By Own Correspondent- The first batch of students from St Charles Lwanga Boys High School in Chimanimani, who for the past three days have been stuck at their school with dead bodies of two fellow students and a security guard have been safely taken to Chipinge where they are reportedly receiving medical attention, the Information ministry has revealed.

The ministry however, did not state whether all the over 170 students and their teachers had been safely evacuated to Chipinge amid confirmation from some of the parents that their children were yet to be ferried to Chipinge as they were still on their way from Skyline.

Said the Information Ministry in a tweet:

St Charles Lwanga School children are now safely in Chipinge and currently receiving medical attention. pic.twitter.com/Ad9LSC7WhS

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 18, 2019

A parent who spoke to ZimEye however said her son was yet to be taken to Chipinge since they were still walking in the company of their teachers to Chipinge.

“They were not rescued from Skyline as we were told earlier and they have been told to walk back towards Chipinge where they are going to be picked by a bus from an area called Silverstream.

They are yet to be evacuated from Chimanimani.”

The ministry however continued tweeting adding that what the students endured at the hands of Cyclone Idai was very traumatic.

Said the ministry:

There will be a need to ensure these St Charles Luwanga pupils that endured unimaginable trauma get psychological care. What they witnessed and endured will break any adults, let alone children. Let's all unite as we support those who have taken the brunt of #cycloneidai pic.twitter.com/mihEu8GBDA

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 18, 2019

Analysts say the congress is Chamisa’s opportunity to clear the legitimacy issues that has surrounded his presidency since he thrust himself on the party after the death of long-time leader, Morgan Tsvangirai last year.

“It is a foregone conclusion that Chamisa will win as he has shown a lot of political maturity and has united his party members,” said the political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza. “No one has capacity to defeat him as he has proven to be popular with the party.”

Eldred Masunungure, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, agreed with Mandaza saying the political days for Mudzuri and Mwonzora were numbered.

Mudzuri holds the record as one of the successful mayors of Harare, who in 2002 launched a massive anti-corruption crusade against councillors and ministers. He has held several positions in the party, among them organising secretary, until he was appointed vice president. He was entangled in a tussle with Chamisa for the party leadership following the death of Tsvangirai.

Mudzuri lost the battle to Chamisa after the 41-year old former student leader was endorsed by the National Council.

Mwonzora, on the other hand, became popular when he was appointed to represent the party in the constitution-making process which began after the formation of the Government of National Unity in 2009.

A lawyer by profession, Mwonzora was party secretary for information and worked with Paul Mangwana (ZANU PF) and Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC) to lead the process that brought the country’s first constitution after independence. In 2013, Mwonzora lost his parliamentary seat to Hubert Nyanhongo, a Zanu PF candidate.

Despite the loss, Mwonzora was elected secretary general after beating Chamisa for the post during the party’s 2014 elective congress. Mwonzora garnered 2464 votes against Chamisa’s 1,756.

Chamisa was 21 years old when he joined the MDC in 1999. A year previously, he had been elected president of the Harare Polytechnic Student Representative Council (SRC) in his first year at the institute.

He became one of the youngest MPs in 2003 and served as the party’s youth leader, organising secretary, secretary for information, vice president, and currently president of the party.

Chamisa enjoys grassroots support and has the backing of party heavyweights such as Tendai Biti, Job Sikhala and Welshman Ncube.

“The split in the MDC Alliance will not have any impact on the party as Chamisa has managed to mobilise party members behind him who will reward him at the congress,” said Ibbo Mandaza.

“Chamisa has united all the splinter groups under the MDC Alliance and those who had left the party during Tsvangirai’s days are back to the fold, the question is: What is going to happen to Mudzuri and Mwonzora after the congress?”

-Business Times

By Own Correspondent- A parent of one of the students at St Charles Lwanga Boys High has revealed that she is yet to be reunited with her son claiming that contrary to claims that the pupils had been rescued by the army, the students were yet to be taken to Chipinge.

The mother to the Form One student told ZimEye that the pupils travelled from their school to Skyline last night hoping to be rescued from there only to be told that the area where they had sought refuge was still inaccessible.

Said the parent:

“Yes they walked to Skyline yesterday but the army did not rescue them as promised.

They have been told to walk back to their school and proceed to Chipinge. The challenge is that they have to cross a flooded bridge in an area called Silver stream. We have been told that they will be picked up from that area by a bus.

We are still waiting for our children and they have not yet been evacuated from the area. The rains have been pounding again but for now they have stopped. We are praying for the rains to subside so that maybe our children can be taken to Chipinge, then the modalities to bring them to Mutare will be done.”

St Charles Lwanga is a catholic run boys high school which is in Chimanimani.

At least two boys and an adult who was reportedly the security guard at the school died as Cyclone Idai ravaged Manicaland and parts of Zimbabwe.

