the planned march against sanctions imposed by the American government and other western countries.

Addressing war veterans from all the districts of Mashonaland East Province at Chikondoma Stadium in Mtoko, the Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Victor Madematanda challenged MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa to join in the march against sanctions.

“Sanctions are Zimbabwe’s number one enemy. Enemy number two is the MDC Alliance which invited the imposition and extension of sanctions by the American government. So as we march to send a message to the west that we are against these illegal sanctions, I challenge the MDC Alliance and Chamisa to join us in the march against sanctions as they are the ones who invited them,” he said.

Matemadanda is on a nationwide tour to mobilise veterans of the liberation struggle for a planned march against the illegal sanctions.

Matematanda urged the Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership to work in harmony with the veterans of the liberation struggle in the province.

— ZBC

Correspondent|THE Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children programmes manager Maxim Murungweni has said schools should do away with corporal punishment and use other disciplinary methods.

This follows an incident in which 145 girls from Monte Cassino High School in Mashonaland East province on Friday manoeuvred their way out of the school, evading the highly-rated security system at the Catholic institution to walk 7km in soaking rain to report cases of abuse at Macheke Police Station.

“It is a cause for concern that schools continue to administer corporal punishment on children instead of using other forms of disciplining them,” Murungweni said.

“As child rights organisations, we have been advocating for the total abolishment of corporal punishment in all settings — that is school, judiciary and at home — as stipulated in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and also in our country’s constitution.

“We are happy that government is in the process of putting laws that will clearly outlaw the use of corporal punishment.

“However, we need to fully explore and provide adequate information on the other alternative methods of disciplining children.”

Monte Cassino High School is a girls’ learning institution located in Macheke and is popular for its regular 100% pass rates for both O’ and A’ levels.

Even calls to be wary of the ravaging Cyclone Idai, whose effects have since been felt in Mashonaland East, could not deter the 145 girls at Zimbabwe’s top school, Monte Cassino High, from executing their mission.

On Friday, Macheke Police Station was their assembly point as police officers woke up to witness a group of young girls scattered all over the premises.

As early as 4am, the girls manoeuvred their way out of the school, evading the highly-rated security system at the Catholic institution.

Their destination was 7km away and for some it was the first time to walk such a distance.

But with the determination of athletes, the girls pulled through, and in three hours they had arrived at Macheke Police Station to air their grievances.

However, fate and misfortune was on their side, as the young girls passed through a bridge that is usually flooded at this time of the year. The bridge is under construction.

They comprised mainly of Form 4 and 6 students while a lesser number were Form Ones and Threes.

The girls revealed that their unusual protest was triggered by corporal punishment meted on them by teachers and the confiscation of their laptops as punishment.

The girls also complained of sexual harassment and a litany of other allegations.

Mashonaland East acting provincial education director Kennedy Maturure said preliminary investigations had indicated that the school does not have properly laid-out grievance-handling mechanisms as the incident could have been avoided.

The girls wanted to open a case against the teaching staff.

However, it took officials from the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to convince the girls to return to the school.

It was easy, and they were happy that at least they got attention. In response, the school authorities brought buses and trucks to ferry the girls back to school.

Mozambique’s National Institute (INAM) has forecast more rains in several provinces in the country, including Manica which borders Zimbabwe.

Says Mozambican publication Club Of Mozambique:
INAM forecasts heavy rains, severe thunderstorms and strong winds gusts in the provinces of Sofala and Manica and in some districts of the provinces of Tete, Inhambane and Gaza…

INAM forecasts persistent heavy to very heavy rains, winds with strong gusts up to 60 kilometres per hour and severe thunderstorms, due to continue into Thursday, March 21, in all of the above-mentioned areas.Club of Mozambique

Own Correspondent| NORTON member of the House of Assembly Temba Mliswa (INDEPENDENT) has launched a campaign to raise donations to victims of Cyclone Idai which ravaged the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.

To kick off the campaign, Mliswa donated his own US$2,000 to the fund. 

“Nortonians here in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora, let’s unite to make a family contribution to the victims of Cyclone Idai. Companies and individuals kindly send your donations to CBZ Bank, Norton branch, Norton Development Association, Acc# 669-61444950012 Ref: Idai or Ecocash: 0779513164 (Brighton Savanhu),” Mliswa said.

“I’ll start the ball rolling with my donation of USD$2,000.00 We are one! Let’s do this! For more information please get in touch with Brighton on 0775157694/0774133236. As usual accountability will be made available,” he added.

Mliswa urged those who may wish to make any donations in kind to please come through with their valued contribution to his Norton office: 1st Floor Beamoff Complex, Stand 1142, Norton Town Centre (Govans), Norton.

At least 31 deaths have been reported in Zimbabwe since Friday night when the tropical cyclone crossed into Zimbabwe from Mozambique.

Hudrends others are missing, raising fears that the death toll could climb upwards

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is urging motorists to be cautious as the nation braces for the impact of cyclone IDAI in some parts of the country.

The Police appeal follows an incident in Chimanimani on 15 March 2019 where a TripTrans bus which had twelve occupants tried to cross a flooded river near Skyline Area and was swept away.

Nine people survived and are currently seeking shelter at a mountain whilst three others, who include two women and the conductor are missing. The bus is yet to be retrieved or located from the river.

Drivers are strongly advised not to cross flooded rivers, bridges or any other water points inorder to safeguard lives. Motorists should ensure vehicle lights, wipers, brakes and other relevant panels are in perfect condition to curtail chances of colliding with other vehicles in the wet conditions.

Meanwhile, Police are also investigating a Road Traffic Accident which occurred at the 134km peg along Harare-Bulawayo Road near Kadoma at 0545 hours this morning where a CAG bus which had 43 occupants veered off the road and overturned.

All of the occupants were injured, with seven of them being referred to Harare whilst the rest were treated at Kadoma General Hospital

By Own Correspondent| Students, teachers and staff at St Charles Lwanga in Chimanimani are still stuck at the school with 3 dead bodies 3 days after cyclone Idai hit Manicaland, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.

The students at the Catholic run boarding school are reportedly still marooned at the school disconnected from the rest of the country following the destruction of bridges linking the school to other areas.

Said one parent who spoke to ZimEye who is currently in Mutare central business district waiting for her son to be rescued.

“I can imagine the trauma my Form 1 son is going through knowing that they cannot be rescued.

They have told us that they cannot fly and rescue them because of the bad weather. We have been told that they are going to try and rescue them using ground tactics.

We were however optimistic that they would rescue them today because the weather was much better.

Please pray for our children.”

Reported deaths in Zimbabwe from Cyclone Idai have risen sharply to 65, according to Chimanimani East MP, Joshua Sacco.

The state owned Herald has also reported that a ministerial delegation is stuck at Mvumvumvu River bridge which was washed away by floods.

Cyclone Idai has become the worst natural disaster in Zimbabwe in decades..in Chimanimani and Chipinge bridges were washed away and some roads destroyed.

Meanwhile President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned back home from his visit to United Arab Emirates to deal with the cyclone challenges.

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| In a rather shocking revelation of deep seated division in the opposition MDC, Vice President Elias Mudzuri has refused to recognize Nelson Chamisa as the party President referring to him as “VP Chamisa”

In an interview with the weekly The Standard, Mudzuri who was asked why Chamisa performed better than his party parliamentary candidates, the former Harare Mayor constantly referred to his party leader as VP.

Below is an except from the interview…

The Standard: In your opinion, why do you think was the reason Chamisa performed better than the MPs and how can it be addressed in future elections?

