Farai Dziva|The MDC A presidential post is open for contesting – by duly nominated candidates- contrary to claims that there are plans to close nominations for the position.

MDC A deputy treasurer-general Charlton Hwende, who is also MP for Kuwadzana East constituency has said that only four posts will be contested at the upcoming MDC Congress.

Hwende has also said the party’s constitution states that the posts of president, vice presidents, national chairperson, and the vice national chairperson will be contested.

“In terms of the current MDC Constitution, which we amended at the last Congress, only the following posts will be contested 1. President 2. Vice Presidents 3.National Chairman 4. Vice National Chairman. The rest will be appointments made by the new NEC after Congress,” said Hwende.

To be honest the greatest impediment to progress in Zimbabwe is its leaders. It is Zimbabwe’s leaders who mislead about the cause(s) of the problems in the country. It is leaders who must deal with the causes of all the misunderstandings with the rest of the world.

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) February 27, 2019

By Own Correspondent- The Zanu PF youth league in Masvingo has been urged to defend the party against elements who may want to cause disharmony within the party structures.

These were sentiments echoed during a youth inter-district meeting held in Masvingo.

The Zanu PF youth inter-district meeting saw youths pledging their unwavering support for the President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The party’s youth league chairman for Masvingo province Cde Brian Munyoro said youths should be on the forefront of defending the party from those bent on causing havoc through sowing seeds of disunity.

“Hatidi kuita setisingaoni kuti zvinhu zvakaoma. Isu tinomira na president vedu. Tomira navo and we say ED 2023. (We don’t want to act as if we do not see that things are tough. We stand by our president. We will stand with him and we say ED 2023),” said Cde Munyoro.

 Zanu PF Central Committee member Cde Shingirai Mangwana urged fellow youths to embark on viable income generating projects emphasizing on the need for them to be part of economic development in the country.

“Sema youth ngatiite ma project, form ma cooperatives muwanewo zvamunoita. (As the youths let’s embark on various projects, form cooperatives and find something to do.),” said Cde Mangwana.

The meeting was attended by Zanu PF youth league members from the province’s 7 districts.

By Own Correspondent- Government has dismissed claims that a Zimbabwean man was “resurrected” by a DRC born pastor in South Africa as his body was being brought home, revealing that no repatriation papers had been processed to support the claims.

Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro set the record straight in an interview with a local publication following claims by pastor Alph Lukau, of the Alleluia International Ministries church on Sunday that he had “resurrected” a Zimbabwean who had died on Friday in Johannesburg.

During a service at his church in Sandton, Johannesburg on Sunday, Lukau said the family of the deceased man decided to stop over for a few minutes before heading to Zimbabwe with the body.

In the video circulating on social media, Lukau is seen touching the deceased man in a coffin who is dressed in all white and after a few utterances the dead man sits up with his mouth wide open while church members jump in jubilation.

Lukau then continues “speaking in tongues.”

“Can you see what happened? This man died since Friday, he was in the mortuary,” he told cheering congregants.

“This is a sign that no matter what the devil’s done, it is over. Devil, I told you, wherever I find you, I will kick you.”

The alleged Sunday miracle has received criticism from all angles and has attracted a lawsuit from a funeral parlour.

In what has been widely dismissed as a poorly staged miracle, a Kings and Queens Funeral Services hearse was used to carry the coffin from an unknown house to Sandton where the church service was conducted.

The “resurrected” man has not yet been identified officially, but some reports claimed that he was named Elliot.

However, Mukonoweshuro, who signs repatriation letters for locals who die in the neighbouring country said he was not in possession of papers clearing any Zimbabwean to be repatriated on Sunday from South Africa.

He said as the man was said to have died last Friday, there was no way the body could have been repatriated on Sunday as the whole process could only be done during weekdays. He said repatriating a body involves a lot of processes that cannot take less than three weekdays.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| A Zanu Pf chairwoman from Stoneridge was reportedly brutally attacked and left for dead.

Zanu Pf has however implicated yet to be named opposition MDC members in the attack which they said aimed at killing one of their own.

Said Zanu Pf Patriots in a tweet:

“Opposition members attacked our member!

Zanu Pf Chairwoman from Samora Machel in Stoneridge was attacked with knives by opposition members who broke into her house last night. The knife cuts clearly shows the inetntion was to kill her.

Opposition members attacked our member‼️

ZANU PF Chairwoman from Samora Machel Stoneridge was attacked with knives by opposition members who broke into her house last night. The knife cuts clearly shows the intention was to kill her. pic.twitter.com/yLnYYgFkEC

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) February 27, 2019

Responding to ZimEye regarding the above mentioned allegations, opposition MDC spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said his party was being dragged into Zanu Pf factional fights.

He distanced his party from the allegations and said his party was being persecuted simply for being opposition.

Said Mafume:

“We did not attack Zanu Pf. Our members do not wear Zanu Pf clothes. The problems of Harare South are documented and well known. These are Zanu Pf factions. Mnangagwa’s nephew (Tongai Mnangagwa) was imposed in that constituency and the structures of Zanu Pf have never accepted him and they are continuing their fights. We have nothing to do with the fights and the people who were fighting each other know each other very well, they know each other’s names and they cannot ascribe it to the MDC. We are a peaceful party, we are the victims here and we have no interest in being involved in Zanu pf factions. We dispute those allegations. They are merely an excuse to try to arrest, persecute, torment and kill our membership.”

By Own Correspondent- Kiran Hospital, one of India’s top specialist and health research centres, is seeking to construct a 550-bed sanatorium in Zimbabwe, a report by the state media has said.

The hospital, set to service local patients and those from other African countries will bring convenience to patients who have had to fly to India for specialist and quality healthcare.

Representatives from Samast Patidar Aarogya Trust, the owners of Kiran Hospital, which specialises on cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, endocrinology, laparoscopic surgery, nuclear medicine, neurosurgery, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, nephrology and bariatric surgery are expected in the country next month.

Australian-Indian foreign investment consultant Satishkumar Gandhi said:

“The owners of Kiran Hospital are sending people to Zimbabwe in March. The purpose of the trip is to see if they can build a specialist hospital in the country. Kiran Hospital is one of the biggest hospitals in India, it is a 550-bed hospital. It has everything, all the facilities needed to meet all types of health emergencies are there. The idea of building a specialist hospital in Zimbabwe came about after the realisation that many people from Africa seek specialist healthcare such as heart surgery and kidney transplant in India. So the plan is to bring that facility to Africa and Zimbabwe has been identified as the ideal location of the hospital. So they will be here in March, let them come and explore and ask questions.”

“The same delegation will include investors who are interested in diamonds, some want to mine, others want to be buyers.

“The invitation has already been sent to all of them. In that invitation, I made it clear that contrary to what the international media reports, Zimbabwe is a safe destination for investment and for visit.

THE die has been cast in the MDC ahead of its elective congress as the party’s ambitious secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has expressed his desire to challenge party leader Nelson Chamisa in a contest that could make or break his political career.

Mwonzora has previously been keeping his cards close to his chest.

“I will be giving you a statement regarding what I will be standing for; there are key processes that must happen first and these include the nomination process. Within the MDC set-up, people are nominated by the structures, I want to emphasise (that) I am a full member with full rights including the right to contest any position,” said Mwonzora.

The former MDC spokesperson has previously been accused by Chamisa’s legion of supporters of harbouring presidential ambitions.

But unlike other MDC officials who chose to side with Chamisa for fear or reprisals, Mwonzora has soldiered on — suffering in some instances humiliating boos, jeers and sneers from some who regard him as the opposition party’s Judas Iscariot who is turning against the hugely popular Chamisa.

The soft-spoken politician, who is a lawyer by profession, said before he could pronounce himself on the matter there are conditions precedent.

“There are processes that have to be followed. We must have branch congresses, then ward, district, provincial congresses and after that the provincial assemblies will do nominations. It is at that time that we will know if we have been nominated,” said Mwonzora.

Already, the incumbent Chamisa has received endorsements from several party structures including provincial wings, with the youth league going as far as declaring war on anyone who would dare challenge the youthful opposition leader.

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

Mwonzora told the Daily News that he is aware of a smear campaign targeting him but that will not deter him to contest any position “because the opposition now requires someone with the right temperament and who understands democracy”.

“We are also aware of the smear campaigns that are going on but that is expected considering that we are now going to the congress,” said Mwonzora.

Chamisa’s close allies are sabre-rattling, keen on fending off potential rivals to the 41-year-old politician who amassed more than two million votes during last year’s presidential elections.

Last Sunday, Chamisa told MDC supporters at a rally in Gweru that he was not having sleepless nights over prospects of him being challenged at congress.