A rock reportedly fell from a nearby mountain destroying the school dining hall before landing on the boys’ hostels killing two boys whose bodies are still at the school to date. One other boy reportedly went missing after the mud slides which also affected the school during the tragedy.

In a tweet posted yesterday, the Information ministry however misinformed the nation revealing that the over 170 students and their teachers had been rescued by the army.

Said the Ministry:

The ZNA has rescued the pupils from St Charles Luwanga and they are now at Skyline. The
first batch of pupils is expected to be in Mutare tomorrow morning #CycloneIdai

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 17, 2019

My child is at St Charles Lwanga school and they walked to Skyline. We are in communication with the teachers who are with them. They are sleeping there tonight at their catholic centre. They walked and were not helped by the army at all. Please don’t mislead us.

— Irvine Kadzenga (@Irvine_kadzenga) March 17, 2019

Eighty-two people have so far been confirmed dead across the country, and a lot of infrastructure damaged in Chimanimani and Chipinge, following a trail of destruction left by Cyclone Idai in the country.

A team of government ministers and officials are currently in Manicaland province, assessing the extent of the damage, and how much help can be given to the affected areas. 

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde  Sekai Nzenza who is part of the delegation said they have an a enormous task ahead to help all communities and families affected by the cyclone with humanitarian assistance.

She thanked some corporates who also chipped in to help in the disaster.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Cde Joel Biggie Matiza, who is also there, says they are analysing some routes that they can quickly work on so as to access some areas that needs argent attention.

Cde Matiza cited the Charter-Machongwe-Nyahode Bridge as one that needs urgent attention.

The Acting Minister of Defence Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri said they have called in all army engineers from across the country to help in the situation.

He said they are also areas where the army has abandoned their vehicles and is going on foot in order to give urgent medical attention to affected families.

Retired Air Chief Marshal Shiri he said the work of clearing roads is also still ongoing.

Chimanimani East Member of the National Assembly Cde Joshua Sacco said it is sad to note that the province has lost so many lives due to the cyclone.

Manicaland Provincial Meteorological Officer Mr Lucas Murambi said though it’s sad to note that lives have been lost, it is good know that the cyclone has since subsided.

I'm in Chimanimani &, Chipinge today to assess the extent of cyclone Ida devastating effects and pay condolences to bereaved families. We will also assist some of those in need of food and blankets. We must pray for our country.

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) March 18, 2019

Male prostitution is something of a legend in Bulawayo, it is spoken about in hushed tones and its prevalence is hardly acknowledged.

However, investigations in the city have revealed that a number of men, who perceive themselves as straight, nicodemously creep out to enjoy same-sex liaisons with male sex workers.

Although sex trade in Zimbabwe is often associated with men paying for sex with women, there seems to be a nascent but growing trend showing that some men are also soliciting for sex from other men under a cloak of darkness.

Male sex workers have come up with code names for the men who have sex with other men (MSM), calling them green pepper — because they change colour — and “After 9s” because they only seek sexual partners after 9PM.

Although homosexuality is still viewed as something taboo in Zimbabwe, a number of gay people in Bulawayo have somehow found comfort in their sexuality and find no shame in using it as a means of making money.

They offer sex services to fellow homosexuals and to those who wish to “experiment”.

CITE embarked on an investigation into the operations of male sex workers, who target men interested in sleeping with other men but do not want to have gay tags hanging around their necks.

The male sex workers said on a good day they make up to RTGS$100 and on bad ones as little as RTGS$ 20.

Sam Nxumalo*, a chatty young man in his mid-20s, who has mannerisms of a woman, said there were respectable men who solicit for same-sex liaisons.

He said such men did not want to be described as gay and so they used the cover of darkness to fulfil their fantasies.

“There are men known as MSM, they are not gay, they just enjoy services from fellow men.

“They go to female sex workers they trust and ask to be connected with us,” Nxumalo said.

“Of the men who seek services from sex workers, at least 20% do not come to us. The rest do and once they start, they cannot stop.”

He said some men get addicted to the extent of taking them to their houses and introducing them as distant relatives.

“These men’s wives will not be suspicious of us. Our regular clients invite us to their houses where we are introduced as distant relatives and get accommodated for several days. This is where we make the most of our money,” Nxumalo continued.

“We take advantage of the unsuspecting women and render services over weekends and leave. Constant house calls make the façade believable.

“At times, we get our clients through agents and this is prevalent when there are functions.

“The clients will be respectable members of society or foreigners.

“We get packages of up to USD$300 for entertaining them.

“You can make this money over two to three days. It’s a pity, though, that these functions are not too often.”

Another male sex worker, Phill Phiri* who is a transgender, said men who indulged out of curiosity do not have a full understanding of the characteristics of the male sex workers’ sexuality.

He said they differ from gays and bisexuals, hence, their needs and preferences are different.

“When we hook up, we want to be treated as feminine,” Phiri narrated.

“The problem is these men, who come to experiment, sometimes expect us to perform masculine roles, which we cannot.

