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.

By Own Correspondent- The death toll from Cyclone Idai has risen to 31, the ministry of Information and Publicity has revealed..

The dead are mostly from the Manicaland towns of Chimanimani and Chipinge where the cyclone has caused massive damage.

The government has discouraged any crossing of flooded rivers.

Said the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting this afternoon:

“Govt wishes to discourage any efforts to cross flooded rivers by individuals. We are receiving tragic reports of some people being swept away. We urge patience as rescue is on its way. Let us not have avoidable loss of human life. We have lost 31 Zimbabweans to Cyclone Idai.”

As the Mozambiqan government reported cyclone idai will dissipate in 24hrs time, the plague had seen 31 conformed deaths at the time of writing.

The death toll was at 31 at 5pm Saturday.

The victims are mostly from the Manicaland towns of Chimanimani and Chipinge where the cyclone has caused massive damage.

The government issued a statement discouraging people from crossing of flooded rivers.

“Govt wishes to discourage any efforts to cross flooded rivers by individuals. We are receiving tragic reports of some people being swept away. We urge patience as rescue is on its way. Let us not have avoidable loss of human life. We have lost 31 Zimbabweans to Cyclone Idai,”
said the Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services.

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights (ZLHR) on Thursday 14 March 2019 filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court challenging government’s decision to suspend the operations of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Trust (COTRAD), a local non-governmental organistaion (NGO).

Government through Masvingo District Administrator (DA) on Monday 11 March 2019 ordered COTRAD to cease operations pending investigation on its registration.

In a letter written to COTRAD, Masvingo District Administrator instructed COTRAD not to carry out any activities “of any kind” in the jurisdiction of Masvingo district pending investigation on the registration and approval issues of the organisation by the DA’s office.

This prompted COTRAD, to engage Denford Halimani of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to file an urgent chamber application in the High Court challenging the DA’s decision to outlaw the NGO’s operations and seeking an order to be allowed to resume full
operations in Masvingo without any interference.

In the application, Halimani argued that the District Administrator is not empowered by any law to suspend or stop COTRAD’s operations as it is not registered as a Private Voluntary Organistaion but as a Trust, created by a Notarial Deed of Donation and Trust, which is registered at the Deeds Registry.

Halimani argued that the order compelling COTRAD, which has been operating in Masvingo province for the past six years, to cease operations had left 5 000 underprivileged people prejudiced and without recourse including the organisation’s eight employees.

COTRAD wants the High Court to reverse the Masvingo District Administrator’s directive to suspend its operations including to be allowed to resume full operations in Masvingo without any interference and for the decision to be declared null and void and of no force and
effect.

VIEW PICTURES BELOW…

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed warnings that the party’s May elective congress was divisive that it could lead to another split.

Chamisa, who cancelled a rally scheduled for Bulawayo at the weekend, heads to Masvingo today where he is expected to drum up support ahead of the crunch congress.

The youthful leader, facing the ultimate test of his political carreer said if anything, the party founded by the late Morgan Tsvangirai would emerge stronger after congress.

“There is jostling for posts within the party ahead of congress. This is not a sign of weakness. Jostling leads to strength, more strength; (that) depends on how you manage the processes. As far as we are concerned, we are developing our movement,” Chamisa said.

Insiders have expressed concern that either Chamisa or party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora could leave the party if one of them lost the presidency.

Mwonzora is reportedly eyeing the presidency and is confident that he will trounce Chamisa for the second time in the internal polls.

“You will see that our congress is going to produce a very credible, stronger and more vibrant movement. This is a people’s movement and people’s struggles cannot be split.

Individuals can choose to exfoliate and pull off, but that is not a split,” Chamisa said.

Mwonzora, on the other hand, said he would remain in the MDC even if he lost at congress, saying he was loyal to the party.

“If I don’t win elections, I will remain loyal to the party. Let me tell you the hierarchy of loyalty is in my mind. I am loyal to the cause, to democracy, justice to fairness. Secondly, I am loyal to the party, and thirdly, I am loyal to the leadership.

In that order, and if our people whom we must respect vote a certain person in, that person deserves my respect, deserves my support and I will support that person for the next five years,” Mwonzora said.

Top MDC leaders including Morgen Komichi, Tendai Biti, Chalton Hwende, Happymore Chidziva, Lynette Karenyi and Welshman Ncube have thrown their weight behind Chamisa ahead of the elective congress.

Meanwhile, MDC Masvingo provincial chairperson James Gumbi confirmed Chamisa’s impending visit today, but declined to shed more light on the purpose of the visit.

“The president is going to have a meeting with Masvingo structures. But it is an internal affair which I cannot share with the media; it is our housekeeping issues,” Gumbi said.

But sources said Chamisa was expected to crack the whip in the faction-riddled province in the wake of serious jockeying for positions ahead of the provincial congress scheduled for next month.

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has called for unity of purpose to contain the effects of cyclone idai whose devastating effects in Manicaland has seen more than 20 people confirmed dead.

Mwonzora who hails from Nyanga said all stakeholders accross the political divide should come together to ameliorate the effects of Idai.

“Manicaland province is currently at the receiving end of Cyclone Idai, Government and all stakeholders across the political divide must unite and ameliorate the effects of Idai. No blame game. Take your neighbors plight as your own plight. We shall prevail,” said Mwonzora is a Twitter post.

Manicaland province is currently at the recieving end of Cyclone Idai. Government and all stakeholders across the political devide must unite and ameliorate the effects of Idai. No blame game.Take your neighbours plight as your own plight. We shall prevail.

— Sen Douglas Mwonzora (@DMwonzora) March 16, 2019

According to ZBC, 24 people have been confirmed dead while 150 are reportedly missing.

A Beitbridge woman (35) who was based in Johannesburg, South Africa, was shot seven times at her house in Cosmos City in a horrific murder which was witnessed by her son (10).

The incident, which has left the Beitbridge community shocked, occurred on Wednesday night.

The motive behind the shooting including the suspect behind it is not known.

South African police spokesperson for Honeydew, Captain Balan Muthan confirmed the murder, saying the woman, identified as Ms Excite Mudau, was declared dead at the scene. He said they have since opened a murder inquest.

“The woman from Zimbabwe was shot in the lower part of the body and she died on the spot. She was sleeping with her son when the suspect stormed into her house and shot her and the boy then rushed outside and notified neighbours who then alerted police,” he said.

“Our detectives are investigating the murder and no arrests have been made so far.”

The body was taken to Hillbrow government mortuary for postmortem.

Relatives who spoke to The Chronicle said they were waiting for police investigations pending repatriation of the body.

A family member who preferred to remain anonymous said they suspected Ms Mudau was shot dead by a lover. “Although the details are scant we suspect the murder could be a crime of passion. We understand the person who shot her is a male with whom she had an altercation earlier. We are, however, waiting for a full update from the police,” said the family member.

The deceased’s friend Ms Rendani Ngulube Mukwevho, who is also based in Johannesburg, said on the fateful day a male visited Ms Mudau’s house at night before an altercation ensued between the two.

“On that particular night my friend was at home with her 10-year-old son when a certain man came and knocked on the door. They then went outside during which they had an altercation. When the deceased went back to her house, the suspect followed her to the bedroom where he shot her seven times on the lower part of the body and she died instantly,” she said.

Cases of Zimbabweans being murdered in the neighbouring country have of late been on the rise.

In August 2017, a Zimbabwean pastor, Reverend Proud Kanyungwe (32) and his wife Belinda Tarisai Mukucha (28) were shot and killed by two armed robbers at their rented home in Scottsville Extension in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal province while their two daughters, one of them aged three years, watched helplessly.