Elias Mudzuri: When we went into the election Zanu PF was greatly divided. 

There were many instances where some Zanu PF supporters voted for their preferred MPs in Zanu PF, but on the presidency they voted for VP Chamisa. 

Thousands who had been staunch supporters of Robert Mugabe chose to vote for VP Chamisa for president.

By Own Correspondent| The Canadian Embassy in Zimbabwe has consoled families of those affected by Cyclone Idai.

Said Canada in a tweet:

“The Canadian Embassy in Zimbabwe is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Eastern Zimbabwe caused by Cyclone Idai. Our thoughts are with all those affected and the first responders working tirelessly to aid in th3 rescue effort.”

MDC vice-president Elias Mudzuri has given the clearest indication yet that he will challenge the main opposition party’s leader Nelson Chamisa at the party’s congress in May.

Mudzuri (EM) (pictured right), who was elbowed out by Chamisa from the helm of the party following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year, told our chief reporter Everson Mushava (TS) in an exclusive interview yesterday that the party’s founding leader left him with the task of reuniting the MDC. 

The former Harare mayor and ex-Energy minister said he was ready to contest any position he is nominated for ahead of congress. 

However, he believes the MDC urgently needs to convene an extraordinary congress to elect Tsvangirai’s successor using 2014 structures.

Mudzuri also believes Chamisa’s strategy to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy is ill-advised as their election dispute was resolved by the Constitutional Court in August last year. 

He is also not happy about the direction the party is taking and say MDC alliance is not keeping Zanu PF on its toes. 

TS: You were recently quoted by the state-controlled media allegedly voicing concern that the MDC faced a split if it did not handle the forthcoming congress well. What prompted you to go public about these issues and had they been discussed internally?

EM: We have adequate internal dispute resolution mechanisms in the party to able to deal with all disputes that may arise.

What is now missing in the leadership are enough leaders who are prepared to protect and uphold the people’s leadership manual as laid down in the MDC constitution.

Some of our leaders are now more preoccupied with getting positions of influence and privilege in the party and government while breaking the people’s charter at the same time. 

Such a scenario, if not addressed quickly, will always lead into disputes.

Splits are a natural product of irreconcilable disputes within an organisation, and the MDC Alliance is not exempt.

The only way to avoid such splits from happening is for leaders to follow the constitution, and for the people, through their leaders, to speak out when they notice a problem. 

The concerns I raised had much to do with party members as they had with ordinary supporters.

There was a worrying rise in unhealthy discourse in public domains like social media, which might have been wittingly or unwittingly sparked by some senior members of our party who should probably have known better.

TS: What do you think the party needs to do to emerge stronger from the congress?

EM: Strength comes from numbers, and the numbers are the people who subscribe to the common vision and ideology of the party. 

So to gain more strength, the party needs to refocus its vision and ideological values to attract more numbers.

There is urgent need to recalibrate the opposition in Zimbabwe, and to align it with the people’s changing needs and circumstances.

We need to reset our ideological bearings to resonate with the people.

This way, we will be able to bring more people into the party, and to emerge stronger.

There’s also need for the party and its members to channel all their operations through the constitution, keeping within the tracks of democracy.

We have a duty to right the many wrongs of the last three decades through doing what is right, to exceed where Zanu PF lacked and succeed where they failed.

This is how our party can emerge strong, through the image of democracy and constitutionalism we will be respected and even imitated by other parties.

TS: After Tsvangirai’s death you were engaged in a tussle for the control of the MDC with Chamisa and early this year you were targeted for attending a meeting with Mnangagwa. Have you ever felt isolated and frustrated by those internal conflicts?

EM: I’ve not felt isolated at all, the people have always been clear about what they want.

It’s not possible to be isolated when the party’s structures are fully behind you. I felt a little frustrated when the constitution was not being followed.

When the late Morgan Tsvangirai left for South Africa on his last journey (may his soul rest in peace), he appointed me in front of other standing committee

members to act on his behalf as president of the party until he returned.

When he passed on, after all burial proceedings were done with, I enquired from the party’s organs between congress about the best route to take for the party in view of the fact that VP Chamisa was claiming to have also been appointed acting president by the late president via a tweet.

On realising that a leadership dispute would negatively affect our party, elections were very near, I talked with Dr (Thokozani) Khupe, who had been elected VP from our last congress, to take over the reins of the party and to call for an extraordinary congress that would choose president Tsvangirai’s successor. 

The constitution was very clear on what should happen when a president dies or resigns from office, but things didn’t go according to plan. 

There was a general attack and purging of some senior party members by some unruly members of the party. 

Some of the attackers were rumoured to be from outside the party. 

In politics you go through bumpy rides and this was not the first one. 

I experienced persecution and violence at the hands of (the former president Robert) Mugabe including an attack at my home.

It gave me greater strength and resolve to fight for what I believe is right.

In fighting for what is right, you are never isolated or alone, there are always others right there with you and urging you on.

My visit to State House was a constitutional obligation according to the standing rules of Parliament.

There was nothing unusual about that visit since my visit was above board. The event was national, it was not a Zanu PF event.

TS: Your name has been mentioned among those who might challenge Chamisa at the May congress. What is your reaction to such speculation?

EM: If nominated to stand for my party, I am more than ready to serve my party and my country.

I am also ready to unite the party. it’s a task that our late icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai left me when we met for the last time at hospital in South Africa.

I have said this before and you have given reason for me to repeat it! I will make a public statement at the right time.

There are processes that must be observed and followed.

I don’t know which position I’ll be nominated for, so I, like everyone else, will have to wait for the nomination process.

TS: How is your relationship with Chamisa following the leadership contest last year?

EM: My relationship with Chamisa is cordial.

TS: ln your opinion, is the MDC Alliance delivering on its 2018 election manifesto, and if not, what do you think is lacking?

EM: If we are delivering anything, we are certainly not doing enough. A lot more should be done.

The problem with what happened after the elections is that we had never budgeted for a loss in the elections, which in my opinion was more easier to win than lose.

Our election promises were as a result biased towards a win (read through our Alliance agreement).

So far I believe as a party we have failed our members and the nation at large.

We are not the government of the day. We are not in power and so there is a limit to what we can deliver through Parliament and councils.

In Parliament we do not enjoy a majority. The urban councils we control have not been spared by the downsliding economy of Zimbabwe.

I, however, think we have to think outside the box and not be handcuffed by excuses. We have to do better and we owe it to Zimbabweans to do better.

TS: Is the MDC Alliance playing its role in keeping the ruling party in check?

EM: My view is we are not playing the proper role of an opposition party and that we lack that patriotic spirit for our country.

Yes, we have our reservations on how the elections were held, but I still think we must be rational and be able to see to it that the welfare of our people takes priority ahead of everything.

People are suffering and there is need for all Zimbabweans to be united and to work together for the good of the nation.

We can lead and serve our people, even without state power if we do our things well.

As I said before, we don’t have a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

It makes our job harder and more challenging, but the job can be done without doubt.

We can pressure Zanu PF in and outside of Parliament.

Our MPs, senators, councillors have to up the ante by upping their game.

We have to be sharp and keep our eyes on the ball at all times, avoiding distracting side shows.

History will judge us harshly if we do not keep Zanu PF in a pressure cooker.

TS: Do you think a resolution on the election dispute between Chamisa and Mnangagwa is possible?

EM: It’s not possible, under the constitution of Zimbabwe, to resolve an election dispute that was heard and settled by the Constitutional Court.