“In some cases, we get beaten up and it’s unfortunate we can’t report such issues, as police officers always mock us.”

Phiri said because of their feminine traits, they were often victims of bullying.

“We dress up in female clothes, we feel feminine we can’t help it,” he said.

“We even wear makeup, at times better than most women.

“We are always an easy target for the society and hence we live on insults and criticism all the time.”

Phiri then went into detail on how they lure their customers.

“We carry ourselves with such elegance, we have a reputation to maintain,” he said.

“Our main prey are those males who regard themselves as straight.

“We take advantage of them and put up a show they have never experienced.

“The fact that we are also male makes it a whole lot easier because we know exactly what they expect and we deliver better than women.”

Munashe Shoko*, a gay sex worker said it was difficult for men to parade on the streets as women do and this confined them to clubs, bars, homes or through agencies.

“To market ourselves better, we sit in groups in bars or clubs,” he said.

“We are invisible on the streets.

“Some of the more established male sex workers work from their homes because most of our clients — especially the straight ones, do not want to be seen picking us up in the bars.

“Such clients are usually well up family men looking for adventure.

“They see to it that they pay extra as a way of ensuring our mouths stay shut.

“Most of them badmouth gays during the day but come night-time, they search for us high and low.

“Due to the amount of money they pay, us we bear with their daytime insults.

“These clients also want society to view them as straight.

“They sneak us out of their houses in the wee hours of the morning before neighbours and those they live with wake up.

“There are some who demand acts that we can’t perform and turn violent when we don’t play along. Others refuse to pay us totally.”

Shoko said male sex workers have fewer squabbles amongst themselves compared to their female counterparts, as they are a small group that prefers to move in numbers for security reasons.

“We are prone to attacks from members of society, so if we move in numbers, we are able to stand up for each other in cases of violent attacks,” he explained.

The sex workers said the worst kind of brutality they face are a gang and “corrective” rapes in addition to violence and non-paying clients.

One of the participants testified that he and a colleague were gang-raped by a group of nine men, claiming they wanted to fix them for being gay.

He said two of the men posed as clients and lured them to a residential flat in the CBD where they were sexually assaulted.

Another concern is that because of the stereotypes linked to their sexuality, they often are shunned at healthcare centres.

“We are exposed to sexually transmitted infections,” Phiri said.

“Most of us use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to be free of HIV, but when we get to the clinic for our medication, they make fun of us.

“As a result, most male sex workers shy away from seeking medical attention and they die.”

CITE also sought to find out from female sex workers how they were coping with this “invasion” of what has long been their terrain.

Praise Shone*, a 39-year-old commercial sex worker, who has been in the industry for 12 years now, said they were feeling the pinch from the competition.

“Business is generally low because of economic hardships, but sharing the few clients with men is only making it harder,” she lamented.

“They claim males are more fun than us.

“At times they come to us seeking assistance to be hooked up.

“They are shy to pick them on their own.”

Sihle said although it bothered them at first, they were now getting used to the idea that there were men who want to engage in male sex work.

“There’s nothing shocking anymore,” she said.

“Some of our former clients have permanently crossed over to the male side.

“What they termed experiments when they started have now become a habit and they are constantly coming back for more.”

Ruth Ngarande* said she did not fear being pushed out of business.

“What is certain is that same-sex service costs an arm and a leg and is usually afforded by well up people who pay well,” she said.

“We also face similar scenarios from our side where women solicit for same-sex services.

“It is amazing how women pay more than men.

“Maybe it’s because they are afraid we could expose them.”

The sex workers said in a bid to maintain their territories, they set up social clubs, where they get together with males to know who is who is the sex trade business.

A Bulawayo based non-governmental organisation, Sexual Rights Centre (SRC), confirmed that through its work it had noticed that a substantial number of men were involved in sex work in the city.

“We work closely with the sex workers both male and female. They come here at the centre where they meet up and discuss the challenges they face and share ideas on how to assist each other,” said an SRC official who requested to remain anonymous.

“Female sex workers have pointed out that a substantive number of their clients request to be hooked up with male sex workers.

“The male sex workers themselves as you heard through discussions point out they have quite a number of clients.

“There are also several instances where female clients request for female sex workers.”

The SRC has various platforms where it helps sex workers resolve conflicts, especially when they fight over territory and clients.

“We hold coffee mornings, solidarity circles and gentleman’s clubs,” the official added.

“Here they share the challenges they face and ways of overcoming them.

“These are also opportune platforms for new players in the industry to mix and mingle with those who have been there so they can learn the ropes.”

She said commercial sex workers, both male and female, faced many challenges including violence by clients and lack of access to health services.

“We have had about six murder cases since last year emanating from vicious clients. When we make reports, the police are less keen to come to our rescue,” the official added.

“Another major challenge is accessing adequate medication for the sex workers.

“The Ministry of Health accesses medication in the name of sex workers to cure them of sexually transmitted infections but when they get to the clinics, they are told there is no medication.

