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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 6, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 6, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mudenda said Mamombe was arrested after parliamentary business.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

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

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

He said:

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

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

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

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

He said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alwyn Mutero, who sells bread.

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

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

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

Government’s price controls

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

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

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

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

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

VOA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More to follow on this developing story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Fish Pond as of now;

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

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

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

George Nyathi, Chief Pashu,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is meant to augment supply gaps in the market.

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

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

On the liberalisation of fuel importation, Minister Mutsvangwa said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TENSION continues to rise in the MDC ahead of its elective congress with secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora saying party president Nelson Chamisa failed to meet a target of attracting 4,5 million votes in the July 30 general elections.

His fiery comments come after some party bigwigs loyal to Chamisa led by deputy president Morgen Komichi, said the youthful leader has already been endorsed to lead the party in the 2023 general elections because structures feel it was unwise to change a leader in the middle of the battle.

Yesterday, Mwonzora said although Chamisa had a good show in last year’s elections, he fell short of the 4,5 million votes targeted by the party and that his impressive showing does not mean he could not be challenged.

“The MDC targeted 4,5 million votes, that was what was in our strategic plan, we did not achieve that, we did a very handsome score, but maybe those who are going to challenge him (Chamisa), if I get to challenge him, I have to prove that I can score more, that I can score better and I have my own opinions about myself and that is a question for another day,” he said on Sunday.

According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) figures, Chamisa pulled 2 147 436 votes or 44,3% of the total, but lost out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa who polled 2 460 463 or 50,6% of the votes.

Going by Mwonzora’s logic, Chamisa should have won 94% of the votes to meet the target the party had set. The consolidated voters’ roll for the 2018 harmonised elections contained more than 5,6 million registered voters, but only 4 775 568 cast their votes.

In the parliamentary elections, the MDC Alliance won 1 624 875 or 34,33% of the votes compared to Zanu PF’s 2 477 708 or 52,35% of the votes. A total of 4 732 851 votes were cast.

“The fact that in this election we won so many votes, its attributed to many factors; the brand of the party itself, the candidate and so on. I have heard people say that people must not contest because the president scored so many votes. Well my answer to that is that’s not the basis under the constitution why a contest cannot be done,” Mwonzora said.

“A person who is contesting is in fact holding himself or herself to be saying that they can score more and there is no reason to underestimate them because you have never seen them in a presidential election. So how do we judge them that they cannot score more than that, or score like what Advocate Chamisa scored?

But it’s not to undervalue what he did. He performed very well as a candidate in that election even in spite of what the Zec went on to do. This is what the challengers have to convince people that they will get 4,5 million votes,” he said.

If Chamisa falls at the elective congress, this will likely end the standoff with Zanu PF over allegations that the presidential election was stolen and resolve the question of Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, paving way for MDC talks with Zanu PF, according to insiders backing Mwonzora.

Chamisa has accused Mnangagwa and Zec of electoral theft and has spurned dialogue with Mnangagwa unless the talks address the question of legitimacy.

Mwonzora himself said he would want to end the standoff between the MDC and Mnangagwa because he saw the continued standoff as unhealthy.

“Stand-offs are not a good thing, we are hoping that we will be involved in dialogue one way or the other,” he said.

However, Chamisa’s backers have accused Mwonzora of contributing to the failure by the party to meet its electoral target by sleeping on duty and failing to field presiding officers in last year’s elections.

“He would be lying if he says he did anything to mobilise for the July 30 elections. As we speak, the party does not even own a wheelbarrow, yet he is the head of administration. He talks of the 4,5 million votes — how did he want them to be gathered when he did nothing to make us get those votes?” a source said.

Chamisa refused to comment on the matter, saying he will respect party structures and processes.

“We currently don’t have any candidates for any position, people are nominated by provinces and I cannot even speak of me contesting for the presidency before I am nominated, I go into congress were I hang the jacket I am wearing and if I would have been nominated by then I will contest,” he said. – News Day

The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is appealing for tenders from experienced transport service providers to supply them with more buses after it was hit by massive withdrawal from previous contractors.

In an invitation to tender ZUPCO said the deadline for tender submission is the 13th of April 2019.

“Tenders must be enclosed in a  sealed envelope and endorsed on the outside with 5the advertised tender number, the description, the closing date and must be posted in time to be sorted in the Post Office Box 3298, Belvedere, Harare.

“Tender documents are obtainable upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $100.”

The government introduced the ZUPCO bus scheme so as to cushion commuters who could not afford the fees charged by commuter omnibuses.

However, the deal fell apart when the government failed to pay the contractors the agreed mone6y and they pulled out leaving commuters who were relying on the buses stranded.

THE MDC’s national standing committee (NSC) meets in the capital city tomorrow to finalise congress preparations amid serious jostling for positions among party bigwigs. Slated to run from May 24 to 26, the elective congress is the first to be held following the death of the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, in February last year. 

Tsvangirai, who succumbed to cancer of the colon, was replaced by 41-year-old Nelson Chamisa who has been leading the MDC since then. Chamisa’s legitimacy as the MDC leader has always been questioned by detractors who argue that he “grabbed” power when Tsvangirai was on his death bed.  

This led to one of Tsvangirai’s three deputies jumping ship to form her own MDC—T outfit. Elias Mudzuri — one of the three deputies — was also left disgruntled as he felt side-lined by the youthful MDC leader while secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora now believes that it is about time he assumes leadership of the party. 

With congress dates now set, MDC insiders told the Daily News that emotions were running high ahead of the gathering. 

Tomorrow’s NSC meeting comes as three antagonistic camps have emerged — one rallying behind Chamisa to remain at the helm of the MDC, the other gunning for Mudzuri while another is behind Mwonzora. 

So bad have the relations become in the party that its deputy national chairperson Tendai Biti reacted angrily to recent suggestions by Zanu PF deputy youth secretary, Lewis Matutu that Mwonzora will upstage Chamisa. Biti viewed the suggestion as Zanu PF’s way of endorsing Mwonzora and vowed that the MDC would resist anyone seconded to the party by their political nemesis. 

Mwonzora did not take lightly the fact that Biti had called him names when he described him as a Zanu PF-linked “nincompoop”. 

The MDC secretary-general has made it clear that he will raise the matter in tomorrow’s crunch meeting. “We are working well together (with Chamisa), but some senior leaders in the MDC are resorting to hate language. I am going to raise it in the NSC we are holding this weekend,” Mwonzora was quoted saying at the weekend. 

Mwonzora who had previously been keeping his cards close to his chest has expressed his desire to challenge Chamisa in a contest that could make or break his political career. Already, the incumbent Chamisa has received endorsements from several party structures including provincial wings, with the youth league going as far as declaring war on anyone who would dare challenge the youthful opposition leader. 

Several party heavyweights have also thrown their weight behind Chamisa with those who are seen as potential challengers likely to face a hostile reception in the run-up to the congress and at the elective indaba itself. 

MDC vice president Morgen Komichi said it is difficult to predict what will happen at the meeting. “We cannot judge what will happen before the matter is brought up for discussion but what I can tell you is that the party encourages dialogue first because you may realise that the issue is not as serious as you think,” Komichi said Daily News

Correspondent|Zanu PF Mashonaland West province has summoned all its whatsapp group admins to their provincial offices to register them in a bid to control and monitor their whatsapp platforms after accusations of rampant and gross abuse “kurakasha” (attacking) of party members by other members.

Judging from their response Zanu PF seems troubled by the use of social media by people in this century.

