Norton legislator and businessman Themba Mliswa could face yet another parliamentary probe for allegedly dragging Mines and Mining Development Portfolio Committee into the Makomo Resources and Zambezi Gas coal claims dispute, The Herald Business has learnt.

Mr Mliswa is already under probe for allegedly demanding a $400 000 bribe from local businessman Mr James Ross Goddard of JRG Contracting (Pvt) Ltd in exchange for a mining contract at Hwange Colliery Company.

Zambezi Gas and Makomo — some of the country’s largest coal producers — are locked in a turf war over the control of over 11 000 hectares of coal-rich claims in Matabeleland North province.

The dispute is negatively impacting on the country’s coal haul at a time President Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra is showing green shoots that are certain to result in a rise in energy demand.

Sources at the Mining Affairs Board, have previously confided in the press that the dispute emanates from a mistake on Zambezi Gas’ special grant, which on its first page shows that the firm had been given 19 720 hactares but goes on to indicate that the land is 8 644ha on the second page.

However, it is understood, the map accompanying the special grant shows that Zambezi Gas’ land is actually 8 644ha as is on page two not the 19 720ha on page one.

But in new revelations unearthed by The Herald Business, Mr Mliswa is alleged to have clandestinely sought to railroad the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Mines and Mining Development into the dispute and influence a settlement favourable to Zambezi Gas.

Members of the committee who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, said on November 17, 2018 they set off for Hwange in a “hastily” organised trip whose purpose was to tour Hwange Colliery Company as part of Parliament’s oversight role.

Members were, however, surprised to be diverted off their official schedule allegedly at the instigation of Mr Mliswa and ended up at Zambezi Gas, ostensibly to learn how private companies were conducting their coal business.

Once at Zambezi Gas, the MPs allege that the subject changed and the company’s dispute with Makomo became topical subject of discussion.

“We were surprised when we got there that everything then became all about their dispute with Makomo and it was clear we were meant to get involved in the dispute,” said a member of the committee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“To sweeten the deal, we were all paid $300 each, about 38 of us but they were not done just yet.

“Later on we were taken to one of the most prestigious restaurants in the resort town of Victoria Falls where we were treated to expensive food and whiskey,” said the MP who spoke to The Herald Business in the presence of three other members of the committee, all of whom concurred.

Zambezi Gas deputy MD and shareholder Mr Linos Masimura, confirmed giving the MPs $300 each but insisted it was just corporate social responsibility and not meant to solicit for any favours.

Mr Masimura also confirmed treating the MPs to “dinner” at one of Victoria Falls’ most iconic restaurants, the Boma, which he said had already been planned for Zambezi Gas staff as it was around Christmas time.

“These allegations are basically baseless because we had no issue before Parliament,” said Mr Masimura. “. . . when they came we were going to have an end of year dinner. . . so they also came for the dinner.

“At the dinner, their chairperson (Mr Mliswa) openly said ‘you know Government these days doesn’t have much money, these MPs you see are struggling financially, they haven’t been paid their allowances . . . then we made a donation to everyone who was there,” he said.

Sources in the portfolio committee said afterwards, Mr Mliswa then allegedly asked the parliamentarians to immediately make recommendations to Government to hastily facilitate the handover of the disputed claims to Zambezi Gas.

It is alleged that members of the committee, however, refused to accede to the demands resulting in a nasty confrontation between the legislators in full view of hotel staff at the MPs’ place of residence with Mr Mliswa particularly threatening to physically assault Gutu West legislator John Paradza.

Mr Mliswa could not be reached for comment yesterday.

State Media

President Nelson Chamisa’s Statement to the Press on the 6th of March 2019 – Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House

Defining a new course for Zimbabwe.
(New Direction, New Ideas)

Background:

The crisis in Zimbabwe is escalating. The effects of the legitimacy crisis continue to arrest Zimbabwe and calls for genuine dialogue seem to have fallen on deaf ears in spite of the unpalatable suffering of the working people.

There is closure of the democratic space, an obvious result of tyrannical consolidation in Zimbabwe and the continuation of a new state in which there is conflation of the party and the state. There is a continuation of the old order of economic lethargy, economic destruction, corruption and patronage.

Economic crisis

The Monetary Policy Statement presented in February by the RBZ governor has compounded problems in the Zimbabwean economy. It has escalated speculative behavior and formalized rent seeking transactions by the elite while the masses are at the receiving end of price hikes including basics like bread.

The monetary policy created the following problems:

1.It introduced a new currency through the back door without addressing the fundamentals including the relationship between exports and imports (Trade Position) and more importantly the social contract. An abused citizen rejects the authority of the state and the currency becomes an immediate casualty.

1. Illegal forfeiture of foreign currency through a retention scheme which will result in creating extra legal means of correction by exporters.
2. State sponsored rent selling platforms in which the political elites will still access united state dollars at the RBZ using the 1:1 rate stipulated in section 43 of the RBZ Act which has not been repealed, and selling it on the so called interbank platform or even the alternative black market.
3. Creation of a state-initiated inflationary environment.
4. Floating the RTGS dollar resulted in a deliberate devaluation of people’s savings in bank accounts which were not ring-fenced with no mention of compensation.

In short, the monetary policy blew an opportunity to resolve the fundamental questions. We have offered as the alternative to say in order to move forward, you need to restore trust and confidence, but in order to restore this confidence, you need to have SMART economic measures and we have offered those measures to Mr. Mnangagwa and his team, but we have seen that they are ignoring that alternative.

The people’s plight worsening

Today the price of bread went up again; basic commodities’ price hikes continue unabated and fuel shortages continue despite the fiction around fixing the price upwards.

The cost of living is increasing, earnings especially those of public servants remain stagnant. Labour unrest has characterized the first quarter of 2019; Industrial action and a stay away ensued due to the employer’s failure to address the grievances of the employees. We saw the destruction of livelihoods in the manner of Murambatsvina of 2005.

Clamp down on MDC members

At least 17 people are reported to have been killed in January of 2019 on account of the state’s heavy handedness.

Beyond these killings, there has been a systematic targeting of MDC members including senior leaders, MPs and Councilors. Leaders of the ZCTU and civic society were also targeted. There has been invasion of homes, abductions, and arbitrary arrests, mass and fast tracked trials.

The level of Human rights violation is worsening by the day. Hon Morgen Komichi, Hon Tendai Biti, Hon Charlton Hwende, Hon Amos Chibaya, Hon Happymore Chidziva, Hon Godfrey Sithole, Hon Levi Chimina, Hon Lloyd Mukapiko, Hon Settlement Chikwinya and Hon Joanna Mamombe have all been brought before the courts on trumped up charges.

Resultantly, Zimbabwe has plunged further down the democracy indices in the world. The failure to live by the minimum standards set out in different International Conventions has resulted in the further isolation of Zimbabwe by international actors. The case in point is the discussions in the European Parliament, the British Parliament and recently the position taken by the United States of America to deal with self-inflicted problems in Zimbabwe.

We have always made the point that Zimbabwe must dialogue and have a comprehensive reform program. It requires no money. The returns we get from respecting the rule of law, human rights and Constitutionalism is higher than the narrow benefit of power retention.

We make the point for key reforms in our five point plan to legitimacy.

Dialogue

To resolve the challenges arresting Zimbabwe, the MDC continues to propose dialogue anchored on the following five key areas.

a. The return to legitimacy, demilitarization and agreement on a roadmap to such a change

b. Agreement on a comprehensive reform platform and agenda

c. Agreement on resolution of the economic and humanitarian crisis

d. Resolution on the agenda of nation building, national healing and the resolution of the social contract.

e. International reengagement and ending Zimbabwe’s isolation and the integration in the international community.

To date, no dialogue has taken place. Mr Mnangagwa has not responded to the 6th of February 2019 letter written to him by the MDC about dialogue.

We have stated that the dispute is around legitimacy; therefore, it is impossible for any of the two actors to be the convener of dialogue. We have set minimum conditions for genuine dialogue that has the capacity to resolve the current impasse.

Congress Roadmap

MDC 5th Congress – Theme: Defining a new course for Zimbabwe

The Congress of 24-26 May 2019 is the fifth National Congress of the MDC. In the two decades of the party’s existence, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai, our late icon, has groomed enough leaders to steer the Party of excellence forward.

Service and sacrifice continues to define the character and nature of the MDC leadership. We brought the energy and revived the people’s party of excellence, the party is united and revitalized; we have rebooted the zeal and enthusiasm for change, igniting the hopes of many, in Zimbabwe, the African continent and beyond.

We soared above limitations, exceeded expectations and defied the odds. The people’s outstanding efforts were amazing.

Thank you Zimbabwe!

We made giant leaps. We are the leading party and a government in almost all urban areas. We are the government in 28 of the 32 of our major cities and towns. Our mayors are doing a fantastic job, save for a few who need to be assisted.

Our competitor is losing ground. We are gaining ground.

They are discredited, we are credible.

We were voted for by a mammoth 2,6 million people, if you are honest or 2.1 million if you are dishonest. Attracting members from the opposite side including some eminent ones, is no mean feat. What a great achievement!

We thank all those who believed and continue to believe in us. As you may know, a party that governs does so by destroying the base of the opposite side. We have done so well.

MDC 5th Congress – a turning point

The upcoming 5th Congress is a turning point for the MDC, we are moving to another level. We have a platform to set a new culture, new infrastructure, new systems, new ideas, new tactics and strategies. While defining a new course for Zimbabwe!

We will show the world that the MDC is a producer of democracy.

Change is our style and fashion. Change is our way of life.

This is our chance to re-energise the base, reflect a new dynamism, and set new standards as well as an opportunity to choose a full and effective people’s leadership and government.

We must come out of this congress a brand new and stronger party – a party of excellence.