“We end up referring some of them to such institutions as PSI but they can only accommodate so much.”

She said male sex workers were the most affected as they were shunned by society and were stigmatised at health centres.

“We need to understand the society has reservations towards gay people and some still stigmatise HIV positive people,” the official said.

“Most of the male sex workers, when they fall sick, shy away from seeking treatment in fear of being discriminated.

“They only emerge when their condition has extremely deteriorated and there wouldn’t be much the centre can do at that stage.”

Homosexuality is frowned upon in Zimbabwe, but the laws are silent on gay relations.

Same-sex is considered immoral and is listed under Part III of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

The list of sex offences does not include homosexuality.

The only crime that pertains exclusively to homosexuality is sodomy, but the dictionary definition of sodomy is not exclusive to homosexuals.

In Zimbabwe, sodomy is only criminalised for men who have sex with men.

Laws criminalising homosexuality in Zimbabwe carry penalties of up to three years in jail, and police often arrest gays before setting them free without preferring any charges.

CITE

In a rather shocking move, the Civil Protection Unit has discouraged people from visiting Chimanimani saying increased traffic will cause congestion and disturb transportation of relief supplies.

This came after MDC leader Nelson Chamisa tweeted that he was on his way to Chimanimani and Chipinge to see the situation and handover donations to affected communities.

The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) wants to appeal to the general public to avoid visiting the Cyclone ravaged Chimanimani and Chipinge areas. Increased traffic is causing road congestion that is disturbing the transportation of relief supplies & slowing down rescue efforts.

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 18, 2019

Jane Mlambo| The cyclone Idai currently ravaging communities was forecast more than two weeks and when it hit Mozambique before Zimbabwe, everyone including government saw and read devastating news of its destruction including unfortunate deaths recorded.

Unlike Cyclone Eline of Japhet, Idai has so far been the worst disaster to hit Zimbabwe. While disasters cannot be avoided, if proper preparations are done, the level of damage and deaths can be mitigated and this is what our government failed to do.

While many have slammed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to United Arab Emirates when he knew a Cyclone was already on the shores of Zimbabwe, if proper mechanisms were in place, his absence would not have been an issue.

A government arm responsible for disaster management, Civil Protection Unit only became visible when Chimanimani and Chipinge communities were already marooned and isolated after rivers and bridges had flooded.

What Could Have Been Done?

When Cyclone Idai was first reported two weeks ago, the Civil Protection Unit could have gone into Chimanimani and Chipinge areas educating people about the potential effects of the cyclone. While people are usually not keen to move away from their homes, civic education could have helped in such situations.

Government leadership including the President could also have visited those communities to meet up with people and persuade them to take preventive actions, this is in consideration of the fact that he is an influential person by virtue of being a politician.

CPU could also have convened an all stakeholders meeting with other government agencies including the police, army, humanitarian agencies who could have established command centers in disaster areas so that should there be urgent need for support and help, they will be as close as possible to the people. The command center should be well manned by all critical stakeholders while humanitarian agencies could have stocked foodstuffs and medical supplies to attend to any emergencies.

The idea of only reacting when people are already dying without anyone to attend to them is a sad chapter in our nation and cannot be tolerated at all costs.

While no-one has the power to stop a cyclone or any natural disasters, government should not be reactive but proactive to avoid unnecessary loss or lives.

The failure by government to be proactive should force the President to wield the axe and ensure that only those who values human life are thrust at the helm of an important arm like the civil protection unit.

By Own Correspondent- Marondera residents are now living in terror as heavily-armed robbers are on the loose in the Mashonaland East capital.

The gang of robbers, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and tear smoke canisters, is targeting residents, money changers and businesspeople.

A local businessperson who spoke to a local publication on condition of anonymity said:

“Almost every week, we are having these robberies and we are no longer safe at all. Marondera town is no longer habitable and we are living in fear as to what is going to happen next.

The businesses are no longer safe, as this gang is targeting businesspeople’s homes and moneychangers from who they demand cash. As it stands, it is high time the police do something about it and ensure that these criminals are dealt with.”

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed that there has been an upsurge in robbery cases this year compared to the previous year.

He said:

“Robbery cases increased to 77 January and February 2019 from 52 during the same period in 2018.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- The MDC has called on government to stop shooting and killing civilians in order for sanctions to be removed.

The party said just like any other Zimbabwean, they are keen for sanctions imposed by the United States on the country to go since they are affecting citizens.

Said MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora:

“Denouncing sanctions does not lead to their removal; what leads to the removal of sanctions is for Zanu PF to do those things that the people who imposed sanctions said they should do.

They must stop those things that they were told to stop. They must stop killing their own people; they must stop shooting unarmed civilians using live ammunition.

I do agree the sanctions are hurting the ordinary person and as MDC we are ready to play our part to make sure that these sanctions, together with the brutality that brought the sanctions into place in the first place, are removed.