The armed robbers went away with two cellphones and a laptop.

The incident came barely a month after a Bulawayo woman was shot 13 times by unknown suspects while on her way to catch a taxi in Pretoria’s Soshanguve area.

Sikhethiwe Moyo (30) died on the spot.

The suspects took out a cellphone SIM card from her phone and fled. The phone was found next to her body.

-State Media

Netherlands based singer and former Black Spirits member Vimbai Zimuto’s recent nude beach pictures have broken the Internet. While some Zimbabweans have expressed displeasure with the diva for her X-rated pictures, she remarks that: “You haven’t seen anything yet!”

Vimbai, a former backing vocalist of the late music legend and national hero Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi gate-crashed into fame when she recently released a highly sexualised video titled “Hapana Kwaunoenda” which left tongues wagging.

Now she is back again and apparently even more determined to provoke largely conservative Zimbabweans by being unusually “comfortable in my own skin.”RELATED ARTICLES

“This was my first (nude shoot) and my second is in Harare in a week’s time. So I am super excited and looking forward to it,” she said. The photo was captioned: “Being an Africa Woman, taking back the comfort that my ancestors had in their own skin, fearless #lioness soft but prickly #nungu.”

After the uproar of her first nude photo shoot she did last week last week, many obviously thought Vimbai would dump the idea of another nude photo shoot any time soon. But thick-skinned Vimbai, to the shock of many, has promised even more daring photo shoots in Harare this week.

For the singer the controversial nude photo shoots are her way of expressing her art. She regards sexuality as an art.Her numerous detractors, however, disagree. They say there is nothing African and artistic about Vimbai’s nude pictures.

But it would appear sultry Vimbai is not one to be bullied easily.

“There is no immorality in art. Art is expressive in every way possible. Even sex is art. You have to be very expressive to enjoy it,” she insisted in an interview with the Daily News on Sunday.

Vimbai is also not ruffled by people on social media who claim that she is doing the nudes to attract attention.

“Everyone in the world, who does business, is seeking attention. Companies pay big money for advertising, just to get attention. Everyone on social media is seeking attention, you writing this article you want the attention of the readers. That’s how the world goes round,” she said.

The singer, who believes art is there to provoke, says her “supportive family” understands the objectives behind the nude pictures.

“It doesn’t affect me a bit. The more people talk the better, whether positive or negative. That’s the impact of art.

“My family is very supportive, and they know me on a personal level and the person that I am. So my art is my work and they understand it completely,” she added.

Vimbai said the nude pictures will be part of her forthcoming video.

“I am dropping a single end of this month with a story that will be fulfilled by this shoot,” she said. 

-Daily News

Jane Mlambo| Despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa coming out in the open against death sentence, an Inyathi man who struck his wife and sister with a hammer before fatally stabbing them with a spear could have survived if government had quickly scrapped death sentence from its statutes.

Mnangagwa who himself survived death sentence has since his days as Justice minister stood his ground against death sentence.

Amos Nkala (45) of Balanda Village 7, Siganda in Inyathi, summoned his estranged wife, Simangele Tshuma (41) and sister Nongazi Nkala (39) to explain allegations that a neighbour was securing boyfriends for his wife, before bludgeoning them with a hammer.

He then stabbed the unconscious women several times with a spear.

He was convicted of murder with actual intent and sentenced to death for each count by a Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva, while sitting at the Hwange Circuit Court.

Passing his judgment, Justice Takuva described Nkala as a merciless man.

“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,” Justice Takuva said.

Nkala, through his pro deo lawyer, Givemore Mvhiringi of Mvhiringi and Associates, claimed that he acted out of provocation after his wife alleged he had sexual relations with his mother.

Correspondent|A man in Harare took a bath recently in a city centre ditch left open by the city authorities.

The huge ditch, dug at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere streets as part of maintenance was left open with no danger signs and has been like that for a while.

It’s not clear what drove the man to take a bath in broad daylight as traffic and commuters passed by.

The Charles Luwanga school has requested the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to close the school. The request was granted. What's left is to rescue pupils from the school.

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 16, 2019

CAG bus involved in a fatal accident after Kadoma.

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• 

• 

AN Inyathi man who struck his wife and sister with a hammer before fatally stabbing them with a spear, following a rumour of infidelity has been sentenced to death for the double murder.

Amos Nkala (45) of Balanda Village 7, Siganda in Inyathi, summoned his estranged wife, Simangele Tshuma (41) and sister Nongazi Nkala (39) to explain allegations that a neighbour was securing boyfriends for his wife, before bludgeoning them with a hammer.

He then stabbed the unconscious women several times with a spear.

He was convicted of murder with actual intent and sentenced to death for each count by a Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva, while sitting at the Hwange Circuit Court.

Passing his judgment, Justice Takuva described Nkala as a merciless man.

“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,” Justice Takuva said.

Nkala, through his pro deo lawyer, Givemore Mvhiringi of Mvhiringi and Associates, claimed that he acted out of provocation after his wife alleged he had sexual relations with his mother.

Memory Munsaka appeared for the State.

NewsDay

CYCLONE IDAI UPDATES
Number of deaths is confirmed at 24 mainly from Chimanimani East #CycloneIdai

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 16, 2019

By Own Correspondent| Updates by Zimbabwe’s Information Ministry confirm that Chimanimani has been hit hard by Cyclone Idai which has now crossed into Zimbabwe.

Said the ministry this morning:

“Chimanimani has been hit hard. Areas affected include Chimanimani urban, Charleshood Farm, Machongwe, Vhimba and Kopa Growth Point. Haroni River in Ward 12 has burst its banks. Nyahonde River at Kopa business centre has burst. Govt responding

Power disrupted in the Chimanimani area. Some bridges cutting access. Bridge at Pondo Farm has been swept away. Manase Village has also been adversely affected and communication is a challenge

Rescue efforts hampered by darkness but the Airforce of Zimbabwe has been deployed to winch people to safety.”

Under pressure and controversial Manicaland Diocese Anglican Bishop Eric Ruwona has allegedly sought protection from Zanu PF heavyweights after restive congregants demonstrated for his ouster and his faction on allegations of wanton suspension of priests, corruption, maladministration and abuse of church funds amounting to over $2m.

This week irate congregants from three perishes in Mutare urban namely, St Agnes from (Chikanga), and Holy Name (Sakubva), Mufudzi Wakanaka (Dangamvura) handed over their petition outlining their griviances against Ruwona.

Part of the petition in possession of this publication read:

“Following several unresolved Diocesan issues dating as way back as 3rd December 2016, the concerned Anglicans are demanding that Bishop Erick Ruwona relinquish his position as the Bishop of Manicaland with immediate effect.”

The congregant’s grievances allege Ruwona’s misappropriation of Diocesan funds. The funds include $450 000.00 loan from Agribank and $250 000.00 overdraft from Agribank.

In the petition, the congregants allege that Ruwona and his cabal misappropriated $1,098,800.00 school levies collected from September 1 2015 to March 31 2017 among other unverified amounts of school levies collected from April 1 2017 to date.

The congregants also allege that there was an embezzlement of $89 000.00 and $53 000 for Diocesan birthdays.

They raised concern over the non-functioning of the Diocesan Standing Committee and Trustee and the lack of proper communication .

Arbitrary transfers and suspension of clergy and the victimisation of elected church leaders and dissolution of church councils, among others were raised.

In a desperate move to remain in power, Ruwona has approached Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri –Kashiri and Minister of Broadcasting, Media and Information Monica Mutsvangwa for protection.

