By Own Correspondent| Acie Lumumba whose real name is William Mutumanje has confirmed former Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s statements that government is set to introduce a new currency soon.

Said Lumumba:

I can confirm its true! New local currency on the way, there is a condition of securing reserves in place but I can confirm to you. It’s coming. Prepare yourself, don’t panic. At best they will delay, most likely not. Let’s wait for official comms.

By Own Correspondent| The former Minister for Higher and Tertiary Education, Jonathan Moyo has teared into President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s statements suggesting that reports of women being raped by soldiers during the January protests were stage-managed.

Writing on social media on Monday, Moyo said:

Mnangagwa has always blamed victims of his brutality as the authors of their misery.

Here he is reading from his  #gukurahundi script, claiming that the victims of State atrocities, PRE-PLANNED the atrocities unleashed upon them by the Army, Police, CIO and Zanu-PF gangs in January!

In an interview with a French channel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he is attending the 32nd African Union Summit, Mnangagwa said:

With regards to the allegations of rape, we have both through print media, radio and TV appealed to those victims to come forward, report to the nearest police station.

If you are not comfortable to report to the nearest police station you go to the nearest church and report the abuse you underwent. We have only one single case that has come up in Chitungwiza.

The rest, we now know that the women who were paraded was just make up by some organisations and some of the women have now left the country, have been shipped to the United Kingdom.

The few who are still in the country are being moved from house to house and we are trying to track them down. Its all stage managed. We are challenging anybody, local or foreign to produce the women so the world can see them and say this is what happened.

By Own Correspondent| Former Finance Minister ,Tendai Biti has said that the government of Zimbabwe is set to introduce a new currency this week.

Biti, who is also the MDC Alliance national vice-chairperson wrote on Twitter that such a move will be pure insanity.

Said Biti:

The regime will this week introduce a new Zimbabwe currency not backed by any #reserves & without the context of structural reforms which a prerequisite of currency reform . That move is pure undiluted #insanity . An unbanked currency is just the #bond note by another name.

There is no country in the world that has involuntarily dollarized that has ever succeeded in de -dollarizing. Zim will not be the 1st .Whilst a currency is about fundamentals ,ultimately the most important fundamental is confidence There is absolutely no trust in this regime.

Considering the #harm and #damage inflicted on this economy by its Central Bank over the years to now , the question to be posed is, does Zimbabwe really need a Central Bank? In my submission, it can and will do without one.

Biti’s claims that a new currency shall be introduced this week, however, have not been confirmed by the government.

Own Correspondent|Following a vote of no confidence on ZANU PF Youth league leader Pupurai Togarepi lady week, hype active government information ministry official and party spin specialist Energy Mutodi has rushed to volunteer to be appointed as replacement to lead the ruling party youth league.

Mutodi took to Twitter to disclose his willingness to take over the responsibility claiming that he is committed to reviving the youth wing.

The Zanu PF Youth League National Executive Council passed a vote of no confidence on its leader, Togarepi (55) and four other executive members on allegations of incompetence, gross misconduct and treachery.

The other members are: Deputy National Secretary Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu, National Secretary for Administration Tendai Chirau, Deputy National Secretary for External Relations Admire Mahachi and Mercy Mugomo, the Deputy National Secretary for Environment and Tourism.

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa did not tell the truth when he speaking to France24 news yesterday said that there were no rape cases reported to the police during the military violence in January this year.

Speaking to France24, Mnangagwa said the only rape case reported to the police, was in Chitungwiza.

He also said that the state security is hunting down all the rape complaints because, as he claimed, they all stage managed the act. He boldly suggested that they were sponsored to utter the allegations.

But there were more cases of rape whose victims were filmed by several journalists albeit with covered faces. Others were case numbers: 431/1/19 and 429/1/19 which were reported at Bulawayo Central Police during the same period.

The below is a copy of one of the cases.

Zimbabwe has effectively moved from a police, to a military State, where members of the army are now being used to maintain order while police have been reduced to spectators, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said.

In an exclusive interview with NewsDay on Friday, Chamisa said while a police State under President Robert Mugabe was bad enough; things had become worse because the military has taken over.

“We have a problem; it’s bad enough to have a police State and when ED [President Emmerson Mnangagwa] came before elections after the November thing, he removed roadblocks, yet it was a decoy, he has even moved the country from a police State to a militarised State. We love our soldiers, we honour our soldiers; they are patriotic; but, honestly, why are politicians abusing our soldiers to draw them into issues that are not supposed to be theirs?” he asked.

Chamisa, who snubbed Mnangagwa’s meeting to come up with a roadmap for dialogue at State House last week, said the army was being used to further Zanu PF’s stranglehold on power.
His statements followed reports that elements of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) had taken over policing duties from the police who, since the coup last year, have been treated with suspicion because of their perceived loyalty to Mugabe.

Until last Thursday, armed soldiers had become a common and permanent feature at major roadblocks mounted 24 hours a day on highways, while at some police stations, members of the military had pitched tents where they were now sleeping.
Sources in the police told NewsDay that while the soldiers appeared to be working under instruction of the police, it was the army that was effectively in charge of operations.

“We are as scared of the soldiers as the civilians are. The police is not trusted. As we go out on patrols and roadblocks, we take instructions from the soldiers, this is how the system works because we are viewed as anti the current establishment,” a highly-placed police source said.

The army has since, through Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, conceded that they had taken charge after protesters overran police stations.

“They (protesters) overran police stations, burnt police and public transport vehicles and also killed citizens, including a police officer.

They broke into police armouries, stealing weapons and ammunition, which they used to kill people.

“Had the military not come in support of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, one wonders whether the whole country would not have been looted that day. The ZDF (Zimbabwe Defence Forces) however, regrets the loss of life which followed the unnecessary disturbances,” Nyikayaramba said, justifying military intervention.

But MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume dismissed Nyikayaramba, saying the deployment of soldiers was illegal.
“They are deploying the military not to assist the police, but to prop up Zanu PF, we have become a West African-style military dictatorship, if you remember the military dictatorships of West Africa, of the 1980s and 1990s where the army said that they have to intervene in all sphere’s of civilian life, command agriculture, command justice, command policing, command housing and everything else has to be done through a military dictatorship. It is a model that failed in West Africa and it is a model that will fail

in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mafume said, in line with the Constitution, the army should only be deployed during an emergency or where police were unable to discharge their duties, not on a daily basis.
“The deployment of soldiers should be a process to assist the police, there should be an emergency or there should be a state were the police are now overwhelmed and cannot carry out their normal duties, it is not every day that soldiers are deployed, that is illegal,” he said.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba requested questions in writing and had not responded after getting questions on Tuesday last week.

NewsDay

THE European Union (EU) has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the bloc would only consider extending aid to his government if the Harare administration met certain conditions that include respect for human rights and holding of credible elections.

This followed Mnangagwa’s meeting with the EU commissioner for international co-operation and development, Neven Mimica on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday where the two discussed developments in Zimbabwe, including the recent military crackdown on fuel protests, which left 17 dead.

Zimbabwe has held disputed elections since 2000 when the ruling Zanu PF party started facing strong opposition from the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC. The July 30 polls last year were no different.

The disputed elections deepened the economic malaise, while a security crackdown on post-election protests on August 1 last year and another ruthless suppression of demonstrations against fuel price increases of 150% drew comparisons with the dark days of former President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Mimica, who was in Zimbabwe last year, using his official Twitter account on Saturday, announced the meeting with Mnangagwa who is under pressure over his administration’s reaction to the protests.

“In the margins of the AU summit, I met with the President of Zimbabwe ED Mnangagwa, a few months after my visit to Harare. We took stock of what has been achieved and agreed that more needs to be done, EU is ready to step up its support if conditions are met,” Mimica wrote.

The EU, which had been pressured by Britain to back Mnangagwa, has been pressing for a raft of changes, which include electoral law and security sector reforms. Britain last month said it regretted taking a soft stance on Mnangagwa, and vowed to pressure the African Union to independently probe human rights violations in its former colony.

In the EU’s electoral observer mission report, the bloc noted serious gaps that ranged from a poor legal framework to the role of the electoral commission.

The bloc did not endorse the elections as free and fair and pointed out that the results could not be verified or traced, adding that more needed to be done to create a conducive environment for undisputed polls.

It also condemned the State’s heavy-handedness in dealing with the January demonstrations, and called on Mnangagwa to investigate the violations and bring the culprits to book.

Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo confirmed the meeting with Mimica, saying re-engagement efforts by the government were still on track.

“Zimbabwe’s re-engagement efforts are still on track despite politically-motivated violence and the African Union (AU) is fully apprised of recent developments in the country,” Moyo said on Twitter.

Mnangagwa upped his diplomatic engagements ahead of the AU summit, dispatching emissaries to African countries to lobby for support after seemingly being ditched by Britain.

The President dispatched long-time diplomat and ally Christopher Mutsvangwa, with a special message to Zambia, while Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the summit.

Mnangagwa last week missed a Zanu PF “thank you” rally in Mt Darwin and instead reportedly spent the day in office calling African leaders to apprise them about the situation in Harare, according to presidential spokesperson George Charamba.

Zimbabwe churches last Thursday sought to broker talks between the government and its opponents hoping to help the country to shake off its divided past over the political and economic crisis. MDC’s Nelson Chamisa attended, while Mnangagwa skipped the meeting.

Chamisa had the previous day declined to attend a meeting of presidential election candidates in last year’s poll called by Mnangagwa to agree on an agenda for talks. The opposition leader maintained that he won the July 30, 2018 poll and called Mnangagwa an illegitimate President.

NewsDay

THE trial date of an Airforce of Zimbabwe pilot accused of brutally murdering his Gweru-based girlfriend late last year is set to kick off on February 19 at the Bulawayo High Court.

The trial of Tashinga Musonza (29) was initially scheduled to start on January 28 before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa, who was on circuit in Gweru.

The matter was then remanded following an application made by the defence counsel to have the matter referred to the Constitutional Court.

This was after Musonza’s lawyer, Mr James Makiya of Makiya and Partners had made an application to have the matter referred to the Constitutional Court for the purposes of challenging the existence or presence of assessors on the High Court bench.

Musonza allegedly killed Lucy Duve (32) in a crime of passion in November last year.

According to court papers, 16 witnesses are expected to give their testimonies during the trial set to run from February 19-22.

Musonza allegedly fatally assaulted Duve who was working for a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) accusing her of cheating on him with his colleague.

It is the State’s case that on November 25, Musonza went to their lodgings at around 10PM and found Duve asleep.

He allegedly accused her of cheating on him with his colleague.

The two allegedly drove to the airbase since Musonza wanted the matter clarified.

They allegedly woke up Duve’s alleged lover who denied being in a relationship with her.

Musonza allegedly got furious and started assaulting his girlfriend.

His colleague tried to restrain him but was overpowered before he ran away from the scene to seek assistance from colleagues.

Upon their return they found Duve lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

Musonza later drove Duve to Clay Bank Hospital in the company of two of his colleagues and another female who was said to be Duve’s friend.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital leading to the arrest of Musonza.

A post-mortem report showed that Duve had a fractured skull, blood clots in her brain and that her lungs were affected by the attack among other injuries.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, together with the Minister Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo, visited the Duve family in Suburbs, Bulawayo, to console them after her death.

Ziyambi said Government doesn’t condone violence against women and also assured Duve’s family that justice would prevail.

State Media

Three men who took part in last month’s looting spree have been convicted by the courts after they were given away by a social media video, a text message and self-rubber-stamped markings on the face, in separate incidents.

The three — Samuel Kapote, Takemore Bhunu and Steven Sango — will spend one, four and three years in jail, respectively.

Kapote, who became a social media sensation when a video of him carrying a beef hindquarter went viral on social media, was identified by a citizen.

Bhunu was nailed by his own text message inviting a friend to come and share the groceries “talooter muChoppies” while Sango and his partners in crime stamped their faces and arms with an official Government rubber stamp after invading a Vehicle Inspection Department depot.

While his co-accused were discharged for lack of evidence, Sango, who dropped his ID at the crime scene, was left to face the music alone.

Kapote, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to a year in prison by resident magistrate Mr Nyasha Vitorini.
The hindquarter, worth $594, was looted from Choppies Supermarket at Chitungwiza Town Centre.