I believe the decision arrived at was final, and that there is no other legal remedy.

TS: In your opinion, why do you think was the reason Chamisa performed better than the MPs and how can it be addressed in future elections?

EM: When we went into the election Zanu PF was greatly divided.

There were many instances where some Zanu PF supporters voted for their preferred MPs in Zanu PF, but on the presidency they voted for VP Chamisa.

Thousands who had been staunch supporters of Robert Mugabe chose to vote for VP Chamisa for president.

TS: What do you think needs to be done with our politics as a country to come out of the economic mess we are in?

EM: We need to redefine our role as the opposition party in Zimbabwe so as to remain relevant to the needs of our people.

We must put the needs of our people and country ahead of our needs as leaders, both in government and in the opposition.

It’s easier to find solutions when there’s comprehensive dialogue among the people about our challenges as a nation.

TS: Chamisa hinted that one of the VPs should be a woman, what is your view regarding that?

EM: That is in line with our constitutional demand of including women in all positions of decision-making. It was a very commendable hint.

TS: Are you happy with how the branch congresses are being held and do you think the party is going to hold an incident-free national elective congress?

EM: An incident-free election is impossible when the constitution is not being followed.

What is overdue in MDC is an extraordinary congress to elect our late president Tsvangirai’s successor.

Our ordinary five-year congress is due in October this year, not in May.

All structures from the last congress in 2014 are expected to run office until October.

Congress delegates from the 2014 structures are the ones who are expected to elect a substantive successor for the late president Tsvangirai at an extraordinary congress.

-The Standard

Firebrand Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has attacked whipping system in parliament saying it curtails vibrancy of debates in the house as parliamentarians worry about party positions on different issues arising.

Posting on Twitter today, Mliswa said parliament should be benefiting from the more 20 lawyers from both Zanu PF and MDC.

Mliswa said he has since put before parliament a motion to abolish whipping system to “ allow Zim to benefit from freedom of expression in Parly.”

By Own Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s payments ecosystem faces collapse as players in the sector are failing to pay licensed and maintenance fees to foreign service providers, a report by a local publication has claimed.

In recent weeks, the banking systems, which heavily rely on telecoms infrastructure, have come under strain with services being constantly disrupted.

Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technologies (ZICT) chairman Jacob Mutisi said the country received all its internet bandwidth from outside Zimbabwe.

“All payment systems in Zimbabwe have a foreign link and that foreign link has to be paid for in foreign currency, so (the shortages) are affecting all the payment systems.

“I would not be surprised if ZimSwitch was going to start being affected and Paynet was only recently down,” he said.

“If there is any data transmission or something like that the internet terminates in Europe, the same way with the mobile systems.

“So in the process there are also international links that come into play.”

Paynet, a local electronic payments processing system, was down on March 12 after their licensor suspended services due to non-payment.

This affected the 22 banks it serves and the matter was resolved two days later after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe allocated the company some foreign currency. An intensifying bank note shortage in Zimbabwe has forced the transacting public to adapt to electronic forms of payment.-StandardBusiness

By Own Correspondent- Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu has commended grain millers for investing in the production of wheat as this will reduce foreign currency spent on importing the product.

Speaking at a recent dinner exhibition gala hosted by millers in Bulawayo, Minister Ndlovu said:

“The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has made positive strides to ensure the availability of grains and grain products through various initiatives.

I am also reliably informed that a technical committee to spearhead wheat contract farming for the next three years has been established and this is truly commendable.

I was also informed that the expected output for this initiative will be at least 150 000 metric tonnes of wheat.”

The country is spending close to US$100 million in wheat imports annually.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has cut shot his Abu Dhabi, UAE, trip due to the disaster situation in Zimbabwe caused by Cyclone Idai.

The president left Zimbabwe for the UAE yesterday morning after the cyclone had already entered Zimbabwe.

The cyclone has left at least 31 people dead in Manicaland and over 100 people missing.

It has also left road infrastructure and houses destroyed leaving many people homeless.

Said the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting this morning:

“President Mnangagwa has shortened his visit to the UAE to make sure he is involved directly with the national response by way of relief to victims of cyclone IDAI. President has also incorporated in his schedule a plea for assistance for the cyclone victims.”

By Own Correspondent- An Inyathi man has been handed a death sentenced by a High Court judge after being convicted for killing his wife and her sister using a spear.

A Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva found Amos Nkala (45) of Balanda Village 7 guilty of murder with actual intent and sentenced him to death for each count.

In passing the sentence, Justice Takuva said the accused’s level of cruelty is shocking.

Said the judge:

“You committed two heinous crimes in a horrific manner, your level of cruelty is shocking as you acted with untold brutality.

You used excessive force on two defenceless women and when you finished them off you did not show mercy. They must have suffered excruciating pain and died very painful deaths, a sign that you have no regard for human life.

You should not be allowed among the civilised society. The courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of life.

This kind of conduct cannot be tolerated, two young lives were killed in cold blood, they did not expect you to behave in the manner you did even if there was some provocation as you allege.

You are hereby found guilty of murder with actual intent and sentenced to death for each count.”

Nkala claimed that he acted out of provocation after his wife alleged that he had sexual relations with his mother.

He also said that he provoked by his sister who has insinuated that there was a neighbour who was seeking boyfriends for his wife.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Matabeleland South residents and Zanu Pf stalwarts have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ignoring them during his midweek visit to the province.

The residents, his ruling party members and sections of civil servants quickly blamed Mnangagwa’s failure to attend to them on what they called a “weak” provincial party hierarchy and “sleepy” government top executives.

Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson George Charamba was not picking his mobile phone yesterday when contacted for comment:

Matabeleland South ruling party supporters lashed out at Rabelani Choeni, their provincial head, accusing him of lacking initiatives to move the party into another gear in the face of development challenges in one of Zimbabwe’s least developed provinces.

Said a Zanu Pf member:

“President Mnangagwa came and left without talking to us, the people of the province.

We showed faith in him during elections. It can only be a result of our poor provincial representation, how else can we conclude apart from?

Known tradition is that such visits are used well to endear the president who can go out of his official schedule to address us or even take time to listen to our problems.

We expect the leadership to highlight to him all this and he should not be divorced from us.”

Mnangagwa was in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South’s biggest and Zimbabwe’s most strategic town and port, to commission a $98 million backbone optic fibre link between the country and the world through South Africa.

He arrived and officiated at a function hosted by TelOne, the country’s fixed telephone network provider, and left minutes later.

Departing from the norm, Mnangagwa, who flew into the border town aboard an Airforce of Zimbabwe helicopter that landed amid thick security, went straight into business.

He did not meet with the local leadership, business community or party representatives for a de- brief.-TheStandard

Paul Nyathi|The Ministry of Information has announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on his way back into the country cutting short his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to a ministry statement issued Sunday morning, Mnangagwa is cutting his trip short to attend to the ravaging cyclone Idai situation back home.

Mnangagwa was last night heavily criticised by the opposition MDC for leaving the country while people are dying from the harsh weather condition. The opposition party described him as very uncaring and disrespectful.

Mnangagwa initially sent a condolence message on the deceased through his Twitter page attracting heavy criticism for himself from all sectors of the country and demanding for his urgent return home than speak on social media.

At least 31 people are known to have died so far with thousands displaced and in urgent need for relief efforts.

