REFRESH TO WATCH…

Own Correspondent|ECONET’s insurance division, Ecosure, has apologized after having been caught up in a storm where deductions were made from EcoCash subscribers’ mobile money accounts without the knowledge or consent of the clients.

Several EcoCash clients have in the past few days complained that Ecosure subscriptions were being deducted from their EcoCash balances without them having signed up for the facility.

Ecosue said affected clients have since been refunded. Below is their statement:

Dear Valued Customer, we sincerely apologise for the EcoSure deduction that was made from your EcoCash wallet.

Own Correspondent|Lately, it has been one controversy after another for several South African pastors who form the wealthiest of the pastoral fold. The one who has had the largest share of these controversies is Alph Lukau of Alleluia Ministries. Recently, the pastor made a grand display of raising the dead in a video.

While many have condemned the pastor for blaspheming God’s name by making a charade and doing fake miracles, they have also come for the person who was supposedly raised from the dead.

This individual whose real name is believed to be Brighton Moyo has been trolled by so many people. On his Facebook page, several people have taken to calling him the comedian of the year for being a part of the shenanigan done by the pastor.

Finally, Brighton has reportedly taken to defending himself and giving his opinion of the entire matter. He did this by creating an account under the name he claimed to be currently using, Elliot Masango, and making several posts on Facebook.

According to what he said in a particular post, he will explain details of his death and resurrection in court. He also added that he was really dead at the time. See the post below:

“I think I have done enough to explain about my death and this account now I have to appear in court u will find all the truth u want i was dead….on Monday I’m going to court.”

Again, he reiterated this in his response to the comment of a particular person. The individual had taken to Elliot’s Facebook page to say this: “You are the comedian of the year and the coming generation. Hahahahaha. You wanted easy money.”

In reaction to these words, he said: “meaning u don’t believe that God is doing miracles.” Other replies have followed these words.

By Own Correspondent| A Karoi based soldier who earlier on tried to commit suicide while in police cells has died.

David Chamboko, who was reportedly arrested and taken into police custody after he questioned the police why they had released suspects in his robbery case where he lost household goods, clothes and army uniforms died on Friday.

He allegedly tried to commit suicide while in police cells and was released into the custody of Military Police who reportedly posted him to Harare.

He was however brought back to Karoi hospital on Friday night where he died.

Chamboko was an artist for Majimbos, a local musical group.

Said Majimbos in a statement:

“It is with great regret and great sadness that we announce the death of our brother David Chamboko or ‘Diva’ as he was affectionately known by those close to him.

As Majimbos we started working with David in 2009 when the group was formed. He was a founder member of Majimbos and a trustee in Craneshaw Heights Trust.

We worked with Diva in many projects that the Organisation did and his crown performance was when he performed as Paul Matavire. We went to perform with him at Buddyz Annual Festival of Arts (BAFA) and Nation Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).

Apart from Majimbos, we worked with Diva in the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society youth activities and represented our Hurungwe District with pride, in Nyanga and Harare. Also worked with the District AIDS Council.

Diva was first a friend and brother when we grew up playing ‘chikweshe’ in the dusty streets of Juliusdale. Today we celebrate the life of a dear brother.

We call upon the rest of you who wish to come pay your respects please come and help us give an icon in his own right, a worthy send off.

He played for Karoi United F.C, he was in the military and we are proud that we were able to share his life and experiences of joy and laughter.

To those who would like to come and contribute in chema please send it to his family. Any amount will go a long way in helping the family in organising a worthy send off.

RIP David Till we meet again, brother, friend, son, father and workmate

ZimEye is about to go LIVE on reports that the Zimbabwe Republic Police want to arrest MDC President Nelson Chamisa on rape charges.

The program begins shortly…

– REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH –

By Own Correspondent| MDC legislator for Harare West Constituency who was reportedly abducted by state security agents soon after concluding a parliamentary portfolio committee workshop in Nyanga this morning is now in police custody.

Mamombe will spend the next two nights in police cells at Harare Central and will appear in court on Monday facing treason charges.

Said Denford Ngadziore:

Hon Joanah Mamombe is now in Police cells at Harare Central Police,she will appear in Court 6 Rotten Row on Monday 8:30am

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Member of Parliament Joanna Mamombe, who was arrested early Saturday 2 March 2019, has been charged with treason.

This was revealed by fellow Kuwadzana East legislator Charlton Hwende in a twitter update to his followers.

Said Hwende:

Hon Joana Mamombe 25yr old is at Harare Central Law and Order Police and she is being charged with attempting to overthrow and subvert a Constitutionally elected government (Treason) for addressing a Press Conference on 14th of January 2019 @ Civic center Malbrough.

Hon Joana Mamombe 25yr old is at Harare Central Law and Order Police and she is being charged with attempting to overthrow and subvert a Constitutionally elected government (Treason) for addressing a Press Conference on 14th of January 2019 @ Civic center Malbrough pic.twitter.com/9t14rBasYm

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) March 2, 2019

By Dorrothy Moyo| The MDC MP for Harare West, Joana Mamombe, has been charged with treason.

Mamombe who was arrested early Saturday 2 March 2019 in Nyanga, is at Harare Central Law And Order.

MDC-Treasurer Gen, Charlton Hwende announced saying: “Hon Joana Mamombe 25yr old is at Harare Central Law and Order Police and she is being charged with attempting to overthrow and subvert a Constitutionally elected government (Treason) for addressing a Press Conference on 14th of January 2019 at Civic center Malborough.”

Mamombe had been on the police wanted list since 25 January. MDC Alliance had however said that none of their MPs were on the run.

ZIMBABWE National Soccer Supporters Association president Charles Eddy Nyatanga has taken Sports minister Kirsty Coventry to court, alleging that she erred in appointing a Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) director-general and in denying Zimbabwe an opportunity to host the Council of
Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) tournament later this year.

In his application filed at the High Court yesterday under case number 1650/19, Nyatanga is seeking to invalidate the appointment of SRC director-general Prince Mupazviriho, whose appointment Nyatanga said violated section 24 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act (Chapter 25:15).

Nyatanga also wants an order declaring Coventry’s pronouncement that Zimbabwe was incapable of hosting the Cosafa 2019 edition null and void, saying what she had said was “unlawful, invalid and in contravention of the minister’s powers in terms of the SRC Act”.

Through his lawyers Deme Attorneys, Nyatanga said he only got to know that Mupazviriho had been appointed SRC director-general from newspaper articles.

“… it was reported that the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Misheck Sibanda) made an announcement of a list of persons that the President had reassigned, Mr Prince Mupazviriho’s name among the list. No further detail was provided on the particular role to which he was reassigned,” Nyatanga said.

“Surprisingly, there is no record of any announcement of the SRC board inviting applications, calling for interviews or appointment of SRC director-general in accordance with the SRC Act. In actual fact, as a matter of public record, there is no SRC board in existence at the moment contrary to requirements of the SRC Act.”

He said Coventry was yet to appoint an SRC board yet she continued to work “closely” with Mupazviriho as SRC director-general.

“The respondent’s announcement of her decision, on behalf of the Zimbabwean government and ZIfa, was improper and beyond the scope of her powers in terms of the SRC Act. The decision was not for the respondent to make or announce as Zifa had only sought government guarantee in order to make an informed decision,” Nyatanga said.

“Mr Mupazviriho’s appointment as SRC director-general is invalid and void at law.”

Coventry is yet to file her heads of argument.

AN independent policy research organisation says the country is likely to experience more protests until the government addresses issues of concern to the majority of Zimbabweans.

Speaking at the end of a two-day conference titled First Year of the Second Republic: Continuing With the Old or Breaking With the Past, Sivio Institute executive director, Tendai Muriswa, said there had been a change in the cycle of protests .

Muriswa said intervals between major protests have been shortened to four months in the second republic led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, compared to up to seven months during former President Robert Mugabe’s reign.

“Major protests in Harare normally take place after six to seven months, but since the new regime, the cycle of protests has shortened to intervals of about four months, from August and January,” he said.

“Given the fact that issues are not being resolved, we will see the cycle shortening, so we are likely to receive an increase in the number of protests.”

Muriswa said if there was no production in the agricultural sector, there would be yet another increase of prices of basic commodities in the
second half of the year, igniting dissatisfaction and demonstrations.

“We are in a crisis where one of the areas we are worried about is the agricultural sector. The rains have been erratic and if production is what we are going to need, there is going to be a new stretch on the fiscus, affecting other issues like foreign currency which is already in short supply,” he said.

“If we are found in a place where we a faced with food deficit in the second half of the year, we are going to see another wave of price increases, which will lead to discontentment and uprisings.”

The protests will be catalysed by the use of Internet-based technologies, where dissemination of information is increasingly easy and fast unlike in the past, where in order to organise protests, meetings were organised.

“What has changed is the organising of these protests in that these use a new fluid movement of information that organises protests using technology and we call it hashtagism on social media platforms,” Muriswa said.

“This is different from when there used to be congresses and people would deliberate to plan a shutdown. This is going to be an issue going forward, and we are going to be seeing more of these protests emanating from the use of technology.”

Muriswa urged the government to initiate sustainable solutions in dealing with issues in order to curb impending protests, citing the disorganised re-introduction Zupco commuter buses.

“Government has, since the turn of the century, been applying patchwork to the challenges we have been facing, firefighting from one end to the
other,” he said

“One of the recommendations we had for the government was to remove fuel subsidies of US$130 million per month and buy more buses for Zupco, resuscitate the company by providing subsidies so that those who do not afford cars can use public transport.”

-Newsday

THE on-going fuel crisis has crippled road construction projects, as contractors say they are failing to complete works within the required time frame.