We formed the MDC as a refuge to dictatorship, tyranny, violence, factionalism, unpatriotic politics, corruption and careerism in the former liberation party, Zanu PF. We can’t be what we are running away from. We can’t be what we seek to dismantle.

The path to congress is going to be characterized by experiments, anxiety and democratic adventures. It is going to be tough and choppy, but we are the biggest party in the country, we will find a lasting solution.

We need peace, tolerance, maturity, equanimity and robustness in all campaigns and our choice of quality leaders. We dare not elect lazy leaders who are only active during congresses. We must constitutionally pass the muster with MDC membership and democratic scrutiny. Therefore, we will allow all to go through the democracy mill.

Our agenda of growing the party is on course. The MDC is a broad church for all Zimbabweans from all backgrounds and shades of opinion. Being a social democratic, labour-backed party, we seek to cement and consolidate the party’s pan-African flair, locate our liberation struggle roots, nationalistic appeal, the national democratic revolution, standing on the shoulders of freedom fighters, war veterans and the liberation narrative.

Whereas we are dealing with a violent party, we must be a vibrant and vigilant party. We must show difference and excellence in all the zones of autonomy in local authorities and parliament and constituencies where we have the mandate to lead and represent the great people of Zimbabwe.

The MDC must at all times remain a people-centered party, a people’s parliament and the people must at all times have a say in shaping the position of our great party.

Therefore, when we speak of unity in the MDC, we refer to the united action of the people through the concert of a festival of ideas, as they put aside their racial, tribal, gender and class differences to map out a common national development trajectory. The people shall govern! We must not be extremists causing hatred. We must be measured in our language and tone.

What makes the MDC great is the celebration of dissent and diversity. The MDC is intact and growing bigger into a post-independence liberation force, democratization catalyst and transformation agent in Zimbabwe.

Nonetheless, we will be vigilant and guard against infiltration and violence from without. Non-members cannot manage internal affairs.

We are aware that our competition is working through the witching hours and burning the midnight oil to see the upcoming congress in disarray and to destroy the people’s party and throw into jeopardy.

The MDC will never split for it is the people’s project. The people cannot split. The people’s project will never be split by selfish motives. Individuals may from time to time elect and choose to get lost but along the way, often sooner, they will either find themselves or be found!‬

We want to grow the base. As I always say, we grow by adding, where necessary by multiplying and never by dividing or subtracting. To add is to strengthen and to subtract is to weaken!

We must remain focused on the goal. That which unites us far exceeds whatever might separate us.
Together we shine, asunder we are all dust!

Behold the New. Change that Delivers!
MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
God bless Zimbabwe. God bless Africa.

Adv. Nelson Chamisa
MDC President

Farai Dziva|Zanu-PF secretary for information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo has condemned the extension of sanctions against top government officials.

“Zimbabwe under the New Dispensation has instituted remarkable electoral reforms which created a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections as manifested in July 2018,” said Khaya Moyo.

“The country has witnessed the upholding of human rights fundamentals and the liberalisation of the media and many other freedoms as enshrined in the National Constitution. It must be understood by the Trump Administration that there was no justification in the first place for the USA to impose the sanctions over a bilateral historical issue between Zimbabwe and Britain.

It cannot be correct for the American Government to infer that the recent harmonised elections in Zimbabwe were irregular as they were endorsed by domestic, regional and continental bodies like SADC, the AU and various other international observer missions.

The verdict by the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court on the electoral challenge by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, declaring President ED Mnangagwa the winner brought the matter to finality.”

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has with immediate effect dissolved the Zanu-PF Harare and Bulawayo provincial structures.

This was revealed by the party’s secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya while briefing journalists after a Politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters today.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

Own Correspondent|Vice President Kembo Mohadi has been granted a divorce from ex-wife Tambudzani Bhudagi Mohadi (nee Muleya)’s by the High Court.

VP Mohadi approached the court back in 2017 seeking nullification of the couple’s divorce, claiming their marriage had irretrievably broken down.

The divorce battle was filled with drama and a lot of hard feelings with VP Mohadi approaching the Civil Court seeking a protection order against his ex-wife at some point.

Tambudzani once sued Mohadi’s mistress Juliet Mutavatsindi for $1,5 million for adultery damages.

Kembo is currently dating Juliet Mutavhatsindi whom he shows up with at occasions.

Correspondent|MDC Alliance president, Mr Nelson Chamisa has gagged senior officials from the party from commenting on the forthcoming congress as the opposition leader struggles to contain the simmering tension among members.

Addressing journalists today in Harare, Mr Chamisa threatened members who used social media and different platforms to denounce others ahead of congress saying there would be “gnashing of teeth for those crossed the line.”

He also skirted on giving details on his diplomatic offensive that he claimed to have embarked upon last week claiming that his opponents should not know whom “we meet.”

Correspondent|A section of residents in Zvishavane-Runde Constituency has written a letter to media houses appealing for the world to assist them in locating their Member of Parliament who has never set foot at the constituency since election results were announced.

The residents allege that the MP has neglected his duties to spearhead development in the area.

Find the letter of appeal below:

Dear Zimbabweans

This is an urgent appeal to all Zimbabweans and the world at large to help us find our member of parliament who has been missing since August 2018. The man was last seen just before the July 31 elections canvassing for support.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Honourable Member of Zvishavane-Runde constituency must tell him that his constituency especially Murowa Ward is missing him and his supposed services.

As a result of his absence, gross negligence or mere incompetence the ward and the community is suffering since noons is listening to the community’s problems and challenges. Murowa Ward in Zvishavane District is one of the poorest and underdeveloped places in the world despite being home to one of the richest diamond mines.

The area has no roads, no potable water, no electricity, no life at all as most buildings are cracking and falling apart due to the extensive blasting by the mine. Water bodies, air and the environment, in general, are heavily polluted by this reckless and careless mine.

The mine is doing virtually nothing in terms of corporate social investment despite their employees enjoying fat salaries and fancy packages such as flying to and from work.

Maybe the guy doesn’t know that he won the elections and has a constituency to cater for or it was a total blunder on our part voting for him when the duties of an M.P! Surely, with this calibre of M.Ps Zimbabwe will never develop. No wonder the circus and childish behaviour we witness in Parliament. We really feel abandoned, neglected and uncared for!

Cry The Beloved People

Murowa Community

Most of the day on Monday a lot of Econet subscribers could not make calls, send SMS messages, check their balance and worse could not use the USSD platform to perform EcoCash transactions.

According to the Herald, Econet issued a statement last night explaining what happened. Well unless the Herald skimmed off the actual explanation, none was given really. None that makes sense anyway. They just told us what we went through:

The Herald says:

In a statement released last night, the mobile giant said the fault initially resulted in call failures in the Masvingo region only, but later escalated to a nation-wide problem following an abnormal surge in traffic, which led to instability on its key network systems.

They quote Econet thus:

The instability on our key network systems resulted in intermittent failure by customers to make calls, send SMSes (messages), browse mobile data or to use USSD for services such as EcoCash and to purchase product bundles across the network

Well, we knew that already…

The issue of foreign currency
We have been saying here the current state of affairs in the country makes it difficult for operators to maintain a consistent quality service. There isn’t any foreign currency for these guys to import replacement equipment and other services they get outside the country to keep their networks oil smooth.

Econet said the same thing to the Herald:

We are confident of our back-up systems, but access to foreign currency would certainly enhance the robustness of these systems

The fact of the matter unless the authorities do something, the quality of service is going to keep deteriorating. Unfortunately for you and I, the something to be done is to allow tariff increases so operators can compete with other businesses on the foreign currency market.

Techzim

Correspondent|War veteran from Mashonaland Central Province who went berserk late last year and savagely assaulted 116 pupils at a local primary school for alleged indiscipline has been jailed.

Solomon Samu was handed a three-year sentence by magistrate Tendai Muchena who suspended one-year and left him to serve an effective two years behind bars. It was the State’s case that Samu, who hails from Kanyemba Village under Chief Dotito in Mount Darwin, confronted the school’s deputy headmaster, Paddington Musake, in October last year demanding the “right” to beat up all the children at the school because they had “ill-discipline”.

As Samu made the bizarre demand, a fearful Musake felt powerless to stop him, as the seemingly deranged war veteran moved quickly to beat the learners, beginning with Grade Seven pupils who were about to write their final exams.

In passing judgment Muchena said the former freedom fighter had acted unlawfully in violating children’s rights hence he deserved a deterrent punishment. “The accused had the intention to harm all the children at the school and it is hard to imagine a country where an individual approaches a school from nowhere and demand the right to assault children,” Muchena said.

In mitigation, Samu through his lawyer Elaton Bonongwe pleaded for leniency saying he was old and had two school-going children who still needed to be taken care of. Samu also argued that he had been severely affected by the war and had not been treated for the trauma he suffered.

He also said he was suffering from a backache resulting from fragments of a grenade that hit him during the war. But Muchena pointed out that it was difficult to believe that nearly 40 years after the war, Samu was still suffering from the war effects that he did not know the effects of having to assault a whole school.

According to the State’s case after beating the Grade Seven pupils in the full view of their stunned teachers, Samu allegedly called on the Grade six and five learners, whereupon he meted on them the same punishment. He only stopped the beatings when Musake and the other teachers eventually gathered the courage to threaten to call police to deal with him.

Despite the incident happening in October last year, and school authorities immediately filing a formal complaint with police against the war veteran, he was only arrested last week after the intervention of parents and the Social Welfare department.

A very good afternoon to you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I felt that I should prepare a statement for this so that I do not lose my train of thought.  

Today being the 5^th March my reference is. Statement of apology to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda.  

The statement begins:

Mr Speaker, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Hon Members of Parliament here present.  During a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Meeting on Mines and Mining Development in the Senate Chamber on Monday 11^th February 2019, an incident erupted between Hon. Dexter Nduna and me. 

 During the debacle, I inadvertently included the name of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda in the furore, mistakenly linking him with the nefarious actions attributed to Hon. Nduna.  