Mutsvangwa was not immediately available for a comment as she was said to be out of country. Muchinguri was not available for a comment, but,our source revealed that Muchinguri had told Ruwona to back off and carry his cross.

“He has approached Mai Muchinguri and Mai Mutsvangwa for protection and he has said the demonstrating congregants are MDC supporters,” said the source.

“Ruwona must be ashamed of himself because he is a well known MDC supporter himself and those are just the last kicks of a dying horse,” said our source.

Last Sunday, Ruwona ordered the closure of St Agnes Anglican church in Chikanga alleging that it was the main source of problems haunting his leadership.

Congregants had to pray outside the locked church, but the anti- riot police later came and opened the doors for the congregants who completed the service under heavy guard from the police, as Ruwona’s faction had hired thugs to beat up the congregants.

Previously, feuds between supporters and non-supporters of Ruwona have broken out tearing the fragile diocese apart.

Worshippers have also appealed to the Zambia based Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, Archbishop Albert Chama and the Episcopal Synod of the Anglican Church to intervene in the matter on their behalf, but, surprisingly, Chama has failed to act, giving speculation that he was involved in the scandals.

The congregants have also complained of Portia Magada whom they allege to have taken charge of the church.

“She has virtually taken over the control of the church and congregants have been raising concerns over this but, Ruwona has been protecting her,” said the congregants.

Contacted for a comment, Ruwona, referred all questions to Ashel Mutungura who is Anglican Diocese of Manicaland spokesperson.

Mutungura described the disgruntled congregants at St Agnes Church as people belonging to erstwhile former Bishop Elson Jakazi who were bent to cause confusion in the church.

Jakazi is a former bishop of the church but was fired by the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) for misconduct.

A protracted court battle ensued between Jakazi and the CPCA resulting in his ouster by the courts.

“Those calling for the ouster of Bishop’s removal are Jakazi people. They have refused to join the church and they are causing confusion.

These are divisive people who do not even pay tithes but are good at talking and causing confusion.

“They do not know the church rules and regulations. They are just ignorant of the church laws and power hungry. It is clearly stated in the Acts of the Diocese,” he said.

“Congregants know the correct channels of expressing their unhappiness. Those with concerns should come forward and present them with proper procedures,” Mtungura said.

Morning Post

By Own Correspondent| MDC organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, has revealed that his party will finalise restructuring its branches, as well as reducing the party’s administrative provinces from 12 to 10.

Chibaya said the party will restructure its wards next week after completing the configuration of its branches tomorrow.

Said Chibaya:

“We are finalising the restructuring of our branches on Sunday (tomorrow) and after that we move on to wards, districts and finally provinces.

Everything is moving on well and I am sure we will complete all the processes ahead of the main congress to be held in May. At the moment, there are no glitches. In our process, we encourage consensus between nominated parties and proceed to elections if there is no agreement.”Newsday

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left Zimbabwe for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In his absence Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga is the Acting President.

Yesterday the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting said Mnangagwa was going to Abu Dhabi for an official state visit.

However, Jonathan Moyo claimed that Mnangagwa is seeking financial assistance.

Jane Mlambo| With Zimbabwe choking due to shortage of drugs in public hospitals and the Cyclone Idai currently ravaging communities in Manicaland and Mashonaland East and Central, former Education minister David Coltart has questioned the wisdom of President Emmerson Mnangagwa leaving for Abu Dhabi on official visit.

Coltart expressed worry that Mnangagwa will likely use his expensive and luxurious hired plane at the expense of cheaper means and save money for drugs and emergency response to floods and disaster currently being experienced in Chipinge and Chimanimani.

Mr Mnangagwa leaves on another jaunt today to Abu Dhabi. We will note how he travels. Will it be on yet another obscenely expensive & luxurious hired plane or will he try to save money by flying more modestly? Is this best use of forex given the drugs shortage & #Idai flooding?

— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) March 16, 2019

Cyclone Idai has hit Chimanimani, destroying and sweeping away over 10 houses at Ngangu high density suburb last night.

Rusitu Valley is also bearing the brunt of the cyclone which is expected to continue over the weekend and also affect Masvingo, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces.

Eye witnesses said heavy rains erupted from mountains in Chimanimani, sweeping away houses and in the process leaving huge gullies.

The desperate eye witnesses said the situation needs an urgent intervention, adding that the extent of destruction can only be fully established later in the day as the incident occurred around midnight Friday to early hours Saturday.

Two eye witnesses Munyaradzi Chinoda and Ellias Simango said it is difficult to determine the level of destruction but a number of houses at the local high density suburb have been swept away.

Some roads linking the Ngangu high density suburb and Chipinge town have been swept away, while people whose houses have been affected have sought refuge at the local shopping centre and nearby houses.

Zbc News online

BULAWAYO songbird Sandra “Sandy” Ndebele took to social media to announce that she has embarked on a programme to shed off excess weight in preparation for the launch of her album and a whirlwind tour.

Sandy also revealed that she would be doing this as part of a health check programme as she adopts a new lifestyle.

“A weight loss journey has begun; watch the space, Woza 2019. Siyabangena #mummysgoals,” she said on her Facebook page.

In a follow-up interview with NewsDay Weekender, Sandy said she easily gets tired so she needed to lose weight in preparation for her tour.

“This body now easily gets tired and I am doing this for my health. I am short and this shows I am obese. It is also good to exercise as one will look good and younger,” she said.

“I am also in preparation for my album launch next year, for which I will embark on tours. I started exercising at the beginning of this year and I’ve lost 4kg and my target is to attain 67kg. I am on a weight loss diet and I have a trainer.”

Ndebele said she feared her bums would become much heavier in old age.

“Exercising will become my lifestyle and I will not give up on it. When I am now a granny, I fear my bums will have a bearing on me, as they will be heavier. I fear I may also suffer from back aches,” Sandy added. 

-Newsday

THE untenable situation prevailing at public hospitals continues to unfold with reports that post-theatre patients have to bear immense pain in the absence of painkillers, while pathologists at times failed to perform autopsies because of the shortage of gloves.

Relatives have had to endure, not only the grief of losing their loved ones, but the long wait for the autopsies to be done.

Facilities like Harare Central Hospital have no ventilators which are used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to assist people in breathing when they are unable to do so or during operations.

According to senior doctors, an 18-year-old girl whose tummy was full of puss recently died when she could not be operated on at the hospital because there was no ventilator and efforts to transfer her to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals were futile because the institution had no space for her.

Gynaecological oncologist Bothwell Guzha on Wednesday told Health minister Obadiah Moyo during a protest staged by the senior doctors at Parirenyatwa that her death was a sad reminder of how ill-equipped the hospitals were.

“I couldn’t have the patient here because all four ICU beds were occupied, the girl demised. I also lost another 18-year-old girl who had cancer of the ovary. She stayed in hospital for five weeks I could not get theatre time and an ICU bed to operate on that young girl. She died,” Guzha said brokenly.

“I work in the gynaecological cancer unit; we do not have cancer drugs. They are coming to the tertiary institution to be treated, they go away and I don’t know where they are going. They are just going home to die.” 

Guzha said he feels helpless when he examines patients and makes a diagnosis, but cannot proceed with further tests because the patients have no money for the mandatory fees.

“I see patients in the gynae out-patients. I do an examination as I am trained to do and I see a lesion there I can do a biopsy because the patient has to go and pay $25and the patient does not have the money so they go home and come back after three months,” he said.

Guzha charged that the hospital is being run like a district hospital. He also complained about the few nurses available to care for the admitted patients.