Briefing journalists during a tour of road projects that are being undertaken by the Transport and Infrastructure Development ministry and the
District Development Fund under a special task force, Mashonaland Central deputy engineer Kudzai Maganga said the shortage of fuel was derailing works on the Bindura-Matepatepa Road, which is in a sorry state.

“Our contractors are failing to get fuel. We appeal to government to help us and allocate a certain amount of fuel to our contractors so that this work can be done on time,” said Maganga.

The Bindura-Matepatepa Road links the Mashonaland Central capital and a key farming area which needs road rehabilitation to allow farmers to
transport their produce.

The taskforce, chaired by the permanent secretary in the Office of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, Godfrey Chanakira, said it would attend to the fuel crisis through CMED.

The economic challenges facing the country have also been identified as another stumbling block to road projects as contractors are finding it hard to get spare parts for equipment.

The team also toured road projects in Budiriro and those along the Harare-Bindura Highway.

Government has set aside $12 million to resurface a 16km stretch of the 92km Bindura-Matepatepa Road. So far, $6 million has been released to
contractors under the 2019 budget. The whole 92km is expected to be completed by 2023.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| The trial of former president Robert Mugabe’s son in law Simba Chikore could collapse after a key witness in the trial refused to testify.

Philipa Magnify Philips, a Harare lawyer, wrote to prosecutors to advise them that Chikore was her client and she was constrained by a lawyer-client relationship.

This development resulted in the postponment of the case to March 8 and the presiding magistrate Victoria Mashamba warning the State that it risks losing the case if it fails to bring another witness next time.

Philips was the first person to be called by Bertha Tsitsi Zakeyo, who alleges she was illegally detained by Chikore and security guard Simbarashe Mutimbe.

Zakeyo alleges that she was illegally detained after she refused to sign papers dismissing her as Zimbabwe Airways’ company secretary.

By Advocate Walter Nyabadza|There was pandamonium at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Munhumutapa offices as leadership of the National Reclamation Assembly stormed the building with their petition addressed to him and the international community.

Below is a complete extract of the petition:-

As National Reclamation Assembly (NRA) we had indicated in our presser that the state of affairs in our nation was deplorable and volatile.

We stated in clear and no uncertain terms that this was a recipe for civil unrest and anarchy. Unfortunately, this advise fell on deaf ears.
As representatives of the citizenry, we now point out that:-

a.) Government has become insensitive to the plight of the people whom it should serve, and who, it is assumed, voted for the same;

b.) The leadership has failed to uphold and protect the Constitution to which they operate under oath. This is a fatal failure that is unpardonable under all circumstances;

c.) ZANU PF government has totally failed to deliver on the promises it offered during the run up to the July 30, 2018 elections, there is no single indicator towards the promised economic resuscitation. Instead, the President spoke through his spokesperson that it is the beginning of a start to human suffering, a ruthless torment to follow. Such inept and irresponsible submissions are anathema to our cherished concept of UBUNTU. This is not only vexatious and deleterious to human existence, but a request to an equally harsh and resistive reaction from the electorate, whose rights are inalienable;

d.) Zimbabwe is a democratic and civilian state which demands no military engagement in the discourse of its political affairs, yet those who purport to rule and govern brush their misgivings under the authority of the bullet carpet and not the ballot pulpit! The nature of state panic leaves a lot to be desired, just to say less. A winner has no problem in handling winning principles, but losers grope. Kana mombe dzikapoya mudanga hadzidzorwi nepfumo, dzinopera, gadzira danga mombe dzigaremo meaning when cattle escape from their pen, they are not led back to the pen using swords but the owner fixes the cattle pen so that they stay there and cannot escape. The route being taken by Zimbabwean authorities is an unheard of scenario in national governance;

e.) There has been an unfair distribution of national resources which is selective in favour of ZANU PF supporters in rural areas. Apart from vote buying, it is a coercive instrument to bastardize opponents into minds that are not their own! Social security nets are never to be preserved for the partisan;

f.) The use of military force and unprofessional policing and correctional services is deleterious to national development. The militarisation of civilian institutions is a futile violation of human rights. One can never instruct people to sit down outside when they are standing up inside. It should dawn on those engineering, perpetrating and enforcing violence against innocent civilians that the end knows the beginning. The people are aware of what they exactly need. It is the people who propose and define the Constitution and it remains never to be preserved for the elected few;

g.) Service delivery has deteriorated to alarming proportions due to government’s lack of sincerity when it comes to dealing with its service to the people. It makes no rule;

h.) The international isolation of our government is both expensive and unbearable to the citizens who can no longer sustain the perpetuation of the status quo. It is appealing to the citizenry to opt for alternative faces rather than maintain disingenuous ones;

i.) The unabated attacks on civilians that saw many maimed, raped, displaced and killed is an uncalled for activity in a democracy. Government, if ever there is one, should take charge and accept responsibility; and

j.) As citizens we do not deserve such a rule where law is locked up, himanity humiliated, love lost and democracy destroyed and doomed. Enough has to be enough.

We now therefore make the following demands, to be addressed within the coming 21 days:-

1.) Dialogue be convened with all stakeholders to map out a lasting solution to the crises. The dialogue should start with the exposure of ZEC server results in order to quill the legitimacy wrangle amongst the rivals. To the voting public this is the truth that remains awaited. It seals the deals;

2.) Government should take the guilt and apologise for the ruthless and heavy hand it put upon its citizens who believed in it;

3.) The August 1st and January 14 atrocities should be accounted for in the same manner the Gukurahundi massacres should. Government should be besieged with these open crimes against humanity. The international seat should take forum;

4.) A compensation module be instituted for victims of conscience;

5.) The incumbent President should step aside and usher in a National Transitional Authority to which he advises accordingly, depending on whether the ZEC server results allow him to do so;

6.) Thereafter, we demand a settlement of our issues with little international intervention, but, failure of such an arrangement we preserve the right to invite sympathisers, no matter their nature;

7.) The removal of the military in civilian affairs;

8.) Genuine reforms in our electoral laws and processes and a sincere liberalisation of our wireless networks and channels;

9.) An economic recovery programme be put in place in order for smart partnerships to prevail;

10.) The civil service be well remunerated in order to function and deliver according to state requirements, and that it be free from military bondage;

11.) All prisoners of conscience be freed unconditionally for dialogue to take stage without fear and harassment. Government should not perceive those who challenge it as being schooled from outside their experience;

12.) The NRA be accorded status on citizens affairs in Zimbabwe, and not be seen as an appendage of political arrangements obtaining, however, its independence is never to be compromised when concatenating with a will popular in our land. Enough has to be enough!; and13.) To serve the situation, NRA is in and to it. People power supersedes all power, if only the President and all his surrounds should know.

During the process of delivering the above petition and exercising freedom of association, assembly and expression, the NRA leadership were illegally captured, detained and interrogated by state security agents including the dreaded CIO, MID, PISI and Riot Police.

Advocate Walter Nyabadza is a Zimbabwean Human Rights and Constitutional lawyer; Legal Advisor for the National Reclamation Assembly and Writer.

By Own Correspondent| The MDC youth wing will this weekend hold its first ever 2019 meeting in preparation for the party’s national elective congress slated for May 24- 25.

The youths are also expected to come up with a common position ahead of the party’s congress.

Said communication glimpsed by ZimEye directed to MDC youths:

“MDC Harare Province Youth Executive is set to meet for the first time in 2019 tomorrow Saturday 02 March, in preparation for the Harare Province Youth Assembly meeting to be held the following day Sunday 03 March 2019 at Morgan Tsvangirai House. The agenda of the meeting is to reorganize towards the 24-25 May MDC Congress. All Youths in Harare are invited to attend these crucial meetings as we are going to set the record straight, clear and loud.”

By Own Correspondent| The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) goveenor John Mangudya has denied that government prejudiced holders of US dollar accounts with the coming in of the forex interbank market and the subsequent devaluation of the RTGS dollar.

Mangudya said all USD nostro dollar bank accounts still maintain their value but the move was aimed at bringing transparency in the foreign exchange market as well as removing distortions.

The RBZ has described it as a fallacy to assume that the US dollar accounts opened with banks in 2009 still held US dollars up until recently when the RTGS dollars were introduced last week.

The clarification comes amid an outcry by the banking public that they were severely prejudiced by unfairly converting US dollars into RTGS dollars which are now trading at a rate of around 1 is to 2.5.

He said:

“A lot has happened on the monetary side over the years which has become clear that what people are holding are not US dollars despite the fact that they opened US dollar accounts in 2009. Banks also ring fenced the accounts of those who deposited US dollars which explains why we made it a point that the two accounts be separated last year.”-StateMedia

He also said they are looking at creating inflation-linked investment products to preserve the value of pensions.

Modalities to allow access by traders on the ZSE to the forex interbank market are being put in place to allow settlement of foreign transactions

The MDC condemns the arrest of Hon Joanna Mamombe which is nothing but an act of political persecution.

The MDC is concerned by the unrepentant behavior of the military State which continues to harrass MDC leaders, MPs, the general membership and leaders of Civic Society Organisations including workers’ Unions.

Hon Mamombe is not a criminal, the MDC is a team of law abiding transformers whose sole agenda is to create opportunity for prosperity to the people of Zimbabwe.

Criminals who are abusing public funds for personal gain including buying cars using state funds are walking freely while those who fight for the democratisation of Zimbabwe are persecuted.

We also condemn the claims by Jacob Mudenda that he has since handled the harrassmment of MPs.

The MDC is concerned by the abuse of law enforcement institutions and the Justice delivery system.

We are also concerned by the unnecessary raising of tension in a place where a conducive environment for dialogue must be created.

Several party leaders, MPs and councillors who are being persecuted must be allowed to enjoy their citizen rights.

The arrest of Hon Mamombe is an indictment of Mnangagwa’s pretence on commitment to dialogue.

Behold the New. Change that Delivers!