The erroneous accusation was premised on misinformation emanating from Hon. Nduna who fabricated a false association with the Hon. Speaker in an attempt to shield and seek protection from the underhand dealings he was associated with to make them appear above board.

It was unfortunate that the exchange with Hon. Nduna and myself occurred at a time that I was personally labouring with extreme sentiments of dissatisfaction and frustration with the Mines Committee.  

The alleged corruption cases, politicisation of the Committee, the seeming neglect to resolve matters as raised and recommended as well as interference from those members co-opted to protect self-interest cultivated extreme feelings of dejection which unfortunately caused me to lash out. 

 I subsequently warn all my esteemed colleagues who use the names of those in higher offices to hide behind or as some form of protection to immediately desist from the practice, the name of the Speaker must not be held in disrepute. I therefore sincerely apologise to the Hon. Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda for the attack on his person and credibility and regret the outburst thereof. 

Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda is a person that I hold in high regard and have a great sense of esteem for the dogmatic, professional and ethical manner in which he executes his duties, which affectionately earned him the nickname, “the headmaster”.  

So great is the respect and confidence I have for his professionalism and efficiency that I seconded Hon. Mudenda as Speaker of the National Assembly for the 9^th Parliament of Zimbabwe, a vote of confidence that I do not take lightly.  

I look up to Hon. Mudenda as a father figure and as a son; I bow down my head for forgiveness for my transgression.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I appeal to you to address matters brought to your attention to avoid those involved from the perception that they are untouchable or are afforded any protection by you. 

 A matter in point, as an example is the issue brought up by Hon Lynette Karenyi who spoke out against the alleged abuse of women by Hon. Members, Paradza and Zhou which to date remains pending.  

These are the very same Hon. Members who continue to cause havoc in Parliamentary Committees, as I indicated in my quarterly report.  

They are the very same Hon. Members who are yet to engage in meaningful debate in Parliament and at best are recorded in the Hansard for their heckling which leaves a lot to be desired.

The Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe will cause a challenge for you Mr. Speaker Sir, if Hon. Members of Parliament cannot maintain the decorum and integrity of the august House.  

The important role of scrutiny and oversight cannot continue to be trivialised by those serving selfish interests, we are here to serve national interest.

However, whilst I apologise for Hon. Mudenda’s inclusion, I do not take back my words regarding the fight against corruption.  My stance against those involved remains consistent and I will ensure that I re-double my efforts to see that justice is served and that the double and triple thieves are brought to book.  

As a nation, we will struggle to implement any meaningful policies to move the country forward if we do not tackle and remove the disease of corruption from our society. 

Corruption is the cancer that will thwart any attempts at economic resuscitation from thriving, and it is with that in mind that I continue to advocate for the panacea of Zero Tolerance to Corruption.

Correspondent|FORMER President, Robert Mugabe was yesterday implicated in former Minister of ICT and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzira’s case of criminal abuse of office.

There were claims that the former head of state gave the ex-minister green light to act unlawfully.

Mandiwanzira said this in an application for referral to the Constitutional Court for it to determine the duties of a public officer.

Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba representing Mandiwanzira told regional magistrate Elijah Makomo that the relevant provision of Section 174, which is being relied upon by the State was too broad inhibiting public officers to conduct their duties.

“The basis of the application is that the provision is too wide and all-encompassing to the fact that public officers are hindered from carrying out their normal administrative duties.

“Mandiwanzira couldn’t have conducted himself in a manner contrary to his duties as a public officer because the duties are not defined in the Act and this endows police officers to determine what the parameters of the duties are.”

Magwaliba said his client did all he did with the interests of the public in mind.

“Mandiwanzira had full authority of the president of Zimbabwe to engage Megawatt to revise the contract between NetOne and Huawei, he will give evidence of the letters he exchanged with him and minutes of meetings held between the two parties,” said Magwaliba.

In their application, they maintained that administration work is about making decisions so it’s selective and is bound to show favor or disfavor to any person hence it was important for the constitutionality to be determined in the superior court.

Magwaliba also led evidence from Mandiwanzira, who said he has written letters to the secretary to the President and cabinet requesting minutes and permission to disclose the discussions under camera.

Magistrate Makomo questioned Mandiwanzira whether he would maintain the same argument if he was told that the duties of a public officer are not numerated in Section 174 but are put together by other pieces of legislation.

He responded saying he would maintain his argument because the constitution does not specify the level of discretion to be exercised by a public officer and he thought he was doing well for the nation by involving an auditor for free.

Micheal Chakandida opposed the application and the matter was remanded to today for ruling.

Mandiwanzira is accused of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly engaged South African firm, Megawatt Company to provide services to NetOne without going to tender.

He is also accused of appointing his personal assistant, Tawanda Chinembiri to the Postal Telecommunications and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) board.

Own Correspondent|In a very alarming development for the country, which would make Zimbabwe a haven for paedophiles, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Welfare is reported to be pushing for the age of se_xual consent to be reduced to 12 years. At the moment, the legal age of consent is 16 years.

The matter was confirmed by the Assistant Clerk of Parliament Johane Gandiwa who said that the issue of reducing the age of sexual consent to 12 years was actually discussed by the Health and Child Welfare committee last week during a workshop.

Commenting on the matter, former Harare West legislator Jessie Majome said,

“I remember how we fought so hard in the 8th Parliament with Innocent Gonese and Priscilla Misihairabwi in the Committee stage of the Criminal Codification Reform Amendment Bill to raise the consent age from 14 to 18 and got 16, now it can just blow away in 2 fell swoops!”

Correspondent|Transport minister Joe Big Matiza on Tuesday dissolved the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED) board with “immediate effect.”

In a letter written to board members by Matiza, the board was dissolved after consultations between the minister and President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the dissolution was in order to “pave way for the re-organisation of the company,”

A copy of the letter which is dated March 5 2019 reads:

“Following due consultations with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, it has been agreed that the Board of Directors for (CMED) (Pvt) Ltd be dissolved. The dissolution is with immediate effect,” reads part of the letter.

Despite, the ‘diplomatic’ wording and reasons stated in the letter of dismissal, our sources revealed that Mnangagwa was irked by reports of rampant corruption within the parastatal.

As reported last week, the CMED was probed for undervaluation and hiring of the outsourced vehicles to the top Ministry of Mines officials.

“The CID is interested in establishing why the CMED would hire cars sourced from individuals to give the directors after they had purchased official ministry vehicles.

“There is strong suspicion that these cars that were hired belong to individuals who are closely associated or related to top CMED officials. It is clear there is a case of corruption,”our source said then.

CMED allegedly hired six luxury vehicles to the Ministry of Mines executives at a cost of $24 000 per month.

Correspondent|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has described the ruling party ZANU-PF as “legendary” when it comes to infiltrating the opposition and causing confusion among MDC structures, but warned that efforts to derail the opposition movement will not work.

He added that the MDC was undisturbed by an alleged Zanu PF plot to detail the party’s forthcoming Congress through imposing some candidates favoured by the ruling party.

Chamisa told journalists in Harare today that “all these efforts to derail our Congress and aspirations of MDC members will not work.”

He made these remarks amid reports that MDC secretary general Douglas Mwonzora wants to contest the post of president currently being held by the 40-year-old founding member of the opposition party.

Chamisa warned party activists to desist from deriding his perceived rivals, saying every party member has a right to contest a post of his choice in the MDC whose first president Morgan Tsvangirai died of cancer of the colon a year ago.

The party spilt soon after Tsvangirai was buried in his rural home with then vice president Thokozani Khupe claiming that she was supposed to take over the presidential seat.

Chamisa’s handlers claimed that Tsvangirai wanted the youthful party member to succeed him.

The MDC holds its elective Congress from 24 to 26 May at a venue Chamisa said will be announced in due course.

Correspondent|An angry Gokwe teacher was reportedly arrested during weekend after confronting the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavima in a beer hall over poor working conditions.

Stephen Mangoma of Mateta in Gokwe South district confronted Mavima who was in a bar in Gokwe on Friday, charging that the education minister was responsible for his suffering.

“I hate you, and I hate ZANU PF because you are responsible for our suffering,” shouted Mangoma.

Sensing danger, Mavima took to his heels while the angry Mangoma allegedly chased him.

Mavima was on tour in his Gokwe South constituency, visiting various party structures and supervising some of his community projects.

Mangoma was later on tracked down by police resulting in his arrest on Saturday and charged with disorderly conduct.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure condemned Mangoma’s arrest which he described as harassment.

Mangoma was expected to appear before Gokwe Magistrate court today.

Paul Nyathi|Heavy in fighting and factional divisions within the ruling ZANU PF have forced the party’s politburo to dissolve the Harare and Bulawayo provincial structures with immediate effect.

This was revealed by the party’s secretary for information and publicity Simon Khaya-Moyo.

He was briefing journalists after a Politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters on Wednesday.

More to follow…

Correspondent|THE MDC Alliance’s Standing Committee held a meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare on Wednesday afternoon to strategize the road-map for the elective Congress which the party has set for 24 to 26 May.

We give you below the key points raised by party leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa during a press conference held after the Standing Committee meeting:

Zimbabwe has a leadership and legitimacy crisis and which if not resolved will continue to erode prospects of having an economic narrative that will improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.

We are seeing the reincarnation of yesteryear politics where there is closure of democratic space. There is corruption, patronage and poverty and the devaluation of our people’s lives and well as the widening of inequality gaps.

The interbank platform is also proving to be a problem. The floating of the RTGS dollar is quite problematic and the cash situation in the banks has not improved. We have offered as an alternative to restore confidence but with the crisis of governance we have, the problems will continue and the livelihoods will continue to be destroyed.

We have also seen a systematic targeting of strong MDC leaders, MPs and civil society in order to silence them. The level of human rights violation is worsening. At least 17 people from our records have been killed since January.