Mr Vitorini initially sentenced Kapote to two years in prison but suspended a year on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

Prosecuting, Mrs Ntombikayise Nleya-Mtlongwa proved that on January 14, Kapote, acting in concert with others, invaded Choppies Supermarket and took 60kg of beef.

The matter came to light after the police received an anonymous call from someone who had identified Kapote from the video.

He was arrested at Chimubayira Complex in Unit H where he claimed to have only offered to assist someone to carry the beef which they eventually shared.

Bhunu (27), from Harare, was also sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted for looting groceries at the same Choppies supermarket during the demonstrations.

Bhunu and Godsave Mukore (25), who were represented by Miss Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were charged with public violence and theft when they appeared before magistrate Mrs Blessing Murwisi.

Prosecutor Ms Tendayi Shonhayi told the court that on January 14 at around 11am the two were involved in the vandalism of Chitungwiza’s only traffic light situated at Unit C Junction and looting of groceries at Choppies Supermarket.

Mukore was, however, acquitted after the State failed to prove its case.

Bhunu was convicted and initially sentenced to five years in jail but one year was suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar crime in the next five years.

Ms Shonhayi proved that the accused person and others who are still at large sold some of the looted groceries to passers-by and hid part of the loot along a stream behind Tafa Shopping Centre in Unit D.

After Bhunu was apprehended on January 14, the police only recovered a 2kg pack of flour as the rest of the groceries had been taken away by his accomplices.

A text message found on his mobile phone from the day of the incident where he was telling one Norest to come and collect the looted goods, also gave him away.

It read: “. . . meno kwaari huyai mutore grocery, talooter muChoppies”.

Meanwhile, Sango (24) was slapped with a three-year jail term for committing public violence by Mr Vitorini.
Sango, from Chitungwiza, was initially jointly charged with Sandurai Nyatete (20) and Spencer Mudzingwa (22) but Mudzingwa was discharged at the close of the State case while Nyatete was acquitted after a full trial.

Prosecuting, Mrs Nleya-Mtlongwa proved that on January 14 at around 2pm while a Sergeant Jeko and others were on duty at the VID depot at Makoni Shopping Centre, they came across Nyasha Chiyangwa in the company of Mudzingwa exiting the department’s premises.

The police noticed some rubber stamp markings on their faces and arms but Mudzingwa ran away.

Upon interrogation, Chiyangwa indicated that he had been stamped by Mudzingwa after they broke into the VID offices. He also revealed that they had looted some shops at Chitungwiza Town Centre.

He led the team to Unit F where they located Mudzingwa and arrested him. Mudzingwa then implicated Sango.
Police recovered a swipe machine, desktop computer and some groceries, while Sango’s national identification card was found at one of the offices at the VID depot.

State Media

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Zera) has said the country has enough fuel stocks for the market and Government will not increase its prices in the near future.

As such, there is no need for panic.

This comes as rumours have been circulating that another fuel price hike is looming, triggering panic buying, especially in Harare, resulting in limited supplies and queues re-emerging.

Zera acting chief executive officer Eddingtom Mazambani said the shortages that were experienced last week were a result of supply gaps that have been closed by the fuel supply inflows.

“The fuel supply in the country is stable and the public should not panic based on false statements that the fuel prices are due to be significantly reviewed,” he said.

“Government has put in place enough financial facilities to ensure that there will be enough fuel stocks to cater for current demand.

“There is no need for panic buying. The country has adequate stocks. Zera is constantly monitoring the supply and consumption pattern while financial side is being resolved by the Central Bank.”

Last month, Government reviewed the diesel price to $3,11 from $1,30 per litre, while petrol was increased to $3,31 from $1,40.

State Media

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday met Estonian President Eesti Vabariigi.

President Mnangagwa and President Vabariigi met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after attending the official opening of the 32nd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly.

President Mnangagwa’s closed door meeting with President Vabariigi lasted close to an hour.

President Vabariigi described the engagement as very fruitful.

“First, he gave me the overall economic development of your country and we have to say it was wonderful to hear about very concrete plans and we tried to see how Estonian experience in digital development could match with what you are doing in your country. Estonia is a country where public services are fully digital. You cannot get married online but everything else in online” she said.

President Vabariigi said Estonian companies had already visited Zimbabwe to explore potential areas of investment and cooperation.

“Our companies have already been to your country and our ambassador as well as been to your country already looking for ways to cooperate and to develop digital services in your country. I think we found a lot of interesting information about each other’s country and we agreed we need to continue to cooperate. In our case we are a small country but we have embraced digital technologies because it is just effective and productive to do things online,” she said.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo, who also attended the meeting, said President Vabariigi wanted to find out more information on Zimbabwe when she paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa.

“The President of Estonia made a courtesy call on His Excellency and her desire was to find out more about Zimbabwe’s challenges and Zimbabwe’s needs and in that regard, she was then given a very detailed background of the history of Zimbabwe’s economy for the past two decades up to today.

“We are a country which is grappling with its economic emancipation without lines of credit and without any balance of payments support. As a result of that, she then made a commitment because they are specialists in digital services. In Estonia everything is digital. You register a baby birth, everything else automates to give a number, to give a health certificate and right across. It is integrated between the private sector and Government. They are one of the countries who have pioneered outside Bill Gates’ Microsoft and also developed the other side of things which is cyber security because as you develop technologically you have got this threat of cyber. They have moved with these two simultaneously. It was a good discussion,” said Minister Moyo.

State Media

“…Let us have the relatives who say I lost a son, I lost a daughter, I lost a cousin, I lost a relative, by the hands of the army ….

…we would want to see evidence we see all this in social media. But we would want to see evidence where the 17 people were killed; Where were they buried. …”

By A Correspondent|ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa who is on recorded LIVE video saying civilians who cross his path must lose their assets and receive violence, yesterday said it is not true that people were killed by soldiers during the military violence last month, albeit describing the incidents as “violent, very violent demonstrations,”

Speaking in a wide ranging interview with France24 yesterday, Mnangagwa denied that civilians were killed by the military.

Mnangagwa is on previous recorded LIVE video publicly declaring that any civilians who make mistakes must lose their assets and be violently bashed.

Mnangagwa: every civilian who makes mistakes must lose their assets and be violently bashed – ngavarobwe! pic.twitter.com/mvf9p1nzk7

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 10, 2019

BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE INTERVIEW(TRANSCRIBED BY ZIMEYE):

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE GRAVE ACCUSATIONS AND HOW IS THE SITUATION NOW IN YOUR COUNTRY?

Mnangagwa: It is true that there were violent, very violent demonstrations, from the time that they began the demonstrations on the 14th I think to the 16th of January. They were so violent that they attacked police stations, burnt police motor vehicles, killed a policeman destruction of property, beating of people.

It was so violent that the police was overwhelmed by such violence by these people it showed that it was well organised countrywide; every single town they were coordinated to attack government institutions, in particular police stations and so on.

And we now realise that it was also organised because prior to that day we now hear that some people went around, NGOs went around saying that allow your children to go tomorrow for demonstrations if they are arrested this is the place where to go we are ready to defend you. If you are injured this is where to go.

SO YOU ARE SAYING THERE WAS A PLAN?

Mnangagwa: Total plan, it has (sic) we have now discovered that this was well planned.

I STILL WANT TO GO TO THE CRACKDOWN ESPECIALLY BY THE MILITARY. WE HAVE SEEN ACCOUNTS, OF WOMEN SAYING THEY WERE RAPED. WE’VE SEEN CLAIMS BY NGOs THAT THERE WERE 17 EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE BY THE PROTESTERS, BUT CLEARLY THERE WAS VIOLENCE BY THE MILITARY, AND THERE WAS SERIOUS VIOLENCE.

Mnangagwa:I will deal with the issues you have raised with regards to the rape allegations of rape. We have both through print media and radio and TV appealed to those victims to come forward to the nearest police station. If you are not comfortable report it to report to the nearest police station you go to the nearest church and report the abuse you underwent we have only one single case that has come up in Chitungwiza. The rest, we now know that the women who were paraded, transitions was just make up by some organisations and some of the women have already left the country shipped to the United Kingdom, the few who are still in the country they are still in the country from house to house we are trying to track them down. It is all stage managed. We are challenging anybody, anybody local or foreign to produce the women so that the world can see them, and say this is what happened. We would want to see those.

And with regard to the other issue that you have mentioned about the beatings, killings… you say a [extra]judicial killings, This is where the army is directly and purposely killing people – we would want to see evidence we see all this in social media. But we would want to see evidence where the 17 people were killed; Where were they buried.

THIS JUST INVENTED?

Yes. You have asked the questions allow me to reply. Let us have the relatives who say I lost a son, I lost a daughter, I lost a cousin, I lost a relative, by the hands of the army. I am not saying that the army did not overstep their powers, it is possible individual, individual Army officers.

ARE THEY BEING PURSUED?

Some have been arrested. Some have been arrested in that regard the police have also arrested so many over 1000 people who have been caught in the destruction of properties and beatings, they are going through judicial system in a country and perhaps over 40 of 50% by now have gone through the judicial processes, fool hearing in the courts. Some of them have been convicted some of them have been discharged. I am aware that the highest sentence that has been meted out by the judiciary, …

AGAINST THE MILITARY?

No. The sentences meted out not by the military, by the civil Courts.

BUT AGAINST MILITARY PERSONNEL AS WELL…THERE HAVE BEEN SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM?

Those who have been arrested; the military are Court marshalled. Those they get court-martialed. But the rest of those who have been arrested go to civil courts and the highest sentence so far is 7 years. The lowest I am aware of so far is about 3 or 4 months. And others are being discharged because they were found innocent, and according to our loss those were under 18 cannot be detained, once you discover that they’re under age they are released to their parents. This is how we do it and the process is going on well.

CALM IS BACK IN ZIMBABWE OR IS IT PRECARIOUS CALM?

No. Total calm has come back to Zimbabwe. We are now so satisfied that this thing was pre-determined pre-planned well oiled by both local NGOs, who are well funded, by also the opposition the MDC Alliance, whose Theme throughout even during the campaign for our general elections last year said that as long as they do not win this election, in Shona they say they will out “Jecha musadza” meaning that they will put sand into the food, so this is consistent with what they have been saying throughout.

YOU CONSIDER THIS AS A COUP ATTEMPT IN A WAY?

Regime change is the better word it is a regime change agenda, which is not new …which has been a phenomenon visiting Zimbabwe throughout the last 18 years.

I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD TOLD BEFORE THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY NGOs, NOT ONLY THE MAIN OPPOSITION MDC, BUT ALSO FOREIGN POWERS.

I am not aware of the involvement of foreign powers, if they were.

BUT YOU SAID THIS TO SEVERAL PEOPLE…

To whom? If somebody told you, I have never accused any foreign power. I work fully aware of funds that have come to NGOs, operating in our country. I am also now with security intelligence aware of people who came other people to do workshops and training of our people in the opposition.

WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM THOSE PEOPLE?

We have already submitted the names, add passport numbers to the respective embassies in Zimbabwe, that will come out at the appropriate time we have submitted the names and the passport numbers.

CAN I VENTURE AND FIND OUT IF IT’S THE US FOR INSTANCE. AM IN WRONG IN SAYING THIS?

I can assure you that I will not build a wall against your imagination I will not build a wall you can imagine the way you want, is a democratic country Zimbabwe, but we have to build evidence. The evidence that we have got we have submitted to the relevant authorities and we need a reply from those relevant authorities.

SO YOU HAVE ASKED WESTERN COUNTRIES WHERE THOSE FUNDS AND PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM?

You are now trying to say that are there, it means that you are aware that the Western countries are involved in regime change.

NO I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOURE SAYING.

Mnangagwa[laugh laugh laugh]

I have not said so I have not said so we are aware that Zimbabwe has been subjected to regime change throughout we are struggling against sanctions imposed by the west up to today. By the EU and the Americans, those sanctions haven’t been removed.

They are still there.

ON THE CONTRARY IF I FOLLOW WHAT THE BRITISH MINISTER SAID IN RECENT DAYS, 2 THINGS:

1. BRITAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE REJOINING THE COMMONWEALTH, THAT’S NUMBER ONE.

2. AND TWO, BRITAIN WISHES THE EU TO EXTEND SANCTIINS AGAINST ZIMBABWE. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

When Britain made those points did they consult Zimbabwe? When we apply to join the Commonwealth we don’t apply to Britain. We apply to the Commonwealth secretariat, Britain is just a member of the Commonwealth.

AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION ARE YOU…

The Commonwealth have never told us that they are not considering application the view of one member is not the view of the whole Commonwealth, do you understand

Do you understand? The sanctions are already there, they have not been removed. So what other sanctions are you talking about which have been imposed? We are already suffering under these sanctions, ZIDERA and EU sanctions.

ARE YOU ASKING YIUR AFRICAN PEERS HERE IN ADDIS ABBABA, TO PUSH TOWARDS LIFTING SANCTIONS?

We have been doing that for the last 18 years we are not changing, we will continue to appeal to member states of SADC to assist us have these countries that have imposed sanctions on us to realise that it is hurting our people we have not offended anybody. What we are doing is good for our people is good for Zimbabwe.

WHAT ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT, AND HIS WIFE, I REMEMBER THAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON THE CAMPAIGN EVENT, AND YOU HAD HINTED THAT GRACE MUGABE AND HER SUPPORTERS WERE BEHIND AN ATTACK AGAINST YOU DURING THE CAMPAIGN?

No, they did not participate in the campaign, Grace Mugabe and the cabal which had surrounded our former president was the result of the cause of what happened which resulted in the stepping down of our former president Robert Mugabe but we have no problem with him. We are looking after him looking after his family.

SO THEY SHOULDN’T BE PROSECUTED FOR ANYTHING?

No no one is above the law if there is any crime, anybody will be prosecuted accept a sitting President in terms of our law. But anybody else will be prosecuted even the president when I leave office I could be prosecuted if I commit any offence.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH PRESIDENT FOR COMING ON FRANCE24, AND ANSWERING ALL OUR QUESTIONS. – Transcribed by ZimEye.com –

A ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services officer stationed at Khami Maximum Prison in Bulawayo is battling for life in hospital after he shot himself on the chest in an alleged attempted suicide.

Ngonidzashe Mutoti (36), who is admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital, reportedly shot himself once in the chest while he was on duty, manning the prison premises from the tower.

Reasons for the alleged suicide attempt could not be immediately obtained.

The incident occurred at around 1PM last Wednesday.

ZPCS Bulawayo spokesperson Principal Correctional Officer Garainashe Moyo confirmed the incident.

He said they were conducting investigations into the matter.

“I can confirm an officer stationed at Khami Maximum Prison shot himself once in the chest on Wednesday afternoon while he was on duty. He is admitted to hospital where he is being treated.

“Circumstances as to how that happened are yet to be established.

“It is not yet clear whether it was a suicide attempt or if the officer shot himself by mistake. We are still investigating the matter,” said PCO Moyo.

State Media

Government is weighing option of purchasing vehicles for ministers and parliamentarians from local vehicle assemblers allegedly to promote the domestic industry and reduce foreign currency expenditure.

Quest Motors and Willowvale Motor Industries (WMI), which are country’s foremost vehicle assemblers say they have capacity to produce quality vehicles which match imported Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

The vehicle assemblers argue that Government is obliged to implement a directive issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet that compels them to purchase vehicles from local assemblers.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said in an interview that Government was considering buying the next batch of ministerial vehicles from local assemblers after suspending vehicle imports for the current crop.

“That is a very interesting proposition that we definitely have to consider,” he said. “What is of importance to note right now is that Government has not bought or ordered cars for ministers.

“Most of the ministers and permanent secretaries are driving vehicles that they had in the past or which are pool cars in their respective ministries or parastatals.”

Quest Motors operations manager Mr Tom Sarimani said the company had to scale down its operations owing to a low uptake from its biggest customer, the Government.

“Current manning levels are down to 120 people due to low take up from our previous biggest customer which was the Government and associated departments,” he said.

“Production per eight hour shift is 35 units, maximum output is 100 per day which is 22 000 units per year using current installed capacity. Max employment per shift is 1 500 workers, and 5 000 at full installed capacity.

“Downstream industry jobs that can be created is over 40 000. These facts can be verified by NEC records from that time.”

Sarimani said his company had capacity to supply vehicles suitable for ministers and parliamentarians.

“We have quality vehicles for line ministries and MPs,” he said. “We are not new to this line of business as we used to supply the army, CMED, National Railways, police, etc, in the past.

“We have partnered with some of the biggest brands in China and in some cases the world and the quality of our product has not changed since we began production.

“This is evidenced by the number of units over 30 years old still in service today. In fact, quality has gone up due to investments in new equipment and better training.”

Sarimani implored Government to go back to the drawing board and implement the standing directive from the OPC that encourages local purchase of vehicles.

WMI managing director, Engineer Dawson Mareya, said Government had expressed interest in purchasing locally assembled vehicles from his company and the matter was under deliberation.

“The matter you are referring to is currently under discussion with the relevant stakeholders,” he said.

“Any developments will be communicated. Willowvale Motor Industries has the capacity to meet the country’s automotive requirements given the necessary support.”

Deven Engineering managing director Mr Patrick Munyaradzi implored Government to support local industry in its drive to provide buses for the urban and rural mass transit system.
“The buses being imported must come in kit form for local assembly,” he said.

“Assembly fees will be paid in local currency, which means that we can save on foreign currency imports, while at the same time creating more people in our factories.”

However, on the side enquiries by ZimEye.com have indicated that the local car manufacturers have of late been quoting their vehicles in foreign currency prices.

The companies have through the years battled to make an impact in the industry as imported cars proved to be far much cheaper than their locally produced brands.

Source: State Media

THE Vokola community in Filabusi, Insiza district, Matabeleland South has expressed concern over the “mysterious deaths” of pupils in their local schools in the past month.

Two pupils have died at Mkwabeni Primary School in Vokola area while two have also died at Mkwabeni Secondary School, with three reported to be admitted in hospital.

All the victims succumbed to the same ailment whose symptoms include pain in the hands which spreads to the head, then they nose bleed and die within three days.

Ward 7 councillor Thabani Malele confirmed the deaths of the pupils, saying the community leaders and villagers had requested an urgent meeting today to discuss the matter.

He said villagers also met on Friday and raised concern over the incidents. It was resolved that they meet today with traditional leaders and school authorities to discuss the matter.

“Parents have indeed approached me raising concern over the deaths. They say the incidents are suspicious and they want the cases investigated. I cannot say much at the moment as we are yet to meet and get a full insight,” said Clr Malele.

Vokola area headman, Lovemore Mafika, said the community suspected witchcraft in the incidents as they were too similar and the rate of deaths was alarming.

He said the community did not believe it was a natural ailment as all pupils exhibited the same symptoms and would only be sick for three days before they die, hence an immediate investigation was required.

“Surely, the cause of the problem and solution should be found as soon as possible before more children die. If it was nature, why haven’t any pupils died in the past month in the neighbouring schools?” said Mr Mafika.

Reached for comment, the headmaster of Mkwabani Secondary School, Mr Melusi Zvekureba, said he could not speak over the phone and invited The Chronicle to come down to the area.

The Provincial Education Director (PED) for Matabeleland South, Mr Lifias Masukume, said he had not received a report on the matter.

“This is news to me but we will contact the school and investigate the matter,” he said.

Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, advised the school and community to quickly report the matter to health officials.

He said the case could be an outbreak of a certain disease that should be proven by a clinical test before blaming the illnesses on witchcraft.

In March 2018, a community in Gokwe shut down Kana Mission High School following alleged satanism incidents that had been affecting pupils.

Most of the victims were girls and they had swollen bellies while others lost their voices. Others complained of headaches and backaches.

The pupils allegedly told their parents and school authorities that two female teachers were initiating them into satanism.

State Media

Paul Nyathi|The ruling ZANU PF Aligned Zimbabwe National Teachers Union is on cloud nine declaring vindication after the Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe unceremoniously called off the one week teachers strike action late Sunday night.

In an interview with state media on Sunday, Zinatu chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo said they had been vindicated as a union on their clarion call and advice to their colleagues — Zimta and PTUZ — that the strike they had decided to call off yesterday was technically illegal.

“We have been receiving a barrage of attacks and unnecessary onslaught by innocent members of the teaching fraternity on allegations of selling out, yet the truth was that dialogue with the employer had not been exhausted as Government’s doors were and are still open for further and continuous negotiations.

“In terms of rules of procedure, there had not been a duly signed deadlock between the workers’ representatives and Government, making the strike technically offside. However, we wish to plead with Government to consider wavering its decision to punish all the teachers who took part in the illegal strike as they were being misinformed by their leaders. They say to err is human and we further plead that the employer should not apply the ‘ignorance of the law is no defense concept’,” said Nyawo.

Last week the union strongly opposed the call to go on strike claiming that the opposition MDC was leading the other unions to go on strike.

BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF ZANU PF LEADER, EMMERSON MNANGAGWA’S INTERVIEW WITH FRANCE24 IN ADDIS ABABA (TRANSCRIBED BY ZIMEYE.COM):

VIDEO AND FULL TEXT LOADING BELOW:

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE GRAVE ACCUSATIONS AND HOW IS THE SITUATION NOW IN YOUR COUNTRY?

Mnangagwa: It is true that there were violent, very violent demonstrations, from the time that they began the demonstrations on the 14th I think to the 16th of January. They were so violent that they attacked police stations, burnt police motor vehicles, killed a policeman destruction of property, beating of people.

It was so violent that the police was overwhelmed by such violence by these people it showed that it was well organised countrywide; every single town they were coordinated to attack government institutions, in particular police stations and so on.

And we now realise that it was also organised because prior to that day we now hear that some people went around, NGOs went around saying that allow your children to go tomorrow for demonstrations if they are arrested this is the place where to go we are ready to defend you. If you are injured this is where to go.

SO YOU ARE SAYING THERE WAS A PLAN?

Mnangagwa: Total plan, it has (sic) we have now discovered that this was well planned.

I STILL WANT TO GO TO THE CRACKDOWN ESPECIALLY BY THE MILITARY. WE HAVE SEEN ACCOUNTS, OF WOMEN SAYING THEY WERE RAPED. WE’VE SEEN CLAIMS BY NGOs THAT THERE WERE 17 EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE BY THE PROTESTERS, BUT CLEARLY THERE WAS VIOLENCE BY THE MILITARY, AND THERE WAS SERIOUS VIOLENCE.

Mnangagwa:I will deal with the issues you have raised with regards to the rape allegations of rape. We have both through print media and radio and TV appealed to those victims to come forward to the nearest police station. If you are not comfortable report it to report to the nearest police station you go to the nearest church and report the abuse you underwent we have only one single case that has come up in Chitungwiza. The rest, we now know that the women who were paraded, transitions was just make up by some organisations and some of the women have already left the country shipped to the United Kingdom, the few who are still in the country they are still in the country from house to house we are trying to track them down. It is all stage managed. We are challenging anybody, anybody local or foreign to produce the women so that the world can see them, and say this is what happened. We would want to see those.

And with regard to the other issue that you have mentioned about the beatings, killings… yoy say a [extra]judicial killings. This is where the army is directly and purposely killing people we would want to see evidence we see all this in social media. But we would want to see evidence where the 17 people were killed. Where were they buried.

THIS JUST INVENTED?

Yes. You have asked the questions allow me to reply. Let us have the relatives will say I lost a son, I lost a daughter, I lost a cousin, I lost a relative, by the hands of the army. I am not saying that the army did not overstep their powers, it is possible individual, individual Army officers.

ARE THEY BEING PURSUED?

Some have been arrested. Some have been arrested in that regard the police have also arrested so many over 1000 people who have been caught in the destruction of properties and beatings, they are going through judicial system in a country and perhaps over 40 of 50% by now have gone through the judicial processes, fool hearing in the courts. Some of them have been convicted some of them have been discharged. I am aware that the highest sentence that has been meted out by the judiciary, …

AGAINST THE MILITARY?

No. The sentences meted out not by the military, by the civil Courts.

BUT AGAINST MILITARY PERSONNEL AS WELL…THERE HAVE BEEN SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM?

Those who have been arrested; the military are Court marshalled. Those they get court-martialed. But the rest of those who have been arrested go to civil courts and the highest sentence so far is 7 years. The lowest I am aware of so far is about 3 or 4 months. And others are being discharged because they were found innocent, and according to our loss those were under 18 cannot be detained, once you discover that they’re under age they are released to their parents. This is how we do it and the process is going on well.