In a letter sent out to all Mashonaland West province by the provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi read “We have noted with great concern the rampant and gross social media abuse in Mashonaland West ZANU PF structures where party members are disrespecting and vilifying leaders through politics of patronage.”

The statement sent out a strong warming to members of the party who will be found committing such offences. “Disciplinary measures will be taken against those found on the wrong side of the law” the letter read.

With the dominance and power social media continues to wield on people’s daily lives, and the freedom of information and speech it remains to be seen how they are going to control social media in a free speech and globalised media.

The government has, however, come up with the cybercrime and cybersecurity bill as an attempt to regulate monitor and curb social media use and abuse. The Chinese administration, have also spent large amounts of money and equipment in trying to control the flow of information on the internet.

Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank has borrowed $985 million from African banks to purchase fuel and other critical imports with current reserves covering imports for just four weeks, underscoring the severity of dollar shortages, governor John Mangudya said.

The southern African nation last month ditched a discredited 1:1 dollar peg for its surrogate bond notes and electronic dollars, merging them into a lower-value transitional currency called the RTGS dollar.

Mangudya said the central bank borrowed $641 million from the African Export and Import Bank, $152 million from Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, and $25 million from Mozambique’s central bank, among others.

The loans, which would be repaid from future gold earnings, have a tenure of between three and five years and attract an interest of up to 6 percent above the Libor rate, Mangudya said.

Gold is Zimbabwe’s single biggest mineral export earner, accounting for a third of its $4.2 billion earnings last year after a record output, central bank data shows.

“These loans are well structured facilities contracted last year. They will be paid from future (gold) export receivables,” Mangudya told a parliamentary committee.

The central bank takes 45 percent of dollar sales from gold producers and half from other miners to fund imports like fuel and power and repay foreign loans.

But the miners only have 30 days to keep their dollar balances in local foreign currency accounts, after which they must sell them. The companies have asked the central bank to extend the period they may keep their dollars to 90 days, according to mining executives.

OVERDRAFT LIMIT

Unable to get funding from foreign lenders like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank due to arrears of more than $2.4 billion, Zimbabwe has looked to financiers from the continent and local banks to shore up its budget.

The central bank chief said Zimbabwe had just $500 million in reserves, enough to purchase four weeks’ worth of imports.
Mangudya said government borrowing from the central bank reached $2.99 billion in December, about three times its permissible overdraft limit.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has promised to curb borrowing in 2019 under reforms to revive the southern African economy, after the budget deficit soared last year following a spike in spending ahead of elections.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said last week that the local RTGS dollar, Zimbabwe’s new de facto currency, will be backed up with fiscal discipline and the government would allow it to fluctuate but would manage excessive volatility.

On the interbank forex market on Monday, one U.S. dollar fetched 2.5 RTGS dollars, the same rate as on Feb. 22 when the central bank sold some dollars to banks. That compares to a rate of 3.5 RTGS dollars per U.S. dollar on the black market. 

• Reuters

Two people including a toddler aged 15 months were killed while seven others were seriously injured when a vehicle they were travelling in overturned at the 70km peg along the Beitbridge Bulawayo road on Monday evening.

Though official comment could not be obtained from police, sources close to the case said the Toyota Regius was travelling from Beitbridge town to Zezani some 135km west of the town when tragedy struck.

The incident occurred around 8pm near Jopembe mountains and the injured were taken to Beitbridge district hospital by other motorists.

The District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Lenos Samhere said two people died due to injuries on the neck, head and pelvis.

“We received nine people who were injured during a road accident. It is unfortunate that two patients, one female adult and a baby girl aged one year and three months succumbed to the injuries.

“The women had injured the neck and pelvis while the baby incurred head injuries. Seven other patients sustains several fractures, but are in a stable condition,” he said.

The doctor could not release the deceased’s names pending notification of their relatives.

Their remains have since been conveyed to the local government mortuary.

The accident comes a few months after nine senior officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing were involved in a serious road accident when the vehicle they were travelling in developed a tyre burst at the 65km peg along the Beitbridge Bulawayo road near Mazunga Ranch.

They group was travelling from Gwanda to Beitbridge.

More to follow. . .

State Media

Correspondent|Former Information and Communication Technology minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, exploded in court when he took to the witness stand to testify in his application for referral of his matter to the constitutional court.

Mandiwanzira had his application for exception of charges dismissed by the same court and now he wants it taken to the concourt. While giving his testimony, Mandiwanzira lost his temper saying the allegations against him were nonsensical.

“After having the best interests of the people and government and doing what is expected of you in government then later being dragged to court for doing just that is very nonsensical,” exploded the former minister before Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo stopped him in his tracks.

The Nyanga South member of parliament also said he felt that he was being persecuted as he had consulted with his principals, the then president, Robert Mugabe and vice presidents before making any major decisions. He also said he had written to cabinet to have minutes of the consultative meetings he had had extracted to show how he had been well advised before making any decisions.

“When I made the decisions after having consulted with my principals I was applauded and now I may actually being sent to jail for doing the right thing which was expected of me.

“I am being harassed by being constantly appearing in court when I did not commit any offense and neither are the allegations to the effect that I benefited in my personal capacity,” said the former minister.

HON. NDUNA:  I stand on a matter of privilege Mr Speaker Sir, Section 68 of the Standing Rules and Orders, as read with Section 86 of the Constitution, if you indulge me Mr. Speaker Sir.  I will make reference to some notes on my phone, otherwise it is premised on an incident that occurred on 11^thFebruary 2019, in the Mines and Minerals Committee where an altercation occurred between myself and my brother Hon. Mliswa.  Mr. Speaker Sir, when you are in a fight there is no formula, you use a hoe, a pick, a shovel, a wheelbarrow or anything that is at your disposal.  Notwithstanding, I want to profusely apologise for the words that I uttered.  I did not mean anything that I said to Hon. Mliswa and I take back my words.  I want to be treated in the same way that I am presenting this apology so that the decorum of Parliament can be upheld.  My statement goes as follows:-

          I make reference to the unfortunate and regrettable incident that occurred during the meeting of the Portfolio Committee of Mines and Minerals Development on Monday, 11^th February, 2019.

          Mr. Speaker Sir, I stand here to tender my …

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order, Hon. Mudarikwa.  I thought your seat was up there. – [HON. MUDARIKWA:  I am sorry Mr. Speaker Sir!] – Please take your seat.  Thank you, please carry on.

          HON. NDUNA:  Yes, I rise to tender my unreserved apology to you Hon. Speaker Sir as the head of Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and also to all members of your Committee on Standing Rules and Orders, the institution of Parliament and to my party, ZANU PF.

          On my part, the fracas which had the unintended effect of undermining the integrity of Parliament as a whole, I make no excuse for the dishonourable behaviour I displayed on the day in question and the unpalatable utterances that I made in the heat of the moment, save to say that I unconditionally apologise for my behaviour.

          On hindsight, it is clear to me that I could have reacted differently even in the face of brazen provocation which had the effect of maligning my character and reputation.  I could have chosen a more dignified response to the aspersions cast on my character and standing that would ultimately protect my reputation, the name of my party ZANU PF and integrity of the institution of Parliament.  As it is, I am fully aware that my behaviour was injurious not only to my person but also to my party and Parliament …

          HON. SIKHALA:  On a point of order Mr. Speaker Sir.  My point of order concerns a very important legal principle and also on a technical aspect.

          A confession, nowhere at law can it be withdrawn.  He confessed that he murdered people and he must rather tell us the number of people whom he killed.  He said that he murdered people and it is a confession… – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –   Mr. Speaker, it is a confession that we would humbly ask this House to investigate. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –  

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order, this is not open for debate.  Can the Hon. Member conclude his story?