Zimbabwe has attracted isolation from the international community due to its level of intolerance. There have been invasion of homes, abductions, mass trials and fast-tracking of cases which are all a violation of rights.  We have seen our leaders such as Tendai Biti, Lloyd Mukapiko, Settlement Chikwinya, Joana Mamombe, Amos Chibaya, Levy Chiminya, Happymore Chidziva, Morgen Komichi and many others.

Zimbabwe has gone further down in terms of democracy indicators, and all this is self-inflicted by the regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This is why we have emphasized dialogue. We have clearly stated that we are prepared for dialogue with Mr. Mnangagwa to discuss the issues affecting Zimbabwe. We do not know why he is afraid of having a brow-to-brow, eye-to-eye conversation of the issues affecting us.

We wrote to Mr. Mnangagwa on the 6th of February telling him we cannot be part of his type of dialogue of like-minded losers of the 2018 elections.

There is a sideshow that has been disguised as a dialogue. But we have seen that a lot of leaders are withdrawing from that sideshow of a dialogue.

On the State of the MDC

The MDC is going into the 5th Congress since its formations. The MDC is a giant that will emerge stronger from the Congress. This year we celebrate 20 years of resisting tyranny, of fighting for democracy. We have to acknowledge that in last year’s elections, our party made a good showing in the presidential and local ward elections.

We have revitalized the party. That is why you can see Mr. Biti is here, Mr. Welshman Ncube and many other leaders are here. You are aware of the outstanding performance that we made in gaining ground across the whole country. Our competitor ZANU-PF is losing ground while our party is gaining ground.

If you are honest, you will accept we got 2.6 million votes. If you are dishonest you will say we got 2.1 million votes, but all the same, we gained support including from some very prominent people from across the political divide.

The Congress will give us a chance to renew out team. I am going to be the first who will congratulate whoever emerges victorious from this Congress.

This is a chance and opportunity to have a fresh set of leaders, new structure, new ideas, new strategies… that is the thrust we are taking.

The theme of our Congress is Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe.

After the Congress, Mr. Mnangagwa must be ready for us because we are going to retool our party for the task of taking leadership and responsibility of this country in a democratic manner.

We are going to show the world that we are a democratic party; that we do not only talk democracy but we practice democracy.

As we go into Congress, tensions will rise. We must however not exchange blows. we have also resolved as leadership that we are not going to do things the ZANU-PF way where leaders are endorsed. In our party, leaders are nominated.

We want to ensure that democracy is there in our party. Mr. Chamisa is not the first or the last born leader in the MDC. Mr. Tsvangirai groomed me, but he also groomed many other leaders in the party. In fact, we have shown to ZANU-PF that by killing Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, if they thought that our movement was dead, we managed to rebuild it from the ashes.

We are MDC and we can’t do that which we are running away from: dictatorship. We will have the best Congress ever. There will be an independent body to run our Congress, and all the leaders are going to be a part to constituting that body so that there is no foul cry. We do not want to create a ZEC within the MDC.

Our agenda is to grow this party and to fish from the other parties across the political divide. We will resist the temptation to use violence to settle differences within our party. 

But we will not allow our leaders to be spokespersons of our party… we have only one spokesperson. But the leaders will be spokespersons to themselves as they campaign.

We have our own Congress road-map. The key dates will be as follows as we head to Congress:

• In March we will have the branch and the ward elections;
• In April, we shall have the district congress;
• Towards the end of April, we will have the provincial congress. This is where nominations will be done. In our party, people get nominated.
• in May, all the nominated candidates will go into caucuses for campaigns or “beauty contests”. Those nominated will address the address the membership, articulating what they will be able to do.

So there will be a full month of campaign in those caucuses. Then we will go into congress at a venue to be announced. But we will also have the women’s congress and the youth congress during that same period.

The MDC is a people’s project and cannot afford to split. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to be chosen to lead the party. That is democracy, it can be painful but that is the essence of democracy.

The most important things for us is to bring our people together and a remain formidable party.

On utterances by war veterans leader Victor Matemadanda that they prefer a mature leader in party, let me tell you that Matemadanda prefers the MDC to ZANU-PF. I know that inside his heart, Matemadanda actually prefers Chamisa. If he continues with what he is doing I will produce the v11 (euphemism for evidence) to expose him that he really supports our movement. He should not try to divide us.

There is no division in the MDC.  We are a party with protocols, rules and regulations. We will not see any name-calling going forward. If there is any crossing of the line, I promise you that there will be gnashing of teeth. We have now set the do’s and don’t’s of how we will conduct ourselves going forward.

Whatever happened in the past weeks — the name-calling and all that — it is regrettable but you shall not see any of that again going forward.

Own Correspondent|BRIGADIER General Emilio Munemo, who passed away on Sunday after a long illness, has been declared national hero.

The late Brigadier General Munemo was a veteran of the Zimbabwe liberation struggle.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Civil Military Relations Department, to which he became the Director-General and was based at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters.

In 1982, Chivi-born Munemo commanded one of the three Fifth Brigade battalions, initially stationed in Zvishavane, Midlands province.

In April 1983, Munemo was promoted to commander of the Fifth Brigade after the British Army invited the then Brigadier Shiri to attend a senior officers’ course at Britain’s famous Military Academy, Sandhurst.

After commanding the Fifth Brigade, Munemo went to Nigeria for further studies.

Burial arrangements will also be advised in due course.

Brig-Gen Munemo is survived by nine children and seven grandchildren. Among his children is social media influencer Gerald Mutumanje, also known as Acie Lumumba.

Correspondent|FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe as well as top ZANU-PF leader went on a looting spree and stole over $1 million funds from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), according to a report by the Zim Morning Post.

The report details how the money was abused under the pretext of being a fund for ZINARA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, yet the funds were being siphoned into the pockets of well-connected top party bosses when the Mugabes were still in power.

The revelation comes at a time when the 2014 Zinara Grant Thornton Forensic audit report has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Anti-corruption division.

In brief, the looted funds can be split as follows:

• Grace Mugabe received $100 000
• Other donations: $180 000
• Zifa: $340 000
• Mushamukadzi: $26 000
• Robert Mugabe 21^st Movement:  $26 000
• Zanu PF: $100 000
• Zanu PF (Mashonaland East and West): $71 00

The full audit report, which the Zim Morning Post claims it has seen, has exposed the rot and corrupt activities done by Zinara from 2014 to 2018.

Investigations made by the Zim Morning Post in conjunction with the Centre for Investigative journalism in Zimbabwe established that the damning audit report has been kept under wraps by the former Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Jorum Gumbo since 2016.

It had to take the intervention of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President to retrieve the report.

“We are also surprised why he (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) is pushing for the investigation because the beneficiaries are mainly from Zanu PF.

“This is a real test on his fight against corruption,” the source said.

Ministry sources said the report has not yet been tabled at the ministry as officials are scared because it implicates them.

Of particular interest is how the CSR fund was abused to fund a few individuals including politicians.

“The CSR funds were meant to benefit the underprivileged in the society but they were channeled to organisations linked to the political elite and one wonders what criteria was used to choose beneficiaries,” revealed our well-placed source.

“The officials were protected and there was a systematic obstruction into the investigations into the alleged looting of funds at ZINARA to protect corrupt officials,” said the source.

“The minister (Gumbo) is alleged to have thwarted investigations by muzzling the board and shielding senior ministry officials and top managers, a development that made him cross lines with the then permanent secretary Machivenyika Mapuranga.”

The Zim Morning Post has it on good authority that the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President has already instituted investigations and the audit report is in the hands of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who ordered immediate investigations to ascertain how the CSR funds were used.

The beneficiaries include former president Robert Mugabe who benefited through the funding of his 21st movement and his wife Grace Mugabe who benefited through the funding of her Amai Mugabe Junior School.

The former first lady’s school was allocated at least $100 000 between 2014 and 2016.

Zinara also funded the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and other departments from the security forces, which all pocketed an inexplicable $ 70 000.

“ZANU PF bigwigs have been benefiting from funds meant for the underprivileged and some of them would take their concubines to hotels with ZINARA footing the bills. What type of CSR is that,” questioned our source.

Indeed, the report states that on March 21 2018 ZINARA paid $35 000 to Rainbow Towers.

The report also exposes that close to US$180 000 was simply stated as “other donations” without specifying the beneficiaries

What also raises eyebrows is that only two provinces were beneficiaries of the CSR funds yet the institution is a national body that collects road user charges through toll gates dotted nationwide.

The report states that only Zanu PF Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East provinces benefited to the tune of $123 000 giving rise to speculation that there was ‘special political interest’ from individuals within the roads adminstrator.

Despite the chaos that rocked the football fraternity due to lack of funding, the audit report shows that the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) received $340 000 from ZINARA.

Zifa has had perennial financial woes which has seen the Mighty Warriors receiving poor diet in camp while at one time players were paid a meagre amount of $5.

ZINARA earns millions of dollars through toll gates and transparency at the body has been of major concern lately with several cases of leakages been reported.

Mary Chiwenga’s Mushamukadzi Trust reportedly received close to $26 000 between 2014 and 2018.

Farai Dziva|War veterans leader Victor Matemadanda has sensationally claimed MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa needs political orientation as he is too young to lead the opposition party.

“You have older and mature people who are in MDC but they do not want to advise the young man.

It’s not that he is a bad guy but he is not getting proper advice. I know he is going to criticise me for saying this.
… He had shown being quite good starting with 2.2 million voting for MDC. So he needs the right and older people to guide him.

But at the end also, there is no benefit in talking to him if he doesn’t recognise our leader Emmerson Mnangagwa as President of Zimbabwe,” Matemadanda told a daily publication.

Farai Dziva|Government has dismally failed to run the multimillion dollar Tugwi- Mukosi project, a government official has said.

Masvingo Province State Minister, Ezra Chadzamira has conceded Government failure to manage the project.