“We are a mature party; the character is that we are a democratic party. Tsvangirai left us this party, so our things will be done quietly, all positions are going to be nominated, they are open and up for contestations from the presidency,” Chamisa said.

The MDC leader said he is ready to step aside and allow someone to take over should he lose his position at congress.

“We are all allowed to contest for this position because I came to finish the term of our leader but I said the term has come to an end and I am removing the jacket and giving it to congress. If you still feel that I should continue leading the party, I am still ready but if you think my time is up and someone should take over, let it be because that is the democratic way of working,” he said.

There are also rumblings within the MDC that there could be a third hand sponsoring some of the candidates so as to remove Chamisa who has thus far failed to accept the results of last year’s presidential elections. In 2014, Chamisa faced off with Mwonzora who was the then spokesperson but lost in the battle to become secretary-general.

Mwonzora scored an unexpected crushing victory over Chamisa in a shock result — which saw him getting 2 464 votes against his rival’s 1 756.

This left Chamisa as an ordinary card carrying member until he was appointed by the party’s founding father Morgan Tsvangirai (now late) to the MDC national executive as secretary for policy and research.

Mwonzora’s 2014 victory came amid reports that Chamisa had had a row with Tsvangirai during the nomination process where he apparently accused his mentor of meddling in the Manicaland party provincial elections.

The elections saw Tsvangirai personally taking part in the nomination process there, where Mwonzora — who until then had not got any nominations for the post – got a ringing endorsement from the region.

The results completely flew in the face of the nomination tally that had Chamisa garnering 11 out of 12 provinces.

— DailyNews

Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has insisted that his party is keen on dialogue which he said is the only way out of the current problems facing the country.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa rallied his supporters that Zimbabwe will soon reclaim its jewel status.

ZIMBABWE THE LAND OF THE BEST…We will soon reclaim our jewel status. We will get there sooner than imagined. Only genuine DIALOGUE will save ZIMBABWE. Wherever I go across Africa, the goodwill for Zimbabwe is amazing.#agreatzimbabwenow

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) February 27, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Party insiders here have warned opposition leader Nelson Chamisa against relaxing ahead of the party’s elective congress suggesting that Douglas Mwonzora could steal a march ahead of Chamisa for the presidency.

The MDC is set to hold its elective Congress at the end of May.

Party insiders who spoke to the Daily News warned Chamisa that despite his popularity with voters, party structures may not re-elect him opting for Mwonzora, who currently holds the influential position of secretary-general.

Said the sources:

“These elections are far from decided because it is early days yet. Anyone, particularly Dougie (Mwonzora) has a chance of winning this post because he is respected and loved by many in the party who see him as mature and level-headed.

Remember too that five years ago, Chamisa lost to Mwonzora hands down despite him thinking that he had the support of 11 of the party’s 12 provinces.

As you also know, a day is too long in politics … and indeed, only time will tell when we get to May how the exact picture will look like, as well as who is likely to win.”

By Own Correspondent| Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa has queried the detention of visiting general secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Kwasi Adu Amankwa.

Mliswa said such actions by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration nullified the assertion that the country was on a new trajectory and in a new dispensation.

The independent legislator queried why the labour union leader was subjected to such treatment yet he did not pose any threat to the country.

Said Mliswa:

“The alleged detainment of ITIC Africa Secretary General Mr Amankwa is a disturbing own goal by the administration. These are the kind of blunders that constantly drags us from truly moving in the new dispensation spirit. What greater threat did he pose for such?

The alleged detainment of ITUC Africa Secretary General Mr Amankwa is a disturbing own goal by the adminstration. These are the kind of blunders that constantly drag us back from truly moving in the new dispensation spirit. What greater threat did he pose for such?

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) February 26, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Norton parliamentarian, Temba Mliswa has blasted Zanu PF youths leaders, accusing them of seeking to swindle companies by arranging solidarity marches in the name of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a series of tweets posted yesterday, Mliswa said solidarity marches are no-longer relevant and does more damage than good for the country.

Below are posts;

1/ The youths in @ZANUPF_Official failed to give support to @edmnangagwa through the proper means of voting for him and are now seeking to swindle companies by arranging solidarity marches at a wrong economic moment.

2/ Maguma guma i know them and the money if given should go to the main party account under Chinamasa and not under these fake youths who are way above 35.

3/ Solidarity marches are old politics that do more damage than achieve anything. @edmnangagwa has done away with massing people at airports why cant these “youths” do something more progressive like building party structures.

4/ Solidarity marches have no functional use in solving the challenges Zimbabwe is faced with. They failed to mobilise voters for @edmnangagwa but want to mobilise where there is no pressing need for such.

By Own Correspondent- An Airforce of Zimbabwe pilot who allegedly brutally murdered his 32 year old Gweru-based girlfriend late last year has approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.

Tashinga Musonza (29), who is being represented by James Makiya of Makiya and Partners, allegedly killed Lucy Duve in a crime of passion in November last year.

Musonza’s trial last week failed to kick off for the second time after his lawyer fell sick resulting in the matter being removed from the roll by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo.

Musonza is also challenging the presence of assessors on the High Court bench and has since filed a notice to appeal at the Constitutional Court.

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

Musonza, through his lawyer, filed an application for bail at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

In his bail statement, Musonza argued that there were no compelling reasons justifying his continued detention.

Argued Musonza through his lawyers:

“The applicant is entitled to his constitutional right to liberty and there is the assumption of innocence until proven guilty which must be considered in this matter. There are no compelling reasons to deny the applicant bail in this matter.”

Musonza said he would not abscond or interfere with State witnesses if granted bail, arguing that the assertion by the State was mere speculation which lacks tangible evidence.

The State through Nqobizitha Ndlovu opposed the bail application, arguing that there was no guarantee that if granted bail Musonza would not abscond due to the seriousness of the offence.

Ndlovu said the State has a strong prima facie case against Musonza.

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

It is alleged that on November 25, Musonza went to their lodgings at around 10 PM and found Duve asleep. He allegedly accused her of cheating on him with his colleague.

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

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

Musonza allegedly got furious and started assaulting his girlfriend.

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

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

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

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

By Own Correspondent- The United States of America through its embassy in Harare has issued a warning to the government of Zimbabwe over the arrest and harassment of civil society leaders.

The United States (US) warned that the arrests and harrassment of civil society leaders will jeopardise the country’s reputation and future economic well-being.

Read a statement issued by the embassy:

“Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damage Zimbabwe’s reputation and economic future.

We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, protect human rights, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.”

The government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come under fire over the past several months for gross human rights violations which has resulted in the deaths of several citizens.

By Own Correspondent- Illegal foreign currency dealers are reportedly counting their losses amid revelations that the parallel market rates are tumbling.

The development, which has been attributed to the measures that were announced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last Wednesday is also being influenced by a police operation targeting the alternative foreign currency market traders.

Illegal foreign currency dealers who spoke to a local publication said:

“RBZ personnel, working together with the police, are patrolling the streets and searching suspected money changers. If they find you with more than $300, they demand an explanation and … also force you to go and deposit the money in a bank or you face arrest.

… The rates are unfortunately going down because of what (RBZ governor John) Mangudya did. For US$100 we will give you 340 bond or 360 RTGS depending on the numbers.”-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| Zanu pf legislator for Chivi South, who is also the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association ( ZCBTA) Killer Zivhu says that the monetary measures introduced by the Central Bank will take the country back to the 2008 era.

The Central Bank introduced bureau de changes after floating the local currency (RTGS Dollars), and Zivhu opines that this will fuel the trade of foreign currency on the black market.

Said Zivhu:

Some bureau de changes will buy the money for themselves or use their relatives to take money to the black market where it will fetch more. Bureau de changes are just forex dealers so where there is money, they are always there.

We have bureau de changes changing US$10 000 per day, as a result, these people will not be able to get money at the bank rate because they do not qualify to measures put in place for the banks. Their only option will be getting forex on the streets, thereby increasing the demand on the black market.

As ZCBTA, the monetary policy is not favourable to our members. We are seeing a repeat of 2007 and 2008 if the RBZ governor does not listen to our advice. We had similar problems in 2003 as well when there were cash shortages and also in 2007 and 2008 when they refused to listen to our advice.

By Own Correspondent| Harare City Council has revealed that it would introduce water-rationing for the northern suburbs such as Borrowdale in response to the local authority’s deteriorating water pumping capacity.

The city fathers said the water cuts will be for 72 hours a week.

This was revealed by acting Harare water director Richard Kunyadini while responding to a question from Mabvuku councillor Fibion Kufahakutizvi.

Said Kunyadini:

“This year, we might be forced to ration water supplies going forward. At the moment, Prince Edward plant is operating at two days a week. This is because of the state of the raw water which has depleted.