          HON. NDUNA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. As I conclude, I am fully aware that my behaviour was injurious not only to my person but also to my party ZANU PF and Parliament as a whole.  The behaviour that I displayed on the day in question is not in tandem with the sacred title of ‘Honourable’ that I carry and flies in the face of the people who elected me into office.

          Pursuant to this, I have since issued a public apology on the matter and I intend Mr. Speaker Sir, as I am showing right now, to sincerely show contrition and regret by apologising to members of the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development and to members of this august House.

          Mr. Speaker Sir, please unreservedly accept my apology over my part in the matter.  I have also sincerely tendered my apology to His Excellency the President Hon. E. D. Mnangagwa in person on the same matter.

          Mr. Speaker Sir, your forgiveness is highly sought after my humble submission.  I thank you.

Hansard Extract

HON. T. MLISWA: A very good afternoon to you Mr. Speaker Sir.  I felt that I should prepare a statement for this so that I do not lose my train of thought.  Today being the 5^th March my reference is. Statement of apology to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda.  The statement begins:

Mr Speaker, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Hon Members of Parliament here present.  During a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Meeting on Mines and Mining Development in the Senate Chamber on Monday 11^th February 2019, an incident erupted between Hon. Dexter Nduna and me.  During the debacle, I inadvertently included the name of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda in the furore, mistakenly linking him with the nefarious actions attributed to Hon. Nduna.  The erroneous accusation was premised on misinformation emanating from Hon. Nduna who fabricated a false association with the Hon. Speaker in an attempt to shield and seek protection from the underhand dealings he was associated with to make them appear above board.

It was unfortunate that the exchange with Hon. Nduna and myself occurred at a time that I was personally labouring with extreme sentiments of dissatisfaction and frustration with the Mines Committee.  The alleged corruption cases, politicisation of the Committee, the seeming neglect to resolve matters as raised and recommended as well as interference from those members co-opted to protect self-interest cultivated extreme feelings of dejection which unfortunately caused me to lash out.  I subsequently warn all my esteemed colleagues who use the names of those in higher offices to hide behind or as some form of protection to immediately desist from the practice, the name of the Speaker must not be held in disrepute. I therefore sincerely apologise to the Hon. Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda for the attack on his person and credibility and regret the outburst thereof. 

Hon. Advocate Jacob Mudenda is a person that I hold in high regard and have a great sense of esteem for the dogmatic, professional and ethical manner in which he executes his duties, which affectionately earned him the nickname, “the headmaster”.  So great is the respect and confidence I have for his professionalism and efficiency that I seconded Hon. Mudenda as Speaker of the National Assembly for the 9^th Parliament of Zimbabwe, a vote of confidence that I do not take lightly.  I look up to Hon. Mudenda as a father figure and as a son; I bow down my head for forgiveness for my transgression.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I appeal to you to address matters brought to your attention to avoid those involved from the perception that they are untouchable or are afforded any protection by you.  A matter in point, as an example is the issue brought up by Hon Lynette Karenyi who spoke out against the alleged abuse of women by Hon. Members, Paradza and Zhou which to date remains pending.  These are the very same Hon. Members who continue to cause havoc in Parliamentary Committees, as I indicated in my quarterly report.  They are the very same Hon. Members who are yet to engage in meaningful debate in Parliament and at best are recorded in the Hansard for their heckling which leaves a lot to be desired.

The Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe will cause a challenge for you Mr. Speaker Sir, if Hon. Members of Parliament cannot maintain the decorum and integrity of the august House.  The important role of scrutiny and oversight cannot continue to be trivialised by those serving selfish interests, we are here to serve national interest.

However, whilst I apologise for Hon. Mudenda’s inclusion, I do not take back my words regarding the fight against corruption.  My stance against those involved remains consistent and I will ensure that I re-double my efforts to see that justice is served and that the double and triple thieves are brought to book.  As a nation, we will struggle to implement any meaningful policies to move the country forward if we do not tackle and remove the disease of corruption from our society.  Corruption is the cancer that will thwart any attempts at economic resuscitation from thriving, and it is with that in mind that I continue to advocate for the panacea of Zero Tolerance to Corruption.  Statement ends.

Hansard Extract

MDC Alliance MP for Harare West, Joana Mamombe has been charged with treason and appeared in court twice in as many days this week. She becomes the THIRD woman to be charged with treason since the Pioneer Column drove across the Limpopo River in the 1890s.

MDC Alliance deputy treasurer-general Chalton Hwende and political analyst Dr. Pedzisayi Ruhanya erroneously both said Joana Mamombe was the only none after Mbuya Nehanda to be charged with treason. As this report shows, she is the second woman in post-independent Zimbabwe to be so charged. That makes them three women in the history of modern-day Zimbabwe.

Of these three women, one was charged by the colonial administration, one by the Robert Mugabe administration, and the third is Joana Mamombe, charged by the current Mnangagwa administration.

Here is a brief about each woman:

1. Mbuya Nehanda

Mbuya Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana was the spirit medium that was the inspiration behind the 1896-97 first Chimurenga war. She was based in the northern plateau of Mashonaland and was influential in resisting colonial encroachment and she used her religious authority to mobilise the masses against the Europeans. She was born around 1863 and she died in 1898 after being executed by the colonial authorities in Salisbury.

She was a Hera of the Hwata Mufakose Dynasty.

Due to close links between early political structures and religion, Mbuya Nehanda found her influence in the mainstream politics of her time. She was influential in warning the people against accepting the entry of the Europeans in the Mashonaland region.

Mbuya Nehanda was hunted down by the colonial regime of the British South Africa Company due to her widespread influence and her denunciation of colonisation. It is alleged that she was arrested and was brought to Salisbury for the judgment. She was convicted without a trial and was executed in 1898 in Salisbury.

She was hanged on a tree along her neck until she breathed her last.The tree fell in December 2011, leading many to speculate that it was a bad omen signifying that the death of Robert Mugabe was imminent.

2. Jestina Mukoko

Jestina Mukoko is a 52-years old Zimbabwean human rights activist and the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project. She is a journalist by training and a former newsreader with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

She was born in 1967 in Gweru, Midlands Province.

On 3 December 2008 Jestina Mukoko was abducted during the night from her home in Norton, 40 km west of Harare, by suspected state agents for allegedly being involved in plans for anti government demonstrations.

She was taken away for interrogation after her NGO, the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was accused of recruiting youths for military training with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The Zimbabwe  Peace Project had reportedly compiled one of the most detailed records of thousands of incidents of murder, assault, torture, arson and so on, and who the perpetrators were, following the violence unleashed on MDC supporters by the Mugabe regime in 2008.

She was beaten on the soles of her feet with rubber truncheons (allegedly a favourite torture instrument of the regime in Zimbabwe because they leave no marks likely to be visible at later court appearances).

After three days she was handed over to another group of interrogators who claimed they were “law and order” officials. She was threatened with “extinction” if she chose not to be a witness to the alleged cases of military training.

Prominent world figures including Gordon Brown and Condoleezza Rice demanded her release. The so-called “Group of Elders”, including Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan and Graça Machel, who at the time were being refused admission to Zimbabwe, made an appeal for Mukoko’s release at a news conference in South Africa.

The Zimbabwe High Court ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police to look for Mukoko. The order was ignored by the police who denied knowledge of her whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Mukoko had been forced to kneel on gravel for hours while being interrogated in an attempt to force her to sign a statement that she had recruited an ex-policeman to the supposed plot. Her medical condition deteriorated and she was eventually given medicine to treat serious allergies. She was forced to read statements to camera and pressurised to admit links to the former policeman Fidelis Mudimu. She overheard someone say they were at the King George VI Barracks outside Harare.