“Simply put, we have failed to run the Tugwi- Mukosi project due to several reasons.

The major reason is that we failed to come up with a grand plan to manage the project.

We are now looking for partners who can assist us- to be frank Government does have the money to run the big project,” said Chadzamira last week.

The government evicted thousands of villagers from the Tugwi- Mukosi area in controversial circumstances.

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MDC President Nelson Chamisa has dispelled fears that his party will emerge weaker after the congress saying his movement is a giant that will emerge stronger after its fifth congress slated for May this year.

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Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said he is prepared to dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying the first point should be their own meeting to resolve their differences before calling everyone for an inclusive process.

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Jane Mlambo| Leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is expected to address a press conference soon after the party’s Standing Committee meeting currently underway.

According to communication from the MDC, Chamisa will address the nation on the state of the economy and the party’s roadmap to the elective congress slated for May.

Follow us for live update of the press conference…

By Own Correspondent- MDC Deputy Treasurer Charlton Hwende has been remanded in custody until the 20th of March.

Hwende was arrested yesterday at Robert Mugabe International Airport and charged with treason.

He was apprehended on arrival from Namibia where he had sought treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Said Pedzisayi Ruhanya, a political commentator in a tweet:

“Kuwadzana East MP Hon Chalton Hwende charged with treason at Harare Magistrate Court today. Remanded in custody until 20 March 2019. His lawyer dashed to High Court to apply for bail. So much of the bogus ED new dispensation. Zim is surely open for treason charges business!”

ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the opposition MDC set to be held a Morgan Tsvangirai House at 2:00 pm today (Wednesday).

While details of who will address the presser were still sketchy by the time of writing, the press conference comes on the backdrop of a crunch indaba by the party’s highest decision making body the National Assembly which was held this morning at the party’s headquarters.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates

Democracy is at work in Zimbabwe says Ambassador Manzou pic.twitter.com/Sgjk3T0PLe

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 6, 2019

Firebrand opposition activist and constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere has sought to correct the misconception that sanctions against Zimbabwe are illegal saying they are authorized by the American legislature.

Zanu PF yesterday came out guns blazing accusing the US government of perpetuating illegal sanctions but Mahere reminded the ruling party that the Trump administration is not forced by any domestic or international law to associate with Zimbabwe.

1. US sanctions against Zim aren’t illegal. They’re authorized by their legislature. They’re not forced by any domestic or international law to associate with Zim beyond what they’re comfortable with. Our opinions on this are irrelevant. If we want them lifted, must play ball.

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) March 5, 2019

Last week, the US government extended by another year sanctions against Zimbabwe saying only meaningful reforms would force them to rescind their decision when they sit again next year.

Correspondent|MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora has told the veterans of the 1970s liberation war to not stick their noses into MDC business as the party heads to Congress. Mwonzora said the Congress is an internal MDC affair which will be decided only by delegates who are bona fide MDC members.

“The war veterans and their party should have nothing to do with the MDC congress. It is an internal affair which will be decided only by the MDC members themselves,” said Mwonzora.

The war veterans and thier party should have nothing to do with the MDC congress. It is an internal affair which will be decided only by the MDC members themselves.

— Sen Douglas Mwonzora (@DMwonzora) March 6, 2019

The war veterans and thier party should have nothing to do with the MDC congress. It is an internal affair which will be decided only by the MDC members themselves.

His statement follows hard on the heels of that of war veterans leader Douglas Mahiya who a few days ago expressed hope that the MDC will elect a “more mature leader at its Congress,” statements which were taken to mean they were favouring a Mwonzora victory over party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mahiya said war veterans are tired of an opposition leader who opposes Zanu-PF for the sake of opposing.

Said Mahiya: “MDC supporters must choose a person who they feel is mature, with political aptness who will be able to take their political party forward. That person must be someone who knows the values of being in opposition, political consciousness of the party; not a leader who just opposes for the sake of opposing.

“A leader who cannot oppose the ruling party’s good policies for the sake of opposing, but positive criticism. We are tired of an opposition leader who even blames the ruling party for a cloudy day because it was supposed to be sunny.

“As war veterans, we went to war for everyone to enjoy the freedom to choose who they want to lead them and we will not give the opposition a name to choose. But this is their chance to choose a mature person who will benefit both their party and the country.”

The MDC Congress will take place from 24 to 26 May 2019. Although Mwonzora is yet to officially throw his name into the hat, it is all but certain that he will challenge party president Nelson Chamisa at the Congress.

Party vice – president Elias Mudzuri is also reportedly fancying his chances.

POLICE have denied any wrong doing after an officer fired at a moving vehicle and shot a passenger in her back, along Chitungwiza Road in August last year.

In a plea to defend a $17 000 lawsuit filed by Loveness Chiriseri last December, where she is claiming damages and medical expenses incurred after suffering a gunshot wound at a roadblock, the police declined to pay.

“There was no recklessness on the part of the police officer. He was deployed to check unmarked vehicles of different types and makes that had been terrorising innocent citizens of Zimbabwe. The vehicle plaintiff was in had no number plates and the driver failed to stop when asked to stop when instructed to do so,” read the police response.

“A reasonable suspicion to the effect that the vehicle had been used in the commission of an offence cannot be discounted in these circumstances. If anything, the damages must be directed at the driver, who intentionally tried to evade lawful police instruction.”

The police who are being sued together with Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema do not deny shooting Chiriseri at a roadblock in Chitungwiza on August 19 last year, but say they acted within the law.

“There was never any random and indiscriminate shooting, the shots were fired in the air, as warning which the driver refused to take note of, eventually a shot aimed at the motor vehicle was fired, specifically to stop the motor vehicle,” the police in defence said.

Last year, Chiriseri a law student who was travelling from Chitungwiza to Harare, boarded an unregistered Honda Fit, which was stopped at a roadblock.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop, resulting in the police shooting at the car and in the process hitting Chiriseri.

She was admitted at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, where she met her own medical bills and says she was traumatised by the incident.

Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyers are acting on behalf of Chiriseri, while the Attorney-General is defending the police.

— NewsDay

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s much hyped visit to Zimbabwe is set for the 12th March, the permanent secretary in the foreign affairs ministry has told parliament today

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Zimbabwe confirmed, the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs ministry has told parliament that Ramaphosa will be in Zim on March 12 2019 pic.twitter.com/4kDjNXSor7

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 6, 2019

THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has written to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) senior journalist Judith Makwanya disputing a televised report that milling companies were spinning central bank-issued foreign currency on the parallel market.

Makwanya on February 26 this year reported about one Douglas Kwande, a local farmer from Gweru who was said to be in the business of baking bread using locally-produced wheat.

However, the GMAZ dismissed the allegations that there were milling companies that were reluctant to support wheat producers and that they were receiving or requesting foreign currency from the central bank, which they allegedly spin on the black market.

GMAZ instructed their lawyers Wintertons Legal Practitioners to demand further particulars in the form of specific names of the milling companies that were selling foreign currency on the black market, the exact black market dealers who have dealt with milling companies and the names of wheat producers who have requested for support from the alleged milling companies.

“We are instructed to demand the supply of the requested information within five working days of your receipt of this letter, failing which we have standing instructions to institute legal proceedings against you in your personal capacity for possible injury and possible harm to the reputation of milling companies currently operating in Zimbabwe,” the lawyers said.

The letter was served to Makwanya on March 1 and she is yet to respond to the letter.

-Newsday

The bail application for Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Rashid Mahiya, who is facing charges of plotting to overthrow the government will be heard at the High Court on today. The bail application has been postponed for the third time after the state failed to make submissions.

Mahiya’s lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights launched the High Court bid after Mahiya was denied bail during his initial court appearance on February 26. The High Court bid was submitted on 27th February and to date the state has failed to make submissions with the High Court on the matter

Mahiya, who is being charged for subversion as defined in Section 22 (20 (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act had surrendered himself to the police on February 25, 2019.

The State alleges Mahiya held a series of meetings between December 3-6 2018 during which he urged members of Non Governmental Organizations and the general citizenry to engage in acts of sabotage.

Mahiya’s arrest follows a sustained attack on civil society leaders and labour in what appears as a well choreographed campaign to criminalise human rights in Zimbabwe.

Over the past two months Zimbabwe has witnessed a systematic closure of the civil society space and criminalization of their work as evidenced by the following:

  i.        The arrest and detention of Pastor Evan Mawarire on January 16, 2019. Mawarire is facing charges of subversion 



 ii.        The arrest of Japhet Moyo, the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on January 21, 2019. Moyo is facing charges of inciting public violence and subversion

iii. The arrest of Peter Mutasa, the President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on January 25, 2019. Mutasa is facing charges of treason

iv. The abduction and detention of Obert Masaraure the President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe on January 18, 2019. Masaraure was abducted in front of his family by armed men. He was later handed over to the police

 v.        The arrest of Robson Chere, the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe on January 15, 2019

vi. The abduction and torture of the Zimbabwe Youth Alliance Chairperson, Kumbirai Magorimbo on January 22, 2019

vii. The attack on the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights for providing legal representation to affected human rights defenders and other citizens

viii. The attacks on the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights for providing emergency treatment to victims of torture as well as for documenting cases of army shootings

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Zimbabwe confirmed, the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs ministry has told parliament that Ramaphosa will be in Zim on March 12 2019 pic.twitter.com/4kDjNXSor7

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 6, 2019

Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo has failed to show up at the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs with his Perm Secretary Manzou says the minister had looked forward to attend the committee but could not do so due other commitments

Watch video below…

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Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda yesterday ruled that the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Act must be amended in order to include clauses that MPs found on the wrong side of the law are arrested with dignity and not harassed.

This came in the wake of complaints made yesterday by Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) over the arrest of fellow party legislators, Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe in Nyanga while attending a parliamentary workshop, and Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende, who was arrested yesterday at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon arrival from Namibia, where he had visited his family.