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Jane Mlambo| There are unconfirmed reports that Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe has been arrested while in Nyanga.

Mamombe was part of a number of opposition members wanted by the police in connection with the January national shutdown.

Meanwhile, Chitungwiza North constituency legislator Hon. Godfrey Sithole will appear in court today facing charges of inciting public violence on Monday 14 January 2019 during an anti-government protest.

Sithole, who is represented by Alec Muchadehama of ZLHR, is detained in police cells in Chitungwiza.

More to follow…

Correspondent|TOP car dealership, Motor City Toyota, has been dragged to the High Court by the Parliament of Zimbabwe after it failed to deliver cars paid for two years ago.

Parliament says it bought and fully paid three Toyota Hilux double-cab vehicles two years ago from Motor City Toyota, but the delivery is still to be made.

Motor City Toyota is yet to respond to the litigation.

Court documents show that in December 2016, Parliament entered into an agreement of sale with Motor City Toyota for three Toyota Hilux double-cab vehicles valued at $104 849.

“The following were, inter alia the express terms of the said contract, namely;- that the defendant (MTC Investments) would sell the three Toyota Hilux motor vehicles mentioned above; that the plaintiff (Parliament) would pay the purchase price in the sum of $104 849 and that delivery of the motor vehicles would be done within six months from the date of payment of the purchase price.”

Parliament said it paid the purchase price to the vehicle firm on April 1, 2017, but MTC Investments has, up to date, not delivered the vehicles.

“By reason of the said breach, the defendant is liable to deliver the said motor vehicles to the plaintiff. Despite demand, the defendant has failed, neglected and/or refused to deliver the said motor vehicles to plaintiff,” Parliament said.

“Wherefore the plaintiff herein claims: delivery of the three Toyota Hilux motor vehicles (double cab) and if the defendant fails to deliver the said vehicles within 48 hours from date of judgment the sheriff of Zimbabwe shall be authorised and directed to recover the said motor vehicles from defendant and deliver same to the plaintiff and cost of suit.

Facebook Comments

Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC has resolved the issue on who will represent the party in the Bulawayo ward 28 by election.

Former councillor in the area Collet Ndlovu on Thursday won the MDC Alliance primary election to stand as its official candidate in the by elections for ward 28.

The primary election was held at the party’s provincial offices after police codoned off the original venue in Cowdray Park, citing fears of violence.

“The primaries were disrupted by the police,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said, but refused to comment on claims that Ndlovu’s victory was being contested over allegations of fraud.

The by-election will be to replace the late Hapson Ncube, who died in December last year.

More than 12 candidates had also successfully filed their nomination papers for the by-election set for March 30 this year.

Local businessman Kidwell Mujuru, who lost to Ncube in last year’s election, is representing Zanu PF.

Correspondent|Employer of the man in the fake resurrection miracle by South African pastor Alph Lukau now wants him back to work saying he is the best employee.

Before the fake miracle, Brighton Elliot from Zimbabwe was working with a timber company in Pretoria and had been suspended after he showed up late at his workplace on a Monday and was expected to return the following day but he never went back.

His employer, Vincent Amoretti, who spoke to South Africa’s Enca said Brighton was a man who was dedicated to his duties and so far he was the best employee in the company before he went missing in February 4, 2019.

“He came here about six months ago and he was a very nice guy ready and willing to work and learn the wood industry. He was always smartly dressed and actually during our end year Christmas party he was the smartest,” said Amorreti.

The entrepreneur said Brighton’s quick learning saw him get promoted to become an assistant machinist but was involved in an accident where his finger was slightly cut which took away his confidence like it was the end of the world for him.

He said he was shocked to see him in a video inside a coffin with his mouth wide open and pretending to be dead.

“One of the employees came to my office and told me Brighton had died and showed me a video, I was shocked when I saw him lying in a coffin with his mouth wide open and he started breathing and came back to live, it was really a big joke,” he said.

The boss further disclosed that he had been soliciting other employees to join his church and perform the fake miracles for a payment as a part time job. Asked on whether he would allow him back to work, Amorretti said he is very willing and ready to have him back based on his work performance record.

A 35-YEAR-OLD drunken Bindura man committed suicide on Wednesday after he was confronted by his wife for delegating all household chores to his young brother.

Gilbert Kasambarare (35), of Woodlands Farm near the mining town, consumed a pesticide and died on his way to hospital following an argument over sending his younger brother, Michael, to fetch some firewood.

Norica Chinovava (30) reportedly queried why her husband was delegating all household duties to his young brother, while he spent most of his time drinking beer.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm a sudden death by a drunken man in Bindura, who consumed a pesticide after a misunderstanding with his wife over household chores,” he said.

Eunice Mudapakati, the mother of the deceased, said she was told by her late son that he consumed the pesticide because his wife saw him as a
useless person.

“My son came to me soon after consuming the pesticide and told me that he had been labelled as useless by his wife. So he wanted to prove to her that he was useless by committing suicide. We tried to rush him to the hospital, but he died along the way,” Mudapakati said.

— NewsDay

TEACHERS’ unions yesterday said they were planning to go on strike if government does not urgently revise their salaries, as frustrated civil servants demanded a minimum of $3 000 per month after the central bank last week introduced a new virtual currency, which it devalued by 60% to the United States dollar.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe yesterday warned that teachers planned to cripple the education sector if their salary demands were not met.

He said the introduction of the real time gross settlement dollar (ZWL$) had further impoverished teachers and left them struggling to survive.

Majongwe blasted the pegging of the consumer bread basket for a family of six at $800 per month by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), which he said was understated.

The unionist said this exposed the CCZ as an institution dancing to the whims of government.

“If anything, the RTGS$ pegged at 1:2,5 has further impoverished teachers, and further, the current CCZ family of six bread basket pegged at $800 is a fraud. We feel, as a union, that the figure cannot be less than $2 000 after we made our calculations,” Majongwe said.

“The truth is that six people cannot survive on $800 per month, and that is a scandal, which shows that the CCZ is dancing to the whims of government and is not telling the truth and is lying to the people.”

Contacted for comment, CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema could not entertain questions on the issue, saying: “I am driving from Mutare and I need to get to Harare.”

Majongwe said the PTUZ made their calculations and came up with a family of six bread basket figure of $2 000 based on the rises in fuel prices, goods and services such as education and health and hikes in food prices.

He said the $340 salary being paid to teachers was reached using the 1:1 rate, and it was pegged in United States dollars, which later suddenly changed into bond notes.

“This $340 salary was pegged in 2013, and now six years later, you cannot say that RTGS$500 is enough for teachers. Government must realise that if there is no pay, there will be no work and they must engage the teachers now,” Majongwe said.

He said the October 2018 demand of $1 700 had already been superseded by last week’s monetary policy statement, which introduced the new rate of 1:2,5 and it now meant that teachers needed to be paid a salary of more than $3 000 per month.

“If they do not accede to this demand of $3 000, then government must realise that they are killing education because teachers will be moonlighting and doing other things, instead of teaching and definitely there will be another strike,” Majongwe said, adding that the educators now needed to speak with one voice and restrategise, instead of unions betraying each other.

In an earlier statement, PTUZ demanded an urgent meeting with government and a stop to victimisation of teachers by the Public Service Commission.

“We can promise that this school term will not end on good terms if the government continues to bury its head in the sand and declares war on its workers. Teachers are suffering and they have been patriotic enough. Forewarned is forearmed,” the union said.

“We expect government and its functionaries to be humane, sober and honest. We did not suspend our strike from a position of weakness, and government should not test our resolve. We have the capacity to cripple the education sector.”

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (Zimta) chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu also concurred that teachers now needed a minimum salary of $3 000.

“We deserve to have an increment and restoration of our purchasing power. This means we are now going back to the negotiation table with a figure of more than $3 000. We were told that in April, they will increase salaries by $120, which is not enough and will not motivate employees,” he said.

He said the $800 peg as the family bread basket was erroneous and probably calculated using the old rate of 1:1 ratio.

“Unless the CCZ says that they pegged the family basket at $800 in US$, then it would make sense,” Ndlovu said.

But unlike PTUZ, Ndlovu said Zimta would need to consult its membership before entertaining any thoughts of a fresh strike.

Apex Council organising secretary Charles Chinosengwa said civil servants would hold an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss the issue of erosion of their salaries and to come up with new demands.

He also said they would not settle for anything less than $3 000.

“We are also working on figures for our family of six bread basket taking into cognisance the price hikes. The $1 700 minimum wage we suggested in October last year is no longer realistic,” he said.

“We will be suggesting different allowances like head of department allowance, senior master, infant school teachers, teachers specialising on students with disabilities, sports, workshop and examination, and several other allowances.”

Chinosengwa said it was high time government considered incentivising civil servants by including them in programmes like command agriculture.

NewsDay

RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Dr John Mangudya has said the central bank is looking at recommendations made by small-scale gold miners for an incentive they need to maintain viability of operations.

He told state media that the bank received the recommendations at a meeting held with the miners last week.

Dr Mangudya said while the bank could not agree to the miners’ request for the local currency component of payments for gold to be made at 1 US dollar to 3.5 RTGS dollars, it was looking at the possibility of an incentive.

Small-scale gold producers, including artisanal miners, are now an integral part of the gold production in Zimbabwe, accounting for 65 percent of the 33,2 tonnes the industry delivered last year.

“Regarding small-scale gold producers, the miners made submissions to the Reserve Bank at a meeting with officials from the bank on Tuesday,” said Dr Mangudya. “They want the bank to consider an incentive to the gold producers because of prices they are facing in the market where goods are priced at 3.5 to the US dollar.

“We did not yield to their request (for payment at the rate of 3.5 to the US dollar for 35 percent of deliveries ), after they made submissions to the Reserve Bank. But the Reserve Bank will consider providing an incentive so that they can increase gold production.”