CALM IS BACK IN ZIMBABWE OR IS IT PRECARIOUS CALM?

No. Total calm has come back to Zimbabwe. We are now so satisfied that this thing was pre-determined pre-planned well oiled by both local NGOs, who are well funded, by also the opposition the MDC Alliance, whose Theme throughout even during the campaign for our general elections last year said that as long as they do not win this election, in Shona they say they will out “Jecha musadza” meaning that they will put sand into the food, so this is consistent with what they have been saying throughout.

YOU CONSIDER THIS AS A COUP ATTEMPT IN A WAY?

Regime change is the better word it is a regime change agenda, which is not new …which has been a phenomenon visiting Zimbabwe throughout the last 18 years.

I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD TOLD BEFORE THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY NGOs, NOT ONLY THE MAIN OPPOSITION MDC, BUT ALSO FOREIGN POWERS.

I am not aware of the involvement of foreign powers, if they were.

BUT YOU SAID THIS TO SEVERAL PEOPLE…

To whom? If somebody told you, I have never accused any foreign power. I work fully aware of funds that have come to NGOs, operating in our country. I am also now with security intelligence aware of people who came other people to do workshops and training of our people in the opposition.

WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM THOSE PEOPLE?

We have already submitted the names, add passport numbers to the respective embassies in Zimbabwe, that will come out at the appropriate time we have submitted the names and the passport numbers.

CAN I VENTURE AND FIND OUT IF IT’S THE US FOR INSTANCE. AM IN WRONG IN SAYING THIS?

I can assure you that I will not build a wall against your imagination I will not build a wall you can imagine the way you want, is a democratic country Zimbabwe, but we have to build evidence. The evidence that we have got we have submitted to the relevant authorities and we need a reply from those relevant authorities.

SO YOU HAVE ASKED WESTERN COUNTRIES WHERE THOSE FUNDS AND PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM?

You are now trying to say that are there, it means that you are aware that the Western countries are involved in regime change.

NO I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOURE SAYING.

Mnangagwa[laugh laugh laugh]

I have not said so I have not said so we are aware that Zimbabwe has been subjected to regime change throughout we are struggling against sanctions imposed by the west up to today. By the EU and the Americans, those sanctions haven’t been removed.

They are still there.

ON THE CONTRARY IF I FOLLOW WHAT THE BRITISH MINISTER SAID IN RECENT DAYS, 2 THINGS:

1. BRITAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE REJOINING THE COMMONWEALTH, THAT’S NUMBER ONE.

2. AND TWO, BRITAIN WISHES THE EU TO EXTEND SANCTIINS AGAINST ZIMBABWE. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

When Britain made those points did they consult Zimbabwe? When we apply to join the Commonwealth we don’t apply to Britain. We apply to the Commonwealth secretariat, Britain is just a member of the Commonwealth.

AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION ARE YOU…

The Commonwealth have never told us that they are not considering application the view of one member is not the view of the whole Commonwealth, do you understand

Do you understand? The sanctions are already there, they have not been removed. So what other sanctions are you talking about which have been imposed? We are already suffering under these sanctions, ZIDERA and EU sanctions.

ARE YOU ASKING YIUR AFRICAN PEERS HERE IN ADDIS ABBABA, TO PUSH TOWARDS LIFTING SANCTIONS?

We have been doing that for the last 18 years we are not changing, we will continue to appeal to member states of SADC to assist us have these countries that have imposed sanctions on us to realise that it is hurting our people we have not offended anybody. What we are doing is good for our people is good for Zimbabwe.

WHAT ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT, AND HIS WIFE I REMEMBER THAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON THE CAMPAIGN EVENT, AND YOU HAD HINTED THAT GRACE MUGABE AND HER SUPPORTERS WERE BEHIND AN ATTACK AGAINST YOU DURING THE CAMPAIGN?

No, they did not participate in the campaign, Grace Mugabe and the cabal which had surrounded our former president was the result of the cause of what happened which resulted in the stepping down of our former president Robert Mugabe but we have no problem with him. We are looking after him looking after his family.

SO THEY SHOULDN’T BE PROSECUTED FOR ANYTHING?

No no one is above the law if there is any crime, anybody will be prosecuted accept a sitting President in terms of our law. But anybody else will be prosecuted even the president when I leave office I could be prosecuted if I commit any offence.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH PRESIDENT FOR COMING ON FRANCE24, AND ANSWERING ALL OUR QUESTIONS. – Transcribed by ZimEye.com –

“…the military are Court marshalled. Those they get court-martialed. But the rest of those who have been arrested go to civil courts and the highest sentence so far is 7 years…”

By A Correspondent|ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has said soldiers are not tried in the courts of the land.

Speaking in a wide ranging interview with France24, Mnangagwa said soldiers do not go to civil courts.

BELOW WAS THE FULL TEXT OF THE INTERVIEW(TRANSCRIBED BY ZIMEYE):

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE GRAVE ACCUSATIONS AND HOW IS THE SITUATION NOW IN YOUR COUNTRY?

Mnangagwa: It is true that there were violent, very violent demonstrations, from the time that they began the demonstrations on the 14th I think to the 16th of January. They were so violent that they attacked police stations, burnt police motor vehicles, killed a policeman destruction of property, beating of people.

It was so violent that the police was overwhelmed by such violence by these people it showed that it was well organised countrywide; every single town they were coordinated to attack government institutions, in particular police stations and so on.

And we now realise that it was also organised because prior to that day we now hear that some people went around, NGOs went around saying that allow your children to go tomorrow for demonstrations if they are arrested this is the place where to go we are ready to defend you. If you are injured this is where to go.

SO YOU ARE SAYING THERE WAS A PLAN?

Mnangagwa: Total plan, it has (sic) we have now discovered that this was well planned.

I STILL WANT TO GO TO THE CRACKDOWN ESPECIALLY BY THE MILITARY. WE HAVE SEEN ACCOUNTS, OF WOMEN SAYING THEY WERE RAPED. WE’VE SEEN CLAIMS BY NGOs THAT THERE WERE 17 EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE BY THE PROTESTERS, BUT CLEARLY THERE WAS VIOLENCE BY THE MILITARY, AND THERE WAS SERIOUS VIOLENCE.

Mnangagwa:I will deal with the issues you have raised with regards to the rape allegations of rape. We have both through print media and radio and TV appealed to those victims to come forward to the nearest police station. If you are not comfortable report it to report to the nearest police station you go to the nearest church and report the abuse you underwent we have only one single case that has come up in Chitungwiza. The rest, we now know that the women who were paraded, transitions was just make up by some organisations and some of the women have already left the country shipped to the United Kingdom, the few who are still in the country they are still in the country from house to house we are trying to track them down. It is all stage managed. We are challenging anybody, anybody local or foreign to produce the women so that the world can see them, and say this is what happened. We would want to see those.

And with regard to the other issue that you have mentioned about the beatings, killings… yoy say a [extra]judicial killings. This is where the army is directly and purposely killing people we would want to see evidence we see all this in social media. But we would want to see evidence where the 17 people were killed. Where were they buried.

THIS JUST INVENTED?

Yes. You have asked the questions allow me to reply. Let us have the relatives will say I lost a son, I lost a daughter, I lost a cousin, I lost a relative, by the hands of the army. I am not saying that the army did not overstep their powers, it is possible individual, individual Army officers.

ARE THEY BEING PURSUED?

Some have been arrested. Some have been arrested in that regard the police have also arrested so many over 1000 people who have been caught in the destruction of properties and beatings, they are going through judicial system in a country and perhaps over 40 of 50% by now have gone through the judicial processes, fool hearing in the courts. Some of them have been convicted some of them have been discharged. I am aware that the highest sentence that has been meted out by the judiciary, …

AGAINST THE MILITARY?

No. The sentences meted out not by the military, by the civil Courts.

BUT AGAINST MILITARY PERSONNEL AS WELL…THERE HAVE BEEN SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM?

Those who have been arrested; the military are Court marshalled. Those they get court-martialed. But the rest of those who have been arrested go to civil courts and the highest sentence so far is 7 years. The lowest I am aware of so far is about 3 or 4 months. And others are being discharged because they were found innocent, and according to our loss those were under 18 cannot be detained, once you discover that they’re under age they are released to their parents. This is how we do it and the process is going on well.

CALM IS BACK IN ZIMBABWE OR IS IT PRECARIOUS CALM?

No. Total calm has come back to Zimbabwe. We are now so satisfied that this thing was pre-determined pre-planned well oiled by both local NGOs, who are well funded, by also the opposition the MDC Alliance, whose Theme throughout even during the campaign for our general elections last year said that as long as they do not win this election, in Shona they say they will out “Jecha musadza” meaning that they will put sand into the food, so this is consistent with what they have been saying throughout.

YOU CONSIDER THIS AS A COUP ATTEMPT IN A WAY?

Regime change is the better word it is a regime change agenda, which is not new …which has been a phenomenon visiting Zimbabwe throughout the last 18 years.

I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD TOLD BEFORE THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY NGOs, NOT ONLY THE MAIN OPPOSITION MDC, BUT ALSO FOREIGN POWERS.

I am not aware of the involvement of foreign powers, if they were.

BUT YOU SAID THIS TO SEVERAL PEOPLE…

To whom? If somebody told you, I have never accused any foreign power. I work fully aware of funds that have come to NGOs, operating in our country. I am also now with security intelligence aware of people who came other people to do workshops and training of our people in the opposition.

WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM THOSE PEOPLE?

We have already submitted the names, add passport numbers to the respective embassies in Zimbabwe, that will come out at the appropriate time we have submitted the names and the passport numbers.

CAN I VENTURE AND FIND OUT IF IT’S THE US FOR INSTANCE. AM IN WRONG IN SAYING THIS?

I can assure you that I will not build a wall against your imagination I will not build a wall you can imagine the way you want, is a democratic country Zimbabwe, but we have to build evidence. The evidence that we have got we have submitted to the relevant authorities and we need a reply from those relevant authorities.

SO YOU HAVE ASKED WESTERN COUNTRIES WHERE THOSE FUNDS AND PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM?

You are now trying to say that are there, it means that you are aware that the Western countries are involved in regime change.

NO I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOURE SAYING.

Mnangagwa[laugh laugh laugh]

I have not said so I have not said so we are aware that Zimbabwe has been subjected to regime change throughout we are struggling against sanctions imposed by the west up to today. By the EU and the Americans, those sanctions haven’t been removed.

They are still there.

ON THE CONTRARY IF I FOLLOW WHAT THE BRITISH MINISTER SAID IN RECENT DAYS, 2 THINGS:

1. BRITAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE REJOINING THE COMMONWEALTH, THAT’S NUMBER ONE.

2. AND TWO, BRITAIN WISHES THE EU TO EXTEND SANCTIINS AGAINST ZIMBABWE. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

When Britain made those points did they consult Zimbabwe? When we apply to join the Commonwealth we don’t apply to Britain. We apply to the Commonwealth secretariat, Britain is just a member of the Commonwealth.

AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION ARE YOU…

The Commonwealth have never told us that they are not considering application the view of one member is not the view of the whole Commonwealth, do you understand

Do you understand? The sanctions are already there, they have not been removed. So what other sanctions are you talking about which have been imposed? We are already suffering under these sanctions, ZIDERA and EU sanctions.

ARE YOU ASKING YIUR AFRICAN PEERS HERE IN ADDIS ABBABA, TO PUSH TOWARDS LIFTING SANCTIONS?

We have been doing that for the last 18 years we are not changing, we will continue to appeal to member states of SADC to assist us have these countries that have imposed sanctions on us to realise that it is hurting our people we have not offended anybody. What we are doing is good for our people is good for Zimbabwe.

WHAT ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT, AND HIS WIFE I REMEMBER THAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON THE CAMPAIGN EVENT, AND YOU HAD HINTED THAT GRACE MUGABE AND HER SUPPORTERS WERE BEHIND AN ATTACK AGAINST YOU DURING THE CAMPAIGN?

No, they did not participate in the campaign, Grace Mugabe and the cabal which had surrounded our former president was the result of the cause of what happened which resulted in the stepping down of our former president Robert Mugabe but we have no problem with him. We are looking after him looking after his family.

SO THEY SHOULDN’T BE PROSECUTED FOR ANYTHING?