“Since August, there are more than 12 MPs (who have been arrested), including myself (Biti), Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya, Redcliff MP Lloyd Mukapiko, Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole, Matabeleland North Senator Rosemary Nyathi, Chiwundura MP Livingstone Chimina, and Midlands Senator Morgen Komichi,” Biti said.

“The State has a right to proceed against any individual in respect of which reasonable grounds of suspicion exist, but in casu, if you trace the thread of charges against these MPs one would find that they are clearly political and tied to the highly contested election,” Biti said, adding that the treason charges on the MPs were highly frivolous.

Biti warned Zanu PF MPs that tomorrow, the same State agents would be coming for them too.

Mudenda said Mamombe was arrested after parliamentary business.

Meanwhile, Norton MP Temba Mliswa (independent) and Chegutu West MP Dextor Nduna (Zanu PF) took turns to apologise to Mudenda for their temperamental behaviour last month in Parliament, where they nearly exchanged blows.

Mliswa had accused Nduna of being a thief and involved in an $11 million Zimbabwe National Road Administration scam, while the Chegutu legislator, in turn, threatened Mliswa and claimed to have killed people.

But yesterday, Mliswa apologised for insinuating that Mudenda was corrupt.

“During the debacle, I inadvertently included the name of the Speaker in the furore, mistakenly linking him with the nefarious actions attributed to Nduna,” he said in his apology statement.

“The erroneous accusation was premised on misinformation emanating from Nduna, who fabricated a false association with Mudenda in an attempt to shield and seek protection from the underhand dealings he was associated with to make them appear above board.”

Mliswa appealed to Mudenda to also address issues of Zanu PF MPs Tafanana Zhou (Mberengwa North) and John Paradza (Gutu West), who he accused of being abusive to female legislators like Lynette Karenyi (MDC Alliance PR).

Nduna then also apologised, saying he did not mean what he said. He said whenever there was a fierce fight, one would use a pick, shovel or anything at their disposal to defend themselves.

“I want to profusely apologise for the words I uttered, and say that I did not mean anything that I said, and I take back my words and want to apologise so that the decorum of Parliament can be appraised. I apologise to the Speaker as chairperson of the Standing Rules and Orders Committee, the institution of Parliament, MPs and my party Zanu PF for the fracas which had unintended effects,” he said.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new administration as a “fluke” and a continuation of the old order.

Addressing the media at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare on Wednesday, Chamisa said Mnangagwa’s administration is a continuing with the former president Robert Mugabe way of doing things.

He said:

“…..the levels of human rights violations is worsening. (Mnangagwa’s) new administration is a fluke. There is the continuation of the old order of economic lethargy, economic destruction, patronage and decay. The people’s plight is worsening and the relentless order of poverty increasing.”

By Own Correspondent- Shurugwi South legislator Edmond Mkaratigwa has revealed that communities in his constituency are preserving their deceased the traditional way since there is no mortuary.

Mkaratigwa implored government to upgrade the hospital which he said was the district hospital which serviced the constituency.

He said this while reacting to a motion moved by Goodluck Kwaramba on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first State of the Nation Address.

He said:

“In Shurugwi South Constituency, we have contributed to the servicing of a host of clinics notably Chikato, Zvamatenga, Dorset, Gundura and so on. We have also provided roofing material and electrical accessories to some of these clinics and schools, for example Matamba and Rusike.

However, Wards 8 and 11 have no clinics at all and it is my priority during my five-year term of office to facilitate the construction of the same. I have facilitated the funding of two medical outreach programmes and supplied pharmaceuticals to all clinics in my constituency.

Nonetheless, Zvamavande Rural District Hospital, which is central in the constituency needs a resident doctor, diagnostic and modern theatre equipment to undertake surgical operations.

As if that was not enough, the mortuary at Zvamavande Hospital is out of service, forcing residents to take their deceased and preserve them in a traditional way on the sand at home.

My plea to the Ministry of Health and Child Care is that, may this hospital be properly upgraded and well equipped. The upgrade is imperative and should incorporate a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility.

Having said that, there is need to upgrade accommodation for all medical staff in the constituency. In total, we have 24 health facilities in the constituency, none of which are ready to handle any form of emergency.”

In Zimbabwe, the price of bread is forcing citizens to look for alternatives to go with the food that is also in short supply. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government says it is working to ensure people can buy bread that is affordable.

Bread in Zimbabwe now costs $2 a loaf, or higher, making it beyond the reach of many in the poverty-stricken country.

That has not stopped Zimbabweans from enjoying their favorite morning drink — tea — without bread, as 63-year-old Gibson Nhema said.

“My friend, bread is now expensive. Now, sometimes we have our thick porridge, sweet potatoes, green mealies. If we can get it [bread] once a week, that will be it. But we no longer miss it, because it is now expensive. They [at home] make them have a color of bread so that I do not miss bread. If they [government] would push the price of bread and flour down, that would go well with our way of living. We have no cash. If it remains expensive, I will not be able to buy dinner if I buy bread. So, we go for potatoes and will have bread when I get money,” she said.

Nhema said sales of potatoes and other bread substitutes is booming.

Alwyn Mutero, who sells bread.

“People used to buy bread a lot. But these days, they are not buying bread. You can check the shelves. There used to be lots of bread, but these days, people no longer buy like they used to do, because prices are going high. We used to sell this bread for about a $1. Now, it costs about $2.50. So, people cannot afford it,” said Mutero.

Minister of Industries Mangaliso Ndlovu said he is aware of the problem facing Zimbabweans.

“We are currently engaging the baking sector, specifically looking at the issue of bread availability and the price of bread. We are worried that there is always demand for the importation of wheat. It is possible to have a bread that is 100 percent Zimbabwean. As a government, we are quite keen to see that bread is available at affordable prices to the generality of our people,” said Ndlovy.

Government’s price controls

Part of the problem is that because of government price controls, wheat millers and bakers lose money when they make their products. As a result they produce less to minimize their losses. This leads to a bread shortage and higher prices.

But Ben Gilpin from the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union said wheat is a capital intensive, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government must ensure that it is priced correctly to address Zimbabwe’s bread shortages and affordability.

He said among other things, farmers must have the knowledge and tools to revive the agriculture sector, which has struggled since 2000 when the government began to push white commercial farmers off their land and replace them with poorer, less experienced black farmers.

“Irrigation infrastructure and impact of land reform has had an impact on wheat production. It got down to a very low level at one point. It’s coming up, but for it to grow on a sustainable basis, the bottom line is [that] farmers need a decent price, and millers need to cover their costs, and contractors need to get their supplies at affordable prices,” said Gilpin.

While the government, farmers and businesses look for a solution, Zimbabweans like Gibson Nhema will have to keep thinking of alternatives — pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternuts — to their daily bread, hoping that they, too, do not get affected by price controls that force shortages.

VOA

THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Recreation has summoned Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry, to appear before it tomorrow. The committee says they want to discuss issues related to the appointment of the Sport and Recreation Commission board.

The previous SRC board was dissolved in October last year but a new one has not been appointed.

“The above-mentioned committee is enquiring on the appointment of the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) and Empower Bank board and, therefore, are inviting you to a meeting on 7 March Committee Room 2,’’ the committee said in their letter to Coventry.

“To assist in the inquiry, you are kindly requested to provide any documentation related to the two boards not later than Thursday 7 March 2019.’’

Last week, the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association leader, Eddie “Mboma’’ Nyatanga, filed a High Court application to try and have the 2019 COSAFA Cup held in this country.

Nyatanga, in his papers, also questioned the appointment of Sports Commission director-general Prince Mupazviriho, who was one of the key people who handled the ZIFA bid to stage the COSAFA Cup.

In his founding affidavit, Nyatanga is praying that the High Court will issue a declaratory order that would nullify the announcement that Coventry made on the hosting of the COSAFA Cup.

Nyatanga further argued that the Minister had allegedly breached the SRC Act in allegedly usurping the powers of the Commission on the COSAFA Cup bid.

Last Friday, Coventry called for a culture change in sport in the country.

“We need to work extremely hard to ensure that we have corporate sponsors coming back on board,’’ she said while addressing the Annual Sports Awards ceremony.

State Media

Correspondent|Uganda Airlines is expected to soon join a host of other regional airlines flying into Harare.

The airline, which recently acquired a fleet of six planes, has put Harare on its radar of preferred destinations.

In a post on microblogging website, Twitter, the airline said, “Zanzibar, Addis, Harare. We are almost ready.”

The airline plans to ply the route with a Bombardier CRJ900.

Other regional airlines already plying the Harare route include South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Kenyan Airways, RwandAir, Air Namibia and Air Tanzania.

Air Botswana will resume flights next month after suspending the route two years ago.

Air Botswana will be operating a 70-seater jet service, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Another regional airline, Air Tanzania, also made a return to Harare last month after it stopped servicing the route two decades ago.

Other airlines have, however, been suspending flights into Harare.

Proflight Zambia suspended the Harare-Lusaka flights while RwandAir also discontinued bond currency ticketing services citing challenges in the repatriation of funds.

Proflight Zambia said it was suspending the route effective January 29 because it was also failing to repatriate its funds.

Own Correspondent|Reports just received indicate that paramount Chief of Matabeleland people living in South Africa, Chief Albert Zwelibanzi Gumede, has died.

Highly placed sources around the Mthwakazi kingship told ZimEye.com that Gumede passed on in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a short illness.

Gumede was controversially crowned chief of the Ndebele people living in South Africa on the 22nd of March 2014. He has been part of the chiefs that have been calling for the restoration of the king of the Ndebele people in Zimbabwe.

More to follow on this developing story.

Statement By Chief Pashu|As a Chief, my community and I were not consulted on the project and there was no formal invitation which is a sign of some of form of disrespect.