“The government allowed nurses to work for three days. (One day) I went to the ward after an operation and I realised that three of my patients had received a single pain injectionand I asked the sister why this patient had not been given and they told me that there were only two nursesthat were attending to 45 patients,” he said.

“The situation is not workable. We are now sick and tired of these two-week solutions.” 

Harare Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Christopher Pasi said they had been experiencing challenges with their ventilators.

“We had challenges for a week or so, but now we have managed to get two to function and expect more to be resuscitated,” Pasi said.

Following these revelations by senior doctors, health stakeholders and ordinary Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to the rot in the public hospitals.

International cricketer and former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor tweeted, saying his employee had lost his new-born baby who was only three days old.

In an impassioned statement, Taylor said lack of resources at public health facilities was costing lives.

“Let us get out priorities right for goodness sake. I sincerely hope Dr Mashumba (head of paeds department, who broke down while giving an account on how babies were dying) is rewarded,” he said.

Community Working Group on Health director Itai Rusike said health sector financing should be revisited.

“If the country’s National Budget cannot adequately fund health, then there is need to find other innovative health financing strategies to domestically fund this important sector. This brings us to the issue of the health levy, which must be used to purchase medicines and sundries for the smooth running of the country’s health sector,” Rusike said.

“If there are no drugs, equipment and sundries in hospitals; where is the money collected under the health levy going? This fund must be used correctly, transparently and for its intended purpose.”

-Newsday

Paul Nyathi|The opposition MDC has called off its “Thank you rally” which was set for White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Sources within the party’s Bulawayo provincial executive said the rally was called off to allow party structures to proceed with party Branch Assemblies that are taking place over the weekend throughout the country.

According to the sources the party roadmap to the National Congress set for May 24 commands all branches in the country to elect new branch executives by this Sunday and so the rally could not go ahead.

“Branches are the most important structures in the party and so this weekend every party member must be at their branch for the assemblies including President Nelson Chamisa himself,” said the source who requested anonymity as he is not authorised by party protocol to address the media in an official capacity.

Chamisa has been holding countrywide rallies that have attracted huge turnouts besides being an election off peak period.

THE chairman of the Umzingwane Small Scale Miners’ Association, Mr Bhekisisa Mkandla, lost US$30 000, a pistol and other personal documents after they were stolen from his vehicle while he was attending a mining workshop at the Gwanda District Club.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred in Gwanda on Thursday.

He said Mr Mkandla (39) of Esigodini had left his valuables which were in a satchel in his car which was locked.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Mr Mkandla realised that his valuables were missing at around 3PM when he went to his car after the meeting.

“I can confirm that we recorded a case of theft from a motor vehicle which occurred on Thursday at the Gwanda District Club. The complainant Bhekisisa Mkandla who is the chairman of the Umzingwane Small Scale Miners Association lost US$30 000, a pistol and personal documents.

“Mkandla left his valuables in a satchel in his car which was parked within the Gwanda District Club parking area and went for a meeting at around 10AM. When he returned to his vehicle at around 3PM he found the satchel which contained his valuables gone,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele said investigations were underway but no arrests had been made.

He urged members of the public to desist from carrying around large sums of money. He also urged owners of firearms to ensure that they keep them properly secured.

“As police we always urge people to desist from carrying around large sums of money. People should deposit their money in banks and use plastic money as that is safer. By carrying around large sums of money people will be putting their lives at risk and they also risk losing their hard earned cash.

“Members of the public who own firearms are urged to ensure they are properly secured at all times. A firearm should never be left unattended. When carrying it around it should be within arm’s reach or it should be left in a gun cabinet which is properly secure. In this case this pistol could now be in the wrong hands,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

Sources close to investigations said after realising that he had lost property, Mr Mkandla collapsed and was rushed to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was treated and discharged. He reportedly raised the money from selling gold.

State Media

First of all, we would like to APOLOGIZE for publishing an article earlier on which said that DStv was banning South African-registered Accounts (SRA) of customers who are in Zimbabwe. DSTV never said what was written in that document. In fact, DSTV (be it Multichoice or DSTV South Africa) hasn’t said anything at all of that nature.

However, the origins of that fake document is of significant interest. The story is mixed with fraud, conspiracy, and incompetence on the part of some local DSTV installers (agents) and DStv South Africa. As a matter of fact, that document is ‘alleged’ to have been forged by some DSTV installer (or many DSTV installers).

What’s been happening

Apparently, there were some DStv subscribers in Zimbabwe with South African-registered Accounts (SRA) SRAs that were paying half-price to watch any DSTV bouquet since last year. Sweet deal for customers. This was made possible through the exploitation (or manipulation) of DSTV South Africa’s subscription system.  And of course, DStv installers were part of the syndicate to make this fraud an overnight success.  A bouquet that should have cost you R 120, you’d pay just R 60 to access that bouquet when you subscribed via some shady installers.

Installers were using a very simple technique to ‘trick’ DSTV’s subscription system. When SRAs initially get registered, they get 2 weeks of watching DStv for free. So if your DSTV SRA is deregistered and the ownership is transferred, then DStv’s subscription system deemed the decoder as a new account holder hence you’d get the 2-weeks freebie. Accordingly, the DSTV installers exploited this loophole by switching customers’ accounts between deregistration and reregistration them- and the shady installer pocketed those half-prices you gave them to pay your half-priced subscription. As easy as that.

Unbeknownst to customers was that this cycle of deregistration and reregistration was making them accumulate debts with DSTV. The debts were incurred as result of the accumulation of reconnection fees which DTSV says the account holder should pay “if services have been disconnected due to non-payment or late payment”.

The drama starts

It so happened that DSTV found out about this trick/fraud and it decided to reconfigure its system. Therefore on Monday (this week) its subscription system finally closed that loophole. The shady installers who were involved in this shady deal started to feel pressure from subscribers who were paying those half-prices. But above all, they started to feel pressure from customers who, having called DSTV South Africa, were told that they were owing DStv hundreds of Rands.

Guess what the ‘smart guys’ (the shady DStv installers/agents) did to cool down the pressure they were getting from DStv subscribers (who they were dealing with)? They sat on their computer and started to design and write a memo addressed to Installers saying that DSTV South Africa was shutting down South African registered decoders/accounts (SRAs). And they started to circulate that document on social media.

Way forward

I feel sorry for customers who were duped by their trusted installers. Now they owe DStv hundreds of Rands. The sad news is that there is nothing you can do about it because DStv doesn’t endorse the use of SRAs with people outside South Africa. Even if you go to Multichoice Zimbabwe, it won’t help because it’s illegal to have an SRA when you are in Zimbabwe. Evidently, you cant seek recourse anywhere. Therefore you just have to take the hit and honor your Dstv debt.

Fingaz

The MDC notes with great concern the fact that cyclone Idai is heading towards Zimbabwe through Manicaland province to Harare.

The latest data shows it will be characterised by water, floods and winds of around 60 – 80 km. So far cyclone Idai has claimed 111 lives in both Mozambique and Malawi.

As the MDC, we mourn with our brothers and sisters in both Mozambique and Malawi who have lost their loved ones, properties and livelihoods.

The MDC calls upon the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to inform the nation on how prepared we are for this disaster.

We are asking for a clear plan which informs the nation on how people in low lying areas will be moved to higher ground, what we are doing as a nation to avoid any deaths due to this cyclone and how ready the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to intervene with a rescue plan when the need arises.

The MDC demands that the government informs the citizens in all those areas that are going to be affected by the cyclone on what they are supposed to do to survive this cyclone.

This is urgent and it should be done now before it is too late.