No no one is above the law if there is any crime, anybody will be prosecuted accept a sitting President in terms of our law. But anybody else will be prosecuted even the president when I leave office I could be prosecuted if I commit any offence.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH PRESIDENT FOR COMING ON FRANCE24, AND ANSWERING ALL OUR QUESTIONS. – Transcribed by ZimEye.com –

By Own Correspondent| Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo has said Zimbabwe’ s re engagement efforts are still on track despite acts of sabotage by those bent on fuelling politically motivated violence.

Moyo said government had fully appraised the African Union and other regional bodies of the obtaining situation in the country.

He said:

By Own Correspondent| A Chitungwiza magistrate Joshua Mawere on Tuesday blasted the State for shoddily investigating a case in which 18 residents appeared in court charged with public violenc

The residents were arrested in connection with looting of an OK Supermarket and a pharmacy in St Mary’s during last month’s Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)-organised stayaway.

Mawere said the poor investigations had compelled the court, with a bleeding heart, to release some guilty people due to insufficient evidence.

He then acquitted Beatrice Bangajena, Patience Zvingwa, Esnath Mapisa, Fanos Nemaruru, Elliot Gweshe Ncube, Godfrey Nyashanu, Phineas Kamuriwo and Esther Paradzai.

The accused’s lawyer Freddy Masarirevhu had made an application for discharge at the close of the State case, arguing that prosecutors had failed to prove a prima facie case against his clients.

In the ruling, Mawere said the witnesses brought before the court by the State lacked cohesion and consistency and appeared unaware of what they were expected to do.

“Furthermore, it is judicial notice that the public violence occurred across Chitungwiza. However, it is mesmerising if not transfixing or rather hypnotising as to why the State chose to limit the scope of the investigations to OK Supermarket and the pharmacy,” he said.

“This most probably explains why most of the properties brought before the court as exhibits were not identified by the witnesses and why most of the accused persons remain not linked to the offence.”

The court ruled that the remaining accused Nyamadzawo Kamupira, Nigel Dongo Clegman Karavina be put to their defence.

The other accused had their cases withdrawn before the close of the State case.-Newsday

In another matter, MDC Chitungwiza deputy mayor Jabulani Mtunzi, together with Richard Mutswiri, were freed on $100 bail on Wednesday by magistrate Nyasha Vhitorini.
Vhitorini ordered the pair to report twice a week at Makoni Police Station and to continue residing at their given addresses, adding that he would give written reasons for the ruling later.

The trial will commence today.

Mtunzi’s new lawyer Job Sikhala made fresh submissions in which he described the State’s case as frivolous since the arresting officers “had recused” themselves from the matter, leaving the State with one unreliable witness, who reported the matter 20 days after the alleged commission of the crime.

“The witness took 20 days to report to the police and we wonder why he could have been sitting on such crucial information that could have helped the State to maintain law and order.

“The court must look with suspicion to some of these witnesses,” Sikhala said.

The pair was arrested on Monday in a midnight raid by police on charges of allegedly inciting public violence, which led to the burning of a local police station during last month’s ZCTU-organised stayaway.

The State had opposed bail on the grounds that the two were a flight risk as there was overwhelming …
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/02/magistrate-blasts-state-over-shoddy-investigations/

By Own Correspondent| Zesa public relations manager Fullard Gwasira said there is no load-shedding in Zimbabwe and the power cuts being experienced in some parts of the country were as a result of faults caused by the rains.

Said Gwasira:

Zesa would like to advise its valued customers that there is no load shedding and the current power supply interruption in some areas of the cities are due to faults caused by the rains as we know we are in the rainy season. People should not be worried as Zesa is doing all it can to attend to these faults.-StateMedia

The Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has confirmed a ZimEye story that reveals that Emmerson Mnangwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga was flown to India for treatment. Below was Mutodi’s short statement on Sunday evening:

“The Hon. Vice President CDN Chiwenga is recovering well from some minor abdominal ailment in Delhi, India.

“Meanwhile, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa has secured lucrative deals that will make a difference to the economy & provide jobs to the youths.”

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe have issued a joint media statement calling off the one week teachers strike action.

According to the unions, they have called off the strike because of security fears on their members.

The announcement which featured on the official ZIMTA Facebook page has attracted a wide range of condemnation from members who are accusing the unions of selling out.

See below:

We publish below the full text of a notice on the proposed interface meeting between First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa and chiefs’ wives.

By Own Correspondent|  The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC) retrenchees’ petition to parliament tabling their grievances has been deemed inadmissable by the August House.

A notice by Veritas revealed that parliament rejected the petition because the dispute between the retrenchees and the parastatal was still before the courts.

Reported Veritas:

ZBC retrenchees’ grievances: This petition has been deemed inadmissible because the dispute between the retrenchees and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation is still before the courts.-Veritas

Outspoken opposition legislator Job Sikhala says he is preparing a mega lawsuit against soldiers behind the brutal attack of children as young as 12 during the recent army crackdown against dissent.

Sikhala, who has been representing people arrested during a police and army crackdown that followed the violent January 14 protests against a hike in fuel prices, said he was shocked by the extent of abuse of children caught up in the dragnet.

“A statement must be sent to the world that Zimbabwe is a torturing state. It must be exposed for what it is,” the Zengeza West MP told The Standard last week after he secured the release of a group of young boys arrested on public violence charges.

“It is a testimony that Zimbabwe is still a primitive state that cannot be defined as part of the civilised global village,” he added.

Sikhala said the boys were now in desperate need of counselling after they were allegedly tortured while in custody.

The five boys were acquitted by a Chitungwiza magistrate last Thursday after prosecutors failed to prove a case against them after they spent three weeks at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

One of the boys, Peter Butau, narrated in graphic detail how two soldiers and two police officers tear-gassed his family house before they seized him on January 14.

“I was picked up by the police on January 14 on allegations that we had barricaded the road with stones,” he said.

“They came to our house, calling out my name and when I enquired who they were, they shouted that I should give them goods that I had looted.

“At that point my mother closed the door, but they threw teargas into the yard and I then decided to get out of the house.

“As soon as I stepped out, they clapped me and I fell down before they handcuffed me.”

Butau said the soldiers ordered him and the other boys to lie in a pool of water before they started kicking them and tried to force them to confess that they had broken into a boutique in Unit L.

“When I said I was not involved as I spent the day at home, they said I would confess by the time we got to Makoni Police Station,” he said. “They continued assaulting us until we got to Makoni.”

Butau said on the way, the soldiers and police officers picked up other boys and when they got to a place known as Jambanja they forced them into a commuter omnibus, which they commandeered to take them to the police station.

“When we got to Makoni, they ordered everyone to lie on a table at the reception area to get 10 slashes with a sjambok, before we were forced into the police cells,” he said.

“While in the cells they would slap us and beat us under the feet as well as our backs.”

Butau said the plainclothes police officers that tortured them while in detention kept saying he must confess that he broke into a Chicken Inn outlet while others were “allocated different crimes”.

The beatings went on for days until the boys were moved to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

“When they came to our cell, they would separate us according to our ages as we had boys as young as 12,” he said.

“They would group those between 12 and 13 together, the 16 to 19-year-olds and those above 20.

“The detectives would strike us with an iron bar and up to now my left leg is not functioning properly. Each morning it would be swollen.”

Butau was only treated for bruises on his behind while at the prison.

“I am pained because I was tortured for a crime that I did not commit and I was being forced to admit to other crimes,” he said.

“The police tried to force me to confess that I broke into Chicken Inn and Choppies as well as that I burnt a bus.

“Maybe it’s a case of bad luck. I am powerless to do anything to them.”

Another boy from Bulawayo was arrested during the crackdown after police officers said they saw him sweating while walking in town.

Human rights groups say tens of children were caught up in the clampdown against civil society and opposition activists, which has been roundly condemned by the international community.

Standard

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba says that his principal views all losing presidential candidates of the 2018 elections equally.

Charamba said this in response to MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s demands that some candidates be excluded from the national dialogue process because they do not have “meaningful support.”

But Charamba said: “The issue is not about the size of your constituency; that is why I spoke about the principle of parity. Presidential candidate Bryn Mteki’s intellect does not diminish because he didn’t galvanise support on the ground. To the extent that he submitted his name for the elections means he has a view point on the nation.”

MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume was not amused: “Why are they trying to dilute the problem? We cannot move on before we sit down. First, we must meet Mnangagwa, but eventually there must be inclusivity that brings all parties. The (MDC) president has no problem meeting with Mnangagwa any day.”

He said the issue of having the talks under the guidance of an impartial convener was fundamental.

“Among other things, the convener has to be credible, neutral, and recognisable, he must be somebody who is recognisable to Sadc and the AU and that is not too much to demand for. Of course, if a local person meets those requirements, then fine, but we do not see what’s not local about somebody from the Sadc region, what they are asking for is not usual, when you have a conflict you need someone from outside. We want Sadc and the AU as the guarantors of such talks,” he said.

Professor of World Politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan, said even if Mnangagwa and Chamisa were to agree on some power sharing arrangements, the economy will remain a source of problems.

“Basically, all they could talk about would be how much power can be shared. Neither man, however, and neither party, has a realistic economic plan. The truth that both decline to share with the Zimbabwean people is that the economic foundations of the country are so corroded that no rescue plan can succeed without causing, for something like five years, very much more suffering than even now. No one has the political courage to say that in Zimbabwe right now,” Chan said.

International Crisis Group senior consultant for Southern Africa Piers Pigou said there is need to come up with an inclusive framework for talks and a credible convener, otherwise grandstanding and posturing will continue.

“The faceoff between ED and Chamisa illustrates precisely why this process cannot be an exclusive political exercise, and must include civil society and other constituencies. A more inclusive process must also be facilitated by a credible team that understands process and can introduce a measure of accountability,” Cham told the Daily News on Sunday.

“We should not be surprised to see the old and young bull circling each other and sizing each other up, but both will have to do a lot more to convince Zimbabweans and others that these postures are anything more than a play to retain or assume power,” said Pigou.

Analysts predicted that eventually, Zanu PF and MDC will reach a compromise, adding the present stand-off is largely posturing and political gamesmanship.

Namibia-based academic Admire Mare said Mnangagwa and Chamisa must agree on a negotiator first and then meet to resolve the political and economic crisis.

“Eventually they will have to talk in order to unlock the political gridlock which has kept the country in limbo for the past seven months. Dialogue is a process which encompasses climbing down and up depending on the wider balance of forces,” Mare told the daily News on Sunday.

“It’s normal for the two to play hard ball at the formative stages of the process. Both sides are bringing their preconditions to the table, which is very normal. However, there is need for a mediator to help these parties to find each other and address issues like the military factor, human rights violations and the legitimacy question,” said Mare. — DailyNews

IMMEDIATE AS(PS)/10/7

FM: ARMY HQ UNCLAS

TO: AIG 14 AS(PS)/ 46

SUBJ CLN WEARING OF MILITARY UNIFORMS OUTSIDE CANTONMENT AREAS(.)

1(.) IT HAS BEEN NOTED WITH CONCERN THAT ZNA UNIFORM HAS BEEN ABUSED IN OFFENCES BEING COMMITTED SUCH AS ROBBERY CMM GOLD PANNING CMM FRAUD CMM THEFT AND EXTORTIONS AMOUNG OTHERS(.) SOME MBRS HAVE ALSO BEEN ATTACKED BY HOSTILE CIVS WHILST IN UNIFORMS(.)

2(.) MEASURES WERE THEREFORE TAKEN TO ENSURE IMPOSTERS ABUSING THE UNIFORMS WILL BE EASILY IDENTIFIED AND ALSO ENSURE SAFETY OF MBRS OUTSIDE CANTONMENT AREAS(.)

3(.) COMD ZNA HAS DIR THAT WIE NO MIL UNIFORM WILL BE WORN OUTSIDE CANTONMENT AREAS(.) THIS APPLIES TO MBRS COMMUTING TO AND FM PLACES OF WORK CMM INTRA AND INTERCITY COMMUTING(.) TAKE NOTE THAT AFTER WORKING HRS CMM MBRS ARE TO PUT ON CIV CLOTHES AND LEAVE THEIR UNIFORMS IN CANTONMENT AREAS(.)

4(.) ALL ARE TO COMPLY WITH THIS INSTR(.)//

DISTR:

ACTION CLN

AIG 13

INTERNAL

INFO

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe was terrorised by officers from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with the harassment, threats and intimidation happening country wide at a scale too vast to
quantify.