If we were consulted we could have not have opted for the Fish Pond project because it has no political, social, educational and economical contribution to the school and community development.

The project is not viable and sustainable because there is insufficient sustainable water supply and the borehole is not dependable. We as Binga district need adequate supply of water in the forms of dams for fishing projects and farming projects.

Pashu community in Binga district lies in Region 4 and 5 where it is nationally known that there is insufficient water for sustainability therefore there are perennial droughts.

If consulted we could have rejected the Fish pond project as it is meaningless in our valuation of community sustainability and could have opted for a dam for irrigation, livestock, fishing and any other activities.

The school is situated next to a proposed dam site (about a kilometre) which was shown to the 3 departments. In Binga District supply of adequate water is our first priority. We need bigger and better supply of water for meaningful development, not Fish Ponds.

To us such is our great expectations for development educationally. Strangely Bulawayo Kraal Secondary, a school that is situated at a stone throw from the Zambezi Lake, who in his right mind could buy, eat or sell fingerlings when there are plenty plus fish in the Zambezi lake.

Pashu community and other greater parts of Binga are still in the stone age period as these basic needs are still scarce to find. Since communication, ZESA and roads are also basic needs for development we as Binga District need these most.

There is no compensation by the National Parks to the community for crops destroyed by wild life such as elephants. There is also very low recruitment of our local children despite holding the largest National Park in the country.

Our National Constitution stipulates that locals should benefit from their local resources. Beitbridge and Victoria Falls get billions of money yet very little of these resources are given to the local communities directly for development.

There is very little if any activities are undertaken to rehabilitate damaged lands in Pashu and in Binga. There are contradictions, for instance allocations of mining certificates to coal mines situated upstream to the Gwaai/ Shangani Dam.

The Forestry Department is not contributing much to the community therefore we need big, better sustainable forestry development projects.

Having said the above, I further on stated that we considered Her Excellency and First Lady our point of call in distress, as she was our focal point and link to the Head of State and Government.

As the old adage says “ For any successful business or leadership, there is a strong wise woman behind”.

I went on to state that ZANU-PF and General elections are a disaster in Pashu and Binga because of such meaningless projects which fail to win people’s hearts and minds of our community.

I also went on to state that the fish pond project needed a lot of time and resources to make it a better project before the final officiation of it to the community.

Also mentioned that as Binga District we need bigger and better projects and such a high powered delegation (Min of Environments, Tourism & Hospitality, Minister of Primary and secondary Education, Provincial Min of State for Mat North and Her Excellency and First Lady)… At this point Her Excellency and First Lady intervened and said I had said too much for Her, that she was not part of the Government, that she was a Mother of the Nation without any form of exclusion.

She said there are MPs and Ministers responsible, She is neutral and does not need politics in Her activities and that I did not respect Her. Thereafter she expressed that she was not comfortable to proceed with Her agenda.

When I tried to apologised she refused. Nevertheless, after concerted persuasion she eventually accepted to officiate the occasion.

The Fish Pond as of now;

•  the structure is not complete
•  insufficient water from the borehole
•  fingerlings dying maybe due to hot water
•  not fenced, open to damages from cattle, goats and donkeys that need water to drink
•  made of black plastic lining that absorbs heat
•  is a danger to children as they could jump into or fall into the pond resulting in accidents and death.

My address was intended to highlight most pertinent challenges experienced by Pashu Communty and Binga in general that need ZANU-PF Party and Government.

It was not my intention to sound like I was attacking Her Excellency and First Lady, disrespecting Her and the entire First Family. In my view the intention was to express our concerns and to seek assistance for meaningful development.

George Nyathi, Chief Pashu,

Correspondent|THE curious case in which opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has been accused of raping a 39-year-old woman (name withheld for ethical reasons) is floundering after police confirmed yesterday that the complainant may indeed be suffering from mental health problems.

As a result, authorities are waiting for direction from psychiatric experts, before they decide on what course of action they should take on the case — which opposition supporters claim is part of a sinister plot by the ruling Zanu PF to destabilise the MDC ahead of its crucial congress in May.

Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga told the Daily News yesterday that although they had received the rape complaint from the woman based in Norton, they had moved to demand medical reports on her mental condition, after relatives said her behaviour was erratic.

However, this did not mean that police had dismissed the case — but neither had they contacted Chamisa because “everything was now hinged on the requested medical report”.

“Yes, we received a complaint which we are investigating, but we have also been told that the woman who made the complaint has mental problems.

“We have requested for official papers confirming that she indeed has mental problems. We should be getting those papers sometime tomorrow (today). Check with us by the end of day then,” Matanga said.

It is known that the complainant — who was once based overseas — left her home in Norton on Thursday saying that she was going to Harare.

But along the way, she went to Norton Police Station and filed a report of rape against Chamisa, making sensational claims that she had been sexually abused by him in November last year at around 10pm, when she was returning from an evening jog.

She also claimed that Chamisa had accosted her at her residential gate, before he allegedly proceeded to rape her inside the house.

In the meantime, it has also since emerged that the woman is married to a State security agent who is based in Canada.

It is also claimed that the complainant has previously and unsuccessfully filed rape allegations against her husband while they stayed together in Canada.

She was apparently subsequently forced to return to Zimbabwe due to her erratic behaviour linked to mental health problems.

Meanwhile, the MDC said yesterday that it suspected that Zanu PF and the government were involved in the rape claims to “decapitate Chamisa politically”.

“We have, surprisingly, not been informed of this investigation. These accusations against our president are thus a dime a dozen (of little value). “In any event, we hope someone is not trying to stigmatise mental illness to cover up a botched and hare-brained smear campaign.

We are focused on the task at hand to conduct congress and to get national dialogue going, to reclaim the people’s victory in the presidential election,” MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.

Last week, the MDC claimed that Zanu PF was trying to destabilise the party ahead of its crucial elective congress in May — where a new substantive party leader will be chosen to lead the country’s largest opposition outfit for the next five years.

This was after mischievous Zanu PF “agents provocateurs” backed the party’s well-regarded secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to beat the popular Chamisa in the fast-approaching polls.

This, in turn, saw paranoid MDC senior leaders openly accusing the ruling party of working frantically to destabilise the opposition party again — following a tweet by Zanu PF deputy youth leader Lewis Matutu, who “predicted” the fall of Chamisa come May.

Correspondent|Joanah Mamombe’s mother, Kudzai Chiwanza broke down after a Harare magistrate remanded in custody her daughter to the 19th of March.

Mamombe was arrested in Nyanga on Saturday and brought to Harare the same day. She has since been charged with attempting to subvert a constitutionally elected government.

In an interview with 263Chat, Mamombe’s mother said: “When I came to court I expected positive results for my daughter but it’s unfortunate that after all the testimonies from Joanah and all the arguments from her lawyers I came in high spirit telling myself surely my daughter was unlawfully brought before the court.

“So, I was going home with my daughter but I broke down because I did not expect the magistrate’s ruling that it would remand her again until the 19th of March.

“… I will be strong for her I know, she is also strong but she did not think this will take longer. Over the weekend she was in jovial mood consoling me and encouraging me to be strong saying mama I am fine I will be out soon.

“But today I have seen it that my daughter’s life is being shattered down. Is it because she entered into politics while she is young or is it because she is influential I don’t know? I will just pray to God because it’s hard for me.

“For now, I am pleading for prayers because I myself I can’t even pray sometimes. Joanna has been a peaceful and a happy person and has never fought anyone but surprisingly she is charged with treason.”

Correspondent|THE 26-member Presidential Advisory Council set by President Mnangagwa recently is having its inaugural meeting with the President at State House on Thursday.

Cabinet ministers and their permanent secretaries are also expected to attend the meeting.

The advisory council comprises experts and leaders drawn from diverse sectors like business, health and social protection, agriculture, governance and human rights, faith-based organisations, tourism, education, minorities, ICT, civil society, communication and media management.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda confirmed the meeting in a statement on Tuesday.

“You are hereby invited to attend His Excellency President E.D Mnangagwa’s inaugural briefing session for members of the newly established Presidential Advisory Council at State House on Thursday 7th March 2019, at 0930 hours,” said Dr Sibanda.

“Ministers should be accompanied by their permanent secretaries. Your usual cooperation is greatly appreciated.”

In his speech on the inception of the PAC, Dr Sibanda said the council would act as the President’s “sounding board” on key economic reforms, issues and initiatives.

Services of PAC members is voluntary and they serve at the pleasure of the President.

The advisory council is mandated with organising interactions between the President, local and international businesses.

From time-to-time, the advisory council should help with a comprehensive situational analysis on the state of the economy and investment climate in the country.

AN alleged serial killer dubbed the “Underwear Robber” for stealing his victims’ clothes and forcing them to walk naked, appeared in court yesterday for allegedly killing four people and robbing them of their cellphones and money.

Birthwell Sibanda (25) of Pumula South in Bulawayo is already serving a 25-year jail term for 10 counts of armed robbery following his conviction by regional magistrate, Mr Trynos Utahwashe, in February 2015.

Sibanda had also been charged with three counts of rape, but they were dropped after the magistrate ruled that the evidence against him was weak.

During his reign of terror around the city, Sibanda and his accomplices who are still at large, robbed victims of their cellphones, clothing, including underwear, and then made them walk away stark naked.

Sibanda yesterday appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese facing four counts of murder in connection with the death of Henry Moyo (21), Mfundisi Makhalima (23), Mthabisi Dube (20) and his girlfriend Lokukhanya Ncube (19) between April and May 2014.

Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu said on April 20, 2014, Mthabisi visited his girlfriend Lokukhanya at her place of residence in Nkulumane 12 suburb.

On the same day at around 8PM, Mthabisi decided to leave and Lokukhanya walked him out of the house.