She was eventually told that she and another abductee, her colleague, Broderick Takawera, were in police custody. She was moved around between different police stations and forced to accompany police on searches of her home and office.

On 24 December 2008, the state-run Herald newspaper reported that Mukoko had appeared in court in Harare on charges of attempting to recruit people for military training to try to overthrow the government. She had not been able to consult with lawyers. She appeared in court with seven other abductees, including a 72-year-old man and a two-year-old boy whose father and mother, Violet Mupfuranhehwe and Collen Mutemagawo, were also in detention.

In March 2009, three months after her abduction, Jestina Mukoko was released on bail. Her bail conditions required her to report to her local police station in Norton on a weekly basis and surrender her passport.

On 21 September 2009 the Zimbabwe Supreme Court ordered a permanent stay of criminal proceedings against Jestina Mukoko. Amnesty International welcomed the decision, commenting that the charges were widely believed to have been trumped up by the Mugabe government as part of a wider strategy to silence perceived political opponents.

In October 2018, the High Court ordered the State to pay $150 000 to Jestina Mukoko as compensation for her abduction and torture which she suffered at the hands of State Security agents in that December 2008 ordeal.

Mukoko said the compensation could not atone for the trauma and suffering she went through at the hands of the agents who had been “ruthless, merciless and very evil.”

“It will not make up for lost time as my liberty and all other human rights accorded to me by virtue of being human were unjustifiably curtailed nor will it provide solace for my traumatised family — my mother, son, brothers, sisters-in-law, extended family, friends and other peace-loving citizens,” Mukoko lamented.

She also stated that this ruling sent a clear and strong signal to Zimbabwean authorities who must guarantee impartial justice to victims and put an end to impunity.

3. Joana Mamombe

MDC Alliance member of the House of Assembly for Harare West, Joana Mamombe, was arrested on Saturday, 2 March 2019 in Nyanga. Mamombe (25) had been on the police wanted since mid-January, with police saying she was suspected of inciting protesters who went on to loot private businesses and destroy property worth millions of dollars.

Detectives swooped on the youngest member of the current session of Parliament on Saturday morning as she was rounding up a Parliamentary workshop in Nyanga. Detectives swooped on her as she was about to board a staff vehicle back to Harare, and bundled her onto the back of a Toyota Fortuner for the 270km journey to Harare.

Charges against Mamombe stem from a press conference she held at the Marlborough Civic Center in Harare on January 14 after President Emmerson Mnangagwa increased fuel prices by 300% on January 12.

At that Marborough press conference, the brave MDC Alliance MP called for a peaceful protest march in Harare West which was to be held on January 17 (Ward 16-41) from Pamusasa in Westlea to Mabelreign shops.

She also made seven demands to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and these were:

1. Reversal of the 300% fuel increase by President Mnangagwa
2. A robust economic policy based on wide consultation with labour, business and citizens
3. Abandonment of the 1:1 rate between bond note and USD
4. Zimbabwe to join the Rand Monetary Union.
5. Upward review of civil servant salaries
6. Central government to provide adequate financial resources to the City of Harare to enable them ensure basic social services
7. President Mnangagwa to initiate dialogue with MDC leader Nelson Chamisa

She was charged with treason and appeared in court on Monday and Tuesday this week, whereupon the magistrate remanded her in custody to 19 March. Her lawyers have since approached the High Court for bail.

— Zoom Zim

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, pictured, is expected in the country next week on Monday for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), which will among other things enhance business relations between the two countries.

Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi confirmed yesterday that Ramaphosa will be in the country on Monday next week. “The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected in the country 11 March 2019 and will be on a two-day working visit. The two heads of State and government are scheduled to discuss bilateral issues agreed earlier on during the inaugural BNC meeting and the subsequent meetings.

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa is geared to revive the economy through enforcing regional and international cooperation following many years of isolation. South Africa is our biggest trading partner in Africa and we expect discussions to focus around how the two countries can improve their trade ties and grow their economies,” Mutodi said.

According to the Foreign Affairs and International Trade ministry, a team of senior government officials from South Africa will be in the country this week ahead of Ramaphosa’s visit.

“The Third Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) will be held on 12 March 2019 at Meikles Hotel in Harare. The meeting will be headed by the two countries’ heads of State and Government…Mnangagwa, and his South African counterpart…Ramaphosa.

“The BNC is the highest bilateral framework of cooperation between Zimbabwe and South Africa. It will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 11 March 2019, and a Senior Officials meeting on 7 and 8 March 2019,” the ministry said.

South Africa has been a crucial business partner to Zimbabwe following years of economic meltdown. Millions of Zimbabweans fleeing the economic pressures at home are living in South Africa where they are working in various sectors of that country’s economy.

World leaders have been pressuring South Africa, which is Africa’s second largest economy, to assist Zimbabwe politically and economically.

Calls for such intervention increased in January following protests that led to the death of at least 17 people at the hands of alleged State security agents. There are claims the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa will likely use Ramaphosa’s visit to approach him over the country’s political environment, which has immensely affected economic growth and the country’s efforts to engage with other countries around the globe.

Chamisa, who challenged Mnangagwa’s last year presidential win, recently rejected the Zanu PF leader’s call for a meeting to discuss the framework for possible dialogue among political actors in the country. He, however, set conditions for that dialogue, which include the release of activists arrested following deadly protests in January and the need for a neutral convener. — DailyNews

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is not yet serious about dialogue, MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has said.

Chamisa said efforts by the MDC A’ s detractors to cause havoc in the opposition party would not materialise.

“ED is not yet serious about genuine dialogue.

The people’s project will never be split by selfish motives.Individuals may from time to time elect and choose to get lost but along the way, often sooner, they will either find themselves or be found,” said Chamisa.

OPPOSITION legislator for Harare West constituency Hon. Joana Mamombe
will remain in prison custody after a Zimbabwean court dismissed her
application challenging the lawfulness of her arrest and detention.

Hon. Mamombe was arrested on Saturday 2 March 2019 and charged with
subverting constitutional government as defined in section 22 of the
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Mamombe convened a press conference on
Monday 14 January 2019 in her constituency where she urged people to
overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and encouraged
them to engage in civil disobedience and demonstrations in order to
shut down the country over the unilateral hiking of fuel and the high
cost of living.

The prosecutors charged that members of the public engaged in protests
from 14 January 2019 to 16 January 2019 after taking heed of Hon.
Mamombe’s address to the media.

On Tuesday 5 March 2019, Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa
dismissed applications which had been filed on Monday 4 March 2019 by
Hon. Mamombe’s lawyers Jeremiah Bamu and Obey Shava of Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), challenging the legality of the
arrest of the Harare West constituency legislator.

In their applications, Shava and Bamu had argued that Hon. Mamombe had
been over-detained by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers before
they brought her to appear in court and that she had not been lawfully
advised of the charges she faced upon her arrest in Nyanga, where she
was attending to parliamentary business.

But Magistrate Mugwagwa dismissed Hon. Mamombe’s applications and
ruled that ZRP officers had brought the legislator to court on time
but proceedings against her were delayed as the court was seized with
other matters which it couldn’t drop in preference for her matter.

Magistrate Mugwagwa ruled that the other issues which Hon. Mamombe’s
lawyers had raised could be ironed out during her trial.

Hon. Mamombe returns to court on Tuesday 19 March 2019 after
Magistrate Mugwagwa remanded her in custody.

Meanwhile, Chitungwiza North constituency legislator Hon. Godfrey
Sithole was charged with inciting and committing public violence after
he was arrested by ZRP officers on Friday 1 March 2019.

According to the State, Hon. Sithole, who is represented by Alec
Muchadehama of ZLHR, allegedly incited MDC Alliance party supporters
in his constituency when he addressed them on Monday 14 January 2019
urging them to demonstrate against the government.

The arrest of Hon. Mamombe and Hon. Sithole brings to five the number
of MDC Alliance legislators, who have been arrested in connection with
the anti-government protests held in January over the country’s
worsening economic crisis.

Farai Dziva|The country’ s main opposition party, MDC A has said former President Robert Mugabe is not in any way involved in the operations of the party.

MDC A spokesperson Jacob Mafume has denied Mugabe is funding the opposition party or its leader Nelson Chamisa.

“I think the old man must be left in peace. We as the MDC-Alliance and President Chamisa are engaged with the issues of the suffering of the people. We are trying to resolve the political and economic crisis which is affecting the people of Zimbabwe.

We have not received any funding from the former President and neither are we expecting any assistance,” said Mafume.

By Vivid Gwede| With the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in September 1999, and its inaugural congress held at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex in January 2000, the political landscape of Zimbabwe reached a positive point of no return.

The ruling party Zanu-PF, the complacent and degenerate liberation party, had almost succeeded in its long-held unholy ambition to establish a de facto one-party state by manipulating the Unity Accord of 22 December 1987 and more attempts at a de jure one-party state in 1989.

The one-party state idea held the fancy of former president Robert Mugabe, who entertained the dream of enjoying unlimited power and of being a life president.

Opposition to these plans from the Morgan Tsvangirai-led Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Arthur Mutambara-led students and the Edgar Tekere-led revolt against his former party’s idea saved the day.
This is despite that Mugabe still forced his way into 38 years of disastrous rule.

After the rejection of a constitutional one-party state, multi-party democracy remained under siege from the state, which easily subdued ZUM and UANC parties throughout the 1990’s through sheer electoral violence and chicanery, retaining total political control and falling into worse corruption and economic mismanagement.

But it was in September 1999 with the emergence of the MDC that Zanu-PF’s attempt to drag Zimbabwe into a Soviet-style one-party state and the era of unaccountability and impunity typical of banana republics was effectively challenged.

Since that historic moment of its formation, the MDC has taken serious reactionary blows to its body from the State apparatus, but remains firmly on its two feet.

The seed of a new vision for the country, captured in the New Zimbabwe dream that Tsvangirai and his fellow founders sow refuses to die.

Zanu-PF has been displaced from the cities through consistent electoral victories and confined to rural areas for the better part of the last 20 years across most of the country.

Even in the rural areas the Zanu-PF stranglehold has been challenged, only surviving through a cocktail of undemocratic strategies.

As the MDC goes for its Congress, the first without its founding president Tsvangirai, who passed on in February 2018, it will be a consolidation of a new era and an era of consolidation.

The showing of the party in the 2018 elections reaffirmed its character as a party that is here to stay and one for posterity.

Most of the cadres who were elected into the top leadership at the inaugural congress in Chitungwiza have gone, save for new dynamic president Nelson Chamisa, then a boyish student leader who became national youth chairperson, and then secretary general, Welshman Ncube, who was part of the top six.

There are quite a few however who constituted the inaugural National Executive.

In May 2019, the MDC will continue its passage to a new era.

The Congress will be a consolidation of a new era as much as it will be an era of consolidation of the ideas that originated Zimbabwe’s truly popular post-independence democratic party.

With this development, the long-held dream by nationalist remnants of a one party-state, which desire is still evident today, recedes further into defeat.

Even without a formal power-sharing arrangement, like during the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the MDC has forced Zanu-PF to share power in terms of its control of the majority of urban councils and presence in parliament.

No doubt, the MDC, like any other organisation that needs improvement, will continue perfecting its art in aspects such as internal democracy, ideological refinement and rural strategy, but it is emerging as Zimbabwe’s true party of posterity.

While the state apparatus works through the witching hours to see the upcoming MDC Congress somehow thrown into disarray, like many such previous attempts, the sweat will be wasted.

The true MDC lives in the millions who vote for it.

The MDC did not only give Zimbabweans the platform dream again, but dared Zimbabweans to work hard together and make the new Zimbabwe dream come true in their lifetime.

Thus, the men and women, who will assemble for the 2019 MDC congress will know that the future is at stake.

But they also know that the past has to be honoured and in that past lies immortal symbols of the people’s struggle such as Tsvangirai, whose struggle inspires and fuels them.

Jane Mlambo| Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna has told parliamentarians that he apologized to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and all the people offended by his remarks in the transport committee when he made startling revelations that he killed a lot of people some he do not know.

Speaking in parliament today, Nduna said When in a war there is no formula, you use pick or shovel, I did not mean anything that I said on that when during the incident in the Mines Committee between myself and @TembaMliswa

WATCH PARLIAMENT IN SESSION FOR MORE….

WATCH VIDEO…

Jane Mlambo| MDC Deputy Treasurer General and MP for Kuwadzana East constituency, Charlton Hwende has been arrested at Robert Mugabe International Airport on his way back from Namibia.

Hwende was on the police wanted list together with 54 others including Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe who was arrested in Nyanga over the weekend.

Details on where Hwende was taken to have not been availed to ZimEye.

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe is set to remain behind bars after Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa trashed her application for immediate release.

Mamombe is yet to apply for bail at the High court.

She is facing an alleged subverting a constitutionally elected government.

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe has distanced itself from Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Walter Magaya’s HIV Cure named Aguma which grabbed headlines early this year saying the medicine came through the back door.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Gugu Mahlangu said Magaya’s Aguma came through the back door.

“Aguma did not come through us .it came through the back door,” said Mahlangu.

She added that they are aware that drugs have flooded the streets saying they have no mandate to go there and chase vendors.

“We cannot go there because it is not mandate, but we do at times go on blitz with the police,” added Mahlangu.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe as raised alarm over what they said is an increasing number of applications for authorisation of the importation of unregistered medicines.

Watch video below for more details …

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

Government is working on establishing a Teaching Profession Council (TPC) under which teachers will apply for registration before being issued with a teaching practice certificate. The proposed changes are contained in the Teaching Profession Council Bill which is expected to provide for the regulation of the educators, their practice and professional conduct.

Public hearings to solicit views on the Bill started yesterday.

According to a schedule provided to teachers’ unions by Government, the hearings started yesterday in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province and will end on March 14 after the canvassing of input from all the 10 provinces.

Representatives from teachers unions, officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Public Service Commission (PSC) are conducting the hearings.

Reads the Bill: “A person shall apply to the Council for registration as a teacher in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee. The Council may, within thirty days of receipt of an application under subsection (I) grant or reject the application. The Council shall, where it rejects an application under subsection (2), inform the applicant, in writing, and give the reasons for the rejection. A person aggrieved with a decision of the Council may, appeals within thirty days of service of the decision, appeal to the Minister. A person aggrieved with a decision of the Minister may, within thirty days of service of the decision, appeal to the High Court.

“The Council shall, where an applicant meets the requirements of this Act, issue the applicant with a certificate of registration if the applicant—(a) possesses such knowledge, and training and experience as may be prescribed; (b) holds a qualification from a training institution recognised by the Council; (c) is resident in Zimbabwe, or has an established office or appointment in Zimbabwe in the teaching profession; (d) is of good character and good professional standing; and meets such other requirements as the Council may determine.”

On disqualification from registration, a person shall not qualify for registration as a teacher “if he or she does not possess the prescribed qualifications; has, for any reason, ceased to practise as a teacher or been de-registered; has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty under this Act or any other written law; has been declared to be of unsound mind under the Mental Health Act; has been found, by the Disciplinary Committee, to be guilty of professional misconduct.”

Apex Council organising secretary Mr Charles Chinosengwa yesterday welcomed the proposed changes.

“The Bill is good for us teachers as it is safe to guard our profession, like nursing,” he said.

“You cannot pick someone from the street to come and teach. It was long overdue. It is not coming to replace unions but its unions working towards that. We will be doing the same as nurses that you have to be registered to practice on yearly basis. As unions we have five members in the working group so in other words we have total ownership of this initiative.”

The function of the council shall be to register teachers, regulate their professional conduct, develop, maintain and improve appropriate standards of qualification in the teaching profession and promote continuing professional development amongst teachers.

“The functions of the Teaching Profession Council shall be to develop, promote and enforce internationally comparable teaching profession practice standards so as to improve the quality of education in Zimbabwe and promote an understanding of professional ethics amongst the teachers; create awareness of the importance of protecting the public against unsound teaching practices and ensure that the rules and guidelines for professional ethics are responsive to the expectations of the public; investigate allegations of professional misconduct and impose such sanctions as may be necessary,” reads the Bill.

The TPC shall also advise Government on matters relating to the teaching profession and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge by teachers through the emphasis on the need for teacher continuous professional development.

-State Media

The bail application for Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson Rashid Mahiya which was postponed to today the 5th of March 2019 has once again been postponed after the state applied for yet another postponement. 

More to follow…

By Own Correspondent| MDC officials have reavealed that severalķ party provinces had already endorsed their youthful leader Nelson Chamisa as their 2023 presidential election candidate ahead of the opposition’s May congress.

The MDC stalwarts are reportedly arguing that there is no need to “change the commander in the middle of a battle”.

This was revealed by MDC vice-president Morgen Komichi, deputy chair Tendai Biti and national organising secretary Amos Chibaya following a consultative rally held in Chinhoyi yesterday.

In his address, Biti accused the ruling Zanu PF of infiltrating the opposition structures and sponsoring some top executives to challenge Chamisa at the opposition party’s elective congress.

Said Biti:

“Zanu PF is trying to influence the MDC congress in May, but we are not fools who can change the commander in the middle of a battle.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said that party president Nelson Chamisa failed to reach a target of $4,5 million votes set by the party before the 2018 elections.

Mwonzora’s comments came after some MDC bigwigs, Tendai Biti, Amos Chibaya and Morgen Komichi on Saturday said that it was unwise to change leadership before the 2023 elections.

Said Mwonzora:

The MDC targeted 4,5 million votes, that was what was in our strategic plan, we did not achieve that, we did a very handsome score, but maybe those who are going to challenge him (Chamisa), if I get to challenge him, I have to prove that I can score more, that I can score better and I have my own opinions about myself and that is a question for another day.

… The fact that in this election we won so many votes, it’s attributed to many factors; the brand of the party itself, the candidate and so on. I have heard people say that people must not contest because the president scored so many votes. Well, my answer to that is that’s not the basis under the constitution why a contest cannot be done.

A person who is contesting is, in fact, holding himself or herself to be saying that they can score more and there is no reason to underestimate them because you have never seen them in a presidential election. So how do we judge them that they cannot score more than that, or score like what Advocate Chamisa scored?

But it’s not to undervalue what he did. He performed very well as a candidate in that election even in spite of what the Zec went on to do. This is what the challengers have to convince people that they will get 4,5 million votes.

By Own Correspondent| The Tobacco Industries and Marketing Board (TIMB) parliamentary portfolio committee hearing has been postponed to next week, ZimEye has learnt.

The TIMB was supposed to present oral evidence to the parliamentary portfolio committee on Lands and Agriculture on the country’s state of preparedness for the tobacco marketing season.

This is a developing story.

Refresh this page for updates

A Beitbridge socialite was allegedly stabbed at top musician Jah Prayzah’s gig in the border town at the weekend following scenes of violence as fans protested against the late start of the show.

The fans were unhappy about the delayed start of the show.

Although no official police comment could be obtained, police sources and Jah Prayzah’s manager Keen Mushapaidze confirmed the death of Tinashe Hove, a well-known socialite and cross-border dealer in Beitbridge, who was reportedly stabbed within the proximity of the venue.

A police officer in the town said Hove’s body was taken to the government-run Beitbridge Hospital after he was stabbed twice in the chest and had his details entered in police records as “Sudden Death”.

Mushapaidze said the band regretted the death and the violent aftermath.

“We had been warned before the show that some people had threatened to attack us although we do not know why. The owners of the venue warned us, but seeing the crowd, Jah Prayzah said his followers came first and he would play,” Mushapaidze said.

“He played for longer than normal and when he bade the crowd farewell, trouble started. Band members sought refuge in a room at the venue, but some were hit by the missiles. We regret the violence.”

Riot police were called to quell the violence after fans complained of being short-changed when Jah Prayzah reportedly played for only two hours.

“We paid R50 for the show and we expected it to last longer but it was too short. We felt it was not fair because he came on stage late,” one reveller said.

Mashapaidze said Jah Prayzah went off stage at 3:30 am which, by their standards, was extended.

NewsDay

A 42-YEAR-OLD polygamous Mudzi woman and her daughter are battling for life in hospital after they were allegedly axed by a jealous rival suitor who accused them of receiving much attention.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the arrest of Patuma Mahiyo (39) of Mafuta village, under Chief Goronga, over the matter.

“I confirm the arrest of a Mudzi woman who allegedly axed a rival wife and her daughter following a dispute concerning their husband. The victims were rushed to Kotwa District Hospital before one of them was transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare due to her condition. The police are still investigating the matter. As police, we urge members of the public to desist from violence when solving disputes,” Mwanza said.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| The Tobacco Industries and Marketing Board will this morning appear before the parliamentary portfolio committee on Agriculture to clarify on their preparedness for the 2019 tobacco marketing season.

ZimEye will be livestreaming the hearing.

Follow live updates on our page.

Jane Mlambo| Media mogul Trevor Ncube has continued his unpopular rants against the youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa saying the party’s forthcoming congress is an opportunity for the movement to chose between a mature leader and a young man whose supporters think violence is the only way of supporting their political ambition.

Writing on Twitter, Ncube said the forthcoming congress will result in a split which will mark the end of the MDC as a political force.

MDC supporters have a choice between a mature leader and a young man whose supporters think violence, insults and abuse are the only way of supporting their political ambitions. I see another MDC split after this and the end of MDC as a political force. ?? pic.twitter.com/Mp6reI4gjK

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) March 5, 2019

Ncube has openly showed his dislike for Chamisa whom he has often described as immature.

The MDC congress is slated for May and Mwonzora has been on an offensive campaigning for his candidature amid revelations that party structures are solidly behind Chamisa.

As the MDC elective congress heats up, MDC Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora has sold his Curriculum Vitae describing his style as difficult to handle Zanu PF.

In an interview on ZiFM, Mwonzora said every leader has his own style but singled out his as difficult for the opponent.

Mwonzora: “Every leader has his own style. Tsvangirai had his own style. President Chamisa has his style. Biti and Hwende have their style. I have my own style. I believe my style is difficult for the opponent”

— Zim Media Review (@ZimMediaReview) March 4, 2019

Mwonzora’s remarks are likely not go down well with Chamisa loyalists who have closed the door for any opponent saying the youthful politician has an unfinished task.

Chamisa sympathisers have also described Mwonzora as a Zanu PF project bend on derailing the opposition party’s quest to grab power from the ruling party.