In a report titled “On the Days of Darkness in Zimbabwe: An Updated Report on the Human Rights Violations Committed between 14 January, 2019 to 5 February 2019” the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said armed men were seen all over the place harassing anyone they came across.

Read the report:

The strong presence of military personnel and their involvement in communities and civilian affairs, including roaming the streets in full military gear and the presence of armed soldiers in publi transport are factors that have led to the intimidation of citizens.”

Said the Forum in its recommendations:

The Forum is gravely worried about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe and will continue to monitor and document human rights issues as they unfold.

The following recommendations are urgent:
• The Forum maintains that the current deployment of the military is unlawful
and unwarranted. The military must be withdrawn from the streets, return to
the barracks and let police undertake policing duties. The deployment
procedure must be investigated.

• The current violations have become so gross and systematic so as to warrant
being treated as crimes against humanity. Hence SADC and the African Union
are called upon to pressure the Zimbabwean government to stop these
violations, failure which the Forum will approach international platforms
seeking prosecution of the perpetrators.

• The Prosecutor General must abstain from reckless statements and must
forthwith begin the process of compiling evidence on ongoing crimes by
members of the security apparatus to bring all perpetrators to book.

• The judiciary must uphold the rule of law and ensure that fair trial rights
including the rights of the accused persons are respected.

• The government must stop the crackdown against civil society leaders and
recognize the legitimate work of human rights defenders.

• The government must, without further delay, establish the independent
complaints mechanism in line with section 210 of the Constitution. The
independent complaints mechanism is designed to receive and investigate
complaints against the security services.

• Since 14 January 2019 there has been a wanton assault on the Constitution by
the government, the police, the military, and some magistrates and
prosecutors. This must stop. The sanctity of the Constitution must be restored
especially relating to the bill of rights and the deployment of the military

The state media has become an actor in the ongoing massive human rights violations.

The Forum calls upon the state media that is funded by the taxpayer, to stop its current propaganda that is fuelling state violence and fanning hostilities in violation of the founding values of Constitution of
Zimbabwe and the values of peace journalism. The state media must do its
work responsibly in service of the nation not be used in pursuit of a partisan
parochial political agenda.

• The Forum notes the call for national dialogue and underscores that the
sincerity of any dialogue by the government is only tested by halting the
violence. Whatever dialogue to be preferred must not be a political elite pact
as was the 2008 Global Political Agreement. It must be an inclusive dialogue which includes the people of Zimbabwe as represented in various formations including churches, civil society, labour, victims of human rights violations, professional associations, the business community and Zimbabwean diaspora community.

By Own Correspondent| Women rights groups have petitioned the government to compensate women who were allegedly raped by the military following the January 4 protests.

The women, allegedly raped during a brutal crackdown by the military to crush protests against fuel prices may have seen dozens of women raped during the post-protest crackdown.

Rights groups have collected evidence, and say that security forces used rape as a weapon to spread fear among its opponents.

Human rights activists with the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), Female Prisoners Support Trust (FEMPRIST) and Justice For Women Zimbabwe (JWZ) pushed two constitutional commissions, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) to step up pressure on government for compensation, asking the State rights bodies to also receive testimonies from rape victims.

Rape victims are often ostracised in the country where discussion of the crime remains taboo, so it is not clear how many victims would actually come forward.

The petition was also submitted to government ministries, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Home Affairs and the Defence ministry, and international organisations including UN Women, African Union Commission and Sadc Gender Commission.

The rights groups said the army deployments “turned out to be a premeditated clampdown on residents of major cities and towns” where “dozens of women were raped and sexually assaulted by members of the army.”

“Hundreds of women were also arbitrarily arrested and arraigned in fast track trials that disregarded all their rights.

“The ZHRC and ZGC provide a safe and secure platform for women’s organisations to submit evidence of the crimes committed by the security forces…and push for justice for the victims of the military crackdown including demanding the arrest of all perpetrators, provision of reparation and compensation by the government to families who lost their loved ones.

“All perpetrators should be held to account and barred from working in the security sector,” the petition read.

FORMER Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo has appealed against a High Court judgement that paved the way for Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to sue him for alleged defamation.

However, in his notice of appeal, Moyo said he was appealing against Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa’s ruling on the grounds that he was not the one who heard the case.

He argued that Mabhikwa grossly misdirected himself in handing over judgement in a case heard by another judge.

“The court grossly misdirected itself in rendering judgement inspite and regardless of oral submissions by the parties before Justice Makoni J and the court also erred in affording respondent relief, which he had not sought and on which no submissions had been made by the parties,” reads part of the appeal filed last week.

“The courta a quo erred at any rate in finding that the declaration discloses a valid cause of action and is otherwise not vague and embarrassing”

The former minister, who was forced into exile during the 2017 military coup that toppled former president Robert Mugabe, wants his appeal to be granted with costs and for Mabhikwa’s judgement to be set aside.

Chiwenga sued Moyo after the former Zanu PF strategist issued a statement in July 2017 where he insinuated that the army commander at the time did not write the thesis for his doctorate degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

He suggested that someone wrote the thesis on Chiwenga’s behalf.

Moyo, through his lawyers, filed an exception application, saying the retired general’s declaration had not disclosed any cause of action.

He said the words he was complaining about were not defamatory in any way and could, under no circumstances, be damaging to his reputation.

However, Justice Mabhikwa ruled that Chiwenga’s claim against Moyo was precise.

“It is this court’s finding that anyone reading these documents [defendant’s papers included] cannot claim to be disillusioned as to what damages are claimed,” read part of the judgement.

“The claim is for defamation damages clearly as opposed to adultery damages, damages for loss of earnings or any other damages.

“The terminology used need not necessarily always be ‘defamation damage.” — Standard

Own Correspondent|Did you know that the Zimbabwean government is subsidising the price of beer in the country?

The Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana made the shocking revelation in a Twitter post when he explained that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga, questioned a meeting of Heads of Ministries, why the government was subsidising the “sin” beverage.

According to Mangwana, Guvamatanga hinted that the price was being subsidised for political gain as he called on the government to make unpopular decisions in the interest of bringing about economic development.

Said Guvamatanga: “Do you know that we subsidize beer? Why do we subsidize such things as beer & cakes. Politically unpopular decisions have to be made”

Other countries charge extra “sin taxes” on beer and cigarettes in order to try and make the products a bit unaffordable for average persons to discourage their consumption.

Mangwana reiterated on his Twitter that these are not direct subsidies for Delta Beverages’ products but procurement subsidies for ingredients used in the production of beer products.

Zimbabwe and South Africa are ranked first in Africa and third in the world as having the “riskiest” drinkers, with men and women in the country ranking among the top 10 heaviest drinkers in the continent.

A 2016 report ranks Zimbabwean men and women 6th and 7th respectively as Africa’s top drinkers.

According to the report, which quoted data obtained from the United Nations, Zimbabwe and its southern neighbour have the highest alcohol-attributable disease burdens in the world after Russia and Ukraine.

On a scale of one to five, Zimbabwe scored four points, the same points as South Africa, while Russia and Ukraine scored five points to rank first.

By Own Correspondent| Former first lady Dr Grace Mugabe’s ex- husband Stanley Goreraza has likened President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s love of luxury to that of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri.

Goreraza blasted Mnangagwa and his administration for imposing austerity measures on the ordinary citizens while exempting themselves from such.

He said:

Mnangagwa loves travelling in luxury, even if it costs a national leg. This proves he loves the lap of luxury and it is his preferred lifestyle. He maybe no different from the the Bushiri’s of this world, with an affection for the fancy.

It means Mnangagwa and his government have prescribed austerity and belt tightening for ordinary Zimbabweans, exempting themselves from the same, as per usual with no surprises there. They just recently bought each other luxurious Range Rovers.

Mnangagwa probably believes he deserves only the best because he occupies the best position in the world. But that position should only be filled by those who do their best and produce the best results without feeling that they are better than others like Mnangagwa has been doing.

He has been getting more and more arrogant and that might be as a result of all the praise and worship he receives every day from the obsequious suck ups who revolve around him.

Love for travelling in such obscene luxury is because of obscene ego, just like the Bushiris.

As Mnangagwa’s ego grows, his humanity lessens as the person he only cares about in this world is himself. And the people who mostly responsible for damaging Mnangagwa’s soul are his many praise singers who will sing his praises even if he orders the army to shoot unarmed civilians. You now hear him say “I’m not in power to please anyone” which translates into I don’t give a fuck what anyone says, I’m not here for the people, I am here for me! It’s a loud and clear message.

So after the former President, we have created another monster. No one in his party can dare challenge, question or criticize him. Doing that will attract immediate and severe blow back.

If we want a new Zimbabwe then we need an opposition leader who is questioned, challenged and criticised by his own party. His own party must hold him or her accountable before the rest of us do. Izvi zvekuti wazogara pa chair ini ndisina chair ndo hu Mnangagwa chaiwo.

By Own Correspondent| A 24 year old Gwanda man who murdered a mentally-ill, homeless man and cut off his head and testicles for ritual purposes has been sentenced to life in prison.

Honest Moyo (24) of Mawane area in Guyu was convicted of murder with actual intent by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese.

During the trial, Moyo denied committing murder claiming that he had only cut off the head and testicles after discovering the dead body.

He said that he had taken advantage of the situation and intended to smuggle the body parts to South Africa where he expected to receive $25 000 for his gory package.

He said:

“I was looking for my grandmother’s cattle when I stumbled upon the deceased’s body near a dump site at Capital Block Farm. I observed that he was dead after which I then cut his head and private parts with the intention of selling them.”

However, Justice Makonese discounted his claims and convicted him of the crime.

In passing sentence, Justice Makonese said:

Accused person decapitated the deceased’s head and cut off his testicles and harvested them. The heinous crime was motivated by greed and the love of money clouded his faculties. The murder sent shock waves in the local community.

The accused person did not show any remorse and his moral blameworthiness is very high. He brought shame to his family and were it not for his youthfulness, this court was going to impose the death penalty. The sanctity of human life should be reflected through a harsh prison term. The appropriate punishment is life imprisonment.

By Own Correspondent| The government is moving towards crafting an Act that will allow for the investigation and seizing of ill-gotten wealth from individuals.

Last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa gazetted the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act and Exchange Control Act) which empowered government to seize unexplained wealth.

However, the regulations were legally enforceable for 6 months only.

In an interview with a local publication Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said:

When you invoke Presidential Powers Temporary Measures, they last for six months. The Bill has to be brought to Parliament within six months. By March or early April, the legislation should be in place.

We removed the section on Presidential Powers Temporary Measures Act on unexplained wealth (from the Finance Bill) because it’s not a finance matter per se, it would complicate issues… For the sake of progress, we just had to draft a separate Bill.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa wants the dialogue between him and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to be premised on the adoption of a roadmap to legitimacy and the formation of a transitional authority that will lead to fresh elections.

Chamisa has hitherto rejected to meet Mnangagwa for dialogue, demanding that MDC officials arrested during the January protests be released first.

In an interview with a local publication, MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said:

For us, it’s not about power-sharing. It’s about the need to create a life for the people. It’s about how do we bring an end to the suffering of the people.

That is what can make the party happy. That is what will make my president happy.[The process] has to lead to reforms politically and economically.

Dialogue should result in the adoption of a roadmap to legitimacy following last year’s shameful elections.

If there is agreement on the above, there must be an implementation mechanism, which in the MDC’s view, is a national transitional authority.-The Standard

By Own Correspondent| A man who terrorised Harare residents clad in army uniform has revealed that he got army uniform at his party headquarters, Zanu Pf.

Shepherd Magorimbo told prosecutors during his court appearance before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa in Chitungwiza that he got the uniform from the ZANU PF headquarters in Harare.

He was arrested last week and appeared before the court where he revealed that he was a staunch Zanu Pf member.

When questioned by the prosecutor, Magorimbo’s response was:

We were given the uniform at the party office.

He is currently in remand prison and will appear in court on Monday.

Magorimbo is being charged with two counts of robbery.

In one of the alleged robbery incidents, on January 15, Magorimbo together with his two accomplices who were also clad in army uniform, got into Nicholus Mupazi’s vehicle, opened the glove compartment and took R60 and a Samsung mobile phone and went away.