“Lokukhanya accompanied her boyfriend to the bus stop where he intended to board a lift to his home in Rangemore,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The court heard that when Lokukhanya and Mthabisi approached the intersection between Rangemore and Intemba roads, Sibanda, who was in the company of his accomplices, Thabani Lunga and Webster Ndlovu, confronted the two lovers.

“Acting in common purpose, Sibanda and his accomplices accosted the two deceased persons. They removed Mthabisi’s shoe laces and tied his hands and legs. They ordered Lokukhanya to remove her clothes and used them to tie her,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said the accused person and his accomplices stabbed the two lovers several times all over their bodies before robbing them of Nokia cellphones. They dumped the two bodies in a drainage trench and fled.

The couple’s bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition in a grass-filled trench at the corner of Intemba and Rangemore Roads in Nkulumane 12.

“On May 1, 2014 at around 6PM, Henry Moyo and his brothers Colleen and Elvis left Egodini Bus Terminus, boarded a commuter omnibus and proceeded to the intersection of Masiyephambili and Luveve Roads where they intended to look for transport to Nyamandlovu,” said Mr Ndlovu.

On their way to the bus stop, Moyo decided to branch off to relieve himself. Colleen and Elvis were spotted by Sibanda and his accomplices.
The accused person and his accomplices confronted the two brothers, wrestled with them before they searched their pockets and took a Nokia cellphone and US$5.

“When Henry saw his brothers being attacked by the accused persons, he picked a stone and struck one of Sibanda’s accomplices. Colleen and Elvis managed to escape during which the accused person and his friends went after Henry and fatally stabbed him with knives,” said Mr Ndlovu.

His body was discovered on the following day near Zulukandaba Primary School.

Seven days later, Sibanda and accomplices spotted Makhalima and his friends Sympathy Siziba and Cephas Chirongoma waiting for a lift along Hyde Park Road at around midnight. The accused persons, who were travelling in a Honda Ballade, offered them a lift.

When Siziba got into the car and sat at the back seat, Makhalima tried to pull her out during which he was indiscriminately stabbed by the accused person.

Chirongoma tried to intervene and he was also stabbed on the shoulders before he managed to escape leaving Makhalima at the mercy of his assailants.
After committing the offence, Sibanda and his accomplices drove off leaving Makhalima lying in a pool of blood.

Makhalima’s body was discovered on the following morning.
A report was made leading to the arrest of Sibanda.

One of the key witnesses yesterday, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, took to the witness stand and narrated how the accused person and his accomplices attacked Makhalima before taking turns to rape her.

She told the court that the accused person had unprotected sex with her that resulted in her contracting HIV.

“I had to be admitted to hospital for two weeks after falling sick as a result of the rape. On the day they raped me, I took a closer look at their faces and that is why I managed to recognise Sibanda when I was asked to come for an identification parade,” said the witness.

Chirongoma said he suffered injuries on the shoulders after the attack and had to be hospitalised at Mpilo Central Hospital for two weeks.

The trial continues today with six more witnesses, among them three police officers, expected to testify.

State Media

Own Correspondent|MDC deputy president, Professor Welshman Ncube, has joined a slew of the opposition party’s officials who are shielding party leader Nelson Chamisa from possible challenge at the elective Congress slated for May by insinuating that any challenge to the presidency would be a “political miscalculation.”

Prof Ncube’s sentiments are in sync with those of the MDC Harare Youth Assembly that on Monday suggested that a challenger to Chamisa’s presidency would have declared themselves an enemy of the party.

In an interview with the state media in Bulawayo yesterday, Prof Ncube defended the Harare provincial Youth Assembly’s stance saying they are entitled to their opinions.

“The Youth Assembly is a semi-autonomous organ of the party, first at national level; at provincial level as well, they are entitled to make their decisions,” he said.

Prof Ncube said momentum favours Chamisa’ as he has inspired youths to participate in electoral processes.

“At this particular historical juncture to me, it appears unwise for anyone if they are nominated to accept that nomination given the credentials I’ve already summarised for you, for the incumbent Nelson Chamisa. Anyone who accepts nomination will probably be guilty of a serious political miscalculation, given where we are,” he said.

“We are all individuals, using all the objective criteria that I have in mind, I really have a difficulty in finding any rationale for anyone to accept any nomination, my sense too, I will be surprised if anyone other than Chamisa is nominated given the momentum that we have had with him, given the inspirational advantage that he has.”

Besides Mwonzora, another probable challenger to Chamisa is Engineer Elias Mudzuri.

Prof Ncube said the party members should stop canvassing for nominations.

“What I personally think is unfortunate is where individuals go out of their way to be canvassing to be nominated. It shouldn’t happen. We should be invited by the membership to accept nomination. Not to go out of our way to solicit for nomination.

“Therefore, I find the notion of challenging anyone to be problematic. You can’t challenge anyone because you can’t nominate yourself. You can’t stand up and say I am challenging so and so. Challenging them as who?” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof Ncube is said to be eying one of the vice presidential positions but faces a possible challenge from Ms Thabitha Khumalo.
He said he would accept nomination for any position but not the presidency.

Below is the link to register for the Thabitha Khumalo Leeds meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday .

Government has liberalised the importation of fuel with Cabinet yesterday giving big companies with free funds the green light to import fuel for their own consumption.

This is meant to augment supply gaps in the market.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa confirmed the development while addressing journalists after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

This comes as Cabinet also resolved that the ongoing partial privatisation of Zupco be expedited to boost recapitalisation of the company.

On the liberalisation of fuel importation, Minister Mutsvangwa said:

“Cabinet received the weekly supply situation report from the Minister of Energy and Power Development. In order to close the fuel supply gaps in the market during the course of the week eight million litres of diesel were released into the market. Following the release of funding by the RBZ, the fuel supply situation is now expected to stabilise as the week progresses. Furthermore, Cabinet has given a green light to large companies such as those in the mining sector to use their funds to import fuel for their use.”

In 2015, Statutory Instrument (SI) 171 was amended to allow members of the public to import up to 2 000 litres of fuel per month for personal use. However, the legal instrument was repealed two years later through SI 122 of 2017, which stipulated that only companies licensed in terms of Section 29 of the Petroleum Act were allowed to import fuel.

The market is currently plagued by intermittent stock-outs, which are negatively affecting individual consumers and businesses.

Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo said individuals will not be allowed to import fuel on their own.

“Government has given the green light to mining companies and those in the farming sector to import fuel using their own funds,” he said.

“At the moment no individuals is allowed to do that. Regarding the issue of diesel, it is true that last week there was shortage of diesel and the His Excellency allowed us to use stragetic reserves to bring in diesel to mitigate the situation as we were allowing oil companies to do their usual ordering of fuel into the market. We hope that come end of week, things will have stabilised for both products.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet deliberated on ways of improving Zupco operations.

“Cabinet resolved that Zupco be capacitated through recruitment and training of critical personnel thereat,” she said.

“It resolved that an electronic ticketing system be introduced to increase revenue collection and service efficiency and that the options to either import finished buses and/or knock down kits for assembling locally be speedily concluded.

Cabinet also mandated the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development together with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and other related key stakeholders to assiduously work on revamping the country’s urban mass transport system, beginning with Harare and Bulawayo.”

She said for Harare the programme would incorporate aspects such as completion of the Airport Road and the Fly-Over towards Enterprise Road and construction of ring roads and Fly-Overs around Harare to decongest and bring sanity in the Central Business District (CBD).
Installation of an electonic traffic management system consistent with the smart city concept, she said, should also done under the programme.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the Zupco system was progressing well in all urban areas.

“We have been able to cover our vehicle operation costs and that is important,” he said.

“The hiring of those vehicles is like your capital expenditure that we have not been able to cover right now. So there is an element of subsidy that we are doing but we are happy that the operations can cover fuel and salaries. We think we can create a viable system in urban areas. We are fine tuning because in some areas we put too many buses and we are downsizing. In some areas like Harare we had to increase the number of buses because the commuter omnibuses were having difficulties in accessing fuel.”

He said Government was paying each bus $700 per day.

“We charged a flat rate of $700 RTGS per day,” said Minister Moyo.

“We expected at that time that each bus will run nine trips but those have not been achieved because of congestion. So the subsidy in the first month was larger than normal but we think that in the next month it is going to be lower. We are now fine tuning with the bus owners for us to pay for a bus that has done work.”

State Media

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi believes his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa is invincible and the opposition does not have the capacity to defeat him.

Neither Nelson Chamisa nor Douglas Mwonzora can defeat Mnangagwa, according to Mutodi.

In a tweet at the weekend Mutodi boasted of Mnangagwa’ s political prowess adding the Zanu PF leader would not lose sleep over thoughts of losing to the opposition.

“Government is not worried about who emerges the winner at the MDC Congress be it Chamisa or Mwonzora. None of the two is capable of overcoming our 2023 ZANU PF candidate President ED Mnangagwa.

We have started reviving the economy and the gains are open for everyone to see,” claimed Mutodi.

Farai Dziva|Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has sensationally claimed the government has begun to rebuild the economy and the gains are open for everyone to see.

In a tweet at the weekend Mutodi boasted of Mnangagwa’ s political prowess adding the Zanu PF leader would not lose sleep over thoughts of losing to the opposition.

“Government is not worried about who emerges the winner at the MDC Congress be it Chamisa or Mwonzora. None of the two is capable of overcoming our 2023 ZANU PF candidate President ED Mnangagwa.

We have started reviving the economy and the gains are open for everyone to see,” claimed Mutodi.

Correspondent|IT is not the kind of attire one ever wishes to don, but MDC Alliance MP for Harare West Joana Mamombe appeared jovial as she climbed the stairs into a prisons truck for what could be a two-week stay in remand prison.

Her lawyers Jeremiah Bamu and Obey Shava said they will file a bail application at the High Court, but that is no guarantee she will be out before the two weeks as fellow MDC MPs Settlement Chikwinya and Amos Chibaya clocked over two weeks at Kwekwe Remand Prison last month over similar charges.