The government must inform the nation on our disaster preparedness as a nation as well as informing the nation on what measures the country is putting in place to mitigate on the effects of climate change given the impact that is now a yearly recurrence.

The MDC is asking the government to be proactive instead of reactive in times like these.

MDC – Defining a new course for Zimbabwe

Jacob Mafume
National Spokesperson

Jane Mlambo| According to unconfirmed reports, at least three people have died in Chimanimani’s St Charles Lwanga Seminary due to Cyclone Idai.

A government source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the deaths were caused by a rock boulder which collapsed early this morning.

“At St Charles Lwanga Seminary, Chimanimani, a rock boulder has claimed lives. At least 3 deaths in Chimanimani District to date,” said the source.

In Chipinge, a teacher’s house was blown off yesterday while most rivers are reported to be overflowing posing a serious threat to villagers.

More updates following…

TROPICAL Cyclone Idai has ravaged the eastern border city of Mutare, blowing off roofing sheets and damaging both trees and vehicles in its wake. Idai already been named the deadliest weather disaster of 2019 throughout the whole world, with 122 deaths as at Friday.

The Cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across the whole country between today and Sunday, according to weather forecasts.

Weather experts at NASA have forecast that Idai will bring highly destructive winds and heavy rains of 1 – 2 feet as it pushes west at about 12 kmh towards Zimbabwe through Friday night.  

Idai will likely die on Friday night over the high terrain along the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, but its remnants will generate very heavy rain through the weekend.

Idai’s heaviest rains may exceed two feet in the higher terrain along the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, according to recent runs of the HWRF model. Idai’s rains will likely cause catastrophic flooding in some regions.

The disturbance that developed into Idai originated in Mozambique earlier in March, when it caused flooding in northern parts of the country and in neighboring southern Malawi. Cuamba, Mozambique received 11.14” of rain in just 12 hours on March 7. At least 66 were killed by flooding in Mozambique and another 56 lost their lives in Malawi. This makes Idai the deadliest weather disaster so far in 2019, ahead of the 80 people killed in January flooding in Indonesia, according to statistics from insurance broker Aon. Idai’s floods have displaced 100,000 people and injured 688.

Figure 1. Predicted surface winds (colors) at 21Z Thursday (5 pm EDT) March 14, 2019, from the 12Z Thursday run of the HWRF model. The model predicted that Tropical Cyclone Idai would be a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds, making landfall near Beira, Mozambique. The clockwise flow of air around Idai brought a worst-case storm surge at high tide into the funnel-shaped bay on the west side of Beira, thanks to the strong southerly winds in the west eyewall of the storm. Image credit: tropicaltidbits.com.

A storm tide of up to 13 feet above high tide may have occurred

Fortunately, Idai hit during some of the lowest tides of the month. In locations where Idai’s storm surge was 7 feet, the peak water levels would have been near what the normal high tide will bring on March 20, due to the phase of the moon.

Anything over a 7-foot storm surge would have been trouble, and RSMC-La Reunion warned with their 18Z Thursday advisory that Beira could expect a storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters), with a much higher storm surge over 20 feet (6 meters) at the mouth of the Pungwe River, which forms the western boundary of the city. The bay that the river flows into is funnel-shaped and shallow, which very likely allowed a huge storm surge to build up, since the dangerous southern portion of the eyewall moved over it for several hours.

A sea level rise of 1 meter will flood 40% of the town (42.5 square km), including the port and the airport. Beira’s port is the second busiest in the nation, and has long been a major trade point for exports coming in and out of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and other Southern African nations. According to a January article in Aljazeera.com, Beira is steadily sinking, and portions of the city now lie below sea level.

— ReliefWeb

War Veterans Secretary-General, Victor Matemadanda has told MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa to “chill and relax” as he is a beneficiary of former President Robert Mugabe’s dirty and stolen money.

The eccentric war vets supremo claimed that Chamisa has been in contact with Mugabe and has been funded in his quest to remain leader of the country’s largest opposition party.

“Chamisa should relax, he is too speedy, and he needs to ask himself where Mugabe is getting all the money that he is giving him. He should ask himself why Mugabe is funding him.

“If he (Chamisa) was mature enough, he would see that as the opposition, they used to talk about stories of Mugabe stealing money through his travelling expenses. Unbeknown to us, that money was being stolen to fund the opposition and by accepting the money,” said the Defence Deputy Minister.

However, the MDC party has poured cold on the allegations saying Chamisa has never been in contact with Mugabe.

“There hasn’t been any contact or visit between the two, if he had done so, it would have been known because Matemadanda is a security person. So all that is a small talk by people who want to run away from their failures” said the MDC party’s spokesperson, Jacob Mafume.

Mafume told 263chat that Matemadanda needs mental help as he sometimes forgets his national duties while focusing on the opposition.

“Matemadanda should visit a psychiatric hospital sooner than later. He seems to have forgotten who the leader of his party is, he seems to have forgotten that he is part of a government that is failing to provide medicines for hospitals…

“He has abandoned his duty to focus on opposition politics, if anything, he is the one who benefited from Mugabe.

“War vets got money from Mugabe, they got farms and everything from Mugabe and Chamisa has not received anything from Mugabe except probably his vote,” said Mafume.

He further claimed that the war vets leader has not achieved anything despite him having benefitted a lot on a silver platter.

“Matemadanda, for a man of his age, has not achieved anything except being a Deputy like (Deputy Information Minister) Energy Mutodi,” he claimed.

The war vets, despite their latest rant, have been calling for Chamisa to dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country’ economic situation continues to deteriorate.

— 263chat

Villagers in Silobela under Chief Malisa are up in arms with Chief Sigodo who they accuse of hiring thugs to push them out of a community owned mine trust.

So nasty is the dispute that war veterans who for years have benefited from the mine, have threatened to retaliate against Chief Sigodo who they feel has overstepped his authority.

Sigodo last week allegedly unleashed more than a dozen bouncers to assault community members who have claims at Peace Mine.
Peace Mine is a community trust ownership mine where villagers own the mining rights.

Peace Mine operations manager Malanga Nkiwane told B-Metro that the chief hired bouncers from as far as Bulawayo to hold the fort for him.
“Chief Sigodo sent about 20 bouncers who we later learnt were from as far as Bulawayo to force everyone out of this mine.State media

State Media – Former Cabinet ministers Walter Mzembi and Saviour Kasukuwere, believed to be holed up in South Africa, are at the centre of an attempt to push for regime change in Zimbabwe to salvage their waning political fortunes and ward off criminal charges they are facing in Harare.

Mr Kasukuwere posted a statement on his Twitter account in which he made threats of regime change yesterday after a magistrates’ court acceded to an application to have his Nyanga property seized after he skipped bail.

“I said it will be rough, but it is gonna be rougher but thereafter we will have a ZW (Zimbabwe) we all want. This monopoly and idiocy shall be challenged. With or without 2023 it is coming. Tatamba zvakwana,” said Mr Kasukuwere.

Another fugitive former Cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, responded confirming the regime change plan by Mr Kasukuwere.
“Kasukuwere vows to take his fight to Mnangagwa after his property is seized,” said Prof Moyo.State media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Below is a series of LIVE tweets and an interview illustrating why South Africa based female zanu-pf activist Gugulethu Ncube who launched a strip protest at the Union building in Pretoria, is potentially seeking to hurt the reputation of the MDC Vice President Prof. Welshman Ncube, and this without cause. When she approached ZimEye early in 2017, when Gugu had been ignored by every newspaper in South Africa, she presented herself as the professor’s daughter. She also said that she was thus related to the then president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. ZimEye sought to verify her identity and found out that she did not tell the truth when she said that she had obtained a DNA test back in 1985 which resulted in her biological father killing her own mother in a murder suicide incident after discovering that her real father is Welshman Ncube.