Below is an update of the cyclone aftermath in Chimanimani as at 2200hrs (Saturday 16th March 2019)

WARD 10 : Chikukwa
No of deaths : 5
Households/houses destroyed :10+

WARD 3 Chaseyama area

3 households destroyed, a number of people injured (full stats not available at the time of writing)

WARD 15. Chimanimani urban
Number of deaths in Ngangu high density area :26
Houses destroyed : 80 *
Bridges destroyed : one at Pondo

WARD 21 Copper area

147 people feared washed away by Risitu river, mainly around copper business centre
Households destroyed is 15+

Nyahode bridge is destroyed.Risitu bridge is also feared destroyed

WARD 17 Biriviri and Charles Luanga Sec Sc
3 people dead.Two school boys and one adult.
Biriviri bridges overflowing

WARD 12 Charleshood and Dombera
15 people marooned at a higher ground, blown away by a landslide.Results unknown.

Mawenje lodge employees marooned in the mountains

WARD 16

Houses destroyed in the following villages: Saziya, Merry waters, Nyabamba, Runhowani

WARD 1 Cashel

Two bridges destroyed, one of them near Chashel ZRP link to Jong we,
Hangani

WARD 8 Nyanyadzi

one death of an adult

RESCUE EFFORTS SO FAR
Lydia Chimonyo is set out a Chimanimani district command centre.Govt and well wishers supply food and tents there.This as far as vehicles can travel on the Wengezi road to Chimanimani due to broken bridges.The command centre is launch led for North eastern and west of Chimanimani district.Those in need of food and shelter and are capable of getting there can do so.

Christina Pr Sch near Steinstroom sec sch on the Jopa copper road, is another district command rescue center.It serves the Risitu valley. This is the furthest that vehicles can access from Jopa to Risitu valley due to destroyed bridges.Those from Risitu who can make for food and tents can do so.

Plans were put in place earlier in the day, to uplift affected people using helicopters, but it could not happen with immediate effect due to continuous rains, mist and winds.Its expected to happen as soon as those vagaries of weather subsidise.

The ZRP sub aqua unity is also being mobilised to reach out unaccessible areas due to burst river banks.

Meanwhile people in affected areas are advised to help each other with food and shelter until rescuing team reach them.

Parliament has been inundated by applications from potential corruption busters willing to join the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), with 130 aspirants having thrown their hats into the ring.

Of these, only 12 names will be forwarded to President Mnangagwa, after which the Head of State and Government will appoint 10 commissioners.

The successful candidates — who will fill the void left after the recent resignation of the Dr Job Wabhira-led team — are expected to add fresh impetus to the war against deep-seated rot in both the public and private sector.

Last month, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO), which is the policy-making body of Parliament, invited nominations for candidates.

Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda last week said there was overwhelming response for the posts.

“We are finalising the full list of names, which will then be published in the media to invite members of the public to air their objections, if any.

“The 130 will be whittled down to 12 names which will be forwarded to President Mnangagwa, where he will choose the commissioners,” said Mr Chokuda.

The CSRO, he added, will meet on Thursday this week to set a date for the public interviews.

Zacc is a constitutional body provided for in Chapter 13 of the country’s supreme law.

Commissioners are expected to have experience in administration, prosecution and criminal investigation.

In essence, prospective commissioners should “be qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Zimbabwe and have been so qualified for at least seven years”.

Also, one must have a minimum of seven years experience as a public accountant or public auditor in this country.

Furthermore, “one must be a person with at least ten years’ experience in the investigation of crime”.

The previous commission managed to investigate several corruption cases involving former Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa and his ex-permanent secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga.

It also arrested former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa over an alleged $400 000 scandal at the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

But the Second Republic, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, who has since declared zero tolerance to corruption, has upped the ante by demanding exhaustive investigations, especially in a society that is plagued by the scourge.

The anti-corruption crusade has led to recent arrests of several high-profile individuals such as former Ministers Supa Mandiwanzira, Samuel Undenge, Saviour Kasukuwere, Walter Mzembi and David Parirenyatwa.

To Page 6

The dragnet has also accounted for Zesa CEO Josh Chifamba, former Zimbabwe Revenue Commission (Zimra) Commissioner-General Gershem Pasi, businessman Wicknell Chivayo, politician Psychology Maziwisa and journalist Oscar Pambuka, among others.

Most of the corruption cases are still pending at the courts.

Other arms of Government have been aligned to the President’s vision.

The judiciary has since opened Anti-Corruption Courts to strengthen the fight against corruption.

A substantive Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has been appointed and is already implementing a restructuring process to strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

So far, the NPA has recruited 317 prosecutors to cover 59 districts countrywide.

A process to reorganise the Asset Seizure Unit, which will be responsible for recovering assets acquired through corrupt means, has begun.

President Mnangagwa has also established a six-member Special Anti-Corruption Unit in his office led by seasoned lawyer and former State prosecutor Mr Tabani Mpofu.

The unit’s mandate is to help investigate corruption cases and make recommendations working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zacc and NPA.

Commissioners that were part of the Dr Job Wabhira-led team include Goodson Nguni, Christine Fundira, Denford Chirindo, Cathy Muchechetere, Thandaza Masiye-Moyo, Farai Chinyani, Dr Nanette Silukhuni and Boyana Ndou.

-State Media130

By Own Correspondent- Government has warned schools against the practice of demanding foreign currency from candidates registering for the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) November examinations.

Reports indicate that some schools are rejecting the RTGS dollars and instead demanding that prospective candidates pay using the US dollar.

Primary and Secondary Education minister Professor Paul Mavima said:

“Zimsec does not charge in foreign currency. The schools that charge in foreign currency are those writing Cambridge examinations.

Zimsec itself is not charging US dollars so why would people be charged in foreign currency? This applies even to private schools writing Zimsec.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- A suspected member of a four-man gang that allegedly kidnapped, robbed and brutally killed a Gweru taxi driver in December last year before dumping his body in a dam with his hands and legs tied, has been denied bail.

Calistos Barnabas Sakume (25), of Ruware village in Chiwundura, had through his lawyers sought bail pending trial before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo.

However, Justice Moyo dismissed Sakume’s application and ruled that there was no guarantee that the accused would not abscond if granted bail due to the seriousness of the alleged offence.

it is the state’s case that Sakume allegedly teamed up with his three accomplices, who are still at large, and stabbed Philip Tafadzwa Kuzoraunye with a knife.

The trio tied his hands and legs using cables before throwing him into Zaloba Dam.

Sakume was arrested on December 23 at his rural home while in possession of Kuzoraunye’s car, which he alleged to have bought from one Marunze Chikera.- TheStandard

By Own Correspondent- TelOne has appointed a consultant who will advise the company on the restructuring of its staggering $380 million debt as it seeks to clean its books and attract private capital.

TelOne is among a number of state-owned enterprises and parastatals that have been earmarked for reform as government moves to wean off the entities, which have become a drain on the fiscus.

Some of the state-owned companies will be sold off completely, while others such as TelOne will dispose some equity for capital investment, TelOne Managing Director Cipo Mtasa revealed.

She said:
   
“As you might be aware, we are earmarked for partial privatisation this year.

We are in discussions with our parent (ICT) ministry and the Ministry of Finance and a lot may depend on how the privatisation progresses.

I cannot give specific dates as to when we will finish, but what I can tell you is that we have brought a transactional advisor on board but is yet to be cleared by our ministry.

We have actually completed all the procurement procedures for that.

From now we will be working with the transactional adviser.

The advisor will be tasked with preparing all the detailed financial, technical and legal work required to prepare for partial privatisation.”