Sanctions are never a good thing for any country. They inevitably affect the poor and the down-trodden. They also hurt the government.

But who was responsible for these sanctions? The people who are responsible for these sanctions are people who killed Zimbabweans in cold blood in 2008.

It is the people who detained without trial Zimbabwean citizens; it is the people who threw away the rule of law; it is the people who abandoned constitutionalism, so they have to right their wrongs so that the people of Zimbabwe live in peace and prosperity.

We are for the engagement of Zimbabwe into the international community, but all of us have a role to play first, but principally, Zanu PF has a big role to play.

They must stop human rights abuses, shooting of civilians by the government must stop; harassment of civilians by the State must stop.”

TWO villagers from Siampongo in Binga have been jailed nine years each for skinning and stealing the carcass of their neighbour’s cow, which had died on its own.

Tedious Mudenda (38) and Fanuel Motolo (30) pleaded guilty to a stocktheft charge when they appeared before Binga magistrate Talent Phiri last Wednesday. The magistrate convicted and slapped them with nine years in jail each.

In his plea of guilty, Mudenda told the court that he and his family were starving and they could not help, but prey on the dead beast.

“I was starving with my family, so I wanted to feed myself and the family,” he said.

Motolo told the court that he loved beef trotters and wanted to initially show them to the cow owner before asking for them.

“I love beef trotters, so I wanted to show them to the owner before asking for them,” he said.

Quit Mpofu prosecuted.

NewsDay

By Own Correspondent| Amid fears that the number of deaths from Cyclone Idai is set to increase, the Information ministry has reported that the disaster has claimed 3 more lives in Masvingo and Mashonaland East.

According to the ministry, the disaster has claimed 2 more lives in Masvingo and 1 in Mashonaland East.

Said the ministry:

CYCLONE IDAI UPDATE:
We have lost 2 people in Masvingo Province and one in Mashonaland East #CycloneIdai

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 18, 2019

By Own Correspondent| A newly wed couple was among the over 60 people who died due to the devastating effects of cyclone Idai.

A local Harare councilor Denford Ngadziore said the newly weds used to fellowship at Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM).

Said Ngadziore:

“We lost this AFM Church newly weeded couple in Chimanimani Cyclone Idai disater ,May their souls rest in peace.”

Early assessments of the crop situation at Meikles group’s Tanganda Tea estates in Chipinge shows that some of the crop has been damaged by the catastrophic Cyclone Idai which descended on Zimbabwe last week, according to a key executive at the company.

The official said early indications shows that the avocado crop has been negatively impacted although the full extend is yet to be ascertained.

“Experts are expected to begin to move into the fields once the rains subside this week to measure the full extent of the damage.

Presently the ground is still very wet as rains continue to pour while the road network has been badly damaged thus hampering any serious assessment efforts”

Tea which is the major crop has however not been affected by the cyclone ahead of its harvest which is expected to begin in a week’s time. Its low height, close inter crop knitting and deep roots ensures minimal damage through rains and flooding can be incurred.

Tanganda Tea operates 5 estates in Chipinge which include Zona, Jersey, New Years Gift, Tingamira and Ratolshoek, which is situated next to Ariston Holdings’ Clear Water and Southdown estates.

The 6 estates are inter cropped with tea, coffee, avocados and macadamia nuts on a collective circa 3000 hectares of land. The bulk of the crop is exported overseas, thus earning Zimbabwe the much-needed forex.

Tea accounts for the larger share of revenue earned from the agriculture operations. In recent years Meikles however undertook to invest in increased macadamia and avocado crop. The company was set to surpass Ariston as the largest producer of macadamia in the coming 3 years.

In its 2018 financial results, Meikles reported the new crop was significant in size but remained immature despite improved revenue from some its sales. The company anticipated in 2018 that it would take 3 more years for the crop to fully mature.

It is this avocado and macadamia crop which is under threat from the prevailing cyclone Idai. The occurrence however is not likely to have a serious impact on expected revenues from the overall agric produce since the dominant tea crop is unscathed.

Macadamia and avocado have the inherent risk of height as tree crops which makes them vulnerable to winds and heavy rains.

In the 12 months period to September 2018, Meikles agric operations generated $29 million in sales and a profit of $6 million which was a 5 fold growth over the prior year.

Cyclone Idai is an intense tropical cyclone which is the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Southern Africa in a decade. The tenth named storm and record-breaking seventh intense tropical cyclone of the 2018–19 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Idai originated from a tropical depression that formed off the eastern coast of Mozambique on 4 March.

The depression made landfall later in the day and remained a tropical cyclone throughout the entirety of its trek over land. On 9 March, the depression reemerged into the Mozambique Channel and was upgraded into Moderate Tropical Storm Idai next day.