The incident occurred along Baines Avenue in Harare. He was positively identified by Mupazi, leading to his arrest.-TheStandard

Correspondent|The Zanu-PF Youth League passed a no-confidence vote in its leader Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu and three other executive members on Wednesday.

The five were accused of stealing from the party, incompetence and treachery. They also faced accusations of being not up to the task of publicly defending the party’s leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is under intense internal and international pressure over his government’s heavy-handed handling of fuel protests last month.

“Cde Togarepi and Cde Matutu converted and diverted resources meant for the Youth League for personal use or for use without a resolution of the national executive,” said Godfrey Tsenengamu, the League’s national political commissar, during a media conference in Harare.

Tendai Chirai, the Youth League’s secretary for administration was also ousted along with Admire Mahachi, the deputy secretary for external relations and Mercy Mugomo, the deputy secretary for environment and tourism.

Tsenengamu said the resolution had been carried by a two thirds majority of Youth League’s national executive council. It must now be ratified by the Zanu-PF politburo for it to stand.

Tsenengamu briefed reporters in the company of the Youth League’s secretary for finance Getrude Mutandi and Godwin Gomwe, who chairs the Harare provincial executive.

Source: zimlive

EMMERSON Mnangagwa, the second executive President of Zimbabwe, is a man of many faces.

One side of him depicts an intimidating and no-nonsense character, while at the same time he appears to be soft as wool, as he often claims. Last week, I was among the four journalists who interviewed Mnangagwa. This offered a rare opportunity for private media journalists to see what sort of a man Mnangagwa is.

Yet, after a two and a half hour meeting with him on Wednesday evening, we were nowhere near understanding the kind of man he is. Not that he is beyond description, not at all. Perhaps owing to his security background, there is an inescapable sense that the man has lived in the shadows for too long, hence the aura of enigma. With the economy imploding and the nation on edge, one would expect to see a man distressed by the pressures of high office.

But as soon as we were ushered into his spacious office at State House in Harare, he got up, unsmiling, and motioned us to the seats, as he relaxed on a luxurious leather seat with his back to a wall.

“You wanted to see me. I am here, let me hear what you want,” he broke the ice, as soon as the introductions were over.

With a sizeable number of people in the room waiting, it was clear there was not much time and we immediately got down to business.

“Do you think the people of Zimbabwe like you at the moment, given the worsening economic hardships?” asked the journalist.

His answer, somewhat arrogant, somewhat frank, was: “I don’t think people can be so happy with the austerity measures we are putting in place, but you don’t become president to please people; you become president to take the country where it ought to be, not where some people want it to go.”

The best moment of the interview, perhaps, was when he was asked if he felt under pressure from the international community over how his administration handled last month’s protests.

Reclining in his seat, his face, which had been grave, suddenly broke into a smile. He blamed the West, saying: “We have had a lot of questions coming from that part of the world, but we said that they are the ones that sponsor the protesters. We have to do what we have to do. We cannot wait unt
il they think we are nice boys.”

The natural follow-up question was whether he thought that the state was heavy-handed in quelling last month’s riots?

In response he said: “They say we are too heavy-handed on handling the rioters, but how else were we supposed to handle it? You can’t go with a Bible to people who are destroying a tollgate and politely say Mr and Mrs so and so, can you please stop what you are doing.”

Interestingly, only days earlier Mnangagwa had expressed deep remorse to families that lost their loved ones at the hands of the military and promised to deal with the marauding soldiers. The smile suddenly disappeared from his face as he explained: “The Western countries don’t care about whether or not you are democratic. It all has to do with their interests. They work with some of the worst dictatorships and monarchs in the world and yet pretend to be champions of democracy. If you read a book called Economic Hitman, you will realise how they operate. They either poison you or they invade the country.”

One of the journalists asked: “Are you not afraid that they may come for you as well?”

He threw up his hand in a dismissive gesture and exclaimed: “Don’t worry about me, I know the game.”

Asked if he was in touch with ordinary citizens so that he knows what is going on in the country, Mnangagwa became jocular. “Yes, I am. People always seek audience with me here and are never turned away. When we go to the farm (in Kwekwe) for a weekend, a lot of people gather around to have fun. So, yes, I am very much in touch.”

One thing you cannot fail to notice when you are in his company is his paranoia. It was clear that the man prioritises his security. For instance, the meeting had initially been scheduled for 10am at Munhumutapa Building, in the central business district.

After having been ushered into the modest office, suddenly he said: “The environment here is not very relaxed. I think we will not be very comfortable to say things as much as we want here and so I propose that you come to State House in the evening at 6pm so that we can be free to talk.”

At the start of the meeting at State House, the journalists asked if they could be allowed to record the interview, to which he strongly protested.

“If you are going to record, then it means I will have to carefully measure what I say. If you don’t record, I will be free to talk to you as much as you want,” he stated.

This encounter with Mnangagwa — who is nicknamed “The Crocodile” — provided a fascinating insight into a man, whose years in security hardened him and made him an expert in hiding emotions .

Many will recall the days when he faced a barrage of attacks from his then Zanu PF nemeses at party events, even to the extent of participating in chanting slogans that denigrated him as he displayed extraordinary resilience to soak up the blows of public humiliation.

When you interact with Mnangagwa at a very personal level, this meeting proved, you are tempted to discard all the theories you may have heard about him, that he is a shrewd political tactician, callous, ruthless and all the gory imagery. And yet, no matter how hard he tries, it seems near-impossible to be charmed by him and, in the end, you go away somewhat frazzled.

-The Standard

A MAN who robbed and terrorized Harare residents while in army uniform before he finally got arrested has told a Harare magistrate that he got the camouflage from the ZANU-PF headquarters.

Shepherd Magorimbo, who was last week arrested for a string of robberies, told prosecutors during vetting before his court appearance that he was a member of the Zanu PF youth league.

“We were given the uniform at the party office,” Magorimbo said in response to a question by the prosecutor.

Magorimbo was clad in Zanu PF regalia in one of the pictures that went viral after his arrest while in other pictures he appeared in military uniform.

Police and the army have claimed that rogue soldiers were responsible for the shooting to death of protesters during the January demonstrations.

Magorimbo is being charged with two counts of robbery committed in a case presided over by magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

According to prosecutor Sheperd Makonde, on January 15 at the Seke Road flyover, Magorimbo, who was clad in the ZNA camouflage uniform, together with his four accomplices who are still at large, accosted Tapfumaneyi Muviyi and started accusing him of being a thief and threatened to take him to Harare Central Police Station.

Instead, they took him to the Seke Road flyover, forced him to reveal his EcoCash pin number and transferred $54 into their account and they also took $94 cash, two Samsung mobile phones and two Nokia mobile phones.

Magorimbo was positively identified by Muviyi. He is also accused of robbing a motorist, Nicholus Mupazi, along Baines Avenue in Harare.

Magorimbo, together with his two accomplices who were also clad in army uniform, got into Mupazi’s vehicle, opened the glove compartment and took R60 and a Samsung mobile phone and went away.

Magorimbo is now languishing in remand prison, a week after his arrest.

He will be back in court tomorrow after his case was postponed three times last week.

A soldier, Norest Sosera, appeared in the same court charged with robbery after he teamed up with his colleagues to rob foreign currency cash dealers in Chitungwiza.

The prosecutor Makonde opposed bail saying they received a call from army commander general Valerio Sibanda ordering them not to release civilian suspects who commit offences in army uniform saying doing so would tarnish the image of the army.

Standard

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa wants any dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to yield a transitional authority that will prepare for fresh elections, it has emerged.

Chamisa rejected Mnangagwa’s July 30, 2018 election victory, claiming that the polls were rigged in favour of the Zanu PF leader.

The poll dispute has been blamed for Zimbabwe’s worsening economic and political problems and pressure is mounting on the two leaders to hold talks to resolve the crisis.

“For us, it’s not about power-sharing. It’s about the need to create a life for the people. It’s about how do we bring an end to the suffering of the people,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said in an exclusive interview.

“That is what can make the party happy. That is what will make my president happy.[The process] has to lead to reforms politically and economically.

“Dialogue should result in the adoption of a roadmap to legitimacy following last year’s shameful elections.

“If there is agreement on the above, there must be an implementation mechanism, which in the MDC’s view, is a national transitional authority.”

However, Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi yesterday said Chamisa must first acknowledge Mnangagwa’s election victory if he wanted any dialogue.

“(Mnangagwa) is ready to talk to anyone who matters, but he cannot talk to people who don’t recognise him as the president. “We have got to agree to the fact that he was elected by the majority and was declared winner,” he said.

“Anyone coming to him for dialogue must first acknowledge that.

“We are seeing immaturity on the part of Nelson Chamisa, political bankruptcy and a hive of regime change agents and that is stalling progress. Talks or no talks, we are fine.”

Mnangagwa also shared similar sentiments when he addressed some of the presidential election candidates that attended a meeting to draft a framework for dialogue last week. Chamisa boycotted the meeting.

Standard

One of the country’s leading gold producers, RioZim, has yet again stopped operations at three of its mines — Cam and Motor, Dalny and Renco — citing non-payment by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for gold deliveries made to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

Gold mines are required by law to sell their produce to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the central bank. 

Mining is the largest earner of foreign currency in the southern African country, contributing more than 60% of total exports, but miners are forced to surrender 70% of their export earnings to the central bank, which is supposed to allocate the foreign exchange to the rest of the economy. 

In exchange for the foreign currency, the central bank pays the exporter using Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), crediting the exporter’s account with local currency.

“As of date, the company has experienced significant and persistent delays in payment of its foreign currency allocation for deliveries made to Fidelity Printers and Refiners since December 2018 and severely affected the viability of the company’s operations and consequently, the company has been recently forced once again, to involuntarily suspend production across all three of its gold mines pending full payment of its foreign exchange proceeds which it requires in order to produce the necessary consumables needed to keep gold production running,” RioZim said in a statement.

Last October RioZim also halted operations and then resumed after the central bank undertook to allow all gold producers to keep 55% of their export earnings in their foreign currency nostro accounts and to increase export incentives on all minerals. But according to RioZim this did not happen. 

RioZim reported that it was owed $92 million by the RBZ as of October 2018. 

“Notwithstanding these commitments, the board of RioZim regrets to advise that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through its wholly-owned subsidiary Fidelity Printers and Refiners has been failing to meet these commitments.” 

In the half year to June the gold business contributed around 90% of the company’s total revenue.

RioZim produced 2,1 tonness of gold in 2017, accounting for almost 10% of total output in Zimbabwe.

-The Standard

BULAWAYO South Constituency losing independent candidate in last year’s harmonised elections Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube, has been granted bail, in a case where he and 11 others were accused of fanning and taking part in the violence that rocked the country in January.

As a result of the violence, property worth millions of dollars was destroyed. High Court Judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo granted Ngulube (34) and three others, Esther Mbewe (53), Fortune Masuku (29) and Melusi Moyo (32) $100 bail on Friday.

The other seven are still in custody. They were granted bail, after filing, through their lawyers from Majoko and Majoko, an urgent chamber application to challenge a decision made in the lower courts to deny them bail. The collective is now set to appear in court on Tuesday for commencement of trial.

They are accused of burning three cars, destroying a precast wall and breaking several windows of a house belonging to Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson, Cde Eva Bitu. The other accused are Lavenda Moyo (66), Thabisani Ngwenya (32), Otilia Sibanda (34), Angeline Mwemba (41), Minenhle Mahlangu (28), Mwale Chifufu (34) and Duduzile Amisi (39).

According to the State’s case as presented by Ms Grace Zhou, on 14 January at about 7am, the accused persons, acting in connivance with 100 others, unlawfully blocked free movement of traffic at an intersection along Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive.

They allegedly engaged in acts of violence. They went to Cde Bitu’s residence and threw stones and destroyed a precast wall to gain access to the yard.

They destroyed window panes before torching her three cars, a Ford Ranger, Nissan NP 300 and a Toyota Vitz.

“They also damaged roofing sheets and the complainant managed to escape unhurt together with her family,” said Ms Zhou.

The court heard that the accused persons proceeded to Tshabalala Housing Office and clinic where they allegedly stoned the buildings. After the 2018 elections, Ngulube announced that he had joined MDC-Alliance and posted his picture with MDC-A leader Mr Nelson Chamisa on social media.