On the issue of her having been raped by a South Africa based male NGO worker, Gugu Ncube at the side told ZimEye she was accusing the man just to get a private money settlement. She said this while asking ZimEye not to publish key elements of her allegations.

Below is the one hour long hour interview as well as written responses at the bottom. VIDEO:

Have done that already… I feel it will be unfair to make @Welshman_Ncube endure a public trial answering to a perrenial liar's claims. Gugu's claims are all dramatic, terrestrial and utterly fake. She also made blow £300 on phone calls interviewing her falsehoods. She's a curse https://t.co/eVDhBYiYfZ

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) March 16, 2019

She lied about a DNA test being done on her in 1985, in Bulawayo (impossible because there no such technology anywhere in Africa). She said she was accusing Mark Baffu just to get a pvt money payout. She also made a host of other false allegations incl that there was no interview

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) March 13, 2019

Very sad indeed. Rape is very serious, but serial liars like Gugu Ncube make it difficult for genuine victims to report. https://t.co/XEWfRYcmrw

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) March 13, 2019

Farai Dziva|One of the founder members of the Movement for Democratic Change Lawson Mapfaira popularly known as Dhara Rada has died.

Mapfaira died in Chivi in the early hours of today.

“When you talk of people who contributed to the launch of the party in Masvingo Province you will not miss his name.In 2000 Dhara Rada was one of the members who led the Recruitment Committee.

Mapfaira was a fearless and dedicated leader.Rest in peace Dhara Rada Lawson Mapfaira.

In 2000 he was at Chitungwiza Aquatic Centre at the party’s first Congress of the MDC,” said MDC A official Jeffryson Chitando.

By Dorrothy Moyo| Africa needs to create its own European Union type, Zimbabwe MPs debated on Thursday.

MP after MP spoke in support of the need to abolish border restrictions. Even the likes of Chegutu MP Dexter Nduna who kept talking about abstract subjects like “witchcraft,” were in agreement. (SEE VIDEO).

DEXTER NDUNA: "I will touch on one key issue that we need to discuss on the issue of open Skies that is a declaration, the open Skies policy so that we can transport from one country to the other transport our cargo from one country to the other… to use the Drones the Drones… pic.twitter.com/Uz234zDUl0

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2019

Said Wedza MP David Musabayana, “if you’re going free trade area then those borders are no longer relevant… the other good thing about these free trade areas… we are looking at what other continents have done… if we look at EU they have transformed it into a political bloc…

“EU is the most successful free trade area in the world…. that goes to show that it is important that we go to remove these borders or these tariffs…

“So Africa uniting for Africa you removing barriers will make sure that we create a big market where we want more than 1.2 billion people… why Africa is lagging behind is because of Africa has not been able to manufacture or to industrialize…because there is no individual market… there is no critical market to be able to sustain specific Industries for production but once we United it means we will be able to manufacture at low-cost.”

However, MDC MP Tendai Biti, had a different view and he said, “EU is succeeding not just because it is a free trade area, but because it is a monetary union.”

" @euinzim is succeeding not just because it is a free trade area, but because it is a monetary union", says @BitiTendai WATCH LIVE ON https://t.co/eY98GsdO0a pic.twitter.com/x8JwF0ylx3

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2019

"Ministers violating the Constitution.They are borrowing without parliament approval" @BitiTendai pic.twitter.com/Ip2PVC7s8s

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2019

"Embrace technology, open the skies, utilise the special economic zones and bolster the domestic economic agenda for the African Continental Free Trade Area to make an impact for Zim" Dexter Nduna pic.twitter.com/lVM2XYaxAJ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2019

https://youtu.be/fssazTq7qp4

CLOSE to 150 girls from Monte Cassino Girls High School in Mashonaland East on Friday sneaked out of school and walked over 6km in soaking rain to the nearest police station where they reported sexual abuse by their teachers, among other complaints.

The girls also complained of corporal punishment, a substandard food menu as well as verbal abuse by teachers who include nuns from the Roman Catholic Church which runs the school.

The complaints sheet also included claims that pupils who did not pay for holiday lessons were being punished during the normal course of the term.

The girls walked 6km to the police station, the ZBC reported.

Macheke police invited officials from the district education office to address the pupils on the non-criminal aspects of their complaints. The officials promised to look into the grievances.

Police also told the pupils that investigators were being sent to the school to look into specific criminal allegations.

The determined girls numbering about 150 left their school at 4AM, arriving at the police station just before 6AM in an unprecedented demonstration and show of unity.

School authorities sent the school bus to fetch the pupils, who left the police station just after midday, the ZBC reported.

But before they left the police station, they were addressed by officials from the Ministry of Education as well as police officers.

ZOOMZimbabwe also understands the pupils later on had meetings at the school with Education officials, in which all teachers were ordered out.T

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he grew up aiming to become an airline pilot, but his ambitions changed due to colonial circumstances of the day.

He said this on Friday while interacting with youths at the Zimbabwe Youth Indaba which was organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.

The Minister Kirsty Coventry asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa what he wanted to be when he was a teenager.

The President narrated how his family had problems with the colonial government in rural Midlands under Chief Mapanzure, and they ended up emigrating to Zambia. He said that changed his dreams and he ended up pursuing guerilla warfare against the colonial regime.

The President also said the circumstances led him to become a lawyer although his heart was not into it. He wanted to be a soldier, he said.

He got the youths in stitches when he narrated how he burnt down a lecturer’s house as part of his political activism. He ended up being selected for training in Tanzania and eventually in China, he said.

Watch the video below:

“We must not just imagine the future we want but more importantly roll up our sleeves and put our shoulders to the wheel to realize the future we want,” said the President.

Speaking on the sidelines of the indaba, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry said: “As the minister, I am really excited about this. I have been speaking to many youth groups here and I am glad the youths have been sharing with the President. It is not all about concerns alone; the youths proffered solutions to their concerns and shared them with the President,” she said.

More than 200 youths from all the provinces met and dialogued with the Head of State. Coventry reiterated that the event was apolitical.

“And let me be clear on one aspect. This is not a political youth gathering, it’s totally non-partisan. When we started planning this event, some people were saying it’s a politically-related event, but no! This is a platform organised for youths of Zimbabwe,” she said.

Some of the concerns discussed during the indaba today included youth empowerment, job creation and youth participation in national development.

Vice President Chiwenga as well as Cabinet Ministers and other government leaders attended the events.

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has transferred a number of officers allegedly as part of efforts to “transform the organisation into a people- oriented force.”

In Bulawayo, most of the junior officers at Pumula Police Station were transferred to other stations.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said there was nothing amiss with the new transfers as it was administrative.

“Transfers are an administrative issue which is meant to improve performance in the system and they are also part of a task development which is meant to promote job rotation. Above all, the officers commanding provinces like in this case Bulawayo province have the responsibility of transferring non-commissioned members who would have stayed at a particular station for five years or more,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said from time to time, the ZRP transfers its officers just like any other Government department as a way of staff development.

Asst Comm Nyathi said cops are also transferred so that they do not become too familiar with certain communities.

“We need to consider the experience which one has, the exposure and also the need to develop somebody and this is not peculiar or unique to policing alone.

“Transfers in government circles are meant to improve service delivery which then benefits the community. In our case we do not want somebody to stay at one station for 10 years,” he said.