The system then began a stint of rapid intensification, reaching an initial peak intensity as an intense tropical cyclone with winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) on 11 March. Idai then began to weaken due to ongoing structural changes within its inner core, falling to tropical cyclone intensity. Idai’s intensity remained stagnant for about a day or so before it began to re-intensify.

On 14 March, Idai reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 940 hPa (27.76 inHg). Idai then began to weaken as it approached the coast of Mozambique due to less favorable conditions.

On 15 March, Idai made landfall near Beira, Mozambique, as an intense tropical cyclone moving into the eastern parts of Zimbabwe, where all of Meikles farming activities are concentrated.

Tea and coffee are processed in bulk form for sale, either on the international market or to the Beverage Division for local and regional packed tea sales. -– Equity Axis News

TWO women from Gweru were arrested for allegedly luring a 14-year-old boy to have sex with them on various occasions.

One of the women allegedly offered the minor sex to stop him from telling anyone that he saw her having bush sex with an unnamed man.

The second woman lured the boy to a river bank where she became intimate with him, before regularly having sex with him.

Tendai Masiya (26) and Simeleni Moyo (20) from Nhema Village appeared before Gweru Magistrate Ms Beaulity Dube facing various counts of aggravated indecent assault.

The two pleaded not guilty and they were remanded to tomorrow for trial.

It is the State case that last year on a day unknown to the prosecutor, the complainant (name withheld to protect his identity) went hunting with his friend from Bvunge plots around sunset.

The complainant, said the prosecutor Ms Gladys Rongai, saw Masiya with a man only identified as a worker at Bvunge homestead having sexual intercourse in the bush.

The court heard that on a different day the complainant passed by Masiya’s house going to the forest when she called him.

“The accused asked the complainant not to tell anyone about what he saw and in return she would also have sexual intercourse with him,” she said.

The complainant came back on a different day to get his promised intercourse and this ended up as a routine. The complainant would visit Masiya and they had sexual intercourse on various occasions.

Ms Rongai told the court that last year on a day unknown, the complainant was coming from an all-night prayer when he passed by the shops where Moyo worked.

Moyo, the court heard, asked the complainant to accompany her to the river and he agreed. The complainant tripped on his shoe lace and fell that’s when the accused allegedly mounted him and had sexual intercourse with him.

The abuse only came to light after Masiya accused the complainant of stealing a memory card and he ran away from home. A manhunt was conducted and the complainant after being caught was questioned resulting in him revealing the sexual abuse by the accused duo.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Masiya and Moyo.

The complainant was medically examined and the medical report would be produced as an exhibit in court.

State Media

Correspondent|The death toll from Cyclone Idai- induced floods has risen over 70 with 65 deaths having been confirmed in Manicaland. However, deaths have been reported and confirmed by district administrators in Mashonaland East and Masvingo provinces as well.

In Chimanimani Town, five streets got washed away as the mountains around the town gave in. There was massive mudslide. 38 bodies have been recovered by locals undertaking rescue missions. One rescuer fell and drowned while leading rescued kids to a shelter.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo confirmed the death of the 65 people in Manicaland. The deaths in Masvingo and Mashonaland East were confirmed by Bikita District Administrator and chairman of the district’s Civil Protection Unit, Mr Bernard Hadzirabwi, and Mashonaland East Acting Provincial Administrator Mr Clemence Malawi repectively.

Mr Hadzirabwi said the four people who died in Masvingo were from Bikita where two girls aged six and 12 died in the Mukore area on Friday night after a house they were sleeping in gave way to heavy rains and collapsed on them.

The other two — a female and a male adult — also died in the Hozvi area in Mukanganwi communal lands on Friday night after they were trapped in the rubble of their houses which caved in owing to heavy rains accompanied by winds.

Over 150 houses have been destroyed in Masving, particularly in the eastern part of the province where heavy rains and strong winds have been ravaging infrastructure since last Friday when Cyclone Idai swept into Masvingo.

In Zaka some areas such as Chipinda, Muroyi and Chimedza were rendered inaccessible by road after heavy rains forced Chiredzi River to burst its banks.

In Mashonaland East the victim was an 83-year-old man who was swept away by floods and his body was recovered the following morning.

Mr Masawi said at least 20 houses in Ward 17 Masasa in Chikomba collapsed due to the excessive rains.

Minister Moyo said the bodies of the 65 died due to drowning and injuries sustained during mudslides.

Meanwhile, a United Nations team in Zimbabwe is helping the government in conjunction with other partners in supporting about 10,000 people affected by the tropical cyclone.

Some 300 refugees, who were housed at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland province, have been affected and 49 houses damaged.

The majority of the asylum seekers and refugees in the camp are from the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa; namely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and other countries.

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.

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

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

Standard

THE inter-bank foreign exchange market has so far traded over $33 million since its introduction towards the end of last month, an official has said.

Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe monetary policy review in Bulawayo last Friday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) deputy director for financial markets Mr William Manhimanzi said:

“To date over $33 million has been traded on the interbank foreign exchange market. It’s not necessarily what we gave them . . . we’re fairly pleased, obviously we want more trades to actually happen.