The Reserve Bank is considering the submissions made by small scale gold producers to ensure they remain viable.

This comes after the central bank last week took the decision to create an interbank platform for trade in currencies after floating the US dollar exchange rate against all electronic money, and other currencies in the multi-currency basket.

Currently, the rate is at around 2.5 RTGS dollars for every United States dollar, which is the rate at which the bank settles the local currency component for all gold delivered to it.

The RBZ is the sole buyer of gold in the country through its gold buying unit, Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

The miners have also expressed reservations over the export retention threshold, which Dr Mangudya set at 70 percent from 55 percent when he presented the 2019 monetary policy statement.

Last year, small-scale miners delivered 21,7 tonnes or 66 percent of the 33,3 tonnes that were delivered to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, a unit of the RBZ.

Gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners totalled 24 tonnes in 2017, and deliveries for 2018 reflect the success of interventions the central bank has instituted in recent years to boost production.

MDC Deputy Treasurer-General Chalton Hwende has indicated he will not contest for any post at the MDC Alliance elective congress scheduled for May.

Hwende said he arrived at the decision because he wants to dedicate his effort towards ensuring that party leader Nelson Chamisa gets elected.

Chamisa face stiff challenge from secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora as well as party vice president Elias Mudzuri.

“I have not been nominated for any position by any structure. For this congress I have decided to work full time on defending the people’s project and get our President Elected at Congress. So I won’t be accepting any nomination for the contested positions at Congress,” said Hwende, who is also the party’s legislator for Kuwadzana East.

The MDC Alliance congres has been set for 24 to 26 May this year.

Meanwhile, Hwende as also indicated that all alliance principals are free to contest for the available posts if they get nominated. Some of the principals to the opposition alliance include Jacob Ngarivhume and Rtd Brigadier Agrippa Mutambara.

However, there is bickering and simmering tensions over the contestable posts, with members in different camps reading from different constitutions.

Party president Nelson Chamisa’s camp says only four posts will be up for grabs while secretary general Douglas Mwonzora insists that all the 16 standing committee posts should be decided by the congress.

Some party supporters said it was not tenable that influential positions such as secretary general and organising secretary should be allowed to be decided by an individual or organ.

“The issue of how many posts would be contested came up in our last national council meeting recently and we agreed to refer to the constitution signed by Mr (Morgan) Tsvangirai, we have since done that. So all the 16 posts should be contested.

“This is congress, so there should be democracy nothing should stop a person from contesting any post if he or she has been nominated. All posts are up for contestation,” said Mwonzora.

A TEACHER at a Gwanda school has been jailed 20 years for raping and impregnating his Grade Seven pupil.

The teacher (51) raped the 14-year-old girl several times during the second and third terms last year.

The offence came to light after the girl’s mother suspected that her daughter was pregnant.

The teacher pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira, but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.

He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

He will serve an effective 17-year jail term.

In passing sentence, Mr Dzira rebuked the teacher for destroying the juvenile’s life.

“As a teacher, parents entrust the care of their children upon you and expect you to protect them and prepare them for a better future. In this case, however, you took advantage of your position and influence and sexually abused this girl and also went on to impregnate her.

“The future of this child has been destroyed because of your actions and she might never recover from this experience. Sexual abuse is a serious offence and it leaves victims violated and even traumatised.

“You deserve a deterrent sentence that will serve as a lesson for like-minded people who target juveniles,” he said.

In his defence, the teacher denied raping the juvenile.

He said he had never remained alone with the juvenile in the class as she had claimed.

The teacher said other learners and teachers at the school would have seen him commit the offence as the classroom had huge windows but none had testified to have seen him.

Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said the girl was first raped by her former teacher sometime during the second term last year while she was in Grade Seven.

“On an unknown date last year but during the school’s second term, the teacher called the juvenile into the classroom while her classmates were playing outside during break time. She complied and her teacher started fondling her breasts.

“The juvenile tried to scream but the teacher took a sjambok and threatened to assault her if she made any noise. The teacher then raped the juvenile and threatened to assault her if she revealed matter. The juvenile kept quiet out of fear of her teacher’s threats,” he said.

Mr Dube said the teacher raped the juvenile on several other occasions during the second and third term last year in his office and in the classroom while the other pupils were outside.

He said on December 22, the juvenile’s mother asked her neighbour to confront her daughter as she suspected that she was pregnant.

“The juvenile’s neighbour interviewed the girl who revealed that she had been raped by the teacher. The matter was reported to the police resulting in the teacher’s arrest. The juvenile went for medical examination and results showed that she was three months pregnant,” he said.

State Media

Paul Nyathi|Reports coming through indicate that a yet to be disclosed complainant within the opposition party is has filed rape claims against the leader of the opposition MDC Nelson Chamisa.

According the reports a docket has already been opened at a Harare police station and police are just waiting for Chamisa to return to the country before pouncing on him.

Chamisa is currently on a diplomatic offensive around the SADC region where he is meeting regional leaders on the current political impasse in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe police are reportedly keen to humiliate President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s biggest opposition rival on his return, effecting an arrest at the RGM International Airport for best effect under the glare of foreign and local travellers.

The alleged rape comes at a time the ruling Zanu PF party is pulling all the stops to ensure Chamisa does not prevail in the party’s upcoming national Congress, where his position is up for grabs.

The MDC -Alliance holds its Congress on 24 to 26 May.

The rape allegations are just but a part of the Zanu PF pot of shemes aimed at ensuring Chamisa does not contest the upcoming congress or if he does, that his image is damaged probably beyond repair.

The rape allegations on Chamisa are not the first to be thrown at a politician seen as a potential enemy of the State. Numerous politicians, living and dead, have at one time or other been the receipients of Zanu PF’s shenigans and false allegations. Nearly all have fallen flat in the courts of law.

There are reports of fresh farm invasions in some areas across the country.

Most of the farms that are being targeted are those that are being used productively by commercial white farmers.

In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) chief executive officer Ben Purcell-Gilpin said:
Sadly, where crops and assets offer the prospect of quick gains, for instance, such as citrus, avocados, macadamias or sugar cane that are close to harvest, there has often been an incentive to gain access for a quick return by opportunists.

Such activity or attempted behaviour causes considerable disruption to production, as well as creating a very negative impression for other investors who may be considering investing in Zimbabwe.
. . .
Most incidents affect properties which were acquired by the state, but where there are disputes over access to farms which may be new or already the subject of a long legal process that is yet to conclude.” Zimbabwe Independent

Own Correspondent|Fifty-six grade four pupils from Sigombe primary school in Nkulumane suburb were Friday rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital amid fears they may have eaten poisonous seeds from a Jatropha tree at the school.

The pupils, 34 boys and 22 girls were partaking in a cleanup exercise at the school premises when they reportedly consumed the poisonous seeds.

After the cleaning exercise, the learners went back to class where they started complaining of feeling unwell.

One by one, the children started vomiting and complaining of stomach pains prompting the teachers to investigate the cause.

It was discovered the learners ate Jatropha seeds which are poisonous and the school authorities rushed them to hospital.

Out of the 56, one learner was said to be critical but the medical staff managed to stabilise all the pupils.

Mpilo Hospital Public Relations Officer, Ozias Ndlovu said the learners were treated for abdominal pains and diarrhoea.

“We gave the children Oral rehydration salt (ORS) to replace the fluids they lost. They will be placed under observation for the night,” he said.

“I was phoned by the school informing me that my child has been rushed to hospital after he consumed some poisonous plant. I rushed to the hospital and found him stable and on a drip,” said one parent who declined to be named.

By late afternoon the hospital was now making arrangements to move the learners to other spacious wards in the hospital due to limited space at the children`s hospital.

Dr Ngwenya said jatropha is a multi-purpose tree which can be used to produce soap, lubricants, biodiesel and also helps in soil conservation.

“When one ingests the seeds, which is never advisable, they will experience severe vomiting, loose stools and abdominal pain which can be fatal. This is why we want these children to be closely monitored because we may not know the degree of the poisoning,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said institutions, especially those dealing with children, should not plant jatropha as it is harmful.

“I urge schools not to plant such trees because they pose danger and put children’s lives at risk. Some countries have banned this tree. Imagine that only three seeds of Jatropha can destroy someone’s health,” he said.

Bulawayo Acting Provincial Education Director Mrs Olicah Kaira said this is the second incident involving the hospitalisation of pupils after eating jatropha.

“This is the second incident in Bulawayo. It happened at Manondwane Primary school in Nketa a couple of years back and it shows that pupils are not being taught about the harmful effects of this plant,” she said.

Mrs Kaira said her Ministry would engage schools to teach children about the harmful effects of some wild fruits.

The paediatric ward at Mpilo yesterday afternoon and found a hive of activity as nurses were attending to the pupils. One pupil who was critical was put on an intravenous drip as she was dehydrated.

Farai Dziva| Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Charity Charamba has been redeployed to the staff college as College Principal, sources have claimed.

According to police sources, Charamba has been literally demoted.

The ZRP is expected to name a new spokesperson soon, according to the sources.

Paul Nyathi|Acting MDC President Engineer Elias Mudzuri has made a sensational hint that the opposition party might split after the make or break elective congress set for May.

MDCT must respect its Constitution – remove fear & factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) March 1, 2019

The coming MDCT Congress threatens to tear the party apart & jeopardize our chance of winning 2023 elections – ruining the hopes of millions Lets do what is right

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) March 1, 2019

The MDC is already split into two going to congress on which constitution should be used to run the elections.

Two contradicting constitutions have emerged on what positions are up for grabs at congress.

A camp allegedly led by President Nelson Chamisa is saying only four will be contested, while another led by secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora says that all the 16 standing committee posts should be decided by the congress.