Recently, the police redeployed senior officers which saw former national police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba being deployed to head the Police Staff College.

State media

Correspondent|Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he grew up aiming to become an airline pilot, but his ambitions changed due to colonial circumstances of the day.

He said this on Friday while interacting with youths at the Zimbabwe Youth Indaba which was organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.

The Minister Kirsty Coventry asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa what he wanted to be when he was a teenager.

The President narrated how his family had problems with the colonial government in rural Midlands under Chief Mapanzure, and they ended up emigrating to Zambia. He said that changed his dreams and he ended up pursuing guerilla warfare against the colonial regime.

The President also said the circumstances led him to become a lawyer although his heart was not into it. He wanted to be a soldier, he said.

He got the youths in stitches when he narrated how he burnt down a lecturer’s house as part of his political activism. He ended up being selected for training in Tanzania and eventually in China, he said.

Watch the video below:

“We must not just imagine the future we want but more importantly roll up our sleeves and put our shoulders to the wheel to realize the future we want,” said the President.

Speaking on the sidelines of the indaba, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry said: “As the minister, I am really excited about this. I have been speaking to many youth groups here and I am glad the youths have been sharing with the President. It is not all about concerns alone; the youths proffered solutions to their concerns and shared them with the President,” she said.

More than 200 youths from all the provinces met and dialogued with the Head of State. Coventry reiterated that the event was apolitical.

“And let me be clear on one aspect. This is not a political youth gathering, it’s totally non-partisan. When we started planning this event, some people were saying it’s a politically-related event, but no! This is a platform organised for youths of Zimbabwe,” she said.

Some of the concerns discussed during the indaba today included youth empowerment, job creation and youth participation in national development.

Vice President Chiwenga as well as Cabinet Ministers and other government leaders attended the events. 

Own Correspondent|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has explained how the “targeted” sanctions imposed by the United States of America on the country affect the financial system.

Local banks’ ability to access foreign lines of credit, as well as to process international payments has been negatively affected.

Said Mangudya: “It’s only a few banks which can take Zimbabwe’s risk. Zimbabwe is under sanctions and the sanctions are in three parts.

“The first one is ZIDERA, which says no one should give Zimbabwe development finance, be it the IMF, the World Bank or the African Development Bank.

“Secondly, there is OFAC, which says that the transactions from Zimbabwe should be scrutinised for compliance risk.

“Third is Zimbabwe’s exclusion from AGOA (the African Growth and Opportunity Act a piece of legislation that was approved by the US Congress in May 2000, whose purpose is to assist the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and to improve economic relations between the United States and the region), which means we do not have market access.

“These three pillars have placed immense constraints on the Zimbabwean economy,” Mangudya said.

US President Donal Trump extended the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by one year.

Trump claimed Zimbabwe’s government continue to pose an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to American foreign policy.

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa Will tomorrow leave the country for United Arab Emirates on yet another ‘likely worthless’ state visit.

Since he took over power, Mnangagwa has been on a global whirlwind visiting countries including South Africa, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan among others but the ordinary person on the street has not seen the results of his globetrotting.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is on record saying Mnangagwa’s foreign visits will not yield results as long as his legitimacy is still in question.

Cde ED for Abu Dhabi, United Emirates‼️

President @edmnangagwa will tomorrow leave for an official State visit to Abu Dhabi, United Emirates. pic.twitter.com/IhJbGfJSdG

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) March 15, 2019

PARIRENYATWA management have ignored an electrical fault which occurred after an inferno engulfed part of the wards last month, forcing the institution to switch off power for the maternity division, a situation which has been blamed for the rise in mortality and accidents in the maternity wards.

Even though the institution successfully runs a Kangaroo ward where mothers of premature babies are monitored as they naturally warm up their babies through cuddling, the absence of power in the maternity department has worsened the situation as babies are being born either deformed or dead.

In emotional plea to government to address the horrific state of affairs at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Pediatrician, Dr Azza Mashumba said the hospital management was busy painting the walls of Mbuya Maternity division while the situation inside the building was grotesque.

“There is no urgency at all, this fire happened on second of February 2019 but they are painting the outside. How is that important, how is that going to help at all. There is just no urgency at all.

“We are trying so hard, we have tried coming up with contingency plans but nothing is moving,” said Dr Mashumba.

In defense however, Parirenyatwa Hospitals Chief Executive Officer, Mr Thomas Zigora said painting of the wall was being done by a well-wisher and they were also looking into solving the electrical fault.

” A well wisher approached saying they want to paint the walls of the Martenity wards. It is not the hospital that’s doing it.

“As for the electrical fault, we are sure very soon it would have normalized as we have already started work on it.”

— Healthtimes

An incident in which gunmen in military gear overpowered security staff of the government-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) in Chiadzwa, Manicaland, and held them hostage before escaping with valuable gemstones at midnight on January 15 this year during the #ShutDownProtests has led to Zimbabwean diamonds being classified as conflict diamonds by the United Nations.

As a result, the 69th plenary meeting of the United Nations (UN) has resolved to include a discussion on whether Zimbabwean diamonds should be classified as conflict gems during the inter-governmental organisation’s 74th general assembly meeting agenda.

The development follows intense lobbying by a grouping of international civil society organisations affiliated to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) urging the UN to review its definition of conflict diamonds in order to encompass Zimbabwe’s gemstones.

The move, if it succeeds, will bar Zimbabwe from trading on the formal international market. This could deal a huge blow to the Zimbabwe government’s plan which is already in motion, where it selected Russian diamond miner Alrosa and China’s Anjin Investments to partner with the state diamond company ZCDC in exploiting the diamonds.

London-listed Vast Resources and Botswana Diamonds have said they are planning to mine diamonds in Marange in partnership with a local community trust.

The Independent newspaper reports that Zimbabwean Centre for Natural Resource Governance (ZCNRG) director Farai Maguwu, who presented the case for Zimbabwe at the plenary meeting in New York last week, urged the UN to classify Zimbabwean gemstones as conflict diamonds on the basis that they were being used to fund military operations in the country.

In a circular to member states last week, the plenary said it noted with concern the continuation of trade in conflict diamonds or blood diamonds on the international market, with serious impact on peace and the safety and security of people in affected countries as well as the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts.

“The plenary acknowledges with great appreciation the important contribution that the European Union, as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2018, has made towards curbing the trade in conflict diamonds, and welcomes the selection of India as the Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2019, the Russian Federation as the vice-chair for 2019 and the chair for 2020 and Botswana as the vice-chair for 2020 and the chair for 2021. The plenary requests the chair of the Kimberley Process to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session a report on the implementation of the Kimberley Process. The session also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session the item entitled: The role of diamonds in fueling conflict,” the circular reads.

The KPCS was founded when southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways of stopping the trade in conflict diamonds and ensure that diamond purchases were not funding violence.

The result was an agreement by the UN, European Union, the governments of 74 countries, the World Diamond Council representing the industry and a number of interest groups such as Global Witness.

They established the KPCS, whereby members are required to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activities and are conflict-free.

This is not the first time Zimbabwe finds itself at the centre of a diamond ban lobby.

Following the rise in the trade of blood diamonds between 2008 and 2009, Zimbabwe was facing a ban from the KPCS, but a meeting in Namibia in October 2009 recommended against the ban. However, international diamond buyers have had to purchase Zimbabwe’s gemstones in secrecy and avoid using the United States dollar in order to by-pass sanctions placed on Zimbabwe by the US.

Besides Zimbabwe, other countries which are likely to be affected by the development are Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela.