“Obviously, people are still holding on because of the 2,5 exchange rate, which was perceived to have been a fixed exchange rate and for those that follow the exchange rate you will see it moving trending upwards going forward.”

The inter-bank forex market started trading on February 22, two days after the announcement of the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) by the RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya.

Mr Manhimanzi said as monetary authorities they have noted that even before the announcement of the Monetary Policy Statement, there were people who took exchange rate positions based on speculative behaviour.

“We can’t just allow the exchange rate to depreciate because of people that took positions on the exchange rate. Our expectations are that banks act in a responsible manner and do not necessarily put pressure on the exchange rate,” he said.

Dr Mangudya is on record saying some companies were struggling to access forex on the official market because they cannot afford to buy it at 2,5 rate.

Mr Manhimanzi said the thrust of the 2019 monetary policy statement was to establish an inter-bank foreign exchange market to bring back forex trading outside the banking system as well as growing hard cash if the economy was operating without own currency.

He said the bond notes came into the economy as an export incentive although it later became a pseudo currency. The bond notes were introduced by the apex bank in November 2016 and were pegged at 1:1 against the US dollar.

“Remember the bond notes came into the economy as an export incentive and later became a pseudo currency, but we need to have a currency of our own. . .the bulk of the deposits that we have were electronic dollars sitting in our accounts hence the introduction RTGS dollars as a local currency. The RTGS dollar remains part of the multicurrency system and we have also said this should be the currency accepted for all carboned transactions,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Bulawayo-based economic analyst Mr Morris Mpala said through the recent monetary policy statement, the Reserve Bank was seeking to restore credibility in the monetary sector.

“What the Central Bank was now trying to do through the recent monetary policy statement was sort of guide exporters so that they can get value for their money because in the past exporters have been losing out.

“And now by following what the parallel market has been doing already was now to bring back the interbank market so that there is willing buyer-willing seller so that anyone who has got forex can go to the formal market without being charged criminally and those that want to buy can go there and buy transparently,” he said.

But that being said, Mr Mpala said RBZ has got a priority list in terms of the banks that should get the forex and by so doing the monetary authority was becoming more of an autonomous body, a characteristic business has in the past been advocating for.

“The Reserve Bank has to be autonomous so that it can be able to offer guidance whether to Government or rates in terms of the monetary policy statement that cultivates the industry and private sector development, among others,” he said.

State Media

A WOMAN whose daughter had her right arm amputated at Gwanda Provincial Hospital following a botched medical procedure is suing the hospital and the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo for $300 000.

The three year-old girl, who was a month old at the time, had her arm amputated after nurses at Gwanda Provincial Hospital allegedly mutilated it while trying to insert an intravenous (IV) cannula.

Gangrene had set in on the girl’s arm and it had to be surgically removed at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

Ms Patience Chikahamadze (28) of Gwanda, through her lawyer Mr Reliance Ndou of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court, citing Gwanda Provincial Hospital and Dr Moyo, as defendants.

She is seeking an order directing the defendants to compensate her daughter, Andile Galaweni, $300 000 in damages for medical bills incurred, permanent disability, pain and suffering she endured.

The baby was admitted for routine observation on July 29, 2016, after she was said to be dehydrated. “On July 29, 2016, the plaintiff (Ms Chikahamadze) took her minor child (Andile Galaweni) born on July 22, 2016, to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for a seven day review. The child had lost 500 grammes in weight and it was therefore suggested that she sees a doctor who examined her and confirmed that she was dehydrated,” said Mr Ndou.

In papers before the court, it was stated that the doctor tried to insert the IV cannula and failed resulting in the child being admitted.

One of the nurses tried to insert the cannula but could not locate a vein to put a drip.

“The sister-in-charge struggled to insert the drip and tried several times until she managed to insert on the child’s right hand. After the first drip, it was noticed that the second drip was not getting into the system and it was removed. The IV cannula was however, not removed for more than a week,” said Ms Chikahamadze.

She said the IV cannula was only removed after her daughter started experiencing pain and swelling on her arm.

“I informed the doctor who ran medical tests and referred the child to Mpilo Central Hospital for a scan. We were further referred to a private laboratory where it was revealed that the hand had been interrupted when the IV cannula was inserted,” said Ms Chikahamadze.

The child was taken to UBH where doctors discovered that the child had developed gangrene on her hand and it had to be amputated.

“The condition developed as a result of the defendants’ negligent conduct and my daughter suffered special damages for discomfort, stress, psychological trauma, permanent disability, pain and suffering,” said Ms Chikahamadze.

The defendants are yet to respond to the lawsuit.

State Media

The establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) will capacitate the country to process foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals within a day, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.

Zimbabwe is working on a plethora of measures to improve the doing of business climate to attract increased levels of FDI in line with the goals of achieving a middle-class economy by 2030.