Chamisa’s camp, led by deputy national treasurer Mr Charlton Hwende, has said only the posts of president, vice president, national chairperson and vice national chairperson would be contested.

Hwende said this on his Twitter handle, drawing barbs from other members.

Some party supporters said it was not tenable that influential positions such as secretary-general and organising secretary should be allowed to be decided by an individual or organ.

They said doing so had the effect of undermining the ethos of democracy.

The assertion that only four posts would be contested is also in sharp contrast with Mwonzora’s views that all the 16 standing committee posts should be contested.

Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume insisted that only four posts will be contested at congress while the remainder would be appointed by the president and the national executive council.

“Only four posts will be contested in terms of the current constitution. If there is a different view that would be discussed as we approach congress but currently the constitution says only those four would be contested. With respect to the remaining posts, the president will appoint some while the national executive will appoint others. You will also reckon that posts like secretary general are mere administrative posts,” said Mr Mafume.

“The constitution says all posts will be contested by anyone who would have been nominated. What we do not know is who is contesting which posts. It is also important to note that now congress dates have been announced, needless suspensions of members should be put on hold. There are 16 standing committee posts and these are the positions that should be contested. The issue of how many posts would be contested came up in our last national council meeting recently and we agreed to refer to the constitution signed by Mr (Morgan) Tsvangirai, we have since done that. So all the 16 posts should be contested,” said Mwonzora.

By A Correspondent| The late Pastor Chiweshe’s son, Tawanda has died.

While details were sketchy at the time of writing, he was living near London.

A source told ZimEye:

“He had a stroke; they operated him put him on life support.. gone too soon.”

More to follow

By Dorrothy Moyo| Speaking against common expectations, the MDC Deputy President Elias Mudzuri has alleged that the party will split in the next 2 months.

Mudzuri has for over a year been claiming he is the legitimate successor to the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mudzuri published his first Tweet in a year, as he fired an ominous warning. He said, “the coming MDC-T congress threatens to tear the party apart and jeopardise our chances of winning the 2023 elections, ruining the hopes of millions. Let’s do what is right.

“MDC-T must respect its constitution — remove fear & factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe.”

Scores of party supporters yesterday said that they believe his comments are a direct threat signalling what he himself will do.

He was contacted late Friday for comment and refused to speak.

By Own Correspondent| Government is engaging a German firm for the production of vehicle licence plates under a deal expected to significantly reduce costs by 50 percent.

The deal, is also expected to enable the firm to set up 10 manufacturing plants in the country.

A state media report said the engagement with the German vehicle license plate manufacturer follows the crisis that hit the Central Vehicle Registration (CVR) last month that resulted in a critical shortage on the domestic market.

The foreign player Erich Utsch AG proposed a $20 million venture that will be spread into setting up manufacturing plants across provinces effectively leading unique identification of the plates with each province.

According to the business development manager Vyacheslav Krivorotenko, their investment footprint into the Zimbabwean market will spread over the next 15 years and will lead to huge cost cuts for the nation incurred from importing the registration plates from offshore markets.

The estimated cost of production under this is pegged at $30 with proposals for the final cost of the product at $65 which will be a significant reduction from the current price of $80.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| MDC vice chairperson Tendai Biti has said his party will reject any other presidential candidate who is not Nelson Chamisa to lead the party and steer the democratic fight against Zanu Pf.

He said this while reacting to suggestions by Zanu-PF youth league leader Lewis Matutu that Douglas Mwonzora is likely to beat Chamisa at the opposition party’s Congress scheduled for May 24-26.

He said the party would not accept to be led by “a ruling party chosen half-wit”.

Biti said MDC will reject any person that is not Chamisa.

Said Biti:

“We will reject any nincompoop given to us by Zanu PF. We already have a candidate in … Chamisa. So, we will not tolerate that. Our duty is to protect the legacy of our dear leader Morgan Tsvangirai and we know with Chamisa we will be able to do that.”-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| Zanu-PF Youth League members have buried the hatchet after attempting to dislodge its leadership last month and the party is now focusing on unity, a Youth League leader Lewis Matutu has revealed.

Speaking to the state media on the sidelines of a public lecture at Gweru Polytechnic College last week, Deputy Secretary  for Youth Affairs Matutu said now was the time for the Youth League to be united and push the socio-economic development agenda for the development of the country.

Votes of no confidence were passed against some officials of the party’s national Youth League executive recently, while reports of similar actions were being initiated in some provinces.

The party’s Youth League passed a vote of no confidence on its leaders, Pupurai Togarepi, Matutu, secretary for administration Tendai Chirau, Admire Mahachi and Mercy Mugomo, for allegedly failing to defend President Mnangagwa, who is the party’s First Secretary.

Matutu said the league members had since moved on.

“Youth league members have since moved on. We are now united as the Youth League and we remain guided by the party principles and constitution. We are holding inter-district meetings with youths in all provinces. As we speak, some members of the national executive are in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Three Police officers from Gweru Central were busted with nine 90kg bags of mbanje which were allegedly on transit from Mozambique to Kwekwe.

The officers were arrested at Chatsworth in Gutu after one of the two cars in their convoy had a breakdown.

The three, Constable Muwala Daniel, Constable Dube Edwin of Police Intelligence and Detective Constable Mafunga Mafunga denied the allegations levelled against them arguing that the mbanje belonged to a suspect that they had arrested.

They said that they arrested Cephas Sibanda (35) of Mbizo 1 Kwekwe for robbery and they were taking him to Gweru.

However, their superiors did not have such a case and there was no sanction for them to go to Gutu on business.

The Police memo says on February 23, 2019 at 9am police were tipped that there were two suspected mobile mbanje dealers driving a white Mark II motor vehicle heading towards Chatsworth.

They reacted and found a vehicle fitting the said description.

It is alleged that one of the cars in the described convoy had a breakdown at Chatsworth and two men were seen offloading bags from the broken down vehicle and hiding them in a nearby bush.

A team of officers at Chatsworth swiftly responded and found the cars fitting the given description.

The occupants were ordered to produce their identities which showed that they were police officers.-MasvingoMirror

Own Correspondent|Speaking to Daily News, MDC vice chairperson Tendai Biti reacted to suggestions by Zanu-PF youth league leader Lewis Matutu that Douglas Mwonzora is likely to beat the current popular leader, Nelson Chamisa at the opposition party’s Congress scheduled for May 24-26.

He said the party would not accept to be led by “a ruling party chosen half-wit”. Biti said MDC will reject any person that is not Chamisa. Said Biti:

We will reject any nincompoop given to us by Zanu PF. We already have a candidate in … Chamisa. So, we will not tolerate that. Our duty is to protect the legacy of our dear leader Morgan Tsvangirai and we know with Chamisa we will be able to do that.

The MDC youth assembly also claimed that Zanu PF wanted a “weaker candidate” to emerge as the party’s leader in May “for obvious reasons” — vowing that this would not happen.

https://youtu.be/xkljK5EZ2L0

By Own Correspondent|  The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba has been redeployed to the staff college as College Principal.

Charamba, who is on record revealing that she joined the ZRP at the age of 23 was in 2010 deployed to Liberia for 3 years as an operations coordinator for the United Nations police.

She was appointed the head of the press and public relations office of the ZRP in 2013 after taking over from Wayne Bvudzijena. In April of the same year, she was promoted by the former ZRP boss Augustine Chihuri from assistant commissioner to senior assistant commissioner.

Before her elevation to senior assistant commissioner, Charamba represented the country at the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions in Liberia where she had served at a senior level.

In January 2018, it was reported that Charamba among other senior police officers had been served with retirement letters.

The retirement was however overturned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after realizing it was done without following the proper procedure. The number of senior police officers which were initially sent off on retirement were 32 but decreased to 11 after the president’s intervention.

By Own Correspondent| Acting president of the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa who is the party’s Vice President Engineer Elias Mudzuri has distanced himself from two tweets regarding the party’s upcoming national elective congress.

In one of the tweets, Mudzuri, urged party cadres to respect the MDC constitution.

Said Mudzuri in the tweet:

“MDC must respect its Constitution- remove fear and factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe.”

MDC National spokesperson Jacob Mafume however dismissed the tweets revealing that they had not been generated by Mudzuri.

Said Mafume:

“Two tweets attributed to the Acting President Hon Elias Mudzuri pertaining the MDC Congress have been circulating.

The Acting President stated that he has not tweeted in a while and the tweets were not generated by him.

The MDC is a democratic party which is guided by it’s Constitution, as such the Congress will be held in line with it’s provisions.

Hon Mudzuri has placed it upon himself to investigate the source of the tweets.”

Correspondent|MDC’s Masvingo provincial spokesperson, Dusty Zivhave, has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the province has endorsed secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora’s candidacy for the party’s presidency at the elective congress to be held in May.

Zivhave said the meeting held at the party offices in Masvingo on Wednesday did not discuss the nominations or endorsements of congress candidates.

“That is the work of our detractors who are peddling lies on social media, trying to sow seeds of discontent and division ahead of a crucial congress to be held in May this year. The claims are unfounded and silly, to say the least. Unless if there was another meeting held somewhere in town by State security agents or Zanu PF thugs who endorsed Mwonzora, which I doubt. The provincial assembly was held at our offices at number 132 Mukwa Street in Rhodene and we never discussed that issue,” he said.

“The truth is we were discussing issues to do with how the congress is going to be held and who is eligible to vote. We never talked about nominations or endorsements because this is not the time. The provincial members will hold meetings with district assemblies, who will in turn hold meetings with wards and so on.”

A faceless Facebook character known as Tirimusango Wenje claimed that Masvingo had endorsed Mwonzora, while a Simon Wezhira posted on Democracy Advocate Initiative page: “Dougie (Mwonzora) for office. We are tired of (the) immature leadership of Wamba.”

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa on Sunday said all party positions would be contested.

Correspondent|A former Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer was found with more than $200 000 in his car after he was involved in a head-on collision at the 76km peg along Masvingo – Chivhu Road on Monday last week.

The police officer died in the accident, as well as a woman who was a passenger in his car.

The deceased officer was identified as Philip Mutsambi and was working in Guruve at the time of his death.

The Masvingo Mirror reports that the accident was caused by an overtaking error and Officer Mutsambi died together with a woman who was a passenger in his car.

Mash East police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the accident which killed two people. It is reported that $200 000 bond notes were recovered from Mutsambi’s car at the scene of the accident.

Mutsambi was driving towards Harare when he tried to overtake two vehicles. Whilst he was overtaking, he saw an oncoming vehicle and tried to avoid a head-on collision by veering off to the right side of the road.

The oncoming motorist also veered off to his left side and the two motor vehicles had a head-on collision. Mutsambi and his passenger died on spot. Two other people who were injured were rushed to Chivhu General Hospital.

Paul Nyathi|Information just received indicates that the Zimbabwe Police Services (ZPS) national spokesperson Assistant Commisioner Charity Charamba has been recalled from her position.

According to impeccable sources within the police, Charamba has been redeployed to the Zimbabwe Staff College as Principal.

This is a developing story and more details will be made provised as they become available.

MDC A deputy chairperson Tendai Biti has said only Nelson Chamisa has the capacity to lead the opposition party.

Speaking to Daily News, Biti reacted to suggestions by Zanu-PF youth league leader Lewis Matutu that Douglas Mwonzora would beat the current leader, Nelson Chamisa at the opposition party’s Congress scheduled for May 24-26.

He said the party would not accept to be led by “a ruling party chosen half-wit”.

Biti has maintained the MDC A will reject any person who is not Chamisa. Said Biti:
“We will reject any nincompoop given to us by Zanu PF. We already have a candidate in … Chamisa. So, we will not tolerate that. Our duty is to protect the legacy of our dear leader Morgan Tsvangirai and we know with Chamisa we will be able to do that.”

The MDC youth assembly has also claimed that Zanu PF wants a “weaker candidate” to emerge as the party’s leader in May “for obvious reasons” — vowing that this will not happen- Daily News

MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda claims that President Emmerson is investing $6 million in order to avoid standing against the former in any election.

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Sibanda said: “Mnangagwa is investing $6 mil trying to avoid standing against Pres Chamisa in any election. All should fear a run against President Nelson Chamisa, he is:
1) still within term limits
2) the party’s engine of growth and power
3) the only one who can beat a rigging ZANU PF.”

There are reports that the government is bankrolling Chamisa’s rivals ahead of the upcoming MDC elective Congress set to be held on May 24.

Below is the statement by the government of Botswana that it did not give Emmerson Mnangagwa any money, contrary to claims by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

BOTSWANA DID NOT LOAN ZIMBABWE MONEY

President Dr. Masisi explains to the media that Botswana has not loaned Zimbabwe money. Instead, the government of Botswana will be providing a guarantee to commercial banks in Botswana willing to enable trade in Zimbabwe.

He encouraged Batswana to seize the opportunity for business that this arrangement will bring.

By Legal Watchdog, Veritas

Legality of Searches by Soldiers

Introduction

A document purporting to emanate from the Public Relations Directorate at Army Headquarters has been circulating on social media, warning the public that the ZNA (the Zimbabwe National Army) will be conducting “snap searches” in residential areas in order to find stolen army uniforms and similar clothing. The document states that the searches are necessary because of a sharp rise in thefts and robberies carried out by criminals using “military regalia”. In polite but firm tones the document urges members of the public to hand over any such regalia to the search teams or surrender them to their nearest police station.

Veritas cannot vouch for the authenticity of the document, but military personnel searched houses in the aftermath of last month’s disturbances so it is an opportune moment to examine what powers, if any, soldiers have to search civilian premises.

Powers of Search Generally

A search of a person’s home or property is an infringement of their right to privacy, guaranteed by section 57 of the Constitution in the following terms:

“Every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have—

(a) their home, premises or property entered without their permission;

(b) their person, home, premises or property searched;”

The right is not absolute because there must be circumstances when law enforcement authorities can search premises in order to arrest suspected criminals, seize evidence needed for detecting or prosecuting crime and so on. The law however is careful to protect privacy so far as possible, and the courts in this country and elsewhere have laid down criteria that must be met for a search to be legal:

· The search must be conducted in terms of legislation – there is no general common-law power of search.

· The legislation must clearly define the power of search.

· The search must have a compelling public objective (for example crime control).

· The search should generally be authorised by an independent authority (for example, by a magistrate issuing a search warrant).

The first question to ask, therefore, is: Is there any legislation which gives military personnel the power to search civilian premises?

Legislative Authority for Soldiers to Conduct Searches

Only two Acts empower soldiers to conduct searches:

The Defence Act

Section 41 of the Defence Act permits soldiers to search for stolen property, but the only persons who may be searched are members of the Defence Forces and the only premises that may be searched are premises belonging to the State and occupied or controlled by the Defence Forces. The Act does not allow the homes of civilians to be searched.

The Public Order and Security Act (POSA)

Section 37 of POSA states that if the Police require “assistance … for the purpose of suppressing any civil commotion or disturbance in any police district” the Defence Forces may be deployed “to assist the police in the exercise of their functions under this Act in the police district concerned.” The section goes on to say that when the Defence Forces are so deployed:

“a member of the Defence Forces who is assisting a police officer in the exercise of his functions under this Act shall have the same powers, functions and authority … as a member of the Police Force.”

Police officers have power to search premises including homes, as we shall see, so section 37 gives soldiers the same power. But the power is limited: it can be exercised only while the soldiers are assisting the police in suppressing a “civil commotion or disturbance”. Once the commotion or disturbance has been suppressed the soldiers’ power to search ceases.

Section 33 of POSA empowers peace officers – a term that includes police officers and soldiers assisting the police under section 37 – to search people and premises within an area that has been cordoned off by the police to contain “any public disorder or public violence within the area”. However, searches under the section are limited to finding people reasonably suspected of offences relating to the public disorder or violence, or evidence relating to such offences. And in the case of soldiers assisting the police, their powers cease as soon as they have suppressed the commotion or disturbance that caused the police to call for their assistance.

Neither the Defence Act nor POSA, therefore, gives soldiers power to search civilian homes for the purpose of general crime control – which is the purpose of the “snap searches” mentioned in the document purportedly emanating from the Army’s Public Relations Directorate. The “snap searches” are to recover stolen army uniforms, not to suppress civil commotions or disturbances. In any event the commotions and disturbances which gave rise to the Army being deployed to assist the police have been suppressed, so soldiers have no legal power at all to search civilian premises.

Illegality of “Snap Searches”

There is a further point to be made: whatever the legal powers of soldiers may be, “snap searches” of people’s homes are illegal no matter who carries them out.

The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [CP&E Act] gives law enforcement agents – primarily police officers – power to search premises to seize articles concerned in or reasonably believed to be concerned in a crime, or reasonably believed to be evidence of a crime. The power is strictly limited, however:

· Normally searches must be authorised by a search warrant issued by a magistrate or justice of the peace (other than a police officer) who has reasonable grounds for believing that an article liable to be seized is in any particular premises or area.

· A search warrant must specify clearly and precisely the articles to be searched for and the premises or area to be searched. The courts insist that search warrants are worded very precisely.

· In certain circumstances police officers can search premises without a search warrant, but only if:

· the owner or occupier of the premises consents to the search, or

· the officers believe they would get a warrant if they applied for one but delay in applying for it would defeat the object of the search.

The CP&E Act certainly does not envisage “snap searches”, i.e. random searches conducted within a particular area. Randomness is a concept wholly inconsistent with the strict limits the Act places on powers of search, particularly the requirement that searches must generally be authorised by search warrants. Even though the Act allows a warrant to authorise a search within an “area”, the area must be small enough to reduce the element of randomness. A warrant could not specify such a wide area as “the residential suburbs of Harare” or even the area of a named high-density suburb, because that would allow random or indiscriminate searches of houses to be conducted within the wide area.

Effect of Illegal Search

One final point. What if an illegal search turns up evidence of a crime – or, more specifically, what if soldiers searching a house illegally discover army uniforms stolen from Army stores?

The answer is that almost certainly a court would refuse to allow the prosecution to lead evidence that the soldiers found the uniforms. Section 70(3) of the Constitution is to the effect that illegally obtained evidence cannot be produced in a criminal trial if it “would render the trial unfair or would otherwise be detrimental to the administration of justice or the public interest.” Section 258A of the CP&E Act indicates how a court should decide whether to allow illegally-obtained evidence to be produced. The section is not easy to understand but broadly it means that a court must strike a balance between the rights of the accused person and the integrity of the justice system on the one hand, and on the other the need to ensure that criminals do not escape justice through minor technicalities.

Conclusion

If a court were told that soldiers, whether knowingly or unknowingly, conducted random searches of peoples’ homes in complete violation of the law, it would be compelled to refuse to allow evidence to be led of what the soldiers discovered as a result of their searches. If a court were to allow such evidence to be heard the criminal justice system would be fatally compromised.

By Own Correspondent- More than RTGs $200 000 was reportedly found in the car of a former Chivhu Police officer who was involved and killed in a head-on collision at the 76km peg along Masvingo Chivhu Road.

Although it could not be fully established who the money really belonged to, the said vehicle belonged to Philip Mutsambi, a police formerly stationed at Chivhu but working in Guruve at the time of his death.

According to the Masvingo Mirror, the accident was caused by an overtaking error and Officer Mutsambi died together with a female passenger in his car.

Mash East police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the accident which killed two people.