Top human rights lawyer Obey Shava was on fire yesterday when he exposed a soldier deployed to work in police Central Investigation Department (CID) Law and Order during the trial of Harare West legislator Joanah Mamombe.

The soldier-cum-police officer, Denis Muroyiwa had a torrid time before the courts as he ended up stammering while giving evidence of his testimony before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

After being asked why he had arrested Mamombe without a warrant, Muroyiwa said a warrant is only presented after the accused person had been brought to court, forcing Shava to question if he is aware of the operation of the police.

“Mr Muroyiwa you do not know what you are saying. How do you not know how police officers operate because you are not a police officer.

“You are soldier and you are being ordered to masqueraded as a police officer. Tell the court and being honest when you are going back to the barracks?” questioned Shava.

Muroyiwa insisted that they introduced themselves to Mamombe when they arrested him.

“Yes i was among the crew which went to arrest MP Mamombe in Nyanga but we introduced ourselves to Mamombe,” he said, a testimony which is contrary to what Mamombe told the court.

Muroyiwa could not answer the questions on whether he know the names of his bosses and hierarchy at the CID Law and Order.

He also failed tell the court, the exact words which Mamombe uttered to back the allegations.

Mamombe is facing allegations of subverting a constitutionally elected government after she addressed a press conference in Harare before the January shutdown.

-263Chat

GENDER activists have expressed concern over the high price of sanitary wear despite the removal of exercise duty last year.

Announcing the 2019 national budget last November, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube removed duty on sanitary pads.

Activists had over the years pleaded with Government for duty free and subsidised sanitary pads to no avail.

Speaking in an interview, Emthonjeni Women’s Forum (EWF) programmes manager, Ms Mellisa Ndlovu, said despite the removal of duty, many cannot afford the price of sanitary wear.

“Despite the government removing duty on sanitary wear, it is still not affordable. The government should subside sanitary pads and consider giving them for free to all girls of school going age,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She said young women are using rags because they cannot afford pads.

“Most young women and girls are forced to use torn cloths because they can not afford pads and we found that some of the girls end up not going to school because they do not have sanitary wear,” said Ms Ndlovu.

Matabeleland Widows and Single Parents Trust Director, Ms Sipho Nsimbi, said sanitary wear is not available at rural schools and urged the government to donate pads to the schools.

“Getting sanitary wear is a challenge for schools girls in rural areas and there are many needy girls who are failing to buy pads. I urge the government to do something about it,” Ms Nsimbi.

She said her organisation managed to educate five primary schools on how to re-use pads.

“As Widows group, we managed to teach five primary schools on how to make pads using reusable ones. The Ministry of Health tested and approved them in 2014,” said Ms Nsimbi.

Recently, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, said girls aged from nine to 14 years resort to contraceptives to avoid their periods because they have no access to resources.

Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga said there were new products on the market that could save girls from the dilemma.

State Media

Two MDC Alliance legislators, Joanah Mamombe and Godfrey Sithole, have appeared in court charged with subverting a constitutional Government and inciting public violence.

Mamombe (25), who is the legislator for Harare West, appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa yesterday.

Sithole appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate, Mrs Winfilder Tiatara, same day.

He is the MDC-A legislator for Chitungwiza North.

They were both remanded in custody.

Mamombe challenged her placement on remand.

She was remanded in custody to today pending the court’s determination.

Sithole case was also rolled over to today for bail ruling.

Through her lawyers Messrs Obey Shava and Jeremiah Bhamu, Mamombe argued that there was no reasonable suspicion that an offence was committed.

She also indicated that her detention, which exceeded the mandatory 48 hours without being brought to court, was a violation of her Constitutional rights.

Mr Shava said his client was arrested on Saturday in Nyanga at around 8:30AM and was brought before a magistrate at around 10AM yesterday.

He said the police officers who arrested Mamombe did not immediately advise her of the charge she was facing.

The prosecutor Mr Charles Muchemwa opposed the application saying the facts outlined by the prosecution disclosed an offence.

“The facts disclose a reasonable suspicion that indeed an offence was committed hence she should be placed on remand.”

On the issue of the 48 hour period, the prosecution called to the witness stand the detective who arrested Mamombe and the investigating officer, who both testified that her rights were not violated.

Detective Constable Dennis Muroiwa told the court that he identified himself when he arrested Mamombe and advised her of the charge she was facing.

Another detective, Rafel Chakama submitted to the court that he brought Mamombe to court yesterday at round 7:45AM hence was still within the 48 hour period since she was arrested at around 8:30AM.

At the Chitungwiza magistrates’ court, Sithole through his lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama, pleaded not guilty and applied for bail.

The prosecutor Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa opposed the application arguing that he was a flight risk.

It is the State’s case that on January 14, Mamombe held a presser at Civic Centre, Marlbrough in Harare and urged people to overthrow the Government.

Mamombe together with members of her constituency planned to join hands with other trade unions to coerce and invite them to overthrow a constitutionally elected Government.

She allegedly urged members of her constituency to resort to civil disobedience and demonstrations to shut down Zimbabwe in response to public outcry over fuel price hikes and high cost of living.

The court heard that between January 14 and 16, and in response to Mamombe’s presser, there were violent protests in the country, it is alleged.

Sithole, the State alleged, incited people to break into shops and steal goods during the protests.

State Media

POLICE have arrested two men who shot a video while brutally assaulting a girl (15) for allegedly having love affairs with both of them at Phumuza village in Plumtree.

Sources said the men would be charged with assault and having sex with a minor. It is alleged that the love triangle turned sour when the men, aged 25 and 28 discovered they shared the same girl.

The video which has gone viral has angered women rights activists and a majority of netizens on social media who have demanded justice for the under-age girl. The abusers were only identified on social media as Peter and Lija.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident yesterday but declined to name the suspects saying the matter was being handled by the courts.

“They were arrested but I cannot comment as they have already appeared in court,” said Chief Inspector Ndebele.

Court officials, however, yesterday said the matter was not yet in court and the pair is expected to appear today.

The pair is seen ordering the girl to lie on the ground while they take turns to assault her with big sticks.

“I want to give you 10 strokes but if you move, we’ll start back at one,” one of the men says.

The pair repeatedly tell the victim they want to teach her a lesson and stop her from being a prostitute.

Sources said the victim was taken to hospital and a medical report to ascertain the extent of the injury is pending.

Gender activist and MDC-T proportional representative for Bulawayo South, Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, said the video was appalling.

“I could not stand the video. That was very cruel. Something is just wrong in our society. It is because of the upbringing and partly a matter of choice. Girls must be taught at an early age about their worth and that they must not take such kind of treatment from anyone,” she said.

“Men must be taught as boys to respect women as they may have observed such treatment of women in the home. It is so bad because we have normalised something that is abnormal. It is so bad that the girl was beaten, but it is quite appalling that someone had the nerve to film the act. You wonder what has become of the human race.”

She urged women and girls not to fear anyone and to report all forms of abuse.

“If it was not for the recording, we would not have known that she went through this. So many things go unreported and women must not take this treatment. It is not only the poor, it happens to the rich as well as I have witnessed some women in fancy places being assaulted by partners in public, especially at bars. It’s wrong,” said Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

Members of the public took to Twitter and Facebook to express their distaste at the men’s conduct and the trauma that the victim of the beating must have experienced.

“These men are evil. They deserve the same kind of beating and worse. Hopefully, they will be caught and justice gets served. How can they hit with all their might on human flesh (sic). What has this world come to?” asked Ms Sibonakele Nhliziyo on Facebook.