We have completed the refurbishment of Avondale treatment plant and we hope to use that station to pump to the northern suburbs.

We have also started a programme to reduce water supply to areas like Glen View and Glen Norah, at least switching them off for two to three days so that we could pump to areas like Mabvuku and Tafara.”

Correspondent |Many people view Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as next in line to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa the other vice president, Kembo Mohadi has shown keen interest for the top job, saying his history was as illustrious as his boss’.

Mohadi said he believed fate was on his side, claiming the road travelled by President Mnangagwa and the obstacles he faced were similar to his own experience.

Asked to introduce President Mnangagwa before thousands of Zanu PF supporters in Mwenezi last Saturday, Mohadi gave a tale of the road travelled by his boss saying there were many parallels to be drawn between their two stories.

“I also travelled the same road as that of President Mnangagwa. I was arrested and stayed in prison till 1980. I came from prison and joined politics full time just like President Mnangagwa.

“The irony of the whole story is that President Mnangagwa became Minister of State Security, I also became Minister of State Security.

“He became Minister of Defence and I also became Minister of Defence. He became Vice President and I also became Vice President so munongoona kuti gwara racho ndiro rimwe. But I am not going to push him out of it, achandisiira,” said Mohadi.

Mohadi said President Mnangagwa told him there were some rigours he still needed to go through for him to qualify to be President among them surviving interface rallies, taking poison and border jumping.

“President Mnangagwa says I do not qualify to be President because I have never been poisoned or subjected to nine interface rallies or become a border jumper. I don’t know how I can be a border jumper but I would love to be poisoned and go through interface rallies,” said Mohadi.

Mohadi said while many people fear Mnangagwa, he is not afraid of him and he saw him as a brother and mentor.

Mohadi’s declaration of interest could put him on a collision course with Chiwenga who is believed to harbour his own presidential ambition.

Chiwenga led a military coup which ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in November 2017 but handed over the levers of power to President Mnangagwa reportedly after striking a deal that would see him being the successor.

There are, however, now claims of power struggles between Chiwenga and Mnangagwa with reports saying the retired general now wants the latter to run for one term and leave him in charge.

Zanu PF has denied any friction between the two and has since went on to endorse President Mnangagwa for the 2023 harmonised elections.

Police have intensified a crackdown on illegal foreign currency dealers under an operation code-named “Dzosai Mari” and 24 suspected dealers appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts between Friday and Saturday last week.

They were arrested separately in Harare. Some of the suspects appeared before magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha.

The other group appeared before Mr Learnmore Mapiye on charges of contravening Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations, 2018 (No.5), which criminalises illegal trading in foreign currency.

Ten of the suspects were released on $150 bail each. The remainder remains in custody pending ruling on their bail applications.

Operation “Dzosai Mari” started last year. It is being conducted by the police and other stakeholders.

In November last year, several illegal foreign currency dealers were raided and arrested in Harare under the same operation.

They were convicted and their money was forfeited to the State.

State Media

Cabinet has approved principles for the amendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill as Government works on ensuring that people born in the country are granted dual citizenship in line with the new Constitution adopted in 2013.

Briefing journalists after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the proposed changes included renaming of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act as the Zimbabwe Citizenship Act.

“Following presentation by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cabinet approved the principles for the amendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill as part of the ongoing process of aligning the country’s laws to the provisions of the Constitution,” she said.

“Key provisions of the amendment include permitting of dual citizenship for citizens by birth, establishment of a Zimbabwe Citizenship and Immigration Board to, inter alia oversee the granting and revocation of citizenship by descent or registration and prohibition of dual citizenship for citizens by descent and registration.”

The proposed changes also want to make it a requirement for applications for citizenship by registration to have resided in Zimbabwe for 10 years contrary to the current requirement of five years.

Expanding on the proposed amendments, Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya said: “What the new aligned act will be seeking to achieve is simply to incorporate what is already in the Constitution into the Act and put it beyond any doubt what the law is.

“If one reads the current Act and the Constitution one can see clearly that there is lack of consistence in some of the important provisions for instance the current Act prohibits dual citizenship by any citizen whereas the Constitution permits dual citizenship for those who are citizens by birth.

“The principles presented today make it clear that the Act has to be amended so that it is consistent with the Constitution.”

Dual citizenship has been posing challenges which include tax evasion, evasion from justice, involvement in cases of human trafficking, international terrorism and problems in immigration control.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had also approved principles for the amendment of the Manpower Planning and Development Act (Chapter 28:02) after a presentation by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Amon Murwira.

She said the amendments principally seek to “streamline and elevate the role of tertiary institutions, science and technology institutions as well as professional bodies in the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe. It also seeks to entrench good corporate governance.”

State Media

A POWER cut caused by the vandalism of Zesa power lines has forced St Luke’s Hospital in Lupane to suspend surgical operations and close the mortuary.

Kenmaur area where St Luke’s Hospital is located has been without electricity for the past three weeks following suspected theft of Zesa cables and damage to the power line by rains early this month.

The area receives its electricity from Turk Mine in Bubi but there have been calls to connect it to the Hwange power line.

Lupane District Medical Officer Dr George Mutizira said the maternity department is also affected.

“We’re using temporary measures which is not sustainable for a health facility. It’s difficult to work without electricity because the mortuary and theatre need continuous power.

“We run the generator for two hours only because it’s not sustainable given the price of diesel,” he said.

“Our main challenge is in the theatre and mortuary because they need continuous power.

“The water pump is also electricity-powered and the generator cannot supply enough power as it only runs for a short time.

“We have been telling relatives of people whose bodies are in the mortuary to collect them while we have been directing those coming from police to Mpilo Central Hospital.”

Dr Mutizira said the hospital has an average of more than 100 expecting mothers who need clean running water at any given time.

He said the hospital has resorted to water rationing which poses a health hazard.

“We have resorted to water rationing which is not ideal for a health institution.

“The problem is that we can’t operate using a manual borehole because of the size of the hospital hence the little water we have is pumped just for two hours and we have to ration it,” added Dr Mutizira.

He said Zesa electricians had promised to restore power this week.

The situation has also left the whole of Lupane district without radio transmission as the Kenmaur site has been switched off.

Meanwhile, schools and clinics in Makwa area outside Hwange have been without water and electricity for the past two months following theft of cables near the Zambezi River.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira did not respond to questions sent to him yesterday.

State Media

ABOUT 4 000 HIV positive people in Bulawayo are on second and third line of antiretroviral therapy (ART) after defaulting from the recommended first line regime.

According to health experts, people on ART must adhere to the medication for life as defaulting may give the HIV virus a chance to multiply and become resistant to the drugs.

Defaulting also increases their risk of spreading the virus to the next person.

According to the National Aids Council, most people move to other lines of treatments due to defaulting.

Bulawayo has 74 237 HIV positive people.

More to follow. . .

State Media

STUDENTS at Lupane State University (LSU) yesterday staged a demonstration at the university’s campus in Lupane protesting the institution’s decision to bar those who have not paid $350 registration fees from lectures.

LSU has an enrolment of more than 3 000 students and more than 60 percent have not paid registration fees.

The students’ demonstration came just a day after the university barred those who had not paid the fees from attending lectures and accessing its properties.

LSU students’ representative council president Mr Silas Makusha said students were forced to demonstrate due to the decision to bar them from lectures.

“Barring students from attending lectures and accessing the university’s premises is what sparked the protest. As we speak no one is attending lectures. We are living in crowded rooms. A room which is supposed to be used by two students is now accommodating eight students. They are also providing us with poor quality food,” said Mr Makusha.

He said poor internet connectivity was among the issues that the students want to be addressed.

Mr Makusha said the university should give students a time frame when it’s going to address all their grievances.

“Instead of barring students who have not registered from attending lectures they should just withhold their results. They should be flexible to us as we are flexible to them,” said Mr Makusha.

LSU director of marketing and communication Mr Zwelithini Dlamini yesterday confirmed the students’ demonstration.

He blamed it on final year students who are not happy with their accommodation arrangements.

Mr Dlamini said due to the increase in the number of students at the university, fourth year students were requested to stay four in each room instead of three as was the previous arrangement.

“They made sure that no one goes to the dining hall as of last night and today for lunch. Part One and Two students went for their lectures this morning and these guys felt they were being betrayed in their struggle so they followed them to their lecture rooms and made noise,” he said.

“It’s not a collective but a coercive measure by the affected students. The other groups were not making noise about their accommodation.”

Mr Dlamini, however, said the university was engaging the students.

He said accommodation problems would ease when the hostel for male students is completed at the end of March.

State Media

Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe chairperson Rashid Mahiya appeared before Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Tuesday charged with subversion following violent demonstrations that rocked the country in January.

He was remanded in custody to 12 March.

Mahiya is according to the state accused “of being the mastermind behind the demos” following his address to members of Heal Zimbabwe Trust in partnership with Interpeace of Switzerland between 3 and 6 December 2018 at a resort area in Harare.

Charges against Mahiya are that he incited some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the public to subvert a constitutionally elected Government.

Mr Shepherd Makonde prosecuted.

MORE TO FOLLOW…

FORMER Finance Minister Tendai Biti has trashed the $600 million loan deal struck by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi, saying it is too little to have an impact on Zimbabwe’s private sector.

Biti said the money was a drop in the ocean for a country which needs nearly $2 billion to retool and capacitate its industry.

“That’s a drop in the ocean. That is absolutely nothing. The industry itself needs about $2 billion to retool,” he said, adding money alone would not save the country’s economy because there were a lot of micro-economic fundamentals that government needed to get right.

“In any event, it’s not about the money. Do we have the right micro-economic fundamentals, a decent exchange rate? There is chaos with the situation of the RTGS$ [real time gross settlement dollar]. The statutory instrument shows that it’s a virtual currency and the politics is just not right, so you can pour money, but that won’t change anything,” he said.

Owing to the political uncertainty at home and indebtedness, the country has been struggling to get badly needed lines of credit from international financial institutions and is now turning to its neighbours for help.

The United Kingdom and European Union have demanded political and economic reforms as a prerequisite before they can extend lines of credit to Mnangagwa’s administration.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe said the loan could have a significant impact on industry and the economy by boosting the depleted nostro accounts, adding that the money would go a long way to help retool small businesses.

“It will boost the nostro accounts and provide capital for retooling. This will significantly help business that require around US$500 000 and below to retool and ramp up production and productivity,” he said.

The loan will consist of $500 million dollars for Zimbabwe’s diamond industry and a further $100 million to help private companies, whose operations have been hamstrung by the dollar shortage, the state-owned Herald newspaper said.

Since coming into office, President Mnangagwa has been in drive to attract the much-needed foreign direct investment and loans to capacitate the country’s ailing industry.

Zimbabwe’s external debt currently stands in excess of $10 billion, presenting a massive setback on the economy.

Apart from what have been coined mega deals and commitments to invest, the Mnangagwa administration has not been able to record meaningful economic traction.

ZIMBABWE is in a Catch-22 situation as South African banks are de-risking from supplying the troubled southern African country with US dollar notes, an official with the central bank told miners on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe pays its gold miners in cash, but has been failing to do so of late as the usual suppliers, South African banks, have been cutting ties amid fears of being fined by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as US sanctions take a toll on Zimbabwean economy.

Speaking at a post 2019 Monetary Policy Statement review meeting with small-scale miners, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe deputy director for Financial Markets William Manhimanzi said the central bank was struggling to pay miners in hard cash as it was failing to import notes via South Africa.

Zimbabwe is under United States sanctions and unless otherwise authorised or exempt, transactions involving the greenback are penalised if they involve an entity or individual listed on the Specially Designated Nationals List (a list of individuals and entities under US sanctions).

The nature of the regulations, however, makes it difficult for foreign banks to know whether they are dealing with Specially Designated Nationals or not, hence the decision by most South African banks to de-risk from dealing with Zimbabwean institutions.

“Ordinarily we import the cash from South Africa, and most of the banks, due to what we call de-risking issues, have now given us notice that they can no longer provide our own local banks with cash (US dollars), so we are in a Catch-22 situation,” said Manhimanzi.

He said the only South African bank that was still facilitating cash imports into Zimbabwe was First National Bank (FNB).

“The only bank that remained was FNB, and they gave notice in December 2018 that they would no longer be supplying our own local banks with cash.”

The move has not only affected banks, as money transfer agencies such as Western Union are failing to pay out remittances to beneficiaries due to their inability to bring in cash through their local banks. — Fin24

Jailed church leader Robert Martin Gumbura and his nine accomplices, who are accused of masterminding a failed jailbreak at Chikurubi Maximum Prison in 2015 are set to apply for discharge at the close on the State’s case.

Gumbura, the leader of RMG Independent End Time Message Church and his accomplices Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38) and armed robber, Lucky Matambanadzo (39) had 24 people testifying against them in the matter.

The gang which engaged Lovemore Madhuku to be its legal counsel will file their application on March 12, the State through chief law officer Michael Reza will respond on March 22 and the court will make a ruling on April 1.

The nine accused persons, who are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, incitement in aggravating circumstances or alternatively conspiracy in aggravating circumstances for malicious damage to property, are appearing before magistrate Francis Mapfumo .

Allegations are that on February 13, 2015 at around 9am, the inmates refused to eat porridge which had no sugar. They demanded to see the officer-in-charge, a Chief Superintendent Marange, who then sent his deputy, a Superintendent Dumbura, to address them.

At that time, the inmates pushed out of the food containers which had been brought for lunch, refusing to be addressed by Dumbura.

Dumbura left the complex’s C Hall and went to D Hall, where he ordered for food to be brought in and served to those who wanted to eat.

The court heard that before the food was served, Titus Mandikodza, who is now late, went on top of the roof through a hole in the asbestos sheets, which they had already drilled. At that moment, it is alleged, Vhumbunu and Sibanda took sadza and vegetable relish and threw it at Dumbura and that is when violence erupted with prisoners vandalising property worth over $450 000.

ZimCoke (Pvt) Limited, a company which took over a coke making plant at Ziscosteel, is set to invest about $75 million into Hwange Colliery’s coke division. ZimCoke is in the last stages of taking over a coking plant at the former steelmaking giant, Ziscosteel, with renovations set to kick-start at the coking plant.

ZimCoke took over a coke oven battery plant segment within Ziscosteel in a $133 million deal. At full capacity, the project is expected to produce 500 000 tonnes of coke annually, for both local usage and the export markets. The company also undertook to take over a $225 million debt owed by Ziscosteel to a German bank, KFW.

In an interview, ZimCoke consultant Mr Eddie Cross, said the company seeks to enhance coke production in the country hence the investment into Hwange Colliery. “We intend to invest $75 million into Hwange Colliery coke division so that we bring them into production. We also will invest about $12 million into ZimChem to enable the company to process all the product from coke to operations,” said Mr Cross. He said the company was in the final stages of taking over the KFW debt before moving on site for renovations.

“We are in the final stages of taking over the debt with KFW. Thereafter our technicians will move on site maybe in March to commence refurbishment of the new coking company,” said Mr Cross.

ZimCoke (Pvt) Ltd and Ziscosteel signed an agreement of sale in 2017, whereby ZimCoke acquired the coke-making assets of Ziscosteel, consisting of the plant and machinery, land and buildings and associated infrastructure of coal handling and rail wagons.

ZimCoke chief executive officer Bill Moore, during the ground breaking ceremony last year, said the resuscitation of the plant will begin with the operationalization of the Coke Oven Battery Number 3. The revived coke oven plant is expected to employ 500 people, while the full resuscitation of ZiscoSteel is expected to create 3 000 jobs.

https://www.facebook.com/617797938681815

By Own Correspondent| Following presentation bythe Home Affairs minister, cabinet on Tuesday approaved the principles for the ammendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill.

Briefing journalists at a post cabinet presser, Minister of Information and Publicity Monica Mutsvangwa said the development is part of the ongoing process of aligning the country’s laws to the Constitution.

Said Mutsvangwa:

“Key provisions of he ammendment include the following: renaming of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act as the Zimbabwe Citizens Act, permitting of dual cutizenship of citizens by birth. Cabinet also approaved the establishment of a Zimbabwe Citizenship and Immigration Board to oversee the granting and revocation of citizenship by descent and registration, prohibition of dual cutizenship for citizens by descent and registration and the requirement for applicants for citizenship by registration to have resided in Zimbabwe for 10 years.”

By Own Correspondent| Legislation to underpin the operations of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) is now before parliament, a senior government official has revealed.

Addressing the media at a post cabinet briefing Tuesday afternoon, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said an interim Inter ministerial committee to provide One Stop Shop Investment Services is now fully operational.

Said Mutsvangwa:

“A full fledged ZIDA which will complete the processing of investment approvals within a day is set to be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 2019.

This is bound to significantly improve the investment climate in the country and thereby stimulate economic development in line with the goals of vision 2030.”

By Own Correspondent| Gonyeti’s co-actress in their popular Bustop TV satire skits, Maggie, whose real name is Sharon Chideu has been asked to report to police.

An update on social media this afternoon read:

Magi from @bustoptv has also been "asked" to report to Harare Central Police #freeGonyeti pic.twitter.com/FFmQGAaLKv

— Munya Bloggo (@MunyaBloggo) February 26, 2019

Her partner in comedy skits, Samantha “Gonyeti” Kureya was first to be arrested this morning at her home in Mufakose.

The duo were however both fined $20 and profiled before being released.

• More serious allegations.

• “Assaulted for holding a newspaper with Mugabe’s name”

• President’s security now compromised

• What is the President saying about this?

• Numbers of those fired.

By Fera K Hungwe| Outside she is calm and collected, but inside, stories being told spell the very opposite – it is confirmed that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa had as of yesterday alone, fired scores of employees replacing them with her own relatives. This comes amid more serious allegations which are of assaulting workers. Auxillia has since been described as worse than her predecessor, Grace Mugabe with one source telling ZimEye, “Amai is doing the opposite of what she is doing in public.

“The difference between Auxillia and Grace is that Amai becomes very physical. Vamwe Amai vaingokutuka parally, vamwe vanotokurova kumba.”

ZimEye.com was at serious pains to reach Mrs Mnangagwa to get her direct comment and the furthest we could reach was the official spokesperson. Although when contacted by ZimEye on Tuesday, presidential spokesman, George Charamba refused to comment saying: “you are now harassing me, I told you I am not in a position to talk right now,” this reporter is in possession of several internal official government correspondence confirming the chaos as a result of Auxillia’s latest earthquakes, particularly the firing of workers.

State House workers can only be expelled through official procedure by government, and yet government documents seen by ZimEye show that the employees suddenly sent home were removed by her, personally.

More serious allegations.

Beyond the firing of workers, another source made a more damning report.
There are several female intelligence officers allegedly beaten up by Auxillia in recent days as punishment for merely smiling at her husband, Emmerson, while greeting him. In addition to this, two months ago, there is a male officer (name withheld) who was allegedly forced to pull down his trousers. The source narrated the ordeal employees are facing revealing more serious allegations in the following lines:

‘She in a rage told him bvisa izvozvi kana uri murume’, and it was to humiliate him. It was real drama and it happened before everyone – and what would you do if you have been told to do something by the country’s owner?”

ZimEye was warned not to reveal names of the workers as that would endanger them.

Assaulted for holding a newspaper with Mugabe’s name

A source continued alleging saying another problem with Amai’s character is she scalds people using unprintable words – zvinyadzi. She together with her brother Paradzai Kutyauripo have fired most state residence workers.

Another officer was last week smashed in the head with a tray by Amai simply because he was holding a newspaper with Robert Mugabe’s name on the headline.

She said I don’t want to see anything to do with Mugabe inside here, a source said. It is further alleged that when her husband became president, Auxillia, moved to burn down furniture worth over $2 million.

Another source narrated the development saying: “The First Lady has become a terror in state house and unfortunately, His Excellency has not come in to stop that. We have a First Lady who does not only interfere in government business, but one who engages in corporal punishment of workers. The professionals are being treated like 1945 garden boys.

President’s security now compromised

“Kutyauripo who only has 3 O Levels is already a Principal Director in the state house, and because of this, the security of the president is compromised. The President is a national not family asset.

“The dangerous thing is we are dealing with a person who pretends to be polite, humble and a mother on cameras, but in private she is abusing state workers. The people have not been employed by the First Lady but by the government, they cannot just be fired. The people who are supposed to advise the president are afraid to advise the president.

“While Grace Mugabe had problems, she was not like this.

“Some people have just been suspended and put on salaries up to August. All these have been fired. And unfortunately the people who have been fired have been replaced by those from Zvishavane where the president comes from, (Midlands).

“REDACTED… The nepotism is so alarming and exposing the president to internal ridicule, and possible risk.”

Several efforts to obtain a comment from Mrs Mnangagwa were fruitless at the time of writing and Presidential Spokesman George Charamba refused to comment saying he was not ready to speak.

What is the President saying about this?

Meanwhile, her husband, Emmerson was last week approached and he allegedly responded saying: “siya mai ne hanzvadzi yavo vagadzirise state house.”

“This is our problem now, which is that either mukuru is powerless against Amai or he is part of it,” one source complained saying

Numbers of those fired.

Yesterday alone there were 44 workers fired; there are now over 250 fired this year alone. ZimEye is in possession of a list of workers summarily dismissed yesterday alone.

How many people are employed by state house? This is a story for another day as ZimEye is told state house is one of the main salary guzzlers milking the taxpayer. – MORE TO FOLLOW…

Farai Dziva| Angry Zimbabweans have roundly condemned the harassment and arrest of Bus Stop TV actor and social media commentator Samantha Kureya.

Gonyeti was on Tuesday arrested while she was at her home in Mufakose, Harare.

MDC Zimbabwe said:
“We are being informed that CID law and order just took Bustop TV’s Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti from her home for questioning at Harare Central.”

Prof Jonathan Moyo said:” Let’s be constitutionally clear; when freedom of expression invites Gestapo visits from LAW & ORDER in an AUTHORITARIAN MILITARY STATE–which Zimbabwe has become–you must know all hell has broken loose! # FreeGonyeti.”

Magamba TV wrote: ” Gonyeti’s only crime is being a comedian who speaks the truth to power. Magamba condemns this attack on free speech. We must be free to laugh at our leaders. And our leaders must have a sense of humour!”
David Coltart commented:”
Free Samantha Kureya, also known as the comedian Gonyeti of @bustoptv -who has just been detained by the Mnangagwa regime. Her crime – speaking truth to power, albeit in a very funny way. This brutal regime clearly now has no sense of humour and is petrified of its own shadow.”

Farai Dziva|MDC A deputy chairperson Tendai Biti has sensationally said the country is in the hands of “bandits and highway robbers”

The former Finance Minister does not have kind words to describe the operations of the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration.

Biti accused the government of openly stealing from the suffering and hard- pressed people of Zimbabwe.

“So legally Emmerson and his lot , have conspired , not only to devalue bank balances and wages but to cynically decimate and obliterate same by calling the RTGS $ a virtual currency .

This is surely is a bandit State presided over by bandits and highway robbers,” said Biti yesterday.

He added:”The Presidential Decree , SI 33 of 2019 ,authorizes the RBZ to issue “electronic currency” in Zim. More fraudulently it declares that the RTGS $ is an “ electronic currency “ and that all bond and RTGS balances
of the effective date ( 22 Feb) are “electronic.”

Biti also poured cold water on claims by the government that the measures taken by the Reserve of Zimbabwe to revive the economy will be fruitful. He dismissed the whole thing as a circus.

By Own Correspondent- Social media personality Gonyeti, real name Samantha Kureya has been picked up for questioning by the police.

Bus Stop TV revealed that Kureya was picked up at her home in Mufakose and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department for questioning.

However, it is not yet clear why she was picked up by police details.

Said Bus Stop TV:

“Gonyeti has been taken by CID for questioning. She was picked from her home in Mufakose.”

Jane Mlambo| MDC President Nelson Chamisa is out of the country on a diplomatic offensive in Africa to sensitize the continent on the situation in Zimbabwe.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, the MDC leader’s diplomatic engagement drive comes hard on the heels of a State-sponsored brutal onslaught on innocent Zimbabweans as well as a callous attempt to decimate the party by targeting its elected leaders as well as party structures.

Tamborinyoka added that Chamisa will use the trip to cement relations with our brothers and sisters in fellow countries on the continent.

In Chamisa’s absence, his deputy Elias Mudzuri is the acting President.

Chamisa is expected home later this week. 

Farai Dziva|The country’ s main opposition party MDC A has openly challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government to desist from persecuting innocent citizens.

MDC A spokesperson Jacob Mafume yesterday condemned the harassment of MP Joanna Mamombe’ s family by state security agents:

The MDC is concerned with the continued harrassmment of Members of Parliament by the military State.

Last night more than six armed individuals broke Hon Mamombe’s parent’s house in a supposed search of Hon Joanna Mamombe despite it not being her place of residence.

The individuals were armed to the teeth but not armed with a search warrant, and did not identify themselves.

The MDC is worried about the use of Smith regime tactics. In no country do you have harrassmment of elected officials the way it has been happening in Zimbabwe since August 2018.

That the speaker of Parliament is also silent is an indictment on his party.
Allowing the Executive arm of the state to decimate dissent in the legislature is barbaric, undemocratic and unacceptable.

Hon Mamombe is not a criminal, terrorizing her mother and invasion of her privacy is a violation of her Constitutional rights.

The State must protect it’s citizens and should not terrorise them and instill fear into everyone who disagrees with Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
Behold the New. Change that Delivers
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns in the strongest terms the detention of the ITUC-Africa General Secretary, Comrade Kwasi Adu Amankwah. We are not so surprised by this action of the security forces in Zimbabwe; we know too well it is in the DNA of the Zimbabwean regime to behave in this manner.

Comrade Kwasi Adu Amankwah is part of a three-member ITUC delegation on a fact-finding mission following the recent developments that led to a serious clampdown on trade union leaders and activism in Zimbabwe.

He was scheduled to meet with the leadership of the ZCTU regarding those developments. Cde Amankwa was also scheduled to meet the Ministry of Labour, the International Labour Organisation and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe for an appreciation of the trade union and country’s developing situation.

The ITUC-Africa GS entered the country early this morning and checked into a local hotel, he was followed and tracked down by government officials and around 2:00 am was taken back to the airport.

Comrade Kwasi remains detained by immigration at Harare airport. Attempts to reach him and take him food by ZCTU have been denied by authorities. The legal representatives of the ZCTU have since advised that it appears the authorities want to send him back as an afterthought after allowing him an entry in the first place.

COSATU demands his immediate release and that he be allowed to meet all the representatives, he was scheduled to meet in particular the ITUC-Africa affiliate ZCTU.

This behaviour of the regime is the utmost violation of the freedom of association and infringes on the overall rights and trade union rights. The problems of Zimbabwe will never be resolved with the approach of the current Zimbabwe regime.

This will serve to only worsen the situation. This strengthens the case that Zimbabwe remains a country at risk and must be treated as such. This behaviour violates not only human and trade union rights but international labour standards and laws

We call on all international trade union movement to mobilise and support our Comrades in Zimbabwe. It cannot be business as usual when these violations continue and worsen. We demand unconditional release for both the ZCTU President and General Secretary.

The Zimbabwean President must stop interfering with trade unions as well as the persecution of trade union leaders and labelling of ZCTU a dissident organisation, and anyone associating with it an enemy of the regime. Comrade Kwasi must be allowed to finish his mission and we are all keen to hear the mission’s findings although it is clearer now.

SADC cannot be silent when obvious disregard for freedoms and rights are so blatantly clear. We challenge SADC to intervene meaningfully with sustainable solutions in that country.

Issued by COSATU

Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson)

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has deployed lawyers to offer emergency legal support services to Samantha Kureya, a comedian/journalist popularly known as “Gonyeti” of Bustop TV, who has been “picked up” from her Harare residence by #ZRP officers and taken to Harare Central Police Station.

More to follow…

By Farai D Hove| Reports reaching our newsdesk suggest that the actor and presenter at the comic TV program Bus Stop, Gonyeti, was today taken by the police criminal investigations department for questioning.

It was not immediately clear why the police moved in on her at the time of writing.

It was said she was picked up from her house but the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear.

While ZimEye is investigating the matter below was the statement by the founders to the effect saying:

“Gonyeti has been taken by CID for questioning. She was picked from her home in Mufakose.”

Gonyeti has been taken by CID for questioning. She was picked from her home in Mufakose.

— #TheOutsidersShortFilm (@bustoptv) February 26, 2019

By Own Correspondent- The General Secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Kwasi Adu-Amankwah was on Tuesday morning dragged from his hotel room in Harare by authorities soon after his arrival.

Adu-Amankwah was scheduled to meet the leaders of local labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). He is set to be deported.

Said the ZCTU in a statement:

Secretary-General Kwasi Adu Amankwa faces deportation. He is detained at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare. He was dragged from a local hotel and taken back to the airport soon after arriving early this morning. He was scheduled to meet ZCTU.

The government of Zimbabwe under the leadership of the former president Robert Mugabe has shown hostility to international labour leaders. A few years back, the then leader of the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Zwelinzima Vavi was deported soon after arriving from South Africa

By Own Correspondent- Botswana is extending $600 million in two major facilities to Zimbabwe’s private sector and diamond industry, it has emerged.

Zimbabwe this week hosts Botswana for a Bi-National Commission which will result in the signing of the agreements by Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday.

Preparatory meetings for the Bi-National Commission began yesterday. Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade permanent secretary, Ambassador James Manzou, who opened the two-day meeting involving officials from both countries, revealed the financial offer.

Said Manzou:

“Zimbabwe welcomes with much appreciation that Botswana proposed a BWP1 billion (approximately US$94,5 million) credit facility, in support of the Zimbabwe private sector. I would like to encourage all of us as officials to fully utilise our two working days to synthesise the remaining issues that will lead to the operationalisation of this facility. Zimbabwe is also appreciative of the US$500 million diamond facility offered by Botswana. I also urge this meeting of officials to work in earnest to ensure that all outstanding issues relating to this facility are finalised.”-StateMedia

The MDC is concerned with the continued harassment of Members of Parliament by the military State.

Last night more than six armed individuals broke Hon Mamombe’s parents house in a supposed search of Hon Joanah Mamombe despite it not being her place of residence.

The individuals were armed to the teeth but not armed with a search warrant, and did not identify themselves.

The MDC is worried by the use of tactics of the Smith regime. In no country do you have harrassmment of elected officials the way it has been happening in Zimbabwe since August 2018.

That the speaker of Parliament is also silent is an indictment on his party.

Allowing the Executive arm of the state to systematically decimate dissent in the legislature is barbaric, undemocratic and unacceptable.

Hon Mamombe is not a criminal, terrorizing her mother and invasion of her privacy is a violation of her Constitutional rights.

The State must protect it’s citizens not terrorise them and instill fear on everyone who disagrees with Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

Behold the New. Change that Delivers

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

By Own Correspondent- A sombre atmosphere engulfed Bblobboza Village in Binga after a 28 year old man axed his wife to death before killing himself by hanging on a tree.

The man committed the gruesome act after he suspected his wife of infidelity.

The deceased, Fandison Mwinde (28) of Bbolobboza village, under Chief Sinamagonde in Lusulu fatally attacked his now deceased wife Lelani Munenge with an axe.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the murder-suicide, and believe it happened between Friday night and Saturday morning at the couple’s homestead.

Said Makonese:

“I can confirm we received a report of a man who killed his wife by axing her once on the right hip, once on the right side of her head, just below the ear and then several times on the neck before he went on to hang himself from a tree inside their home.

… At around 5 PM, Munenge received a phone call from an alleged boyfriend, which resulted in an argument between the two. Later at around 8 PM, the woman received a love message from the same man and this time, the couple got into a serious fight, resulting in the fateful incidents.

Mwinde and Munenge had been on separation for some time and the deaths occurred on the day the latter returned to her husband’s place.”- StateMedia

Correspondent|GOKWE-NEMBUDZIYA legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena (ZANU-PF) has admitted that the ZUPCO public transport scheme “saved our skin” when angry civil servants and the commuting public were threatening more shutdown protests over rising cost of transport which followed fuel price hikes of 150% in January.

Wadyajena, who is a top ally of President Mnangagwa, has thanked Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and his deputy Advocate Fortune Chasi for formulating the idea at a time government was caught at sixes-and-sevens following President Mnangagwa’s announcement of fuel price hikes.

Wadyajena however bemoaned the fact that the ZUPCO transport system was now collapsing since a few weeks ago when the Transport Ministry handed over the programme to July Moyo’s Local Government ministry.

In a tweet, Wadyajena said: “His Excellency President Mnangagwa, Ministers Joel Biggie Matiza and Advocate Fortune Chasi literally saved our skin at a time when private operators refused to transport people. It’s a shame to hear the ZUPCO scheme is now falling apart. I’ve a feeling this is the beginning of a long tale of corruption and incompetence.”

Chasi has indicated he is not updated on the ZUPCO troubles as the project has since been transferred to the ministry of local government under which ZUPCO falls.

While operators that joined the ZUPCO project were cushioned from fuel prices, they also have to pay employees and maintain the fleet and buy spares, which costs are not sustainable from the $1 per trip fare.

Some have since pulled out, a prospect the private kombi operators would relish as they were forced by ZUPCO competition to lower fares.

By Own Correspondent- The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday revealed that the Agency’s Chief, Bishow Parajuli met with Zimbabwean Deputy Chief Secretary to President and Cabinet Mupamhanga, Government Ministries, UN Agencies and donors as well as Non-governmental organisations in Harare.

The meeting was held to prepare for looming food shortages due to the El Nino-induced drought.

In a statement released on Twitter, the UN in Zimbabwe said:

Multi-stakeholders consultation underway to effectively respond to a looming humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. Co-chaired by UN Chief Bishow Parajuli and Deputy Chief Secretary to President and Cabinet Mupamhanga, the meeting brings together Government Ministries, UN Agencies, donors, NGOs.

However, the state media reported that Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri revealed that the country has more than 1,3 million tonnes of maize in stock, enough to feed the country until the next harvest.

Shiri reportedly said this on Monday during a lecture at the Zimbabwe National Defence University while delivering a lecture on “The future prospects of agriculture in Zimbabwe with particular emphasis on Command Agriculture”.

Minister Shiri is quoted by The Chronicle saying that crops in the major grain producing provinces were in a satisfactory condition, while wheat deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board depots were continuing.

“Command Agriculture has been central to increasing the production of maize, the second largest contributor to agriculture Gross Domestic Product, raising strategic grain reserves and foreign currency, saving through import substitution,” he said.

“This contributes to economic growth, food and monetary security and ultimately resulting in socio-political stability across the country. This is the nexus between food security and national security at large.”

Minister Shiri said as at November 1 last year, Command Agriculture had delivered 318 673 tonnes of maize, which is 28 percent of total deliveries of 1 138 322 tonnes to GMB.

“The Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) stock of maize are 500 000 tonnes and the commercial stock stands at 823 593 tonnes and when combined they are sufficient to feed the country up to the next harvest or even some months after the next harvest,” he said.

Minister Shiri said although the crop assessment was still underway, indications were that the crops in the major grain producing areas were doing well.

“The crop assessments for 2018/19 season are currently underway and it is premature to say whether we will have a bumper harvest or to establish the impact of El-Nino, he said. In the main grain producing provinces; the three Mashonaland provinces, the crops are looking good.

“If we continue to have rains for the next two -three weeks we will be done; we should be able to have enough grains for our required demand.”

On wheat, Minister Shiri said for the 2018 winter wheat, cumulative deliveries were 143 718 tonnes, inclusive of 48 205 tonnes from Command Agriculture.

“More deliveries are still coming, he said. Command is at the core of wheat production to ensure an affordable supply of flour and bread.”

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has received an early boost ahead of what could turn out to be a bruising contest when the MDC congress gets underway in three months’ time — after several party structures moved to endorse his candidature at the weekend.

This comes as speculation is growing that respected MDC secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora — as well as one of Chamisa’s two deputies, Elias Mudzuri — could also throw their hats into the ring when the country’s main opposition party holds its eagerly-awaited elective congress in May.

The charismatic Chamisa took over the party’s reins under hotly-disputed circumstances in February last year, following the death of the MDC’s revered founding president Morgan Tsvangirai — who lost his valiant battle against colon cancer on Valentine’s Day, and soon after he had elevated the youthful politician to the party’s presidium.

With behind-the-scenes campaigning gathering steam ahead of the party’s congress, many MDC structures are already marking the territory for their favoured leaders — with a number of them moving to make it clear at the weekend that Chamisa would receive their backing when this highly-anticipated gathering gets underway in May.

“We met as a provincial executive council on Sunday and unanimously agreed to stand by the president (Chamisa), so that he takes us to 2023.

“It was not a difficult decision to reach because what he has done so far is there for all to see … It is clear that nobody in the party at present can match that,” Mashonaland West provincial secretary Edson Ndirayire told the Daily News yesterday.

Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Piniel Denga also said while they had not met as a province to nominate their candidate, the executive had earlier agreed at its provincial assembly meeting that Chamisa should remain at the party’s helm.

“As the chairman, I made that proposal and it was agreed to by all … so when the nomination day comes, we are simply going to refer to that agreement, and so our position is already clear that we are going with Chamisa,” Denga said.

On her part, women’s assembly chairperson Lynnet Karenyi-Kore said the fact that Chamisa had emerged leader at short notice following the death of Tsvangirai — while also going on to perform well in the July 30, 2018 presidential election — was “enough proof that he was a solid leader”.

“As women, we are confident that only Chamisa has what it takes now. He managed to get us over two million votes despite the handicap of having to be thrown at the deep end at the last minute. “We still want him to continue and see where he takes us because the road we have travelled with him so far is promising … and so come congress he is our man,” Karenyi-Kore said emphatically.

And speaking to the Daily News separately, MDC youth assembly secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa also said they were already lobbying other structures to rally behind Chamisa.

“Our support for Chamisa is premised on the principle that young people should be promoted into positions of leadership — hence for purposes of this congress we have taken a decision to work towards convincing all other structures in this regard,” Chinoputsa said.

However, other party insiders said it was not yet “cast in stone that Chamisa will roll over” his opponents in May.

This was particularly so if Mwonzora decided to contest him.

“These elections are far from decided because it is early days yet. Anyone, particularly Dougie (Mwonzora) has a chance of winning this post because he is respected and loved by many in the party who see him as mature and level-headed.

“Remember too that five years ago, Chamisa lost to Mwonzora hands down despite him thinking that he had the support of 11 of the party’s 12 provinces.

“As you also know, a day is too long in politics … and indeed, only time will tell when we get to May how the exact picture will look like, as well as who is likely to win,” one of the insiders told the Daily News.

The well-placed source’s sentiments come after Chamisa was defeated by Mwonzora in 2014 for the secretary-general’s post — who was, at the time, considered a rank outsider in those elections.

Chamisa then held the powerful post of MDC organising secretary, a position which was said to have given him the opportunity to revamp party structures in his favour — and which structures were expected to give him an overwhelming victory against Mwonzora, who was the party spokesperson at the time.

Mwonzora scored a shock and unexpected crushing victory over Chamisa — which saw him getting 2 464 votes against his rival’s 1 756.

This subsequently left Chamisa as an ordinary card-carrying member, before he was rescued by Tsvangirai who appointed him to the MDC national executive as secretary for policy and research. There were even unconfirmed suggestions at the time that a stunned Chamisa, unwilling to stomach the results of those internal polls, was even contemplating resigning from the MDC altogether — which never happened.

In an ironic turn of fate, Chamisa was to later assume the reins of the country’s main opposition party ahead of his rivals following the death of Tsvangirai last year — albeit, under controversial circumstances.

The 41-year-old was accused of having allegedly used his then assumed closeness to Tsvangirai’s widow, Elizabeth, to torpedo the ambitions of the likes of Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe.

-Daily News

By Own Correspondent- The United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) had to put on hold surgical operations over the weekend due to water shortages affecting the city of Bulawayo.

UBH chief executive officer, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu confirmed the developments to the state media.

She said:

“Yes, over the weekend we had a challenge. The City Council has brought us water so we have got water to use. We have a Jojo tank that we use and it is linked to the theatres.”

However, sources who spoke to the Chronicle revealed that the situation remained critical:

Said the source:

“The water situation is compromising the health care of patients. Can you imagine areas such as the maternity ward operating without water?

It’s just messy and compromises the health care of patients. It also increases the chances of transmitting infections.

We hope that the hospital authorities can fix this problem as people’s lives are put at risk. We know senior management may come out saying that the situation is under control but the truth is that the problem has been persistent for nearly a month.”-StateMedia

The arrest of Heal Zimbabwe Director and Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Mr Rashid Mahiya on spurious charges of trying to overthrow a ‘constitutionally elected Government’ , is ridiculous as it is unfounded and a direct attack on civil society by the Government of Zimbabwe. We have seen the escalation of criminalisation of civil society work and its leadership, this is as illegal as it is unacceptable.

We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to uphold the Constitution and international obligations which guarantees freedom of expression and assembly. Attempts to criminalise the work of civil society is a clear sign of deepening tyranny and authoritarian rule.

We stand in solidarity with Rashid Mahiya and all other civil society leaders and activists who are being persecuted by the State. Further, we are grateful for the support and solidarity from our regional and international partners.

Released by;

Generational Consensus

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) has urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to do more in educating voters regarding the electoral processes in order to reduce the number of voters turned away at polling stations during voting days.

ZESN’s call comes after a significant number of voters were turned away in last weekend’s by-elections.

Said ZESN in a statement released after the elections:

“There is a need for continuous civic and voter education in between elections by Zec and civil society organisations in order to reduce numbers of turned away voters. Zec should devise mechanisms of clearly marking out polling stations to reduce the number of redirected voters.

Zesn observed that the political environment on election day was largely calm. However, an incident was reported at Unit M Crèche in Chitungwiza where it was alleged that supporters of Zanu PF and MDC Alliance argued over suspicions of vote-buying close to the polling station. The situation was diffused by the riot police before any violent clashes transpired.”

ZESN, however commended the peaceful environment experienced during the polls held in Chitungwiza, Matobo North and Beitbridge East.

Press Statement BY CiZC:For Immediate Release:

25 February 2019

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Mr Rashid Mahiya handed himself to the police today, 25 February 2019 and has been charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government or treason following the 14 – 16 January 2019 stay away. Mahiya will appear in court on the 26thFebruary 2019. Tonderai Bhatasara of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is attending to his case.

Initially the state had preferred to charge him with inciting public violence but after failing to link him to the violence that took place from 14 – 16 January, the state opted to charge him with treason.

His arrest follows a sustained attack on the organization and civil society space with the state spreading unfounded allegations that civil society organizations in Zimbabwe are seized with effecting an illegal regime change. Prior to his arrest members of the security forces ransacked his home abducting his mother and severely assaulting his brother, as they demanded to know his whereabouts.

The Coalition demands the urgent and unconditional release of Mahiya, the continued persecution of civil society leaders and human rights defenders by the state has seen a protracted closure of democratic space in Zimbabwe.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

By Own Correspondent- Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, George Charamba has said President Mnangagwa’s foreign trips are justified because diplomacy does not come cheap.

He said the trips are necessary since Mnangagwa is marketing Zimbabwe as an investment destination.

In an interview with StarFM, Charamba also advised Zimbabweans to assess Mnangagwa’s trips from benefits accrued and not from a cost perspective.

Said Charamba:

There are certain costs which we have to incur. In any case, let us not forget that diplomacy does not come cheap. (They) will continue to gobble for the simple reason that when the President is taking on an assignment like engagement and re-engagement, promoting Zimbabwe as an investment destination, that is a spending item. Let us not make any qualms about it. Money will be spent to make sure we sell Zimbabwe as an investment destination, to make sure we present Zimbabwe’s case in respect of turning its mineral resources into exploitable resources that can lift the livelihoods of Zimbabweans. So when we talk austerity measures we do not close Zimbabwe as a shop.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- A Harare motorist who was involved in an accident with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s motorcade has been hauled to court.

Dennis Chiwawa of Ukhozi Transport allegedly crashed into VP Chiwenga’s motorcade along Glenara Avenue and Samora Machel Avenue in November last year.

He appeared before Richard Ramaboa, who remanded the matter to March 4 for trial.

This comes as another motorist, an unlicensed kombi driver carrying passengers, crashed into Chiwenga’s motorcade on August 24 last year at corner Borrowdale Road and Kingsmead.

According to the prosecutor Moses Mapanga, on November 23 last year, Chiwawa was driving a Toyota Corolla vehicle along Samora Machel Avenue due west.

The complainant, Pepukai Chimire, an employee of the President’s Office was driving a Toyota Hilux Revo due south along Glenara Avenue. He was driving the lead vehicle in Chiwenga’s motorcade.

It is alleged that upon approaching the traffic light-controlled intersection at Samora Machel and Glenara, Chiwawa drove past a red traffic light before hitting the vehicle driven by Chimire on the front and rear passenger doors, causing a dent on the rear door.

Chiwawa’s vehicle sustained minor damage on the front bumper, bonnet, right lamp and fender. The State alleges that Chiwawa failed to look out for the robot-controlled intersection and failed to stop when the accident seemed imminent.

The Government has detained the International Trade Union Conferederation (ITUC- Africa) Secretary General Kwasi Adu Amankwa who was in the country for an international solidarity meeting with the ZCTU.

According to ZCTU, Amankwa was also scheduled to meet the Ministry of Labour, the International Labour Organisation and the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe for an appreciation of the trade union and country obtaining situations.

The ITUC-Africa SG entered the country early this morning and checked into a local hotel, was tracked down by government officials and taken back to the airport where he is currently held.

More to follow…

United States of America embassy in Harare has condemned the harassment and targeted arrest of civil society leaders saying it damages the country’s reputation and economic future.

US Embassy called on government to uphold its constitution, protect human rights and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.

Said the US embassy on Twitter this morning;

Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damage Zimbabwe’s reputation & economic future. We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, protect human rights, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.

— U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe (@USEmbZim) February 26, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Nelson Chamisa, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has rejected claims by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that his party attempted “regime change” with foreign backing by organising mass protests in January.

Chamisa said he is willing to take part in “a credible and genuine dialogue” with Mnangagwa.

Speaking to FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman from the Zimbabwean capital Harare, Chamisa said the recent protests were ignited by fuel price hikes and led by trade unions, not by his party.

“We are not working with any foreign power,” he added.

Correspondent|Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Leigh Coventry has set a raging storm on Twitter after what looked like a random motivational tweet on Tuesday morning was taken by MDC Alliance supporters to be a hit on their leader Nelson Chamisa.

Coventry, who regularly posts motivational tweets every morning, on Tuesday tweeted: “Imagine if I lost a race and never did anything about it except complain and blame others. Use your losses to come back bigger, stronger and more fired up to win. Own it!”

Imagine if I lost a race and never did anything about it except complain and blame others. Use your losses to come back bigger, stronger and more fired up to win. Own it.?

— Kirsty Coventry (@KirstyCoventry) February 26, 2019

The tweet has generated more heat and less light in just an hour after being posted, with close to 600 replies attacking her for what they perceive as a jibe at Nelson Chamisa.

Chamisa lost the 2018 elections to President Mnangagwa, but he disputes the results saying he was rigged out. He also disputes the constitutional Court and blames Chief Justice Luke Malaba for his troubles.

A HARARE motorist was yesterday summoned to appear in court after he allegedly crashed into Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s motorcade along Glenara Avenue and Samora Machel Avenue in November last year.

Dennis Chiwawa (57) of Ukhozi Transport appeared before Richard Ramaboa, who remanded the matter to March 4 for trial.

This comes as another motorist, an unlicensed kombi driver carrying passengers, crashed into Chiwenga’s motorcade on August 24 last year at corner Borrowdale Road and Kingsmead.

According to the prosecutor Moses Mapanga, on November 23 last year, Chiwawa was driving a Toyota Corolla vehicle along Samora Machel Avenue due west.

The complainant, Pepukai Chimire, an employee of the President’s Office was driving a Toyota Hilux Revo due south along Glenara Avenue. He was driving the lead vehicle in Chiwenga’s motorcade.

It is alleged that upon approaching the traffic light-controlled intersection at Samora Machel and Glenara, Chiwawa drove past a red traffic light before hitting the vehicle driven by Chimire on the front and rear passenger doors, causing a dent on the rear door.

Chiwawa’s vehicle sustained minor damage on the front bumper, bonnet, right lamp and fender. The State alleges that Chiwawa failed to look out for the robot-controlled intersection and failed to stop when the accident seemed imminent.

AN Upper Six pupil at Fletcher High School in Gweru collapsed and died at the school grounds during an athletics competition.

Tafadzwa Chirongoma (18) died on Friday afternoon and was buried at his rural home in Zvimba over the weekend.

Acting Midlands Provincial Education Director Reverend Tedius Matienga confirmed the incident but referred further questions to the police.

Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said Chirongoma collapsed at the school grounds.

“We are investigating a sudden death involving an Upper Six pupil called Tafadzwa Chirongoma who allegedly died while participating in a six rounds race at Fletcher High School in Senga, Gweru. We are waiting for post-mortem results,” said Insp Goko.

Sources close to the incident said pupils who witnessed the incident were still traumatised.

“Our students are still traumatised by the death of Tafadzwa. Up to now they are afraid to engage in sporting activities at the grounds,” said a teacher.

“He was one of my students ever since he was in Form One. I am puzzled as to what led to his death because all along we never suspected him of having any serious health issues.

“ It is a shocking matter to all of us at Fletcher High School.”

The teacher said the postmortem established that the schoolboy had a heart problem, but that could not be immediately verified.

State Media

THE United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) was over the weekend forced to suspend surgical operations due to water challenges affecting the health institution.

This is the second time in a month the hospital has suspended surgical operations due to water problems.

In an interview yesterday, the hospital’s chief executive officer, Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, confirmed that surgical operations had to be shelved due to the water situation.

“Yes, over the weekend we had a challenge,” said Mrs Ndlovu, adding that normalcy has returned after council delivered water to the hospital.

“The City Council has brought us water so we have got water to use. We have a Jojo tank that we use and it is linked to the theatres.”

She said the water problem is a result of a faulty hospital water pump which is failing to pump enough water to its various departments.

Mrs Ndlovu said the Department of Public Works was fixing the water problem.

However, sources told The Chronicle that the situation at the hospital was still dire.

They said the hospital has been experiencing serious water shortages for close to a month.

“The water situation is compromising the health care of patients. Can you imagine areas such as the maternity ward operating without water? It’s just messy and compromises the health care of patients. It also increases chances of transmitting infections,” the source said.

“We hope that the hospital authorities can fix this problem as people’s lives are put at risk. We know senior management may come out saying that the situation is under control but the truth is that the problem has been persistent for nearly a month.”

Another source said some of the patients had their relatives bringing water for them at the hospital.

The water crisis at the hospital comes at a time when the BCC has implemented a water shedding programme.