— The Independent

Farai Dziva|A Masvingo based NGO Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development has filed an urgent court application challenging its suspension by Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa suspended the operations of the NGO on Monday. Government officials in Masvingo accuse the NGO of funding acts of hooliganism.

Impeccable sources have pointed out that Mnangagwa ordered Masvingo State Minister Ezra Chadzamira to deal with perceived Zanu PF opponents in the area.

“On behalf of Community Tolerance and Development (COTRAD), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has filed an urgent chamber application at High Court challenging government’s decision to suspend the non-governmental organisation’s operations and for it to to be allowed to resume full operations in Masvingo Province without any interference.

Government had on Monday 11 March 2019 ordered COTRAD to cease operations pending some so-called investigations into the organisation’s registration status,” Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights said in a statement.

By Own Correspondent| MDC Secretary for Health and Child Welfare Dr Henry Madzorera has expressed solidarity with striking doctors calling on government to invest in the country’s health delivery system.

He said in a statement:

The health care delivery crisis in Zimbabwe has reached alarming proportions.

As the MDC, we express solidarity with the troubled medical practitioners and the needlessly suffering and dying patients of Zimbabwe.

While our leaders are jetting out daily to receive state of the art health care abroad, ordinary Zimbabweans are dying of easily curable conditions like appendicitis and diabetes in our hospitals for lack of basic medicines and consumables.

Our highly trained health workers are spending their time worrying, working dangerously without equipment, and helplessly overseeing the death of their valued patients without the wherewithal to assist them.

Infinitely more lives are being lost, or permanently disabled (cerebral palsy, etc).

This is the scale of catastrophe confronting us, and it’s completely preventable.

It seems this government sold us a dummy when they showed us tonnes of containers purportedly full of medicines and consumables end of 2018.

Now we know that was a hoax, because the medicines and consumables situation is worse now than it ever was.

The People’s party of Excellence calls upon this military government to take the lives of Zimbabweans seriously and prioritise health care.

The buck stops with the so called president of the nation.

Zimbabwe can’t be open for business if curable disease is decimating the workforce.

Financing health care must therefore be priority number one on the government’s agenda.

Here is some free advice to this failed government: The 2% transaction tax that government is collecting must go to healthcare in total. In addition, portions of other existing taxes like toll gate fees, carbon tax, vehicle license fees, tax on tobacco alcohol, etc, must immediately be channeled to healthcare.

This will immediately take care of this serious headache and the nation can begin to look at other areas of development.

The call for dialogue has already been made, and this crisis magnifies the urgency of dialogue to resolve national issues.

Apart from taking good care of our citizens, Zimbabwe has the potential to be a regional centre of excellence in healthcare.

This requires serious political will, commitment, and a SMART vision.

A healthy nation is a productive nation.

MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe.

Dr Henry Madzorera
MDC Secretary for Health and Child Welfare

“…I said it will be rough, but it’s gonna be rougher but thereafter we will have a ZW we all want. This monopoly and idiocy shall be challenged. With or without,2023 is coming.Tatamba zvakwana!…”

I said it will be rough, but it’s gonna be rougher but thereafter we will have a ZW we all want. This monopoly and idiocy shall be challenged. With or without,2023 is coming.Tatamba zvakwana!

— Saviour Kasukuwere (@Hon_Kasukuwere) March 15, 2019

Farai Dziva|One of the founder members of the Movement for Democratic Change Lawson Mapfaira popularly known as Dhara Rada has died.

Mapfaira died in Chivi in the early hours of today.

“When you talk of people who contributed to the launch of the party in Masvingo Province you will not miss his name.In 2000 Dhara Rada was one of the members who led the Recruitment Committee.

Mapfaira was a fearless and dedicated leader.Rest in peace Dhara Rada Lawson Mapfaira.

In 2000 he was at Chitungwiza Aquatic Centre at the party’s first Congress of the MDC,” said MDC A official Jeffryson Chitando.

By Own Correspondent- Deputy minister of Labour and Social Welfare Lovemore Matuke told parliament that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is yet to review upwards the monthly allowance given to the elderly in Zimbabwe revealing that they are currently getting $25 RTGs bond.

He said this while responding to a question from Zanu-PF Nkayi South Member of Parliament Stars Mathe.

Said Matuke:

“In our Constitution, there is a clause which states that elderly people and young children are the burden of Government.  Government has put in place mechanisms to support such people.  For school going ages, there is BEAM which caters for them.  In our Constituencies we have our structures which recommend for support of the elderly and young ones who are in need. Government is responsible for that burden.  They can even get cash per month and also food aid is supposed to be given to those people.

I urge Members of Parliament in your constituencies to assist Government to identify such people so that they get assistance from Government.  Social Welfare officers will come to your areas to verify the existence of such people and then they get help.  I thank you.

It is the duty of the Government to take care of the elderly.  However, we have economic and financial problems at the moment.  Our funding might not be sufficient like other countries that you have mentioned but in accordance to what we have as a country, the Government is supposed to help the elderly with money.  At the moment they were being given $25 per month.  However it has been noted that the money is too little, it cannot buy anything.  The money is going to be increased so that it can buy something in order to take care of our elderly and young ones as stipulated in our Constitution.”

By Own Correspondent- Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said that the arrest of a suspect only acts as a way of ensuring that they attend trial and it should not be used as a method to investigate a crime.

Ziyambi said this Thursday during a question without notice session at parliament.

He said:

“Arrest is a method of securing the attendance of somebody at trial and it is not supposed to be used as a method to investigate. When somebody is being arrested, there must be reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed and they are ready for trial. That is one of the methods that are used to secure the attendance of that particular person at trial.”

Paul Nyathi|Giant Financial Weekly Newspaper, the Financial Gazette has issued a statement apologising to its readers for publishing a misleading article that DSTV South Africa was working on disconnecting Zimbabwean viewers who are subscribing in South Africa.

The same article was captured and credited to the same media here by ZimEye.com correspondents. The error is regretted.

Below the full statement by the Financial Gazette who originated the article which has also been captured by several other online publications.

“When we first published this article, we wrote that DSTV was switching off customers who were accessing South African accounts from Zimbabwe.

This is not true however. We profusely apologise for carrying that story.

The truth is a bit more complicated and we will publish on that very soon explaining exactly what’s going on.

Yes, accessing South African DSTV content from anywhere outside South Africa is illegal and not permitted by Multichoivce. They just don’t have a way of stopping such pirate accounts from receiving signal.

Again, very sorry for running an inaccurate story. We will give you details soon.

Farai Dziva| Government has, through a directive from Emmerson Mnangagwa suspended the operations of a Masvingo based Non Governmental Organisation (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.

By Own Correspondent-  Deputy minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Douglas Karoro has revealed that all is set for the 2019 tobacco marketing season.

Karoro said TIMB had confirmed that the buyers were ready in terms of cash and floor space and the organisation was only waiting for the announcement of the tobacco auctioning date.

He said this while responding to a question from Zanu Pf’s Wedza North legislator, David Musabayana on progress made towards the commencement of tobacco auctioning.

Said Karoro:

“We visited TIMB offices who are the ones who control the tobacco auctioning to check on the preparedness. They informed us that all is in place. They were waiting for the date of the auctioning to come, including cash to be used to buy the tobacco. According to assessments, the buyers are ready in terms of cash and floor space.

When I say the preparations are at an advanced stage, I am telling the truth.  The issue of vendors who disturb the tobacco farmers when they come to sell their tobacco; we have looked at that and prepared for them.  We even looked at the issue of health and there was a comprehensive inspection that was done on the facilities so that they are able to hold many people who would be coming to sell their tobacco.”