“Men need better role models. This is bad. We cannot afford to have this kind of behaviour. My thoughts are with the child,” said Mr Simba Moyo on Twitter.

ZESA Holdings says it is experiencing technical challenges on its prepaid system countrywide.

Scores of people throughout the country experienced difficulties in buying electricity tokens through different platforms offered by the power utility for pre-paid meters.

“It’s countrywide. We are working to fix the challenge, which has affected Econet’s EcoCash (mobile money transfer facility) and we are investigating whether it is our side of the system or EcoCash,” Zesa spokesperson Fullard Gwasira said yesterday.

Yesterday, Econet Wireless, the country’s largest telecoms operator, experienced technical faults yesterday, bringing business to a standstill.

With more than 10 million subscribers on its network, the company dominates the telecoms sector. It also operates Zimbabwe’s largest mobile payment platform, EcoCash, which forms the backbone of the country’s payment system in the face of pressing bank note shortages, which has forced the adaption of mobile money.

“We sincerely apologise for the intermittent service you have been experiencing on EcoCash, voice and data services. Our engineers are working flat out to restore normal services,” the company said in statement, without giving further details.

Gwasira said his organisation had also fixed problems that resulted in power outages in Beitbridge during rains.

Beitbridge town, which is home to the region’s busiest inland port, had been experiencing power outages blamed on poor maintenance.

A faulty switch at one of Zesa’s Beitbridge sub-terminals resulted in the shipping town failing to connect to the South African grid in the event of power outage on the Zimbabwean grid.

“Please can someone from @econet_support tell us what’s happening? Are you holding us to ransom? No lunch, no transactions, you now control our cash. Or your system doesn’t understand RTGS DOLLARS,” @arambanepasi commented on Twitter.

Another Twitter user @Arumlily92 posted that: “Today was yet another reminder of how unhealthy and dangerous to national security the Econet monopoly is”.

User, @Quinch19 also vented his anger, saying: “The @EcoCashZW monopoly needs to be broken. Sadly, Econet, in @NetOneCellular and @Telecel_Zim, has clueless competitors!”

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|The Matabeleland South provincial council of the oppositon MDC has unanimously declared that they will back incumbent President Nelson Chamisa at the upcoming elective party congress.

According to a statement issued by provincial spokesperson Ekem Moyo, the provincial council with all wings represented resolved that the province will back Chamisa to lead the opposition party and be the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

According to Moyo, the province ruled that there is no vacancy for President in the party and Chamisa must not be contested.

“It was resolved that MDC presidency is uncontested in congress scheduled for 24-25 May 2019.

All structures resolved that President Adv Nelson Chamisa is our man of the moment .His capacity to lead the party was loud enough when he gannered 2.6 votes in the rigged July 2018 elections.

Mat South declared there is no vacancy for President. Chamisa was nominated unopposed. All our structures will support President Chamisa in the coming congress. We are not going to be wood honked into diverting our clear vision. We believe our president is a visionary leader who will lead us in defeating Zanu.”

Paul Nyathi|The MDC has dismissed state media claims that party President Nelson Chamisa is getting funding from former President Robert Mugabe to contest any challenge in the upcoming party elections.

In a sensational clear smear campaign on Chamisa, State Media reports that Chamisa who is set for a resounding victory in the internal elections is being funded by Mugabe as he holds rallies around the country.

The media further claims that Chamisa’s recent trip to Ghana was also part of a fundraising initiative from some of his college mates there.

The state run media quotes unnamed MDC senior officials as their sources in claiming that Chamisa is being bankrolled by the former president to stave off any potential challenge ahead of the congress.

Responding to the media, MDC National Spokesperson Jacob Mafume dismissed the allegations indicating that the party has no time to engage with Mugabe as it is engaged on important issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe.

“I think the old man must be left in peace. We as the MDC-Alliance and President Chamisa are engaged with the issues of the suffering of the people,” said Mafume.

“We are trying to resolve the political and economic crisis which is affecting the people of Zimbabwe. We have not received any funding from the former President and neither are we expecting any funding,” he said.

On the Ghana trip, he said Chamisa sought solidarity for Zimbabwe and assistance to resolve the economic and political challenges facing the country.

Contrary to the State Media claims that Mugabe was funding the on-going “Thank You Rallies” being held by Chamisa country wide, ZimEye.com managed to establish that provincial structures within the opposition party are running independent fundraising drives for the rallies in their areas.

While the media also claims that the rallies are Chamisa campaign rallies, ZimEye.com noted that all suspected contestants for party positions have been getting opportunities to speak to the crowds at the rallies and all has been strictly party business not individual campaigns.

Chamisa’s next rally is set for Bulawayo’s White City Stadium on the 17th of March.

Government is working on establishing a Teaching Profession Council (TPC) under which teachers will apply for registration before being issued with a teaching practice certificate. The proposed changes are contained in the Teaching Profession Council Bill which is expected to provide for the regulation of the educators, their practice and professional conduct.

Public hearings to solicit views on the Bill started yesterday.

According to a schedule provided to teachers’ unions by Government, the hearings started yesterday in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province and will end on March 14 after the canvassing of input from all the 10 provinces.

Representatives from teachers unions, officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Public Service Commission (PSC) are conducting the hearings.

Reads the Bill: “A person shall apply to the Council for registration as a teacher in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee. The Council may, within thirty days of receipt of an application under subsection (I) grant or reject the application. The Council shall, where it rejects an application under subsection (2), inform the applicant, in writing, and give the reasons for the rejection. A person aggrieved with a decision of the Council may, appeals within thirty days of service of the decision, appeal to the Minister. A person aggrieved with a decision of the Minister may, within thirty days of service of the decision, appeal to the High Court.

“The Council shall, where an applicant meets the requirements of this Act, issue the applicant with a certificate of registration if the applicant—(a) possesses such knowledge, and training and experience as may be prescribed; (b) holds a qualification from a training institution recognised by the Council; (c) is resident in Zimbabwe, or has an established office or appointment in Zimbabwe in the teaching profession; (d) is of good character and good professional standing; and meets such other requirements as the Council may determine.”

On disqualification from registration, a person shall not qualify for registration as a teacher “if he or she does not possess the prescribed qualifications; has, for any reason, ceased to practise as a teacher or been de-registered; has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty under this Act or any other written law; has been declared to be of unsound mind under the Mental Health Act; has been found, by the Disciplinary Committee, to be guilty of professional misconduct.”

Apex Council organising secretary Mr Charles Chinosengwa yesterday welcomed the proposed changes.

“The Bill is good for us teachers as it is safe to guard our profession, like nursing,” he said.

“You cannot pick someone from the street to come and teach. It was long overdue. It is not coming to replace unions but its unions working towards that. We will be doing the same as nurses that you have to be registered to practice on yearly basis. As unions we have five members in the working group so in other words we have total ownership of this initiative.”

The function of the council shall be to register teachers, regulate their professional conduct, develop, maintain and improve appropriate standards of qualification in the teaching profession and promote continuing professional development amongst teachers.

“The functions of the Teaching Profession Council shall be to develop, promote and enforce internationally comparable teaching profession practice standards so as to improve the quality of education in Zimbabwe and promote an understanding of professional ethics amongst the teachers; create awareness of the importance of protecting the public against unsound teaching practices and ensure that the rules and guidelines for professional ethics are responsive to the expectations of the public; investigate allegations of professional misconduct and impose such sanctions as may be necessary,” reads the Bill.

The TPC shall also advise Government on matters relating to the teaching profession and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge by teachers through the emphasis on the need for teacher continuous professional development.

State Media