Updating the nation on progress made in respect of measures being implemented to enhance the country’s economic performance, Minister Ncube said ZIDA should be operational in the next few months.

“We are accelerating and deepening the ease and cost of doing business reforms to improve competitiveness,” he said.

“This includes the establishment of a one-stop shop investment centre, and legislation to establish a specific and dedicated institution – the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) — is now before Parliament.

“ZIDA is set to be fully operational in the coming months, and will enable the processing of investment approvals within a day, significantly improving the investment climate.”

Prof Ncube called for patience as economic reform and restructuring are process-oriented.

“I am aware that there are those who are disappointed by the pace of change, and who expected progress to be faster,” he said. “Unfortunately, this was never going to be the case. Reforming, restructuring and rebuilding our economy was always going to take time, and attempts to prematurely accelerate the process are liable to cause greater upheaval and suffering. A sober, strategic and step-by-step process remains the best way to achieve our goal.”

Zimbabwe’s current reforms are guided by the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which was launched in October last year, with the main goals of stabilising the economy, attract FDI and set the foundation for shared and sustained growth.

The country has made significant progress over the past few months in combating the budget deficit on the one hand, and boosting revenues on the other, said Prof Ncube.

“The monthly budget deficit declined from US$242 million in November to a surplus of US$733 million in December, and a provisional surplus of $113m for January, an impressive turnaround in such a short time,” he said.

“Over the past four months, we have made significant cuts to expenditure in five main areas: First, we have ended the unsustainable practice of issuing Treasury Bills to finance the deficit, forcing us to spend within our means and within the budget.

“Second, we have reduced the public wage bill by cutting salaries of senior government officials by five percent across the board, retiring over 3 000 youth officers, and establishing a more modest bonus system for civil servants that saved over US$75 million in 2018 alone.

“Third, we have diverted our resources to pressing areas by freezing the hiring of non-critical staff, while hiring 3 000 additional staff in the education sector and almost 2 000 in the health sector. Finally, we have cut unnecessary expenditure and ‘perks’ for ministers and MPs, most notably by suspending the procurement of vehicles.

“These measures have been complemented by a concerted effort to widen our revenue base. One prominent example, the 2 percent tax on electronic transactions, was hotly disputed when it was announced, but its impact has been significant. US$166 million was raised in the last two months of 2018, and almost US$100 million was raised in January alone. We project that over US$600 million will be raised during 2019.”

State Media

Correspondent|MDC vice president Elias Mudzuri has said the party he belongs to has failed the people of Zimbabwe and “needs to do more than give excuses” that they are not in power. He also said the MDC was failing in its role of keeping ZANU-PF in check, saying that “we lack that patriotic spirit.”

The Harvard-trained Mudzuri, speaking in an interview with weekly paper the Standard, also said the MDC risked becoming irrelevant to the people of Zimbabwe if it fails to redefine its role.

“Our election promises were as a result biased towards a win. 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,” Mudzuri said.

Asked if the MDC was playing its role of keeping the ruling party in check, Mudzuri said: “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.”

Mudzuri also said the opposition party needed to redefine its role or else run the risk of becoming irrelevant in Zimbabwean politics.

“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.”

"It's with a heavy heart that we have learnt of the untimely death of one of our students Tinashe Kutsira due to cyclone Idai. He was an attachee (level 3) at EMA Chimanimani. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and all the victims.." – @FanuelKaseke pic.twitter.com/SOz3ZwleAz

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) March 17, 2019

By A Correspondent| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia who flew to New York only attended the opening ceremony of the United Nations summit on women and suddenly disappeared an investigation by ZimEye.com reveals.

Several attendants of the function spoke LIVE on ZimEye.com Sunday night revealing how the zanu-pf leader’s wife was nowhere to be seen days after flying into the United States.

Live footage from all the functions also confirms that she literally vanished. SO WHERE IS AUXILLIA?

Efforts to get a comment from her were impossible at the time of writing. A comment from the president’s office was neither fruitful.

Below were LIVE video discussions by some attendants on Chief Svosve’s Padare.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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.

The ZNA has rescued the pupils from St Charles Luwanga and they are now at Skyline. The
first batch of pupils is expected to be in Mutare tomorrow morning #CycloneIdai

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 17, 2019

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.”

@canembzimbabwe is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Eastern Zimbabwe caused by #CycloneIdai. Our thoughts are with all of those affected and the first responders working tirelessly to aid in the rescue effort.

— Canada in Zimbabwe (@CanEmbZimbabwe) March 17, 2019

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.

2/ Imagine the vibrant debates & wealth of contribution we’d have if such brilliant minds weren’t gagged through the Whipping System. Abolishment of the Whipping System is a motion I’ve put before Parly to allow Zim to benefit from freedom of expression in Parly

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) March 17, 2019

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.

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

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) March 16, 2019

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

HE 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.

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 17, 2019

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