It is reported that about $200 000 bond notes were recovered from Mutsambi’s car at the scene of the accident.

Mutsambi was driving towards Harare when he tried to overtake two vehicles.

Whilst he was overtaking, he saw an oncoming vehicle and tried to avoid a head-on collision by veering off to the right side of the road.

The oncoming motorist also veered off to his left side and the two motor vehicles had a head on collision.

Mutsambi and his passenger died on the spot.

Two other people who were injured were rushed to Chivhu General Hospital.

Farai Dziva| Chief Fortune Charumbira has sensationally claimed he has never driven a government vehicle in his life.

Charumbira stunned reporters in Masvingo on Sunday when he claimed he has never driven a government motor vehicle.

Charumbira boasted of using his own resources to carry out activities within his jurisdiction.

“For your own information, I have never driven a government vehicle. I know you cannot believe what I am saying but that’s the truth,” said Charumbira.

He added:” I do not belong to Zanu PF, mind you I am a traditional leader. “

By Own Correspondent| Vice President of the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, Engineer Elias Mudzuri has called on party stalwarts to respect its Constitution ahead of its national elective congress.

He implored his party to remove fear and factional divisions in order to enable party members to elect a unifying leader whose focus would be to end the suffering among citizens.

Said Mudzuri:

“MDC must respect its Constitution- remove fear and factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe.”

MDCT must respect its Constitution – remove fear & factional divisions to enable members to elect a leader that will unite us and focus on ending suffering in Zimbabwe

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) March 1, 2019

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consoled the family of the country’s former top envoy to Japan, Kenya and Uganda, Ambassador Buzwani Donald Mothobi.

Ambassador Mothobi died Wednesday. He was 80.

Said Mnangagwa:

“On behalf of the party, Zanu PF, government and on my own behalf, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the Mothobi family over this sad loss.”

Ambassador Mothobi who was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of Korea from 1994 to 1998 died on Wednesday after a long illness.

He was born on August 22 in 1939 in Nyamandlovu District.

Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) chief executive officer Nyasha Chizu sent his condolence message yesterday, describing Ambassador Mothobi, who was also former PRAZ board deputy chairperson as an astute leader and a father figure at the board and in the procurement profession at large.

“His passing away has left a void in the profession and the procurement fraternity shall always remember his leadership and guidance,” he said.

The late ambassador Mothobi was one of the longest serving members of the State Procurement Board and was selected to lead its transformation into the PRAZ.

He served as the Executive Chairman of the transitional State Procurement Board from December 2015 to December 2017.

He was pivotal in the development of the new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (Cap 22:12).

Ambassador Mothobi resigned from PRAZ in 2018 due to illness.

Before his appointment as the deputy chairperson of PRAZ, he had chaired many boards including the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zimre Property Investments and SFG Insurance among others.

He was a High Commissioner to Kenya and Uganda from 1998 to 2001. At one time, he was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements/Habitat.

Ambassador Mothobi was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Supplies from 1985 to 1987; Permanent Secretary for Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare from 1984 to 1985; Permanent Secretary for Transport from 1982 to 1984.

He was Research and Planning director in the Ministry of Manpower Planning and Development in 1980 and a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, during University Of Rhodesia from 1976 to 1977.

The late diplomat is survived by a wife and three children.

Mourners are gathered at number 48 Folyjon Crescent, Glen Lorne in Harare.- StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The Zanu PF Women’s League has condemned as regrettable utterances attributed to former president Robert Mugabe on his 95th birthday saying the utterances were an attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The women said Mugabe was out of touch with reality and must enjoy his pension and leave his predecessor to sort out the mess he left during his four decades of rule.

The sentiments by the Women’s League came during the first meeting for the national executive held at the onset of the year to map out programmes and projects to benefit women and the girl child.

The women accused Mugabe of destroying the country during his reign and also instilling fear a development which the women said had been reversed by President Mnangagwa in a short space of time.

Said Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Women’s Affairs Angeline Masuku:

“Mr Mugabe was responsible for destroying the country during his reign and also instilling fear and this has been reversed by President Mnangagwa in a short time and Mr Mugabe must be warned to let the country move on.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Three prison guards who allegedly allowed the jailed ZANU PF MP, Munyaradzi Kereke to enjoy intimacy with his young wife inside prison have been hauled to court.

The trio, allegedly allowed Kereke to be intimate with his young wife while he was serving his jail term for rape at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are appearing before court Friday afternoon.

Senior assistant Chomurenga, Assistant Mutiwarenga, and a Chief prison officer only identified as Chiparaushe were forced to retire as prison officers following the development, ZimEye can reveal.

They were arrested and spent a night in police cells.

They allegedly allowed Kereke to engage in sex with his young wife while he was in prison, which is against the law.

The matter came to light after her pregnancy was discovered.

By A Correspondent| Prison Guards who allegedly allowed the jailed ZANU PF MP, Munyaradzi Kereke to enjoy intimacy with his young wife inside the Chikurubi Maximum Prison are appearing before court Friday afternoon.

Senior assistant Chomurenga, Assistant Mutiwarenga, and a Chief prison officer only identified as Chiparaushe were forced to retire as prison officers following the development, ZimEye can reveal.

They were arrested and spent a night in police cells.

They are expected before magistrates court today over the Munyaradzi Kereke issue.

They allegedly allowed Munyaradzi Kereke to engage in sex with his young wife. The matter was exposed after her pregnancy was discovered.

By Own Correspondent- Communities in Vukuzenzele 2 Village under Esikhoveni area in Esigodini District are in shock following gruesome revelations that a four-year-old boy who mysteriously disappeared four months ago, was alive and being taken care of by suspected witches who want to turn him into a tokoloshe.

The chilling revelations were made by witch-hunters popularly known as tsikamutandas who visited the area for a cleansing ceremony last week at the instigation of villagers.

This was after the draught villagers’ frantic search for Belinda Mlilo’s baby who mysterious disappeared on 20 November last year proved futile.

Reports are that Mlilo who was employed as a domestic worker by the Mhlanga family left her baby as she went to a nearby bush to gather firewood. It is reported that the boy mysteriously disappeared when he tried to follow his mother.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Communities here were left shell shocked when a 23 year old man stoned to death his 88-year-old grandfather William Danda accusing him of witchcraft.

After committing the grisly murder on Sunday night in Gudyanga Village near Birchenough Bridge, Andrew Muchirawetu burnt the body of his grandfather.

He was however arrested and is currently in police custody.

Muchirawetu’s uncle Liberty Danda told the Manica Post that the accused has a history of mental illness:

“I came here early in the morning around 5 am after I heard people calling out for help. The house was on fire. On arrival I found the deceased’s body burning. There were several deep cuts on the body.

It was clear to me that he had been murdered before being set on fire. In fact, he must have been stoned to death because there were stones all over the place. The stones had blood stains which suggested that they had been used to inflict pain on the deceased. It was a scary sight but I had to put out the fire.

Since he came back from South Africa mid last year, he had always been complaining that his grandfather is bewitching him. In fact, he had been showing signs of mental illness. When I asked him why he had committed the crime, he remained silent. He was not even remorseful.”

Farai Dziva|As the MDC A Congress hullabaloo intensifies, senior party officials in Masvingo have accused provincial chairperson James Gumbi of attempting to topple party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Disgruntled members of the MDC A Veterans Activists Association(VAA) disclosed to ZimEye.com what they described as a sinister plot to oust Chamisa at the Congress.

“We have it on good authority that Gumbi is nursing a grudge against Chamisa and he has mooted a gimmick to topple the president.

He pretends to be on Chamisa’ s side while in actual fact he is campaigning for Elias Mudzuri,” said a VAA member.

Gumbi has since refuted the claims saying he is clear on his stance to support Chamisa.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE; Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

ON THE JOINT NATIONAL CLEAN –UP EXERCISE; WORLD WILDLIFE DAY; AFRICA ENVIRONMENT DAY AND WANGARI MAATHAI DAY COMMEMORATIONS

LAKE CHIVERO, 1 MARCH 2019

Director of Ceremonies
The Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon. P. Mupfumira (Sen) Honourable Ministers Here Present
Hon Members of Parliament Here Present
Senior Government and Parastatal Officials Here Present Representatives of Non- Government Organizations The Private Sector Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me pleasure to officiate at this joint National Clean-Up Exercise; World Wildlife Day; Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day commemorations. The purpose of these commemorations is to highlight to the nation the importance of the environment to human wellbeing and the need to conserve, protect and sustainably utilise the country’s natural resources.

Our joint commemorations this year are running under the theme, “Clean Environment – My Responsibility”. This theme dovetails with Section 73 of the constitution of Zimbabwe which enshrines that every person has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. The same provides for the need to protect the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

The goal of having a clean, safe and healthy environment can only be achieved if every individual, enterprise or organisation, both at local and National level, work together.

In 2002 the then Organisation of African Unity designated 3 March every year to be Africa Environment Day, based on the recognition of the numerous environmental challenges confronting the African continent. In January 2012, the African Union adopted a decision calling for the joint celebrations of the Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day.

The celebration of the Wangari Maathai Day is in recognition of the work and life of the late Prof. Wangari Maathai who dedicated her life to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Africa. Professor Wangari Maathai was an internationally renowned Kenyan environmental and political activist.
In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights.

In 1984, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, and in 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace”.

Wangari Mathaai Day is being commemorated in Zimbabwe to celebrate all greening efforts by individuals, corporates and communities. Many people have responded to the call to action from the slogan ‘Tree Planting is Everyone’s Responsibility.”

The occasion symbolizes the challenge and hope for Zimbabwe aiming to raise awareness on sustainable forest management among all stakeholders in different sectors of society.
Zimbabwe, like many other countries, is faced with the challenges of massive environmental degradation which now threaten food security making it ever more important for us to double our efforts to protect and rehabilitate the environment through tree planting.