State Media

By A Correspondent| The ZANU PF terror machine took to levels at the weekend when it carried a propaganda document that contains concocted facts seeking to (convince the African summit delegates in Addis Abbaba) that the January military violence was engineered by a Third Force.

The same content document was used in Switzerland at the Davos summit where as ZimEye reveals, foreign heads of states were told insinuations that there was a Third Force during the Jan protests.

While at Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s business breakfast meeting in Zurich, word was sent round under a claim that there was an attempt by western powers to take over the country. It was said that the disquiet over Emmerson Mnangagwa’s fuel price rises was engineered by the West.

Zimbabwe, following Mnangagwa’s new fuel price, now has the most expensive fuel in the world, and in every other country of the world where the fuel price has been raised, civilians have complained- in Germany, motorists parked their cars in protests, and most recently in France street demonstrations were the order.

While at Mthuli Ncube’s meeting on 25th January, ZimEye questioned the logic of the Third Force claim, since in Zimbabwe’s case, it was the military who led the violence right from the start. Evidence was presented and none of the Ambassadors denied the efficacy of live video proof showing how soldiers literally beat civil servants particularly teachers while ordering them to go and join the strike. Even Emmerson Mnangagwa himself has officially updated in a memo saying that soldiers were insubordinate.

Another group of soldiers was unleashed on the civilians who were being pushed by the other to strike in public when from the start the job action was meant to be a mere stay away. In the process at least 17 people were killed amid over 1200 human rights violations and soldiers were recorded on video in several parts of the country forcing their way into people’s houses and torturing them. There are numerous reports of women being raped and several have testified on video that they were sexually violated in their own houses.

Despite all this evidence, the papers prepared by Zanu-PF officials blame opposition parties and “rogue NGOs” for “an orgy of violence” during the protest against fuel price rises. The papers accuse them of following a plan “by hostile elements to subvert the state by rendering the country ungovernable”.

The British Guardian reports that the document was likely produced by Zanu-PF officials for circulation among foreign diplomats at the African Union summit.

It was not clear at the time of writing, if any of the heads of states at the AU summit have bought into the propaganda. – ZimEye will do a follow-up investigation on Sunday.

Mr Fred Gasho is bitter that the family of the late national hero Oliver Mtukudzi did not alert him, as per traditional custom, of the demise of his son-in-law. Mr Gasho is the biological father of Daisy, Oliver’s widow.

Mr Gasho and his wife, Daisy’s step-mother, did not attend the funeral wake in Norton nor Mtukudzi’s burial in Madziva.

According to Shona traditions and customs, when an in-law passes away, a message, commonly called “mhere”, is dispatched to the other family. The message is usually accompanied by a token.

What irks Mr Gasho more is that he was also not informed of the illness that his son-in-law finally succumbed to.

“I was never told of the illness of my son-in-law, and later his passing on. It is very difficult to hear that your son-in-law has passed away, without hearing of his illness.

“Then we were shocked as everyone when we heard the news of his death on radio. We were waiting for official communication, as per our customs, but no word has come through. Therefore, we could not travel to a funeral which we were not informed of.”

He said when Sam Mtukudzi died in 2010, a message was dispatched, as well as a car, to ferry them from their rural home near Kapare School in the Magunje area of Karoi.

“This time they didn’t send any word nor car to ferry us but we hear they sent a bus to the Mashonga family, to take them to the funeral,” he continued.

Mr Gasho and Elizabeth Mashonga had Daisy but the two didn’t get married. Mrs Mashonga migrated to Zambia where she bore five other children, of which three are surviving. When her husband passed away in Zambia, she relocated to Zimbabwe where she is said to have lived the life of a loner.

According to recollections from villagers, in October 2016, Daisy’s mother was allegedly found dead after at least two days, by a small village girl who used to charge her phone. When the little girl had not seen the old lady for some days, she went into her hut to check, and found her dead.

Her memorial service in December that year was the last time that Daisy visited her mother’s home, which has since been sold.

“When Daisy’s mother passed away, I was not told again, despite that I had paid all formalities to make Daisy be recognised as a Gasho offspring. Basically, I had paid my dues and should have been recognised as such.”

When her mother left for Zambia, Daisy was left in the care of her maternal uncles, the Mashongas, to where a bus was recently dispatched to ferry mourners to Mtukudzi’s funeral, a development that has raised the ire of Mr Gasho.

Openly shedding tears, Mr Gasho said this was the son-in-law who had done three songs for him, whom he was denied a chance for a send-off.

“I am Nzou Samanyanga, so was Oliver, and that is why he did the song Cheka Ukama, as he wanted to marry my daughter. Then years later, when I pestered him for the remaining lobola for Daisy, he did Nyanga Yenzou, in which he was mockingly asking me where he could find an elephant tusk to finish off the lobola. Then he did Ndotangira Poi, another song he said was a tribute to me. So how can I have been denied a chance to send off my son-in-law, who loved and admired me so much?”

Mrs Agnes Gasho, the stepmother, said they enjoyed cordial relations with their in-laws, indicating that when Oliver’s mother was still alive, she used to visit them.

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“We never got to meet Oliver’s father, but his mother would visit us here. Besides us attending Sam’s funeral, Oliver and Daisy would attend most of the funerals within the Gasho family. So we have been taken aback a bit by the latest denial.”

Whilst father and step-mother are not exactly sure why or how their relationship with the Mtukudzi’s broke down, they said their last engagement was when Sam was buried in 2010.

“That was the last time we engaged with Daisy and Oliver and we haven’t spoken to Daisy in about five years, even over the phone. That is how our relationship has broken down but we are not sure why.

“Is this to say we “ate” our muzukuru? Or we “ate” our son-in-law? The way we have been side-lined has left us with a lot of questions.

“Now our daughter, Runako, is the one who is helping Daisy cope with the death of her husband. And she is telling us that Daisy is not feeling well, also.

Now if they could not tell us about the illness and death of our son-in-law, we just wonder how they will tell us of our daughter? If she passes on, not that we are wishing her death, will they tell us, when they could not tell us about Oliver?” queried Mr Gasho.

A stone throw away, at Daisy’s maternal side, in the Matumbura village, just near Birimahwe, Clara Chitake, a sister, confirmed that they had received word that Oliver had passed on and attended the funeral wake and burial on the strength of that word.

“Word was sent to us, through Friday Mashonga, who even spoke on behalf of us at the funeral. We are not sure if word was officially sent to the Gasho family, and in any case it was not our duty to make sure that word had been sent there.”

Never Gasho, cousin to Daisy and a friend to the late Oliver, said: “We are not sure why our family received the snub; it is still puzzling to us. Though I am cousin to Daisy, hence brother-in-law to Oliver, I was more of a friend than a brother-in-law. I started playing with Oliver well before he met my sister. And even before he married Melody, we grew up and played together in Highfield, alongside Thomas Mapfumo.”

He said what was more worrying is the news filtering in that Oliver was rushed to Avenues Clinic at the eleventh hour. “We hear Oliver had less than four hours on oxygen support, he was rushed to hospital when they saw he was losing the battle.

“But how can a person of Oliver’s stature suffer and die in silence? Why wasn’t he sent to hospital on time? He could even have received better treatment, especially in South Africa, given his profile and financial well-being.

“If funeral parlours scrambled to have Oliver’s body, what more if hospitals had known that Oliver was sick, don’t you think hospitals would have fallen over each other to take care of him? Why his illness shrouded in secrecy, why wasn’t the immediate family made aware of his illness?

“These are all questions that we have as a family. And all these questions are coming up because we were snubbed during his illness and subsequent death. If we had been aware of his illness, maybe we shouldn’t be asking all these questions.”

When reached for comment, Daisy said as far as she was concerned, the Gasho family was at her husband’s funeral. She subsequently cut the phone and switched it off thereafter.

State Media

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said it is important for African countries to work closely with the international community in order to resolve the many common challenges affecting the continent.

Mnangagwa said this siin after meeting political and business leaders from Africa and beyond in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he is attending the African Union Summit.

He said:

Today at the AU in Addis Ababa, I met with political and business leaders from the region and beyond. Our continent is facing many common challenges which must be tackled together.

As Zimbabwe meets its own challenges head on, it is important we work closely with our partners in the international community.

After 3 Whole Weeks Of Raping Women, Killing Civilians, Military Suddenly Bans Soldiers Camouflage Outside Barracks | WHAT'S THIS: GOOD THING or JUST LIPSTICK ON A HYENA?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 9, 2019

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The opposition MDC Deputy Treasurer, Charlton Hwende has threatened to sue Zimpapers over a story that appears in one of the state weekly newspaper his lawyers described as a malicious and defamatory to the person of their client.

Hwende has through his lawyers, Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners served Zimpapers with a legal letter dated 7 February 2018 in which he is giving the state owned newspaper ten days to retract malicious description of the Kuwadzana East lawmaker. 

“We will therefore desist from issuing court process against Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited / The Sunday Mail Newspapers provided within the 10 (ten) days of your receipt of this letter. The Editor/Publisher / Management of The Sunday Mail. 

“Publishes an unconditional retraction in respect of its subject attack on Honorable Hwende, and removes the article in its entirety from the Sunday Mail’s website and issues an apology and affirmation that the allegation referred to herein above are false and defamatory. In doing so, The Sunday Mail will ensure that apology and affirmation are published in each of the fora that have given or could give reason for our client’s complaint and promise to actively monitor and delete from its online platforms any newly published defamatory content relating to our client which might arise out of your recent publication of the article under discussion,” reads the letter

Hwende ‘s lawyers argued that the Sunday Mail on the 3rd of February 2019 published an article in which they described Hwende as a ‘garrulous parliamentarian’ and also that Hwende was referred to as a ‘ known sponsor of the notorious Vanguard –the MDC’s military wing’. 

Hwende’s lawyers further argued that the article violated the law in that it has resulted in the malicious and injury to the legislator’s reputation and dignity.

-263Chat

By Own Correspondent| Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has told opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to make up his mind on dialogue and stop globalising his decisions since the country’s economy has to move on.

Charamba’s statements come in the wake of failure by Chamisa to attend the President Emmerson Mnangagwa initiated pre dialogue discussion on Wednesday last week at State House.

Mnangagwa on the other hand also snubbed the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) dialogue prayer meeting which was held the following day (Thursday) and instead sent the Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri to read a speech on his behalf.

Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi hinted to the media that Mnangagwa’s absence was deliberate. He said his boss did not attend the breakfast prayer meeting as payback to Chamisa for snubbing “his” pre dialogue meeting which was attended by over 15 presidential aspirants who contested the 2018 harmonised elections.

However Charamba accused Chamisa of failing to attend the Mnangagwa initiated pre dialogue meeting because he had not been given the go ahead by his “western handlers”.

Said Charamba:

“If he (Chamisa) is having difficulties with his external constituency, which as of yesterday (Wednesday) had not given him the nod to participate, that is a matter for him and his donors to deal with. He should never globalise his predicament because the economy has to move on.”

The Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Edzai Chimonyo has reportedly banned all soldiers from wearing their camouflage uniforms outside the military barracks. BELOW WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Mnangagwa has once again demonstrated his lack of care for the mounting economic woes in Zimbabwe.

He once again flew in a hired Swiss Dreamliner which will cost the fiscus millions. When flying business class, it would have cost less than $30 000.

He flies out in the middle of a crisis, teachers are on strike and the government has failed to even communicate a plan to both the civil servants and concerned parents.

Broadly, the economy continues to ail, fuel queues have resurfaced, there are serious bread and cooking oil shortages while the prices continue to spike.

These shortages are attributed to the unavailability of foreign currency much needed for the imports yet Mnangagwa always has the cash to fly in and out.

He sometimes visits Zimbabwe. A clear failure to break from the past.

On the other hand, his Deputies are interchangeably going out for treatment. While we wish them well we are concerned by the selfish abuse of taxpayers’ money.

The taxpayer, in turn, is exposed to death traps mistaken for hospitals.

The money should be used to improve local facilities and the public health delivery system in its holistic sense.

The money used by the current government on foreign health seeking trips could have built a new top of the range health facility.

Gold mines are closing because they are not receiving the forex they earn, yet that money is squandered in funding elite lifestyles and none capital ventures.

Zimbabwe needs leadership which places the citizen at the centre of government programs.

The abuse of public funds must stop.

Hon Bekithemba Mpofu
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson