THE Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) earns a cool monthly salary of $10,891 before taxes and all deductions, a revelation that will certainly not sit well with ordinary teachers the majority of whom wallow in poverty.

A leaked payslip of Mr. Sifiso Ndlovu, the ZIMTA CEO, shows that he earns a basic salary of $3,800, but because of a labyrinth of allowances he creams off a total of nearly $11,000 in one month alone.

That is more than twenty times what is taken home monthly by an ordinary teacher he represents.

Mr. Ndolvu earns a fuel allowance of $780 per month, which sits pretty much above what the ordinary teacher takes home overally.

Still with that monthly fuel allowance in place, Mr. Sifiso Ndlovu creams off another cool $200 for “transport”, whatever that means.

For the month of January 2019, he got paid the following per month:

• Communication allowance of $2,000;
• Basic salary of $3,808;
• Fuel allowance of $780;
• Transport allowance of $200;
• Housing allowance of $260;
• Grocery allowance of $82;
• Representation allowance of $761;
• among other dues.

Teachers have persistently complained of poor salaries and conditions of work.

Early this week, rival teachers’ unions in Zimbabwe started fighting each other amid accusations that the two largest teachers’ bodies which called off last week’s planned strike have sold out the labour struggle.

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTRUZ) accused its biggest rivals, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) of selling out the labour struggle by buckling under pressure from the employer before their demands had been met.

In a statement released on Monday, ARTUZ said: “The wheels of inevitability have finally delivered the dreaded, but expected reality, sister unions have jumped ship. Our battle for a living wage, which we began in earnest with a 275km salary caravan from Mutare to Harare — followed up with a salary camp at (Finance) minister Mthuli [Ncube]’s office and capped with a historic job action have been compromised. The so-called big unions stepped in and gave false hope to the teachers, yet the intention was to rock the ship, which was gathering momentum.”

But PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said they called off the strike because thousands of their members, who had heeded the call and stayed away, would have lost their February salaries.

— Zoom Zim

Own Correspondent|The late Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson and former Cabinet Minister Professor Callistus Ndlovu has been declared a national hero.

Professor Ndlovu died in South Africa on Wednesday this week.

Ndlovu is the third National Hero in as many months after Academia Professor Phenius Makhurane and musician Doctor Oliver Mtukudzi were accorded the same accolade.

The two heroes’ families declined to have their loved ones buried at the National Heroes Acre shrine opting to be buried at the rural homes in Gwanda and Bindura respectively.

Details of the repatriation of his body and burial will be announced in due course.

Own Correspondent|Seven Police officers who are based at Mtapa Police Station were arrested on Sunday morning after they were allegedly sharing money at Mtapa Cemetry. It is suspected that the proceeds were from illicit activities.

Midlands Police spokesperson Joel Goko could neither confirm nor deny the story. 
“I am getting the issue from you but l will investigate and get back to you as soon as l get something,” said Goko.

However circumstances are that on February 10, 2019 at around 11am a team of six members from Police Genera Headquarters Internal Investigations visited a roadblock site along Matobo Road opposite Mtapa cemetery. 

The roadblock was being manned by Constable Manatsa, Sergeant Gwadaura, Constable Kachiputu, Constable Sithole, Constable Mastetlo, Constable Mahachi, and Constable Mapasure all from ZRP Mtapa Police Station. 

The investigating team parked their car at distance but had a clear view of what was transpiring at the roadblock. While they were observing they saw Cst Manatsa and Cst Sithole leaving the roadblock site into Mtapa cemetery where they started counting some money behind the durawall. 

The PGHQ team pounced on the two Officers who then fled from the site leaving $36 and a Police cap behind. 

POLICE have instituted disciplinary proceedings against three Buhera constables facing charges of unprofessional conduct emanating from an incident in which they allegedly quarrelled with members of the public at a bottle store while clad in police uniform.

In a fiasco which occurred on February 9 at Buhera business centre one of the cops allegedly uttered unprintable obscenities towards a patron who was wearing a Zanu-PF T-shirt bearing the image of President Mnangagwa.

The junior officers, who were allegedly in drunken stupor, started chanting MDC-Alliance slogans, forcing other patrons to join them.

Officer Commanding Manicaland Police Commissioner Wiklef Makamache said drastic measures would be taken against officers who put the name of the organisation into disrepute.

“As we speak right now, disciplinary measures are being taken against the accused persons. This is an internal process and I assure you that criminal proceedings will also follow as soon as the in-house remedies are exhausted.

“As police we do not condone rowdy behaviour within the rank and file of the organisation.

“We get more worried if our members conduct themselves unprofessionally while wearing police uniforms.

“Undermining the office of the President of the country is a serious offence and we want to get to the bottom of what really transpired,” he said.

Commissioner Makamache urged members of the public to report cops who behave unprofessionally to the nearest police station. He said the ZRP was rebuilding its image and thus there is zero tolerance to corruption and unprofessional conduct.

Circumstances to the Buhera incident were that on the day in question at around 9pm Const Shushai Chiringa (36) who is stationed at ZRP Murambinda was clad in police uniform when he arrived at Matombo Bottle Store which is run by Takunda Chipenzi.

He allegedly confronted one Munoda Katiza who was wearing a ZANU PF yellow T-Shirt and a green cap with the image of the President Mnangagwa.

The cop allegedly touched Katiza’s T-shirt and shouted obscenities in vernacular language saying “Muchiri kupfeka hembe dzemunhu uyu arikutitambudza, bvisa madhodhi ayo. Mashaya hembe dzekupfeka here?”

He also spitted saliva on the ground.

Inside the bottle store Chiringa confronted Panganai Chifamba who was also wearing Zanu-PF Party T-shirt and a cap.

He uttered the same obscenities towards Chifamba. He then sat on the bottle store counter and started chanting MDC Alliance political slogans.

The two other constables, Terrance Makombe (27) and Ationeishe Musaigwa (32), stationed in Buhera, who were also drinking beer in the bottle store while in police uniform, joined in and responded to the slogan that was being chanted by Chiringa.

The situation got tense and the matters only chilled after the bottle store attendant switched off the radio and threatened to close shop as there was now chaos and disorder.

The three suspects subsequently left the premises.

The constables were arrested the following day after police intelligence officers picked up information about the case and carried out investigations.

Statements were recorded from witnesses who chronicled how the incident occurred.
Chiringa is being charged for undermining the authority of or insulting the President as defined in Section 33 (2) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

The three constables are also jointly charged for contravening paragraph 48 (1) (2) (g) of the Schedule to the Police Act Chapter 11:10 as read with Section 29 and 34 of the said Act which does not allow officers to be identified with an organisation or movement of any political character.

They are also being charged for contravening paragraph 35 of the Schedule to the Police Act Chapter 11:10 as read with Section 29 of the said Act which does not allow the officers to act in an unbecoming manner prejudicial to good order or discipline or reasonably likely to bring discredit to the police force.

The trio is currently on suspension awaiting appearance before the criminal and disciplinary courts.

• Manica Post

Correspondent|The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has fired a senior Masvingo magistrate,Mr Peter Madhibha, for gross incompetence, among other charges.

JSC secretary, Mr Walter Chikwanha confirmed the sacking of Mr Madhibha,who was one of the most senior magistrates at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Madhibha stood accused of passing non-custodial and lenient sentences on some offences that would under normal circumstances warrant stiffer penalties.

More details to follow…

Correspondent|Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has sensationally claimed that Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s plans to dump President Mnangagwa’s administration are now “at an advanced stage.”

This comes as Prof Ncube labelled as fake news reports by Zimbabwean media on Thursday that there are simmering fights between the Finance Minister and the Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya over the re-introduction of a new currency.

“It’s fake news,” was all Mthuli Ncube said, tagging in a Zimbabwe Independent article.

At that point, self-exiled Jonathan Moyo responded saying “something is afoot.”

Said Jonathan Moyo: “Historic comment. Something is afoot. Is there any merit to the talk in high places that your plans to do a Nkosana Moyo have reached an advance stage?”

In 2001, Dr Nkosana Moyo was the Minister of Industry and International Trade in then-President Robert Mugabe’s government.

He was charge of the daunting task of attracting investment and reverse the economic implosion facing Zimbabwe.

But he resigned when he got frustrated that his economic policies were being crowded out by the hardened politicians around Mugabe.

Moyo then went and met Peter Longworth, the then British High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, before taking his family out.

He resigned soon as he and his family were safe in South Africa, and his resignation letter embarrassed the Mugabe government in a big way after it was leaked to the media.

Prof Mthuli Ncube is facing a daunting task. He was appointed in September 2018 with high expectations that the economy would respond positively to his appointment.

Half a year after his appointment, the economic fortunes have not reponded to Mthuli Ncube’s policies, at least in a positive way.

Inflation has spiralled out of control, with the latest figures announced by Zimstats this Friday putting it at 56,9%, a record ten-year high.

Mnangagwa has reportedly been forced to intervene in a growing turf war between Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya and his boss Ncube on the path Zimbabwe will take to deal with a deepening currency crisis.

The Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) was expected to have been delivered either in the last week of January or first week of February.

However, disagreements over proposed currency reforms has seen the MPS stall to a point that requires executive intervention.

It is these reports of infighting which have made Jonathan Moyo to suggest time might be nigh for Professor Mthuli Ncube to pack his bags and send in a resignation letter from a safe distance.

Agencies

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PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson George Charamba has said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had struck a deal to work together and unite the country, until Nelson Chamisa came onto the scene and “fouled the deal”.

“Chamisa did not realise that there was prior dialogue to the structure which he has now assumed leadership of, a dialogue that went ahead of the party, a dialogue that was national in outlook. He jettisoned it, he fouled it, but I would still say better late than never. Now I am seeing he is coming round,” Charamba said.

He was speaking in an interview with the Daily News.

Charamba added that although he could not disclose intimate details of the discussion between Tsvangirai — who died on February 14 last year, and whose medical bills and funeral expenses were partly paid for by the government — “it was a forward looking agreement, but it appears that the MDC leader was interred with his vision that he had for this country”.

Speaking in Harare at the first anniversary of Tsvangirai’s death, Chamisa also said the country was continuing to experience major problems because Zanu PF had not fulfilled its promise to form a transitional government which would have resulted in the mapping of a credible electoral roadmap, the implementation of much-needed reforms and the restoration of political legitimacy in the country.

“I was asked by Tsvangirai to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration at the National Sports Stadium, but I remonstrated with him saying these people could not be trusted.

“He (Tsvangirai) told me that he had been assured that a transitional arrangement would be formed that would set the reforms and conditions for free and fair elections, but that is not what happened and he died a betrayed man,” Chamisa said — vowing never to fall in the same trap again as the talk about national talks keeps gathering steam.

Chamisa who has whittled his initial 10 demands for talks with Mnangagwa to just two, said yesterday that just as Tsvangirai had refused to be assimilated by Zanu PF during Mugabe’s ruinous rule, he would also not fall into the trap of the current president.

“I have told Mnangagwa that we should unite the people, but he is not yet ready. I will only accept dialogue when we have a credible convener and then we will put down our demands.

“We can only start dialogue from that stage. We want to ensure that there are reforms so that in the future we will not have disputed elections. We do not want people like (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson) Priscilla Chigumba running the elections … we want reforms so that we will not have disputed elections,” Chamisa said.

To push Mnangagwa to the negotiating table, the charismatic opposition leader told his supporters that the MDC would use its democratic right to demonstrate and reclaim its “stolen power” from Zanu PF.

“The ZCTU is the one that organised the very successful shutdown (of last month), but then the authorities thought it was us the children who had organised that, mistaking a child for the mother.

“But I can tell you that when we organise it (their own shutdown) it will be bigger,” Chamisa said.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa while speaking at a belated New Year’s reception for members of the diplomatic corps which was held at State House in Harare yesterday, also called on Zimbabweans to work together for the good of the country.

“On the 6th of February 2019 I invited the leaders of all political parties and former presidential aspirants in the 2018 presidential elections to an unconditional dialogue aimed at narrowing our political differences and drawing a common socio-economic future and political path for our country.

“All presidential candidates who have the maturity and sense of leadership joined us. I call on those who refuse to take part in the national dialogue to stop grandstanding and playing games with the lives of the people of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said.

Chamisa snubbed last week’s meeting insisting that he would only enter into formal negotiations with Mnangagwa if certain conditions were met.

Among his demands are mediation by a neutral third party and a requirement that all “prisoners of conscience” be freed, and that there be an immediate return to the barracks by the military.

Speaking yesterday, Mnangagwa said continuous dialogue within the country was something that he was determined to do as the country’s president — but accused “foreign hands” of fuelling last month’s violent fuel protests.

“What is indeed worrisome is the premeditated nature of this unprecedented violence, including active participation by extraneous foreign hands in collaboration with local surrogates, disguised as political, civic, labour, academic and non-governmental groupings.

“The demonstrations were therefore neither civil nor peaceful and were bent on effecting regime change,” he said — adding that the events, including the death of at least 12 people, and the alleged torture and rape of women by State security agents would be investigated.

“Any evidence of rogue police officers or soldiers taking the law into their own hands will be dealt with, and they will face the force of the law,” Mnangagwa said.

Mnangagwa also said the painful policy decisions that were being taken by the government were meant to improve the economic situation in the country. In order to succeed, we are aware that we must make tough decisions such as balancing our budget, bringing in investors and attracting FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) so that we create more jobs for our people,” he said.

He also said that his government was in the process of implementing the recommendations of the Kgalema Motlanthe-led Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 post-election killings.

This comes after Zimbabwe was last month thrown into a ginormous crisis when angry protesters flooded the streets of Harare, Bulawayo and several other towns across the country, demonstrating against sharp fuel price hikes.

Property worth millions of dollars was also destroyed and looted in the mayhem which ensued, after thousands of workers heeded the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ three-day strike call.

At the same time, security forces unleashed a brutal crackdown against the protesters, the opposition and civil society leaders — in a move which received wide condemnation in the country and around the world.

Rights groups also continue to report human rights abuses by security forces — including galling allegations that soldiers had raped women and girls during their much-condemned crackdown against innocent civilians.

Speaking earlier, Tsvangirai’s emotional wife, Elizabeth, also revealed how a sick Tsvangirai had initially been upbeat about the army moving in to remove Mugabe from power — which was the reason why he had taken part in the marches in which Zimbabweans had demanded the nonagenarian’s ouster.

“His vision was for Zimbabwe to be united. He wanted to see the people free to express themselves and he yearned for the life that the country experienced in the early 1980s when the people had enough to eat. He wanted people to have jobs. He supported the new dispensation because he sincerely believed that it was going to be the beginning of a new era.

“Unfortunately, something else happened. For the sake of my husband, I would like to say the people should unite, not only in the MDC but across the political divide,” Elizabeth said.

— DailyNews

THERE was high drama after Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya (pictured), in a fit of rage, tossed paper files at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and walked out of a meeting, angrily slamming the door as tempers flared in an episode that left top government officials stunned at a meeting called by the Treasury chief last week.

The Zimbabwe Independent can reveal that a dramatic personal confrontation erupted between Mangudya and Ncube after sharp differences emerged over the direction to take on the monetary policy front, amid concerns the central bank governor could reverse fiscal gains recorded to date.

Highly-placed sources narrated a vivid account of the verbal showdown between Ncube and Mangudya inside Treasury, in the presence of various officials from the apex bank and the Finance ministry who were left astounded.

Mangudya had been summoned by Ncube to brief him on the draft policy statement, before he could obtain Mnangagwa’s approval to officially present the monetary policy statement.

Sources said Mangudya insists on maintaining the “current” parity trading ratio between the greenback and the bond note, a move Ncube believes does not make “economic sense” in light of how the surrogate currency is rapidly losing value against the US dollar. Ncube is pushing for the liberalisation of the exchange rate which entails the floating of the local unit against the greenback.

“Mangudya and his team from the RBZ were summoned to Treasury so that he could brief the Finance minister on the draft MPS before officially presenting it last week (February 7). As he was presenting the major highlights of the policy statement, it became very clear that Ncube, even as he sat on his chair calmly, was not impressed.

Midway through John’s presentation, Ncube interjected, pointing out that the policy statement was not comprehensive and that it did not holistically address the challenges buffeting the economy.

“Ncube spoke calmly but robustly, lecturing Mangudya as though he were his university student, that it would be catastrophic to maintain the equivalent trading ratio between the bond note and the US dollar. Perhaps fed up with being treated like a student, Mangudya rose from his chair, tossed a bunch of papers in the direction of Ncube and left the room with his team in tow.

“There was deathly silence in the room, and people only became alive to what had happened after JPM (Mangudya) stormed out,” an insider told the Independent this week.

Sources say the angry exchanges between the two prompted President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week to intervene by convening a series of meetings at his offices where Ncube and Mangudya were instructed to quickly iron out their differences and present the policy statement next week.

“The two have seen HE (His Excellency Mnangagwa) more than three times this week so that they could resolve their difference to make way for the presentation of the MPS next week,” a senior Finance Ministry official said.

“What I know is that JPM (Mangudya) has always been used to making his own decisions and sometimes controlling Treasury which appears is no longer the case.”

Sources said Ncube is very concerned with what he viewed as policy indiscretions on the part of Mangudya relating to his planned monetary policy.

He wants Mangudya’s policy to complement his fiscal measures aimed at ensuring there is a budget surplus, reduced current account deficit and an end to monetary policy expansion.

Key among his objectives is to “sterilise” money supply growth by ensuring no new money is created by the central bank.

“Mthuli wants a monetary policy that complements what he is doing on the fiscal side,” another Treasury source said this week. “He is running a budget surplus and is working to close the current account deficit. He wouldn’t want a monetary policy that undoes that. He also believes the country is in this mess because of fiscal indiscipline on the part of government.”

Sources added that Ncube also feels that Mangudya directly aided Zimbabwe’s monetary expansion policy that saw the creation of billions in bond notes, Treasury Bill issuances and electronic balances.

“The major differences between Ncube and Mangudya stem from monetary expansion due to fiscal imprudence. Ncube wants to sterilise money supply growth. Mangudya used to control Treasury. This is no longer the case and they are not seeing eye-to-eye.”

Mangudya was by law supposed to present the MPS at the end of January or in the first week of February, but was stopped from doing so by Ncube, who advised that the draft policy statement by the apex bank chief did not address concerns raised by various stakeholders during consultative meetings, and lacked clarity on the rational evaluation
between the bond currency and the US dollar.

Last week, Mangudya told the Independent that he had scheduled presentation of the policy statement on February 7.

However, sources said Mangudya was “instructed to go back to the drawing board” by the Treasury chief who felt the draft MPS was not comprehensive during a meeting held in the Finance minister’s office.

Policy differences between Ncube and Mangudya range from the efficacy of re-introducing the Zimbabwean dollar, re-dollarisation, joining the Rand Monetary Union and liberalisation of the exchange rate, among other contentious issues.

Mangudya, who separated bank balances in the local unit from accounts denominated in foreign currency in his MPS last year, is pushing for the re-introduction of the local dollar, a move that Ncube disapproves on account that key macro-economic fundamentals should first be addressed before Zimbabwe can take that path.

Ncube has said the southern African country, reeling under a volatile currency crisis, could reintroduce its local currency within 12-18 months once the macro-economic environment is stabilised.

Former finance minister Tendai Biti tweeted that government was planning to re-introduce the local currency this week, drawing the ire of officials from the apex bank and Treasury.

Contacted for comment, Mangudya downplayed his angry exchange with Ncube, noting that he had a “cordial and warm working relationship” with the minister.

“I am not aware of any meeting between myself and the President yesterday. I am not aware of any differences between myself and the minister. We have cordial relations,”
Mangudya said, adding that the MPS would be presented in “due time”.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba did not respond to the text message sent to him while his mobile phone rang unanswered.

Biti told the Independent that although Mangudya wanted to announce the return of the local currency in his MPS, he was advised on the serious ramifications of such a move on the country’s creaking economy.

“The reason why there has been a delay is that they have been caught pants down by my tweet. They were flagrant. The delay is helping the economy because what government was doing was putting poison into the economy. It was going to introduce disaster in the economy because there have been no economic fundamentals, no exports and government is spending available money like aphrodisiac,” Biti said.

“There are differences between the approach of the Minister of Finance and the approach of the Governor of the Reserve Bank. The Finance minister has openly blamed the RBZ governor John Mangudya for sponsoring quasi-fiscal activities which have contributed to the large chunk of the budget deficit.”

Biti highlighted that the only viable route Zimbabwe could take to end its intractable currency crisis was to adopt the South African rand with the central bank abandoning the financing of “quasi-fiscal activities.”

“It is common knowledge that the RBZ is the centre of the problems in Zimbabwe,” he said. “We don’t need the RBZ. In fact, the RBZ should be shut down. I handled that
Ministry without the assistance of the RBZ. They need to strengthen the use of the multi-currency regime and pursue the option of the Rand Monetary Union.”

The yet-to-be-presented MPS is expected to give direction on interest rates, exchange rate, currency crisis and rising inflation.

Ncube’s austerity measures, spelt out in his maiden budget statement, coupled with Mnangagwa’s announcement of a 150% fuel price increase last month which triggered unrest, courted public anger and triggered violent nationwide protests in January.

Sources say government officials are apprehensive about a restive population’s unpredictable reaction should Mangudya announce a policy statement that deepens Ncube’s austerity measures.

On the positive, Ncube is now running a budget surplus and working on clearing the current account deficit.

— The Independent

Farai Dziva|The political impasse between Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa remains unresolved as the two rivals maintain their positions on the legitimacy issue.

Yesterday Mnangagwa took to the podium at State House and tore into his political rival claiming he was playing games at the expense of the lives of suffering Zimbabweans.

Mnangagwa also accused of the youthful politician of using unnecessary gimmicks to disrupt government programmes.

Speaking during a public lecture in Harare that was held to celebrate the life of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Chamisa said:”
The dates of the demonstration
will come, but we want this country to be peaceful and prosperous. But that has to be done on account of dialogue and we have said we need dialogue on these issues.

If Mnangagwa is not willing to
dialogue, we will have to invite
him to dialogue through political
pressure. In terms of the Constitution, we have a democratic right to demonstrate.We will have to bring everyone to Harare and this is the mother of all demonstrations.

This country must be liberated.
We will continue on the same path led by Tsvangirai. I have refused to
have my victory stolen by Mnangagwa. We are not going to
stop, we are going after him until
he lets go of what he stole.”

Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya believes Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa liberated the people of Zimbabwe to inflict a new form of oppression on them.

Dr Ruhanya described Mngagwagwa’ s ascendancy to power as a well calculated ploy that was meant to hoodwink the people of Zimbabwe into believing the much anticipated change had arrived.

“Surely you can’t claim to be the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe with a questionable and ZEC manipulated decimal victory. I am happy the international community now questions this ED phrric victory!”Dr Ruhanya argued.

“YOU liberate people to inflict a new form of OPPRESSION; black on black. Please have your BOGUS liberation; you are the greatest and worst oppressors ever. To hell with your
facepowder independence!”

“Let me state once again here and publicly so, ZANU PF under ED or any other leader will not revive the economy that they captured for 39
years for parasitic, nepotism, familial, rent-seeking, neo-patrimonial purposes.”

A dark cloud has enveloped Zimbabwe following the Battlefields disaster where 38 miners are presumed dead. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the miners.

The MDC is however concerned by the government’s silence on the battlefields disaster. It is a National Disaster which must be treated as such. The same attention the government placed on   recent bus disasters must be accorded on the Battlefields disaster. And even more importantly the number being referred to is an estimate.

It is therefore imperative to take urgent rescue measures as there is a possibility to save lives. We have always raised our concerns on the effort the government places on ensuring the safety of artisanal miners.

The only time the government cares about them is when they take away the gold and pay them in RTGS or bond notes while they earn foreign currency and line pockets of the elites. Every other small scale miner faces the same danger, flooding risk is nationwide.

The MDC is aware of the Zanu PF government’s attempt to make the sector a partisan sphere. This has prevented stakeholders to assist and the miners to form Unions which would have sought to address conditions and safety issues.

In the future the MDC suggests the following:

1.  That the safety of artisanal miners be prioritised through the adoption of active policy measures.
2.  There must be an active program to build facilities especially on water and sanitation around mining areas where small scale minors operate and dwell.
3.  Depoliticisation of the sector.
4.  Transparency in the licensing of small scale miners
5.  Payment of small scale miners in United States dollars for the gold sold through Fidelity.
 –  Establishment of a dedicated emergency rescue framework in every mining area specifically the ones where small scale miners operate.
    –  Continuous assessment of the mining areas as opposed to criminalization of activity.

Behold the New. Change that delivers! 

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

By Own Correspondent| Widow of Morgan Tsvangirai, the late founding president of the MDC, Elizabeth revealed that her late husband was a very strong man despite enduring a lot of pain during his last days.

She was speaking at the memorial lecture for the late Tsvangirai at Exhibition Park in Harare, Thursday.

She said:

He was a very brave man, very courageous and he was just a hero. He was a patient man that at times you would wonder whether he was angry or not. When you expected him to be angry, he would maintain his cool.

We went to the doctor and all the tests were done, so we were waiting for the results for about two hours. I could see that his body was not well, but he put on a brave face and insisted that he was OK.

After two hours, the doctor came and he said ‘unfortunately, I don’t have good news for you’. This doctor is a white Zimbabwean working from South Africa. He looked at Tsvangirai and did not know where to start.

Then he looked at me. I was shaking. I could see that he was trying to console me. We were given the results. The doctor was crying, and he said we have less than 24 hours to go for the operation because cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

I was in tears. The doctor was crying, but instead of him (Tsvangirai) being worried, he was busy consoling me and the doctor. That’s how strong he was.

… During his last months, we went to East Africa. We had doctors from France, the United States and India who came to try and find if they could help him. A lot of people knew Tsvangirai, he was just a hero and he was loved.

By Own Correspondent| Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana has revealed that 78 police officers were injured during the January protests which rocked the country following the fuel price hikes.

Mangwana said that Harare recorded the highest number of injured officers, with 56, while Bulawayo was second with 16 injuries.

Said Mangwana:

In every modern country, deliberate targeting of police officers or other law enforcement agents is considered much more serious than any such crime when committed against a civilian.

This led to the United States passing the Protect and Serve Act of 2018. In this law, if you even as much as attempt to assault a law enforcement officer you will face 10 years in prison.

In Britain, they also passed the Emergency Workers (offences) Act, 2018. This doubled the sentence against any attacks on emergency workers including police officers.

Between January the 14th -16th, 2019 Zimbabwe experienced an unprecedented number of targeted attacks against the police even at their own bases.-StateMedia

Bulawayo Ward 24  CouncillorArnold Batirai will be appearing in court on the 18th of February facing a charge of contravening section 146 (3)(c )of the Electoral Act by allegedly forging MDC Alliance’s chief of staff, Mr Sesel Zvidzai’s signature which saw him participating in the 30 July harmonised elections under the party’s ticket.

In papers seen by this publication, the magistrate courts have summoned one Gideon Mangena and one Virginia Nyathi to come and testify on the case against Batirai.

In September last year residents from the ward  signed a petition addressed to the party’s president, Mr Nelson Chamisa, provincial chairperson, Mr Gift Banda, the Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni, Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube and the MDC Alliance national chairperson, Ms Thabitha Khumalo, among others accusing Batirai of misleading residents through the forged letter thereby violating the Electoral Act.

“Arnold Batirai forged a signature of the MDC Alliance chief of staff Mr. Sesel Zvidzai and distributed letters which were misleading to the electorate before and on the voting day which purported that Mr. Gideon Mangena had been expelled by the party as a representative in the local government elections.” Read the petition.

Find the court papers below:

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC president Nelson Chamisa said that he is extremely concerned with the Battlefields Mine Disaster in which 23 people reportedly perished.

An estimated 23 people were reportedly trapped in mine shafts by floodwaters, some as deep as 100m.

The disaster struck on Tuesday night after heavy rains had pounded the area resulting in the water washing down the pits, giving no time for the miners to escape. 

Posting on social media on Thursday night, Chamisa said:

Extremely concerned …the situation regarding casualties in the Battlefields mine disaster near Kadoma which could rise from the initial 23 reported yesterday is very disturbing. Our prayers are with all the affected and their families.

ELIZABETH Macheka, widow of the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday poured her heart out, sharing intricate details of the couple’s psychologically-draining journey from the day the former Prime Minister was diagnosed with cancer of the colon to the moment he breathed his last.

Tsvangirai succumbed to cancer on February 14 last year after a two-year-battle with the disease.

Speaking at a well-attended memorial service of the late Tsvangirai at the Harare Exhibition Park, Elizabeth said: “He was a very brave man, very courageous and he was just a hero. He was a patient man that at times you would wonder whether he was angry or not. When you expected him to be angry, he would maintain his cool.

“We went to the doctor and all tests were done, so we were waiting for the results for about two hours. I could see that his body was not well, but he put on a brave face and insisted that he was OK.”

“After two hours, the doctor came and he said ‘unfortunately, I don’t have good news for you’. This doctor is a white Zimbabwean working from South Africa. He looked at Tsvangirai and did not know where to start from,” she said.

“Then he looked at me. I was shaking. I could see that he was trying to console me. We were given the results. The doctor was crying, and he said we have less than 24 hours to go for operation because the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. I was in tears. The doctor was crying, but instead of him (Tsvangirai) being worried, he was busy consoling me and the doctor. That’s how strong he was.”

She said well-wishers assembled a team of medical experts from different countries to try and save Tsvangirai’s life.

“During his last months, we went to East Africa. We had doctors from France, the United States and India who came to try and find if they could help him. A lot of people knew Tsvangirai, he was just a hero and he was loved,” Elizabeth said.

She also opened up on how Tsvangirai was duped into believing that Zanu PF was ready to form a transitional government with the MDC to ensure implementation of political reforms before going for polls.

“Tsvangirai supported the new dispensation whole-heatedly thinking it was a new dispensation because he thought it would open a new page that would allow Zimbabweans to work together and chart a new narrative for the people,” she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Tsvangirai’s successor Nelson Chamisa also said Zanu PF had in 2018 promised a transitional government and reforms, before making a U-turn and pushed for elections held on July 30.

He said Tsvangirai died a bitter man after being betrayed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

— NewsDay

Emmerson Mnangagwa|Today, I met with the honourable members of the diplomatic corps here in Harare. I told them that in order to succeed we need unity, and for the world, once again, to believe in the new Zimbabwe.

Only in unity can we make it through this period of austerity, because tough decisions hurt. But just as tough medicine has short-term side effects; the long-term result is to cure the patient.

We continue to restructure our economy, and these economic measures will continue to be complemented by political reforms. We are proud of the strides we have already undertaken to fully entrench democratic values and constitutionalism in the country.

I emphasised once again that violence has no place in our midst; indeed, it is a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe and must be criticised by all parties. The implementation of the recommendations of the “Motlante Commission Report” into the August 1st Post Election Violence, is progressing well. Sadly, however, we witnessed once again the ugly flare of premeditated violence on the country’s urban centres on 14th January in the disguise of mass protests and demonstrations.

I reiterated today that in the new Zimbabwe, everyone has the right to protest; peacefully. Everyone has the right to voice their opinions, peacefully. And everyone has the right to criticise me and the government; peacefully. The riots were neither civil nor peaceful and were bent on effecting a regime change.

Following the vandalism, violence, and associated looting, the security forces had to step in. And what followed is still being investigated. However, it must be clear to all that the army and the police are here to serve the people of Zimbabwe, to protect the people of Zimbabwe, to uphold and enforce the law of Zimbabwe.

Any evidence of rogue police officers or soldiers taking the law into their own hands will be dealt with and they will face the full force of the law.

On 6th February, I thus. invited the leaders of all political parties and former Presidential aspirants in the 2018 elections to an unconditional national dialogue. I once again called on those who refuse to take part in the national dialogue to stop grand standing and playing games with the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. Let us join together and work for a prosperous and united Zimbabwe.

I concluded by urging the nations of the world to give the new Zimbabwe a chance. Stand with us. Stand with us as we toil to chart a new course for our nation, for the people of Zimbabwe. We are open and transparent; we have nothing to hide.

I will remain a listening President. My arms are outstretched, and my door is open. We hear your criticisms and when it is fair the insights are noted and implemented. But we are in the process of restructuring, reforming and rebuilding an entire system, an entire nation. Rome was not built in a day.

As we battle through these growing pains, I urge you all, to be our partners in building a better tomorrow for our people. With your help and support we will build a new Zimbabwe.

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has consoled the families of the 23 miners trapped in a mine in Kwekwe.

Chamisa described as disturbing the situation regarding the casualties of the Battlefield Mine disaster.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said;

Vice president, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, is suspected of suffering from the lethal polonium- 210 poisoning, and is reportedly admitted at an undisclosed Indian military hospital.

High level sources in the defence ministry this week disclosed that Chiwenga was rushed to India aboard a private plane through the Manyame air base in the capital, for “urgent treatment” and “tests of any possible unidentifiable poisons” as military intelligence officials suspect the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) boss, could have ingested the poison administered using food by his political enemies.

Chiwenga’s medical rescue efforts are said to have involved top officials from India’s armed forces and the Zimbabwe army, and that India’s president, Ram Nath Kovind, had called the VP to check on his progress in treatment and health.

Chiwenga paid Kovind a visit last year in March, as a special envoy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to explain the regime’s new dispensation policy following the overthrow of former leader, Robert Mugabe, in a military coup in November 2017.

“Number 2 (Chiwenga) was rushed to an Indian military hospital following suspicion that he could have been poisoned with some kind of dose of a lethal poison or military grade nerve agent during the November coup period,” said the sources. “Military intelligence officials are not taking any chances. The fact that medical doctors in Zimbabwe and South Africa have failed to explain his exact ailment, made them to believe that he could have been made to ingest polonium -210 using food by his enemies, which is very difficult to trace in the human body and only nuclear scientists have the expertise needed to trace it.”

Polonium-210 is a rare radioactive metal discovered by Marie Curie in the late 19th century. While radioactive, it emits a high-energy form of radiation, but the particles do not travel far and it decays relatively quickly. Curie named the chemical element after her country, Poland.

Polonium-210 is also a known carcinogen (substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue). When inhaled, it causes lung cancer, and if swallowed, it becomes concentrated in red blood cells, before spreading to the liver, kidneys, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and the testicles or ovaries, according to medicalnewstoday.

The deadly poison was infamously used to kill the former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko, in London in 2006. He died of radiation sickness. Litvinenko is alleged to have swallowed a fatal dose of Po-210 by drinking tea at a business meeting with two other Russians. Both were charged with his murder.

Last year opposition politician and activist, Elliot Pfebve, made stunning revelations that, the late prime minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, may have been poisoned using a poisonous metal isotopy allegedly bought by the ruling Zanu PF party from Russia, which is similar to polonium-210, to eradicate the opposition leadership. “Tsvangirai may have been poisoned, in the same way Mnangagwa was poisoned. In 2014, I received a tip-off that Zanu PF bought a poisonous metal isotopy from Russia destined to eradicate opposition leadership. It is similar to Polonium 210 which killed Alexander Litvinenko in London but a slow reactive poison than Polonium 210 that takes time to kill its victim by inducing cancer. This may have explained why recently Mnagagwa came out open on what doctors told him, of a poisonous metal found in his body, which can only be found from 2 military governments of the world, Russia and Israeli,” Pfebve said.

Ironically it is Chiwenga who reacted with speed to Mnangagwa’s alleged poisoning, by sending a helicopter to airlift him from a party rally in Gwanda, and then further to South Africa for emergency attendance.

Mnangagwa is thought to have survived the poisoning, through the skin of the teeth, as he received early medical treatment and because the poisonous metal found in his system was quickly removed.

Local online media and the mainstream reported this week that Chiwenga was in India for treatment, with confirmation from the information ministry, which described his ailment as a “minor abdominal ailment”. Another online publication, ZimLive, said the second in charge had reportedly undergone esophageal manometry, “used to measure the strength and muscle coordination of one’s esophagus when they swallow”.

There has also been speculation of witchcraft claims as the source of Chiwenga’s affliction, while other reports have linked his medical woes to skin cancer. Chiwenga has been in and out of hospital in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Only last week the VP was at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital.

Another high profile world leader, thought to have succumbed to polonium-210 is the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, according to a Swiss forensic report obtained by Al-Jazeera.

Arafat’s official medical records say he died in 2004 from a stroke resulting from a blood disorder. But his body was exhumed in 2012 amid continuing claims he was murdered.

The Swiss report said tests on the body showed “unexpected high activity” of polonium, which “moderately” supported the poisoning theory.

Source: Byo 24

By Own Correspondent| Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on Thursday came to the rescue of Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna (ZANU PF) when quizzed by senators to explain the death threats issued by the latter.

Nduna ‘confessed’ to killing a countless number of people, some of whom he did not even know when he clashed with Norton MP Temba Mliswa on Tuesday.

While responding to a question from Matabeleland South Senator Meliwe Phuthi (MDC Alliance) on the government’s policy on MPs who confess that they have committed murders, Ziyambi said:

The Shona language is rich and ambiguous, and one can use the word ‘murder’ (kuwuraya) saying that you have killed me with jokes, or that you have killed me with too much food.

When someone refers to the word ‘murder’ in Shona, it needs to be qualified what they mean.

That is why I said in Shona the word murder is ambiguous. If we take that word as meaning to kill someone, then we need to know who has been killed.

If you have information about someone that was murdered, then bring it so that it can be investigated because murder can be investigated even 20 years after it was committed.

By Own Correspondent| Government has started preparing performance contracts for its senior officials such as permanent secretaries and directorates and parastatals, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Said Mutsvangwa:

Once this document is adopted it will trigger the formulation and signing of the Permanent Secretary’s contract. Once the Permanent Secretary has signed the performance contract, directorates and parastatals in the Ministry will commence the process of coming up with the Departments’ Integrated Performance Agreements, the Director’s or Chief Executive Officers Performance contract, departmental work and Performance Monitoring Plans from which individuals will draw their own work plans.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Zanu-PF Youth League national political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has urged Zimbabweans to resist unjustified price hikes.

The youth league leader said citizens should exercise their rights as consumers to resist unjustified regime change-inspired price increases.

Tsenengamu said this while addressing a Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial youth inter-district conference in Chinhoyi on Wednesday.

He said:

Unscrupulous businesspeople held on to basic commodities and increased prices willy-nilly. We have to know as a nation that if we want prices to stabilise, it’s not going to take the President or Government. It takes us the people. We are the market.-StateMedia

Aljazeera journalist Haru Mutasa has been denied a visa to the United Kingdom, according to her Tweet yesterday.

Mutasa did not give much detail but said it is in connection with the feeling that she might not return back home upon visiting the Western super power.

The Harare City Council which is dominated by the MDC Alliance has decided to invite first Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa for fundraising dinner Zim Morning Post has learnt.

This comes as the MDC Alliance is still disputing the 30 July 2018 election results and they have since refused to recognise the current government.

In an interview with this publication, the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa said the function cuts across the political divide.

“This is no longer about Zanu PF or the MDC. I am the first lady to everyone and I have to be apolitical. The event has nothing to do with politics so I have been invited and I will attend for the good of this country,” she said.

The move by Harare City council is against the position of the MDC Alliance. In November 2018 MDC Vice President Engineer Elias Mudzuri visited State House on Senate business but later faced a serious backlash from the Nelson Chamisa supporters.

Mudzuri was filmed being interrogated by the MDC Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende on why he attended the State House event.

Harare mayor Herbert Gomba said that the Dinner is being organised by the Harare Council Green Ambassador Dereck Mpofu and he directed all questions to him but confirmed that the first lady was invited.

“The event is being organised by our Green Ambassador Dereck Mpofu and he is the one in charge. If the First lady comes it will be good so that we attract the corporate world and raise enough resources to buy bins for the City,” said Gomba.

Political Analyst Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the move by the Harare Council was interesting.

“It is interesting because the council in Harare is controlled by the MDC which on one hand say they do not recognize President Mnangagwa but choose to invite the first lady when it is convenient. It shows that perhaps the MDC is mature at its lower structures and childish at the top,” said Mugwadi.

Morning post

Delta Corporation has announced that effective 14 February 2019 beer price will be sold in United States Dollars.

375ml of Brown bottles will be going for USD$1.50 while 340ml of Green bottles will be going for USD$2.00.

In January Delta Corporation has reversed a decision to sell its products in foreign currency after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)  assured the beverage manufacturer it would provide the forex required to fund its import requirements.

Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube is on record appealing for private firms to be patient while Government worked on fiscal consolidation.

“We are saying the private sector should wait for us to give policy. They should be patient and see how our fiscal policy is making progress. We are making good progress in fiscal consolidation and once we are ready, we will institute the requisite monetary reforms,” Ncube was quoted saying by state media last month.byo24

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he would not be bulldozed into “a meaningless dialogue” with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, vowing that any talks with the Zanu PF leader to resolve the current political stand-off would only start after government has stopped the arbitrary arrests and persecution of his party members.

But Mnangagwa, addressing foreign diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe at State House yesterday, took a dig at the youthful opposition leader, accusing him of being “immature” and playing to the gallery by spurning his recent offer to kick-start the negotiations.

Speaking during a public lecture in Harare to celebrate the life of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Chamisa said he would also only agree to dialogue with Mnangagwa after identification of a neutral arbiter and venue.

Chamisa told the public lecture that his party was prepared to use its political muscle through demonstrations, where all its supporters countrywide would descend on Harare and demand dialogue to discuss Mnangagwa’s legitimacy and genuine electoral and political reforms.

“The dates of the demonstration will come, but we want this country to be peaceful and prosperous. But that has to be done on account of dialogue and we have said we need dialogue on these issues,” he said.

“If Mnangagwa is not willing to dialogue, we will have to invite him to dialogue through political pressure. In terms of the Constitution, we have a democratic right to demonstrate. We will have to bring everyone to Harare and this is the mother of all demonstrations. This country must be liberated.

“We continue on the same path led by Tsvangirai. I have refused to have my victory stolen by Mnangagwa. We are not going to stop, we are going after him until he lets go of what he stole. He has to return what is ours.”

But Mnangagwa, who last week held an indaba with a majority of last year’s presidential aspirants minus Chamisa, reiterated his call for dialogue among political players, adding that those refusing to co-operate were “playing with the people’s lives”.

“All the presidential candidates, who have the maturity and sense of leadership joined us. I call on those who refuse to take part in the national dialogue to stop grandstanding and playing games with the lives of the people of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said.

“I will remain a listening President. My arms are outstretched and my door is open. We hear your criticism, and when it is fair, the insights are noted or implemented.”

Mnangagwa accused a hidden “foreign hand” of sponsoring last month’s violent protests, which broke out after he announced a 150% fuel price hike.

To quell the protests, which had turned into an orgy of arson and looting, government unleashed the military and police, who allegedly fatally shot at the protesters and left 17 people dead and dozens others injured.

Yesterday, Mnangagwa said he was still probing allegations that the military abused civilians.

“Any evidence of rogue police officers or soldiers taking the law into their own hands will be dealt with and they will face the full force of the law,” Mnangagwa said.

“The demonstrations were, therefore, neither civil nor peaceful and were bent on effecting a regime change. I urge you to give the new Zimbabwe a chance. Stand with us. Stand with us as we toil to chart a new course for our nation, for the people of Zimbabwe.”

This came as Chamisa threatened to unleash a humongous demonstration against the Zanu PF government, despite threats of another military crackdown.

“The ZCTU [Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions] is our mother. They called for a peaceful stayaway and when it was very successful, they blamed the sins of the mother on the child. You will see us when we call our own. Very soon, we are calling for one, we are going there,” he said.

Chamisa, who has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s victory in last year’s presidential poll, said he would mobilise his supporters to march against gun-toting security forces.

“Are we afraid to die? We are not. We are already dead. Do we fear getting injured? We are already hurt. Are you afraid that these people will finish you? They can’t finish us, we are many. It’s us who will finish them,” he said.

Chamisa reaffirmed his desire to retain his post at the MDC elective congress slated for October.

The widow to the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Elizabeth Macheka has made startling revelations that her husband supported the new dispensation led by Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This is despite the fact that Tsvangirai was the major critic of the ZANU PF administration.

Elizabeth made the revelations at the late Tsvangirai’s memorial lecture held in the capital Thursday.

“Morgan Tsvangirai supported the new dispensation, he said now Zimbabweans are free and we should let bygones be bygones,” she said.

Speculation has it that this could have been the major discussion when Mnangagwa and his deputy visited the ailing Tsvangirai at his Highlands home.

The sentiments were also echoed by the MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa who revealed that the late leader in fact sent him to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration.

“President Tsvangirai called me when I was at court and asked me to attend the inauguration. I at first doubted the move but complied.

“I attended the inauguration because Tsvangirai had told me that he was promised a transitional government,” said Chamisa.

Tsvangirai died on February 14 2018 and Chamisa took over on the next day, in a development that caused a split in the opposition party.

Meanwhile, Macheka has also been implicated in a lot of drama with images of her in the company of unidentified man went viral on social media.

She has however distanced himself from the drama and ‘cyber-bullying.’

Meanwhile Mnangagwa joined thousands local and foreign dignitaries who paid tribute to the iconic pro-democracy proponent.

Writing on his microblogging site Twitter, Mnangagwa said: “One year after Morgan Tsvangirai left us, we remember his patriotism as well as his lifelong commitment to Zimbabwean unity and democracy. Now, more than ever, we need to work together as we build our new Zimbabwe.”

MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa will force the President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the negotiation table through demonstrations in a bid to pile political pressure on the ruling party.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai memorial service Thursday, Chamisa said that dates will be announced in due course.

“The dates will come, we need dialogue, we have to invite Mnangagwa on the negotiation table through political pressure,” said Chamisa.

Chamisa said that they were planning a series of demonstrations. “We are coming from another stay away and very soon we are going to organise more, the one organised by the ZCTU was a success and we are going to organise the mother of all demonstrations,” he added.

Last week Mnangagwa invited all 2018 elections presidential candidates to state house where Chamisa snubbed the meeting and on the next day Mnangagwa also absconded a breakfast meeting organised by Chamisa, however, through Zimbabwe Council of Churches.

Mnangagwa dispatched Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri to represent him. Many critics have however warned that Chamisa’s move will cause more harm than good to innocent citizens who are likely to be restrained by security forces to restore peace and order.

ZANU PF youth league national secretary Pupurai Togarepi said Chamisa ‘must grow up’ and understand the difference between ‘dialogue and negotiation.’

“ZANU PF won elections and its time it sinks in Chamisa’s mind.

“Dialogue and negotiations are worlds apart. As people we can talk and lobby for dialogue but not negotiations to take away the mandate given to ZANU PF by the electorate. That is undemocratic. ZANU PF will not yield to child’s play and worse still unlawful activities such as the recent demonstrations,” said Togarepi.

Morning post

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has insinuated that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is ‘immature and has questionable leadership qualities’.

Mnangagwa insinuated that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is ‘immature and has questionable leadership qualities’.

Mnangagwa has for long avoided to attack the person of Chamisa but in his address to members of the diplomatic corps at State House on St Valentines Day , he made remarks that made apparent reference to the youthful MDC Alliance leader.

“On the 6th February 2019 I invited the leaders of all political parties and former Presidential aspirants in the 2018 presidential elections to an unconditional dialogue aimed at narrowing our political differences and drawing a common socio-economic future and political path for our country.

“All the Presidential candidates who have the maturity and sense of leadership joined us. I call on those who refuse to take part in the national dialogue to stop grandstanding and playing games with the lives of people of Zimbabwe.,” he said.

He urged citizens to be united and work together towards a better nation.

“Let us join together and work for a prosperous and united Zimbabwe.

Continuous dialogue within our nation in an exercise I am determined, as President, to see through. What unites the people of Zimbabwe is more than what could ever divide us,” he declared.

Chamisa did not attend the February 6 invitation where 22 representatives of the 2018 harmonised elections were in attendance.

He instead set conditions for dialogue and mocked those who attended stating that dialogue is supposed to be between only himself and Mnangagwa.

Meanwhile, at the same event Mnangagwa also assure diplomats that his government was against violence and will deal with rogue elements within the security forces.

He also reassured his commitment to the engagement and re-engagement with different nations as he believed it was the impetus to economic growth.

The occasion was a belated New Year celebration for members of the diplomatic corps and was held at State House.

The event was held late due to Mnangagwa’s pressing commitments bent towards nation building.

Morning post

A 42-year-old teacher stationed at Dzingire Primary School in Chimanimani has been hauled to court facing accusations of raping one of his pupils on two separate occasions after luring her with sachets of Jolly Juice powder on both incidents.

Warren Chikwewu, who was residing at the school, appeared at Chipinge Magistrates Court facing two counts of rape.

He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Mr Joshua Nembawire, who remanded him in custody to February 20, for trial.

Mr Nembawire advised Chikwewu to approach the High Court for bail application.

State Media

Casualties in the Battlefields mine disaster near Kadoma could rise to 50 from the initial 23 reported yesterday, amid indications that more bodies could have been washed down shafts and tunnels that were flooded on Tuesday night.

Various mining companies from Mashonaland West Province — including Zimplats, RioZim and small-scale miners — joined the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in marshalling water pumping machinery to drain the flooded mines.

The victims are believed to be trapped in seven pits with depths of up to 100 metres and the tunnels have to be cleared of water before the recovery of bodies can begin.

Many illegal miners had reportedly entered the shafts at Cricket and Bazter mines on Tuesday night before the mines were flooded after rains that pounded the area.

Deputy chief mines inspector Mr Tapererwa Paskwavaviri said the commencement of the retrieval process depended on the size of pumps available.

“We were able to cover at least seven metres in 15 hours using the four pumps that we got from individual miners with a combined pumping capacity of 55 horsepower. The pumping was at a rate of about 30 cubic metres of water per second,” he said.

“That would have taken us about five days to draw water out of the pits but with the coming in of heavy equipment from Zimplats and RioZim, we expect the time to be significantly reduced.”

A supervisor at one of the pits at Cricket Mine, Mr Alex Mbudzi, said he recorded 23 people who entered the pit on the fateful night.

He, however, said more illegal miners entered the shafts without permission, raising fears that more people could have perished. Mr Mbudzi ruled out chances of people being found alive.

“There were heavy rains on Tuesday night from around 10pm. However, we did not expect anything bad to happen, but suddenly we found out that water was getting into our cabin while pits were submerged in water,” he said.

A worker at Baxter Mine, Mr Enock Madamombe, said he woke up to find himself immersed in water while sleeping in a cabin before he went to higher ground.

“We had not started work, but the four who entered the mine forced their way in. No one managed to come out of the pit.

“We had diverted water so that it does not affect our operations but the water was too powerful and destroyed the barriers we had put up,” he said.

Mrs Eunica Zvitiki, whose son Xavier Chitiki was trapped, had lost hope that her son would be found alive.

“I know people are saying there is hope that Xavier would be found alive but from what I am seeing and the level of water I saw, there is little chance of that happening. I am preparing for the worst,” she said.

State Media

Own Correspondent|Five people who were associated with a group of demonstrators who torched Southlea Park Police Station in Harare, two police vehicles and the Skyline tollgate during the citizen protests that rocked the country last month were each sentenced to an effective three years in jail after being found guilty of public violence on Wednesday.

Tawanda Sibanda (22), Tafadzwa Murape (20), Lorencia Kachidza (47), Vincent Jonasi (26) and Ronald Garanánga (21) were initially jailed for five years by Mbare magistrate Marwehwanazvo Gofa before he suspended two years from each sentence on condition of good behaviour.

Brighton Sabawo (22) was sentenced to perform 400 hours of community service at Southlea Park Primary School after the court ruled that he only bought looted goods.

In passing sentence, Gofa said the five were facing a serious offence which resulted in large-scale destruction of property.

He said it was not wrong to demonstrate, but people should learn to do so in a peaceful manner.

Gofa said a custodial sentence was appropriate to send a stern warning to would-be offenders.

Sabawo and Garanánga were later seen carrying solar panels stolen from the tollgate.

The other convicts were arrested following a tip-off.

Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday remembered with the rest of the nation the passing away of MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai passed away on February 14 2018, exactly a year ago today. He passed away in a South African hospital where he was being treated for cancer.

Writing on social media on Thursday afternoon, Mnangagwa said:

One year after Morgan Tsvangirai left us, we remember his patriotism as well as his lifelong commitment to Zimbabwean unity and democracy. Now, more than ever, we need to work together as we build our new Zimbabwe.

However, Mnangagwa’s message did not go down well with many of his Twitter followers. Below is a sample of some reactions to Mnangagwa’s message:Freeman‏ @freemanchari – Replying to @edmnangagwa

Aahhhh. When he was alive you tormented him. You prosecuted him. You charged him with treason. You beat him. You did all inhumane things to him. This guy was Speaker of Parliament when they haunted Bennet for being white & MDC. You @edmnangagwa are the worst thing to befall us!Debra‏ @DebraWakanakaReplying to @edmnangagwa

Mmm dai Dambudzo wanyarara zvako, please keep quiet. ZANUPF is full of Evil spirits. @BenevolenceMudeReplying to @edmnangagwa

Mnangagwa is incapable of uttering these “wise words” whoever is behind this twitter handle is doing him a disservice. @TGumunyuReplying to @edmnangagwa

I wish you had the same heart that Tsvangirai had, but you are not near our hero. You are totally the opposite of what Tsvangirai fought for.Baze‏ @btnyagumboReplying to @edmnangagwa

For you to talk about him shows us that created a good name for himself, whilst you still alive. Create a good name for yourself, zvekutipfura nemasoja enyu will never give you that respect. Tati tionesane, ndava tichafa tose one day.. Ndatenda hangu.Umzwangendaba‏ @GojiyasiKhumaloReplying to @edmnangagwa

Morgan. One of the few people who stood for the truth against powerful lies, kleptocracy and corruption when it was not fashionable ! He is up there with all the good men of this country.. Zanu Pf people, including you tata, shouldn’t take a leaf from him but the whole tree.kanotonga‏ @donaldmabhekaReplying to @edmnangagwa

Makuda kumuita gamba afa asi ari mupenyu zvainge zvakaoma kuti asununguke musadaro you once address kuti you where the champion pakurambira kuti aende ku state house madyiwa ukashevedzera rerun.My Majestic Zimbabwe‏ @mymamalandReplying to @edmnangagwa

The man you are talking of is indeed an Icon, a champion of Democracy, we will enter him in the history books of this country for good reasons, unlike you, you continue exhibiting traits of disloyalty to this Majestic nation, little probity in executing your duties, shame!

• Source: Pindula

The late MDC-Alliance leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, died almost a pauper but could have still died a billionaire if he had sold out the struggle for self-gain, the former Prime Minister’s aide has said.

MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu said Tsvangirai put the country first in every move he made.

However, after his death, Gutu says, Zanu PF’s former G40 faction, which was hounded out of both the ruling party and government following the November 2017 military intervention, has now taken over the MDC Alliance.

The party has, however, rejected Gutu’s claims, saying he is a “proxy”.

Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer on 14 February last year.

A memorial service has been set for 4 May in Humanikwa village, Buhera.

But Gutu insists: “Look at the polarisation in the country. If Morgan were alive he would put Zimbabwe first,” he told Business Times. “If he wanted to sell out, that man would have died a billionaire I tell you. He died almost a pauper because to him it was never about selling out.”

The former MDC-T spokesperson described Tsvangirai as a unique, charismatic leader who managed to change the complexion of Zimbabwean politics.

Tsvangirai led the MDC to a near Parliamentary majority in 2000 before narrowly winning against Zanu PF’s Robert Mugabe in 2008.

However, he missed State House because he had failed to amass the 50%+1 mandatory mark.

This forced a runoff which Tsvangirai later pulled out of, citing violence against opposition supporters.

Tsvangirai, however, became prime minister during the government of national unity that ruled from February 2009 to July 2013.

“If it was another person he could have given up,” Gutu claims. “Look at the party now without him.

“Look at the level of disintegration and internal fights. Under his leadership that would never have happened. If he had contested the 2018 elections, he would have won.

“Now we are looking at a party in internal disarray and taken over by a faction of Zanu PF. G40 is running that party now and if they think Gutu is lying, they can go to court and we will meet in court. Morgan would never have allowed that.”

Several former G40 proponents stood as MDC Alliance candidates in last year’s elections, with Mugabe openly coming out to support Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Alliance leader.

“Look at what is happening now. It is happening because of power,” Gutu says. “We won in 2008 by a wider margin but he climbed down to make Zimbabwe move forward.” Gutu joined forces with the MDCT stalwart, Thokozani Khupe, after Tsvangirai’s death as the fight to succeed him took centre stage.

Khupe now fronts the MDC formation under the banner MDC-T. — BusinessTimes

The body of Prosper Ndudzo, a Zimbabwean student who was stabbed in Annaba, Algeria has arrived at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport for burial in Headlands on Saturday.

Ndudzo, 25, who was doing second year Masters in Electrical Engineering in Annaba was stabbed on the 6thof this month by three Algerian males while in the company of his friends on their way from a nearby shopping centre where they had gone to buy food.

Algerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Nacerdine Sai who received the body refuted any claims of racial discrimination and xenophobic attack as claimed by some social media reports.

“We at the Algerian Embassy are urging Zimbabweans not to listen to social media which is claiming that Ndudzo’s killing involves racial discrimination,” he said.

Director Finance and Administration for Presidential and National Scholarships Mr Phineas Manyange said there are measures put in place to guarantee the safety of students studying in foreign countries.

A family representative Mr Amos Ndudzo said they have been robbed of a very young promising man.

Ndudzo was among the 44 Zimbabwean students studying in Algeria who are due to write their final exams in June this year.

He will be buried this Saturday in Headlands under Chief Makoni in Mashonaland East.

— state media

In every other nation of the world where governments have increased fuel prices, street protests have been the order of the day. But in Zimbabwe there were no street protests at all on the 14th of January 2019 (apart from military brutality which saw soldiers assaulting teachers forcing them to go onto the street) it was a mere stayaway recorded on video in various places. Civilians were used by soldiers forced onto the street to riot, and then abused, shot and killed by another group of soldiers.

2 pic.twitter.com/ogO8yQR4iI

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 10, 2019

Despite the fact that civilians were abused, ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa ( who on video denies that 17 people were killed) has a different story – he says there was a coup attempt. FULL TEXT:

By Emmerson Mnangagwa| Today, I met with the honourable members of the diplomatic corps here in Harare. I told them that in order to succeed we need unity, and for the world, once again, to believe in the new Zimbabwe.

Only in unity can we make it through this period of austerity, because tough decisions hurt. But just as tough medicine has short-term side effects; the long-term result is to cure the patient.

We continue to restructure our economy, and these economic measures will continue to be complemented by political reforms. We are proud of the strides we have already undertaken to fully entrench democratic values and constitutionalism in the country.

I emphasised once again that violence has no place in our midst; indeed, it is a betrayal of the new Zimbabwe and must be criticised by all parties. The implementation of the recommendations of the “Motlante Commission Report” into the August 1st Post Election Violence, is progressing well. Sadly, however, we witnessed once again the ugly flare of premeditated violence on the country’s urban centres on 14th January in the disguise of mass protests and demonstrations.

I reiterated today that in the new Zimbabwe, everyone has the right to protest; peacefully. Everyone has the right to voice their opinions, peacefully. And everyone has the right to criticise me and the government; peacefully. The riots were neither civil nor peaceful and were bent on effecting a regime change.

Following the vandalism, violence, and associated looting, the security forces had to step in. And what followed is still being investigated. However, it must be clear to all that the army and the police are here to serve the people of Zimbabwe, to protect the people of Zimbabwe, to uphold and enforce the law of Zimbabwe.

Any evidence of rogue police officers or soldiers taking the law into their own hands will be dealt with and they will face the full force of the law.

On 6th February, I thus. invited the leaders of all political parties and former Presidential aspirants in the 2018 elections to an unconditional national dialogue. I once again called on those who refuse to take part in the national dialogue to stop grand standing and playing games with the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. Let us join together and work for a prosperous and united Zimbabwe.

I concluded by urging the nations of the world to give the new Zimbabwe a chance. Stand with us. Stand with us as we toil to chart a new course for our nation, for the people of Zimbabwe. We are open and transparent; we have nothing to hide.

I will remain a listening President. My arms are outstretched, and my door is open. We hear your criticisms and when it is fair the insights are noted and implemented. But we are in the process of restructuring, reforming and rebuilding an entire system, an entire nation. Rome was not built in a day.

As we battle through these growing pains, I urge you all, to be our partners in building a better tomorrow for our people. With your help and support we will build a new Zimbabwe.

The late Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Morgan Tsvangirai died a bitter man after Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa dribbled him soon after the November 2017 military inspired power transition, his successor Nelson Chamisa has said.

Speaking during the Morgan Tsvangirai memorial lecture in Harare today, Chamisa said the former Premier supported the removal of former head of state Robert Mugabe amid pressure from Zimbabweans who invaded the streets of Harare on the eventful 17 November 2017.

“Mudhara Tsvangirai died a very disappointed man. Why was he disappointed, because he was betrayed by people who had agreed to have a transitional arrangement? They then went to elections without the reforms, without the transitional arrangement, this what our mother was saying,” he said.

Elizabeth Macheka, the former Premier’s wife echoed Chamisa’s sentiments saying her husband supported the new dispensation power transition because he thought it was the birth of a new political dawn in Zimbabwe.

“Morgan supported the new dispensation whole heartedly because he thought it was the beginning of a new era,” Macheka said.

Chamisa poured cold water on the opposition succession tussle that saw former Vice President Thokozani Khupe breaking away to form a splinter movement, saying Tsvangirai assigned him to unite the party.

To that effect Chamisa said Tsvangirai advised him to incorporate former Secretary Generals Tendai Biti and Welshaman Ncube back into the party.

Macheka called for unity as a sign of respect to the party’s founding father, describing her late husband as a brave man who soldiered onto the last day in his fight for democracy.

“VaTsvangirai was a very brave man, very courageous and very selfless. He was a patient man. He would not make decisions while he is angry…

“If we want to offer Tsvangirai respect, let’s remain united, lets remain steadfast. Let’s not forget our party; MDC. It has people who died for it. It has people who started it. It has people who sacrificed their lives for it,” Macheka said.

— 263Chat

Some senior players at CAPS United reportedly refused to train on Wednesday in protest over unpaid salaries.

According to H-Metro, new signings Gabriel Nyoni, Newman Sianchali and Phenias Bamusi along with the likes of Prosper Chigumba, Justice Jangano, Method Mwanjali and Dominic Mukandi did not attend the training session complaining of unpaid January salaries.

“The team is on strike. The senior players didn’t attend the training except for Hardlife Zvirekwi and Chris Mverechena,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.

The Green Machine is not the only club to be hit by player strikes of late. Last week Highlanders’ preparations to the new season had a false start after players walked out of the camp demanding the club pay them all outstanding dues.

Farai Dziva|In a desperate attempt to exonerate Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna , Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said killing people should not be taken in the literal sense as many are inferring.

Speaking in the Senate today, Ziyambi said in Shona killing does not necessarily mean committing murder.

Ziyambi was responding to questions from senators who wanted to know how his Ministry will handle the altercation between Nduna and Norton MP Temba Mliswa.

Ziyambi was evasive when he was asked about the course of that would be taken to resolve the matter.

“Let us not jump into conclusions because in Shona killing has several meanings. Why should we rush to make conclusions?

We can only take appropriate action as and when we are furnished with concrete evidence to prove that indeed there is a matter of concern,” said Ziyambi.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has been forced to intervene in a growing turf war between Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya and his boss Finance minister Mthuli Ncube on the path Zimbabwe will take to deal with a deepening currency crisis.

Well-placed sources say President Mnangagwa met Mangudya in a crucial meeting last night that would assist in shaping and finalising the much awaited Monetary Policy Statement (MPS).

The MPS was expected to have been delivered either in the last week of January or first week of February.

However, disagreements over proposed currency reforms has seen the MPS stall to a point that requires executive intervention. Several options to deal with the currency crisis include, redollarisation, reintroduction of the local currency, rand adoption, liberalisation of the RTGS and bond note as well as ringfencing deposits to mop up excess liquidity to lower the premium rates on the US dollar.

It is believed that while Mangudya and his team tabled local currency re-introduction as the most viable option under the current circumstances, Ncube is only prepared to go as far as liberalising the exchanging rate, an option preferred by the Bretton Woods Institutions. According to Ncube, a local currency can only be introduced within 12 – 18 months.

An International Monetary Fund technical team, which was in the country this week is said to have suggested floating the exchange rate but also warned of the implications this could have on the socio and political environment. This follows a similar push by the African Development Bank. The IMF team is also said to have forced some revisions on the draft MPS.

Sources said Mangudya was concerned that devaluation would result in the collapse of bank balance sheets as most banks were borrowing offshore for on-lending in RTGS. He is also opposed to the move on grounds this will destabilise the economy by putting wage pressure on companies, cause inflation and driving the cost of goods up.

Government was however forced to deny the re-introduction of the local currency this week based on comments on Twitter by former Finance minister Tendai Biti that the reintroduction was due this week although it would not be backed by any fundamentals.

The rand option is also being thrown around considering that this has been a consistent message from industry, which has South Africa as its trading partner but Government is not too keen on that position.

Contacted for comment, Mangudya said he was in a meeting. Later on, he was not picking up calls and a message sent had not been responded to by the time of going to press.

Ncube could not be reached for comment but early this week he told journalists that the MPS would be presented soon without revealing specific dates. Traditionally, the MPS is presented during the first week of February. Asked when the Monetary Policy Statement would be presented he said: “Let’s just say around this time.”

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba declined to comment saying any comment on monetary issues could destabilise the market.

The bond note was introduced in 2016 as an export incentive facility and guaranteed by the African Export-Import Bank. RBZ said it was at par to the dollar despite insistence by several sectors that the parity would not work warning that the surrogate currency would quickly lose value against the greenback.

Analysts expectations are not on devaluation nor the introduction of a local currency but rather that the RBZ mops up excess liquidity through a long dated bond to strengthen the RTGS rate, which is already the pseudo local currency while also introducing a foreign currency auction system.

In his last Monetary Policy Statement, Mangudya split bank accounts into nostro foreign currency accounts (FCAs) and RTGS (real time gross settlement) FCAs in what analysts say was an admission that the bond-dollar parity could not be sustained.

The currency crisis has given rise to price distortions particularly on consumer goods. Prices of some products in RTGS terms are cheaper if one converts using the parallel market rate than what is obtaining in the region while on the other hand, prices are beyond reach for the ordinary consumer whose salary has not changed and moreso for the tourists whose transactions on international cards are rated at 1:1 on the US dollar.

The President’s intervention, whose details were sketchy at the time of going to print, also comes as foreign diplomats accredited to Harare are piling on pressure for Zimbabwe to come up with an acceptable currency reform policy, cognisant of the fact that some of their nationals have technical fees, dividends and investment income which are still stuck in the country.

Business Times is reliably informed that the foreign diplomats, due to meet Mnangagwa today at State House, told Harare to shelve the introduction of a local currency until the right fundamentals are in place.

Information at hand suggests government has been in deliberations with diplomats whose countries are key trading partners with Zimbabwe. A top diplomat who requested not to be named said he met Mangudya recently to discuss a number of issues including the Monetary Policy Statement.

“Right now we have dividends stuck in Zimbabwe and nothing is moving. If you have an environment that makes one investor make a loss, then no one else will come and those that are here will close. Why would investors come when you change policies and start selling equipment of businesses that you licence to invest?”

The diplomat said while the Monetary Policy Statement was crucial, government needs to start making tough choices and to create a good environment for business.

“Government needs to start talking to business and foreign investors. They must listen and make changes that ensure investors make money because they come here for money and if they can’t make money then why do they stay?”

The diplomat also added that government and the generality of Zimbabweans should stop waiting for foreign bailouts to end the economic crisis. This comes as Ncube is on the hunt for credit lines. He is expected to visit China to discuss bailout options after his visit to the United States next month.

“The solution lies in foreign direct investment and domestic investment not bailouts. When you grow investments then you have jobs and a bigger tax base which needs to be preserved and allocated towards reinvestment not recurrent expenditure,” he said. — BusinessTimes

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The Standing Rules and Orders Committee of the Parliament of Zimbabwe is mandated in terms of sections 237 and 254 of the Constitution, to nominate candidates for appointment by his Excellency the President to serve as Commissioners on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission provided for in Chapter 13 Part 1 of the Constitution.

Vacancies have arisen in the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission following the resignation of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on the 31^st of January, 2019 before the expiry of their term of office.

Accordingly, the Standing Rules and Orders Committee is hereby calling on the Public to nominate persons to be considered for appointment to this Commission.

The functions of the Commission and the person specifications are given below.

Functions of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission

 (Section 255 of the Constitution)

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has the following functions —

·         to investigate and expose cases of corruption in the public and private sectors;

·         to combat corruption, theft, misappropriation, abuse of power and other improper conduct in the public and private sectors;

·         to promote honesty, financial discipline and transparency in the public and private sectors;

·         to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as the Commission considers appropriate;

·         to direct the Commissioner-General of Police to investigate cases of suspected corruption and to report to the Commission on the results of any such investigation;

·         to refer matters to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution;

·         to require assistance from members of the Police Service and other investigative agencies of the State; and

• to make recommendations to the Government and other persons on measures to enhance integrity and accountability and prevent improper conduct in the public and private sectors.

Person Specifications

Members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge of and experience in administration or the prosecution or investigation of crime or for their general suitability for appointment, and —

• at least one must be qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Zimbabwe, and have been so qualified for at least seven years;

• at least one must be qualified to practise as a public accountant or public auditor in Zimbabwe, and have been so qualified for at least seven years; and

• at least one must be a person with at least ten years’ experience in the investigation of crime.

Nomination material must consist of a typewritten submission of no more than two A4 pages long stating why the person nominated is a suitable candidate together with a completed nomination form which can be obtained at Parliament offices or download from the website: www.parlzim.gov.zw

Nominations must be addressed to the Clerk of Parliament in envelopes clearly marked with the name of the Commission and must either be posted, hand delivered or emailed to:

The Clerk of Parliament

Parliament of Zimbabwe

Parliament Building

Cnr. K. Nkurumah Avenue and Third Street

P.O. Box CY 298

Causeway

Harare

Email: [email protected]

Closing date of submission of nominations is end of day Friday 28^thFebruary 2019

Correspondent|The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has come under fire from Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) following the death of 23 artisanal miners who were trapped by water inside shafts.

The artisanal miners died after water from a collapsed dam wall flooded their shafts in Battlefields area, Mashonaland West Province.

CNRG sent their condolences and regret over the fatality.

Speaking through their communications officer Simiso Mlevu Thursday, CNRG said EMA has over the years been accused by communities and workers of working in cahoots with miners and as a result negating its constitutional mandate which is the protection of the environment among other responsibilities.

“There are a number of mines that are just abandoned in Zimbabwe when the mineral runs out and EMA has done nothing to hold the responsible parties to account. Section 114 of the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:17) subsection 3 (n) mandates the agency to issue an order in respect of the rehabilitation of a mining site.

“Environmental reclamation or rehabilitation once a mine is closed is adequately covered by the country’s statutes. However, EMA as a regulatory body is either sleeping on duty or is, for the reasons known to themselves, allowing impunity to continue at the expense of people’s lives and the environment.,” said Mlevu in a statement.

She added that EMA is supposed to carry out bi-annual environmental audits to ensure that all projects being implemented are in compliance with the regulations and the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment reports which miners develop prior to commencing their projects.

“Environmental Impact assessment is “an evaluation of a project to determine its impact on the environment and human health and to set out the required environmental monitoring and management procedures and plans”.

“An EIA thus ensures that environmental, economic and social pillars are mainstreamed into the projects. Had EMA been effectively monitoring the projects and undertaking audits, environmental damage would have been reduced,” she added.

CNRG called on the government of Zimbabwe to ensure statutory bodies stick to their mandate.

Farai Dziva|Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi and MDC T vice president, Obert Gutu have literally teamed up to wage a war of attrition against MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa.

The two took turns to attack Chamisa on twitter, accusing the youthful politician of being used by western countries to effect regime change in Zimbabwe.

“I totally agree with Obert Gutu views on Nelson Chamisa. Zimbabwe has its own Alfonso Dhlakamas Savimbis. They can confuse the international community, cause anarchy and call for more sanctions but they will never rule Zimbabwe. That’s the honest truth,” claimed Mutodi.

Gutu declared:”You may shout at and insult SADC and the AU say all you want but the fact is puppets have got
absolutely no traction whether it’s within Africa or beyond. Puppets never last the distance, do they? You remember a puppet called Jonas
Savimbi of Angola?”

MDC Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya has saluted the late party President Morgan Tsvangirai for giving him a chance to build party structures after he was elected Deputy Organising Secretary at the last congress.

Chibaya made the remarks while addressing party supporters at the Tsvangirai memorial lecture today

https://youtu.be/8N1Weq8OCk0

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…