Mtasa said last year the company lost at least $10 million due to network vandalism.-TheStandard

By Own Correspondent- Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said Zimbabwe is losing $100 million annually to wheat imports.

Ndlovu attributed this to failure by farmers to produce enough stocks for the country.

Officiating at an exhibition gala organised by the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) in Bulawayo recently, Ndlovu commended millers for venturing into contract wheat farming.

He said:

“The country is spending close to $100 million in wheat imports annually to cater for this deficit.

A study in 2003 on the bad price indicated that there was a huge deficit in terms of wheat production compared to the nation’s annual consumption, where seven months’ wheat supply was to be met through imports, 16 years down the line we are still faced with the same challenges, if not worse.

Command agriculture has shown that as a country we have the capacity to solve our pertinent problems.

Since 2000, Zimbabwe has failed to produce 400 000 metric tonnes of wheat it needs per year. Authorities cite sanctions imposed by the West on its top brass at the turn of the millennium on allegations of misrule and human rights abuse.

By Own Correspondent- Tobacco growers will retain 50 per cent of their sales in United States dollars with the other part being credited into their RTGS$ accounts, a statement by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has confirmed.

The development is a significant increase from the 30 per cent announced by RBZ governor John Mangudya when he presented the Monetary Policy Statement.

A joint statement released on Saturday by the RBZ governor and Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri read in part:

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has put in place measures to ensure that tobacco growers who are going to sell their tobacco during the 2019 marketing season, are paid within the shortest possible time.

Tobacco growers shall be paid 50 per cent, after deduction of the USD loans, in United States dollar, and the proceeds shall be deposited in the growers Nostro FCA bank accounts.

The balance of 50 per cent of the net sale proceeds shall be credited into the grower RTGS$ bank account.”

Small-scale tobacco growers – with two hectares and below of the crop – are entitled to retain sales proceeds in the Nostro FCA for an indefinite period as free funds.

By Own Correspondent- Some school heads are reportedly fattening their pockets with school fees paid by non-formal students.

Enterprising head teachers are getting as much as $2 500 per term.

In 2015 the Ministry of Education introduced the National Non-Formal Education Policy (NFE), which seeks to promote access to education for all.

The policy allows public schools to enrol non-formal students who either hot-sit or use school facilities only when formal students are not using them.

Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Tumisang Thabela said that it was irregular for the school heads to fatten their pockets with fees paid since part of the fees has to cover administrative costs and pay the teachers.

Government will soon dispose Harare Central and Remand Prison in order to raise money to construct two new modern holding facilities at Chikurubi and in Marondera.

Inspection of the holding facilities, by Government experts, have concluded that the complex can no longer be rehabilitated and continues to deteriorate for human habitation.

Authorities intend to leverage the complex’s location in prime urban land, on the periphery of central Harare, to secure a lucrative deal with real estate developers.

It is understood that a deal would be structured to ensure the real estate firm first builds a new remand prison at Chikurubi and an open prison in Marondera, before assuming ownership of the old prison complex.

The medium-security prison facility was first opened in 1910 by white colonial settlers and primarily used to incarcerate blacks and later nationalist politicians.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Government is intent on reforming the prison rehabilitation system and would soon be introducing the concept of community rehabilitation centres.

Community rehabilitation centres are a form of open prisons where certain categories of offenders are offered life skills training during incarceration.

Said the minister: “What we intend to do with the Ministry of Local Government (Public Works and National Housing) is to find mechanisms of working with land developers.

“We have Harare Central and Remand Prison, which was built many years ago and is now located on prime urban land owing to the expansion of the city.

“We believe that the state in which it is in cannot be reconstructed or revamped.

“So, we have been given the go ahead to find a developer, then we will evaluate its fair value which we believe could be quite substantial given that it is now on prime land.

“Once we have agreed with the developer and before we demolish the complex, they will build a new prison for us at Chikurubi and an open prison in Marondera.

“Only then will we demolish the place and move our prisoners to the new structure which will house modern facilities that are in line with international standards.

Minister Ziyambi said the introduction of community prisons was part of an exercise to remodel the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

“Once the requisite Act is enacted, we want to come up with community correctional centres which will basically be open prisons.

“We want to introduce this concept of open prisons were some of our offenders can be taken to concentrate on the correctional aspect and rehabilitation through providing them life skills to enable them easy integration into society when released.

“The community rehabilitation centres would be interactive with society.

“They will be conducting certain training and jobs in conjunction within the communities.

Cabinet recently approved changes to the Prisons Act in order to ensure prisoners are accorded more constitutional rights.

The rights include access to consult a medical practitioner of their choice and at their own expense.

Further, the parole system will be broadened to accommodate all categories of prisoners.

State Media

By Own Correspondent- Deputy Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Vangelis Haritatos said that the government is working on measures to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Some of these measures include irrigation farming and the growing of drought-tolerant crops.

He said:

“We are working on measures to adapt to the potential effects of El Nino.

Climate change is real and its effects need strategic planning so that in future its effects on agriculture are minimally felt.
Irrigation has become the answer to crop production as rain-fed agriculture is no longer sustainable.

We have been providing farmers with drought-tolerant crops such as small grains, short and medium season varieties of maize, and our scientists have also been breeding heat-tolerant crops.

We are also working on irrigation rehabilitation, development and expansion with the assistance of partners.

We want to ensure that we develop 200 hectares of irrigation per every district although this intervention has been affected by a shortage of funds.

The government cannot go it alone, so we have engaged willing partners who are helping us with the requisite financial resources.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The government has spent $3 million on training teachers who will teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools, a senior government official has revealed.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira said the number of STEM teachers was inadequate since only 856 were being produced annually by Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College, Mutare Teachers’ College, Hillside Teachers’ College and universities.

Said Murwira:

“We found out that this number would not be adequate to meet this and satisfy this, so we started on a programme to train Science and Mathematics teachers and these are colleges that previously were not training secondary school teachers — which are Mkoba, Masvingo Teachers’ College and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic.

If we desire industry from our education system, therefore we should give the universities that mandate which we have done.

Because of the above intervention, by 2022, the total number of Science teachers will be 3 003 and Mathematics teachers will be 792 in addition to the total number of 1 660 from the three secondary teachers’ colleges.

The total projected number of Science and Mathematics teachers by 2023 would then be 5 455.”- StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Assemblies Of God Africa Forward In Faith Ministries (ZAOGA) has appealed to its members to contribute towards helping the victims of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.

The notice reads as follows:

To the leaders and saints of Zimbabwe Assemblies Of God Africa Forward In Faith Ministries.

Re: Cyclone Idai Disaster Appeal

Cyclone Idai has hit Chimanimani District with heavy rainfall and violent winds. The rain and heavy rains are ongoing and are expected to continue for three days or so.

Houses, cars and livestock have been swept away and many people are feared dead including our own believers. Others have taken refuge in mountains and high places including some of our churches.

These are without food, clothing, blankets and or any form of livelihood. The situation is very desperate and our intervention and assistance is urgently needed.

On behalf of the servants and apostles of God professor EH Guti and Dr Eunor Guti, we are kindly requesting for your generous assistance in the form of foodstuffs, clothes, blankets and money to alleviate the situation.

The relief response is being done under ZAOGA’s own NGO called EZEKIEL GUTI DEVELOPMENT TRUST (EGUDE).

The notice goes to list the food and non-food items that can be donated, rice, mealie meal, beans, salt, sugar, matemba and cooking oil. Non-food items include clothing, blankets, soap and water containers.

BULAWAYO High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva has described an Inyathi man who struck his wife and sister with a hammer before finishing them off using a metal spear following a rumour of infidelity as “cruel and merciless”.

Amos Nkala (45) of Balanda Village 7, Siganda in Inyathi lured his wife, Simangele Tshuma who was 41 and his sister, Nongazi Nkala aged 39 last year into a kitchen under the pretext that he wanted to discuss allegations that a neighbour was matchmaking boyfriends for his wife during his absence.

However, in a fit of unexplained rage, he armed himself with a hammer and brutally struck his wife and his sister unconscious in full view of his 18-year-old stepdaughter before finishing them off with a spear by stabbing them several times.

He was convicted of murder with actual intent and sentenced to death for each count by Justice Takuva while sitting on circuit in Hwange last week. Justice Takuva described Nkala as a merciless man who had brutally murdered the two defenceless women based on a rumour.

“You committed two heinous crimes in a horrific manner, your level of cruelty is shocking as you acted with untold brutality. You used excessive force on two defenceless women and when you finished them off you did not show mercy. They must have suffered excruciating pain and died very painful deaths, a sign that you have no regard for human life.

“You should not be allowed among the civilised society. The courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of life. This kind of conduct cannot be tolerated, two young lives were killed in cold blood, they did not expect you to behave in the manner you did even if there was some provocation as you allege. You are hereby found guilty of murder with actual intent and sentenced to death for each count,” said Justice Takuva.State media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a State of Disaster in respect to areas in Manicaland province that were affected by Cyclone Idia, which has claimed 31 lives and displaced 200 people, most of them in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

Among the casualties were two pupils and a security officer from St Charles Lwanga High School, and 10 victims from Ngangu Township in Chimanimani, which was the most affected.

More than a 100 people are still missing.
The declaration, which also covers areas likely to be affected by the cyclone, allows the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to support communities and provide relief.

Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga yesterday extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
“On behalf of Government and the nation, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my condolences to the bereaved families affected by this disaster and to wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

“Given this tragic loss of life, the general devastation registered so far and the continuing torrential rains, His Excellency, the President, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has declared a State of Disaster in respect of the affected areas or areas likely to be affected by Cyclone Idai in terms of Subsection (1) of Section 27 of the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06),” he said.

Areas that currently lie in Cyclone Idai path include Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, parts of Masvingo and Midlands provinces.State media

Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived in the UAE yesterday for talks with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan aimed at striking strategic mutually beneficial relations.

Mnangagwa is accompanied by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo and Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, Deputy Chief Secretary (Communications) and Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba and other Government officials.

Minister Moyo yesterday described Mnangagwa’s visit to the UAE as “very important”.

‘‘This is a very important visit by His Excellency on the invitation of his counterpart, the Crown Prince, and it is an invitation which is creating a symbiotic relationship and strategic partnership between the Emirates and Zimbabwe,’’ said Dr Moyo.

“We are going to be discussing different aspects, both the political and diplomatic, and including the various economic areas which are beneficial to both countries. It would be two days of hectic discussions and it will be two days of issues which are going to be decision-oriented and which are going to be implemented without delay,’’ he said.

Mnangagwa is today expected to visit Dubai, which is about 140km from Abu Dhabi.

“As you are aware, here in Abu Dhabi is where the Crown Prince is, who is the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, but the Prime Minister is based in Dubai and therefore, as His Excellency travels to Dubai, he is going to be meeting the Prime Minister. This is going to be a clear-cut area of collaboration.

“Already, His Excellency has accepted the deployment of a nominee of the Emirates as an ambassador to Zimbabwe and you may be aware that His Excellency has approved the deployment of somebody as an ambassador to the Abu Dhabi and to the Emirates,’’ he said.

Minister Moyo said the opening of an embassy in the UAE is strategic.

“It is strategic because it provides other options of survival for Zimbabwe. As you are aware, Zimbabwe is under sanctions and therefore, as we co-operate with the Emirates, this is going to be the basis of this pursuit. This country is a very rich country as you are aware. This is a country which is dependent on oil and gas. It has got quite an excess (of resources) and it is also controlling the global market alternative settlement payment systems, which could be used by Zimbabwe. They are looking at Southern Africa and they are looking at one of the strategic emerging market, which they have identified, and that in Southern Africa, being Zimbabwe, and that is why His Excellency is here,’’ explained Minister Moyo.

The UAE is a major producer of fuel and gas and intends to establish a fuel hub in Southern Africa.

Geographically, Zimbabwe is the heart of the Sadc and a gateway to other regions on the African continent. The country also had plans to construct a second fuel pipeline from Beira to Harare for easy movement of the commodity. Furthermore, the UAE is a major buyer of Zimbabwe’s gold.- state media

RATIDZAI Marasha, widow to the late music legend Biggie Tembo, has been dragged to court for biting her neighbour’s cheek.

Stella Kasusu opened up at Harare Civil Court where she applied for peace order against Ratidzai accusing her of physical abuse.

“She is my neighbour and she once acted as an aunt when she accompanied my daughter to her in-laws.

“She assaulted me when I confronted my other neighbour on an affair with my husband; that is when we fought and Ratidzai ended up biting my cheek.

“I was seriously injured, doctor’s report confirms that and she also struck me with a piece of firewood on my forehead,” she said.

In response, Ratidzai said:

“Your worship, don’t grant her the peace order because she is the one who insulted me saying that my late husband died of a terminal illness and that I was next.

“I fought with her when she was tarnishing my late husband’s image in the community, this is because my husband was a well-known person.

“I am now afraid to go to my farm or to church as she keeps stalking me everywhere and insulting me in public,” she said.

Ratidzai added:

“Chipo is a trouble-maker, she fought with almost everyone in our neighbourhood and Judith can bear me witness.”

Presiding Magistrate Noah Gwatidzo dismissed the application urging both parties to live in peace.

Media Statement By MDC|Doctors are struggling to assist patients with absolutely no support from the government, a cyclone is wrecking havoc in the Eastern parts of the country, old problems such as fuel shortages persist yet Mnangagwa flys out once more.

The MDC condemns this kind of behavior. For someone to enjoy luxury trips on tax payer’s funds shows no respect or care for the citizen.

What kind of person deserts those he purports to lead?

What kind of person leaves behind dying children, sinking homes , washed away bridges and goes on a dish sampling mission in the Middle East.

1. At the bare minimum, the cyclone should have been declared a National disaster. This allows the unlocking of more resources to assist those in need. The reluctant approach adopted by the government is a reflection of negligence.

2. The government must adequately inform citizens with the same intensity that Mnangagwa and his henchmen had when they sought election.

3. State intervention on disaster response should have kicked in by now, on a massive scale.

4. There is a need to establish hotlines for those seeking help and constant updates. At the moment there is no line of communication.

5. In the medium, to long term, the Civil protection unit has to be equipped to be responsive in times of disasters. At the present moment, it is not helpful to citizens – the Battlefields disaster also buttresses this fact.

6. In the meantime, the MDC calls for urgent assistance in the form of tents , food, blankets to the affected families specifically in the Eastern Highlands where houses have been washed away.

Zimbabweans are struggling, Mnangagwa has made it clear that the people’s struggles are not his struggles.

Foreign trips have gobbled a huge chunk of public funds with no return.

Hospitals have no painkillers, linen, blades and even gloves.

The obsession with talking to externals is not bearing any fruit because the fundamentals back at home are not there.