It is for this reason that my Government is running a National Agroforestry Program, which promotes the extensive planting of fruit trees. The value, role and contributions of Agroforestry in light of current global environmental challenges, cannot be over-emphasised.

Promoting the planting appropriate trees on farms will make a huge positive impact on the environment and related national and global problems.

As a country, we are commemorating the Africa Environment Day under the theme “My Clean Environment – My Pride”. The theme calls for all citizens to take action and ensure a clean, safe and healthy environment for all. One of the foremost challenges bedeviling the country is solid waste management.

The major drivers contributing to waste management challenges include high population growth in urban centres leading to high rate of waste generation; limited capacity of local authorities to collect and dispose solid waste; discharge of untreated effluent from industries and littering by citizens. The primary source of litter in the cities, among others, has been pedestrians throwing unwanted materials in the streets, dumping of waste by shop owners and the discarding of waste by motorist through the windows.

In order to overcome some of the waste management challenges the country is facing, I call upon stakeholders to implement green interventions like adopting green industrial processes, while local authorities should provide adequate waste bins at strategic and convenient sites for pedestrians.

Motorists on the other hand should have litter bags in their vehicles for placing litter instead of throwing litter out the window. Residents, vendors and shop owners should avoid dumping of waste at street corners and their backyards and instead engage in sound waste management practices such as waste separation reusing, recycling and reduction of waste generated at source. There is need to upscale recycling so as to accommodate the huge volumes of waste that are being produced.

In line with the declaration I made to clean all environs, I urge users and beneficiaries of Lake Chivero to ensure the Lake is regularly cleaned and protected from all sources of pollution. I am glad that a lot of effort has been put in ensuring that this resort Lake is protected and cleaned. This will go a long way in promoting aesthetic value of this tourist attraction.

However still more needs to be done and it is everyone’s responsibility especially those who are running their business enterprises around here and those who come to relax here to ensure we keep this place clean.

Ladies and gentleman, the World Wildlife day is commemorated globally every year on the 3rd of March. The day was proclaimed on the 20th of December 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly as the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The purpose of the commemoration is to raise awareness on the significance and importance of the world’s wild animals and plants. The Theme for 2018 World Wildlife Day is “Life below water; for people and planet”.

The World Wildlife Day 2019 aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life below water, which focuses on marine and freshwater species, and is an opportunity to highlight the critical issues and values of marine and freshwater wildlife to our everyday lives. The occasion will also celebrate successful initiatives to conserve and sustainably manage these species, and to scale up support for future initiatives.

Ninety seven percent (97%) of the water on the Earth is salt water and only three percent (3%) is fresh water. Oceans and seas make up two-thirds of the world’s surface, and due to their depth even more than 99% of earth’s livable habitat.

The resulting richness of ecosystems and species, Life below water, has sustained human civilization and development for millennia, from providing food and nourishment, material for handicraft and construction to the very air we breathe. Fifty percent (50%) of the oxygen on Earth is produced in the ocean. Yet despite, or precisely because of, the perceived limitless nature of the oceans, marine and freshwater living resources, their ability to sustain mankind and contribute to sustainable development has been severely impacted by unregulated or poorly managed human activities, including unregulated fisheries, pollution and climate change.

Fisheries and Aquaculture play significant roles in socio-economic development, revenue generation, creation of employment, household diet and livelihoods for rural communities that are often poor and vulnerable. The country has approximately 10,000 dams of varying sizes are found in Zimbabwe which offers a huge potential for fisheries.

The fishery sector comprises capture fisheries, aquaculture and recreational fisheries. Zimbabwe has 132 types of fish in its water bodies and numerous plants that live under water.

Currently the fisheries sector produces approximately 21,000 tonnes of fish per annum valued at over USD$ 80,000,000. Approximately 80% of Zimbabwe’s fish protein production is provided by the fisheries of Lake Kariba. About 90% of fish production in Zimbabwe is from water bodies within the Parks and Wildlife Estate, dominated by Lake Kariba, with the rest are under the jurisdiction of local authorities. The sector plays a vital role to the food security of the country and employs about 4,700 people.

However, fisheries face a number of challenges that include weak governance & institutional capacities, over-fishing, climate change and disasters, human-wildlife conflict, pollution and habitat degradation posing serious implications on the contributions of fisheries and aquaculture to the “Blue Economy”.

The ‘Blue Economy’ is an emerging concept which encourages better management of our water and life under water resources in order to increase the contribution of water and life within it to the socio-economic development of our nation.
In order to harness this opportunity, Government is developing the fisheries sector. Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has been stocking dams with fish fingerlings, installing fish cages for cage culture, setting up cooperatives and training communities on management of fish resources.

The main objective of this program is to increase the participation of local communities in livelihood activities linked to wildlife conservation, improve income generation and protein sources and ensure food security at household levels. In this regard, I have followed with interest the programme which Zimparks is rolling out of promoting fisheries in communities.

I want to urge you, Honourable Minister to re-double your efforts on that noble project which not only improves livelihoods but also nutrition in our communities.

As we work towards realising the country’s vision 2030, let us ensure sustainability is mainstreamed in all activities. It this generation which has the responsibility to create a better future for future generations.

I thank you.

By Own Correspondent|Responding to a tweet regarding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sentiments where he said those that dream of leading Zimbabwe must wake up and brew beer, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa called on the current leaders to pray in order to lead.

Chamisa said if a leader dreams that they will stay at the helm of power forever, they should wake up and pray.

He added that leaders should lead their subjects insteadnot rule

Ukaona uchirota ‘uchitonga’ kusvika narini muka unamate!Tungamira kwete kutonga..

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) March 1, 2019

Jane Mlambo| In a turn of events following his widely condemned remarks in support of Zanu PF in the run up to the July 2018 elections, Chief Fortune Charumbira has dumped his party.

In a story published by the Mirror, Chief Charumbira said he does not have a Zanu PF card, accusing the ruling party of losing the ideals of the liberation struggle.

“I don’t carry a Zanu PF card and I don’t belong to any party. There are certain things that Zanu PF has lost like the ideals of the liberation struggle. The party has become greedy and corrupt,” said Charumbira.

Charumbira caused a stir last year when he openly declared his allegiance to Zanu PF.

He was later taken to court and was instructed to withdraw his remarks but he has not done so to this day.

Could this be his damascene moment?

THIS IS IT!!! pic.twitter.com/BcEJGRus0Z

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) March 1, 2019

The trial of Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries on charges of failing to declare tax for nearly $29 million revenue accrued from 2013 to 2018, failed to kick off yesterday after the State failed to furnish the accused with the court papers on time.

PHD Ministries board member finance Nelson Marimo, who was represented by lawyer Everson Chatambudza, appeared before magistrate Hosea Mujaya, who remanded the matter to March 21.

Chatambudza applied for the postponement of the case, saying they received the 366-page court papers a day before the scheduled trial and needed time to prepare for their defence.

The State, represented by George Manokore, consented to the postponement of the matter, saying there were some issues which they wanted to agree on before the trial could start.

PHD Ministries raises revenue through selling church regalia, anointing oil and holy water, among other products, and it also operates guest houses at Yadah Hotel and various places in Harare.

Allegations are that in October 2018, the complainant, Tinashe Madakadze who is employed by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority as chief investigation officer, conducted tax investigations on PHD Ministries.

He recovered financial statements from one of the church’s computers covering the period 2013 to 2017.

Madakadze also recovered other statements from CBZ Bank, which were submitted by PHD Ministries for a loan application.

The financial statements showed that the church had realised sales amounting to $28 706 040,60.

The State alleges that the accused did not declare or submit income tax returns for the said period to Zimra, in violation of the Income Tax Act.

It is alleged that during the same period, the accused paid remuneration amounting to $954 522,99 to Tendai Magaya and $2 403 658,24 to the church leader.

The State alleges the accused did not honour the pay-as-you-earn tax, in violation of sections of Income Tax Act.

-NewsdayMagaya

The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T says it will only abandon dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa if the Zanu PF leader proves insincere.

MDC-T has been attending the national dialogue meetings called by Mnangagwa and boycotted by opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and others, including former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Chamisa’s party has put forward conditions to the talks, which include a neutral chair and a discussion on Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, a suggestion that has been shot down by Zanu PF.

MDC-T has been castigated for attending the talks, but party chairperson Abednico Bhebhe said they would continue engaging with government and would quit once convinced the President was insincere.

“There are some people that are saying we must pull out of the talks, but the whole idea is to find solutions to all the problems we face . . . We will only withdraw from the talks after we see that he (President) is not sincere; as for now, we can’t measure sincerity by withdrawing,” Bhebhe said.

Churches have also been in the forefront, offering to broker national dialogue amid reports that some regional and international groupings such as the South African-based organisation, In Transformation Initiative, which supports transitional processes in Africa, have also pledged technical support.

Organisations such as Zimbabwe Dialogues (ZD), a merger of the Peace Initiatives in Africa and the South Africa-based Zimbabwe Institute, have also been working with parliamentarians so that they position themselves in the national dialogue processes. 

Reports also indicate that organisations such as the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), operating from Barcelona and Spain, have been coming in and out of Harare to explore possibilities of offering technical support to the proposed national dialogue.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Dr Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T has vowed to stay for President Emmerson Mnangagwa initiated political parties dialogue.

Khupe said her party will not walk out of the dialogue which also comprises some of the losing presidential candidates in the 2018 election.

MDC-T  party chairperson Abednico Bhebhe said they would continue engaging with government and would quit once convinced the President was insincere.

Said Bhebhe:

There are some people that are saying we must pull out of the talks, but the whole idea is to find solutions to all the problems we face . . . We will only withdraw from the talks after we see that he (President) is not sincere; as for now, we can’t measure sincerity by withdrawing.