The MDC insists that globetrotting will not help, what is needed is genuine National dialogue to resolve the crises hitting Zimbabwe.

MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, held talks with Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday to review prospects for accelerating bilateral relations.

The two leaders met in Abu Dhabi to discuss mutual opportunities relating to investment, the economy and exchanged views on regional and international affairs, according to Abu Dhabi city state news agency, Wam.

Sheikh Mohamed noted that under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the country is working to grow its relations with the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Mr Mnangagwa praised the UAE for furthering the values of tolerance, inter-faith dialogue and peaceful co-existence among all peoples.

Sheikh Mohamed hosted a dinner banquet in honour of his guest and the accompanying delegation.

Attending the dinner were Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority.

Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi and Lt. General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, also attended.

The Zimbabwean delegation included Sibusiso Busi Moyo Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance, Winston Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, and Philip Valerio Sibanda, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

UAE Media

15 houses have been destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Idai in Zaka under Chief Nhema, Masvingo province.

ZBC News reports that wards 1, 2 and 3 were affected and areas are inaccessible as the bridges along Chiredzi River are flooded and the area has been receiving incessant rainfall.

A Chiwara bus slipped back and plunged into Runde River while trying to cross Chilonga Bridge in Chiredzi. All passengers escaped unhurt.

Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo had four cells’ roofs blown away. According to Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Officer Commanding Masvingo, Assistant Commissioner Social Ndanga said no prisoners escaped.

R

Pindula News

By Own Correspondent- The United States Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe where they discussed issues to do with Zimbabwe’s August 2018 post-election violence, and the need for meaningful political and economic reforms in the country.

In a statement released by the US, the duo also met to discuss their countries’ bi- lateral relations.

Read the statement:

Deputy Secretary Sullivan’s Meeting With Former South African President Motlanthe
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 16, 2019

The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:

On March 14, while in Johannesburg, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to discuss the U.S.-South African bilateral relationship.

The two also discussed President Motlanthe’s role as chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into Zimbabwe’s August 2018 post-election violence, and the need for meaningful political and economic reforms in Zimbabwe.

An apparent WhatsApp conversation between Mutumwma Mawere and Walter Mzembi has been leaked on Twitter. The conversation is about the two individual’s plan to ouster Emmerson Mnangagwa by isolating him regionally and internationally.

A copy of the leaked WhatsApp conversation was posted by the Twitter personality mmatigari.

The authenticity of the leaked WhatsApp conversation has not been independently verified.

[03/13, 21:44] Mutumwa Mawere:Hi

[03/13, 21:45] Walter Mzembi SA No: Good evening Bro

[03/13, 21:46] Mutumwa Mawere:Good evening

[03/13, 21:48] Walter Mzembi SA No: My apologies on today , was in PTA until late , we may have to move our coffee chat to the weekend when it’s all relaxed a bit , what’s your take?

[03/13, 21:48] Mutumwa Mawere:Fine with me

[03/13, 21:48] Mutumwa Mawere:Did you go through the stuff?

[03/13, 21:50] Walter Mzembi SA No: I have been going through the information you sent my summary is a regime change in Harare is part of the solution if not the ultimate solution.

[03/13, 21:51] Mutumwa Mawere: Is there an angle to pursue

[03/13, 21:53] Walter Mzembi SA No: International lobby on property rights and restitution is key. Harare cannot compensate whites for land and improvements, and skip you out of the list. It’s laughable

[03/13, 21:54] Mutumwa Mawere: What about the SA angle? Have you checked with Dewa if he has read the text messages?

[03/13, 21:56] Walter Mzembi SA No: We have to place your issue before the USA in a manner where it becomes topical politically and linked to removal of sanctions. Equally EU. So Dhewa will be key if we package it properly

[03/13, 21:57] Mutumwa Mawere: What about taking Ramaphosa to court in SA?

[03/13, 21:57] Walter Mzembi SA No: Senate Foreign Relations Committee our entry point in USA [03/13, 21:58] Mutumwa Mawere: Should we not separate Ramaphosa from ED first as a strategy [03/13, 21:58] Walter Mzembi SA No: Ramaphosa as our host we need him . We just need to bring Am up to speed with the Zimbabwean question

[03/13, 22:00] Walter Mzembi SA No: He needs to recalibrate regional solidarity

[03/13, 22:00] Mutumwa Mawere: Do you not agree that if he is put to the test in court then he will be forced to take the issue seriously? What do you think of convincing the EFF to take the front end of it?

[03/13, 22:01] Walter Mzembi SA No: As long as you don’t front it yourself the optics have to be right

[03/13, 22:02] Mutumwa Mawere: Have you read the draft affidavit by Miriam?

[03/13, 22:06] Walter Mzembi SA No: This is why I wanted to meet you so run me through some of the intimate details .

[03/13, 22:08] Mutumwa Mawere: Is it possible for you to seek the opinion of your lawyers, Dewa and EFF lawyers on the draft as a starting point so that we can pick their brains

Earlier today, The Herald reported that Walter Mzembi and Mutumwa Mawere are plotting to oust Mnangagwa and that they are roping in the help of Dewa Mavhinga.

oOn behalf of Government and the Nation, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the bereaved families affected by this disaster and to wish speedy recovery, to the injured.

Given the tragic loss of life, the general devastation registered so far and the continuing torrential rains, His Excellency the President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has declared a State of Disaster to respect of the affected areas or areas likely to be affected by Tropical Cyclone ldai in terms of Subsection (1) of Section 27 of the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06).

Accordingly, national and sub-national Civil Protection structures are being instructed to undertake the following priority actions:Support the affected communities giving urgency to search, rescue and evacuation for the marooned/cut-off communities,Conduct rapid needs assessments and render relief accordingly,Continue monitoring and surveillance of the situation, andDevise a comprehensive management strategy to address the entirety of this disaster.

Areas within the Cyclone’s pathway Include Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, parts of Masvingo and Midlands provinces. Tropical Cyclone Icial’s was also expected to affect Harare Metropolitan and the Matebeleland provinces.

Manicaland province has so far suffered the worst brunt of the Cyclone which has resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property and severe damage to roads, bridges and communication infrastructure.

According to statistics at hand , the trail of disaster in the Chimanimani is as follows;

Refresh for more

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has broken the silence and appreciated the bravery of those assisting victims of Cyclone Idai which has since claimed 31 lives in Chipinge and Chimanimani.

Said Mnangagwa:

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by Cyclone Idai. Rescue operations are underway and we are grateful for the bravery of the men and women of the Zimbabwean armed forces who along with our local and international partners are participating in the urgent rescue efforts.”

Correspondent|State media has claimed that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe corruptly paid US$1 million to United States aircraft manufacturing company Boeing officials without following due process, as more “exposure” into alleged corruption shenanigans of former Air Zimbabwe chief operating officer Simba Chikore continues.

Boeing was paid money for the training of Simba Chikore, husband to the only daughter of former President Robert Mugabe and wife Grace, which training never materialised as he was unable to fly the Zimbabwe Airways planes due to the absence of an Air Operators Certificate for the airline.

According to the report, officials from Boeing had become close buddies of the Mugabes and could be seen at some of the family’s private events, implying that the Mugabes were well aware of the deals.

The Zimbabwean team included Chikore and a Captain Chitsike and the Boeing team consisted of the main consultant — Michael Castle, Tim Sikora and Konisha Shetty — all from the Boeing Head Office in Seattle, United States.

“Boeing were paid US$1 030 500 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for their services to help in the restructuring of the national airline,” the Herald reports.

Boeing had a contract with Air Zimbabwe in 2016 but transferred services to Zimbabwe Airways when the latter was controversially constituted as a new alternative, debt-free entity funded by Treasury.

Additionally, Boeing was paid money for the training of Mr Chikore (pictured left), which never materialised as he was unable to fly the Zimbabwe Airways planes due to the absence of an Air Operators Certificate for the airline.

Revealed our source: “The Boeing team was no longer working for Air Zimbabwe but were now working with Zimbabwe Airways even though they were still contractually bound to Air Zimbabwe and had received funds from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to assist in the restructuring of the national airline.

“From March 2017 when the Boeing team were in the country, they would attend state functions and were introduced to the former First Family.”

The Herald is in possession of a picture in which Mr Sikora is seen with the former First Family and the business plan is in the hands of the former president, Robert Mugabe.

The next detail involved Mr Chikore’s abortive training.

Said the source: “Boeing then organised for a chief pilot to be contracted by Zimbabwe Airways. The Chief Pilot was to help Simba Chikore get his certification.

“He was to be paid US$30 000 per month. The conundrum was that Zimbabwe Airways did not have any aircraft delivered yet, but once delivered, the Chief Pilot would fly the B777 with Simba in order for Simba to get his flying hours.

“The only problem was that the airline did not have an AOC (Air Operators Certificate). Ultimately, there was no work for the Chief Pilot to do but was to be paid anyway. The payment was to go to Boeing. Tangible work by Boeing was not evident,” our source said.

Unimpeachable evidence also shows that Mr Chikore bulldozed the (then named) Harare International Airport to build a ticketing office for Zimbabwe Airways.

“They constructed the airport offices without a lease agreement being concluded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ).

“When asked by (property company named) about the rentals, Simba refused saying that he would not pay such amounts for airport property.

“To this day a lease still has not been concluded. The offices are vacant and are not being used.”

The contractors used — and paid — for the airport offices were the same that were building Mr Chikore’s private home in Umwinsdale, Harare.

For all the money that flew around, The Herald has it on good authority that, no statutory payment were made to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, including PAYE and sundry tax remittances from the period of 2017 to date.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of aircraft and other equipment. It is also America’s biggest manufacturing exporter as it also offers defence, space and security systems, and is a service provider of aftermarket support as well as performance-based logistics and training.

FOUR students at St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School in Chimanimani were trapped after a rock boulder loosened and rolled onto a school dormitory.

A statement by the Jesuit Communications of Zimbabwe confirmed the incident.

Two bodies were retrieved by members of the Air Force of Zimbabwe while one was successfully rescued but injured. The fourth student went missing at the Roman Catholic Church-run school, while several others were also injured.

In a statement, the Jesuits Communications said: “A rock rolled from “mountain and hit the dinning hall which collapsed onto a dormitory” Reports are that some students have been rescued but there are fears of loss of life. We pray for the affected.”

The rescue was reportedly delayed due to strong winds as well as a cut-off in communication linkage in the area following the cyclone.

The unfortunate incident happened as Tropical Cyclone Idai continues to wreak havoc in the eastern border district of Zimbabwe. At least 24 people have been confirmed dead, while over 100 are missing following a night of incessant cyclone rains.

Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Unit has run an SMS broadcast on Saturday afternoon. “In case of strong winds, shelter in a house with the strongest roof and close all windows and doors. In case of emergency, dial 112.” —

ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday afternoon issued his first ever statement on the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai.

Mnangagwa who is currently away in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, published the below on his Twitter account: “My thoughts & prayers are with all those affected by Cyclone Idai. Rescue operations are underway & we are grateful for the bravery of the men & women of the Zimbabwean armed forces who, along with our local & international partners, are participating in the urgent rescue efforts.”

Amid several more reported missing with some having been swept away by the floods, at 5pm (Zim time) at least 31 people were reported dead from the effects of the cyclone.

At 5p, ZimEye was made to understand that the army has been deployed for assistance. This was according to the MP for Chimanimani, Jsohua Sacco. But at the time of writing several sources interviewed by ZimEye revealed that there was no military presence in their areas. One source said this was likely due to low clouds and strong winds impeding helicopter traffic.

Efforts to get comment from the authorities were underway.

ZimEye is on Saturday evening interviewing sources currently sheltered near Chimanimani Secondary School. (WATCH THE PROGRAM ON ZIMEYE.COM)

Several bridges were viciously washed away in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

As Mnangagwa is away in the UAE, the acting president is Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

By Patrick Guramatunhu- The trouble with Zanu PF apologists like you Hopewell Chinono is that they are incapable of thinking logically.

“Ultimately the responsibility for health care in Zimbabwe lies with the State, but until the State has fully grasped that reality, we can do what is within our means because the people who are dying are our kith and kin,” you say.

“It is shameful for the rest of the world to watch our health delivery system become a death trap whilst we claim to be an educated nation. 

“In the event that we don’t get a buy in from government, we can come up with other plans that can help save lives. 

“After talking to doctors working at the four major hospitals, it was clear to me that the doctors do not trust the health authorities either, so the best thing will be to get a logistics company to do this for free.”

1. Zimbabwe’s health service did not collapse in the last week or month but has been in decline these last 38 years. If it is the state’s responsibility to provide health care, as you readily admit, and the said state has failed to “fully grasp that reality” in the last 38 years; what makes you believe they will ever do so? 

1. It is the donor community that has carried the burden of Zimbabwe’s health, education, food air and many other areas which would have totally collapse a long time ago. The tragic reality is that the more the outsiders helped the more the Zanu PF government neglected its duty and responsibility. It is a matter of record that the donors sourced and pay for up to 80% of Zimbabwe’s medicine is some areas. Even with the best will in the world there is a limit to what the donors can do especially when the Zimbabwe government authorities are known to seek health care outside the country and waste vast fortunes of luxuries.

1. The suggestion that individual Zimbabweans can take-up the challenge of sourcing and paying for all the nation medical needs is laughable. With unemployment in the country a nauseating 90%, Zimbabweans in the country are in no position to pay for the medicine. And Zimbabweans is the diaspora are already doing their best to keep the nation ticking and will not be able do much more. But even if the people can be mobilised to make the sacrifice, this can only be a short term solution. We need a cure and not just another painkiller!

1. Zimbabwe is in a serious mess with 90% out of work, 3/4 of the population living on US$30 or less a month, with health care and other basic services all but collapse, etc. We know the root cause of the country’s economic problems is the 38 years of corrupt and tyrannical rule by Zanu PF. We know Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF junta rigged last year’s elections to extend their misrule. We can continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend we do not know about the corrupt and tyrannical misrule but must know it is insane especially when the price for our insanity is now human lives.

The idea that the people of Zimbabwe should find other means to finance public services which should otherwise be provided by government through their tax payments is absurd. So why are we paying the tax for?

We have this Zanu PF government that has failed to provide the basic services such as health care and education because it is corrupt and incompetent. It has remained in power regardless of its pathetic performance record only because the party has rigged elections to stay in power. The solution is not for the people to dig deeper into their pockets to fund basic services; this is not sustainable as we can. The solution is to get a competent government.

Zanu PF blatantly rigged last July’s elections and therefore has no mandate to govern. The party must step down to create the political space to allow the implementation of reforms, followed by the holding of free and fair elections. The Zanu PF dictatorship is the elephant in the room, we have pretended not to know it for 38 years, and have paid dearly for our folly. This must now stop.